For these athletes there where triumphs, big improvements, opportunities to shine on the big stage, heartbreaking injuries, retirements and even the chance to be a movie star.

Mitchell James

AGE: 25

SUBURB: Burpengary

SPORT: Tennis

CLUB: InTennis Burpengary and Club Coops

James, who has an intellectual disability, was ranked no. 2 in Australia, and no. 3 in the world at the beginning of 2017 and was determined to become no. 1, but remains no. 2 in Australia, and is now no. 4 in the world. James won gold and silver at the 2018 INAS World Tennis Championships in Paris, France, in July 2018; gold in the men’s team with Archie Graham, and silver in mixed doubles with Carla Lenarduzzi. James has now been selected to compete for Team Australia at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in March; and hopes to compete at the INAS Global Games in October 2019 in Brisbane. He is training extremely hard to improve his game and up his rankings.

Cory Parker

AGE: 21

SUBURB: Morayfield

SPORT: Rugby league

CLUB: Sunshine Coast Falcons

Parker, who played junior football at Caboolture, Burpengary and Bribie Island, was part of the Queensland’s under-20s Emerging Origin squad when named on the ‘Ones to Watch in 2017’ list, and was Melbourne Storm’s top tryscorer (17) in the 2016 under-20 competition. While playing for Storm in 2017, Parker did his ACL and had a knee reconstruction, which sidelined him for 11 months. Parker made his way back to football at the beginning of 2018 with the Caboolture Snakes and debuted for the Sunshine Coast Falcons’ Intrust Super Cup side at the end of the 2018 season, where he injured his foot and needed surgery again. Parker has got stuck into his rehabilitation and signed with the Falcons for 2019, where he is determined to get back to where he was. “Onwards and upwards,” Parker said. “Time to give it another go.”

Liam Wilson

AGE: 22

HAILS FROM: North Lakes

SPORT: Boxing

CLUB: All Star Boxing, Pine Rivers PCYC

Wilson, who hailed from Caboolture, was described by coach Ben Harrington as “next level” in 2017, when he aimed to make the Australian Commonwealth Games team. “He could be pound-for-pound the best boxer in the country,” Harrington said at the time. Fast forward to now, Wilson has competed at the Commonwealth Games and since turned professional. He boxed brilliantly in the main undercard to the Jeff Horn and Anthony Mundine clash at Suncorp Stadium to win the Australian super featherweight title in only his third professional bout. Wilson next wants to win a world title.

Cassie Riley

AGE: 20

SUBURB: Gold Coast

SPORT: Martial arts

CLUB: Movieworld

Riley, who hails from Moodlu, was member of the elite Hyper Martial Arts team at the beginning of 2017, and had competed at the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships for years and held seven titles. She also held Australian and Queensland titles. Riley stepped up to the professional level in 2017, and achieved two bronze medals as a professional at the ISKA US Open against the world’s best. Now, Riley is working at Movieworld and training to become a stunt artist on the Gold Coast; she was an extra in the latest Thor movie.

Ella Connolly

AGE: 18

SUBURB: Burpengary

SPORT: Athletics

CLUB: Deception Bay

In 2017, Connolly was determined to star at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas in July and was aiming for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The young gun, who holds the Queensland Athletics under-18 and under-20 records for the 400m with a time of 52.72 seconds, won a silver in the 400m, bronze in the 200m and gold in the 4x100m relay at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas in 2017, but was injured before the Commonwealth Games. Connolly is determined to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympic Games after a stellar 2018. On the comeback from a torn hamstring, Connolly, coached by Gary Patterson, was fourth in the 400m at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Finland in July, and won silver in the 4x400m. Now, she is determined to qualify for the next year’s World University Games in Italy.

Beck Hawker

AGE: 27

SUBURB: Caboolture

SPORT: Boxing

CLUB: Caboolture Boxing Club

Hawker, coached by Don Tindall, won the National Golden Gloves and Queensland titles in 2016, and was determined to make the Commonwealth Games. But Hawker took a break from boxing to join the Queensland Police Force. After receiving her first posting, Hawker started back in the gym and trained hard in 2018. Hawker travelled to Germany to compete and won three from three bouts. Hawker also competed at the state titles in November, where she was competing for her third Elite State Title and to qualify for the Australian titles. Hawker won silver at the state titles, and went to nationals in December, where she lost by split decision. She is now training towards an international competition in Poland in 2019.

Sam Holland

AGE: 24

SUBURB: Caboolture

SPORT: Baseball

CLUB: Redcliffe Leagues Padres and Brisbane Bandits

Holland, a pitcher with the Brisbane Bandits in 2016, represented Australia and claimed silver at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Under-23 World Cup in November that year. The young gun, who had a stint playing for the Los Angeles Angels in the United States, got his first call up for the Australian senior team early in 2018 when they faced world champions Japan. In November, he was listed as a Nationally Identified Player — a list of 36 Australian ABL players classified for the purpose of maintaining a competitive balance in the ABL. Holland is now focused on the ABL, as the Bandits chase a historic fourth-straight title. He was starting pitcher for the first time in the ABL late in 2018, and hopes to retain that spot. He is also determined to make the Australian team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games; the Olympic qualifications are scheduled for late 2019.

Dominique Scott

AGE: 23

HAILS FROM: Mt Gravatt

SPORT: Netball

CLUB: Brisbane North Cougars

In 2017 Scott, who was living at Burpengary East, was a training partner with Suncorp Super Netball side Sunshine Coast Lightning and played for Brisbane North Cougars; she was keen to step up and play for Lightning at the time. Scott has become a paramedic, and after playing for Queensland Fusion and winning the premiership with Brisbane North Cougars in 2018, has officially retired from the game.