1/58Gymnast Oscar Weatherstone, of Indooroopilly, started doing somersaults off his family's couch at the age of six. The 12-year-old now trains with Brisbane Grammar School Gymnastics and has competed in the state titles. Picture: Supplied.
In pictures: Local Sports Stars nominees
The 2019 Quest Local Sports Stars Awards have uncovered some outstanding individuals, teams and volunteers in junior competition across Greater Brisbane. See the amazing achievements of some of this year’s nominees in our gallery.
2/58Blind athlete Sean Kendrick is an inspiration to fellow students at Centenary State High School. The 14-year-old from Westlake represented Queensland at the Australian Secondary Schools Cross Country, finishing eighth, plus fourth in the 1km time trial. The Quest Local Sports Star nominee trains every afternoon with guide runner Billy Bishell. Picture: Supplied.
3/58At 15 years of age, Quest Local Sports Star nominee Bailey Day, from Underwood, has already competed at a state and national level in swimming and surf life saving. Starting her day in the pool at 5am five days a week, she also swims until after 7pm on three nights. Bailey hopes to one day swim for Australia. Picture: Supplied.
4/58Wamarun motorcross rider and Quest Local Sports Star nominee Tahlia Drew was named Queensland champion earlier this year. Taking out the Queensland Women's and Vets Championship in Roma, it was the 16-year-old's first year competing at a senior level. Picture: Supplied.
5/58Queensland champion trampolinist Beau Edwards trains six days a week in multiple sports: basketball, rugby sevens, hockey and swimming - with pilates sometimes added to the mix for stretching. The nine-year-old from Clontarf has been nominated for the Quest Local Sports Stars Awards 2019. Picture: Supplied.
6/58Inspired by her tennis-playing family, 13-year-old Anja Naya from River Hills has now competed at a national level. The Quest Local Sports Star nominee has a Tennis Australia ranking of 222 and a world ranking of 688. Picture: Supplied.
7/58Eatons Hill skater Megghann Thomas is a Queensland 2019 State Champion. The 17-year-old has also attended the world championships, placing 14th in the junior solo dance category. Picture: Supplied.
8/58Quest Local Sports Star nominee Isabella Harte has many championship titles to her name in 800m and 1500m cross country events. Training with the Mayne Harriers, the talented 14-year-old is dreaming of one day competing at an Olympics. Picture: Supplied.
9/58She’s only nine years old, but already Bayside BMX rider Zoe Weatherhead has competed on the world’s biggest BMX stage - reaching the quarterfinals at the UCI World Championships in Belgium. Picture: Supplied.
10/58Parkinson athlete Anika Avers achieved a silver medal and two bronze at this year’s national titles. The 11-year-old Quest Local Sports Star nominee is planning to be selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics.. Picture: Supplied.
11/58Speedbike rider Flynn Nicol from Warner has achieved a number of impressive titles in motorcycling - including being named 2018 Queensland Junior Rider of the Year. Picture: Supplied.
12/58North Lakes swimmer Rylee Smith, 10, competed at the state championships in seven events - in both 2019 and 2018. The Quest Local Sports Star nominee trains five days a week at Redcliffe Leagues Swimming Club. Picture: Supplied.
13/58Tate Van Camp, 9, from Ferny Grove has plenty of medals to his name across distances from 200m to 1500m. With the Olympics and Commonwealth Games on his dream list, Van Camp names Usain Bolt as one of his idols. Picture: Supplied.
14/58Quest Local Sports Star nominee Michael Williams from Burpengary excells in both athletics and rugby league. The 12-year-old won gold in the 200m and 400m at the Little Athletics State Championships, going on to compete at the National School Sport Track and Field Championships. He has also been a representative player for Redcliffe Dolphins, 10-12 years. Picture: Supplied.
15/58Quest Local Sports Star nominee Allison Gallagher, 12, of Bracken Ridge plays netball with Sandgate Hawks. As the smallest team member on the court playing at representative level, Gallagher has been nominated for an inspiration award for working stronger, faster and harder than other players. Picture: Supplied.
16/58Wavell Heights athlete Ashley Wong is the Australian age track champion in the 60m, 100m and 200m. At the Australian National Track and Field Championships in Sydney earlier this year, he was also part of the gold medal winning 4x100m and 4x200m relay events - with both teams setting Queensland records. The Quest Local Sports Star nominee is now ranked #285 in the world for U18 200m. Picture: Supplied.
17/58Elite swimmer Samuel Short is in the right lane to fulfil his dream of representing Australia at the Olympics. Earlier this year the 15-year-old from Bunya broke Grant Hackett's 800m free long course Queensland age record. At the Australian Age Championships he took home five medals, including three gold. Picture: Supplied.
18/58Centenary State High School house captain Noah Gilroy has this year competed at a state level in three sports: soccer, cricket and athletics (discus, javelin and high jump). The 17-year-old from Sinnamon Park also plays futsal and indoor netball, is a cross country runner and goes skiing in winter. Picture: Supplied.
19/58Umpiring netball games since the age of 12, Holly Smith won the Brisbane Netball Association Norma Oliver Umpire Award in 2019. Earlier this year, the 17-year-old from Bracken Ridge was invited to train and umpire with the Queensland Suns men’s and mixed teams. Picture: Supplied.
20/58At just 16 years of age, Clontarf’s Izaac Powell became the youngest Brisbane Roar player to debut in the A-league. His dream goal is to secure an English Premier League contract. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.
21/58Banksia Beach gymnast and Quest Local Sports Star nominee Charlize Frankham is headed to the state championships after a qualifying 9.6 balance beam and overall 36.457 score. The 13-year-old trains 12 hours a week at Caboolture PCYC. Picture: Supplied.
22/58McDowall Quest Local Sports Star nominee Oliver Iselin-Shea is a high achiever in two sports - athletics and tennis. In January, the 11-year-old was one of four Queensland boys selected by Queensland Tennis to attend the Australian Open Super 10s tournament, winning the Lleyton Hewitt award for best tactical understanding. Picture: Supplied.
23/58Northside Wizards Boys U14 Div 1 basketball team won bronze at the State Titles and is now headed to the national trials in Ballarat. The boys have been nominated in the team of excellence category for the Quest Local Sports Stars Awards. Picture: Supplied.
24/58AFL coach Shane Ward from North Lakes wouldn’t even let crutches keep him down when it came to looking out for his junior teams. His dedication and ongoing commitment sees the Redcliffe Tiger at his club five days a week. He has been nominated for a Quest Local Sports Star inspiration award. Picture: Supplied.
25/58Injury has held Jet Alsop back this year, but in 2018 he won the Queensland Championship and was selected for the state team at the Australian Junior MX Championships - winning the national titles in two classes. Picture: Classic Sports Photography
26/58Burpengary grandfather Gary Morris has been serving at Deception Bay Little Athletics Club "forever", working in roles as varied as a committee member, groundsman and coach. He has received a Quest Local Sports Star nomination for service to sport. Picture: Supplied.
27/58AFL player Ashlan Wakelin, from Cashmere, is closing in on her goal of playing 150 games. The 11-year-old has represented Metropolitan North at the Queensland School Sport State Championships for three consecutive years, is school sport captain and captained her school soccer team - which won the Aspley Eagles Cup. Picture: Supplied.
28/58Modern pentathlete Rhys Lanskey, from Burbank, only took up the sport in 2018 but already he has competed in world championships in Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary. Competing in his first national open competition earlier this year, the 18-year-old became the youngest male open national champion. Picture: Supplied.
29/58Carindale basketballer Jasmin Lane followed her big brother and sister into the sport after several years of watching them play across Queensland. The 13-year-old Quest Local Sports Star nominee is now one of just 30 girls to be selected for the Queensland Future Development Program. Picture: Supplied.
30/58Emily Hammant's parents enrolled her in gymnastics when she was 9 - after she was always performing handstands and cartwheeling around their house. The 12-year-old Quest Local Sports Star nominee, from Burpengary, will compete in the state championships. Picture: Supplied.
31/58Wakerley brothers Will Higgins, 13, (left) and Riley Higgins, 15, have collected a swag of Queensland medals in various athletic events including shot putt, hammer throw, discus, hurdles and long jump. Picture: Supplied.
32/58Margate champion athlete Cael Armitage is set to represent Queensland at the National Championships in Darwin. The 10-year-old Quest Local Sports Star nominee competes in discus and shot put events. Picture: Supplied.
33/58Kyle Harvey from Morayfield has won a number of motorcycling championships, earning himself a Quest Local Sports Star nomination. The 9-year-old has been riding since he was two. Picture: Supplied.
34/58Local Sports Star nominee Keira Rangi of Griffen plays rugby league at Aspley East State School. She has played in the U12s team at the Australian Rugby League Championships and was the first girl to make the Queensland boys’ team. Picture: Supplied.
35/58Clontarf 17-year-old Fletcher Day has an Australian gold and a silver medal, plus five Queensland gold and one silver medal for championship hurdle performances in 2018/19. She was selected to represent Australia at the Oceania Games and is hoping to qualify to wear the green and gold at the World Under 20 Championships. Picture: Supplied.
36/58Kippa-Ring soccer player Charlie McVeigh was this year selected to play in the National Premier League. The 15-year-old, who trains seven days a week, has been nominated in the individual category for the Quest Local Sports Star Awards. Picture: Supplied.
37/58Scarborough's Jack Lewis has been travelling the country to successfully compete in skateboarding championships. The 12-year-old is training to hard with hopes of competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Picture: Supplied.
38/58Upper Kedron Local Sports Star nominee Jacob Austin is a member of North Brisbane Dragons basketball club and Arana Little Athletics. The 12-year-old has represented Queensland in both basketball and athletics, winning many championship medals and holding a number of high jump records. Picture: Supplied.
39/58Tahlia Harle began dragon boating with her Nanna when she was eight years old - hoping to keep up with her older cousins who were competing at a state and national level. At the age of 14, the Margate nominee now has one state silver medal, two national silvers and two bronze medals and was selected to compete in the World Dragon Boating Championships in Thailand. Picture: Supplied.
40/58Wamuran gymnast and Quest Local Sports Star nominee Emily Ward has competed at regional, state and national level. This year the 17-year-old achieved a PB with an aggregate score of 36.1, qualifying for the Queensland State Championships at Level 5. Picture: Supplied.
41/58Despite wearing wear prosthetic legs, Shailer Park swimmer Angela Bubb holds 12 Queensland multi-class swimming records and was selected to compete in Adelaide at this year’s Australian Age Championships. The 13-year-old Logan Vikings club member is training hard with the goal of representing Australia as a Para-Olympian in Paris 2024. Picture: Supplied.
42/58Brighton soccer player Mia Green has been selected for the Queensland Schoolgirls U15 team. The 12-year-old, who trains with the Queensland Academy of Sport, plans to one day play for Brisbane Roar and the Matildas. Picture: Supplied.
43/58Bardon basketballer Grace Ellis has been selected in the Australian U17 squad after her solid performance as Queensland South captain, leading her team to a silver medal at this year’s U18 Australian Basketball Championships. She finished the tournament as the leading rebounder nationally, third-highest scorer nationally and shot over 47 per cent from a three-point range. Picture: Supplied.
44/58Ithaca Sharx Swimming Club captains Gemma, Ingrid, Ella and Lachie have demonstrated the power of teamwork, perseverance, and service to those less fortunate. Instead of focusing on winning or losing, they have made their captaincy about giving, kindness, and empathy. The youngsters have been nominated for a service to sport award. Picture: Supplied.
45/58Coorparoo surf life saver Euan Lynch has represented Queensland in the Cyclones Ocean Team. He competed at the Interstate Championships and the Australian Pool Rescue Championships. Despite not living near the surf, he is training hard towards his goal of representing Australia at the World Championships in 2022. Picture: Supplied.
46/58Eight-year-old Bribie Island schoolgirl Mackenzie Wagner placed second in the Queensland State Open Titles in the Comer 9 class. The motorsport enthusiast has been turning up at the tack since she was only six days old, as her dad also races.Picture: Supplied.
47/58Springfield Lakes 16-year-old Joshua Pratt was the youngest member of the U21 Target Rifle Team which won silver for Australia at the World Championships in New Zealand earlier this year. He is ranked 16th in the World and is current Queensland champion. Picture: Supplied.
48/58Capalaba Bulldog Tyler Birch has been nominated for a Quest Local Sports Star inspiration award for the courage he shows on the field. The 10-year-old has suffered 14 blood noses/split lips after only 10 rounds this season - but never gives up or lets his team down. Picture: Supplied.
49/58Arana Hills cheerleader Georgette Di Trapani has competed on a world level this year after extensive success in Queensland and national championships. At age 13, she combines six hours a week training at Queensland Cheer Elite with playing rugby for her school. Picture: Supplied.
50/58Queensland Academy of Sport volleyballer Jefferson Morrow, from Wynnum, has competed multiple times at a state and national level. The 18-year-old Quest Local Sports Star nominee has secured a volleyball university scholarship to play in Canada. Picture: Supplied.
51/58Quest Local Sports Star nominee Mahlia Henare was named most valuable player from Met North at the Queensland state schools netball championships. Facing up to much taller girls on the court, the 11-year-old from Petrie spent an extra two hours training every morning at the championships to build her accuracy. Picture: Supplied.
52/58At 61 years of age, Carina gymnast Mal Stuart is a much-loved coach at Carindale PCYC - while continuing to himself compete as a trampoline athlete. His dedication has earned a Quest Local Sports Star nomination for service to sport. Picture: Supplied.
53/58Quest Local Sports Star nominee and Cleveland Air Magic skipper Makella Hoad has competed on a world level for four years. The 15-year-old from Wellington Point participates in freestyle and speed events. Picture: Supplied.
54/58Mitchelton athlete and Quest Local Sports Star nominee Jemma Keefe competed for Queensland at the Australian Athletics Championships. The 14-year-old from Mitchelton qualified in four events - hurdles, discus, javelin and shot put. Picture: Supplied.
55/58In their first year of playing in a representative team, the Underwood Park Netball Association U12 Black team took out the 2019 Netball Queensland State Age Championships. The team has been nominated for a Quest Local Sports Star Award. Picture: Supplied.
56/58The U14 Mermaids Pink water polo team from Yeronga were state champions in 2018 and Australian National Youth Champions in 2019. Scoring 142 goals in 10 wins - with only 11 goals against them - the team has been nominated in the Quest Local Sports Star Awards. Picture: Supplied.
57/58Lucas Taylor has overcome numerous health issues to prove extremely successful in cross country, shot put and basketball. This year the Brendale 13-year-old has a goal is to make it to a state level in all three sports. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop.
58/58Striker Ruby Harris has a long list of hockey credits to her name, including being selected for the Hockey Australia National Futures Squad in 2019. Trained by ex-Hockeyroo Angie Lambert, the 18-year-old Quest Local Sports Star nominee from Corinda is aiming towards her own Olympic dream. Picture: Supplied.
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