North Brisbane’s best school sport stars of 2020 revealed
The best north Brisbane school sporting stars have been revealed. We’ve highlighted more than 80 of the top youngsters for 2020. See who made the list.
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Here are the best schoolgirl and schoolboy sporting talent across the northern suburbs, bayside and northwest. From Olympic sports like water polo, swimming, athletics to an Irish Dancer, mountain biker and BMX star, we have them covered.
ORE TOP SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
SOUTHEAST BRISBANE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
LOGAN’S TOP SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
BEST OF THE WEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
NORTH BRISBANE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
REDCLIFFE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
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REDLANDS’ BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
BAYSIDE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
ST MARGARET’S ANGLICAN GIRLS SCHOOL
TAHLIA THORNTON
A border at St Margaret’s, Thornton sacrifice to leave her home city of Perth and travel to Brisbane to further her swimming career paid off with selection in the Australian side which competed at the junior world swimming championships in 2019. Such is Thornton’s progress, she has risen to No. 4 ranked 200m backstroker in open competition.
SOPHIE MARTIN
Martin is one of the state’s most exciting swimming prospects who won an extraordinary seven medals at the 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championships. “Technically she is developing well. We just have to be patient,’’ said her coach David Lush.
IMOGEN TSIEN
Imogen is continuing St Margaret’s proud tradition of producing outstanding rowing talent after she was named in the Queensland schoolgirl pathway team.
ISABELLA HARTE
In February Isabella Harte created Queensland athletics history by becoming the first 14-year-old to win the state 3000m under 20 and open championship race, scorching to a 10 second personal best. The St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School student is also the reigning national 1500m and 3000m champion in her age group.
JANE HAEUSLER
Haeusler, ranked 233 in Australia, is an exciting tennis prospect who recently made the Queensland under 19 School Sport Team.
CHELSEA JOHNSON
Johnson was headed toward Australian under 16 water polo selection until the COVID-19 health crisis closed down world sport. Johnson has come through the champion Mermaids club and has been a member of a team which has not lost at club, state or national level for five years.
LUCINDA BOURKE
Bourke has been identified by cricket authorities as one of the most promising players in her age group, having made the under 15 years Australian Development Squad
SYREN LETIZIA
The St Margaret’s student is making a name for herself on the softball field, having reached Australian selection in the under 16 team.
PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN COLLEGE
SAMUEL SHORT
The 16-year-old Short from the Albany Creek swim club would have made the national side bound for the Junior Pan Pacs in Hawaii this year, had it not been for the COVID-19 crisis. “I’ll be a better swimmer in 12 months regardless, and I will be a contender for open teams,’’ the Prince of Peace Lutheran College student said. Last year he moved to second place on the Australian all-time 15 years list for 800m and 1500m behind the legendary Ian Thorpe. Earlier in 2019 he zoomed past Grant Hackett’s 15 years 800m long course Queensland record.
MATTIAS and JONAS FORBES-SCHUTZ
The brothers are both elite distance runners. Mattias, in Year 11, qualified for the 3000m at the Australian Athletics Championships and qualified to run the steeplechase. Jonas, from Year 9, also qualified for the 3000m at the Australian Athletics Championship.
HEIDI NOON
The year 10 student qualified for the 800m and 1500m at the Australian Athletics Championships held in 2018 and 2019. Like Jonas and Mattias, she has also qualified for the Q Squad (Queensland athletics) this season. The squad targets athletes who are progressing to perform well at a national championship event level.
THOMAS TUCKER
Tom is the current world champion in BMX for both classes 20” and 24” for his age. He has held this title for a number of years. Like many young elite athletes, Tucker’s year was disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis as he was meant to compete in the USA, but his time will come.
MONTE and FLETCHER MORSE
The brother and sister competed at the 2020 Optimist Qld Sailing Championships earlier in the year, with Monte coming second and Fletcher finishing third.
SAM LUFF
Luff, in Year 12, is a highly skilled junior mountain bike rider. He competed in the National Mountain Bike Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019, while also plying his skills at the National Athletics Championships in the hammer and javelin.
JASMINE HANCOX
Jasmine is an outstanding Irish dancer in Open Dancer competition, the highest level of performance. She won the 2019 Queensland Premiership and was third at the 2019 Australian Championships.
CAELEN COOK
Keep your eyes peeled on the progress of Caelen Cook. The Year 12 Queensland representative competed in the 2020 FFA National Futsal Championship in January for the second time, helping the state side to a silver medal
JAYKE MERRELL
Watch out when young Merrell walks to the tee at the Wantima Golf Club. His current handicap is 1.9 GA (scratch) and he has the lowest Junior Handicap at Wantima by eight shots.
EVERTON PARK STATE HIGH SCHOOL
KEEGAN WOOD
Wood’s trophy cabinet is in danger of overflowing after his efforts on the tennis court over the last two years. While most were winding down at Christmas, Wood was ramping up his tennis by winning the Junior Development Series Christmas event 15 under boys singles and also the 15/17 years boys doubles. Earlier in the year he won the Junior Development Series at the George Alder Tennis Centre, claiming the 13/15 years doubles and the 13 years singles. He was coming off an excellent 2018 which saw him
+ Runner-up – Junior Development Series in under 13 doubles
+ win the Tennis Brisbane’s Saturday Season 1
+ win the Division 5 Super League
+ win the Wednesday Season 2, Division 3 Superleague
KIERA URQUHART
Kiara is rolling her way to success both in Queensland and across Australia where she plays in the under 20 ladies division roller hockey competition. Urquhart, from the Stafford Roller Hockey Club, has also represented in the trans-Tasman competition against New Zealand.
CLAYFIELD COLLEGE
Clayfield College has a host of state or national swimmers including
Meghan Guthrie-Quinn, Hana Costello, Laura Poon, Ashley Pyne Brittany Courtney, Alexandra Macdonell, Miranda Chopping and Tiana Kritzinger, a year 10 swimmer who has entered top 10 for the open 1500m, and is now ranked eight across the country. The college also has an array of outstanding national or state gymnastics including Grace Webb, Eleanor Myers, Layla Bacon, Piper Harboe and Isabella McDonnell-Baum. On the tennis front Clayfield College has two aces, year 8 student Kiera Mulgrewand and year 12 student Roopa Bain while Sophia Garufo (skating), Abby Harris (cricket) and Hayley McGruther (netball) were proudly flying the college’s flag on the representative scene.
WAVELL STATE HIGH SCHOOL
KEIRA RANGI
Keira is an exciting new breed of female rugby league player who is being inspired by the increased exposure of women in league. Last year the youngster became the first female ever to be selected in the under 12 rugby league Queensland team – a side containing all boys. Rangi said she loved playing league because it “encouraged other girls to play contact sport and brought more recognition to the northside and girls in the sport’’. Rangi said her biggest challenge in the code had been “convincing my family that girls can play against boys’’.
Other outstanding sportsmen and women from Wavell SHS include”
Kallum Stacey (athletics, league): The Queensland under 15 400m champion and outstanding league player named in the Queensland under 16 rugby league Murri team;
Kajsa Shield (athletics): Represented Queensland in discus and javelin, claiming a silver medal at the national titles;
Junior Taungatua, Drew Timms and Tahrell Feavai (rugby league): all represented the Queensland under 15 Schoolboys Rugby League in 2019;
Joshua Hughes (basketball): Hughes is a Queensland representative player and was also selected in the Australian Development Squad Camp in Canberra;
Kiara Johnson (cricket): Made her Brisbane women’s first grade debut for Valleys District Cricket Club in the Raymont Shield competition which features Queensland’s best female players. She is also a Queensland Indoor Cricket National Titles rep.
BRISBANE STATE HIGH SCHOOL
JAMIE BAYLISS
The Albany Creek Swim Club star Jamie Bayliss was in white hot freestyle sprint form before the COVID-19 crisis halted the sporting world, winning the GPS 100m freestyle in record time while representing BSHS. Impressively, Bayliss was also a top flight and butterfly exponent.
ST JOSEPH’S NUDGEE COLLEGE
ASHLEY WONG
Wong is a stunning sprint prospect on the athletics track. Wong, who broke the 100m and 200m GPS record at the recent GPS Track and Field Championship representing Nudgee College, was in such a rich vein of form late last year that he broke the 16 years 200m state record in three successive races. The first time was at the All Schools Queensland Championships, then he sizzled home in 21.55 seconds for Nudgee. Then at the Benita Willis Shield meet, Wong ran 21.49s. His 400m is not too shabby either, with his GPS championship time good enough to have taken bronze at the state titles in Cairns last year.
CALLUM WALLACE
Like Wong, Wallace has been ranked as high as No. 1 in Australia in athletics for under 16 javelin throwing.
TOM BALKIN
Tom Balkin is one of the best schoolboy cricketers in Australia. An all-rounder, Balkin generates plenty of speed during a long, straight approach to the wicket, but he can also bat very well.
NOAH McFADYEN
Swing bowler McFadyen was captain of the St Joesph Nudgee College’s First XI while also playing first grade for the powerful Northern Suburbs club, an amazing achievement for a schoolboy. But he has another string to his bow – Australian football – where he has been identified as a player of considerable potential.
ALL HALLOWS’ SCHOOL
ELIZABETH DEKKERS
The 15-year-old Dekkers from the Grange was the swimmer of the meet at the state titles late last year when her 200m butterfly (2:08.51.) swamped previous records. The All Hallows’ School student, who carved an extraordinary two seconds off her previous best time, broke the Australian 15 years record, the Queensland 15 years record and the Queensland all-comers 15 years record. Ironically she beat a 10 year old record held by another Wilston State School past student, Maddie Groves. That Dekkers could slice two seconds off a PB and drag herself high up the open all-time list makes her a contender for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Dekkers is one of a dozen outstanding schoolgirl talents at All Hallows’ School. These include Dekkers’ Australian teammate at last year’s world junior swimming championships Bronte Job, Brodie Baker (Australian Volleyball and QAS squad member), Audrey Fuller (Queensland basketball and US Scholarship recipient), Imogen Rice (Australian fencing team), Josephine Crimmins (national swimmer and outstanding water polo player who is part of a club team, Mermaids, that has not been beaten for five years, Lily Bassingthwaighte (Queensland cricket team), Caitlyn Blade (Queensland touch football team) and Phoebe Fredericks who was in the Australian squad under 16 water polo squad that was training to attend the world junior championships, only for the competition to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis.
KEDRON STATE HIGH SCHOOL
GEORGIE HARRIS
Georgia Harris was named in the Queensland under 15 hockey team earlier this year.
Although the national titles were cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, selection for the Arana Ascot junior hockey club player followed her winning a gold medal last year as a part of the Queensland under 13 team which competed at the national titles.
PADUA COLLEGE
MARCUS BUCHANAN
Stafford’s Marcus Buchanan was striving for selection in the Australian under 16 water polo team bound for either the FINA Water Polo Youth World Championships or Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival. Then the COVID-19 crisis struck. However, no one can deny the Padua College student is making progress. From the Brisbane Barracudas club, Buchanan has joined teammates Will Valentine from Samford, Jack French and Samuel Mellick in the training squad.
FERNY GROVE STATE HIGH SCHOOL
ABBIE FRENCH
FERNY Grove State High School student Abbie French continued her success on the athletics track with another gold medal performance earlier in the year. Competing at the Queensland Athletics State Championships, the recently turned 16-year-old was first in the under 18 women’s long jump with a distance of 6.26m. Such was the distance, her jump would have won the women’s open competition had she competed. The year 11 student also claimed bronze in the 100m. French had qualified to again represent Queensland at the national championships at under 18 and under 20 level prior to the Australian titles being called off due to the coronavirus crisis. The teen, coached by Olympian Sharon Jaklofsky, aspires to make the 2022 Commonwealth Games team via a US scholarship after completing her Year 12.
ST RITA’S COLLEGE
AMELIA WATT
The St Rita’s centre half forward has played her way into the Queensland Thunder squad which competed at the National Waterpolo League championships earlier this year. It was a daunting moment in her debut when Watt had to call players into position, including triple Olympian Bronwen Knox. “I was calling which side I wanted the ball to go to which was quite nerve-racking given I was telling Olympians where to go,’’ she said. “But it was good once I got the nerves away.’’
Watt was also joined in the national under 16 squad by Abigale Houston, Horatia Schlect, Lily Carrick and Olivia Camilleri, while Ruby Fox and Cate Klinge were in the state under 16 squad. In addition, St Rita’s also had Prudence Dixon, Tilly Hughes, Mia Hollyman, Matilda Morrow, Jemima Irvine, Gemma Hutchings and Emma Williams named in the Queensland under 14 squad.
Another outstanding cricketer from St Rita’s is Caitlin Mair, who had an enormous January and February. On the representative front, Mair was exceptional in helping Queensland under 18s win the Female National Cricket Championship. Gracing the Tasmanian pitches with nine catches and five stumpings for the competition, Caitlin also went on to receive the age group’s Most Dismissals by a Fielder Award for 2019/2020. Then on the club front she was part of Sandgate-Redcliffe Raymont Shield senior women’s premiership winning team.
ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE
CHARLES MOORE
Charles Moore spearheaded St Patrick’s College to a glorious victory in the AIC First XI cricket competition this year. Moore was St Pat’s batting battleship in what was an extraordinary result for Paddies who came from behind time and again to post unlikely victories.
Success was reward for Moore who has been in the Firsts since Year 9. In that time he has averaged over 50 and played for Queensland under age teams.
WILL BOLAND
The multi-talented Boland was in the St Pat’s First XV rugby 2019 and First XIII rugby league team where he made the Queensland Confraternity Shield league team of 2019. He also represented Queensland in track and field team at national championships, including placing second in high jump. Other outstanding sportsmen at St Patrick’s include
+ Jack Booker: 1st XV representative from year 10 and a Queensland under 16 rugby player;
+ Jackson Dows: 1st XV in year 10 2019 and a Queensland under 16 rugby player;
+ Jayden Morris: 1st Football from year 10;
+ Jasper Simmons: 1st XV rugby for two years and us is set to play his third season of rugby
+ Ethan Poore: 1st Football year 10 and was voted St Patrick’s 2019 Player of the Season.
+ LeBron Brooks: Queensland junior basketball player
+ Matt Moate: Placed first in Queensland for under 18s triathletes
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL
CHLOE McLENNAN
In late 2019, Chloe was named an Australian Olympic Change-Maker. The award recognises students for their demonstration of the Olympic spirit through leadership and driving positive change in their communities. Last year Chloe won the World Championship (16-19 years) at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Switzerland. She is continuing to train for her sport while juggling study commitments and is looking forward to a busy yet successful year ahead.
GEORGIA WOOLLEY
Earlier this year Georgia was selected to represent Queensland at the under 20 National Basketball Championships to be held at the AIS in Canberra.
CRAIGSLEA STATE HIGH SCHOOL
CHAZ PUCKO
Pucko is out of the Craigslea highly rated volleyball program, having played the sport for seven years. “In 2019, I represented Australia at the Arafura Games and in 2019 and 2020 and was selected to be on the Volleyball Australia Junior Development Program Men’s Squad,’’ explained Pucko, who aspires to play professionally overseas.
CALE MARTIN
The year 11 student is in his third year of volleyball, having made the state indoor side last year. He was also named in the Volleyball Australia Junior Development Program Men’s Squad and aims to represent Australia at the under 18 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championships.
CHLOE DURSTON
Durston, a year 12 student, is another out of the volleyball program who last year was selected on the Australian Women’s Junior Tour to the Philippines. “Recently, I was selected to be on the Volleyball Australia Junior Development Program Women’s Squad,’’ said Durston, who hopes to again make the junior Australian side.
MICHALA STRATI
Strati made the Queensland Indoor Volleyball team and earlier this year was named in the state beach volleyball side and also the Australian Junior Development Program Women’s Squad.
BRAITH ALFORD
Braith Alford first secured his kit for Go Kart Racing in 2017 and started racing months later.
In 2019, Braith competed in the Australian Rotax Pro-tour and achieved podiums in the Lismore Young Guns Title and the South East Queensland Rounds. He has also had the opportunity to compete in the Race of Stars international event in 2018 and 2019, an invitation only event. His aim was to achieve a top 10 in his first senior event.
TEGAN DUCAINE
Another member of the Australian Junior Development Program Women’s Squad and Emerging Squad for Queensland Academy of Sport, Tegan aims to make a team in the Asian Championships “and to continue competing in competitions and trying my best and training hard’’.
CHAD SIMPSON
Another Go Kart Racing exponent, Simpson placed eight (personal best) at the 2019 Australian Karting Championships, round 3. Earlier he finished 15th in round two, and 10th at the 2019 Race of the Stars. He also had podium finishes at the Cooloola Coast Kart Club and
Ipswich Kart Club events, as well as at South Queensland Championships.
JESSICA ZONNEVELD
The classy runner placed fifth in the gruelling 1500m at the Queensland Athletics National Championships in 2017 and backed up that performance with successive top 10 finishes at the same titles in 2018 and 2019. The Craigslea SHS student also rose to third place in successive years at the Queensland School Sport Track and Field Championships. Asked what her aims were, Jessica said: “Working towards the Queensland School Sports National Championships. I have placed third for two consecutive years at states by a very small margin and they take the top two, so and I am ready to strive for the top with hard work and dedication.’’
JASMINE SEFO WALLACE
Wallace is a promising rugby player who made the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team and competed in the World School Sevens in New Zealand. “In 2019 I got selected to be a part of the Rugby 7s to compete at the state championships on the Gold Coast,’’ she said. But he is also an excellent league footballer, having made the 2020 Met North side earlier this year. “I am looking forward to continuing with future competitions with Met North and I hope to one day make the women’s NRL team,’’ she said.
JAYLA SEFO WALLACE
Jayla is an outstanding rugby league prospect who, like her sister Jasmine, was named as a shadow player on Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team. “I am looking forward to continuing with future competitions with Met North and I hope to one day make the women’s NRL team,’’ she said.
MT ALVERNIA
JULIA CAVANOUGH
Mt Alvernia student Julia Cavanough was a member of the premiership winning Sandgate-Redcliffe senior women’s cricket side that won the Raymont Shield earlier in the year. An excellent left arm pace bowler, she had the pleasure of playing in the final alongside Gators’ Beth Mooney, the Australian World Cup winning hero. “It has been a really long season and it is good to get a win at the end,’’ the Mt Alvernia student and Everton Districts junior said.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
SAMUEL MELLICK
Samuel Mellick was recognised by the Australian under 16 water polo selectors before the coronavirus health crisis turned the world on its head. A player with the Brisbane Barracudas club, he had been selected in the national squad training to compete at the world titles.
AIDEN FRICK
Aiden, an overseas border, is an elite gymnastics who has represented Queensland while also climbing to junior International Level.
NATHAN NGUYEN
Nathan is one to watch on the football field, having already risen to represent the Joey’s Australian under 16s outfit.
GUS WHITTOME
Gus is a national medallist from the 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championships, which included playing a significant role in a record medley relay team win.
ALEX THAKUR
Brisbane Grammar School’s Alex Thakur had a fantastic meet at last year GPS track and field championships. Coming off winning the 14 years triple jump, he dipped his head on the line to beat Israel Leota (Ipswich Grammar School) by the slimmest of margins in the 90m 14 years hurdles. A 400m runner as well, Thakur is a relative newcomer to hurdles.
BRISBANE GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School has a host of outstanding young sporting women, including:
Emily Ryan, tennis: Queensland Secondary School (13-19 years) Champion;
Alice Zhu, gymnastics: 2019 Queensland Team member at Australian Championships, finishing third overall. Selected in Australian junior team;
Isabel Lumley, water polo: Under 16 Australian Squad member;
Mary Comiskey, water polo: Under 16 Australian Squad member;
Alessandria-Jade Tucker, athletics: Represented Queensland at the 2019 All Schools Track and Field Australian Championships in the under 16 hurdles;
Millie Hunt, athletics and cross country: Competed at 2019 Australian Athletics Championships and member of the 2019 Queensland Cross Country team.
Sarah Macleod, swimming: First place at the 2019 McDonald’s Queensland Championships in December 2019 in the 17 Years 100m Backstroke;
Charlotte Kennedy: Swimming, represented Queensland in the Australian School Sport National Championships in Melbourne;
Amreen Kahlon, cricket: 2018 Queensland team member. She also bowled to the Australian and West Indian teams as net bowler for the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Georgia De Stefani, water polo: Queensland under 19 Queensland Squad;
Kajal Mistry and Alyssa Borodin: Both outstanding football players and members of the under 12 Queensland team in 2019;
Ellie Kendall, hockey: Ellie was a member of the under 13 Indoor Queensland team in 2019.
Katie Ward, weight lifting: Competed at the 2019 Queensland All Schools Championships in the female 59kg category. Katie won silver in the under 15 and Open age groups.
Sophie Martin, cricket: Sophie bowled to the Indian team as net bowler for the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup;
Ryleigh Dangerfield: Ryliegh represented the Queensland Flames in the U14 Girls Regional Softball and Met North Baseball 12- 14 in 2020.
ORE TOP SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
SOUTHEAST BRISBANE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
LOGAN’S TOP SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
BEST OF THE WEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
NORTH BRISBANE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
REDCLIFFE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
MORETON’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
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