Redlands’ best school sports stars of 2020 revealed
The best school sporting stars the Redlands have been revealed as we highlight the region’s best aspiring athletes in 2020. See who made the list.
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THE next big thing in swimming, softball, karate and volleyball could very well come from the Redlands.
Quest Community News asked Redlands high schools to name their brightest sports stars and here they are, prepare to be impressed by their achievements — and they haven’t even finished school yet!
MORE 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
REDLANDS’ BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
BAYSIDE’S BEST SCHOOL SPORTS STARS
REDLANDS COLLEGE
JACK PALMER
The Year 9 honours boys volleyball team has won places in a string of representative squads including the Queensland Junior U15 team and impressively jumped an age group in order to travel to Canberra as part of the U16 Australian junior team to play Japan. Jack, who plays as a pass hitter and middle, said he was hoping to make the Queensland school boys team in the near future, and had plans to travel to Thailand with the Australian team for the Asian Championships. He said sport was meaningful to him because it allows him to concentrate on an area outside of school work and re-centre his focus in a fun area he is passionate about.
JASMINE RAYNER
Volleyball talent Jasmine, in Year 9, is a representative of the Girls Division 1 and her achievements include selection in development squads by the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). She said she was proud of winning the bronze medal at Senior Schools Cup in 2019 and had her sights set on a placement in more QAS camps this year, or selection for a Queensland team. She plays as a middle hitter currently and has played as an outside hitter as well. And why does she love sport? She says it gives her a chance to “work towards a goal and focus on self improvement”.
CHELSEA COKER
This Year 11 Girls Division 1 representative has been selected for the U15 Maroon Queensland team in Canberra, the Met East U15 team and is an ongoing selected player for Bayside Volleyball Teams. She has attended many Future Stars Camps with Volleyball Queensland and took pride in helping Queensland secure fourth place against national competition in Canberra. He goal this year is selection in the 2020 state team.
Playing as a setter, libero and opposite, she loves the game because of the opportunity to meet new people and learn from other athletes.
CAPALABA STATE COLLEGE
LUKE BLOOMER
Having only played his sport for four years, this rising star has made fast progress. The Year 11 student has made the Australian youth team volleyball squad, represented a silver medal-winning Queensland team at the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships last year and won a spot in a Queensland Schools Volleyball team which won gold in a state-wide comp. The Capalaba State College Sportsman of the Year 2018/2019 and Schools Cup Most Valuable Player 2016/2017 has consistently gained international exposure through the Australian youth squad in matches against Thailand and New Zealand. He’s best placed as an
outside hitter. “I started playing volleyball in 2016 (Year 7) because of my older brothers,” Luke said. “They both played so I just filled their shoes and decided to compete. I grew to love training and playing and the more I played the greater respect I had for the sport. It is so much fun, I get a thrill while playing and the adrenaline rush is unique. I have played other sports however, volleyball is so different because each game is never the same and I love the diversity the game brings.” He says is working towards a future place in the Australian men’s team, the Volleyroos. “I want to play in the Olympics,” he said.
AMADIKA ATKINSON
Amadika was selected to represent New Zealand in freestyle swimming in the 50, 100 and 200m events and competed for New Zealand at he junior worlds competition Budapest.
The Year 12 student also competed for New Zealand at Junior Pan Pacific Championships. In 2018 she made the Queensland school swimming team, going on to place first in the 100m freestyle and the 200m freestyle. Even more impressive was her place in the Commonwealth Games trials that same year. The Bayside District Carnival age Champion (2016-2020) and Capalaba State College Age champion was named her school’s Sportswomen of the Year 2018 /2019. “My future goal in swimming is to compete for in international swimming events and represent New Zealand,” she said. “I want to compete in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. I wish to study in America as I have been offered a scholarship from Villanova College. I plan to go to the Olympic trials once they are open. My mother was an avid swimmer, I went to swimming classes from six-months-old and I have continued to love the water. I enjoy competition because of the atmosphere and environment. I have had the opportunity to travel across the world to compete and meet new people.”
KAITLYN FOWKE
In 2019 alone this Year 11 student was the runner up national champion Go-Kan-Ryu Karate individual kata, national champion team kata, placed third at the national champions for Team kumite GKR, was the runner up both the Australia Martial Arts at national championships for individual forms and in the team division and at the Australian Martials Arts state championships for individual forms among a long list of other achievements. “I love my sport as it is such a great atmosphere to be in as it is always positive. Karate is such a discipline based style of sport and it helps ease the mind and there is always something to work towards. I also love the competition side of my sport as it bring a whole different vibe. Competing for me allows me to get to know a lot more people and bring out a team spirit when watching fellow team members.” Kaitlyn shows now signs of slowing down — “My future goal in my sport is to keeping climbing up the ranks and maybe one day become an instructor that like me can look up to my fellow higher grades. I am also working towards the world championships next year for GKR karate.”
ORMISTON COLLEGE
ELIZA BARNETT
This feisty, determined, resilient sportswoman has proven to also be a wonderful teammate. She excelled in football and cricket in junior and middle school, focusing on cricket in senior school. While Eliza has many club commitments, she has always found time to contribute as a Redback for Ormiston College in athletics, hockey, touch football, football and AFL. According to her school, Eliza is a popular teammate because of her consistently positive attitude, ability to clock up plenty of points and skill in defence, mopping up anyone’s mistakes. Her achievements include Australian U17 indoor cricket representative (2018), Northern Territory outdoor cricket team (2019), Queensland U21 indoor cricket representative (2019-2020), Ormiston College Firsts Touch Football Team (2019-2020) and Ormiston College Firsts Hockey Team (2018-2020). She says sport has proven the ideal stress relief, despite the competition. “I am a competitive person, have lots of energy and enjoy the company of others and sport caters for all of this. My brother played cricket and football and I wanted to be like him so that is how I started. My dad was my first coach and mum is my biggest (and loudest) supporter. So playing sport is also something my family does together.” Keep you eye on the Australian cricket and indoor cricket teams as that’s where this talent is hoping to go.
WELLINGTON POINT STATE HIGH SCHOOL
CHARLEY BELL
Charley made the Australian softball 14 years team to travel to USA this year (unfortunately trip was cancelled). The Year 90 student has represented Queensland at schoolgirls in 2017 and 2018. She went to Perth in January for nationals. Charley’s goal is to be the best player she can be and hopefully continue to represent Queensland and Australia in future teams. The sporting dynamo said she loved to compete and enjoys playing the sport with her friends.
SHELDON COLLEGE
LARA WALKER
The Year 11 tennis superstar is an Australian Open Junior Tennis Champion who has a achieved a number of sporting accolades well above her years. The most prestigious of these was winning a Gold level, Open Age Australian Money Tournament (AMT) at the Queensland Tennis Centre in November of 2019. During this tournament, Lara successful defeated a Professional tennis player in the final. Lara thoroughly enjoys being physically active, as well as enjoying the mental challenge of competing at such a high level. Her goal is to one day become a professional tennis player and rank within the top 100 women in the world, thereby enabling her to regularly compete in Grand Slam Tournaments.
KALANI LANG
Kalani Lang is a talented Year 12 student, who successfully represented Australia at the Oceania Track and Field Championships in Townsville in 2019. During these championships, Kalani’s hard work paid off as he produced a personal best and claimed a Silver medal in the Under 18’s 800m event. Kalani is a committed member of the Sheldon Academy of Sport Athletics training squad, and loves the loves the connection he feels with his coaches and fellow athletes as they strive to test the boundaries of their ability. Kalani’s current goal is to represent Australia at next year’s World Under 20 Championships.
DANIELLE BAYES
Having been a member of Sheldon College’s highly regarded Basketball Club since the age of seven, Danielle, now in Year 11, is a regular Queensland representative. Last year, in 2019, Dani experienced her first taste of professional sport in the highly competitive Queensland Basketball League. This was an experience that Dani treasured and hopes to experience again.
Dani openly believes that the best part of basketball is the relationships forged with her teammates, who she regards as her second family. An athlete with an exceptional work ethic, one of Dani’s current goals is to be recruited by a high-quality US College team.
JAMIE JACK
Sheldon College’s male School Captain for 2020 and Year 12 student, Jamie Jack, won three individual national swimming titles during 2019. This resulted in his claiming Gold in the 50m freestyle at Swimming Australia’s Age Nationals in Adelaide. In 2019 Jamie was also successful in winning the 50m and 100m freestyle double at School Sport Australia’s National Championships in Melbourne. Jamie enjoys training 7 to 8 times a week at the College, and says he enjoys swimming as the routine keeps him disciplined, fit and healthy. Jamie’s goal is to be as good as he can be, however far that may happen to take him.
LACHLAN CORNELIUS
Year 10 student, Lachlan Cornelius is the reigning National Champion for Cross Country for his age group. He is also talented enough to represent Queensland on the track. A member of the Sheldon Academy of Sport Athletics Club, Lachlan thrives on working alongside his team and the social aspect that training provides. Put simply, Lachlan loves the thrill of running. His goal is to follow in the footsteps of 2018 Sheldon College graduate (and Youth Olympian), Jamie Hiscock, and secure a scholarship to a prestigious US College.
CHLOE MICHELL
Middle College Year 8 student, Chloe Michell, was selected in the Queensland School Sport’s 2020 Triathlon team, having placed second at the State Championships held in Hervey Bay at the beginning of this year. With COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of the National Championships, Chloe now aspires to regain selection for the Queensland team next year and finally experience the thrill of racing in Nationals against the best girls in the country. Chloe loves the adrenaline rush associated with competing, and enjoys training with similarly dedicated and talented athletes.
NATHAN MURRAY
Year 9 student, Nathan Murray, is known for his exceptional skills in baseball and softball. Earlier this year he successfully gained selection into the Aussie Diamonds Under 14’s National Softball team, as well as in the Queensland School Sport Under 14’s Baseball Team.
Nathan certainly loves his sport and the friendships made through them. He longs to one day gain a scholarship to a US College which will hopefully lead to his dream of playing Major League Baseball (MLB).
ALEXANDRA STATE HIGH SCHOOL
JAYDA LOFIPO
This rugby league legend in the making has alreadt represented south east Queensland multiple times and part of Easts’ line up for the Queensland Women’s Rugby League comp. She has also represented Australia in the World Hip hop Championship in Phoenix, Arizona and has a knack for shotput too, making it a representative level as well. “I love sport because when I play, I forget about what’s happening in everyday life and am able to release in what I enjoy doing,” she said. “It’s awesome being able to learn new skills, working cohesively in a team and even learning things about myself in which I hadn’t discovered before. Being surrounded by supportive people whilst loving what you do is the best thing. Sport is more than just a game or a competition, it becomes YOU and becomes something you soon realise you can’t function without.” She now aims to represent Queensland in the Women’s State of Origin and even make it to the NRLW.
JAYCOB KINGSTON-FRANCIS
This Year 9 sports lover says he loves sport because it “keeps me fit and energetic”. “I do enjoy most sports, track and field and cross country are two of my favourites but I am most passionate about rugby league”. He has already accumulated a long list of achievements in both athletics, touch football and rugby league with stand outs including being named his school’s 2019 age champion and sportsperson of the Year, and being part of the 2018 - 2019 Bayside Champions - touch football and rugby league teams. “I love playing Rugby League with my mates, they make it more enjoyable and competitive. I started playing at Capalaba Warriors when I was five years old. After four years, I had a season off before transferring to Redlands when I was 10. When this season starts, I will be playing my first year with Wynnum-Manly Juniors to return to playing in the Premier Division for my age group.
My goal for the future is to play for the North Queensland Cowboys, State of Origin for Queensland and hopefully make it through to the Australian Rugby League Team. If that was to happen, I would make sure I train my hardest and play even harder. But that has to wait hopefully only a couple of years. But I need to stay focussed, put in all the hardwork with both my school work and sport and fingers crossed it will all pay off.”
MORE 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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