Top sporting rookies of 2021 - so far
National title wins by Sophie Malcolm (rowing) and Isabelle Carnes (cycling) earlier this week highlights the stunning success of Queensland sporting rookies. Here is a report card on some of our best of 2021 - so far.
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National title wins by Sophie Malcolm (rowing) and Isabelle Carnes (cycling) highlights the stunning success of Queensland sporting rookies. Here is a report card on some of our best of 2021 - so far.
ROWING
SOPHIE MALCOLM
The Brisbane State High School student claimed the single scull at the Australian Rowing Championship in Tasmania over the weekend. This was Malcolm’s third time on the podium. Representing Centenary Rowing Club, the 16-year-old took out gold for the under 17 single scull and also silver in the under 21 lightweight single scull events.
Remarkably Malcolm is also an elite athlete, who earlier this year won the state 3km champs 16 year age group.
CYCLING
ISABELLE CARNES
Queensland rookie Isabelle Carnes was a big winner at the Brisbane Cycling Festival and Track National Championships staged over the weekend.
The Hermit Park State School alumni claimed a gold medal in the elite Women Sprint final, a silver medal in the under 19 Women Points Race Final and a bronze medal in the under 19 Women Omnium Points Race. She also was in the team alongside fellow Queenslander Deneaka Blinco who finished with a silver medal in the 750m under 19 Women Team Sprint. There were also podium finishes for Queenslanders Ryan Elliott, Lachlan Hallmark and Ephraim Martenson who claimed bronze in the 750m under 19 team sprint. Mitchell Yardie also had a great nationals, finishing with a medal in the 100 Laps 25km and joining James Panizza in the under 19 Men Team Pursuit 4000m alongside Tyler Tomkinson and Conor Watson that finished with a medal.
ALEXANDRA MARTIN-WALLACE
The 21-year-old Sunshine Coast talent finished with a gold medal in the Elite Women Scratch Race final of the Brisbane Cycling Festival and Track National Championships, while 21-year-old Rosewood talent Byron Davies was a bronze medallist in the Elite Men 1000m. Martin-Wallace was then the rookie of the women’s pursuit which saw experienced trio Liliana McClennan (University of Queensland), Maddison Taylor and Hayley Jones snare another medal in the women’s team pursuit. Silver in the men’s pursuit went to James Moriarty, Haddon Kilmartin, Liam Walsh and Declan Tresize.
ATHLETICS
Meet the six young Queenslanders who have qualified for the world junior championships scheduled for later in the year. They are St Peters Lutheran College 100m sprint queen TORRIE LEWIS who this year ran a PB of 11.55, Mayne Harriers and Morayfield State High School’s CALEB LAW (200m),
Marsden State High School alumni LYVANTE SU’EMAI (discus, shot put), Gold Coast pair ELLIE BEER (200m, 400m) and TYSON BONNEY (400m) of Ignition Athletics Club, Brisbane bayside junior REECE HOLDER (400m), formerly of Balmoral Little Athletics and St Edmund’s College Ipswich alumni JUDE THOMAS (1500m, 3000m). All are thrilling prospects, with Beer in sparkling form at the Track Classic last weekend.
ATHLETICS
STATE TITLES
Earlier in the month at the Queensland Track and Field Championships, JOSHUA OSBORNE (200m hurdles, under 15s), JOEL DREW (200M hurdles, under 16s), PAYTEN HOGAN (200M hurdles, under 17s), CLAUDIA CHAPMAN (under 20, 200m hurdles) were hurdles champions, while UQ Sport’s MARISSA HANLON (under 16 400m), JESSICA HALL (under 17, 400m), KATELYN MCGEE (800m, under 14s), OSCAR IRANKEJE (boys under 14, 800m), DANIELLE HILLS (under 15, 800m), WILLIAM FREESE (boys under 15, 800m), JAZELLE CARTER (under 16 800m), CHARLIE MILLER (under 16 boys, 800m), MARIE CELIE WARNEKE (under 17 800m), CRAIG PEYTON (under 17 boys 800m), LACHLAN CORNELIUS (under 18, 800m) and NYREE HAMILTON (under 20 boys 800m) were middle distance winners.
Among the 1500m state championships were MOLLY SEWELL, BRIDGET McCORMACK and WILLIAM FREESE. In the 100m dash SETH KENNEDY, ZARA HAGAN, BLAKE BYERS, BALIEE-ANNE TEWAKE, EMMANUEL TAGALOA, EMMA THREADINGHAM, TOSHI BUTLIN, HILAL DURMAZ, ASHLEY WONG, OLIVIA MATZER and CALEB LAW won in their respective age groups, with Durmaz running 11.66 and later claiming the under 18 200m girls state title in 24.34. Nudgee College student Wong’s best event is the 200m and the year 11 student will be pushing for world juniors next year. Carter, who is a representative hockey player, also won the girls under 16 1500m, while SETH MAHONEY, ARCHIE RIDGWAY and RILEY NIVEN shone in their age group 1500m events. In the field, high jumper OSCAR MIERS cleared 2.25m at the state titles, winning the open event.
Then, last Saturday at the Queensland Track Classic, he was third, again an outstanding performance behind two Commonwealth Games representative.
Miers is a Balmoral Little Athletics junior and St Laurence’s College old boy.
ASHLEY MOLONEY
The 21-year-old old Brisbane Boys College alumni from Logan City earlier this year qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games as a decathlete. A Jimboomba Little Athletic junior now coached by Eric Brown at UQ Sport, Moloney is a thrilling prospect who has fast earned the respect of the more seasoned peers around the globe.
Also from Brown’s UQ Sport table, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School’ MILLA ROBERTS won her steeplechase (under 15, 2000m) at the state track and field titles, while Georgia Gilroy (under 16, 2000m), HARRIET LLOYD-JONES (under 17, 2000m), EMMA-KATE WATT (under 18, 2000m), TYLER DOGAN (boys under 15 boys), TOBY CHIPPENDALE (boys under 16 boys), JOSEPH SAUNDERS (under 17), Joseph MATT HANSEN (under 18) were also steeplechase gold medal winners. In under age sprint hurdles DANIEL HARLOW, ALYSSA MCDONALD, ISABELLE PALMER, CHARLIZE GOODY, TAYDEN TOMICH, TYRA ELDRIDGE, JOE DREW, HARRISON PALMER, UNITY BEITZEL, NATHAN TAVERNER, JAY SAHLQVIST and FRASER TOON were state champions. On a little athletics front, Shailer Park SHS Year 10 student Sam Tersteeg won the 800m in the Little Athletics Queensland State Championship.
SWIMMING
MOLLIE O’CALLAGHAN and TOM NEILL
Olympic Games prospects Mollie O’Callaghan and Tom Neill shone at the recent Vorgee Brisbane Metropolitan Championships. O’Callaghan, the St Peters Lutheran College Springfield campus student, was again exceptional breaking the Brisbane record in the 16 years 100m freestyle (54.39 secs) and backstroke (1:00.16).
From the Rackley Centenary Club, Neill broke the Brisbane 18 years record in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, and also in the 200m and 400m individual medley. The St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace old boy won six gold medals and one silver medal. Also at the meet, ISAAC COOPER broke the Queensland and Queensland All Comers 17 years record in the 100m backstroke (55.04 secs) and also the 50m freestyle (23.22). ANDERS MCALPINE, from the Chandler Swimming Club, broke the Brisbane 15 years record in the 100m and 200m freestyle, claiming five gold medals. O’Callaghan’s school and club mate from St Peters Western, ELLA RAMSAY, broke the Brisbane 16 years 200m freestyle (2:02.35) and the 100m butterfly (1:01.09) on her way to four gold medals.
Yet another St Peters Western swimmer, MIA O’LEARY, broke the Brisbane 18 years and open 200m freestyle (1:59.82). KAI TAYLOR, the son of Queensland swim legend Hayley Lewis, was impressive over the 100m freestyle, breaking the Brisbane 17 Years Record (50.55 seconds).
ELIZABETH DEKKERS
Another young Queenslander who is a chance of Olympic swimming selection, Dekkers starred alongside Piper Brien to help All Hallows’ School to a 10th successive CaSSSA swimming championship.
WATER POLO
AMELIA WATT scored the winning goal 50 seconds from full-time to hand her side the open women’s state title. In February, Watt was playing for Brisbane Barracudas when she broke the deadlock against Mermaids.
THe ST Rita’s student since went on to be named in the Queensland Thunder squad for the AWL that was scheduled for this week, but was cancelled. On the boys front, Casper Van der Struijk an-d Will Valentine retained their places in the Thunder squad which was named for the now cancelled AWL, while in the Thunder girls’ All Hallows’ School product Eve Gath has established herself as understudy to Australian goalie, Queensland’s Gabi Palm.
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL
The Australian football season is in its infancy, but a premiership has already been decided. St Laurence’s College claimed its third successive AIC schoolboys premiership, which was played across the first term of school. The entire side can take a bow for maintaining the college’s amazing winning ratio since the competition started in 2019.
RUGBY LEAGUE
John Radel’s leadership of the unbeaten Meninga Cup side Wynnum Manly and the form of dummy half Shaun Packer (also Seagulls) have been early highlights of the local rugby league club season.
Another feature of the Meninga Cup has been the thrilling potency of Townsville Blackhawks pair Dudley Dotoi and Ragarive Wavik who are a constant danger in attack, while Tweed Heads pair Oskar Bryant and Tom Weaver have ramped things up for Tweed.
SAM WALKER (rugby league)
The moment has arrived, with teenage Ipswich Grammar School old boy Sam Walker, from the famous Walker family, ready to make his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters. A halfback, Walker is highly regarded by the rugby league community.
DIVING
SAMANTHA OLIVIER
Queensland has a list of elite young divers, and one of the best is 16-year-old Samantha Olivier who has transferred over from gymnastics. She has only been diving for 18 months and was already invited to the National Squad Synchro camp held in March.
OPEN WATER SWIMMING
Nudgee Swimming Club pair Jessica Mouatt, 19, and Thomas Raymond, 18, will represent Australian at the World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in August. Thomas will swim the 7.5km and Mouatt the 10km. Both impressed at recent nationals, winning medals. “It was the first time Tom has swam the opening part of the race with great efficiency and that allowed him to finish with great speed in the closing stages of the race, he timed his finish to perfection,’’ said Nudgee coach David Proud. “I’m really pleased that Jess has managed to make her first Australian team as she has significantly improved her training over the last few months leading into this 10km race. She made some great tactical decisions throughout the race and it paid off in the final stages.”
TENNIS
Ormiston College continued to dominate the TAS sporting landscape in tennis, winning six girls premierships across all divisions. “This is the first time the Firsts’ girls have won the premiership since 2002,’’ said Ormiston College director of sport Jack Pincott.
VOLLEYBALL
Brisbane schools had great success at the Beach Volleyball Schools Cup, including Kelvin -Grove State College who entered 42 teams to the tournament. Shailer Park SHS also had success from its Academy, entering a record number of players.
Benjamin Lee and Ethan Guttenbeil from Year 12 claimed a gold medal for Shailer Park SHS while Shawn Wilson and Noah Wann of year 10 won the silver medal. The Shailer Park Academy has been so successful, the school has been approached regarding a potential partnership with the Queensland Academy of Sport Emerging Talent program.
SCHOOL CRICKET
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School, Villanova College, The Southport School and John Paul College were First XI cricket premiers in the QGSSSA, AIC, GPS and TAS competition’s respectively.
QGSSSA
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, coached by former Australian off-spinner Nathan Haurtiz, powered to victory over Ipswich Girls Grammar School to claim the premiership. Outstanding batting laid foundations for the premiership, with Naiya Varidel the star. She made scores of 17, 36, 27, 16 and 26 to be the batter of the tournament, and in one match took five catches. Isabel Goffage made four scores over 14 in her five innings and her sister Eliza scores of 6, 23, 13 and 15
GPS
TSS claimed its third GPS premiership in four seasons with four players named in the competition’s Top 10 players. They were Jack Sinfield, Tom Gossett, Liam O’Connor and Lachlan Crump, while Nudgee College’s Daniel Seaton had a competition top score of 146 not out and IGS’s Harry Sheppard finished with most runs.
TAS
Caden Careswell (3-4) and Riley Henderson (3-10) took six wickets between them for John Paul College in last Saturday’s grand final win over West Moreton Anglican College. When JPC batted, Mark Moran (29) and Merrett (27) cautiously took their side toward victory against a disciplined West Moreton attack.
AIC
Premiers Villanova College finished with outstanding bowler Ben Jeffs and allrounder Cameron Bukowski named as Top 10 players in the competition, but the best batsman in the competition was St Laurence’s Oliver Lunt and the premier all-rounder Mitchell Yarrow of Iona College.
CLUB CRICKET
LORD TAVERNERS
Leg-spinner Eshwin Kapoor (Toombul) was the leading wicket-taker with 27 at 13.16 along with Jack Geldard from Ipswich who claimed 22 wickets at 17.32. Alex James (UQ) and Lachlan Holmes (Wests) both snared 20 wickets at 9.4 and 13.2 respectively.
Tom Campbell (Norths) led the runs-scoring with 607 at 67.44 including a highest score of 149, while the Gold Coast’s wicketkeeper/bat Lachy Aitken scored 422 at 52.75 and Paavan Singh (Toombul) 402 runs at 40.2. Gloveman John Joyce from Valley had 16 catches and 2 stumpings.
QUEENSLAND FIRE
The Queensland Fire returned home last week with the Ruth Preddy Cup after winning the Women’s National Cricket League title for the first time - and the side was full of elite Queensland rookies. Brisbane Heat players Georgia Voll and Charli Knott led the charge in a side that also included teenagers Ellie Johnston, Courtney Sippel, Ruth Johnston and Caitlin Mair, the reserve wicketkeeper. Lilly Mills, 20, also shone.
RUGBY
The Queensland Reds are blessed with wonderful young talent pushing its Super Rugby campaign along, and within its wider squad several elite rookies are progressing. Josh Flook (Nudgee College old boys, Brothers), Zane Nonggorr (TSS premiership winner), 2019 Queensland Schoolboy player of the year Mac Grealy (Downlands College), Reds reserve half Kalani Thomas (Ipswich Grammar School) and Fijian powerhouse, Ilaisa Droasese (Wests) were thrilling prospects.
GYMNASTICS
The home of Australian Olympian-in-waiting Georgie Godwin is unearthing the next batch of elite Queensland gymnasts who are seen as potential Commonwealth Games representatives.
Delta Gymnast Godwin has qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games, but behind her club mates Lucy White, Isabella McDonnell-Baum, India Colombi, Alice Zhu, Jessica Cleverly, Grace Webb and Ruby Pass have been identified as high performance athletes.
HOCKEY
Queensland had 11 players from the Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association attend a hockey junior national camp earlier in the year. They were Jordan Office (Redcliffe Leagues), TatumStewart, Claire Colwill (both University), Zandra Fitzpatrick (Kedron Wavell), Ruby Harris, Jade Smith, Morgan Mathison (all Easts), Jesse Reid, Emily Witheyman-Crump, Dayle Dolkens (all Commercial hockey) and Laney Bell-Smith (Ascot).
Meanwhile, Queensland will be represented at two under age national titles in April.
The Australian under 15 National Championships were scheduled for April 9-15 featuring the following Queensland teams: Boys No. 1 - Dominic Anderson (Brisbane), Jesse Bender (Brisbane), Kaleb Benny (Gold Coast), Ryan Cartwright (Cairns), Will Cronk (Toowoomba), Liam Harrold (Brisbane), Lennox Hassum (Gold Coast), Matt Hawthorne (Toowoomba), Jaiden Lenzina (Rockhampton), Cooper Mackenzie (Rockhampton), Kaleb Mayfield (Mackay), Max Montgomery (Sunshine Coast), Brock Philip (Mt. Isa), Lachy Savage (Ipswich) and Samuel Savage (Ipswich) and Jacob Wilson (Maryborough). Boys No. 2 -
Lachlan Blackmore (Gladstone), Chandarayuth Sary (Townsville), Lachlan Davies (Mackay), Thomas Deakin (Brisbane), Jordan Donald (Brisbane), Luke Hall (Tweed), Joel Hubbard (Brisbane), Tyler Kenny (Maryborough), Harry Kirkwood (Mackay), Max Mackley (Brisbane)
Brodie McDowell (Tweed), Matthew Nixon (Brisbane), Sam Riggs (Mackay), Jack Staples (Maryborough), Kye Webster (Gold Coast), Lachlan Ziviani (Toowoomba).
Girls No. 1 - Kara Bradley (Brisbane), Imogen Burger (Tweed Border), Montana Carr (Brisbane), Amy Chiu Chong (Brisbane), Meka Crick (Maryborough), Sophie Davis (Townsville), Bobbie Hamlet (Toowoomba), Georgia Harris (Brisbane),
Eleanor Holmes (Brisbane), Mihaylia Howell (Brisbane), Ellie Kendall (Brisbane), Camryn Mathison (Gold Coast), Nina Murphy (Tweed Border), Sophia Papantoniou (Brisbane),
Lily Richardson (Brisbane), Karissa Van der Wath (Brisbane). Girls No. 2 - Tammin Andrews (Gold Coast), Bridie Bedford (Tweed Border), Kailei Bowers (Brisbane), Madeline Casey (Brisbane), Ella Hagenbach (Toowoomba), Alira Heterick (Tweed Border), Shanelle James (Brisbane), Anastasia Long (Brisbane), Melanie Lum (Cairns), Mia Newbold (Brisbane), Talia Parry (Sunshine Coast), Bree Pendrigh (Cairns), Lara Pyle (Brisbane), Zara Seivers (Cairns), Amelia Wilson (Brisbane), Charlie Jackson (Sunshine Coast).
The under 18 teams bound for the nationals in Tasmania late next week are: Boys - Jacob Anderson (Brisbane), Ryley Bobart (Gladstone), Daniel Burge (Toowoomba), Diarmid Chappell (Fraser Coast), Bailey Charlesworth (Gold Coast), Brock Christensen (Rockhampton)
Geoffrey Crofton (Brisbane), Jack Hawthorne (Toowoomba), Paul Hubbard (Brisbane), Ryan Hughes (Brisbane), Zac McCoombes (Brisbane), Josh Nixon (Brisbane), Hayden Pease (Rockhampton), Ashton Price (Gold Coast), Damien Rapisardi (Brisbane), Pat Sheedy (Mackay), Kipp Thrupp (Brisbane), Ryan Wilcox (Fraser Coast).
Girls - Jordan Bliss (Mackay), Sarah Cocharan (Cairns), Claire Colwill (Mackay), Chloe Daly (Sunshine Coast), Hannah Cullum-Sanders (Fraser Coast), Stella Harris (Brisbane), Mekenzie Hermann (Toowoomba), Amity Humphreys (BWHA), Madeline Kenny (Fraser Coast), Fiona Laybutt (Tweed), Kyra Livermore (Gold Coast), Liv McArthur (Cairns), Jasmin Morrissey (Tweed), Jane Ramsay (BWHA), Annelyse Tevant (Fraser Coast), Demi Walker (Mackay), Georgina West (Brisbane), Eliza White (BWHA).
BASKETBALL
GRACE ELLIS
St Peters Lutheran College alumni Grace Ellis was a member of the University of Wyoming which won the Mountain West Tournament final by defeating Fresno State, 59-56 in what Wyoming Baskeball’s website described as “an all-time classic’’.
QUEENSLAND UNDER 18 STARS
Our basketball expert BRAYDEN HESLEHURST reported on the MVPs from the Basketball Queensland under-18 state championships.
He said the All Star 5 MVP selections for the boys were Rory Hawke (guard/forward – Townsville Heat), Kobe McDowell-White (guard – RedCity Roar), Geordan Papacostas (forward/centre – Brisbane Capitals), Luca Yates (forward/centre – Townsville Heat) and Gold Coast Waves Joshua Wolff (guard/forward).
In the girls Lilly Rotunno was named MVP after again leading her Gold Coast Waves group to an undefeated tournament and state championship victory. Other MVPs were Mackay Meteorettes’ Paris Santacaterina, Waves’ grand final star Jess Petrie, Lil Dart (guard – South West Metro Pirates), and Skye Mason (forward/centre – Gold Coast Waves).
In the under 16 state titles, the MVP’s were Rocco Zikarsky, Lebron Brooks, Prasayus Notoa and Vahayliah
BREENA WALKER (Bobsled)
Breeana Walker from Cairns is, remarkably, world ranked in the sport of bobsled. A nnationally ranked 400m runner, this year she finished at No.2 in the world rankings in the Monobob and should be an automatic selection for Australia in the forthcoming Winter Olympics.
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