30 hidden Gold Coast sporting talents ready to go to the next level in 2020
The Bulletin unearths 30 lesser-known Coast athletes who we reckon could make an impact at a higher level.
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THE Bulletin unearths 30 lesser-known Coast athletes who we reckon could make an impact at a higher level. These aren’t nmecessarily young guns but rather those who could still be a force at a higher level.
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KAI & SAYA SAKAKIBARA (BMX)
Two-time Aussie BMX champion Kai and sister, national junior elite winner Saya, both continued their march towards the Tokyo Olympics with a blinding season on the track.
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Kai, 23, reached the finals at the world championship elite while Saya was seventh in the same event. Their sport may only be in the spotlight every four years but they look ready to rise.
HEWAGO PAUL OEA (Aussie rules)
The Papau New Guinea-born footballer has been among the Suns best in the academy in recent times, playing underage for the under-18 Allies team while crafting his game in the Suns NEAFL.
Oea is an exciting small forward with good skills and speed to burn. He will be one to watch in the lead up to the national draft or could even be pre-signed by the Suns.
The 19-year-old TSS graduate is set to become Super Rugby’s youngest starting flyhalf. Lolesio played in the centres in TSS’ 2017 GPS premiership-winning side but will move closer to the ruck at the Brumbies.
St Hilda’s swimmer, 18, had an incredible 2019 after moving up from Coffs Harbour to the Gold Coast and looks to be on track for the Tokyo Paralympics. She won six gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the Queensland School Sport titles, she won the Queensland School Sports multiclass female swimmer of the meet and also won bronze for Australia at the first leg of the 2019 World Para-Swimming Series Championships.
TAHLIA DILKES (surf lifesaving)
Turned 18 on December 6 and won gold at the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships as well as gold at the state school swimming titles and five more golds at the world surf lifesaving championships. Ready to go next level.
One-half of the Stingrays’ Sunbowl-winning quarterback combination, the Marymount College graduate will depart our shores in 2020 to play for famous junior college Iowa Wesleyan University in the US. The school was the birthplace of the ‘Air Raid offence’ taking the NFL by storm today.
SEBASTIAN HOPKINS (shooting)
Using a rifle compiled from a list of donated parts, the 19-year-old defied only three years of experience to claim bronze for the Australian under-21 rifle team at the Under-21 Long Range World Championships.
The Coomera Cubs mentor brings a wealth of baseball experience to the club after playing with the Sydney Bluesox. He also won senior championships in the Queensland GBL with Runcorn, played GCBA winter A grade baseball for Coomera and has overseas baseball experience in the United States Indy Ball circuit. Although closer to the end of his career than start, Azzopardi has the experience to light up a local baseball field.
Once touted as one of the most exciting young triathletes coming through the ranks in Australia, Musgrove has struggled with injury throughout her career. Musgrove, 27, has spent the past nine months training under coach Craig Walton at the Bond University Triathlon Club as she attempts to build her body back into shape and become a force on the world triathlon scene.
Fisher was second in the voting for the Syd Guildford Trophy midway through the 2019 season, his first year of playing football in Queensland. A Broadbeach midfielder who accumulates the ball and goes forward to kick goals.
JEAN VAN DER WESTHUYZEN (kayaking)
The 21-year-old recently immigrated from South Africa. After a strong career as a junior paddler, he has gone from strength to strength in the senior division and gained his citizenship in November 2019, so is now eligible to compete for Australia at the Olympic Games.
The apprentice jockey had a four-year hiatus from the Gold Coast spent learning how to ride racehorses during stints in Victoria and Tasmania.
Patis has returned to the Glitter Strip and has four Queensland winners to her name already.
This talented 19-year-old definitely has scope to move up to metropolitan racing in Brisbane as she builds form, technique and relationships with stables.
A 21-year-old hoop who had broken his way into the riding ranks in Brisbane before a switch to Sydney for a few months. Guthmann-Chester, who won the Gold Coast’s apprentice premiership last season, has said he will focus on riding winners at Aquis Park in the short term but don’t expect him to stay there long.
The Palm Beach Currumbin player won the Syd Guildford trophy for the QAFL’s most valuable player by 31 votes and finished runner-up in the Grogan Medal by a point to Mt Gravatt’s Frazer Neate. A gun in the midfield who was at the top of the league’s most dominant team.
She’s so young at 15-years-old but has so much potential following her father Brent’s footsteps. Kyra plays with a maturity level well above her age. Labrador gun has represented her state at a number of levels over recent years and was named in the Australian under-16 team at the conclusion of the school sport nationals in August.
The 15-year-old Currumbin prodigy was the talk of Tugun beach at Round 1 of Oceans 38, light-work of her own age group, before stepping up and finishing second in the open ironwoman. Also came second in the under-15 ironwoman at the Aussies.
JOSH WILLIAMS (Aussie rules)
The former Suns academy player got his crack at the AFL with North Melbourne but managed just two senior games in his two-year stint with the Kangaroos.
An ankle problem hindered him for a period while playing for the Southport Sharks NEAFL team in 2019 but expect him to be on the radar of AFL clubs looking for mid-season recruits should he string some good games together.
Gold Coast Dolphins coach Chris Swan earlier this season said Hope-Shackley had the talent to play white-ball cricket for Queensland and he has done his selection chances no harm.
In a breakout Queensland Premier Cricket campaign, the 26-year-old all-rounder has scored four centuries and taken valuable wickets for the Dolphins.
A former WNCL star with the Queensland Fire from 2001-06, McDougall has shown she still has what it takes to compete at the top level. Now 35, she came out of retirement for the Gold Coast Dolphins in January and has been a shining light in their Katherine Raymont Shield charge.
Another Bond University triathlete who was crowned the 2017 world champion in the 25-29 age category. Brown has gone on to feature in two Oceania Cups and an Oceania Championship while finding success in the Queensland Triathlon Series. Brown is one who could go to another level under coach Craig Walton.
The Broadbeach United striker is one of the leading goalscorers in Gold Coast Premier League history.
Now 32, Robinson made his top-flight debut for Mudgeeraba at just 14 and continues to dominate the local competition.
THE younger sister of dual-code star Zahara Temara, Chante enjoyed a breakout season in 2019. The 18-year-old fullback starred in Burleigh’s run to the SEQ Women’s Division 1 grand final and also made her debut for the Queensland under-18s in June.
Strydom’s stocks have continued to rise since moving to the Gold Coast for the Sapphire Series to play with the Bond Bull Sharks. The South African was a key pillar in the Bull Sharks defence all season, winning the Bull Sharks best defensive player award as well as taking out player of the year. The endurance machine has been named in the Netball Queensland Fusion squad.
The Surfers Paradise Bluewaves star turned his back on an ABL career to help his childhood club soar back into Greater Brisbane League contention. The 26-year-old, who currently works as a baseball and strength and conditioning coach, said that the passion was still there to potentially return to Australia’s elite level. He is also set to represent New Zealand at the upcoming world baseball qualifiers after playing for his country at various tournaments in the past.
A South Queensland Aussie rules representative, Schoenmaker is one of the Kookaburra Cup’s most promising young batsmen.
The right-handed opener was a member of the Burleigh side that claimed its maiden first grade premiership in 2017-18 and remains a rock at the top of the Bullsharks order.
A member of the QBL all-star five, Spencer Parker went far and above in his first season in the Rollers. He was a huge reason behind the Rollers 2019 grand final appearance. Led the team in scoring (22.5 points) and rebounds (6.9). Has been a class above all season.
A former Keebra Park prodigy, Toia remains on the Intrust Super Cup radar at Burleigh.
The 26-year-old halfback is now a three-time Rugby League Gold Coast premiership winner, having steered the Bears to A grade titles in 2015 and 2019 and Runaway Bay to the 2018 crown.
JACQUELINE LUNA-CASTRO (basketball)
Consistent performer who was incredibly effective inside the paint, averaging 17 points and nearly nine rebounds a game. Her season included huge tallies of 27 points against the Seahawks, Cairns and Gladstone. Great defensive player as well and a major reason behind the Rollers grand final berth.
HAYDEN WHITE (surf lifesaving)
Would have been dissapointned to miss out on qualifying for the Nutri-Grain series but has been a fixture on the local surf life saving circuit since. White finished sixth in the Coolangatta Gold elite men’s field after a couple of series stars opted not to compete and also took out the open ironman race at round one of summer of surf.
A two-time Postle Gift winner, Waight has represented Queensland in 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay. She holds a club record in every age group except under-8, totalling 21 different records. Broke Pearson’s longstanding Ashmore under-15 200m record.
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