Revealed: The top Associated Public Schools of Victoria sporting achievements of 2023
We’ve already celebrated the top academics from Associated Public Schools of Victoria this week, and now we’re recognising the best sporting accomplishments of 2023. See who made our list.
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Races have been run, titles have been won and records have been smashed in an eye-grabbing calendar year of Association Public Schools of Victoria sport.
Here are some of the best individual — and team — performances of 2023.
TARA BAKER, Carey Grammar
Baker, a Year 10 student, was selected to represent Australia in two international ice hockey events next year. She will compete in the 2024 Youth Olympic Games and the Under 18 World Ice Hockey Championships.
ISA BOYD, Carey Grammar
Boyd dominated the World Junior Swimming Championships in Israel in September, winning gold the in the 4x100m Medley Relay where she swam the butterfly leg. In her individual events, Boyd finished fifth in the 50m fly and seventh in the 100m fly.
NED BRAMMALL, Xavier College
Brammall played a key role in the Australian FIBA U16 Asian Championships win in Qatar.
CAULFIELD GRAMMAR’S REIGN CONTINUES
Caulfield Grammar secured the APS Football premiership for the third consecutive year, beating all comers in another sublime season.
CAREY GRAMMAR’S DOUBLE THREE-PEAT
Carey Grammar took out a three-peat of premiership wins in the Girls Hockey and the Girls Netball. The netball side was also crowned State School Champions for 2023.
FLYNN DICKSON, Geelong Grammar
Dickson represented Australia in the Under 19 trans-tasman Underwater Hockey competition in October. Dickson and his Aussie teammates returned with the silver medal.
KHUSH DOEL, Wesley College
Doel won the Girls Under 18 National Cross Country Championships in August, running a speedy 13min59sec in the 4km run.
SIENA FARRELL, Caulfield Grammar
Farrell ran a 60.55-second 400m hurdles at the World Junior Qualifier. She qualified for the World Junior Champions, which is to be held in Peru in August 2024. Farrell also led Caulfield Grammar to the Herald Sun Shield final and third successive APS Football flag this year.
GEELONG COLLEGE CLAIMS DOUBLE DERBY WIN
The Geelong College recently claimed victory in both cricket and footy – boy’s and girls’ – over Geelong Grammar in the local derby.
CHARLIE GRUMMITT, Carey Grammar
Grummitt plundered centuries in the opening two rounds of the APS Cricket season this summer, scoring 100no and 103no in his first two trips to the crease.
HAILEYBURY COMES FROM THE CLOUDS
Haileybury closed down a five-goal deficit against Caulfield Grammar to secure the APS Football premiership. Mitch Kirkwood-Scott was the matchwinner with a sensational goal from outside 50.
JAMES HALL, Scotch College
Hall put the rest of the APS contigent on notice when he took out the U10 Boys National Cross Country event. He raced through the 2km course in a sharp 6min31sec.
CALEB KILPATRICK, Geelong College
Kilpatrick qualified for the Junior World Championship in the under17 400m dash by running an impressive time of 47.54sec. He also led Geelong College to the National Schools Challenge title by winning his event as well as an excellent relay leg.
LACHLAN KING, Brighton Grammar
King went to the All England Club in August to represent Australia at Wimbledon in the U14 Boys Tennis tournament. He then toured Austria and Germany with Tennis Australia.
BEN MAZZEO, St Kevin’s College
Mazzeo made his debut for Melbourne City in the A-League in November and has become a mainstay in the squad since. He joins classmate Sebastian Esposito as one of City’s future stars.
HENRY MELVILLE, Geelong Grammar
Melville took Geelong Grammar to its first APS Cricket title since 2014 earlier this year, scoring over 300 runs across the summer.
JONAH MERCIECA, St Kevin’s College
Mercieca, a Year 10 student, took out the Victorian Junior Elite Diver of the Year after consistent top performances.
JOSHUA PAYNE, Geelong College
Payne jumped his way into APS record books with two terrific performances at the National Schools Challenge. He leapt over 2m in the high jump and 6.71m in the long jump.
OLLIE PEAKE, Geelong Grammar
Peake was phenomenal in Geelong Grammar’s APS title last summer, scoring 542 runs at 77.43 and taking 26 wickets at 17.65.
HUGO PEEL, St Kevin’s College
Peel captained the premiership-winning rugby team in 2023 and as a result was awarded a contract with the Melbourne Storm. Peel was a member of the under-19 team earlier this year but has graduated to the senior ranks.
JEMMA POTTS, Caulfield Grammar
Potts was named MVP of the 17&U Division at the National State Water Polo Championships and consequently earned a spot in the National 18&U squad.
MATILDA PRENDERGAST, Wesley College
It’s been a busy year for the young cricketer, making her First XI debut for Prahran in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition before being named in the Female Emerging Players squad to take on the rest of the country in December.
LEO REEVE, Brighton Grammar
Reeve won the Men’s U17 Para 3km race, recording a rapid 10min29 sec.
TOM ROACH, Scotch College
Roach was awarded the 2023 Community Athlete of the Year.
KASI SAETANG, Wesley College
The Year 4 student blitzed it at the School Sport Victoria golf finals. Despite his age, Saetang also represented Wesley College on the senior golf team.
HARRY SHILLINGTON, Xavier College
Shillington played a crucial role in the Young Socceroos winning the International Marbella Tournament in Spain.
ALEX TURNER, Brighton Grammar
Turner started the 2023-24 season as one of Prahran’s youngest-ever First XI debutants and finished the calendar year with a flurry of APS runs. He made back-to-back centuries for Brighton in the opening two rounds.
LOUIS TREACY, St Kevin’s College
Treacy was named captain of the Australian Under 16 rugby squad which took on the Pacific All-Stars in December.
WESLEY WINS IT
Wesley College won its first Boys Basketball premiership since 2010 after defeating Haileybury College. As it was Haileybury’s only loss of the season, the two schools shared the title.
JACK WHITBOURN, Melbourne Grammar
Whitbourn was selected to do the green and gold of the Boomers in the 2023 FIBA Oceania Championships in October.
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