Unveiling the top young athletes to watch at the 2025 State Karate Championships
The best young karate athletes from Tasmania and Victoria will converge on Margate on Sunday to compete in the State Karate Championships. We reveal the ones to watch.
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Tasmania’s best young karate athletes from across the state and beyond will converge on Margate for the State Karate Championships.
Clubs from all over Tasmania will be well represented when the championship takes off on Sunday, May 25.
Kimekai Karate Tasmania has the most athletes representing the gym with 14 with Satori Karate Tasmania having 12 students represent and Shotokan Karate Club Tasmania with nine.
Karate Tasmania chair Adam Minster said he was thrilled to welcome competitors, officials and supports to Hobart.
“This event is a true celebration of the dedication, spirit and skills that define karate in our state. We are looking forward to an inspiring day of competition and camaraderie,” said Minster.
The event takes place at Margate Primary School kicking off on Sunday, May 25 at 8.30am.
Here there are six athletes to keep an eye on.
• Lina Kuwada, a 2nd kyu brown belt from Kimekai Karate Tasmania competing in the girls 12-13 years kata. A current state champion in her division.
• Taiyo Painter, a 2nd kyu brown belt from Kimekai Karate Tasmania competing in the boys 14-15 years kata. Current state team member.
• Eliza Minster, a 2nd kyu brown belt from Satori Karate Tasmania competing in the girls 12-13 years kumite. An emerging talent in the modality of kumite.
• Callan Trail, a 3rd kyu brown belt from Satori Karate Tasmania competing in the boys 12-13 years kumite. Keen to prove himself as one of the best in the state.
• Renee Cook, a 4th dan black belt from Kimekai Karate Victoria competing in the women’s senior open kata. A previous champion of her division.
• Madison Mackey, a 2nd dan black belt from Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Tasmania competing in women’s senior open kumite. Debuting in the women’s open division.
Tassie hockey stars to compete in under-21 Championships
Tasmania’s top hockey athletes have been chosen to represent Australia at the Under-21 National Championships, scheduled to take place in Berlin next month.
Six players, from both the men’s and women’s teams, have been selected for the National Championship, while seven players will participate in the European tour.
Magnus McCausland, Jack Pritchard, Oscar Pritchard, Lachlan Rogers, and Oliver Stebbings have been included in the Burras squad, which will compete in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Oscar Sproule will replace Stebbings when the Burras participate in a four-nation tournament in Berlin from June 10 to 27.
Taylor Brooks is the sole Tasmanian named for the under-21 national squad tournament in Berlin, which runs from June 20 to 24. However, her sister Maddi Brooks will join her for the European training camp in Belgium.
Burras coach Jay Stacy has retained 14 of the 18 players who helped the men’s junior national team qualify for the World Cup in India at the Oceania Qualifiers in November.
“We’ve selected a diverse group of talented athletes who meet a lot of criteria and will work well together on the field,” Stacy said.
“The squad will be a highly competitive environment, especially as we finalise our European Tour team, prepare for the Johor Cup in October, and select the best possible Australian team for the Junior World Cup in December.”
‘Start turning kids away’: Harsh reality for Hobart basketballers
Southern basketball figures have united in a concerted push to convince the state government to find $12.5m in the state budget next week to help solve their facility crisis in Hobart before they have to start turning kids away from the sport.
Hobart Phoenix has a shovel-ready $25m basketball facility development ready to go at New Town Bay, which would be the only undercover basketball facility in the Hobart municipality.
Phoenix boss Matt McIver said it was a slam dunk for the government to back the project, which would cater for his club, as well as a flood of junior players coming into basketball, and Hobart’s NBL1 club, the Chargers.
“We’re getting to the stage where we are going to have to start turning kids away from the sport,” McIvor said.
“Basketball is going through unprecedented growth, and no club in southern Tasmania has more junior teams on the floor than Hobart Phoenix.
“We have record numbers of girls sides as well, which is fantastic to see, but we need this facility to cater for them all, otherwise we are not going to have anywhere for them to play.”
With the state government funding half of the project, it would green-light a grant application to the Federal Government for the balance.
Independent MLC Bec Thomas joined the fight, saying the moderate funding commitment would be a sign of good faith from the government, given its commitment to High Performance facilities and a future Macquarie Point Stadium.
“My support for government investment in high performance sporting infrastructure is contingent on it also adequately investing in grass roots sporting facilities,” she said.
“A current discrepancy between high performance sporting facilities and community facilities is simply not fair.
“If the government can magically find $45m for the Devils’ High Performances Centre, taking its total contribution to $105m, then surely it can find $12.5m for a much-needed and long overdue four-court indoor community sporting centre at New Town Bay.”
Hobart Chargers vice-president Kate Clark said her club was desperate for the facility.
“The Chargers are 30-years-old next year, and that will be 30 years without a home and 30 years without somewhere to generate income from a canteen or a bar or somewhere to have a clubrooms,” she said.
“We’ve challenges so imagine how great it would be for our club to have somewhere to generate income to actually enhance the sport, enhance community programs and enhance our juniors coming through the system.
“I’m big on getting facilities and courts for kids, and it’s actually past the critical stage, it’s a crisis and that’s why this facility is needed so badly.”
The Hobart City Council nominated a part of its land at Rugby Park for the basketball build.
How new Tasmanian sporting entity came to life
Two major local sporting organisations have joined forces, with the Brighton Football Club and Karana Netball Club officially merging to create the Brighton Robins Sports Club Inc.
The new entity aims to strengthen community ties and provide a complete sporting pathway for both football and netball players across all age groups in the Brighton and Southern Midlands region.
Brighton president Darren Clark said the announcement comes after a lot of hard work from members and volunteers.
“We have come a long way in four years, but our job is not finished yet,” Clark said.
“The club — and more importantly, the Brighton community — is growing, and we want to be known as the biggest and best sporting club in Tasmania.”
Clark highlighted that the unification completes a full development pathway for both boys and girls, from junior levels through to senior football and elite state netball, all within the same club.
The decision to merge was driven by a shared vision of promoting sports participation across diverse demographics and creating a more inclusive sporting environment.
Karana Netball Club president Libby Morman said the move represents a significant opportunity for the future of netball in the region.
“Providing pathways for players, coaches and officials from junior netball through to the elite state league level, from within the Brighton community, will make continuing to participate in netball accessible to so many more people,” she said.
Morman noted that as Karana celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024, joining the Brighton Robins Sports Club lays the foundation for success for the next 60 years.
The formation of the Brighton Robins Sports Club Inc. is intended to boost participation across all levels of sport, promote inclusivity, and foster a strong community spirit.
JACKJUMPERS LAND NEW BIG MAN
The Tasmania JackJumpers have continued to bolster their roster for next season with the arrival of a young Australian big man.
Melbourne-born Kobe Williamson has signed a two-year deal with the Jackies as he prepares to graduate from Seattle University in the United States after his college basketball career came to an end this year.
During his senior year, the 6’8 product averaged 9.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
He is a former Australian underage representative including the 2018 FIBA Asia Cup where he was part of a gold medal winning team.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get to work with the coaching staff and the guys,” Williamson said.
“I’ve kept an eye on what the JackJumpers have built so far and feel like it’s something really special so I’m excited to be part of it.”
Williamson’s official involvement will start with the JackJumpers in late July when he arrives on the Apple Isle for pre-season training.
“Kobe is a promising young big with huge potential,” JackJumpers chief operating officer Darren Smith said.
“He’s a strong, physical player who will improve our rebounding on both ends and add depth in our bigs rotation.
“We’re excited to support his development and see the impact he can make in a JackJumpers jersey.”
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Originally published as Unveiling the top young athletes to watch at the 2025 State Karate Championships
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