The high achieving secondary school sporting aces revealed here from Brisbane’s Eastern, Bayside Schools
Here’s 150 of the top Brisbane East, Bayside School Sport Achievers as our four part series featuring Queensland’s rising sporting stars continues today. See the full list here.
Other Sports
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Our four-part series highlighting many of the best secondary school aged sporting achievers continues today featuring athletes from Brisbane’s East and the Bayside.
Yesterday we launched our series with a focus on the western suburbs schooling high achievers, and today we swing east, a region which is a mecca for elite Queensland sporting talent.
TOP BRISBANE WEST SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE SOUTH WEST, LOGAN AND IPSWICH ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE NORTH AND MORETON ACHIEVERS
On Wednesday we will focus on young athletes from north of the Brisbane river, and on Thursday it will be the turn to put rookies from the south and south west corridor in the spotlight.
Enjoy today’s insight into many of the high achieving sporting youth in our region.
TOP BRISBANE EAST SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
Jump to your school:Moreton Bay College I Churchie I Cannon Hill Anglican College I Carmel College I Citipointe Christian College I Clairvaux Mackillop College I Brisbane SHS I Wellington Point SHS I Sheldon College I Sommerville House I Iona College I Villanova College I John Paul College I Redlands College I Brisbane Bayside SC I All Hallows’ School I Loreto College I Ormiston College I Capalaba SC I St Laurence’s College I Gregory Terrace I
MORETON BAY COLLEGE
Caterina Meyer (Sailing)
Moreton Bay College student Meyer was contributing to Queensland’s great tradition in sailing after representing Australia in the ILCA 4 (Junior Laser Class) World Championship held in Portugal last month.
The current national ILCA4 Champion and the ILCA6 overall open under-17 state champion, Meyer was selected earlier this year as part of the SailGP’s Youth Inspire Program. Meyer aspires to be the top under-17 woman at 2025 Nationals
Addison Lester (Sailing)
A promising youngster from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Lester was making a name for herself following her selection in the Australian Youth Sailing Squad which travelled to Italy in April to compete in an international regatta.
The 16-year-old discovered her passion for the sport when her family went to the Arlie Beach Race Week for a holiday and has sunk her teeth into it ever since.
Charlotte Hansen (Volleyball)
The Finals MVP at the Australian Youth Beach Under-18 Volleyball Championships, gold medallist Hansen has the Volleyroos Women in her sights and aspirations.
An Australian selection who recently contested the Under-18s Asian Women’s Volleyball Championships, defensive specialist Hansen was already well on her way.
Hansen represented Australia at the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship in June.
Emily Cane (Shooting)
Dead shot Emily Cane represented Australia in the Oceania Championships and miraculously came away a winner in all three events.
The Shooting Australia National Pathways squad member secured a Paris 2024 Olympic Quota for Team Australia in the 50m Rifle 3P Women’s Event at the 2023 Oceania Shooting Championships, breaking the Juniors Finals record with an impressive score of 438.2.
Kobi Walker (Athletics and Cross Country)
The exciting MBC senior has had a decorated junior career which reached flashpoints winning silver in the 3000m event at Nationals, winning the 4.5km Bridge to Brisbane and snaring gold twice in the 3000m and 1500m events at the State Championships, among other achievements.
Walker is following family footsteps when it comes to being in the top group of players, her mother (Katie) an ex-Firebird netballer, cousin (Sam) the Roosters playmaker, and her father (Shane) and uncle (Ben) Broncos legends.
Lily Richardson (Hockey)
Field hockey prodigy Lily Richardson was last year selected in Hockey Australia Women’s Futures (under-18) Squad, which followed her recognition as the Player of the Tournament when Australia contested the Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia late last year.
The Easts junior has backed up her bumper 2023 season with selection in the Under-18 and Under-21 Queensland Hockey teams kick starting her representative 2024 season.
Lucy Tunstall (Volleyball)
Tall middle blocker Lucy Tunstall, a 16-year-old Year 11 student at MBC, was last year selected in the Australian Women’s Under-18s side as a Year 10 student.
Charlotte Hansen’s partner in crime, Tunstall is a renowned defensive weapon who has the height, competitive edge and athletics to one day be an Olympian.
Both Tunstall and Hansen represented Australia at the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship in June.
Charli Nikola (Rugby 7s)
It takes a serious athlete to mix it with Australian 7s superstars Charlotte Caslick, Maddison Levi, Isabella Nasser and her band of Olympic bound teammates.
Charli Nikola, an Australian School Sport Touch selection, was doing just that earlier this year as a wider squad member in the Australian 7s set-up.
She is an athlete, with power and finesse.
Skye McKibben (Aerobics)
The fit as a fiddle McKibben is MBC’s latest international after representing Australia in an IAF Aerobics Competition in Japan last month. McKibben, who has her grounding courtesy of Premier Gymnastics Gymnasts, gathered valuable international experience in 2023 when she
represented Australia at the 8th Cantanhede FIG World Cup in Portugal.
Rosy Ryan (swimming)
Big hearted Ryan is an elite long distance swimmer who, earlier this year, claimed a bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle at the Australian swimming championships.
This was after placing at the All Ages and finishing sixth at the 2024 Australian Open Water Championships in both the 5000m and 10000m events.
Polina Leanova (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
A MBC student who started her rhythmic gymnastics journey as a 5-year-old in Europe, Leanova is a 10-year young veteran who has taken home medals in the Australian National Gymnastics Championship every year ever since she moved here.
She has represented Australia in Greece at the Aphrodic Cup and in Bulgaria at the Sophia Cup this year.
Chloe Bowen (Triathlon, cross country, track and field, cycling)
Chloe Bowen is a true all-rounder with a big, big motor who has an extraordinary record of success in four different sports.
She has represented Queensland in triathlon, cross country, track and field and cycling, including winning the 2023 state triathlon title and finishing with a silver medal at the nationals.
Earlier this year she was named in the Queensland triathlon team again, including making the 2024 Queensland School Sports state team for triathlon.
On the track she proudly wore the maroon shirt at the national track and field championships where she took on rivals in the gruelling 3000m and 1500m events.
She was also selected in 2023 for the Queensland cross country team, however could not compete because it clashed with national cycling commitments.
On the cycling track, Bowen was a member of Queensland Road Cycling team and competed at under-17 National Road Cycling championship.
Siena Gibson (Swimming)
A gold medallist in the 200m butterfly at the Australian Age Swimming Championships and silver medallist in the 100m freestyle and butterfly events.
Gibson, the swimming all-rounder, has also been selected in the Queensland Swimming team to contest the New Zealand Championships this August across the Tasman.
Jazmyn Grenn (Waterpolo)
MBC’s senior sportswomen of the year, Grenn was named in the Australian Athletics Target Talent program, but was also a Queensland Waterpolo selection.
An Under-18 Australian Waterpolo squad member, Grenn represented the country in the United States last year at the National Track and Field Championships where she claimed fifth in Javelin.
Her arm is certainly powerful.
Annika Kobus (Swimming)
A giant in the pool, Kobus claimed bronze in the 50m freestyle and butterfly events at the Australian Age Swimming Championships this year and subsequently gained selection in the Hancock Prospecting 2032 Bris Vegas Camp held on the Sunshine Coast this month.
Chloe Munro (Athletics)
The long striding Wynnum Manly Little Athletics young gun snared gold in long jump and bronze in triple jump at the Australian School Sport Track and Field National Championships last year and reached another height claiming silver in long jump at the Australian Athletics Championships this April.
Ruby Hazell (Athletics)
Hazell is one of the best in the business who, at the national little athletic championships, surged to a gold medal in the 1500m and a silver medal in the 800m events. What a performance it was.
She was a tremendous leader within the Queensland team
Mia McGrath (Athletics)
Mighty Mia McGrath stood proudly on the podium after claiming a bronze medal in the 800m at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships.
Holly Bradford (Athletics)
Bradford was a golden girl when she was a part of the Queensland 4x100m relay which swept to victory at the Australian Athletics Championships in April.
An outstanding track and field exponent, she had earlier performed with distinction at the Queensland Athletics Championships in March (under-17s), finishing third in the 100m dash (12.39 seconds), and a month later backing that performance up with third placing at the Australian Under-17 Championships. She was also fifth in the 200m final.
Her bumper Queensland Athletics Championship haul in March also included second place in the long jump (5.34m) and third in the 200m (24.99 seconds).
Houstand Paea (Athletics)
A sprint and jump athlete, Paea was a member of the Queensland 4x100m relay that claimed silver at the Australian Athletics Championships earlier in the year. She also produced a fourth place performance in long jump after earning her place on the Queensland side with a podium finish (third) at the state championships in under-14s.
Mabel Dart (athletics)
High jumper Mabel Dart was a member of the Queensland team which competed at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships late last year, finishing seventh. This was after winning a place on the team with a silver medal winning performance at the Queensland All Schools. She also finished second at the National Schools Challenge final.
Amelia Sherrard (athletics)
Amelia Sherrard (Athletics)
Sherrard released the handbrake and ran for all she was worth to finish second in a time of 2:17.70 at the under-17 800m at the Queensland Athletics Championships during April. Just one month earlier she posted a PB (2:16.74) at the Norma Croker Shield event. In April she also produced a gallant performance representing Queensland at the Australian under-17 Championships.
Astrid Muniandy (Cricket)
A quiet and unassuming cricketing ace who was selected in the Queensland Under-16 side this year, Muniandy scores runs at pace for the Wynnum Manly Sea Eagles in second grade club cricket.
There is fierce internal competition within the household for who has more cherries on the bat with Astrid’s brother Clancy also a fine cricketer who attends Iona College.
Astrid is however a part of the Sea Eagles’ leadership team despite being one of the babies of the side.
Maddi Reisinger (Basketball)
WBNL teams should be circling this athletic livewire who spearheaded the Queensland Under-18s earlier this year and the Queensland Under-16s team back in 2022.
The Basketball Queensland National Performance Program athlete is a pass first player who knows when she needs to attack and when she does only the best defenders can prevent her from getting to her spots and finishing.
She is a star in the making.
Briget Curtis and Milla Cocciolone (Basketball)
MBC were becoming a basketball powerhouse in the QGSSSA, with Maddi Reisinger, Vahayliah Seumanutafa (now at BSHS), Briget Curtis and Milla Cocciolone all from MBC.
Curtis made the Queensland’s Under-15s side while Cocciollone was selected in the Under-14 BQ Future Development Program.
Sarah Joyce, Ashleigh Stariha, Ruby Mlarka, Brooke Marchant (netball)
Moreton Bay College continued to produce elite netball players, including Joyce who had the distinction of making both the Queensland under-17s and under-19 teams – and being named vice-captain of 19 years.
Stariha and Mlarka were both teammates in the under-15 Queensland School Sport Netball team, while Brooke Marchant was named in the under-18 Queensland School Sport outfit.
Ermma Burney, Emma Delaney and co
Moreton Bay College’s long list of achievers does not stop there, with:
+ Emma Burney earning selection in the under-15 Queensland School Sport Triathlon team;
+ Emma Delaney played her way into the Queensland under-16 hockey team;
+ Harper Greer (athletics) claiming a gold medal in High Jump at Australian All Schools Athletics Championships last November;
+ Keilani Kratzmann (athletics) representing Queensland in 1500m at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships last November;
Quinn Byrne (athletics) becoming a Queensland representative in the 1500m at Australian All Schools Athletics Championships;
+ Lily Neill named in the 16-18 Years Girls Queensland Representative School Sport Touch Football Team;
+ Jovana Petrovic named in the 4 13-19 Years Queensland Representative School Sport Tennis team.
ANGLICAN CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Quinn MacNicol (Football)
A young star, MacNicol was of course Brisbane’s youngest ever A-League debutant (16)
The Australian Under-17s selection has Socceroo written all over him, but for now he has to focus on his external exams before representing the Joeys and enjoying a bumper 2025 season with the Roar.
Adam Beiers (track and field)
Adam Beiers surged into rare air when he was named in the Australian team bound for the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru this August.
A member of the Tigers Athletics Club, he roars around the track in the 400m.
Beiers has been a great contributor to the Churchie track and field program, and his surging 400m win in the 16 Years at the GPS track and field championships, with his powerful leg drive carrying him to the line, was a highlight.
Lucas Herrington (Football)
Part of News Corp’s GPS First XI football squad of the season, Lucas Herrington was a dominant premiership winning centre back who the Brisbane Roar are keeping a close eye on.
A Roar youth squad member, Herrington made the Australian Under-17s Men’s National Team last year and has another season to develop in the school’s football program next year as a Year 12 student.
Jack Love (track and field)
A record breaking Under-18s speedster, Jack Love last year smashed the 400m Hurdles event in a pacy 51.62s.
The Under-18s record holder, Love was of course a walk-in in the Australian team which challenged the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinbago.
Earlier this year he won the 200m at the Queensland Athletics Championships (21.53 seconds), won the 400m under-20 hurdles at the same championships and then finished second at the Australian under-20 Championships, also in the 400m hurdles.
Zane North (Churchie)
The glue of Churchie’s First XI side, centre defensive mid North displayed a V8 engine and superb tackling ability this season which followed last year’s selection in the Australian Under-17s side.
He is an attacking general who plays alongside Herrington in the Brisbane Roar Youth team.
Jye Crothers (Rugby)
Churchie’s forward prime mover, Jye Crothers is sure to be a handful for opposition defenders in the GPS rugby competition this year.
A returning First XV second rower or flanker, Crothers’ older brother Zac was also a high achieving Churchie student who plays for Easts.
Photo: Michael Marston – ePixel Images
Treyvon Pritchard (Rugby)
Keep an ear out for the name Treyvon Pritchard, or even his older brother Kadin, in years to come.
Both are elite rugby talents, Treyvon, a Year 12 Churchie student who last year was the Australian Under-16 fullback after an impressive campaign for the Queensland Reds Under-16s. He has an x-factor.
Charlie Lopes (Track and field)
A track and field whiz to watch in years to come, Charlie Lopes was a Queensland representative in the Under-13 boys age group, specialising in the 100m and 200m events at the Australian Athletics Championships.
Photo: Michael Marston – ePixel Images
Riley Wondergem (Hockey)
There were all types of budding sports stars getting educated at Churchie.
One of them was field hockey ace Riley Wondergem, Queensland’s vice-captain last year and a selection in School Sport Australia’s All Hockey Team.
Watch this space.
Maxwell Cunningham (Swimming)
We are looking at a potential future Olympian, a record breaking 14-year-old phenom up earlier than the rest swimming laps in Churchie’s pool.
The Australian record holder in 50m butterfly (24.97s), Cunningham competed in the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships in 2023 and has been on a steep upward trajectory since.
William Shepherd-Smith (Swimming)
Another high achieving swimmer, Will Shepherd-Smith was selected in Australia’s team bound for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, held at the AIS in Canberra in August.
The championships are a major benchmark meet for the Junior Dolphins ahead of the World Junior Championships next year and act as a litmus test against the best international juniors including swimmers from the United States, Japan and Canada.
The GPS powerhouse, a 2023 Junior Olympic Games representative, is one of the very best young talents storming through the Queensland swimming ranks.
He was joined at the Pan Pacs by fellow Churchie swim club members, Ike Martinez and Zoe Ammundsen, both of whom also feature in this article, and Thomas Pattison and Anders McAlpine - such a great representation for a small club.
Noah Kirk (Basketball)
A Cairns product now honing his skills at Churchie, National Performance Program (NPP) member Noah Kirk was a Queensland state selection capable of anything on the court.
Fast, agile and efficient from three point land, Kirk has basketball in his blood and will play First V basketball as a Year 10 student this year.
Kurt Siwek (Basketball)
A towering centre, Kurt Siwek was Churchie’s First V basketball big man for three seasons running and will embark on his final season on Saturday, July 13.
210cm tall, strong and well balanced, Siwek was a member of Basketball Queensland’s National Performance Program (NPP) in 2023.
Photo: Amy Storen
Andrew Watene (Churchie)
Churchie’s First V basketball premiership hopes were looking strong with Andrew Watene, a Year 9 prodigy, set to play a role off the bench.
A Rockhampton lad now at one of Queensland’s great sporting schools, Watene is a vicious dunker and three point shooting specialist in Basketball Queensland’s NPP.
Luka Sazdov (Volleyball)
Churchie’s First VI prime mover in the GPS Volleyball season, Luka Sazdov was capable of anything in the sport.
He was a member of the Australian team which won silver at the Under-16 division at the USA Volleyball Junior Beach Nationals held in Florida last year and trains as hard as anyone.
Sravan Renjith (Chess)
This kid is an absolute gun, a 15-year-old Churchie chess wonder who is in the top distinction of Australian Chess players.
His FIDE International Master title means there are fewer than 100 Australians as good as him.
Good luck outplaying Renjith.
Felix Mutinelli (Debating)
Good luck winning an argument against this bloke.
Felix Mutinelli, Churchie’s debating whiz, was a Queensland State Debating Team selection for the National Schools Debating Championships and on any given night, could wriggle himself out of a debate with a clever reply.
Caelan Smith (Debating)
Mutinelli’s partner in crime, Caelan Smith was also a Queensland State selection who, with Mutinelli, form a deadly duo who often get the chocolates at GPS debating meets.
CANNON HILL ANGLICAN COLLEGE
Callie Bannister (CHAC)
Challie Bannister is another of the college’s sporting internationals, having represented Australia in Judo during April this year.
The nimble and powerful 17-year-old brown belt is also a blistering cross country runner who uses her v8 engine in the ring to outlast her opponents.
Toby Chippendale (track and field)
Chippendale is a track and field young giant who has earned selection in the Australian team bound for the 2024 World Athletics under-20 championship in Peru.
Coached by Ben Norton, the youngster made it for the 3000m steeplechase.
It is a huge achievement for this under age athlete who has taken on the challenge of competing in one of sports most gruelling events.
Zoe Ammundsen (swimming)
Zoe Ammundsen was named in the junior Dolphins for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in August.
The championships are a major benchmark meet for the Junior Dolphins ahead of the World Junior Championships next year and act as a litmus test against the best international juniors including swimmers from the United States, Japan and Canada.
Her long list of swimming achievements include:
+ 100m and200m Backstroke National Champion
+ Representing Australia at the 2023 junior Commonwealth Games;
+ breaking the TAS record for backstroke earlier this year, a record previously held by Olympian Shayna Jack.
+ Podium finishes at the All Ages nationals staged on the Gold Coast in April.
Sam Orford (Volleyball)
Since arriving at the school in Year 7, Sam Orford has been a sporting wonder – in Volleyball, Tennis, Football, Cross Country, you name it, he is involved.
But it is in the First VI Volleyball where he is most at home. The Met East volleyball captain, Orford captained CHAC to their second ever First VI premiership earlier this year and was a key cog in Queensland’s victorious squad which won the National Championships last year.
Harry Orford (Football)
Moreton Bay United youngster Harry Orford was one of CHAC’s most talented football players, the Queensland Under-15 captain last year.
The Year 11 is also in the Roar Academy, where he is mixing it with the best junior players like Rhys Williams (Nudgee), Quinn MacNicol (Churchie) and Ashton Burowes (BBC) and it showed when he played an instrumental role leading Queensland to second place at last year’s National Championships.
CARMEL COLLEGE
Riley Brennan (surf life saving)
The Year 12 student represented the Australian Lifesaving Team at the 2023 German Cup Championships in Pool Rescue.
This was his fourth Australian team representation, and he was the youngest ever member
selected to race for his country against the world’s best pool rescue athletes.
His success is hard earned. Brennan dedicates four hours a day to training, six days a week to preparing for competition.
His next big event will be representing Australia at the 2024 World Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast, August 20-September 8. He is a member of the Currumbin SLSC and Sunshine Coast Grammar Pool Lifesaving Club.
Thomas Love (surf life saving)
Year 12 student Thomas competed at the 2023 Sharkskin Queensland IRB Championships where he claimed two silver medals in the under-23 Male Tube Rescue Event and the under-23 Female Tube Rescue Event.
Thomas was also selected in the Queensland Cyclones IRB Development Team which competed at the 2023 Australian IRB Championships at Kingscliff.
Thomas also competed for his club Point Lookout at the Australian IRB Championship and
came away with a team silver medal in Taplin Relay.
Billy Love (surf life saving)
Billy competed at State Surf Rescue Championships in February 2024. He competed in
Champion Lifesaver where Billy came first in the under-17.
Jack Whitehouse, Lachlan Morley and Brody Velthuis – all triathletes
What a terrific trio Whitehouse, Morley and Year 9 student Velthuis demonstrated their talent, determination and resilience in competing in triathlons, earning themselves the honour of representing Queensland at the national championships.
Whitehouse was also named in the Queensland school sports triathlon team for 2024.
Lara Crisafi (athletics)
A Year 8 student, Lara was on the track at the All Schools State Qualifying meet earlier in the year where she won both the 100m and 200m events in her age group.
From this springboard, Lara represented Queensland at the Australian track and field championships in April.
Her performance at the All Schools State meet also qualified her for the All Schools Nationals to be staged in Perth in December.
Lara is currently ranked third in Australia for the 100m.
Chelsea Jackson (softball)
The young softballer showcased her exceptional talent representing Queensland at the under-18 Women’s National Softball Titles in Perth earlier this year.
Chelsea played a crucial role in all 13 games throughout the tournament
and contributed to Queensland’s impressive journey to the grand final.
Sienna Fens (softball)
Yet another Queensland representative, Fens played with distinction for Queensland Metro at the Under-14 National Softball Championships.
The tournament provided Sienna with invaluable experiences in both life and sport.
A highlight of the event for Sienna was being presented with her Queensland jersey by the great Tanya Harding, a four-time Olympic medallist.
Saige Groves (weightlifting)
Saige Groves, Year 10 student at Carmel College has won a silver medal in the
Oceania Championships for Australia. Saige then came first in under 15 in Australia for second in Australia in the women’s 64kg youth category. Groves was also second in Oceania for Women 64kg youth.
CITIPOINTE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Thomas Booth (swimming)
Meet one of Queensland’s most exciting swimming talents, Thomas Booth, a Year 12 student at Citipointe Christian College who was one of the swimmers of the meet at the Australian Age Nationals.
So well did he swim, he secured a spot on the Australian Junior Swim Team which competed at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
Thomas’s outstanding performance included personal best times in all events over six days of racing. Thomas, a 2023 Junior Olympic Games bronze medallist, claimed Australian Age Champion titles in the 50m Butterfly and 100m Backstroke events.
Other results include:
50m Butterfly: First place, Australian Champion
100m Backstroke: First place, Australian Champion
Plus top placements in other events and relay races:
100m Freestyle Boys 17 years: second
50m Freestyle Boys 17 years: second
50m Backstroke Boys 17 years: third
QLD Team Relay 4 x 50m Medley: first
QLD Team Relay 4 x 50m Freestyle: second place
CLAIRVAUX MACKILLOP COLLEGE
Jake Tysoe (Swimming)
There was a potential future Olympian spreading his wings at Clairvaux MacKillop College, 16-year-old Year 11 student Jake Tysoe.
The express 100m and 200m butterfly whiz was selected in the Australian team for the Oceania Open Championships and came first in the 200m butterfly and second in the 100m butterfly.
The Year 11 student also snared two golds in the 4x50 and 4x100 men’s relay events which saw him compete at the Paris Olympic swimming trials in the 200m butterfly.
Zara Gaviglio (Volleyball)
Flying the flag for the school’s Volleyball program was Zara Gaviglio, the Queensland School Sport selection who was named in the All Australian Merit Team after the school sport championships held in June.
The Met East select fended off fierce internal competition for a place in Queensland’s side and showed out at the National Championships to accompany a team of the 12 best volleyballers in the country.
She is clearly talented.
BRISBANE STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Poppy Lochran (water polo)
A 14-year-old youngster from the powerhouse Mermaids club, made the Australian team which contested the World Aquatics Women’s under-16 Water Polo Championships recently in New Zealand. She hails from the Mermaids club where she first plunged into the water polo pool in 2019.
Joshua Conias (Swimming)
An Australian selection for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, promising junior Josh Conias was a thrilling GPS sporting talent.
Earlier this year the State High swimming sensation broke the GPS swimming record with a withering 22.79s burst.
Will Heath (Cycling)
Balmoral Racing Club prodigy Will Heath will be a name you hear plenty more of, there is no doubt about it.
A QAS athlete who has competed in Europe for Australia’s Road Cycling team, Heath was a Commonwealth Youth Games representative last year where he claimed Bronze.
His list of achievements is longer than the average grocery list and the way things are going he is only getting started.
Hannah Allen (Swimming)
Another Commonwealth Youth Games representative from 2023, swimming ace Hannah Allen was a formidable 400m and 800m swimmer who only deals in gold and silver.
The young gun was quick enough to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games and there are no quicker 50m freestyle swimmers in the GPS and QGSSSA than Allen, who has got it done in 22.69 seconds.
Tate Van Camp (Athletics)
Stats don’t lie and they indicate this Year 9 athlete from Little Athletics Arana is the fastest 800m (1.58.88) and 1500m (4.01.63) runner in all of Australia.
As a Year 8 student in 2023 he dominated the competition at the All Schools Australian Championships in Perth, claiming first place in the 13 Years 400m, 800m and 1500m – a feat which has never been achieved before.
It is scary to think how quick this youngster, who was trained in Ashgrove by John Purcell, could be in just a few years.
He already has eight National Gold medals and has never been beaten at a National or State event in 800m or 1500m events.
Karissa van der Wath (Hockey)
The emerging field hockey ace made the Under-21 state team as a 17-year-old.
That says everything about her ability, as does her selection in the Jillaroos team (the national Under-21 team).
The player of the tournament at the Under-21 Nationals in Newcastle earlier this year plied her trade at the Commercial club but is destined for higher honours.
A special mention also for these two Queensland under-16 hockey team representatives, Aryel Bisseling and Josie Burgess, who attended the nationals earlier in the year.
Roman Siulepa (Basketball)
It is at times hard to describe the talent possessed by Year 12 Tasmanian JackJumpers signed NBL Next Star Roman Siulepa.
The tournament MVP for Queensland at this year’s Under-20 National Championships, Siulepa plays like a freight train in basketball and also in rugby where he is one of the best No. 8s in his age group.
The athletic and tall NBL contracted cross-code wonder has been turning heads at Souths Rugby Club and at NBL1 level for some time and has the mindset and natural ability only few have.
Prasayus Notoa (Basketball)
A smooth operator on the hardwood, Prasayus Notoa was one of the classiest, most deadly hoopers going around.
A National High Performance Program member, Notoa has claimed gold seven times at the Queensland State Championships and was deservedly selected in the Australian Sapphires Under-17 squad.
Watching her play is memorising. For her it is like clockwork, facilitating her teammates with dimes and using her elite footwork down low to chisel her way to the cup.
Nicholas Humphries (Volleyball)
Brisbane State High’s volleyball star, alongside fellow senior Lara Maric.
Humphries has springs in his feet and tremendous ability which saw him gain selection in the National Beach Volleyball Program earlier this year.
An Under-20 Australian development squad member, Humphries last year won silver playing in the Queensland Under-18s side who contested the National Youth Volleyball Championships in Bendigo.
Lara Maric (Volleyball)
The high achieving BSHS senior made the state team for indoor volleyball last year and has backed that up this year with selection in the Australian national team who are training for the Asian Championships.
A QAS beach volleyball athlete, Maric has been earmarked as a potential Olympian in 2028 or 2032 and has a decorated junior representative career as a beach volleyball player.
Sienna Ibrahim (Rugby, rugby league)
A sporting high achiever who is in both the Brisbane Lions (AFLW) and Gold Coast Titans (NRLW) academies.
An athlete with tremendous leg power, Ibraham has been off the field nursing an ACL injury but before sustaining that, she was ticking boxes in rugby, rugby league and rugby 7s where she has represented Queensland and Australia.
The QAS talent reminds us a little bit of Isabella Nasser, the Paris bound Australian rugby 7s star.
She is also a leading player at the Coorparoo AFC.
Taoso Taoso (water polo)
Redlands talent Taoso was a member of the Australian under-16 team which competed at the World Aquatics Water Polo Championships in Malta during June. It was the second successive year he had made the side and added to a long list of achievements by Taoso in the pool, including:
– an under 18 Australian team squad member 2023 Water Polo Under 16 Australia team
– 2024 State medallist for UQ Barras
– 2023 State medallist in under 16-18s for UQ Barras Gold
Taoso was also a Dolphins’ academy signing in rugby league who helped Norths win two junior premierships. He is also a fine rugby union player.
Sienna Trew (BSHS)
A Queensland schoolgirls 14-15 years rugby league representative, Trew has a bundle of courage. The competitive utility is absolutely fearless and came on in leaps and bounds for the South Logan Magpies in the Harvey under-17s earlier in the year.
A tight forward who could play edge, she has had plenty of practise honing her skills - her older brother Bailey played in a Broncos pre-season trial game against Wynnum Manly at Kougari Oval earlier this year.
Sienna, who attends Brisbane State High School, is a member of the Titans Futures squad.
Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (Brisbane State High School)
The persuasive skills of BSHS schoolmates Rana and Noa Pasese and Sienna Ibrahim lured Henry-Purcell back into rugby league after she had put the code on pause after relocating to Brisbane from New Zealand in 2017 where she had played with the Mt Albert Lions juniors. The Queensland 14-15 years schoolgirl rugby league selectors were glad this first class No.13 was encouraged back into the code.
Karter Iva (Brisbane SHS)
Iva played so strongly at the Queensland rugby league schoolboy championships, and then made the state side which played at the ASSRL championships last week. He is signed by the Dolphins. He is a dogged defender with late foot work at the line and an ability to play the ball quickly.
Kingzen Lefono (Brisbane SHS)
A back rower from Brisbane State High School, Lefono is a textbook representative back rower - a broad shouldered, athletic type who is nimble as well as physical. He was selected in the Queensland 14-15 years rugby league side.
Kingsley Bray (touch football)
Bray was named in the 13-15 Years Boys Queensland Representative School Sport Touch Football team.
WELLINGTON POINT SHS
Alex Duncalfe (softball and baseball)
Duncalfe was a high achiever at the Australian under-16 Softball Nationals in Melbourne during January, helping his team to victory while also winning three of the four individual awards – something never achieved before in any age group by a player.
He won the Best Batter, MVP of the Final and Overall MVP of the tournament – the only title he didn’t win was the Best Pitcher, and that was simply due to him not pitching enough of the overall innings played to qualify.
Following that success, he drove early in the morning during the next day to compete in the under-16 Baseball Australian Youth Championship in Sydney.
It was worth the drive – he earned selection in the Australian under-16 baseball squad that will head to America in September.
A softball player for Redcliffe, and a Pine Hills Club baseball player, he not surprisingly gained a place in the 2024 Queensland School Sports Baseball state titles representing Met East where he earned two MVPs and made the state schoolboys side.
He is also a softball umpire, and will officiate at the Queensland Softball Masters at Redcliffe.
Duncalfe also has his eye on the Queensland under 18 Softball state title in September and the men’s opens in October, representing Wynnum.
He is also booked in for training international and state training camps.
Chirara Tomasi (Bocce)
An Australian representative in Italian bowling game Bocce, Tomasi recently competed at the Asia Oceania Games in Victoria where Tomasi, along with her teammate Tony Borelli, she won a gold medal in the Mixed Bowl throw against Japan.
She also snared two silver medals, one in the Single Womens Bowl Throw and the other in the Rapid Run with playing partner Nicole Camsa.
The Redlands Sporting Club ace fell in love with the sport thanks to her grandfather and grandmother who both played Bocce.
Claudia Spicer (Triathlon)
Spicer was an aspiring triathlete who this year competed at the QRSS Triathlon Championships in Hervey Bay, representing Met East.
She runs, swims and cycles like her life depends on it and it showed with her 12th placing at the Under-13s to Under-19s event earlier this year.
SHELDON COLLEGE
Jake Hambrook-Smith (Discuss, high jump, beach volleyball)
The highly talented Year 8 student is the type to pick up any sport and excel at it.
A multi-sport athlete, Hambrook-Smith is the current Little Athletics National Championship record holder for the Under-14 discus (51.52m) and high jump (1.81m).
A regular national medal-winner in throws events, Hambrook-Smith is also a more than handy cricketer, squash player, Australian rules footballer, basketball and volleyball player.
He is a member of the QAS’ beach volleyball program.
Mila Mabb (High jump)
High jump champion Mila Mabb, a Year 8 student, has a personal best of 1.68m, which she achieved while captaining the Queensland School Sport 1-12 Years track and field team which won the National time last year in Tasmania.
Also a weapon at triple jump, 13-year-old rookie Mabb has long been a gold medal winning high jumper at Little Athletics meets.
Lachlan Allen (Motocross)
A Year 10 motocross master, Allen was an Australian representative and national champion in the class 85cc, for the 12-14 Years age group.
The 15-year-old placed 14th at the 2023 World Junior Motocross Championships in Romania and the Carbrook product is currently ranked third in the nation.
All this after breaking his leg and foot in five places as a 12-year-old in 2021.
Noah Kim (Tennis)
Sheldon College Year 11 student Noah Kim first represented the QRSS Under-19s as a 15-year-old Year 10 student last year.
If that doesn’t say it all about the ceiling of this aspiring tennis player, then being a part of Tennis Australia’s National Development Squad has to.
A regular competitor at the Junior ITF (International Tennis Federation) level, Kim is being groomed for the international stage. She was also named in the 13-19 Years Queensland Representative School Sport Tennis team.
Will Freese (Cross country)
Sheldon College Year 11 student Will Freese was also a sporting high achiever, but running cross country and middle distance track events.
A regular state champion and Queensland representative, Freese would be within the top five 6000 metre runners in his age group, alongside pacesetters Toby Chippendale (Year 12) and Seth Mahoney (BBC, 2023).
Kate Herd (Triathlon)
Yet another emerging Year 11 in this exciting 2025 cohort, Kate Hard was a Queensland representative in both triathlon and athletics.
She has made the QRSS Triathlon and Aquathlon Team this year after coming 10th in the Intermediate Triathlon at last year’s event.
Millie Rae (Swimming)
A state Champion in the 400m Individual Medley at the recent Swimming Queensland State Championships and a regular Queensland representative at National Championship level, Millie Rae was an exciting Year 10 who is setting high standards for the Sheldon Academy of Sport.
The talented 15-year-old won bronze in the 100m Butterfly at the 2023 School Sport Australia National Championships and has been hauling medals since Year 7 when swimming coach Alex Jordan took her under his wing at the school.
Jake Spurrell (Tennis)
A raw talent, Spurrell is also a member of Tennis Australia’s National Development Squad program and accepted his first Junior ITF tournament before he had turned 14.
Having made the quarter-finals of this year’s Tennis Australia National Clay Court Championship in Canberra, it is safe to say Spurrell has talent and plenty of it.
Year 8 student and Queensland representative selection Arkin Amin-Patel was also involved in the National Development Squad.
Ruby Murfield (Volleyball)
A Queensland representative in both volleyball and beach volleyball, Year 9 student Ruby Murfield was part of the Queensland team that took out the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships earlier this year.
Asha Creighton (Track and field)
There is a long way to go yet but this Year 7 student is fast making a name for herself.
The state champion for 400m and a bronze medallist in the 800m and 200m events, this tireless rookie shapes as a walk-in in Queensland’s Athletics Australia National Championship teams for years to come.
Callum Prowse (High jump)
Bouncy Year 10 student Callum Prowse is the current Queensland Athletics state champion for the Under-17 high jump and the world seems to stop for a second when he brings his routine.
A Queensland representative at the Athletics Australia National Championships, Prowse applied enormous pressure on his rivals with some tone-setting jumps.
Hope Bancroft (Diving)
The reigning 12-13 Years Female Diver of the Year, Hope Bancroft has been a regular Queensland representative in diving.
She is arguably the best female diver in the state in the Under-14 age group.
Oliver Eustace (Swimming)
Leading the way in Sheldon’s swimming pool was emerging Year 8 student Oliver Eustace, a 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle king who showed out at the Swimming Queensland Sprint Championships.
At the State Championships, he snared silver in the 100m butterfly and is one of Queensland’s representatives gearing up for the School Sport Australia National Swimming Championships.
Chloe Michell (Track and field)
A Year 12 student, Michell took out the 1500m event at the Queensland School Sport Track and Field State Championships last year and is back again this year looking to stay at the top.
Up-and-coming Year 10 sprinter Kyan Dotta was also going along nicely having first represented Queensland last year at the All Schools Track and Field Championships in Perth, as well as Year 7 student Quinn Barkley who won silver in Tetrathlon and hurdles ace Sovannary Seremet, a medal winning regular who is in Year 11.
SOMERVILLE HOUSE
Emma Fryga (athletics)
When the chips are down at training, on a cold, winter night, image the energy and encouragement Somerville House track and field middle distance ace Fryga must get from knowing she is the under -16 national 400m, 800m and 1500m champion?
It is an extraordinary achievement for the Year 9 student who soared to such success earlier in the year – and she was in a record breaking mood.
Fryga ran the 400m in 55.09, chipping .01 off the previous championship record.
She also was in the zone to win the 800m in just 2:07.46, around two seconds off the championship record, and stormed home in the 1500m in a blazing time of 4:29.73.
Kaia Bottomer and Jess Wiley (water polo)
Here’s Somerville House’s latest international representatives. Both girls Somerville House made an Australian team which represented at the World Aquatics Women’s under-16 Water Polo Championships in New Zealand last month.
Elloise Doolan (swimming)
The swimming ace, coached by Sarah Caithness, was named in the junior Dolphins side preparing for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in August.
Earlier in the year, at the Australian All Age Championships, she claimed a silver medal (200m Butterfly) and bronze medal (100m Butterfly).
Oliva Hine (swimming)
Somerville House’s Hine ploughed to a new record in the 16 years 50m butterfly at the QRSS swimming championships.
Blink and you would have missed her crashing, recording breaking swim in 27.45. The Met East representative went past the previous record of 27.63.
Earlier in the year, at the Australian All Age Championships, Hine won gold in the 50m butterfly and was bronze in the 100m Butterfly and also as a part of the 4x50m Medley Relay team.
This was after Hine broke the championship record in the 16 years 50m butterfly competing at the QGSSSA swimming championship during March.
Eloise McLellan (swimming)
McLellan continued her prolific medal winning performances when, at the Australian All Age Championships in April, she won gold in both the 14-years 200m Freestyle and 400m Freestyle.
She continued on to claim silver in the 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 200m IM and the 400 IM.
Then for good measure, she made it seven podium finishes with bronze in the 200m Backstroke.
Ruby Boxall and Coco McGrath (swimming)
Somerville House’s success in the pool have not been restricted to Doolan, Hine or McLellan this year.
Ruby Boxall (15 years) powered to a gold (100m Backstroke) at the Australian All Age Championships in April, and then added a bronze medal in both the 200m Backstroke and 4x50m Medley relay team.
McGrath (14 years) was also on the podium as a bronze medal winner in the 200m Breaststroke and as a part of the 4x50m Medley Relay team.
Other high achievers from Somerville House included:
Jessica Daley (swimming and netball), Mia Wolf (water polo), Lauren Larsen and Phoebe Guest (both 13 years national development squad members,), Lahni Ellen (netball and water polo), Miranda Bowen (Aquathlon/Cross Country), Selina Appleton (water ski), Addison Tran (water polo), Aleila Boyett (water polo), Charli Moore (athletics), Chloe Barrett (water polo), Emma Woolley (water polo), Isabella Upton (Synchronised Ice Skating), Kaitlin Teo (Figure Ice Skating), Leyla Dogan (trampoline), Pippa Lowson (Equestrian), Tamika Donald (Equestrian), Sophia Barrett (water polo), Eryn Glassick (cross country), Evelien Wiseman (swimming), Jhnayali Tokome-Garap (swimming), Sarah Adcock (swimming), Tamara Wiley (swimming), Charlotte Jenvey (athletics), Dasha Osadchuk (water polo), Jemma Wilson (Athletics/Cross Country), Jessica Durling (Queensland School Sport state triathlon side), Kristy Appleton (water skiing),Ruby Johnson (water polo), Billie Lowson (Equestrian), Chelsea Pears (Gymnastics), Elise Wiley (tennis), Emily Elsdon (sports convener), Isabelle Mezger (softball), Sophia Danieli (swimming), Tahlia Hanson (swimming), Alexandra Inwood (rugby).
IONA COLLEGE
Harley Malpass (cricket)
Malpass was an extraordinary contributor to AIC First XI cricket across last year and earlier this year, producing Bradman-like batting numbers.
For two years in a row he was named in News Corp’s AIC team of the season on the strength of his stylish right handed batting.
But he was also outstanding playing Taverners club cricket for Wynnum Manly, last season averaging 36.38 and claiming 13 wickets.
And his handy medium pace swing bowler always claimed wickets.
Zane Zeeto (ourtrigger canoe)
Zeeto is one of the rising stars of the sport of outrigger canoeing community who will represent Australia at the 2024 IVF World Sprint Championships in Hilo, Hawaii.
“I’m looking forward to going to Hawaii after missing out on last year’s world championships. I made the team but then got injured so I had to pull out at the last minute which was disappointing, but it has really motivated me for this year,’’ he said.
Cameron Jagga (volleyball)
A national gold medal winner in 2023 and state captain, Jagga was named in the 2024 Queensland School Sport representative side after performing with distinction for Iona and also Met East.
James Turner (cricket/rugby league)
Despite being in just Year 10, Turner had an outstanding First XI debut season when he claimed 15 wickets at an average of just 16 bowling leg spin.
But he was also an outstanding rugby league player, making the Met East 14-15 Years side as a hooker.
Hopo Leota (rugby)
An elite tight-head, the French-bound Australian schoolboys and Reds under-19s prop was a colossus in the scrum, a wonderful runner on the fringe of the ruck, and a powerhouse hitting a rolling maul or pick and drive opportunities.
When he swept from a lineout, opposition teams sounded the red alert button.
Fononga Tuitahi (rugby and league)
Year 11 student Fononga Tuitahi was outstanding in two codes for Iona this season, earning a bench position in the News Corp team of the season, and also winning a place in the Confraternity Carnival Honorary Team which is a huge achievement.
Clancy Muniandy (footy)
The Morningside’s under-17 captain Clancy Muniandy and Iona First XVIII ace kicked three goals on debut when he started for the first time for the Panthers’ QAFL colts side. He plays centre half back at Esplen Oval.
Campbell Rolfe (touch football)
A First XV goal kicking ace, Campbell Rolfe was also named in the 16-18 Years Boys Queensland Representative School Sport Touch Football Team.
Villanova College
Matt Jones (athletics)
Year 11 student Max Jones rose to the occasion when he represented Australia with distinction when he recently travelled to Fiji to compete at the Oceania Athletics Championships.
He snared his first gold medal representing Australia and threw an incredible 66.33m, beating his previous PB by an amazing 4m.
Oliver Jacobs (swimming)
liver Jacobs – Year 11.
Oliver received a welcome invitation last night to be part of the Swimming Queensland development squad working towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. His first training camp is in the June/July holidays. See letter attached.
Reuben Wagels (tennis)
Hard working is certainly paying off for Reuben Wagelsm the Year 10 student and First IV player, who worked extremely hard during the summer on his game.
Wagels won four titles and appeared in two other finals across singles and doubles.
He won both singles and doubles in an event for the first time at Ballina and has made the final for every event he has entered this year.
His current national ranking is number 12 for his age group and he hopes to break into the top 10 when the latest rankings were updated in August.
Ned Godwin
Godwin was a First XI cricketer, First XVIII footy and First XV rugby player, a whippy ruck rover playing Aussie rules and a quick stepping centre in the 15-a-side code.
His performance in his debut season of footy was more remarkable when you consider he also played First XI cricket of a Saturday. He threw himself into his work this season, giving his all for his school across all sports.
Jackson Connor (Villanova)
Tall and athletic, Connor was an outstanding rugby union, rugby league and Australian football player.
He made the News Corp AIC First XV Team of the Season this year as a No.8.
REDLANDS COLLEGE
Ben Larsen (volleyball)
He was one half of the team which claimed gold at Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships earlier in the year. The Year 11 was then selected in the 12-player Australian squad to contest the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championships starting later in July.
Emma Burney (triathlon)
Burney made the Queensland Representative School Sport Triathlon and Aquathlon team
Ava Gaske (swimmer)
The high achieving Gaske was named in the Australian team bound for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships next month. She swims at the Chandler club.
BRISBANE BAYSIDE STATE COLLEGE
Christopher Moller (Volleyball)
At a towering 205cm, Moller will represent Australia at the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championships starting later in July.
LORETO COLLEGE
Georgia Joosep and Alana Taylor (water polo)
Both Taylor and Joosep had the distinction of representing Australia at the World Aquatics Women’s U16 Water Polo Championships in New Zealand.
ORMISTON COLLEGE
Emmett Thirkill (triathlon)
Thirkill earned a cherished place in the Queensland Representative School Sport Triathlon and Aquathlon Team.
Sam West (rugby)
The best fullback in the TAS First XV competition this season, he was his team’s magic man who was lethal in broken play. He captained the 9-10B side as a Year 9 student, but rose to TAS fame in 2023 as a Year 11 student. He was arguably the fullback with the best football in the competition.
CAPALABA STATE COLLEGE
Joel and Kaydence (Volleyball)
Representing Met East, Joel went on to represent Queensland while Kaydence was selected as QLD shadow player.
This was after Kaydence won gold with her team, and Joel won bronze, at the state titles earlier in the year.
ST LAURENCE’S COLLEGE
Ethan Connelly (Tennis player)
Meet the finest tennis player in the AIC. It is Ethan Connelly, 16, ranked around 34 among under-18 juniors in Australia.
Her has a long list of achievements including finishing sixth at the 2022 14 years Australian Junior Clay court Nationals, then rising to No. 1 Queensland under-15 player after his performance at the 2023 Australian Teams Championships Teams event.
This year his tennis career has gathered momentum at pace, with his list of achievements including:
+ Winner 2024 O5k JP250 J125 Ashley Cooper Open Age Championships Men’s Doubles;
+ Winner 2024 Premier 10k Opal Advice 92nd Toowoomba Easter Gold Cup Mixed Doubles;
+ Finalist 2024 Premier 10k Opal Advice 92nd Toowoomba Easter Gold Cup Men’s Doubles;
+ Finalist 2024 O10k J125 Aussie Gold Rockhampton Open Age – Capra Series Men’s Doubles;
+ Finalist 2024 Open 3k Elite Tennis International Sunshine Coast Open Championships Men’s Doubles Tier 1;
+ Finalist 2024 Open 3k Mooloolaba Open Championships Men’s Doubles;
+ Finalist 2024 O3k J125 Ballina New Years Open Men’s Singles Tier 1.
Finn Mackay (Rugby Union)
With a booming kick and wonderful attacking game, this elite No. 10 helped guide Laurie’s to the 2023 First XV Premiership and has represented the Under-16 Australian side and Queensland Reds Academy teams.
He even ventured to Brighton Grammar School for Year 10 and returned an even better player in 2023 when he led the side to a premiership.
Hayden Reyes (Karate)
Here’s a national champion you might not know a lot about. Reyes claimed gold on his way to becoming national champion for male cadet kata division at the 2023 Karate Australia National Championships.
Terrell Thorne (track and field)
Thorne, a track and field colossus, has earned selection in the Australian team bound for the 2024 World Athletics under-20 championship in Peru. Coached by Chris Dale, the 17-year-old made the team as a 400m runner.
Eddie Gore (touch football)
Eddie Gore continued his outstanding performances in touch football to make the 13-15 Years Boys Queensland Representative School Sport Touch Football Team.
Hugh Jones-Sheppard (triathlon)
A top 12 finisher at the nationals, he was selected in the Queensland Representative School Sport Triathlon and Aquathlon team.
ST JOSEPH’S GREGORY TERRACE
Ike Martinez (swimming)
Martinez has been selected for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 21 to 24 August 2024.
The championships are a major benchmark meet for the Junior Dolphins ahead of the World Junior Championships next year and act as a litmus test against the best international juniors including swimmers from the United States, Japan and Canada.
He is on a thrilling swimming journey. Ike moved from Cairns to Brisbane in 2022 to further his studies at Terrace and continue his swimming training.
He then made the Australian 2023 World Junior Championships Swimming Team.
Earlier this year at the Australian Age Swimming Championships he won the 17-years 200m Butterfly, and was second in the 16-18 years 800m Freestyle.
He was also third in the 17-years 400m Freestyle.
Leading up to the All Ages, he broke the GPS swimming championship 100m butterfly record in a time of 29.55:16.
Vincent Faulkner (athletics)
A stunning winner at the 2023 GPS track and field championships, Faulkner has progressed at pace this year.
Earlier in the track and field season he won the State titles for the under-16 100m and 200m events and claimed the under-16 200m national title.
Also at the nationals he was third in the 100m and was part of the bronze medal winning team which competed in the 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay events.
ALL HALLOWS’ SCHOOL
Isabel Pattison (rowing)
An exciting Queensland rowing prospect, the Year 9 student broke the Indoor Australian and Brisbane Schoolgirl Rowing Association record (3:29.70) previously held by an Olympian, Maddie Edmunds.
Pattison then spearheaded the Year 9 All Hallows’ team into breaking a Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association indoor record in their age group in a time of 8:34.80. Pattison’s teammates were Sophia Preston, Alice McMeniman, Meg Gallagher and Zoe Ball.
All Hallows had more success in the Year 11 indoor event when Gabby Ryan, Danielle Watt, Claudia Munn, Phoebe Cannon and Millie Gallagher combined to break another BSRA record (8:13.50).
Lilla Ribot de Bresac (swimming)
Ribot de Bresac represented Australia at the 2024 Oceania Championships after helping All Hallows’ School regain the CaSSSA championship trophy earlier in the year.
In one of the relay races at the QGSSSA championship, Ribot de Bresac joined Alice McMeniman, Keva Robinson and Abbie Hegarty to set a new CaSSSA record in 2:07.66.
De Bresac, whose grandfather John played rugby league for Australia, is coached by Steve Miller at Newmarket Racers who also coaches All Hallows’ old girl, Liz Dekkers, who is a new Olympian.
Claudia Booth (All Hallows)
Centre forward Booth was a member of the Australian under-16 water polo team which won a bronze medal at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey late last month. Although she proudly represents her school, the Year 11 student also plays for the Barras UQ club.
Sara Connors (All Hallows)
A shining light in the All Hallows’ School water polo program since helping her school reach the under-12 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships title in 2020, Connors progressed to make the Australian under-16 water polo team which won a bronze medal at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey. The Year 11 centre back, who plays for the Barras UQ club, is the child of Queensland Reds great and former Wallaby Mark Connors, and wide Jodie who was an outstanding water polo player.
Ellie Sefton (water polo)
Sefton was a member of the Australian under-16 water polo team which claimed a bronze medal at the girls’ World Championships in Turkey late last month. A driver in the team, the Year 11 is a proud as punch AHS girl who also plays for the Barras UQ club.
Emily Cope and Alice McMeniman (water polo)
High achievers at All Hallows do not stop with the three girls mentioned above who represented Australia at the world championships. Both Cope, who plays for the UQ Barras club, and Alice McMeniman made an Australian team which toured New Zealand also over the school holidays.
JOHN PAUL COLLEGE
Jack Mollee (Ice Hockey)
An under 18 Ice Hockey World Championship representative, Mollee has been an integral player and leader within Queensland junior ice hockey teams since 2019.
Mollee has had the honour of playing for Australia after being chosen to represent his nation at the Under 18 Ice Hockey World Championships in Spain.
The team competed in the Division II Group B tournament against Bulgaria, China, Israel, Chinese Taipei and the host nation, Spain. Jack also competes for the Sun Devils in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League, a national league open to players up to 20 years of age. In TAS sport, Mollee represented JPC in football and cross country.
Padraig Heffernan (cross country)
A World Athletics Cross Country Championships representative, it has all fallen into place for Hefferman after years of dedication and sacrifice.
The talented Year 12 athlete achieved his dream of national selection, representing Australia at 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade.
He competed in the under-20 Men’s 8km event.
Some other notable achievements include:
+ Australian Cross Country Championships (August 2023) where Heffernan claimed a silver medal in the 17 years men’s 6km event
+ Queensland All Schools Athletics Championships (November 2023), snaring gold in the under-18 3000m and silver in the under-18 2000m steeplechase
+ Queensland School Sport Track and Field Championships (October 2023) gold medal in the 17 years 2000m steeplechase silver in the 1500m, bronze in the 3000m
Min Oh (Swimming)
JPC had a quicksilver swimmer in their ranks, young gun Min Oh, a breathtaking breaststroke performer who realised his potential at the Australian Age Swimming Championships in April this year.
Min Oh snared gold in the 15 years boys 100m breaststroke, silver in the 50m breaststroke, bronze in the 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 4x50m medley relay at that breakthrough event.
Ashton Hercules-Kron (Athletics)
Ashton Hercules-Kron, Year 11, continues to raise the bar in the track and field arena, with this natural athlete enjoying a rapid trajectory of improvement as a high jumper.
At last December’s Australian All Schools Athletics Championships, the then Year 10 student snared third place in the under-16 high jump. He leapt 1.91m.
This was after a PB effort at the Queensland All Schools Athletics Championships which saw him soar to a heigh of 1.95m.
Taylor Goodwin (Athletics)
A TAS Athletics whiz, Taylor Goodwin also had a day out at the Australian Athletics Championships earlier this year where he took plenty of silverware home.
He snared gold in the Under-18s 800m, silver in the 1500m, bronze in the 4x400m relay and is no stranger to podium finishes.
He is one of TAS’ most prolific middle distance and cross country runners.
Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe (Rugby)
A tighthead prop with the ball skills of an inside back, Year 12 big man Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe contested the Australian Schools Rugby Championships for the Queensland I side on the Sunshine Coast.
The utility forward has made News Corp’s TAS First XV schoolboy rugby Team of the Season the last two years and has the foundation to be a very, very good club rugby player when he graduates at the end of this year.
Originally published as The high achieving secondary school sporting aces revealed here from Brisbane’s Eastern, Bayside Schools
Why super-fast Australian crew still underdogs in Youth America’s Cup
They are sailing faster than they have ever done but a quartet of Australian sailing rising stars still enter the Youth Americas Cup as rank underdogs thanks to a strange rule.
Thrillers, blowouts! Sariah Paki, Madison Ashby 7s grand final wrap
There were bursts of speed, great skills in wild winds and multiple scorers as the Sariah Paki and Madi Ashby 7s girl’s rugby season came to an end. Stars and result wrap from grand final day.