Top Brisbane Southside and Ipswich School Sport Achievers Revealed
Here is 300 of the top Brisbane southside and Ipswich high school Sporting Achievers who we have come across in 2024.
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Who were the top Brisbane southside and south west School Sport Achievers that we have come across so far in 2024?
TOP LOGAN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTING ACHIEVERS
We reveal 300 of the best in this story in what is the final in a four-part series highlighting the finest secondary school aged sporting achievers across the region.
TOP BRISBANE WEST SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE EAST AND BAYSIDE SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE NORTH SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
From South Brisbane to Springfield, Ipswich to Beenleigh, we list highlights of many of the elite youth schoolboys and schoolgirls in our region.
The south and south west is the biggest and the best yet in our series, featuring almost 300 stunning sporting talents from every sport you can imagine played in Queensland.
The list includes high achievers everywhere from John Paul College and Marsden SHS in the south, while canvassing talent across to the west of Ipswich (Plainlands Christian College) and through the southern suburbs of Brisbane to Somerville House on the city edge.
TOP BRISBANE SOUTH WEST SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
Jump to your school:Yeronga SHS I Clairvaux MacKillop College I Forest Lake SHS I Ipswich Grammar I Ipswich Girls’ Grammar I Somerville House I Bremer SHS I WestMAC I Brisbane SHS I Bundamba State Secondary College I St John’s Anglican College I Ipswich SHS I Our Lady’s College I Stretton SC I Faith Lutheran College, Plainland I MacGregor SHS I Mansfield SHS I Rochedale SHS I Corinda SHS I St Peters, Springfield I Springfield Anglican College I St Laurence’s College I Marsden SHS I Springwood SHS I John Paul College I Parklands Christian College I Chisholm Catholic College I Flagstone State Community College I Calvary Christian College I Trinity College, Beenleigh I
YERONGA SHS
Hamish Resetti and Jenna Duncan this year represented Queensland and Yeronga SHS with prowess and determination at the Australian climbing championships.
Resetti, a student of Athletes Academy, showcased remarkable skill and determination in the Youth A category in what was his debut appearance at the championships. He tackled challenging routes with finesse and determination, earning accolades from spectators and fellow climbers alike.
Duncan also demonstrated exceptional prowess in the Youth B category for the second consecutive year at nationals. Her tenacity and dedication were evident as she conquered difficult climbs with grace and precision, solidifying her position as one of Queensland’s rising stars in climbing.
Both were outstanding in events which attracted more than 400 competitors from around Australia.
“As representatives of Athletes Academy, Hamish, Alex and Rebecca are a testament to their hard work, dedication, and talent,’’ a school spokesperson said.
“Their success is truly commendable and reflects positively on the coaching and support they receive at Athletes Academy.
OUR 2022 STORY ON SEQ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTING ACHIEVERS
Rebecca Rimoldi
International student Rebecca Rimoldi produced some amazing results at the school state
championships and the national swimming championships earlier in the year.
Her haul included these state championship performance:
– third in 800m freestyle girls 17-19 years
– third in 200m freestyle girls 17-19 years
– second in 400m freestyle girls 17-19 years, a performance which qualified her for the national school titles.
In the gruelling Australian open water nationals, Rimoldi also:
– finished fourth in 5km girls 18 years
– came seventh in 10km girls 18 years
And at the Australian age nationals in April on the Gold Coast, Rimoldi:
– swam into fourth place in 800m freestyle girls 17 years
– Was ninth in 400m freestyle girls 17 years
– And came 17th in a crack 200m freestyle girls 17 years event.
Hayden Cahill (swimming)
Yeronga SHS were also proudly represented by Hayden Cahill in swimming when he made the hotly contested Metropolitan West representative team.
Harry Curness and Aiden Yoshida (league and rugby)
The boys played two different rugby codes, but were successful in their chosen footy games.
League player Curness made the Met West touch football representative side and also qualified for the Broncos Youth Academy.
Yoshida is a Brisbane Junior Rugby Union representative standard player.
The boys continued a proud footy tradition at the school after Yeronga alumni Mabior Chol played for the Gold Coast Suns and Richmond in the AFL.
Alex Richardson (gymnastics)
Richardson is an exceptional gymnast who competed at the Queensland Gymnastics State
Championships this year in April.
Alex snared first place in the Individual Trampoline event and secured eighth position in the Double Mini Trampoline event, both in the Under 22s division.
Alikana Malish (high jump)
The Year 8 golden boy is a 12 years high jump national champion – and a record holder.
Malish’s amazing performance happened last December at the 2023 School Sport Australia Track and Field Championships when he leapt 1.81m, a huge jump for a 12-year-old.
Pippa Bromely (high jump)
Another Year 8 student at Yeronga SHS, Bromley qualified for the 2024 nationals staged earlier in the year after securing fourth place in the 15 girls high jump. She had a PB performance of 1.60m this year.
FOREST LAKE SHS
Lola Bryant (athletics)
Meet an extraordinary young athlete who has packed a lifetime of achievements into such a grand junior career.
Lola Bryant, who represented Queensland in the 800m and 400m events at the Athletics Australia track and field championships in April, ramped up her track career under the coaching of Tony Baker at the Flying Eagles Running squad in 2022.
She trains three times a week with the squad, does one long run on her own, engages in another gruelling hill session and also hits the gym at least twice a week.
Last year her success included:
+ First at the School Cross Country Southern Districts;
+ A top 10 finish at the Met West regional cross country championships (4km);
+ A series of first place performances for Met West in the 1500m, 800m, 400m, 200m and triple jump events, including breaking the triple jump record;
+ Met West Regional Athletics first place in 400m and 800m;
+ third at the Queensland Athletics All Schools State Championships in both the 800m and 400m events;
+A top 10 finish in the 800m at the Australian All Schools National Championships.
Bryant was also the Forest Lake SHS swimming age champion (under-16s), the cross country age champion, the athletics age champion (under-16s) and the 2023 School Sportswoman of the Year
Now that’s some haul of achievements.
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.
He 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.
All this for a kid in Year 11.
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.
Charlotte Kanowski (triathlon)
After an outstanding performance for Metropolitan, she was named in the Queensland Representative School Sport Triathlon and Aquathlon Team.
ROCHEDALE SHS
Caleb de Vries (Athletics)
de Vries was a silver medal winning athlete earlier this year at the Athletics Australian track and field championship.
Against imposing opposition he jumped out of the blocks strongly and led early.
Eventually he was nudged into second place, beaten only after a PB effort from the eventual winner from NSW.
de Vries also achieved first place in the Queensland Little Athletics State Championships in the under-14 boys high jump, soaring 1.88m. He also won a silver medal in the under-14 boys shot put in March.
Last December de Vrie won the under-14 boys high jump title at All Schools Athletics Championships.
He defended his Australian Champion title with a personal best height of 1.88m.
Lekyhia Jackson (softball)
Jackson will represent Australia in the under-18 women’s softball World Cup in Dallas during August and early September.
She beat intense competition to win a place in the Junior Spirit side bound for the USA.
Toby Floyd and Aymee Kurittu (Volleyball)
Rochedale SHS’s rich talent pool of volleyball players was also evident following achievements of this pair.
Floyd made the Queensland under-14 representative team which contested the 2023 Australian Youth Volleyball Championships, while Kurittu made the under-16 Queensland side which played at the Australian Youth Volleyball Championships this year.
CORINDA STATE HIGH SCHOOL
Corinda SHS were reaping the benefits of a new elite athlete program having started at the school.
The program caters to a wide variety of sports from archery to speed skating, futsal and tennis plus many more sports.
Five-time Olympian and Corinda alumni Nat Cook is a program mentor.
Members of the Corinda State High School elite athletic program include these students:
+ Aditya Nghiem, a speed skating ace who won selection in the Australian 2024 Youth Olympic team after a national championship winning performance;
+ Ellen Martini, a deadeye in archery who was second in Queensland and nationally in her classification at the Archery Australia National Indoor Championships. The Queensland representative was a member and Australian Institute of Sport training camp;
+ Natalie Lang, an athletic silver medallist 400m at the 2024 Queensland Little
Athletics Championships;
+ Tristan Stock, the tennis ace who was a Queensland School Sport Team Member in both 2023 and 2024. Stock was ranked in the top 16 at the School Sport National Tennis
Championships where he helped his team to a bronze medal;
+ Rani Sharma (football) was a Queensland Academy of Sport player for the last
three years who claimed a silver medal at the FFA National Youth Championships;
+ Cameron Dugdell was a rowing gold medallist in the Junior Double at
Queensland 2023 State Championships, and also a 2023 silver medallist in the schoolboys
double competition at the NSW championships;
+ Isiah Uele, a volleyball exponent who had a winning touch, helping Met West surge through all comers during the Queensland School Sport State season. He was also a Queensland Merit Squad after shining in the 16-19 years age group.
Tanisha Gudigar (cricket)
Another outstanding achiever at the Corinda SHS was Tanisha Gudigar, a cricketer who captained the Metropolitan West 12 years school team which won the state championship.
She also played for Queensland Representative School Sport under 12s Team at the Australian School Sport Nationals and was captain of her club women’s third grade side.
OUR LADY’S COLLEGE
Rubi Creyton-Moran (triathlete)
Our Lady’s College Year 11 student, Rubi Creyton-Moran, produced a stunning medal winning performance at the 2024 Queensland Schools Triathlon Championships held in Hervey Bay at the start of the year.
In hot, humid and windy conditions, and against hundreds of competitors from all over the State, Ruby rose to the occasion to snare a cherished podium finish.
“I raced the best I have ever raced and hope to keep improving my skills to qualify for my final year at Our Lady’s College,’’ she said.
“I hope I did the OLC girls and teachers proud.’’
BRISBANE ADVENTIST COLLEGE
Natascha Tennent (golf)
The 2024 7 News Young Achiever Award winner, Tennent’s story is one of dedication, determination and talent.
Diagnosed with autism at aged six and having Tourette’s Syndrome, Tennent saw the sport of golf as a way to help her manage her autism a little better, aiding with her focus as she had to concentrate on each shot.
This wonderful young woman also won a gold medal at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
She claimed the Individual Stroke Play (18-hole) competition – by an astounding 30 strokes ahead of her nearest competitor.
The win catapulted her to No. 2 at the time on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD).”
She was also invited to play in the Australian Open in Sydney.
FAITH LUTHERAN COLLEGE
Harrison Bridge (Australian football)
A member of the Brisbane Lions Academy L3 squad, the 181cm tall Bridge was also an under-18 All-Australian selection.
A composed defender who intercepts exceptionally well, the left footed Bridge originally hailed from the Lockyer Valley district.
Also a noted one-touch player, Harrison is well and truly on his way to potentially be drafted in 2026.
Faith LutherAn College also had rousing success in its inter school competitions against Sheldon College, Ambrose Treacy, Brigidine, Staines Memorial, The Springfield Anglican College, Redeemer Lutheran College.
Across the term 2 sports of girls netball and soccer, and boys indoor cricket and touch football, Faith Lutheran College won 50 per cent of premierships available.
The college were crowned champions in the four sports, including premierships in:
Senior Boys Touch, Junior 2nds Boys Touch, Intermediate Boys Indoor Cricket, Intermediate Girls Soccer, Junior Girls Soccer, Intermediate Girls Netball, Junior 2nds Girls Netball
The college were runners- up: Junior Boys Indoor Cricket, Senior Girls Soccer, Junior First Girls Netball
Third Place: Junior 1st Boys Touch, Senior Girls Netball, Intermediate 2nd Girls Netball
IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Luka Tripkovic (Tennis, basketball, volleyball)
You know those freakishly talented sports people who are elite in more than one sport? That is Luka Tripkovic, an outstanding tennis player and also a highly regarded volleyballer and basketballer who represents the school’s Firsts teams in all three sports – despite being in Year 11.
Each term Tripkovic is enhancing his reputation, but it’s tennis where he is known for being one of the best in the GPS competition.
The First IV tennis captain has represented Queensland in tennis, but scores buckets so effortlessly that he was picked as a shadow player earlier this year for the Met West basketball team.
Luka Tripkovic also made the Queensland Representative School Sport Triathlon and Aquathlon team.
Gout Gout (100m, 200m)
A generational talent who looks and runs like Usain Bolt, 16-year-old phenom Gout Gout was the hottest thing in Athletics now and for years to come.
The gangly Year 11 student with South Sudanese heritage is the fastest Australian in history at his age.
Bound for the World Under 20 Championships in August, Gout is coming off wins in the Under-18 and Under-20 100m (10.29s) and 200m (20.69s) events at the Australian Athletics Championships and was born in Brisbane in 2007 after his parents migrated to Australia from South Sudan in 2005.
You don’t know fast until you see Gout, one of seven children to parents Monica and Bona, whiz around a track.
Joe Volker (Track and field)
The Ipswich Grammar senior has springs under him and the work ethic to match, which resulted in him being crowned National Champion in Long Jump in 2023.
Returning from injury, Volker is slowly but surely returning to top form, having placed 9th in long jump at the Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide.
On the improvement, Volker is warming his engines for his next challenge after representing the Rural Australian Australia Under-18s at the Oceania Championships in Fiji last month.
In layman’s terms, Volker can jump high, jump long and also whiz through the 100m in expert fashion which will help IGS at this year’s GPS track and field championships.
Jonny Kasino (Track and field)
Jonny Kasino and his school buddy Gout Gout were upholding IGS’ reputation as GPS track and field powerhouses, with both boys set to compete in the World Under 20 Championships this August.
As a 15-year-old, Kasino won the Under-18 long jump at the Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide and also did his thing as a sprinting weapon, finishing second in the Under-18 200m event with a time of 21.66s, third in the 100m and fourth in the 100m Under-20 race with a time of 10.68s.
With Kasino, Gout Gout and Volker, IGS will be well positioned to challenge the GPS track and field championships again this year.
Nelson Deng (Football)
After being blooded as a fierce Year 10 in the GPS First XI football competition last season, Ipswich Grammar’s ultra-competitive central defender Nelson Deng took his game up a level to be the driving force behind IGS’ premiership pursuit this year.
Arguably the best central defender in the GPS competition, Deng is being monitored by the Brisbane Roar.
Tyson Walker (Rugby league)
A Year 11 who as a Year 10 was a key playmaker in Ipswich Grammar’s First XV team, Walker comes from that famous Walker family.
The Roosters signed halfback in league and fullback in union is a classy customer with a deft kicking game and hopes to one day partner his older brother Sam in the halves for the Roosters.
Amaziah Murgha (Rugby league)
Imagine a livewire outside back who has untapped talent. That is Ipswich Grammar Year 12 Amaziah Murgha, a Innisfail product honing his rugby skills at IGS.
Signed by the Roosters, Murgha was a gun outside back in rugby who made the Emerging Reds Cup representative sides but rugby league was where his heart was – and the Sydney glamour club signed the Ipswich Jets Meninga Cup flyer quick smart.
Finn Kendall (Rugby league)
Murgha and Walker’s partner in crime when the rugby season rolled around, Kendall was a rather exciting Year 11 student signed to the Broncos.
A Met West Under-18s selection, Kendall was a high achiever in rugby but as is the case for his teammates Murgha and Walker, the NRL is his end goal and has been kicking goals in league for some time.
The Ipswich Jets Under-17s representative capped off a fine Connell Cup campaign by being picked in the prestigious City Under-17s team.
Zye Carr (Baseball)
Meet Ipswich Grammar baseball prodigy Zye Carr, a Queensland school sport selection who was picked in the Australian team and named pitcher of the tournament at the National Championships last year.
A Year 12 student with eyes fixed on being drafted into the Major Leagues in the USA, Carr will later this year compete at the Australian Championships where as captain, he will lead the Queensland team with hopes of again being selected in the Australian side.
Harry Purcell (Track and field)
The Purcell family is full of high sporting achievers. Year 12 student Harry is a multi-talented athlete who excels in multiple events on the track, 110m hurdles his best.
His younger brother Henry was also following in his footsteps as a promising hurdler.
Harry finished second at the Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide, whizzing through the 100m hurdles in 13.90s to secure a place in the Under-18 Australian team which contested the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships last month.
Leo Briggs (Ipswich Grammar)
From that extraordinary North Queensland rugby league breeding ground of Innisfail, FNQ, which continually churns out high class three-quarters, young Briggs won selection in the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys side from Ipswich Grammar School. He is classy to the core, a fleet-a-foot outside back who will start in the centres.
Derek Ahwang (Ipswich Grammar School)
A dynamic finisher who is electric off the mark, Ahwang is a Mr Natural who runs the ball effortlessly. But he also rolls his sleeves up and works hard taking dummy half runs in traffic. He can play either wing or fullback or centre and made the Queensland 14-15 years schoolboys rugby league side.
IPSWICH GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Ruby Stanford (High jump, netball)
Stanford is a tremendous all around sportswoman who competes at the Queensland track and field championships and who represents her state in netball where she was also a member of the Greater Brisbane Netball League.
Alice Ferrando (Athletics, netball, football)
A triple jump exponent and Met West and District level, she also played GBNL women’s league netball while playing football for Queensland.
Ferrando plays NPL1 women’s league level in football
Monique Williams (athletics)
A high class track and field athlete who consistently places in at least one of long jump, hurdles, 100m, high jump, shop put or javelin. She is a regular face in state teams, Met West Teams and District outfits.
Isabel Joffe (swimming, softball, weightlifting)
Joffe was another tremendous all around performer, making Queensland teams in swimming and softball, while also being an elite weightlifter in state teams.
ST PETER CLAVER COLLEGE
Kane Munt (Outrigger)
The Year 10 student is a member of Redcliffe Outrigger club who will represent at the
2024 IVF World Sprint Championships in Hilo, Hawaii.
“I’ve been paddling since I was eight years old, and I’m determined to do well. I train hard,’’ he said.
“I went to last year’s world distance championships in Samoa, and it was awesome.
“As soon as I finished at worlds in Samoa, I enjoyed my time so I much, I knew I wanted to start training for Hawaii, and I did.’’
St Peter Claver has other high achieving sporting students include
Deng Joseph (13-16yrs Boys Basketball), girls footballers Teliyah Mafi and Chloe Dale, netball aces Mercedes Tonkin, Alkira Saltner, Armani Apelu and Saupo Toeleiu, along with water baby Ava Hogan.
All were outstanding young achievers in their respective sports and the school community was proud of each of them.
BREMER SHS
Sinalofa Mulitalo (Basketball)
Mulitalo was walking proof of Bremer’s Basketball Academy bettering students on and off the court with the Year 9 sniper showcasing prowess in all aspects of school life.
Dedicated to the game as a player and referee, talented youngster Mulitalo looms as one of Bremer’s more promising basketballers in the Opens Boys side in years to come.
Emalini Waqairatu (Rugby league)
An inspiring edge forward, Emalini Waqairatu earlier this year was all-effort for the Ipswich Jets Under-17s representative girls rugby league side.
A leader in Bremer’s Rugby League Academy, Year 11 student Waqairatu earnt a well-deserved spot in the Met West Under-16s side and shows maturity beyond her years leading the charge for the school’s Opens Girls First XIII team.
Jaelyn Daniels (Swimming)
One of the best swimmers at the school, Year 11 student Daniels is a highly regarded swimmer at the Western Ranges club with her dedication and untapped talent propelling her forward in the pool and setting high standards for those around her.
Tristan Aufai (Basketball)
An athletic livewire on the hardwood, Aufai previously represented Ipswich Grammar in the GPS First V basketball competition as well as the Samoan Under-15s National team.
Now a passionate Bremer ‘baller who last year won the Academy’s Basketballer of the Year award, Aufai has made those around him better while remaining a potent scoring threat with a great interior game.
Tamara McPeake (Hockey)
A phenomenal talent who made the Queensland Gold Under-16s side this year, Year 10 student McPeake also represented the state at the National Indoor Hockey Championships.
A leading player for the Ascot Arana Panthers, the skilful and competitive McPeake can often be seen honing her craft on cool winter nights in preparation for her representative honours.
Gracie Dombroski (Hockey)
An Ipswich hockey junior, Grace Dombroski is a talented field hockey player who has represented Queensland and also competed at the National Indoor Hockey Championships this year.
The dream teammate, Year 11 student Dombroski has been a loyal servant to the Ipswich club and has been a regular in state teams coming through the ranks.
Philip Hastie (Basketball)
A role model for Bremer youngsters to look up to, Year 12 hooper and prefect Hastie is a great ambassador for the school.
A leader in all aspects, Hastie is one of the prime mover’s in the school’s Open Boys basketball team but when he’s not running in transition he is setting high standards for his peers as one of the school captains.
He is also a skilled debater and netballer
Sophie Scheltinga (Australian football)
A Sherwood Magpies Under-13 division 1 player, Year 8 student Sophie Scheltinga had the tools to succeed in the code – talent and determination. Skilful with leadership qualities, Scheltinga is quick between the ears on the paddock and earnt state selection in 2022 and 2023.
Gabe Narayan (Basketball)
One of those kids you just go wow at, Year 11 student Gabe Narayan is that classmate you aspire to be like.
An on-the-up basketballer, Narayan gives 110 per cent on the court and even more when in the classroom studying maths methods and physics, driving standards higher with his schoolwork.
Jack Ottley (rugby union)
A Year 11 student with raw talent, Ottley was one of very few with pure rugby smarts, having watched rugby games on the TV for much of his childhood.
A Met West selection, Ottley is a pass first player with natural athletic ability – someone whose name will no doubt bob up in the next few years when he transitions into club rugby.
WestMAC
Samson Noffke (Track and field, cricket)
A leading sportsman in WestMAC’s senior school, Noffke earlier this year scored a whopping 229 not out off just 101 balls against St Columban’s in the term 1 TAS cricket season.
Shortly after, the highly talented multi-sport athlete placed second in the 16 Years Javelin at the Australian National Track and Field Championships.
At the same event, Lily Vine represented WestMAC admirably, finishing sixth in the competitive Under-18 long jump event.
Scarlett Long, Rachael Wilson, Chane Smit, Charlotte McDowell and Stephanie Wode (Hockey)
The talented group of WestMAC First XI hockey players formed a formidable five some for the Ipswich Under-18s team and for the Met West representative school side at this year’s Queensland School Sport Hockey Championships in Townsville.
All five have spearheaded the school’s hockey sides through the years.
BUNDAMBA STATE SECONDARY COLLEGE
Montana Reinke (softball)
A proud Ipswich representative in the open women’s team, Reinke has been a regular in state junior teams coming through the ranks. She is a stalwart of the Met West 13-19 softball team.
Jakeisha Lucas-Watego (cross country, rugby league)
She has some to the fore in the rough and tumble world of rugby league where he plays for the Ipswich Jets in the Harvey Norman under-19s, but the league forward was also a noted cross country runner, having represented Central Comets.
Gabby Reeves and Jaxon Reinke (softball)
An under-14s national softball championship representative, Reeves has represented Ipswich, Met West and the ACT. Bundamba also has another talented softball player in Jaxon Reinke who has represented for the under-18 Ipswich team.
ST JOHN’S ANGLICAN COLLEGE
Ajaiveer Bhangra (soccer and fustal)
A year 9 student, Ajaiveer has been passionate about football since an early age, first starting aged five years.
He was so fond of the sport that he used to sleep with a ball.
When he was 13-years-old, he was selected to join the Brisbane Roar Academy and at the age of 14, he was offered the opportunity to be a part of the Queensland Football and Queensland Futsal squads to represent at the nationals in 2023 and 2024.
His team won the Futsal national title.
Elevated to the Lions under-16s this season, Ajaiveer trialled in the school sports state championship for 13-16 years, making into the Met West regional team.
Acacia Wohlsen
A Queensland Little Athletics under 15 100m and 200m champion, Wohlsen won gold in both the 100m and 200m events and also represented her state at the Australian Little Athletics Championships.
Other significant accomplishments include:
• Representing Queensland at her First International meet at the South Island Colgate
Games in New Zealand, earning a bronze medal in both the U15 100m and 4x100m
relay team.
• Selection to compete at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Melbourne,
placing fourth in the under-14 100m.
• Competed at the Queensland Track and Field Championships winning a bronze medal in
both under-16 100m and 200m sprint events.
• Wohlsen aspires to compete for Australia at the under-20 World Junior Championships and future Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
Charlotte Ainsworth (Football)
Ainsworth represented the Met West side earlier this year after taking part in regional representative football for the last three years.
In 2022 she had the privilege of co-captaining Met West at the state titles, and made the Queensland team in both 2022 and 2023, including leading the young Maroons to a shared championship title in 2023.
She was co-captain at the School Sport Australian National Football Championships in Melbourne.
One of her career highlights was scoring all three goals in a win over the ACT at the nationals.
Over the two or three years, she has honed her skills at the “The Football Company” private academy where she has trained five days a week.
Ainsworth was also lucky enough to be invited into the Football Queensland TSP State Carnival to play for the Far North Gulf regional team.
A recent achievement in football was being selected in the FQ Academy 1 U13 Boys at Lions FC, the only girl selected at Lions to play in the boys top division side.
Arabella Ryan (Football, futsal)
A Queensland Academy of Sport inductee for three years, the Year 10 student now trains in the Youth Program and plays for QAS in the NPLW and NPL Boys competitions.
She is a two-time Queensland under-14 representative who captained Queensland last year.
Earlier in her careers she captain Queensland at the National Futsal Championships, helping the Maroons into second position.
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.
RELATED LINKS
TOP BRISBANE WEST SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE EAST AND BAYSIDE SCHOOL SPORT ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE SOUTH WEST AND IPSWICH ACHIEVERS
TOP BRISBANE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL SPORTING ACHIEVERS
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
Seungmin (Min) Oh (Swimming)
JPC had a quicksilver swimmer in their ranks, young gun Seungmin (Min) Oh, a breathtaking breaststroke performer who realised his potential at the Australian Age Swimming Championships in April this year.
Seungmin (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 high of 1.95m.
Taylor Goodwin (Athletics)
Image courtesy of davidpearceproductions
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.
IPSWICH SHS
Shalom Sauaso (rugby union, rugby league, rugby 7s)
A prodigy, Ipswich SHS senior Shalom Sauaso debuted as a 16-year-old for the Queensland Reds Super W side earlier this year.
The elite outside back in rugby union looked right at home in that competition, and two years in a row has made the Australian Schoolgirls Rugby 7s side.
The promising 17-year-old, who is one of the youngest in her year level at school, is signed by the Brisbane Broncos on a development contract for the next two seasons and it would not surprise seeing her debut in 2025 almost immediately after she turns 18 and is eligible.
The powerful Year 12 plays in the halves in the 13-a-side game.
Mercedez Taulelei-Siala (Rugby league)
Sauaso’s partner in crime, Taulelei-Siala also debuted for the Reds earlier this season despite still being in school.
The Australian Schoolgirls rugby league selection last year, as a Year 11 student, was also Logans Young Athlete of the Year in 2023 and is signed by the Broncos as well.
The creative Tweed Seagulls Under-19s club rugby league player can play in the halves, in the centres, on the wing and at fullback where she is at her most dangerous.
Pauline Moliga (Rugby league)
Another promising rugby league talent from Ipswich SHS, right centre Pauline Moliga was also on a steep upward trajectory following selection in the Queensland Under-16 team last year and the Queensland Country Under-17s earlier this season.
An explosive outside back, Moliga is a Titans Academy player who could make a difference anywhere in the spine.
Sam Martin (Rugby league)
A crafty hooker who moved from Marsden SHS to Ipswich SHS this year, Martin was the Queensland City Under-17s vice-captain earlier this season and kept his leadership cap on to lead Ipswich SHS to four wins from four games to begin their Langer Trophy campaign.
The Broncos signed rake played for the Souths Logan Magpies earlier this year and will have two more seasons in the Meninga Cup competition in 2025 and 2026 where he will continue his development.
Orianna Clarke (Rugby league)
A Gold Coast Titans Academy member, Year 11 student Orianna Clarke was one of the more powerful middle forwards in the National Schoolgirls Cup this year.
Despite being one of the younger forwards going around in this competition, Clarke’s impact is felt immediately off the bench.
The Brisbane Tigers representative selection played in the Under-19s competition after spearheading the club’s under-17s side to a first place finish.
Emilee George (Ipswich SHS)
An elite second rower, George has been a rugby league prodigy who last year made the Wanderers representative side which travelled to the United Kingdom and France. Originally a Kenmore SHS product who is now with Ipswich SHS, she plays club league for the Ipswich Jets.
Sky-yvette Faimalie (Rugby, rugby league)
As mentioned earlier in the story, Faimalie was a high achieving rugby and rugby league player who was one of the better forwards in the Premier Women club rugby competition – despite still being in school.
A Queensland City Under-17s selection, Brisbane Tigers middle forward powerhouse Faimalie plays as a prop in rugby league and anywhere in the forwards in rugby union.
She is good enough to one day represent the Wallaroos as a prop and was also good enough to progress into the NRLW.
Tiresa Elika (Rugby league)
A Gold Coast Titans Academy member, Tiresa Elika was an all-or-nothing performer who has long been one of the hardest working and most ferocious on the field.
This style of play, along with her natural ability at lock or hooker, saw her make the Australian Schoolgirls side as a Year 10 student in 2022.
What a feat that was.
More recently, Elika has made her BMD Premiership debut with the Brisbane Tigers after a cracking campaign with the club’s Under-19s team. and the best is yet to come for the Ipswich local who has one of the best fends in her age group.
Dominika Baleinagasau (Ipswich SHS)
A versatile player who switches between rugby league and rugby union – she plays Premier Women’s rugby with Bond – Baleinagasau was a clever ballplayer and powerful runner player with strong defence. Around that she also has leadership qualities that were ideally suited to Queensland’s campaign in enemy territory.
Kanaan Magele (Ipswich SHS)
Big Magele was a front row colossus, a big man with power and mobility who made the Queensland 16-18 years schoolboys side.
Despite being more than 110kg, the Roosters-signed prop Magele is nimble and always making post contact metres – a little like a young Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys).
Tiresa Leasuasu (Ipswich SHS)
An Australian schoolgirl in 2022, she is a damaging Brisbane Tigers Harvey 19s lock who has made her BMD premiership debut as a schoolgirl. She will be eyeing off more representative football after shining for Ipswich SHS for five seasons.
Kyanu Seiuli (Ipswich SHS)
One of the babies of the ASSRL national rugby league championships, the 14-year-old back rower is reliable, someone who always performs and does his job consistently well. He made the Queensland 14-15 years league side.
Xzavier Timoteo (Ipswich SHS)
Signed by the Roosters, no less, Timoteo has worked his way through the Ipswich SHS system since Year 7. The Langer Trophy captain, he is not just a bash and crash prop, but he is noted for his late footwork at the line. A true blue, rip and tear Ippy boy who loves the contact, and is an off the back fence type of forward leader. He made the Queensland schoolboys 16-18 years side.
Baxter Best (Ipswich SHS)
A centre who can also play fullback, Best was a hard running outside back with lots of ability, but also a desire to work hard. The well mannered, Broncos-contracted Year 9 student is the brother of NSW representative Bradman Best, but relocated from New South Wales to Ipswich where his father originally hails from. He represented the Queensland 14-15 years league side.
Junior Saifiti Junior Saifiti (Ipswich SHS)
Saifiti Junior Saifiti is the 2024 version of last season’s Queensland schoolboy winger Anton Naiyep in terms of his crashing ruck runs out of defence. My goodness he runs hard. But he was also an x-factor finisher who can swing a match. He represented the Queensland 16-18 years rugby league side.
Peter Uilivai-Pita (Ipswich SHS)
Quick between the ears, Uilivai-Pita is a utility forward who will start the championships at hooker. He is a high energy, passionate hard working footballer who represented the Queensland 14-15 years league side.
Cordell Kirk (Ipswich SHS)
The brother of Langer Trophy player Reeco, the front rower has been signed by the Rabbitohs who were no doubt impressed by his powerful carries. He made the Queensland 14-15 years league side.
STRETTON STATE COLLEGE
Luka Sazdov (volleyball)
He was one half of the team which claimed gold at Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships earlier in the year. He was also named in the 16-19 Years Boys Queensland Representative School Sport Volleyball merit team.
Kayliss and Jontaye Brown (touch football)
The Brown boys were named in the 16-18 Years Boys Queensland Representative School Sport Touch Football Team.
Older brother Kayliss, a hooker, is the school’s rugby league captain while younger brother Jontaye, a playmaker, was also a great leader who is creating plenty of magic in the elite Walters Cup Year 10 rugby league competition.
Harmony Nuku (Rugby league)
Stretton’s girls rugby league captain, Harmony Nuku was also a high achieving rugby league player who last year was picked in the Met West team alongside players like Fleur Ginn (Reds), Relna Wuruki-Hosea (Raiders NRLW), Shalom Sauaso (Broncos) and her schoolmate Kaylah Moloney who like Nuku is an impressive outside back.
Jayden Hansen (Football)
Hansen had such a good football tournament at the state championships, he was named under-16 Player of the Tournament. Joining Hansen in the under-16 football team was Sam McCosker.
Bella Alo (Stretton State College)
An instinctual right centre from Stretton State College, Bella Alo honed her skills at the nest earlier this year with the Magpies Harvey Norman Under-17s side.
Sporting bright pink boots, Alo burst onto the representative scene with a lovely intercept try against Burleigh in round one and was consistent in the games that followed.
Leevi Williams (Stretton State College)
Williams is a lovely, natural outside back athlete who flows when she runs. She shone for Wynnum Manly as a fullback in the under-17 Harvey Norman competition and her selection in the Queensland schoolgirls surprised no one.
Stretton State College was also awash with outstanding junior sporting achievers, including
Anurag Ghalsasi who was a shadow selection for the under-15 Queensland volleyball team;
Isaiah Carrington who made the under-14 Queensland baseball team;
Patrick Hao who made the Queensland swimming team;
Annie Ryan (volleyball) who represented Queensland at the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championship.
MACGREGOR SHS
Serina Lu (Figure Skating)
A Year 10 student, Lu represented Queensland at the Australian Figure Skating Championships, placing fifth in the advanced novice ladies singles division with a new PB performance.
She was also first and second with Queensland Synchronized Iceskating Club in the advanced novice and junior divisions respectively.
Following these results, Lu earned selection in the Australian squad which represented at the Oceania International Figure Skating Competition in 2023 where she was seventh (advanced novice ladies division).
Zoe Martin (Inline Speed Skating)
A wonderful young athlete, Martin is a Queensland representative who, at the national inline speed championships, claimed three medals in a magnificent performance.
Her amazing deeds earned selection in the Australian team headed for the Oceania Championships and then the World Skate Games in Italy.
Last year she claimed gold and silver at the Denis Harris Cup in road and indoor track events
MANSFIELD SHS
Matisse and Allegra Conlon (volleyball)
The girls claimed the gold medal in the Year 12 division at the Australian Beach Volleyball Schools Cup.
Matissa then went on to represent Australia at the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship in June.
Speaking with the Volleyball Australia media team after their gold medal winning Schools Cup performance in Marh, Matisse said: “It feels amazing to have won in my last year, especially with my sister.
Allegra, who is only in year 10, added: “Winning the year 12 division as a year 10 player just feels insane, I didn’t think I could do it, I’m just in shock I guess.”
SPRINGFIELD ANGLICAN COLLEGE
Leila Alexander
The outstanding triathlete was named in the Queensland School Sports triathlon and aquathlon state side.
Earlier this year Alexander returned from the Australian Schools Triathlon Championships in Tasmania with two silver medals in hand thanks to impressive performances in the individual and mixed relay events.
The medals were a reward for her dedicated training which includes swimming around 4km in the Greenbank State School pool.
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.
CALAMVALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Ryan Gidler (Australian football)
Gilder was named in the under-18 Allies Squad to compete in the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships.
A Brisbane Lions academy defender, he is a fiercely competitive player with
genuine closing speed.
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 claimed 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 (triathlon), 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).
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 Broncos academy.
Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (rugby league, athletics))
The persuasive skills of BSHS schoolmates Rana and Noa Pasese and Sienna Ibrahim lured Henry-Purcell back into rugby league.
This was 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.
On the athletics track, she Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (45.14m) was another record breaker at the QGSSSA championships.
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.
Meanwhile, Samantha Dyson (hockey) was another outstanding sporting talent at the school who plays representative sport.
ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE, SPRINGFIELD
St Peters is a hot bed of talent. Unfortunately due to school policy surnames could not be revealed, but this information was passed on.
Allira T (Track & Field) is the Australia under-18 women’s shot put record holder.
Olivia G (Swimming) is the Australian under-14 female freestyle champion over the 400m, 800m, 1500m events and the 5km Open Water event.
Lachlan S (Swimming) won the under-15 boys 100m backstroke (QRSS Championships).
Ethan S (Swimming) won the 200m backstroke (QRSS Swimming Championships).
Mia K (Track & Field) claimed the under-15 mult-iclass champion in 200m, Shot Put and Javelin.
Addison F (Track & Field) was the under-16 200m hurdles champion and was second in the long jump and 90m hurdles.
Dominique M (Swimming) was a national level swimmer and third in the under-17 800m freestyle.
Joce M (Swimming) was the state under-13 girls 50m butterfly champion.
Macy G (Volleyball) toured Thailand as part of the under-18 Australian Volleyball Development Squad.
Jelanie B (Track & Field and Volleyball) was a Met West volleyball player and Australian under-16 female discus champion.
Amayah H (Swimming) was a state level swimmer who was second in under-12 butterfly.
Ella M and Leilani F (Netball) played Queensland under-17s.
Hayden W (Track & Field) under-17 men’s mult-iclass 400m, 800m and 1500m champion.
Diva E (Track & Field) was second in Australia in the under-14 girls high jump.
Originally published as Top Brisbane Southside and Ipswich School Sport Achievers Revealed
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