Ballinger Cup school hockey tournament: Meet the captains ready to lead their school to glory

Sunshine Coast coaches from competing high school Ballinger Cup hockey teams have revealed the formidable young guns they’re ready to unleash on opponents. See the full list.

Sunshine Coast school hockey captains ahead of the Ballinger Cup.

A new Sunshine Coast inter-school hockey tournament will get under way on Thursday, with 10 schools spread across three age divisions taking part.

The Ballinger Cup competition was created after the regular Queensland Hockey All Schools Tournament in Toowoomba stopped due to Covid-19.

Matthew Flinders Anglican College head of sport Adam Ridgewell and hockey director Rachel Sihota said they felt there was a strong opportunity to develop the Sunshine Coast’s own version.

The pair hoped to one day develop the competition into regular inter-school fixtures similar to those in other major sports including netball, basketball, rugby union and water polo.

The primary competition on Tuesday, November 8 and the secondary competition on Thursday, November 3 will include six-a-side mixed teams from primary (Years 4-6), middle school (Years 7-9) and senior (Years 10-12).

Meet the high school players who will be tasked with leading their school side through the competition.

All schools were contacted before publication.

Meet the captains

Coolum State High School

Coach: Dave Hirst

Captain: Marlin Hirst

Coolum State High School hockey captain Marlin Hirst.

“Marlin is an enthusiastic contributor to his club team and has made a significant impact on field to the senior men’s reserve-grade side in 2022,” club coach Matt Campbell said.

“He is a quiet achiever who listens to instructions and leads by example, making him an ideal team player.

“This, combined with his on field work ethic has taken his game to the next level.”

Pacific Lutheran College

Coach: Brett Kersnovske

Captain: Charlie Schefe

Pacific Lutheran College Captain Charlie Schefe.

“Charlie is in Year nine and has played for the Caloundra Seahawks for the last three years,” head coach Brett Kersnovske said.

“He likes to play a defensive full back role and enjoys the sport because of the team work required to be successful.

“This is the first year that PLC has put a hockey team together for quite some time and I am confident Charlie will do an amazing job at captaining our team in the 2022 Ballinger Cup.”

Sunshine Coast Grammar School

Coach: Scott Roush

Captain: Chloe Daly

Sunshine Coast Grammar School captain Chloe Daly.

“Although most well-known for her exploits in-goal as a member of state and national teams, Chloe will lead her Grammar teammates from the link position during the Cup,” Roush said.

“Chloe is an extremely fast, agile attacker and fearless in defence after all, being very used to having the ball coming at her at a great rate of knots.

“Chloe enjoys the challenge that six-a-side brings, relishing the chance to leave the goalmouth and go in search of the action.

She will lead from the front and the rest of the team are more than willing to follow.”

James Nash State High School

Coach: Tina Webster

Captains: Romy Whittaker and Hannah Wilcox (Senior Division)

James Nash State High School captain Romy Whittaker.

“Romy is a confident and fierce competitor,” Webster said.

“She works hard to develop her skills and this has paid off immensely with her being selected in the Queensland U18s squad this year.

“Romy believes that a captain displays leadership and is capable of encouraging her teammates to give their all, especially towards the end of a game/carnival when players are getting tired.”

James Nash State High School captain Hannah Wilcox.

“Hannah is a determined player who has an intense desire to win,” Webster said.

“She is a true competitor, (is) driven and was previously part of the U16 Development Squad.

“Hannah believes her role as a captain is to motivate her team to achieve success.”

James Nash State High School

Coach: Tina Webster

Captains: Kile Batts and Ella Johnson (Middle School Division)

James Nash State High School captain Kile Batts.

“Kile is a motivated player who truly enjoys being a part of a team,” Webster said.

“He believes in his abilities and strives for success.

“Kile believes that a captain should encourage his teammates to believe in themselves and try their best.”

James Nash State High School captain Ella Johnson.

“Ella is a motivated and self-disciplined player,” Webster said.

“She is focused on playing her best at all times and was recently selected in the Queensland U15s squad this year.

“Ella believes that a captain should lead by example.”

St John's College

Coaches: Shaun Lendrum and Natashia Ogborn

Captain: Demi Baird

St John's College hockey captain Demi Baird.

“Demi, who plays as a sweeper but covers any defensive role, is able to read the play well and help position players on the field to stop attacking opponents,” Lendrum said.

“Demi identifies attacking opportunities for her own team through short quick movements of the ball or through her ability to throw overheads, which surprises her opponents and catches them out of position.

“At a club-level she plays for Flinders and has represented the Sunshine Coast at state titles since under 11s while also umpiring at the state level and Division 1 on the Sunshine Coast.”

Matthew Flinders Anglican College

Coach: Rachel Sihota

Captain: Grace Dixon

“Grace is part of the National Futures Squad and a member of both the Queensland and Sunshine Coast Under 18 teams as well as playing locally for the Maroochydore Club,” Sihota said.

Originally published as Ballinger Cup school hockey tournament: Meet the captains ready to lead their school to glory