BRIGHT FUTURES: 10 St Mary’s College students chasing sporting dreams
No matter their chosen sport, the students at St Mary’s College are giving their all and achieving incredible things. We catch up with 10 young students destined for great things.
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School life hasn’t been without its challenges for children and young adults across the Toowoomba region.
The Chronicle sat down with 10 students from St Mary’s College to talk about their sporting journeys, and the bright futures they have ahead of them in the years to come.
DE LA SALLE VA’A (Year 10)
A 1760km round-trip from Toowoomba to Sydney every weeekend will have its challenges, but it’s something 16-year-old De La Salle Va’a is ready to embrace.
The St Mary’s College student will join the Sydney Roosters alongside brother Xavier from next season, where he will make the commitment to showcase his ability in the Harold Matthews Cup.
“I’m very excited to play footy down there and get a feel for the comp and see where that takes me,” he said.
“I’ll finish school here. The comp runs from the beginning of February to the end of April, so I’ll fly down Fridays after school, play on the weekends and fly back straight after.
“It’s pretty intense but I’m very keen to get down there and play footy. It’s nice to get recognition for my hard work.”
The Year 10 student is a talent in both rugby league and boxing, where he has been a regular in representative teams and is a previous Queensland boxing champion.
“I started boxing around the same age, and that was just to get fit too, ended up enjoying it and started competing.”
With the likes of Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams able to transition seamlessly between the two sports, Va’a said he was using the paths of the pair as inspiration.
“You see those kind of guys and how they’ve used footy as a platform to boost their profile into boxing, and I’m hoping to go down that same path,” he said.
“It’s a great experience with Smithy (Brendon Smith) and Corban (Kanaveilomani). They’re great coaches and they’ve really helped me progress with my boxing.”
TOM FRY (Year 9)
WHETHER it’s on the rugby league or touch field, Tom Fry has been making a big impression.
The 15-year-old has excelled in both forms of footy throughout his junior and teenage years, going onto the higher levels in the game.
“For touch through school sport I made the Darling Downs team and the Queensland team,” he said.
“I played for the Toowoomba team and the South West Queensland team and got called into the Titans touch squad.
“For league I made the Darling Downs side and I have just been picked in the Cyril Connell U16s Clydesdales squad, and am doing a bit of training with the Broncos development squad in Toowoomba.”
With the All Stars for touch and Brothers for league, Fry said he enjoys the chance to remain fit and active with both codes.
“It’s good. It keeps me active and fit,” he said.
“When I was younger I could do both and it was fine. Now that footy is starting to get a bit more full on with training, I think I’ll stick with footy and play touch just for club.
“My dad playing sport (got me into it), and I’ve always loved watching it on TV.
“Making Queensland touch was pretty high. Getting player of the carnival at the Adrian Vowles Cup.”
With an ultimate goal of pulling on that Broncos jersey on the biggest stage, Fry also has ambitions outside of sport, while paying tribute to the efforts of his parents in helping him chase his dreams.
“My parents are very supportive and they help me a lot and get me to training,” he said.
“To play in the NRL would be my dream and is what I’m working towards.
“I want to do a trade as a chippy. I love my woodwork and stuff like that.”
LACHLAN PARKER (Year 7)
THEY might need to change the saying to something takes like a Lachlan Parker to water.
The 12-year-old has been a revelation in the pool as the young swimmer continues to add to a hulking trophy cabinet.
The Toowoomba Grammar Swim Club member came away with gold in the 200m backstroke and silver in the 100m back at this year’s school state championships.
While the juggling act between school and sport gets challenging at times, Lachlan said he likes the opportunity
“(When I was 10) I won two golds, a silver and two bronzes,” he said.
“It’s hard. Mum’s racing around a lot to get me to training and I have to stay up later at nights to get homework and assignments done.”
Lachlan said he enjoys being able to test himself against older swimmers at training, as he looks to add to his medal collection in the coming year.
“It’s three mornings a week and then four afternoons. I like when I’m in with the bigger kids that are 15 and 16. They push me and it’s fun racing them,” he said.
“We’ve had a new coach come in recently and he’s really boosting the squad. Everybody really likes him.
“In December we have a big carnival so I’m hoping to go down there (Brisbane) and get some PBs and win some medals.
“Next year at school states I want to go for my best.”
SETH HARDAKER (Year 11)
SOFTBALL has been in the lifeblood of Seth Hardaker from a young age.
Now a different role as an umpire is helping the 16-year-old to travel and remain firmly within the sport that he loves.
The Year 11 student is already building a lengthy resume as he climbs up the ranks, while continuing to play with All Stars at a local level.
“I’ve been playing softball for as long as I can remember,” Seth said.
“I’ve been doing it for about 10 years, maybe more. I started umpiring four years ago in the development, got my level and then I’ve done about 6-10 tournaments since then.
“I got my level two less than four months back and after that I went to a school tournament in Brisbane to be selected as a Queensland Softball umpire.
“I’ve done state championships, nationals at times, Masters, Pan Pacs, club umpiring and rep.”
The ultimate goal for Seth is to officiate on the biggest stage at the Olympics when they come right to our doorstep in 2032.
“I saw the bonus side of going away, and if I didn’t make it as a player I could still go away,” he said.
“In Toowoomba we only have three levelled umpires. The end point would probably be the Olympics in 10 years.
“After Queensland I would go to Australia, and then after that the Olympics.”
With schooling almost wrapping up, Seth is looking to advance into an area where he can help others.
“After school I’d like to go to nursing and the health area,” he said.
“I’d be thinking of going straight to university and becoming a registered nurse.”
DEMETRIUS CHRISTODOULOU (Year 10)
WHENEVER the opportunity has presented itself to step up to the mark, Demetrius Christodoulou has grabbed it with both hands.
A multi-sport star in both rugby union and league, the 16-year-old is firmly on the radar of scouts in higher grades, including the Queensland Reds.
“With league I haven’t had as many this year but was fortunate to play with the Western Mustangs. I had some good coaching there with Mr (Matt) Jahnke,” he said.
“In rugby union I made the Darling Downs schoolboys team for U18s even though I’m only 16, which is a pretty big achievement for myself.
“I made the Downs U16s team and from that I made the Queensland Reds team for U16s.
“They invited me to a trial and I performed well enough to make the teams. You wouldn’t get that experience anywhere else.”
A commitment to bettering himself and his game gives the USQ player a competitive edge and a drive to keep improving.
“With all the rep commitments and seeing the other boys, you see what standards you have to make for yourself to beat those and get into those teams,” he said.
“In the coming years I just want to make those same teams, plus the Queensland U18s and Future Wallabies team for schoolboys.
“I’ve been doing a lot of fitness and strength work at Snap Fitness Highfields. I’ve been going to the oval and practising my passes, kicks and all the one percenters that coaches look for.”
While the future certainly is shining bright on Demetrius, he hopes to continue pushing for strong results on the field and academically.
“When I graduate hopefully I can have a little bit of a break from school,” he said.
“I’m hoping to do some tertiary education down at UQ where I could play some extra rugby too.
“I just want to get as far as I can while still at school and I think I’ll be set.”
JASPER EAGLESON (Year 5)
ANOTHER ace in the pool, Year 5 student Jasper Eagleson is looking to go big.
Still at just 10 years old, the young swimmer has been competing for just two years, but is already amassing some seriously impressive results.
The Glennie Swimming Club member has achieved state and national rankings during his short time in the pool.
“My parents wanted to get me into it, so I started swimming,” he said.
“Our head coach Gary (Shorter) is pretty experienced so he’s a really good coach.
“I’ve been able to make a few teams and achieve a few goals.
“I’ve qualified for states and ranked there, and I’ve made DD (Darling Downs) in a few things.”
As for the road ahead, Jasper is locked in on competing at the national championships, and is putting in the hard yards to ensure he reaches his goal.
“One of my goals is to qualify for nationals. I haven’t been old enough yet,” he said.
“I haven’t been fast enough to qualify yet and I want to go to nationals and see what I can do.
“I swim five afternoons a week and go to the gym every Thursday.”
BRAITHEN SCOTT (Year 9)
A STAR in the making that has already caught the attention of many, Braithen Scott has the future in his hands.
Born and raised in Texas on the Queensland-NSW border, the 14-year-old has acclimatised to his new surrounds with aplomb.
A Darling Downs representative in rugby league, touch and rugby union, Braithen said he still enjoys the opportunities he gets to visit home.
“We moved up three years ago,” he said.
“My grandparents are out there too. I go out there on holidays mainly and help Pop out on the farm. You get to relax a fair bit out there.
“It’s a lot different. There’s a lot more challenges up here. Schooling is probably harder and it’s harder to make sporting teams.”
A stellar year saw Braithen named as player of the tournament at the Adrian Vowles Cup earlier this season, as well as winning the TJRL U14s title with Valleys.
His ability hasn’t gone unnoticed, with three NRL clubs inviting him to development camps as he continues to work hard towards his ultimate goal.
“It was a pretty good experience and tough carnival up there (Charleville). I was player of the carnival so it was a pretty good achievement,” he said.
“I’ve been up to a few Broncos (elite player development) camps, I’ve just been to a Bulldogs camp and I’ve got a Cowboys camp coming up.
“Hopefully one day I can get to that NRL level. I do a fair bit of gym work and try doing some running training with my mum.
“It’s very hard because where we live is all hills.”
HAYDEN MACREADY (Year 8)
COMING from a hockey pedigree always had Hayden Macready in good stead to forge his own path on the field.
In the strong nursery of Red Lion in Toowoomba, the 13-year-old has been a regular in representative sides to start his hockey journey.
“It was good fun. I had a good time with the boys,” he said.
“We came second in outdoor and the indoor season has just started.
“I’m doing skills and running training for an hour each week, and going to the gym as well as hockey training. I get a heap of tips from the family to help me out
“I’ve been playing for the Darling Downs and played for Queensland twice. I’m hoping to get into Australia.”
Hayden was due to represent Queensland again this season only for Covid to cancel the nationals, while he is set to travel to Maryborough and Mackay for the U15s and U13s state championships for indoor.
While still in the younger age groups, Hayden is looking to test himself against the older boys as he chases a dream in the Australian youth team.
“I’ll try and get to U18s,” he said.
“There’s a jump from U12s to U15s. I’ve already made the U15s, so I’m going to try and get to U18s.
“They’re all faster, have more skills and longer reach, but it’s good fun.”
LACHLAN HILLMAN (Year 7)
REPRESENTATIVE honours and Lachlan Hillman just go hand-in-hand.
The 12-year-old is excelling in both footy codes, rugby league with Valleys and touch football with Rebels.
Lachlan’s determination has landed him further honours with the Darling Downs in both codes and a Queensland merit acknowledgment in touch.
“I’ve been waking up early, going to the gym and doing running training,” he said.
“I wake up at 5am and I go to the gym (The Fit Lab) and do weights. They’ve got good programs and all the stuff you need.”
Although he is still new to both sports, Lachlan wants to keep persevering and go as far as they will take him.
He was an MVP for the SWQ Swans at the national youth championships in the U12s, an honour he took out with the Rebels club also, as well as the Valleys U12 player of the year.
“I’ve been playing touch since I was 10 and league since 11,” he said.
“My goal is to make these teams again, and maybe go for a specific position this time. I’ve been playing lock for Valleys and made it as centre for Darling Downs.
“I’m hoping to make the NRL and play a bit more touch as well.”
JUNIOR PATTERSON (Year 7)
PUT a task in front of Junior Patterson and he’ll achieve it with some interest on top.
A touch football (Broncs) and rugby league (Valleys) player, the 12-year-old is another standout in this cohort that is shining for the Downs against the best in the state.
“I made DD for touch and state, and DD for rugby league,” Junior said.
“We went to Cairns for rugby league and Townsville for touch. I’ve been playing rugby league since I was nine and touch since I was 10.”
Originally born in South Australia, Junior moved to Toowoomba at a young age and hasn’t looked back.
Junior has also shown an ability in the ring, winning a Golden Gloves national title for his weight division and three of his four fights.
With a family contingent in Roma, the young man is receiving support from across the southern region as he chases his dreams.
“Next year I hope to keep on playing well and keep making good teams,” he said.
“I’d love to play in the NRL.
“Some of my family lives in Roma and some lives in Toowoomba. I get to visit my grandma and grandpa out there.
“They watch my live streams whenever they’re on.”
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