Determined Toowoomba U15s boys turn the tide to claim Queensland indoor champonship

They worked hard and fought for each other at every moment, and now Toowoomba lays claim to the best U15s boys team in Queensland after their incredible feat at the indoor championships in Maryborough.

The Toowoomba U15s Indoor Hockey state champions (back, from left) Emma Ziviani (manager), Tom Davis, Mitch Prior, Jackson Smiddy, Hayden Macready, Matt Siebuhr (coach). (Front, from left) Luke Siebuhr, Lachlan Ziviani, Matt Hawthorne, Will Cronk. Photo: Annette's Action Shots

HOCKEY: Toowoomba’s young guns can lay claim to being the best in the state.

The Toowoomba U15 boys returned from Maryborough with the title of champions after a thrilling conclusion to the Indoor State Championships at the weekend.

After sweeping through their pool games with big wins over Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Ipswich, a pair of penalty shootout victories in the finals over Mackay and Brisbane saw the Toowoomba side come away with the crown.

“There was a few nervous moments, but the boys who already had shootouts were incredibly composed,” manager Emma Ziviani said.

“They went to a shootout in the last seconds of the game (in the final) and it could’ve played with them mentally, but they pulled their socks up, turned it around and did the job.”

The group has been together in their rise through the ranks, with their chemistry developed in both indoor and outdoor forms of the game.

When last together they finished fifth two years ago, and Ziviani praised how they’ve been able to stick together and continually improve.

“They went through undefeated and only had two goals scored against them,” she said.
“The boys definitely developed throughout the tournament. They’re a team that backs each other and at no point did they give up.

“They supported each other and if there was ever a mistake, someone was there to fix it. It was inspirational to watch.

“The best part was they were there to protect each other. That’s what team sport comes down to.

“Two years ago they finished fifth at the state championships and there’s only been one player change. Considering there was no junior hockey in Toowoomba in 2020, they’ve worked very hard and they were the fittest team there.”

Covid has claimed another victim with the scheduled national championships abandoned, however a host of boys have received recognition for their efforts.

Luke Siebuhr, Will Cronk, Lachlan Ziviani, Matt Hawthorne and Mitchell Prior (shadow) were chosen in the Queensland squad, with a further announcement to be made on a potential training camp/competition in due course.