TOP 50: Tassie’s rising school sport stars
From the pool to the field Tasmania is producing an impressive cohort of young sport stars that are destined for success. SEE THE TOP 50 >>
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As Tasmania continues to punch above its weight in sporting endeavours, the future of the state’s next generation of star athletes looks bright. From football, cricket to mountain biking and ocean swimming the Mercury shines a light on the states rising talent that are set to dominate the sporting world.
St Mary’s College
Cate Clingeleffer
Cate Clingeleffer is making waves in Surf Life Saving, claiming gold in the U15 female 2km beach run in her first ever appearance at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships this year on the Sunshine Coast.
The 14-year-old is a force to be reckoned with in the surf and was recently named a semi-finalist in the U15 female beach flags and a quarter-finalist in the U15 ironwoman. Clingeleffer is currently training for competitive swimming and surf life saving for the open women’s divisions for upcoming carnivals and dreams of winning the Ironwoman race at Nationals.
The St Mary’s student took out first place in the SSATIS Cross Country Carnival and is described by her coaches and teachers as an amazing all-rounder who is versatile both in the pool and on land.
Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith is a gun on the track, recently claiming a gold medal in the U15 2000m steeplechase at the 2021 National Track and Field Championships in April, powering through from second place and taking the lead, finishing with a time of 7:07.88.
The avid runner also placed second for U14s in the 2021 SSATIS Cross Country Carnival and is currently training for the National Track and Field Championships in 2022.
The Year 8 student dreams of competing in the Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics and is described by coaches as an extemeley hard worker whose efforts inspire competitors around her to achieve their very best.
Jasmine Williams (Year 6)
Jasmine Williams is a talented fustal player who has recently been selected as an Allstar player after competing as a state representative in the National Futsal Championships in Sydney earlier this year.
The Year 6 student is described by her cohort as a strong, fast and intelligent striker that inspires teammates with a well finished goal or solid, timely defence.
The young gun is preparing to travel to Brisbane in January for the next National Futsal Championships as part of the state team.
The Friends School
Sam Castle
Sam Castle is riding waves of success having recently won the Surf Life Saving Tasmania and Iron Man Championships in his age group before placing 10th in Australia in the U14s board race in the Aussies comp on the Sunshine Coast earlier this year.
The Grade 8 student also set a new state record for the 50m butterfly after coming first in multiple events at the state SATIS swimming carnival in March.
Additionally the all-rounder was crowned winner of the southern SATIS cross country carnival and Schools Triathlon Challenge for his age group and is currently training with the Tasmanian Water Polo team to compete in Adelaide this December.
Georgia Chambers
Georgia Chambers is a keen runner who recently represented Tasmania at the Australian All Schools Cross Crountry in Wollongong as well as the National Athletics Championships in Perth.
The Friends’ student shines in distance running events and was selected to represent the state in upcoming cross country and triathlon events that were sadly cancelled.
She hopes to one day represent Australia in the World Championships.
Harry Bevan
Harry Bevan found a passion for rowing at just 12-years-old and has since won medals at NSW, Tasmania and Australian championships.
The young gun also represented Tasmania in the U21 Men’s Eight and Australia in the Junior Men’s Eight and hopes to one day compete in the sport at the Olympics.
Sophie Connolly
Sophie Connolly has a love for cross-country and track, having recently travelled to Wollongong to compete in the Australian Cross Country Nationals in 2019. The star runner continues to place well in state comps and has been selected to compete in the next National Cross Country championships.
Scotch Oakburn College
Heidi Schouten and Lindsay Calvert
Year 12 students Heidi Shouten and Lindsay Calvert are avid rowers who are the first Scotch Oakburn students to achieve national selection in rowing. The pair were selected in the Australian Junior Rowing Team and competed at the National Team Regatta at Adelaide in June.
Alice McLaughlin
Alice McLaughlin has been described by school leaders as an all-rounder.
She is an outstanding hockey player who has been selected to be apart of the Tigers pathway program and is the vice-captain of Hockey Tasmania’s JLW north team. The teen is also a promising cricketer who recently joined Cricket Tasmania’s skillet squad.
Alexander Creak
Year 12 student Alexander Creak is smashing it on the track, after claiming top places in the 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships and is currently the seventh fastest 400m runner in Australia for his age group.
Creak came in fifth in the U20 400m and sixth in the U20 200m – both in personal best times.
Sophie Marshall
Sophie Marshall is also a top performer for Scotch Oakburn on the track, clocking outstanding performances at the Australian Track and Field Championships.
The Year 8 student recently competed in the U15 1500m, placing fourth and the U15 800m, finishing sixth.
Lucy Chesterman
Year 12 student Lucy Chesterman is a standout gymnast at Scotch Oakburn. She was recently selected in the Tasmanian Gymnastics team and competed at the Australian Championships in May.
Guilford Young College
Max Giuliani
Max Giuliani dominates the pool, with school leaders expecting to see the swimmer representing Australia at major international swimming meets in the future.
The Guilford Young College student shined at the State Swimming Club Championships and was selected to compete in Freestyle at the Olympic trials and narrowly missed out on selection. Scoring a silver medal in the 100m freestyle and bronze in the 200m freestyle Giuliani gained Junior World Qualification and broke records in the open state category.
The champion swimmer hopes to compete at the next Commonwealth Games and aims to make the 2024 Olympics team.
Callum O’Sullivan
Callum O’Sullivan is an outstanding trampolinist with an exceptional ability to rotate quickly
that enables him to perform more complex triple somersaults. His current speciality is the
double mini apparatuses, but he also excels on the larger trampoline in both the individual and
synchronised categories.
The student has dominated as a state representative in the Junior and Youth Categories and was the Junior U17 Australian Champion in 2019.
O’Sullivan has high hopes for the Double Mini to become an Olympic event with a long
term goal to compete on the Olympic stage.
Maddison Brookes
Maddison Brooks is an outstanding hockey player who is dangerous in attack with a flare
for scoring goals. Brooks has been selected in the Tasmanian U18 and U21 Women’s State Hockey Team, is a Tassie Tiger Women’s Hockey Scholarship holder and is in the Australian Future Squad.
She is described by sporting leaders as a defender’s nightmare who has gone on to compete internationally as part of the Australian U16 School Girls team.
The teen is also a talented cricket player being a member of the State U15, U18 teams and a member of the 20/21 Tassie Women’s Cricket (Tiger’s) Squad for the last two WNCL rounds.
>> TASMANIA’S BEST SPORTING SCHOOLS PART I
>> TASMANIA’S BEST SPORTING SCHOOLS PART II
>> TASMANIA’S TOP 20 MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS
Taylor Brooks
A passion for hockey runs deep in the Brooks family with Maddison’s sister Taylor also a talent on the field.
She is described by sporting leaders as a measured, skilled and consistent player who is integral in the midfield and defence who has excellent vision and ability to read the play.
Like her sister she has was selected in both the Tasmanian U18 and U21 Women’s State Hockey teams, is a Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holder and is a part of the Australian Future Squad. The teenager also competed internationally in 2019 after she was selected in the Australian U16 Schools Girls team.
Camila Vaughan
Camila Vaughan is a talented hockey goalkeeper who is currently a Tasmanian Institute of Sport Hockey Scholarship holder and is a part of the Australian Future Squad.
Vaughan is known as an extremely dynamic player with excellent reflexes and agility that was selected in the U18 and U21 State Women’s teams. Once graduating from Guilford Young, the star student hopes to represent Tasmania in the U21s team and aims to be selected in the Tassie Tigers senior team to compete in the Hockey One National competition.
Hunter Wright
Water polo player Hunter Wright is a weapon in the pool who works hard in defence to make crucial intercepts. The teen has been selected in the U18 state team and U18 Men’s Australian Youth Championships and was also selected to play with the Adelaide Jets in the National League.
Sam Banks
Sam Banks is a smooth mover with elite kicking skills who was identified early in his football career as a standout player.
The young gun was selected in both the U15 and U16 All Australian teams after dominating at both national carnivals and has played three seasons for the Devils team where he was selected as captain for 2021.
Additionally Banks has been selected in the AFL National Academy which represents the best 30 players in the country and will attend the AFL Draft Combine later this month with the hope of being selected by an AFL club later this year.
Haney Mokonen (Long Distance Running and Athletics)
Haney Mokonen is a keen runner who is determined to break records and sets himself the challenge to do so. The teenager began 2021 with winning the 7km City to Casino Fun Run before taking out the SSATIS Open Boys Cross Country and being selected in the State Team for 2021. Mokonen’s future is in long distance running and he is currently leading Athletic Souths Athlete of the Season – the first time a junior athlete has done so for several decades.
He is training for the National Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals and dreams of representing Australia in Paris at the 2024 Olympics.
St Michael’s Collegiate
Isabelle Walls
Isabelle Walls’ water polo career began eight years ago and since the Year 12 student has claimed a number of championships at state and club levels and has represented Tasmania at national championships for the past six years.
The talented player was selected in this year’s Water Polo Australia’s Launch to LA squad which led to her being selected to tour New Zealand in the Water Polo Australia Youth Women’s Team. Walls plans on playing in the next Water Polo Australia’s National League Competition and hopes to referee U17 and U15 National Championships.
Tussy Thomas
Tussy Thomas first found a love for rowing after participating in the St Michael Collegiate’s ‘learn to row’ program in Grade 6. Fast forward six years, the teen is now competing at a state level.
Since transitioning from school competitions into club rowing for the Tasmanian University Boat Club Thomas has been apart of multiple state title crews and claimed the U17 state single title by a margin of 10 seconds.
The University of Queensland approached her following the stunning result and asked the talented rower to compete in their crews at the national championships but due to Covid the season was cut short.
Thomas is now training for future comps and dreams of sporting the green and gold on an international stage.
Phoebe Davis
St Michael’s Collegiate’s Sports Prefect, Phoebe Davis is a wizz on land and in the water, competing in rowing, orienteering, athletics, cross-country and water polo.
Davis was selected to represent Tasmania at two Orienteering Nationals in 2017 and 2018 and was recently selected to represent the state in the 2021 School’s Pathway Eight rowing regatta.
Victoria Fish
Year 11 student Victoria Fish is an all rounder, representing Tasmania on a state stage for tennis, hockey and football.
From eight to 13-years-old the teen was number one for her age group on the court and was named captain of multiple teams. In hockey she became a Premier League player for the University Hockey Club and has also been selected in the Tassie Devils footy team for 2021.
She was recently named player of the match in the grand final between the U17 Sandy Bay Lions and North Hobart.
Rachel Horsham
Year 9 student Rachel Horsham is a keen triathlete that took up the sport as a cyclist.
She shines in the sport’s sprint distance (750m/20km/5km) and recently placed first in the triathlon and duathlon junior state series and state championship.
Horsham was also winner of this year’s 7km City to Casino in the women’s category and placed second for U15s in the SSATIS Cross Country. She hopes of racing in the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon as soon as she turns 18.
>> TASMANIA’S BEST SPORTING SCHOOLS PART I
>> TASMANIA’S BEST SPORTING SCHOOLS PART II
>> TASMANIA’S TOP 20 MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS
Brooke Miller
Brooke Miller is an ace on the court, having represented Tasmania in tennis for the past five years, competing all over Australia.
The teenager is a part time coach for Dickson Tennis Coaching at Howrah where she teaches young Tassie kids the great game.
Miller is set to compete in the Bell Bay Aluminium Championships in August later this month and is training for the Hobart Open at the Domian Tennis Centre in October.
Mikayla Ireland
Mikayla Ireland is lightning quick on the track and has a particular love for trail running, competing locally and nationally in the Australian Schools Cross Country events. Ireland claims course records for both the Freycincet 11km trail run and the Point to Pub 10km uphill event.
The teen has also competed in Sydney’s National Track and Field Championships for the 2km steeple chase and takes part in local events such as the 64km Bruny Island relay.
Lacy Kamprad
13-year-old Lacy Kamprad is a weapon in the pool, currently holding 13 state records for breaststroke. She competed in last years Queensland championships, walking away from the comp with gold and silver medals. Kamprad also competed in April’s National Championships, placing fourth in the 200m breastroke and fifth in the 100m breaststroke.
St Patrick’s College
Lauren Wise
Lauren Wise is an exciting prospect who was recently chosen in a squad for the Australian U/19 Women’s Basketball Team.
In 2019 she was inducted into Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence program and she has also participated at NBA Basketball Without Borders camps and Australian Development Camps.
The Year 12 student currently plays in the Launceston Tornadoes team in the Women’s NBL1 competition and hopes to make it onto the list of a WNBL team for the upcoming season as a development player and dreams of one day being selected for the Opals.
Leuca McLeod
Talented gymnast Leuca McLeod has recently scored a gold medal in the U17 junior double mini-trampoline at this year’s National Gymnastics Championships. Adding to the amazing achievement the Year 10 student won silver in the individual trampoline and also in the teams double mini-trampoline.
McLeod is described as a “quiet and unassuming athlete” whose “persistence and focus have been key factors in his sporting success.” The teen hopes to compete in a World Trampoline Championships in the not-too-distant future.
Ryley Sanders
Ryley Sanders is a young talent who has been on the radar of AFL talent scouts for some time despite only just turning 16-years-old. The Year 10 student currently plays for North Launceston in the TSL and gained his first senior selection in 2020 as a 15-year-old.
The keen footballer also represents the Tassie Devils in the NAB League and will be eligible for the 2023 draft.
St Patrick’s College teacher Laine Cleaver who coached the school’s boys teams to seven straight SATIS State Premierships said after being involved with football over the last 10 years, he’s never seen a talent like Sanders.
“From his earlier years in the NHSSA Year 7/8 Roster, he was clearly head and shoulders above his peers. He understood the game so well, his skills were exceptional and his composure was far beyond that of his opponents.”
“Ryley’s dedication to his development in the game is second to none and he clearly knows the level he needs to be at in order to make it in the AFL. Aside from his physical ability, the most pleasing things about Ryley are his down-to-earth nature, approachability, kindness, and his sportsmanship.”
Paige O’Neill
Year 8 student Paige O’Neill is a star on the court. The Year 8 student has been selected for the Basketball Tasmania Advanced Academy as well as Netball Tasmania’s Elite Development Squad.
The teen also shines on the field at touch football and is described by school sport leaders as a ‘naturally gifted athlete who has enormous potential across multiple team based sports.”
St Virgil’s College
Harrison McCleod
Harrison McCleod is a sport fanatic, achieving spectacular results in athletics, AFL and basketball. The Year 9 student was named winner of the U14 Robert Beakley award for Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League and has represented Tasmania in Athletics at the Australian Junior National Championships.
Noah Hass
Year 8 student Noah Hass is a weapon in the water, taking out every U14 Tasmanian School Rowing race this year – an impressive feat that St Virgils sport leaders expect to see repeated in 2022.
Coming from a talented rowing family that includes multiple TIS scholarship holders, Hass is described as an athletically gifted and highly motivated sportsman that is destined for greatness.
Charlie Lennon
Basketball star Charlie Lennon has been selected as a member of the Tasmanian Basketball High Performance squad and was recently named in the U16 state team for Australian Nationals which is set to go ahead in Darwin within the next month (Covid permitting).
Lennon holds multiple MVP awards for the Hobart Phoenix Basketball Association and currently plays for the club’s U16, U18 and reserve men teams.
Nathaniel Sulzberger
Year 9 student Nathaniel Sulzberger is a weapon on the track and the field, achieving noteworthy feats in AFL and athletics. The teenager was runner up in the STJFL Beakely Medal and was the youngest player to be signed to the North Hobart Seniors not long after turning 15-years-old. Sulzberger holds four state individual records in Little Athletics and was a gold medallist in the high jump at the 2019 Australian Little Athletics Championships.
Max Sylvester
Max Sylvester has been noted as one to watch over the next few years in rowing. In his first year of rowing, the Year 7 student won both the U13 All-Schools Championships and U13 Head of the River Single Sculls, Double Sculls and Quad Sculls events.
The Hutchins School
Milo Langford
Milo Langford is making big waves in surfing, representing both Hutchins and the state as part of the Surfing Tasmania Junior team over the past five years.
Langford placed first in the U19 All Star division at the Tasmanian Schools Surfing Trials, qualifying for the State Team this year. The talented surfer hopes to represent both Tasmania and Hutchins at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles, held at North Stradbroke Island later this year.
Zac Phair
Zac Phair has played in the Hutchins First XI team for the past four seasons, winning two State Finals and captained the 2021 premiership side. The Year 12 student has also represented Tasmania on a number of occasions, performing well at U15 and U17 national carnivals. The teen is a part of the Cricket Tasmania Premier Academy and U19 Australia World Cup Extended Squad this season.
>> TASMANIA’S BEST SPORTING SCHOOLS PART I
>> TASMANIA’S BEST SPORTING SCHOOLS PART II
>> TASMANIA’S TOP 20 MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS
Hugo Allison
Hugo Allison has been an integral part of the Hutchins 1st Sailing program since Year 6, representing Hutchins at both state and national level. The Year 10 student has represented Australia eight times at world championships all over the globe and has won four national titles and claimed a world championship.
Sam Mounter
Sam Mounter has represented Hutchins in the 1st VIII for two years, winning multiple State Championships. The Year 12 student has also rowed for the University of Tasmania, winning the single, double and quad National Championships. Along with four other Hutchins crew mates (Ben Boman, Harry Sillifant, Oscar Newbury and Angus Whatling), Mounter won the National Championships in the coxed four for Hutchins and then competed in the World Cup III Simulation Regatta, racing against Olympic crews in their preparation for Tokyo.
The Fahan School
Ella Atkins
At only 15-years-old Ella Atkins has claimed some notable titles competiting against other athletics across the country. Recently competing in the Australian National Championships the Fahan student came second in the U17 Steeple Chase and sixth in the U17 3000m.
Billie Roger
Billie Roger is one to look out for in the water. She’s one of the many hard Tasmanians that choose to start their days by plunging into icy waters, revelling in the popular pursuit of ocean swimming where she has taken out first place in the Open Women’s Tasmanian Ocean Swimming Series.
Anna Edwards
Anna Edwards is a gun on the footy field and won this year’s SJTFL Beakley Medal for the best and fairest player in the U17.5 competition. The Grade 10 student has also been selected to train in the U17 Devils squad for 2021.
Abbey Willcox
Year 10 student Abbey Willcox is an avid mountain biker who took out the winning title in the Tasmanian All School Bike Championships. The teen has also gone on to compete in nationals and won both the XCC and XCO races.
Launceston Church Grammar School
Ava Curtis
Grade 9 student Ava Curtis is a star cricketer that has made a name for herself in the local sporting community. Member of the Greater Northern Raiders, she is quoted to be an outstanding fielder who is becoming a feared opponent with a great throwing arm. In the near future, Curtis hopes to sign a contract with Cricket Tasmania and be selected in the U16 or U19 state cricket team.
Finn Girling
Mountain biker Finn Girling is a weapon on the tracks and has taken out championships in multiple races at a national and state level. He was crowned U19 winner of this year’s Tas Gravity Enduro and scored silver and gold medals in the 2019 Mountain Bike Australia All Schools National Championship at Nerang, Queensland.
Lilian Reynolds
Grade 8 student Lilian Reynolds is a star on the football field being selected for the Tasmanian U14 girls squad for 2021 and was a part of Football Tasmania’s TalentSupport Program last year. In 2020 Reynolds was the first girl in six years to be awarded the NTSJSA Tom Stickland Scholarship for a promising player and is planning to make the move to Brisbane next year to pursue opportunities in the sport at a higher level.
Thomas Beaumont
Grade 10 student Thomas Beaumont made his debut as captain of the U16 South Launceston Football Club this year with the teen named NTJFA league’s best and fairest. At 16-years-old he is the youngest centurion in Launceston Cricket Club’s history and has also broke two school records at recent athletics carnivals for shot put and discus.
chelsea.cosgrave@themercury.com.au
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