Sport News

Last Thursday and Friday showcased the very best of Marist spirit as our Track and Field team secured an extraordinary double—our eleventh consecutive AIC Secondary Championship and fifth straight Primary Championship. This record is exceptional in any sporting context and stands as a testament to the culture, dedication, and commitment of our athletics community, our boys, parents, staff, and coaches.

The winning margins were impressive: 74 points in the Primary and an incredible 315.5 points in the Secondary (up from 196.5 margin last year). Marist claimed victory across all year levels and aggregate shields, proudly taking home all ten trophies on offer- a truly remarkable feat.

While this success is outstanding by any measure, it is not the result itself that I celebrate most. In a sport made up of individual events, it is the collective spirit that inspires me most deeply. Beyond the many Marist names etched into the AIC record books, what defines our program is the 120-plus athletes and 20 coaches who dedicate themselves daily to improvement; athletes who put the team before themselves and consistently deliver their best when it matters most.

On behalf of the College, I congratulate every team member and participant who contributed throughout the season. The strength of our program lies in its depth; success in a traditionally individual sport is achieved through the performance and resilience of the whole squad. In several cases, our Division 2 athletes produced results strong enough to place on the podium in Division 1- a reflection of the healthy internal competition that drives our athletes to strive, grow, and give their all.

A sincere thank you to our Head Coach, Mr Robin Martin, for his extraordinary leadership and dedication. Rob’s technical expertise, meticulous planning, countless hours of commitment, deep Marist pride, and genuine care for his athletes combine to make him, quite simply, the finest coach of young athletes I have encountered. True to form, training resumed next Sunday.

Gratitude also goes to Mr Richard Graham, Director of Track and Field, for his exceptional organisation, preparation, and unwavering support of both staff and students; to Mr Matt Millward and Mr Corey Robinson for their invaluable administrative assistance; and to Mr John Lambourne, whose tireless work in the Primary School-knowing, encouraging, and challenging every boy, sets the foundation for the entire program. Thank you to all the external, specialist, staff and Old Boy coaches for your dedication and unwavering commitment to the program.

Finally, thank you to our team captains Ted Clarke, Zac Milligan, Finlay Keoghan, Elliot Aldridge, and Owen Hair for your leadership, enthusiasm, and embodiment of the Marist spirit.

Registrations - Term 1 Sports

All players who want to play a sport must register on Student Café during the sign up period in the term before the AIC competition occurs. Parents need to approve this through Parent Lounge.

It is vitally important that all players sign up. We have to nominate team numbers to the AIC and recruit suitable coaches before we start trials. The information we use to do this is the numbers per cohort we see signed up for each sport.

Boys who have not signed up during the registration period will not be guaranteed an opportunity to participate. 

Signing Up

Sign in to Student Café; select Extra Curricular; select Sign-up Available; choose the sport you want to play and complete any additional fields as required.

Parent Approval

Sign in to Parent Lounge; select Extra Curricular; click Sign-up Now; select Approve Sign-Up and check and update medical details; click Accept; choose Update; click Submit to School.

To view the details your son has signed up for at Student Details/Extra Curricular. 

CBSQ Basketball

Good luck to our Junior Secondary and Sophomore teams competing in the State Championships over the coming weeks. These prestigious events play an important role in developing our talented basketballers.

My thanks is extended to Ms Samantha Davids, Mr James Lymer and staff assisting these teams.

Open Championships

From Isaac Deem

CBSQ 2025 was a great challenge for the boys. Division One meant that we were competing against the best 15 schools in Queensland, and all the best players the state has to offer. I missed game 1 due to an exam, but game 2 was against Nudgee, and we managed to rally together and play one of the best games we’ve had all year, losing by just 25 points to a team stacked with great players. This really showed the squad that we deserved to be a division one team, despite our disappointing AIC season, and gave us a lot of confidence moving forward. We struggled through the next few games, until it was game 6, against Hillcrest, the same school from game 1. This game meant a lot to the boys, especially the year 12's, as it was the last chance to keep Marist in division 1 for CBSQ 2026. We stuck within 20 points for most of the game, and at moments the boys were electric, and the momentum was all in our favour. Unfortunately, we came up short, meaning we would drop to division 2 next year. Although it was a disappointing result, CBSQ created memories for the boys that will last a lifetime, and I can speak on behalf of the team in saying these boys will be some of my greatest lasting friendships. 8 years of Marist Basketball has taught me countless valuable life lessons, and many of my fondest memories were forged because of it, and I am nothing but grateful for that opportunity. Big thankyou to Mr Lymer, James O’Hara, Liam Thomas, and of course Ms Davids for an awesome year. 

From William Lathwell

Competing in the CBSQ Basketball Tournament this year was an unforgettable experience for our team. Playing in the Championship Division meant going up against the very best teams in Queensland and some of the most talented players in Australia. Every game tested us, pushed us, and challenged us to raise our standards. Although our record on paper may not have reflected the amount of work we put in, the growth we showed from start to finish was massive. Each match revealed improvement—whether in our execution, our resilience, or our teamwork. More importantly, the tournament gave us the chance to truly connect as a group, building bonds that will last long after the final buzzer.

For me, this tournament marked the end of three special years as part of the Firsts program. While it wasn’t the fairytale ending you dream about, it was something greater—it brought us closer together. The boys beside me on the court, and those who have been part of this journey in previous years, have done an incredible job of helping shape who I am today. Together, we’ve created countless memories, shared endless laughs, and faced challenges that have taught us lessons far beyond basketball.

Basketball has shown us the value of hard work. It’s taught us how to respond to setbacks with courage, but most importantly, it has given us friendships and brotherhood that we’ll carry for life. As I close this chapter, I’m grateful for every moment in this jersey. The program will continue to grow, and I know future teams will build on the foundation we’ve worked hard to lay.

Thank you to James Lymer, James O’Hara, Samantha Davids, and Liam Thomas for looking after us and making the trip a great time. 

Touch/Esports/Water Polo

Our final round of sports for 2025 are our 1-day gala activities in touch, esports and water polo. These events are across Friday 24th to Sunday 26th of October. Players will already be nominated and trials where applicable are occurring. 

Our staff overseeing these activities are:

• Touch: Ms Kate Moore- moorek@marash.qld.edu.au
• Esports: Mr Greg Egan- egang@marash.qld.edu.au
• Water Polo: Mr Ryan Apps- appsr@marash.qld.edu.au 
•  

Good luck to all boys participating in these activities.

Student Achievements

Baseball

Callum Schramm and Samuel Plumb (co-captain), travelled to New Zealand as part of a Baseball Queensland International Youth Development baseball series. The two teams played 7 games over 5 days against the under 17 Auckland international team and the NZ under 15 team. This is a great recognition for both boys who are dedicated to their sport.

Football

Hunter Chan-Riotto represented Queensland at Under 14 level at the recent State of Origin tournament. Queensland won the final 2-1 against NSW. Well done to Hunter.

Mountain Biking

Luca Bordignon competed recently at the State Champions for Mountain Biking. He finished 6th in the short court and 5th in the long course. Well done, Luca.

Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

AIC Track and Field | Champions

This AIC Championship was one to remember with Marist College sweeping all trophies and age groups for perhaps one of the most dominant team wins in AIC history. After the four AIC practice meets, during term 3, a track camp was conducted where 50+ secondary athletes plus 20 primary athletes were sent to work on technical precision with our specialist coaches, resilience, strength and conditioning and to build team morale. At this time the boys committed to their team-mates and continued to work together with their peers during September with meets and training, before selections were finalized in the last week of holidays after the QLD All Schools State Titles.

At the AIC Championship, after the first round of field events and excellent work from our hurdlers (including a school record from Hayden Lockhart), Marist had a slender 20 point lead but there remained concern as we attempted to adapt to the windy conditions affecting our jumpers and throwers. However, with support from coaches and our team’s incredible adaptability, our squad built through the 1500m events closed out by a terrific run from Harry Prole and later field rotations where our discus throwers in 13-15 years won all divisions except for one. Our jumpers were incredibly consistent with high jump wins to Hugo Lockhart after winning 12 years hurdles and our long and triple jumpers in 15,16 and open years swept the long and triple events from the first day, before our 200m sprinters led us to a 120-point lead at the close of Day 1.

Day 2 was led out with Harry Prole winning the 3000m and this momentum was carried through the next 3 rounds of field events where our jumpers were regularly in positions 1 and 2, with 16 years leading with Connor Campbell and Riley Hansel winning long jump divisions. In discus shot and javelin athletes had consistent high placings with our two 12 years throwers taking out the shot (Spencer Hoddy/Finn Elphinston) showing our consistency across the ages. While in Discus we swept the 14 and 15 years age group winning all 4 divisions (James Milne/Isaac Mastenbroek/Dilpreet Sharma/Jack Cannon). Seeing the 800m runners mainly in positions 1-3 was great for the team points, led by Ethan Bird and Perry Croft winning their 16 year ages after being pushed up from reserves or lower divisions to cover our opens who were changed due to illness showing great depth. Then our 100m sprinters started to dominate with 10x100m wins across the age groups with a clean sweep of 16 years (Riley Hansel/Bob Ackerie/Nick Prendergast/Connor Campbell) and 3 wins in opens (Isaac Ting/Ted Clarke/Aedan Warbrooke)before consistent 400m top 2 placings. Our senior relays topped off the victory with 3 wins and 3 podiums including a relay record to our Open 4x100m team (Isaac Ting/Ted Clarke/Aedan Warbrooke/Finn Keogan). And our incredible primary students managed 3 x 1st places and a 2nd place in their 4 relay events.  This was soon after our two Year 5 high jumpers Henry Wilton and Cooper Kadri took out both year 5 high jump divisions with personal bests showing our consistency from Year 5 to Year 12. While we felt well in front we were still unprepared for the final score and outcome.

As the results were released by the head of AIC Sport, Marist College achieved an incredible clean sweep of all 10 trophies including the primary Year 5 and Year 6 trophies plus Primary aggregate. Then 12 years, 13 years, 14 years, 15 years, 16 years and Open trophies returned with the Secondary aggregate. This is unprecedented in AIC sport to take all trophies and the most dominant victory in the last 11 years of winning AIC. Further, the 315.5 point victory far surpasses any of the magnificent victories in the past 10 years and is an AIC record winning margin.

This effort was not down to a single event group but rather a full team commitment and performance with athletes across Sprints/Throws/Jumps/Middle Distance in both Primary and Secondary all equally contributing to the victory. Our coaching team cannot be given enough praise for their tireless work and a special thanks for the significant contribution of our coaching staff, whose expertise and dedication have prepared the athletes so well: Mr Matt Millward, Mr Bill Prole, Mr Paul Knight, Mr John Lambourne (who should be specifically mentioned for his work with primary), Mr Anthony Sharp, Ms Molly Keir, Mr Eric Brown, Mr Des Davis, Mr Tim Castley, Mr Connor Duggan, Mr Brendan Saunders, Mr Peter Loli, Lee Martin, Isaac Roach, Thomas Prole, James Prole, Joel Drew, Asher Parkin, Josh Dempsey and Tom Dempsey. The sports administration team with Mr Matt Millward and Mr Corey Robinson were also immense in their contributions and support of the program. We were also lucky to have Mr Paul Kearney, our recent high jump coach of many years and Isaiah Burgess a recent all Schools national medalist, return to support us on the main championship days and give their wisdom to the athletes.

The team was led well by captains Ted Clarke, Finn Keogan and Zac Milligan, ably supported by vice captains Owen Hair and Elliot Aldridge. Their efforts in keeping the boys focused for the 2 days cannot be under estimated.

While it was a team performance some athletes had incredibly strong showings:

1. Hayden Lockhart (15y) – 5 individual firsts 100-200-Hurdles-long-triple
2. Connor Campbell (16y) – 5 individual firsts 100-400-Hurdles-long-triple and part of winning 4x100
3. Harry Prole (16y) – 2 inspiring wins in 1500-3000m and a close 2nd soon after in the 800m
4. Reserves – A special note of thanks to our reserves. 
   1. Every year people do not realise the importance of the reserves and with an injury in under 14 we called upon Cooper Donahy to run in both the 6x400 and 4x100m relays and Harvey Pye to enter the div 2 long jump (winning the event with a new PB).
   2. In Opens due to illness we had to move several athletes around the 16 and Opens divisions and had to move Harry Prole up into all Open events. In parallel Ethan Bird pushed up into 16 years Division 1 (winning the 800m), Perry Croft moved up to 16 years 800m (winning his division) and Archer Tallon coming in to run the 1500m.

• It should be noted that these reserves did not drop below 1st or 2nd in their events showing great depth and determination in the team. A credit to the athletes stepping up to ensure we minimized any points loss across the days.

   

The season never seems over and many of our athletes will continue into the Australian Junior season. A final thanks to Mr Richard Graham for his tireless efforts in ensuring the logistics and management of the team sees us always well prepared. We look forward to what is ahead in 2026 where we hope to welcome many more athletes to the program.

AIC New Championship Records in 2025

AIC Record – Aaron Doyle Year 6 100m-12.65s

AIC Record – Open Relay Isaac Ting, Ted Clarke, Aedan Warbrooke, Finn Keogan-43.00s

AIC Championship School Records

Hayden Lockhart – 15y 100m hurdles 13.55s AIC time surpassing Dan Drew (2019) 13.69s hurdles record.

Well done to the boys above who recorded these excellent performances.

A Special Thanks | Mr Rob Martin

At the heart of Marist College Ashgrove’s Track and Field success stands Mr Rob Martin. Mr Martin is an Old Boy, dedicated coach, and the driving force behind the program’s incredible run of eleven consecutive AIC Secondary Championships.

Since his own days of athletic excellence at the College in the 1980s, Mr Martin has remained deeply connected to Marist sport. With two sons having recently graduated, his ongoing commitment to the next generation of athletes continues to shape the strong culture that defines Marist Track and Field today.

The time, energy, and care Mr Martin gives to the program are truly exceptional. From early morning Primary sessions to Sunday afternoon training open to all athletes, his presence and professionalism set the tone for the squad. His willingness to sacrifice personal time to ensure our athletes are the best prepared and best supported team in the AIC competition is nothing short of remarkable.

On behalf of all coaches and the entire Track and Field squad, we thank Mr Martin for his outstanding leadership, calm guidance, and genuine care for every student in the program. He remains the heartbeat of Marist Track and Field, a model of excellence, humility, and unwavering dedication to the College.

Thank You to All Track and Field Squad Members

On behalf of Mr. Rob Martin (Head Coach, Track and Field), Mr John Lambourne and the entire coaching staff, I want to extend our genuine thanks to those boys not selected for the final AIC Track and Field team for your contribution to the Marist Track and Field program in 2025. While it is necessary to select a team for the AIC Championship meet, our true strength lies in our large numbers, the strong bonds we share, and the enjoyment we experience training and competing together. Our 11th successive Secondary AIC Championship and a 5th successive Primary AIC Championship is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and dedication of every Track and Field squad member who trained and competed for the College this season.Thank you for making Marist Track and Field the exceptional program it is today.

Athletic Pathways

Any athletes or potential athletes who would like to discuss opportunities and pathways to be a part of this team in 2025-2026, please make contact with Mr Richard Graham or Mr Rob Martin. We are already planning forward to the 2026 Track and Field season, and it would be great to discuss opportunities with anyone interested. From club, to internal regular training, to improving your overall speed for other sports, track and field can help in many ways and we will cater for all athletes regardless of current level of ability to help them achieve their goals.

Marist Track and Field – Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_sports

Marist College has continued to showcase incredible moments in Track and Field again this year, from Year 5 victories to exceptional feats by our Year 12 students, all vividly captured on our social media pages.

Follow us and stay up-to-date with Marist Track and Field on Instagram - @marist_ashgrove_sports.

Tennis

Mrs Jade Ritchie - Swim/Tennis Administrator

Term 4, Week 2

More lessons will become available from November 3 when Andrew returns from holidays.

Elite Squad Upgrade

In 2026 we are taking our squad system to the next level. For players ready to commit to tennis as a serious pursuit, we are launching invitation-only, high-performance squads.

• Training 4 days per week
• One private lesson with a squad coach each week
• Focus on all areas: technique, footwork, strength, recovery, diet, injury prevention, and match preparation
• Super League participation required for advanced match play
• Squad tours planned for 2026

All other squads will continue to run as normal, so every player has a pathway suited to their goals.

Friday Fixtues

Please note that our Friday fixtures are open to ALL players in Prep squad and above as it’s part of your term payment. We’d love to see you come down and use what you’ve learned during the week in a match format.

Make-ups

Any private lessons you miss this term can be made up in Week 10 and during the first week of the holidays.

Super Grade and Super League 2026

We’re aiming for 12 teams in Competition 1 (starting February). Adults, Old Boys, and current students are welcome – teams of 3 are ideal. Returning players will receive a free clinic to sharpen their game before the season. Weekly competition is the best way to cut errors, build confidence, and lock in a strong match style. Rally your mates and get involved!

We’ll start taking sign up’s towards the end of the year.

Wilson Pro Shop

Our pro shop is open and has some new stock including the new Wilson Ultra and the RF frame. Demo racquets are available now. 

If you have any questions please email Jade at mcatennis@marash.qld.edu.au.

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

Firstly, congratulations to the AIC Athletics team on their outstanding success at the recent AIC Championships. What a wonderful achievement for the College!

It’s been fantastic to see so many boys back in the water this week. At this stage of the season, the focus is on building strong foundations — refining basic technique, developing fitness, and re-establishing good habits in preparation for the season ahead. Over the next four weeks, this consistent effort will be key to setting the team up for long-term success.

Swimming is a sport that demands commitment and discipline, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. For us to be competitive and for each swimmer to reach their potential, consistency and effort are key. We encourage the boys to embrace the challenges set by their coaches, support their teammates, and take pride in their role within the squad.

This Wednesday, we’re excited to welcome our incoming Year 5 students for their first experience of swimming at Marist. It’s always a special day as they represent Marist College Ashgrove for the first time. One of the great joys of being involved in the College’s swim program is watching these boys grow — from their first session as nervous new students to confident young men who eventually walk proudly through the college on graduation day. Sharing that journey with them and their families is something truly special.

There have been a few questions about the AIC competition. Damian and I would like to emphasise that our program caters for all swimmers — those who are developing confidence in the water, as well as those working towards AIC selection. Our goal is to help each boy improve, enjoy the process, and feel supported no matter where they are on their swimming journey.

We’re looking forward to an exciting term ahead and can’t wait to see the continued progress of all our swimmers.

Marist Swimming | Sign On

For full details, please visit Parent Orbit. Students must sign up via the Student Café, with parents or caregivers confirming registration through Parent Lounge and updating all medical details.

This process allows the College to plan for the appropriate number of coaches and resources.

Important: Students who are not registered for AIC Unallocated will not receive emails regarding swimming program, including schedules and updates.

For any enquiries, please contact: swim@marash.qld.edu.au

Timetable Adjustments for Primary School

• Year 5 (2026): Training begins Wednesdays, 15 October, continuing Wednesday afternoons throughout Term 4. Mondays will begin on Monday 3 November.
• Year 6 (2026): Training begins Wednesday, 15 October, with sessions on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings.
•  

Years 7–12 (2026)

Training for Years 7–12 will commence on Wednesday, 8 October, from 7:15 am – 8:00 am.The timetable for the opening week is listed below. 

Year 5 - 2026

Year 6 - 2026

Year 7 – 12 – 2025 

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Term 4 – Preseason Training

An optional five-week rugby union preseason training block for current Year 9-11 students began yesterday. All Year 9-11 students that played rugby union in 2025 will have received an email with the schedule and it has also been posted on the Parent Orbit app.

This training block is a great opportunity for any interested students to learn how to train both on the field and in the gym. Mr Richard Graham, Mr Chris Daykin, Mr Charlie Taylor, and Mr James Trebbin will lead the field sessions, whilst the athletic development will be under the guidance of our Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Mr Adam Earnshaw.

For all updates and information, please follow the notices on the Parent Orbit. 

Marist Rugby Union | U12 The Armidale School Rugby Carnival

Following this year’s successful participation, we are excited to announce that Marist College Ashgrove has again registered for a place in The Armidale School Rugby Carnival for U12s on April 18 and 19, 2026. The window for schools to register an expression of interest for the carnival is open from September 8 – October 20 with confirmation of a place shortly after.

The carnival is a significant event in the junior rugby calendar, and as per carnival rules, we are looking forward to selecting a strong team of 20 students to represent the College. To ensure ample preparation for families, and also for the staff and students, team selection will take place in Term 4, 2024, with training and trials scheduled for Week 2 - 5.

Due to the carnival being an age group event and not a year level event, and the urgency to start organising, we will be selecting a team based on the below criteria -

Please note, to be eligible: 

• Students must be born in 2014 
• Students must be enrolled at the College in 2025 

Given the popularity of the carnival, and based on advice from the organisers and schools who are regular participants, we have been told that accommodation will need to be secured ASAP. Students will be required to travel to Armidale and stay with their own families, and early team selection will allow time for planning and organisation. Along with the 20 students selected, an additional 3-5 students will be named as standbys which I understand is a difficult scenario for those involved. 

For those interested in participating, please go to Parent Portal > Extra Curricular > XV Rugby > U12 and register your interest. 

We understand the challenge of organising planning so far out from the event and also the challenges with team selection amidst Term 1 AIC sports preparations, and we appreciate your understanding and support.

Marist Rugby Union | Scrum Ready Program

Mr Chris Daykin, Mr Doug Perrers and Mr James Trebbin will lead the five-week Scrum Ready Program in Term 4 for Year 5-11 rugby union forwards.

Any students who play in the front row or the wider forward pack are invited to the Scrum Ready Program. Tuesday 3:30-4:30pm

Year 9-11

Wednesday 3:30-4:30pm

Year 5-8

DRESS: Marist sports shirt, Marist sports shorts, white / blue Marist socks, rugby boots

WHERE: Des Connor Fields, Flat 5 The aim of the training sessions is to educate students on key strengthening exercises, correct technique and the ability to maintain a safe, strong and stable body position. 

The five weeks will consist of:

1. Core and body strengthening exercises
2. Solo with no opposition – on knees
3. Solo with no opposition – on feet
4. Solo against a machine / tackle bag
5. 1 v 1 / 3 v 3 body shape. 

Students should complete the program with knowledge that will allow them to continue their own training across the remainder of Term 4 and into the school holidays.

Marist Rugby Union | Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

During the 2025 rugby union season, the College delivered some wonderful rugby memories through our social media pages. From the smallest bumblebees in Year 5 through to the biggest bumblebees in Year 12, all of it was captured in wonderful colour.

To stay connected with Marist rugby and with all the program’s achievements, please follow our Instagram page @marist_ashgrove_rugby.