Sport News

Welcome to the new school year, welcome back to returning students and families and a warm welcome to our new families and students to the College.

Associated Independent Colleges (AIC)

At Marist, we offer a broad and diverse range of opportunities for boys through sport, primarily through our affiliation with the AIC (Associated Independent Colleges). This is an association of like schools who come together weekly throughout the year to take part in fifteen different sports. 

AIC MOTTO

Learning and growth through sport and competition.

VISION

To develop good and healthy young people of character through sport and competition within a Christian context.

MISSION

The AIC will provide well-organised competitions in sport and other activities that foster participant engagement and pride in communities in a holistic Christian context. Our students, staff and families (both past and present) will nurture spiritual, moral, emotional, intellectual, physical, and social development through respectful and compassionate relationships in a safe environment.

The member schools are:

• Iona College
• Padua College
• St Edmund’s College
• St Laurence’s College
• Villanova College
• St Patrick’s College
• St Peters Lutheran College
• Marist College Ashgrove

* Ambrose Treacey College is a guest member, participating in championship sports and byes in weekly competitions as suitable.

*non-AIC

Key Performance Indicators

We will have three key performance indicators that we will use to assess how we are going as a program. Please note these are separate to the Marist Sports Values, something that is being developed behind the scenes and will be shared with the community, probably early in 2023. All three KPIs are equally important as the others, while competitive success is important it is only equal to the other two indicators.

Performance

We set out every year to win every match and every competition we play in. That will never change, but what is moveable is the level of performance we expect from our programs relative to where we are as a college. These will be changeable over time and are based on current performance, and are aspirational and achievable for us. It is our aim within our AIC sport and activities competitions that every first team will finish in the top 3 every year, and will win a premiership or championship at least once every three years. It is our goal to finish in the top two of every aggregate competition in every sport and activity, and it is our aim to be the number one AIC school each year.

Life Long love of sport

Co-curricular activities are just that, co-working alongside. They are not compulsory, and are optional for boys. It is the stated aim of each of our activities that we want to build a genuine love of the activity within all the boys who participate that sport or activity. Now not every boy is going to love every sport, but if a boy chooses to play a sport it is within our decision making and thinking that the activity should be challenging, rewarding, engaging and beneficial for him. Our aim is that boys will graduate with a love of their sport, fostered by Marist College Ashgrove, that they take into their lives as men. That may be continuing to play, to coach or referee, or just to stay engaged and interested in that activity. One of the best measures of the success of this is the number of boys who return to coach or officiate the activity once they graduate.

Life Skills

We are in the education business. Sport and co-curricular life in general plays a vital part in the holistic education of boys. While the core business is the academic life of the college, it is vital that boys are developing into men of good character, able to make positive contributions to society as well-adjusted young men, with healthy relationships, a strong appreciation of the value of exercise and well-being. Through sport and activities boys are exposed to opportunities to develop as young men, and although this is far from the extensive list, here are some of the ways the co-curricular life can benefit boys. We set goals for ourselves, we work towards achieving them, sometimes we do, sometimes we do not, lessons here are also in how we accept the outcome, how respectful we are in victory and defeat. We select teams, the boys do not. This exposes us to groups (teams) where we may not get along with everyone. The greater good, the success of the team, provides an opportunity for boys to grow in their acceptance of others and tolerance of those they may disagree with. In sport, like in life, we deal with adversity. In sport it could be being benched, dropped from a team, receiving a perceived poor officiating decision or having to make a choice that we do not want to make like committing to training on a cold wet morning. The growth here is how we accept these decisions and maintain our discipline and composure, as we will need to do in life. 

As I mentioned, these three KPIs are equally weighted and each is just as important as the others. We value success, growth as young men and enjoyment in what we are doing. Those are our core principles, guiding us in our decision-making as a staff, and will work alongside the Marist Sport Values to underpin the decisions we make and the program we offer as a college.

Standards - Uniform

I am starting the new year by listing the expectations for the boys so we are clear and all on the same page. This message will also be relayed to all coaches and I will speak to this at the College assembly next week. This week’s focus is uniform. I have tried to explain the rationale behind the tightening of our expectations but if anyone would like further clarity please contact myself or your relevant sport co-ordinators.

All boys are to wear Marist gear to training

In 2024 all boys will be required to wear the MCA training shirt for training sessions. Sub-consciously it builds a sense of belonging and identity or the boys to the college.

1. It builds team spirit and togetherness to the group.
2. It assists coaches with organizing opposed drills and training games.
3. It puts everyone on an equal footing, building confidence and trust in each other and within oneself (boys who make rep teams love to wear the gear to training, it is not deliberately designed for any purpose, but it does promote a status symbol that we want to avoid).
4. It looks professional, disciplined and committed, and if we look professional, disciplined and committed we are more likely to act professional, disciplined and committed.

We are working with Noone to develop the MCA training shirt range to include a long sleeve option and a more resilient jersey for contact sports. 

In the first instance where boys are in the wrong item coaches will remind the boy about this expectation. The second time it happens he will not be able to train with the team.

For matches, all boys are required to wear the correct playing uniform 

All boys must be in the correct uniform to play. By and large we get this right but there is the odd slip up. Our reputation, and your image are on show on game day. Opposition, visitors and spectators are judging us all by our appearance.

This includes travelling to and from the venue. The new MCA tracksuit or hoodie jumper are able to be worn over the playing kit in colder or wet weather. No one should be seen in non-MCA gear on match days.

Boys must be in covered footwear at all times. We do not allow thongs, slides or Birkenstocks to be worn at any time. This is both a safety and appearance issue.

If you are staying to watch the firsts after your match you must bring your school uniform and change after your match. No-one should be walking around the fields or courts in random gear.

First Teams - use of Marigold jersey and playing jersey

Being selected in a first team is very special. It is the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, skill, insight, passion and commitment. It rightly should be celebrated and appreciated. The wearing of a firsts jersey should be reserved for the premier competition that teams play in- in most cases the AIC. The day a boy gets to pull on the marigold shirt, put on the baggy cap, et cetera, is special and it should be the first time he wears the item as a signifier that he has made it.

The marigold training singlet is unique to Marist Ashgrove and again has a significant position in our college culture. Similar to the jersey, it is easy to diminish its value. Therefore, the following conditions apply to wearing it:

Extended first squads are to wear the blue MCA training shirt for the pre-season phase. Once the final first-team squad has been chosen boys will be able to purchase and wear the marigold firsts training shirt to training as directed by the coaches. 

If you made the first team the year before or in another sport and already have a marigold shirt you are not to wear it to training until the final squad has been chosen and all players wear the marigold.

If I were to sum this up - when you have earnt it, you can wear it. 

As a parent myself, I appreciate that there is some cost involved. That is why there has been a two-year transition to this new expectation across our training uniforms. I hope boys and parents can appreciate the reasoning behind the changes and support us.

Holiday Activity

Cricket

Our 1st XI cricket squad travelled across Australia to Bunbury in Western Australia for the annual Marist Cricket Carnival. On the back of our 2023 AIC premiership this was a hugely successful week which saw Marist come out undefeated in first place for the carnival, winning the Stan McCabe Trophy.

A great week of team development, bonding, cricket experience, a beautiful location, perfect weather and success on the field made for a great week.

Congratulations to the following students and staff who were recognised with awards at the carnival dinner:

William Nickelson – Br Crispin O’Sullivan Trophy – Captain of the Combined Carnival XI

James Brandon

Sam Lewis

Louis Morris

Frank Piper

Mr Michael Abbott – Coach of the Combined Carnival XI

Louis Morris – Tony Lantry Trophy Bowler of the Carnival

Joey Laner – Champagnat Spirit Award

A huge thank you is extended to Mr Michael Abbott and Mr Tom Gibson for their leadership and coaching of the team and to Mr Mitch Reid for his team management and organisation.

Development Clinics

Unfortunately our planned holiday development clinics in partnership with Valleys CC were washed out last week.

Pre-season Matches

Well done to all our teams that played in a variety of pre-season matches over the course of January. These experiences will assist in our cricket preparations for the upcoming season. Thank you to all the coaches and staff who gave up their time to assist the teams.

AFL

The opens squad had a pre-season camp at Marist across last weekend. The boys and staff did well to brave the heatwave conditions and the time spent together will prove valuable as they worked through training sessions, team development activities, recovery sessions and team bonding. Thank you to Mr Matt Beattie (Head Coach), Mr Brett Gillett (Assistant Coach), Mr Andrae Mackay (Assistant Coach) and Mr Corey Robinson (AFL Coordinator) for facilitating this valuable experience and giving up your time.

Volleyball

Our Opens squad participated in the Australian School Volleyball Cup on the Gold Coast in early December. Being in the Open division against students up to two years older was a real challenge for the boys, who acquitted themselves very well in preparation for the 2024 AIC season. Thank you to Ms Scarlett Rudder (Head Coach) and Mr Patrick Denkes (Coordinator) for your guidance and support of the team.

We were able to get quality court time last week for our A and B teams in a trial round against Iona College. Thank you to Iona for hosting us in a series of matches that will pay dividends as we prepare for the season ahead. 

Swimming

Mr James Boyce, Mr Damian Bromley and the swim staff led a camp for both senior and primary school swimmers and many of the boys have been putting in the K’s all through the summer break. Thank you to all staff involved in the preparation for our swimmers. The camp was a great success and kickstarted our assault on the AIC championship for 2024.

Track and Field

The 2023 National Schools Challenge Track and Field Titles in Perth showcased the abilities of Marist Senior athletes. The team successfully completed all 11 events, earning the prestigious title of the third-best school in Australia. 

The results of this invitational Senior Division were as follows:

1. The Geelong College (VIC)

2. Trinity Grammar School (NSW)

3. Marist College Ashgrove (QLD)

4. Caufield Grammar (VIC)

5. Knox Grammar (NSW)

6. St Joseph's Nudgee College (QLD)

7. The Hutchins School (TAS)

8. Quinns Baptist College (WA)

Several Marist athletes proudly represented Queensland at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships, also in Perth.

• Joel Drew claimed the Gold with an impressive time of 14.07s in the U18 110m Hurdles. 
• Zac Milligan earned a Silver medal with a time of 8:40 in the U16 3000m. 
• Hayden Lockhart secured a Silver medal in the U14 Triple Jump with a leap of 11.92m, setting a new school record.
• Lee Martin claimed a Silver medal with a throw of 16.67m in the U18 Shot Put.
• James Prole competed in the U18 800m, finishing 6th in Australia with a noteworthy time of 1:55. 
• Isaiah Burgess finished in 4th place with a throw of 14.63m in the U17 Shot Put, narrowly missing the bronze medal position.

Thank you to Mr Robin Martin (Head Coach) and Mr Bill Prole (Coach) for your guidance and support of our athletes.

Student Achievements

Cricket

Joshua Pope

Joshua played for Brisbane North in the QJC U14 'Southern Challenge' at TSS in the holidays. Joshua was Brisbane North's top scorer in the comp with 147 runs @ 29.

He was named at number 6 in their 'Team of the Tournament'.

Joshua has also been selected as a 'shadow player' in the Queensland under-16 Indoor Cricket Team ahead of the National Indoor Cricket Championships in Melbourne.

Frank Heenan, Harry Vickery, Will Easter

The boys represented Brisbane North rep cricket last week and came 3rd from 12 teams from all over SE Qld competing. 

Water Polo

Sean Bright

Over the holidays Sean played for QLD at U19s national championships where they came second. After the U19 championships, Sean was announced as a member of the U20s Australian squad. So, he is now a member of both the U17s and U20s national squads. He then captained UQ Barracudas at the Australian Youth Championships in U18s. In addition, Sean has been selected as a member of the Griffiths University Qld Thunder team to play in the AWL - Australian Waterpolo League which runs from Feb to April inclusive. 

Max Russo and Dylan Jennison

Max and Dylan are members of the UQ Water Polo Club ‘Barras’ U16 Team who placed second in the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships held in Brisbane. Their team was undefeated until their final match. They lost the final to Sydney Northern Beaches. Congratulations boys.

Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Athletes At 2023 National Track and Field All Schools Championships, Perth

During the recent December 2023 school holidays, six Marist athletes travelled to Perth to compete at the National All Schools Track and Field Titles. Over three days of competition, Marist was fortunate to win four medals (one gold, three silver), surpassing recent national medal hauls and we also had several close misses. Each athlete represented both Queensland and Marist Ashgrove with distinction. All six athletes continued training through Term 4 of 2023, supported by their coaches and deserved their excellent performances.

Joel Drew: 17 Years 110m Hurdles – 14.07s (Gold Medal) 

After running a close second during the recent All Schools State Titles, Joel worked on a number of technical cues through October including focusing on the 110m hurdles over other events to get the best performance. After having already surpassed the 400m school record in a lead-up meet, Joel entered the National All Schools titles as one of the favourites and his performance from the outside Lane was superb. Taking an early lead and building on it through hurdle 7, Joel was too far ahead for anyone to catch up late in the race and won the National All Schools Title in a fast 14.07s time just outside his own school record. A well-deserved Gold Joel had been chasing over the last 3 National Titles where he had also won a series of silver and bronze medals. Joel will return as a leader in Track and Field in 2024.

Zac Milligan: 15 Years 3000m – 8:40.65 (Silver, New Marist School Open Record, New QLD Record)

This was a performance that deserves significant recognition. In winning silver in 2nd place at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships against a red-hot field in the 15 years division, Zac was out in the lead pack the entire race and in a sprint to the line, finished a close second behind the winner. 8m40.65 is an incredible time given the time surpasses the Marist Open Record which Zac managed to lower by over 10 seconds. The Previous record time was an impressive 8:51.11 - Tom Prole 2021. This new performance has taken the 3K school record to new levels not seen in Middle distance at Marist.

Additionally, this is a new Queensland Athletics Record lowering the previous QLD record by over 6 seconds. The previous record was 8:46.97 (24yr old record - 1999). This is Zac’s 3rd QLD Record as he was also a part of 2 middle distance relay QLD records (4x800m/4x1500m) in the last few months. Well done and an incredible achievement for one of the hardest working and professional middle-distance athletes seen at Marist.

Zac Milligan: Additional School Record 1500m – 4:01.18 

If the Open 3000m record wasn’t enough, Zac Milligan also surpassed his own Marist 15yrs 1500m Record (lowered his own record of 4:03.42) at the National Schools Challenge meet held 2 days after the National All Schools Meet on 11 Dec, 2023. Zac has now lowered the 15 years record by 7 seconds (previous record Tom Prole 4:08.19 2019). An incredible run of form on the track.

Hayden Lockhart: 13 Years Triple Jump – 11.92m (Silver, New School Record)

Hayden is relatively new to track and field but has gone straight to an All Schools medal in his first major National level event. Having just missed the school record at the QLD All Schools titles in November, Hayden travelled to Perth and was in the Top 3 in the early rounds. After building on his first 2 jumps he delivered a massive 11.92m effort, just shy of the winner by 8cm. This was a new school record surpassing the previous record of A. Pitt (11.89m), a record held since 1983.

Hayden was also consistent reaching the final of the 13 years long jump and finishing in 7th place with a 5.25m jump. Hayden has great potential as an athlete which we hope to see more of in future seasons.

Lee Martin: 17 Years Shot Put – 16.67m (Silver, New School Record)

This was Lee Martin’s final All Schools title after graduating from Marist in November and it was another impressive throwing performance. Going throw for throw, chasing the distances of the eventual winner from NSW, Lee surpassed his own school record with 16.67m, throwing the second-longest distance of the day and took home silver. This was his 4th National Medal in his last 4 outings in National competitions cementing Lee’s place as one of the best-performing athletes at the National level for Marist. Lee was also a leader in the National Schools Challenge team the next day.

Isaiah Burgess: 16 Years Shot Put – 14.61m (4th Place)

Attending his first National All Schools after a strong silver medal at the QLD Titles, Isaiah performed incredibly well to reach 4th place in Australia with a 14.61m throw in the 16 years shot put missing out on 3rd by only a few centimetres. Isaiah has been going from strength to strength in his track and field after winning AIC and does not miss a Sunday session or time with his coaches. This is a great result for his efforts. Showing that hard work and dedication to your craft will pay off. Well done.

James Prole: 17 Years 800m – 1m55.49 (6th Place)

Now an Old Boy of the college after completing Year 12, James’ 1m55 time is an incredible effort from one of the best all-round sportsman at Marist in recent times. Considering James big year across AFL, Rugby Union/League, Cross Country and track and field, James 6th place in the National 800m final was an impressive performance and not many at Marist have ducked down towards these times in recent years. It was a fast field and James pushed hard all the way before helping to lead the Marist National Schools Challenge team 2 days later.

As seen from these performances after having 7 athletes qualify to represent QLD for All Schools (including Connor Campbell who was unable to attend) and with 4 medals, Marist continues to have a strong Track and Field culture which we hope to continue in 2024 as Marist targets a 10th AIC title.

Note: Next Newsletter edition – A writeup of the National All Schools – Track and Feld Schools Challenge will be published with a full wrap-up of the 8 senior students involved and their fantastic performances.

Marist Athletes At 2023 National School Junior Track and Field Championships, Launceston

Nathan Wright

Congratulations to Nathan for his outstanding performances at The Australian National School Junior Track and Field Championships in Launceston late last November. As expected, the standard of athlete at this competition is exceptional, and considering it was Nathan’s first National Championship, his 9th place in the Combined Events was a fantastic outcome. His 2nd place in the Shot Put and 6th place in the 100m highlight his all-round abilities. Given the difference in points between 5th and 9th was minimal, this highlights further Nathan’s performances. Following the Combined Event and based on his efforts over the three days, Nathan was selected by the Queensland team officials to run in the Sprint Medley Relay. Nathan ran a brilliant 2nd 100m leg of the relay helping the Queensland team to a strong 2nd place.

Upon returning to Brisbane, Nathan competed for his club Arana in the 4 x 100m relay at the State Little Athletics Relay Championships. Congratulations to Nathan and his Arana teammates for finishing 1st place. 

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.

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Welcome to 2024

Welcome to the new school year. I trust everyone has had an enjoyable break and are now looking forward to a wonderful experience here at the College.

Whilst the AIC rugby union competition isn’t played until Term 2, a lot of work goes into the program throughout Term 1. The popularity of rugby within the College sees the largest number of students representing the College in any sport, with forty teams competing each weekend during the Term 2 season in 2023. 

Please keep reading the College newsletter and the Marist app for regular updates. See the Key Dates Calendar on the Marist app for training and fixture dates. Two important dates to note early in the term are –

1. Rugby Ready Program – a mandatory program for ALL students wanting to play rugby union at the College in 2024 (Monday 19 February).
2. Referee Ready Program – for all students and associated family members interested in becoming a referee (Friday 23 February).

Marist Rugby Preseason | Years 11 and 12

Please see the information for Week 1 and 2, Term 1 preseason rugby union training in the Marist app.

Note the start of sessions has moved to 6:15am. The dress code for ALL sessions is Blue MCA shirt, Marist blue sports shorts, and white / blue / Marist rugby socks (see @marist_ashgrove_rugby on Instagram). NOTE – if you have a commitment to a Term 1 sport, that is your priority.

Rugby Ready Program | Year 5-12

Starting in Week 5 (Monday 19 February), Marist College is delivering a 4-week Rugby Ready Program across all age groups leading into the rugby union trials. The Rugby Ready Program involves a host of measures such as physical preparation, skill development, correct and safe techniques preparing the players for contact, enforcement of game laws, and management of safety issues such as the Scrum Passport and the “MAYDAY” call.   Whilst there are a number of reasons for providing such a program, a key driver is wanting to deliver to all students a safe, challenging and enjoyable rugby union program. In order to develop the Marist College rugby players, we must give them the skills to approach the game with confidence and minimise the chance of injury.  The program involves four stages (1 session per week) and all players will be required to complete in order to play rugby this season. Please see attached documents for further information. You will note the Opens have been allocated two options each week, however they only need attend one.  Boys are required to come dressed in their blue MCA training shirt / Marist bumblebee jersey, Marist sport shorts (see photo) and Marist rugby / white or blue sports socks. Boys will also require boots, mouthguard, and a water bottle for each session. Each session will run for 60-70 minutes.

This week a number of holiday programs will be release for Year 5-11 students. 

1. Strength and Conditioning Program
2. Skill Development Program
3. Scrum Ready Program

Please follow the Marist app for all the necessary information to attend sessions and download strength, conditioning, and rugby sessions.

Marist Rugby Union – Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

In 2023 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.

Swimming

Welcome back to all our new and returning swimmers.

We hope that your holidays were restful, and we are excited to share some remarkable achievements and upcoming events within our swimming community.

During the holiday season, our Marist swimmers demonstrated exceptional skills at the Queensland State Swimming Championships in December. We extend our congratulations to all our MCA Swimmers who competed at this event and a special mention to the following for their outstanding achievements at this meet:

James Leigh

Queensland Champion in the Boys 16 Year 400m Freestyle

Queensland Champion in the Boys 16 Years 800m Freestyle

2nd in the Boys 16 Years 200m Freestyle

6th in the Boys 16 Years 100m Butterfly

7th in the Boys 16 Years 200m Butterfly

10th in the Boys 16 Years 100m Butterfly

Jack Kelly 

3rd in the Boys 18 Years 200m Butterfly

Noah Magoffin

3rd in the Boys 15 Years 200m Freestyle

5th in the Boys 15 Years 200m Breaststroke

7th in the Boys 15 Years 100m Breaststroke

9th in the Boys 15 Years 100m Freestyle

9th in the Boys 15 Years 200m IM

Sam Mapledoram 

2nd in the Boys 13 Years 50m Freestyle

7th in the Boys 13 Years 50m Butterfly

Josh Mason

3rd in the Boys 15 Years 100m Breaststroke

5th in the Boys 15 Years 50m Breaststroke

Phelix Meehan

8th in the Boys 14 Years 50m Butterfly

Nicholas Osborn

2nd in the Boys 13 Years 50m Butterfly

2nd in the Boys 13 Years 100m Freestyle

6th in the Boys 13 Years 200m Freestyle

7th in the Boys 13 Years 50m Freestyle

7th in the Boys 13 Years 100m Butterfly

8th in the Boys 13 Years 400m Freestyle

10th in the Boys 13 Years 200m IM

Ed Wild 

4th in the Boys 16 Years 200m Backstroke

Sam Mapledoram, Phelix Meehan, Nicholas Osborn and Jackson Skinner

3rd in the Boys 13 -14 Years 4x50m Freestyle Relay. 

We congratulate these gentlemen for their outstanding achievements.

Our swimmers also showcased their commitment by participating in the AIC Swimming Camp held at Marist College Ashgrove over the holidays. This marked the first time the camp took place at our college in seven years. The challenges presented, including climbing Mt Coolum twice and engaging in activities at Mooloolaba Beach, were met with resilience and determination. The positive outcomes observed during the camp are a testament to the dedication of our boys.

As we enter Term 1, the momentum continues with our swimmers gearing up to compete for a spot on the AIC Swimming Team. The first selection meet is scheduled for this Thursday afternoon, where we will host St Joseph’s, Gregory Terrace. Boys aspiring to secure a place on the final AIC Swimming Team are encouraged to participate in all lead-up meets, the details of which can be found on the College App.

For both new and current students interested in swimming throughout Term 1, we extend a warm invitation to join our training squads. The training schedule is available on the college app, and any inquiries about the swimming program can be directed to swim@marash.qld.edu.au.

Wishing all our swimmers a successful and fulfilling Term One in the pool.

Draws

Cricket - Trial Round v SPC

Volleyball - Trial Round v SPC

AFL v SPC - Trial Round v SPC