Sport News

Marist enjoyed a successful Round 1 of the winter codes last weekend. We kicked off with the Chess on Friday night and where unfortunately our boys went down to Iona. Thanks to Mr Humphry and Mr Manson for your leadership of our chess program. On Saturday we dominated the football with 29 wins and 2 draws from 41 matches with the 1st XI winning 5-nil to continue their strong start to the season. Well done to the team and coaches Mr Whitlock and Mr Baines. Rugby had a very strong day as well across the board with 26 wins from 38 matches. The 1st XV continued that dominance with a 55-38 win on one of the most entertaining rugby matches in a long time, congratulations boys and Mr Graham and Mr Daykin for such an impressive performance. 

Congratulations to all boys who debuted for the firsts in your chosen sport on the weekend. That will be something you will look back on with pride in the years to come, I am sure.

Well done to all teams on a successful start to the AIC season. It really was a great start to the season. This weekend sees us travelling to St Peters College in what will be sure to be a stern test for all our teams, which we will need to prepare well for this week. Please check the draw carefully as we are playing a very large number of different schools in supplementary matches.

Super Saturday - 31 May Round 5 

This year Super Saturday is 31st May. Mark the date in your calendar. This is the day you play and stay. There will be activities and games going on as well as plenty of hot football and rugby action to keep you entertained all day.

Student Achievements

Swimming

The following students have been selected in the QSSS Queensland swimming team:

• Tommy Fitzpatrick
• Noah Magoffin
• Daniel Sadimenko

Congratulations to all these boys on such a fine achievement. You head to nationals with our full support and best wishes. Thank you to Mr James Boyce and our swimming staff who do a wonderful job in coaching and developing our swimmers to such fine results.

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Marist Rugby Union | Sign On

Please go to Parent Orbit and see information regarding sign on. All students who wish to play Term 2 sports are asked to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup via Parent Lounge and edit or update any medical details. 

This assists the College in organising the appropriate number of coaching staff and to deliver the necessary resources.

NOTE – If your son isn’t registered, you will NOT receive any information via the Parent Orbit regarding the rugby union program, including schedules and relevant information.

Rugby Union Training | Wet Weather Plan

Rugby Union training will rarely be called off due to bad weather. If rain is forecast, students are asked to place their school bags and formal hats under cover.

Parents dropping students at Des Connor Fields are asked to use the canteen end, where the gear shed and canteen balcony provide shelter.

Thank you for your support.

Marist Rugby Union | Training – Term 2

Please ensure you regularly check the Parent Orbit for Year Level training schedules throughout Term 2. 

In addition, the Rugby Union Key Dates Calendar and the AIC Draw are available in the Parent Orbit, providing full details of all games across the season.

We would also like to thank the GPS Rugby Union Club for once again generously allowing our Year 10 cohort to train on their fields this term. The additional field space has significantly enhanced the training experience for our students. We are grateful for our strong connection with GPS and the opportunity to be part of the wider rugby community.

We look forward to an exciting season ahead!

Marist Rugby Union | Round 1 vs Iona

The 2025 AIC Rugby Union season kicked off in impressive fashion, with Marist College Ashgrove hosting Iona College across our Year 9–12 age groups, while our Year 5–8 teams travelled across the river to Iona’s Lindum campus.

It was a gorgeous day for running rugby, and our teams took full advantage, producing fast and highly skilled displays across all fields. 

There was a strong sense of anticipation leading into Round 1, and our teams delivered consistent, high-quality performances. The 1st XV match was a try-fest in the truest sense—an end-to-end spectacle that would have warmed the hearts of rugby purists. Marist’s 1st XV claimed a thrilling victory, capping off a clean sweep in the senior age groups.

Congratulations to both the Opens and Year 10 cohorts, who went through the day undefeated—an outstanding achievement, especially given the strength and depth of the Iona College program. Across the 1st XV to the 9th XV, every senior team recorded a win, highlighting the depth of talent and the excellent culture being built throughout the rugby program.

This included:

• The 9th XV defeating SLC’s 6th XV
• The 8th XV overcoming Iona’s 7th XV
• The 7th XV triumphing over Iona’s 6th XV
• The 6th XV securing victory against Padua’s 5th XV

The Year 10 teams were also dominant, with all sides from 10A to 10E registering wins in a complete age-group performance.

Our Year 9 teams showed great form, winning four out of five matches, with only the 9C team falling short in a tough 26-12 match against a strong Iona outfit.

The Year 8 teams were exceptional, going undefeated across the board. The 8A side in particular showed early signs of something special in what was a commanding performance.

While the Year 7 teams fought with grit and determination, Iona proved too strong across the year level. Congratulations to Iona College for their consistent performances in these matches.

While the scoreboard reflected the outcomes of the day, the most pleasing aspects were the attitude and humility shown by our players. There was a clear commitment to team-first rugby and pride in wearing the bumblebee jersey..

Congratulations to all players, coaches, and supporters for a memorable and positive start to the 2025 season.

Marist vs St Peter’s | AIC Round 2 

Round 2 of the AIC Rugby Union season presents a unique logistical challenge, with Marist scheduled to play fixtures against eight different schools in order to ensure every student has the opportunity to take the field.

With matches spread across multiple venues and opponents, we ask all families to carefully check Parent Orbit and College emails for the most up-to-date information regarding this weekend’s schedule.

A sincere thank you to Mr Matt Millward in the Sports Administration Department for his outstanding coordination behind the scenes, and to Mr Eddie Wallace, AIC Executive Officer, for his continued support.

Team lists for Round 2 will be released on Friday morning.

Best of luck to all teams for another great weekend of rugby.

Marist Rugby Union | Student Expectations

DRESS CODE

Training

• Appropriate Marist College clothing and footwear
• Mouthguard and headgear (student’s choice)

Travel

• Students travelling to games on the school bus or private transport are to wear their Marist College Ashgrove rugby uniform
• Thongs / Birkenstock are not to be worn to games or whilst at the venue

Game

• Wear the correct Marist College rugby uniform
• Boots, mouthguard and headgear (student’s choice)
• The Marist rugby uniform when you take the field is : JERSEY TUCKED IN and SOCKS PULLED UP!

ATTENDANCE

• Training starts at 6:45am for morning sessions and 3:30pm for afternoon sessions.
  • On time, in the right gear, ready to train!
• Be punctual! Arrive at least 45 minutes prior to games unless your coach says otherwise.
• Please DO NOT organise appointments during training times.
• It is YOUR responsibility to notify your coach / Year level coordinator in advance if unable to attend a training session.

ATTITUDE and STANDARDS

• The game is to be enjoyed – go out and have fun with your teammates.
• Be a good teammate – encourage and support your team.
• Never argue with the referee's decision. Let your captain or coach ask any necessary questions.  
• Shake hands with your opponents at the completion of the match. This is to occur before any war cry or team celebrations.
• After your war cry, form a tunnel and cheer the next Marist team onto the playing field (DO NOT touch players running through the tunnel).
• ALL players are strongly encouraged to sit on ‘the bench’ for following game in their age group.
• All players are strongly encouraged to stay behind and support the 1st XV.

Marist Rugby Union | Year Level Coordinators 

Please contact your year level coordinator for all non-selection matters such as lateness, unavailability and timings. 

Opens Mr Peter Gaiter - gaiterp@marash.qld.edu.au 

Year 10 Mr Michael Abbott - abbottm@marash.qld.edu.au 

Year 9 Mrs Liz Walsh - walshe@marash.qld.edu.au 

Year 8 Mrs Sharon Davidson - davidsons@marash.qld.edu.au 

Year 7 Mr Damien Nelson - nelsond@marash.qld.edu.au 

Year 6 Mrs Sam Marsh - lolis@marash.qld.edu.au 

Year 5 Ms Ella Graham - grahame@marash.qld.edu.au

Marist Rugby Union | Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

In 2024 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.

Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Track and Field | Sign On

Please go to Parent Orbit and see information regarding sign on. All students who wish to be involved in the Track and Field program are asked to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup via Parent Lounge and edit or update any medical details. 

This assists the College in organising the appropriate number of coaching staff and to deliver the necessary resources.

NOTE – If your son isn’t registered, you will NOT receive any information via the Parent Orbit regarding the Track and Field program, including schedules and relevant information.

Term 2 | 2025 Interhouse Track and Field Carnival

After the success of last year’s event, we are excited to announce that the 2025 Inter-House Track and Field Carnival will be held on Friday, 20 June, with pre-events running from Monday, 16 June to Wednesday, 18 June.

In 2024, Ignatius House claimed the title with strong, consistent performances and outstanding house spirit. Once again, the focus this year will be on participation, enjoyment, and encouraging every student to contribute to their House’s success.

The carnival will feature both Championship and participation / novelty events, ensuring opportunities for all students to get involved, have fun, and showcase their talents.

Thank you in advance to our staff, senior students, and Sports Administration team for the preparation and energy they bring to this special event. We look forward to another fantastic day of competition and fun here at the College.

Sunday Sessions | Track and Field Training

This year, Marist College will be aiming to win its 11th successive Secondary AIC Track and Field Championship and its 5th successive Primary AIC Track and Field Championship. Achieving this success requires planning, commitment, and effort across the entire year.

At this early stage, the training focus is on Sprints, Hurdles, Throws, and Jump Plyometrics.

For all students wishing to train, Mr Rob Martin will continue running his Sunday training sessions. Please see the details below:

INCLUDED: Running – sprints and jumps / Throws – early pre-season fitness and cross training, along with throwing.

WHEN: Sunday afternoons

WHERE: Hayden Oval

TIME: 3:15-4:45pm 

DRESS: Marist sport shirt, Marist sports shorts, white or blue socks.

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.

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

Week 2, Term 2 Update

We’ve had a fantastic start to Term 2, with some exciting news at a National level. Congratulations to Noah Magoffin and Archer Mellifont, who have been selected for Swimming Australia’s Next Wave Program. This prestigious camp recognises outstanding performers from the recent Australian National Age Championships and identifies potential athletes for the 2026 Australian Junior Pan Pacific team, which will compete in Vancouver, Canada.

A huge congratulations to Noah and Archer on this incredible achievement – we are immensely proud of you both!

It’s also been great to see so many boys back in the pool, working hard and laying the foundations for the 2026 AIC Swimming season. These winter months offer a valuable opportunity for skill development, and history has shown that consistent training now leads to outstanding results later.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to book lessons, please contact us at swim@marash.qld.edu.au.

Tennis

Mr Andrew Ward - Director of Tennis

Term 2 Coaching Classes

All coaching kicked off today for this term.

There are still some positions left in a couple of classes, but we are getting full, so if you are thinking of enrolling, please do this ASAP so that we can accommodate you into our program. We endeavor to get all students who want to learn onto the court enrolled in our coaching program.

Wilson Tennis Racquet Offer for Members

We have some smashing deals for those looking for a new racquet. Please enquire via mcatennis@marash.qld.edu.au. These deals are so good we are not allowed to advertise the prices. Contact Jade or myself to find out more on these members only offers.

First X Squad Training

Training for this squad will take place on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:30pm to 5:00pm.

The squad has been trimmed to 12 players, and we anticipate making further reductions in the future to maintain a high-performance training environment. Congratulations to those selected—your hard work and dedication have been recognised.

To those who were not selected this time, thank you for your efforts and commitment. Your opportunity is coming. Continue to train hard and improve—this is the pathway to becoming a Firsts player.

We’re looking for students who can compete with consistency and demonstrate the ability to stay in rallies, apply pressure, and seize the right moment to play the attacking shot.

Stay focused and keep pushing forward.

Super and Brisbane League Tennis News

This week we managed to get some results,  but the rain seemed to get the better if us stopping most matches halfway through. Let’s hope for better weather next week. Congratulations to all teams this week.

Term 2

• Monday 28 and Wednesday 30 April – AIC First and Second Train-On Squad Training Begins
• Week 6 – AIC Trials for all year levels (dates TBC)
• Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June – Marist Open and Primary Doubles Championships (3:30 – 7:30 PM)
• Open and Primary Doubles will run at the same time, with a sausage sizzle for players

Mid-Year Holiday Camp

• Monday 7 – Wednesday 9 July, 8:00 – 11:00 AM

Term 3

• Monday 14 July – AIC Training Begins (pupil-free day)
• Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 August – Marist Singles Championships (3:30 – 7:30 PM)
• Open and Primary Singles will run concurrently, with a sausage sizzle provided
• Tuesday 16 September – AIC Break-Up Party (3:30 – 6:00 PM)

September Holiday Camp

• Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 September, 8:00 – 11:00 AM

Term 4

• Tuesday 7 October – Coaching Resumes (pupil-free day)
• Sunday 23 November – Parent-Son Tournament and Christmas Break-Up (2:00 – 6:00 PM, BBQ at 5:00 PM)

Xmas and New Year Holiday Camps

• Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 December, 8:00 – 11:00 AM
• Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 December, 8:00 – 11:00 AM
• Monday 12 – Wednesday 14 January, 8:00 – 11:00 AM
• Monday 19 – Wednesday 21 January, 8:00 – 11:00 AM
• 2026 Term 1 coaching begins Monday 2 February.

Football

Football Coordinator – Blair Whitlock

Round 1 vs Iona College

Saturday saw the official start of the AIC Football season as our boys took the field against Iona College. There were 42 teams in total playing on the weekend and it was great to see so many boys giving their all for the Blue and Gold. Marist teams fared very well on the whole and it was impressive to see many teams playing so well after a heavily disrupted start to the season.

Round 2 sees us playing against St Peters Lutheran College with the Juniors (Year 5-8) at Ashgrove and the Seniors (Year 9-12) away at Indooroopilly. Similar to Round 1, we do have more teams than St Peters in the Football program which results in several supplementary matches taking place. Please keep a close eye on the Orbit App and email for this week’s draw.

Player Achievements

Congratulations to Michael Cule for making his Senior Mens debut for the FQPL2 team, Brisbane Knights. Michael becomes the second current Marist player to play Mens Football after 1st XI Captain, James Woolaston, made his debut for Eastern Suburbs last season. Both players made strong contributions to the 1st XI’s 5-0 victory over Iona College in Round One.

Congratulations also goes to Hunter Chan-Riotto for being selected in the Football QLD Metro Academy program and putting in a Man of the Match performance in the 9As 5-2 victory over Iona College.

We love hearing about the boys successes in their club and representative Football so please do share these achievements by emailing whitlockb@marash.qld.edu.au .

Communication and Commitment

Signing up to play a sport for Marist is a commitment to the College, yourself, your teammates and your coaches. There have been several instances of players not honoring this commitment and missing training / games without prior communication. This is unfair on your teammates and coaches who have to deal with a smaller squad and in a couple of cases – not enough players to field a full team. 

If you are registered to play Football and have been receiving notifications through Orbit but no longer intend on playing you must let your year level coordinator know right away.

Year 5 Coordinator – Mr Michael Jones (jonesmi@marash.qld.edu.au)

Year 6 Coordinator – Mrs Rachelle Garton (gartonr@marash.qld.edu.au)

Year 7 Coordinator – Mr Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh (kolkenbeckruhg@marash.qld.edu.au)

Year 8 Coordinator – Mrs Maddie Henry (spannm@marash.qld.edu.au)

Year 9 Coordinator – Mr Marcus Schrader (schraderm@marash.qld.edu.au)

Year 10 Coordinator – Mr AJ Gray (graya@marash.qld.edu.au)

Opens Coordinator – Ms Kathryn Badini (badinik@marash.qld.edu.au)

Social Media

The marketing and photography team do an amazing job of capturing the boys games where possible each weekend. Please head over to the Marist College Sport Instagram page to see photos from the weekends matches as well as our Team and Coaches of the Week!