Sport News

Mr Derek Lennon

Round 2 and the Pink Stumps Round

Last weekend saw Marist compete against St Peters Lutheran College and a host of other schools to complete the draw. Wet weather on Friday saw the association cancel the AFL fixtures and swimming meet. Saturday was a particularly strong day for Marist across the board with cricket winning 11 and losing 1, volleyball winning 8 and losing 13 and AFL winning 6 and losing 1 across the secondary school.

My thanks are extended to the cricket community who supported the Pink Stumps round last weekend against St Peters at both St Peters and Marist grounds. A sea of pink was on display around the grounds and money was raised to support the McGrath Foundation. A breakfast was joined by Ambassador and Director Mrs Tracey Bevan, who explained the purpose of the McGrath Foundation in an emotional speech to the audience of parents, staff and players.

Results and Recognition

We sent out a weekly summary to all boys with our results from the previous weekend’s AIC sport fixtures. The objective in doing this is to increase boys talking about sport, games played, friends doing well and how Marist is doing overall. This list is also being shared with interested staff and we hope that it may spark a new communication, a pastoral group conversation or acknowledgement for boys from their peers and staff if they are doing well.

The AIC website has been refreshed with a better layout for finding results and tables. Go to https://aicsport.com.au/. This is updated at the end of each round of fixtures and includes tables to track how our teams are going overall.

To recognise the success and achievements of all teams, we award pennants to all members of undefeated teams, with some caveats around number and type of opponents played. Again, our aim here is to build a culture of wanting to succeed and receiving praise for a job well done. My experience at Marist has been that our boys are humble and do not seek the spotlight. These are certainly very admirable qualities for young men, and fitting with the Marist traditions, but where an achievement has been reached, such as making a first team or being a part of an undefeated team, it is right that recognition and praise are given.

Sporting Uniforms

I have been pushing hard on the message of all must be in correct uniforms for sport, both for fixtures and for training. It has been wonderful to see the boys raise their standards and present a much more consistent and unified approach over the last few rounds. It looks great and it has been noticed already.

Student Achievements

Futsal

Joshua Pola has been selected in an Australian All-Stars team to compete in the United States in July. We wish Joshua well for this exciting opportunity.

Triathlon

We had a number of boys compete at the Queensland State Triathlon Championships in Hervey Bay last weekend. Well done to all these students. Will and Flynn progress to represent Queensland at the national championships.

Senior Men

Will Banner – 7th (Met North Captain) (Progressing to Australian Champs)

Intermediate Men

Flynn Banner – 14th (Progressing to Australian Champs)
Toby Banner – 18th
Ronan Sadimenko – 19th

Junior Men

Jack Nightingale – 26th
Daniel Sadimenko – 45th

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

Although last Friday’s scheduled meet against Padua and St Edmund’s could not proceed due to the AIC decision regarding travelling teams, the evening proved to be a positive and productive experience for our swimmers. Thank you to the parents and boys who embraced the change and participated in the time trials.

With limited opportunities remaining to post times this season, the time trials provided a valuable racing experience. The boys particularly enjoyed competing against swimmers of similar ability or slightly faster, creating an encouraging and spirited atmosphere.

As we head into the final two meets, this is an exciting time for our swimmers. While the pressure to perform naturally increases, success will come from remaining disciplined and committed to the processes that have guided their progress throughout the season.

This Friday’s annual meet against the Old Boys promises to be a highlight. The Open team will take on the fastest Old Boys combination, who return for the second consecutive year to defend their title. Their ongoing involvement reflects the strong pride and connection past students have with the swimming program. It is a wonderful opportunity for our current swimmers to honour this tradition and compete in a true community event. More information will be shared on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, 35 students will represent the College at the West District meet. We congratulate these swimmers on their selection and wish them every success.

The Rugby Ready program will soon commence an excellent initiative led by Mr Graham. While swimmers will miss the initial sessions due to relay training commitments, Mr Graham and I are working together to provide additional opportunities following the end of the AIC Swimming Championships on Tuesday 10 March.

If you have any questions please email swim@marash.qld.edu.au.

Volleyball

Mr Blair Whitlock – Volleyball Coordinator

Round 2 vs St Peters Lutheran College

Round 2 of the AIC season saw our junior teams (Years 7-9) playing at home and senior teams (Years 10-12) travelling over to Indooroopilly to play against St Peters Lutheran College. It was a mixed bag of results on a rainy Saturday as we took home 11 wins from the 22 matches played. Well done to the following teams who remain undefeated heading into Round 3next week: 2nd VI, 3rd VI, 11B, 11C, 10C, 9B and 9C.

1st VI Match Report – Finley Nicholson (Vice Captain)

The Marist 1st VI faced off against a strong St Peters side on Saturday who came out on top after an intense hard-fought battle between the two sides. Both teams played well with Marist falling short at the final hurdle. A special mention to 2nd VI players Ben Brassington and Jaxon Pambid who, when called upon, delivered an instant impact, bringing us back into the game in the second and third sets. Ultimately, the game came down to accurate serving and scrappy points. Despite losing the game there were silver linings as we look to bounce back stronger in Round 3 against St Patrick's College. The team is going to work hard at training this week to get our first win of the 2026 AIC season.

Training Schedule

There have been a couple of changes to the training schedule which will remain in place for the rest of the season. The 8C and 8D teams have been combined and the 10A Monday training has been moved to the Thursday afternoon late session. See the training schedule below:

Team of the Week

After every round of matches there will be a Team of the Week selected from the best performers throughout our 22 teams. The TOTW will be posted on the Marist College Ashgrove Sport Instagram page so make sure you are following along to see who made the Round 1 team!

Cricket

AIC Round 2 looked like we may not have the opportunity to take the field, thankfully the weather gods played ball and we were able to get on for most of our scheduled matches. A great showing from Ashgrove throughout the day resulted in a strong round vs St Peter’s, performances of the week included Leo Morris (1st XI) taking 8/20, Jack Easter (9A) taking 6/7 and Tom Cook (10B) scoring 110* off 51 deliveries. Special thanks must be passed on to our umpires and scorers; without your help our games simply don’t happen.

Expectations

Please be aware of the following expectations that are in place within the program here at Marist. All boys must always embody these values and expectations throughout the season!

Punctuality
Boys are expected to be at trials/training on time and be dressed and ready to start at 6:45am (morning) and 3:30pm (afternoon).
Communication
Boys are expected to communicate to Mr Millward or their relevant year coordinator (not their coach) if they have any issues in relation to attendance at trials/training or games.
Uniforms
All cricketers must wear the correct uniform to training. This includes Marist training shirt, training shorts and blue or white Marist socks. Boys who are not wearing the correct uniform will not be permitted to participate.
Respect
All boys are expected to demonstrate high levels of respect for their coaches and their peers at all times.

Equipment Storage

Please note the storage location for secondary school cricket kits has now changed. ALL secondary school kit bags are to be stored in the visitors changing room of the John Eales Grandstand – McMahon Oval. Primary cricket kits are to be stored under the primary school in the sports gear storage shelves.

AIC Round 3 – Saturday 21 February

The schedule for this weekend – AIC Round 3, will be released on Tuesday 17 February, with team lists to follow on Friday 20 February, please keep and eye out on Parent Orbit and emails for these to come out!

Term 1 Training Schedule – Week 4

Please see Parent Orbit for this week’s training schedule – all boys are required to be at training, please let your Year Level Coordinator or Mr Millward know if you are going to be absent.

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Communication

I have received a small number of enquiries recently from parents who have not been receiving sport-specific communication. As a reminder, families must ensure their son is registered for the relevant sport in order to receive updates and information.

Similarly, the College newsletter is an excellent source of information for any activities taking place within the College.

Marist Rugby Connection | Year 5

This is an open invitation to ALL Year 5 students.

The Marist Rugby Union program is committed to a strong and genuine connection from the 1st XV down to our newest bumblebees in Year 5.

Friday 20 February, the Year 5 students are invited to train with the Open Blue and Open Gold squads on Hayden Oval. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect the students in a safe and friendly environment, and to align some of our key rugby language and philosophies.

DATE: Friday, 20 February

TIME: 6:45-7:45am

WHERE: Hayden Oval

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

Marist Rugby Union | Sign On

Thank you to the 500+ students who have already signed on to play rugby at the College in 2026.

Parents - please find the Extra-Curricular tile on Parent Orbit to find information regarding sign on. You are able to sign your son up for a chosen sport once the portal opens.

Students who wish to play Term 2 sports, you are able to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup 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, and ensures all relevant information is forwarded to you via communication channels.

Rugby Ready Program | Year 5-12

Starting next week, Monday 23 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 below the schedule starting in Week 5. 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 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.

Please make sure your son is signed up to Rugby Union so they receive all the necessary information.

NOTE – A reminder to any student who is swimming at the AIC Championships, please attend Rugby Ready from Week 7, Wednesday 11 March. That will get you started and allow me to work with you through Week 9 and into the trials.

Similarly, any students involved in a music rehearsal or practice are asked to alternate weeks from Week 5 if their music practice clashes with Rugby Ready. Students in this situation may attend another Rugby Ready session that same week in a year level above or below eg. Year 8 can attend Year 7 or Year 9, in order to complete the four mandatory Rugby Ready sessions.

Thanks to all departments for supporting the Rugby Ready Program.

Rugby Referee Program | Invitation

The Marist College Ashgrove Rugby Referee Program is offered to anyone in Year 8 and above who is interested in becoming a referee. This program is extended to anyone in the Marist community who would like to become a referee including Old Boys, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters of Marist students. Through participating in the program, you will become accredited to officiate junior rugby and have the best seat in the house.

In 2025, we had 9 students and two parents complete the course.

The program will run for four consecutive Friday afternoons, beginning on Friday 27 February. The content is delivered from 3:30-5:00pm here at the College.

A rugby union referee earns between $25-$40 per game.

Anyone interested should contact Mr Richard Graham, Director of Rugby / Track and Field grahamr@marash.qld.edu.au.

Marist Rugby Union | Correct Uniform

As parents begin to purchase clothing in preparation for each term’s sporting commitments, I would like to clarify the College’s expectations regarding the rugby union uniform.

Last season, we had a small number of students cut the bottom off their rugby union socks and insert a white sock. The rugby union uniform is very clear and consists of the bumblebee jersey, Marist sports shorts, and Marist rugby union socks.

There are to be no alterations made to any part of the rugby union uniform. I ask that students and parents please address this prior to the season commencing, rather than it needing to be followed up by coaches closer to the season.

Thank you for your continued support.

Marist Rugby Preseason | Years 10, 11 and 12

Thanks for everyone’s efforts over the past three weeks.

The Blue Squad (Year 11-12) was announced last week. The squad is a wider group of 49 players that will remain fluid based on attendance, attitude, skill development, improvements, and team requirements.

Training will continue for all students who missed selection. Both the Gold Squad (Year 11-12) and the Year 10 cohort will be provided opportunities to train in preparation for the season.

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).

All field sessions will take place on Des Connor Park, Field 5.

FOOD and WATER: Make sure you bring food and fluids for post session recovery and to support your learning throughout the day. Some simple ideas below you can prepare at home and bring to school:

Breakfast Wrap: Wholegrain wrap with scrambled eggs, cheese and spinach, plus a piece of fruit.Easy to wrap in foil and eat after training.
Greek Yoghurt Bowl (in a container): Greek yoghurt, oats or granola, berries, honey.High protein and easy to prepare the night before.
Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich: Wholegrain bread, peanut butter, sliced banana, plus a small milk or flavoured milk.Simple and filling.
Smoothie (in a shaker bottle): Milk, banana, frozen berries, oats, yoghurt or protein powder.Fast, portable and ideal if appetite is low after training.
Overnight Oats: Oats, milk, yoghurt, chia seeds, honey and fruit in a sealed container.Prepare the night before, no cooking required.

NOTE – if you have a commitment to a Term 1 sport, that is your priority.

Marist Rugby Union | Camps and Tours

After a number of successful tours in 2025, the Marist Rugby Union program is excited to offer a range of camps and tours in 2026, providing students with valuable experiences in tournament and regional rugby environments. These opportunities are designed to enhance player development, strengthen team culture, build independence, and further prepare squads for the upcoming season.

The following initiatives are locked in for 2026 -

Currimundi Camp

Blue Squad – 35 students (those competing for a spot in the 1st XV)

Saturday 7 – Sunday 8, March

Ballymore Cup

1st XV squad (approximately 25 students)

Thursday 16 – Saturday 18, April

South Pine Sports Complex

The Armidale School Rugby Carnival

U12 team (for logistical reasons, the squad and reserves were selected in Term 4, 2025)

Friday 11 – Sunday 13, April

NOTE: in preparation for the Armidale Carnival, a competition featuring seven teams will be run at the College on Sunday 29 March.

Marist Rugby Union – Social Media

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

In 2025 the College consistently 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 | Camp (SAVE THE DATE)

Following our success at the 2025 AIC Primary and Secondary Championship and win at the National Schools Challenge (Intermediate Division), the Track and Field program continues to provide excellent opportunities for students to be involved in a high-quality program.

The Track and Field Camp is a vital component of the team’s preparation for the AIC Championship. Over 2½ days, students will receive high-level coaching and mentoring from an exceptional team of specialists including National and Olympic-level coaches across various track and field disciplines.

Attendance at the camp is by invitation only and invitations will be sent to selected students in late August. Selection is based on a range of factors, including performance, attitude, attendance and team composition.

This camp provides an outstanding opportunity for students to refine their skills, build team camaraderie, and gain valuable insights from elite-level coaches as we prepare to defend both our AIC Secondary and AIC Primary Championship trophies.

Camp Information

Dates: Thursday 17– Saturday 19 September 2026

Venues: Sleeman Sports Complex (Accommodation) / UQ Track and Field (Training and Performance)

New Marist Students

For any students who are new to the College and interested in joining the Track and Field program, and who may have questions about involvement, please see Mr Richard Graham in the Sports Office (under Room 108).

Marist Track and Field | Sign On

Parents - please find the Extra-Curricular tile on Parent Orbit to find information regarding sign on. Students who wish to be involved in the Track and Field program, you are able to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup and edit or update any medical details.

New School Record

At the recent Jai Taurima QLD Athletics shield meet, Harry Prole ran the 1500m and recorded a time surpassing the old Open 1500m record held by Old Boy and current coach and teacher, Mr Tom Prole.

Old record - T Prole 3m58.96 (2022) New Record H Prole 3m58.77 (2026)

Well done to both Tom and Harry on their past and new record achievements.

Well done – Lyndon Maynard (High Jump)

Lyndon Maynard (Year 12) jumped at the Open Australia Short Track championships in Melbourne over the weekend competing in the High Jump. Jumping a very impressive 1.98m to end in 5th place overall, following on from his recent school record of 2.03m, Lyndon remains in good form leading into the Australian Track and Field season. Congratulations Lyndon.

Sunday Sessions

For all students wanting to begin their Track and Field training, Mr Rob Martin will continue to run his usual Sunday sessions. The focus at this early stage is Sprints / Hurdles / Throws / Jump plyometrics. Please see below details -

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.

Football

Football Coordinator – Mr Blair Whitlock

The Football season is on the horizon and we will be commencing the trial process in Week 5. The trial process is different across age groups and outlined in detail below:

Primary Football Trials (Years 5 and 6)

Year 5 and 6 trials are run separately during Weeks 8 and 9 before an internal game day on Saturday 28 March. In order to run effective trials with smaller numbers the Year 5 and 6 trials are both split into two sessions per week according to students' surnames e.g. Session 1 – A to K surnames and Session 2 – L to Z surnames. A schedule with exact dates and times for these trials will be released during Week 7.

Year 7-10 Football Trials

The Year 7-10 Football trials are split into two phases with an A/B team trial process running from Weeks 5-7 before further trials in Weeks 8-9 to grade the remaining teams.

The A/B trials are by invite only with all players from the previous season's A/B teams invited. Any students who are new to Marist or played outside the A/B teams in 2025 must email the Football Coordinator (whitlockb@marash.qld.edu.au) for permission to attend the A/B trials. All students who are willing to work hard, push themselves and strive to make a higher team are absolutely encouraged to do so.

Open Footballs Trials (Years 11 and 12)

Open Football trials will run in Weeks 8 and 9 with an internal game day on Saturday 28 March. A schedule with exact dates and times for these trials will be released during Week 7.

Student Achievement – Joshua Pola

During the Term 1 holidays several Marist footballers represented SDB/Elitefoot FC at the Gold Coast International (GCI) Futsal Tournament which is one of the biggest tournaments of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Through his outstanding performances during the tournament Joshua Pola was named in the GCI Australia All-Star team in the 2011/2012 squad and will be heading to Florida, USA in July to compete at the USA Regional Championships and the United Futsal World Championships. This is an incredible achievement and will see Joshua compete against some of the best fFutsal nations in the world including Brazil, Spain and England. Well done Joshua!

Football Registration

The AIC Football season is on the horizon and the most important step at the moment is to ensure you are registered to play Football in Term 2 so that you receive all the notifications through the Orbit app. Here are the instructions on how to register for Term 2 sport.

Parents please find the Extra-Curricular tile on Parent Orbit to find information regarding sign on.

For students who wish to play Term 2 sports, you are asked to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup and edit or update any medical details.

Tennis

Mr Andrew Ward - Director of Tennis

As the term gathers momentum (and so do our forehands), it has been fantastic to see the courts alive before and after school with energy, enthusiasm, and the unmistakable sound of a well-timed serve… occasionally followed by the equally unmistakable sound of a mis-timed one. Growth mindset in action!

At Marist, our tennis program is built firmly on the school’s values — humility, integrity, respect and perseverance. On court, that looks like:

Shaking hands properly (even after a tight tiebreak).
Calling our own lines honestly (even when it hurts).
Encouraging teammates.
Competing hard but fair.
And having the resilience to reset after the occasional “creative” shot selection.

Commitment to Training

Tennis improvement is not accidental. It is the product of consistent, deliberate practice. Players who commit to regular sessions see measurable gains in footwork efficiency, shot tolerance, decision-making under pressure and match composure. Those who train sporadically… improve sporadically. The formula is not mysterious.

If you are enrolled in a squad, your attendance matters. You are part of a performance environment where every player contributes to the intensity and quality of training. We ask families to support this commitment so players can maximise their development.

Punctuality = Professionalism

Arriving on time is not just polite — it is performance-based behaviour.

When players are punctual:

Warm-ups are completed properly.
Drills begin with structure.
The squad dynamic remains cohesive.
No one has to sprint in apologetically mid-rally (we’ve all seen it).

Elite habits begin with simple disciplines. Being ready to train at the scheduled start time is one of them.

Communication Is Key

If your son is unable to attend a session, please notify us in advance. This allows us to adjust court allocations, drill design and match rotations efficiently. It also saves us from staring at the gate wondering whether someone has been abducted by homework.

Clear communication reflects the same respect and responsibility we promote on court.

Still Taking Bookings (Pro Rata)

The good news: we are still accepting bookings for the term on a pro rata basis. If your son would like to join a squad, there is still time to get involved. We will adjust fees accordingly based on the remaining weeks of the term.

Whether your son is beginning his tennis journey or refining tournament-level patterns of play, there is a pathway available.

We are proud of the culture developing within Marist Tennis — a culture of effort, accountability, enjoyment and steady progression. Keep bringing the energy, keep living the Marist values, and keep striving to hit that serve in… at least occasionally.

Super League

Unfortunately, the weather was not kind for Round 2 matches at home with courts being a wash out. Fingers crossed for this weekend and good luck to the team who will be sporting their new playing shirts with pride.

Finally, we are having a few issues with the gate and access with pin codes. We are working on this now and hopefully will have this rectified as soon as possible. We will endeavour to keep the gate from locking so all members can access the courts.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this has brought as we try to fix it.

See you on the courts.