Sport News

Last weekend saw the conclusion of our term 1 sports for 2025. It was a wonderful season for Marist with a premiership and an aggregate win, a second place and two fourth places. The 1st XVIII went down to Padua on Friday night and the 1st VI lost in four tight sets on Saturday while our 1st XI had a comprehensive victory on McMahon Oval and we enjoyed a successful swimming championship on Friday night.

This weekend sees our internal trials for rugby and football. Further details are in the relevant section below and also on the College App. Boys should endeavour to be at as many trials over the coming weeks as possible to give themselves the best chance to play at the highest level you can. Team lists are never fixed, you can always get promoted if you keep working hard, and of course the opposite is also true, no one is guaranteed a position.

USA Scholarship Information Night at Marist

Marist College Ashgrove is pleased to be hosting a USA College Scholarship Pathways Information Session. This is a great opportunity to learn about avenues through which you can continue to pursue your sport at an elite level beyond high school.

Learn about:

• USA Colleges and Pathways 
• How scholarships work
• How to Maximise Academic and Sporting Scholarships 
• Why an Aussie student-athlete is the ideal US college recruit
• Common pitfalls to avoid
• How to get started

WHEN: MONDAY 28 APRIL

WHERE: MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE TOWER

FUNCTION ROOM

TIME: 5:30 PM

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

All students and their parents from Years 7-12 who are interested in learning more about the US College pathway.

Register here to attend:

https://forms.zohopublic.com/studyandplayusa/form/MaristCollegeAshgroveStudyPlayUSA/formperma/nPJBPdfx7mYy_je9YE6lxRgWDoz7SkvIuiCvU4ql-Lk

AIC Swimming Wrap

Last Friday night our swimming team did a wonderful job at the AIC Swimming Championships, finishing second overall and winning the Year 6 and 13 years. It was pleasing to see such a high-quality performance from our team and a strong indicator of the community spirit and sense of team that our swimming community has. Congratulations to all swimmers who did a PB, won a race or broke a school or AIC record. Well done to St Peters for taking out the AIC title, the program there is one of the benchmarks in Australia. We dust ourselves off, we get in the pool again, and we go again.

I thank our Head Coach, Mr James Boyce, who is clearly one of the very best young coaches in Queensland if not Australia. James works tirelessly for Marist, both the AIC team and the swim club, and the results that his swimmers continue to produce are a credit to him and the program. Thank you also to Assistant Head Coach Damien Bromley and all of the coaches involved in the program. A huge thank you also to Ms. Jade Ritchie, who as our Swimming Coordinator went over and above in preparing all of the details, organised the staff, and coordinated all the events and logistics.

Cricket

On Saturday the 1st XI were comprehensive in their victory to secure the AIC premiership (shared with Iona College) in defeating Padua. Across the board our results were excellent, with Marist securing the AIC aggregate shield for the first time in five years. 

AFL

It was great to see B teams all the way through now and the addition of a Year 10 competition this year. Our best performing team was the 8Bs who finished second in their year level. The 1st XVIII worked manfully throughout the season with a lot of improvement from this younger group of athletes. The weather interrupted their season with two rounds washed out because of the cyclone.

Volleyball

Our volleyball teams had a tough season this year. Our 10As and 11As both finished in third place and the 11Bs won their competition. The 1st VI never got into a rhythm this year and were only able to display their true ability sporadically which is a shame as their results do not reflect their ability. 

End of Summer Season

Year 12s - thank you for your years of service to the College and your sport of choice. Hopefully, you have enjoyed the experience of playing for your school, developed some skills, including life skills, had some wins and some losses and take away great memories with you. Thank you also to the parents for your involvement in the Marist sport community, and the part you have played in making this an inclusive, supportive and friendly environment. Good luck in the future gentlemen.

Thank you to our coordinators for this term. Mr Corey Robinson led our AFL program this year and was a great support for the coaches on game day. Mr Patrick Denkes led our volleyball program quietly putting in a lot of work behind the scenes. Mr Derek Lennon, supported by Mr Matt Millward and Mr Tom Gibson, led our cricket program. Ms Jade Ritchie did countless work to support the swimming program. 

Thank you to our firsts coaches Mr James Boyce (swimming), Mr Michael Abbott (cricket), Mr Adam Green (volleyball) and Mr Matt Beattie (AFL) and all their support staff for your leadership of our flagship teams, mentoring the boys and providing great examples for the boys as people. I also thank all the staff, Old Boys, parents and external coaches for your work with our boys this term in each of our sports.

Finally, well done to all the boys who pulled on the blue and gold uniform this term. We set high expectations of you in uniform, behaviour, attitude, commitment, and respect for others. We do this because we are a school and this is a vehicle to help you grow into men of good character and discipline. Whether you won, lost or drew each week you by and large did it with tremendous spirit and respect, for which you should be proud.

Cricket

Mr Derek Lennon (Coordinator)

Last Saturday saw the culmination of our 2025 AIC cricket season when we hosted Padua College here at Marist. It was a strong day overall for us and a great way to finish the season for a number of our sides.

The 1st XI bowled first and dismissed Padua for 46. Wickets were shared about, Archer Tallon’s 3/12 being the pick. The run chase was a comfortable affair, with the boys getting the runs 3 down before lunch. With Villanova losing to St Pats the premiership was shared between Marist and Iona College. Thank you to Mr Michael Abbott and Mr Tom Gibson for your leadership, commitment and mentorship of this team. This was a win for the ages!

We had an outstanding season overall with the aggregate shield returning to Ashgrove for the first time in five years. We finished on 64 points, ahead of St Pats on 58 and Villanova on 54. This was a comprehensive win, with most teams contributing greatly. The two highlights include the 1st XI shared premiership and year 7 overall, where the As, Bs, Cs, and Ds all won their divisions and the Es and Fs both finished equal second (to our Ds) in the D competition.

Well done to the following undefeated premiers:

3rd XI      coach Simon O’Hare

7C           coach Tasmin Gandhi

7D           coach James Brandon

We also had teams win their division:

1st XI      coach Michael Abbott

10A        coach Troy Mee

8A           Henry Gardiner

8B           Oliver Gordon

7A           coach Matt Millward

7B           coach Ruden Gandhi

I want to thank our coaching staff for your commitment to the program. Cricket is a demanding sport with long hours and the additional challenge of scoring and umpiring. I acknowledge the coaches for your leadership and guidance of our young men.

I would like to acknowledge the work of a number of people behind the scenes. Mr Andrew Catton, who left us in December set up a lot of the new processes and procedures that contributed to the success this season. I also want to thank Mr Matt Millward from the sports office for his dedication to the program going over and above every week to make sure it all happened, and to Mr Tom Gibson who took on game day grounds manager on top of his work as 1st XI assistant coach each week.

Thank you to the parents who support the boys and the program each week through cheering us on, encouraging words, scoring and umpiring. It really is a team effort in cricket and at Marist we have a wonderful community feeling around our cricket program.

Finally, well done to the young men of the cricket program who gave their all every week, tried their best and represented your college with pride. Thank you and well done on a fine innings from our departing Year 12s led by captain Joey Laner and the senior players. We wish you well in the future and hope to see many of you come back and join us as coaches.

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

Last Friday, the talented swimmers of Marist College Ashgrove competed in the AIC Swimming Championships at the Sleeman Sports Centre, delivering an outstanding performance.

We begin by congratulating our Primary School team for securing this year’s Primary School Aggregate - a fantastic achievement that highlights the depth of talent in our swimming program.

While we acknowledge St Peters Lutheran College for their ninth consecutive victory, we are immensely proud of our team’s remarkable efforts, earning a well-deserved second place. This result is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and resilience of our swimmers. However, it also serves as a reminder that we must continue to strive for excellence and push ourselves to even greater heights.

Following the competition, our discussions focused on the path ahead, emphasising the importance of consistency, teamwork, and individual accountability. With that in mind, let’s reflect on some of the outstanding achievements from this year’s event:

• The Under 13s and Year 6s secured victory in their aggregate.
• Ryan O’Toole set a new College Record in the 50m Freestyle with an impressive time of 23.07.
• The Open Div 2 Freestyle Relay broke last year’s college record.
• The Open Div 1 Freestyle Relay surpassed the previous record set in 2023.
• The Open Medley Relay set a new college record.
• Year 6 shattered a long-standing college record from 2015.
• Daniel Sadimenko set a new Year 6 AIC record with a time of 28.78.

Well done, boys! Your achievements are a reflection of your dedication and commitment to the sport.

A special thank you goes out to our coaches, teachers and parents, whose ongoing support and encouragement play a crucial role in the success and wellbeing of our swimmers. Your contributions behind the scenes do not go unnoticed.

To those who did not make the final swimming team, we deeply appreciate your hard work and commitment. Your dedication to training strengthens our program and lays the foundation for future success. Many past team members have earned their place through persistence, and we encourage you to continue striving for excellence.

Looking ahead, we recognise key areas for improvement as we set our sights on securing first place next year. Our program remains committed to continuous growth, and we encourage all swimmers to maintain their training throughout the year. History has shown that those who continue swimming over the winter months make significant progress, with many earning selection the following season.

Once again, congratulations to all our swimmers and everyone involved in making this year’s AIC Swimming Championships such a memorable and successful event. We look forward to building on this momentum and taking our performance to the next level in 2026!

Tennis

Mr Andrew Ward - Director of Tennis

Tennis News – Time to Get Serious!

Term 1 is wrapping up, and Term 3 tennis is fast approaching. If you want to be match-ready, don’t wait until the last minute. Get on court now—play matches, sign up for coaching, or join our Friday Fixtures program. If you’re not playing enough, unforced errors creep in, and in tight matches, that’s often the difference between winning and losing.

AIC Tennis Trials – Mark Your Calendars

All year-level trials begin in Week 6 of Term 2. Apologies for any confusion.

Key Dates to Remember

Term 1

Week 8 – AIC First and Second Train-On Squad Trials (Monday & Wednesday, 3:30 – 5:00 PM)

Easter Holiday Camp

Monday 7 – Wednesday 9 April, 8:00 – 11:00 AM

Term 2

Monday 28 & Wednesday 30 April – AIC First & Second Train-On Squad Training Begins

Week 6 – AIC Trials for all year levels (dates TBC)Thursday 19 & Friday 20 June – Marist 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 & 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 & Christmas Break-Up (2:00 – 6:00 PM, BBQ at 5:00 PM)

Xmas & 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.

Super & Brisbane Tennis Leagues – Battle Recap

This week, I had the pleasure of watching some serious battles unfold. Our Division 3 team, ranked third, faced off against the undefeated league leaders, while our Division 7 team, also third, took on the second-ranked team.

Division 7 fought hard, but the tennis gods weren’t on our side, losing 1-4. Lessons were learned—because that’s what improvement is all about.

Division 3 delivered a masterclass. Indy Headrick dominated the first set 6-2 but found himself in trouble at 2-5 in the second. In classic Marist fashion, he refused to quit, staging a brilliant comeback to take it 7-5. With a nail-biting doubles win at 6-3, our boys handed their opponents their first loss of the season. A great win and a clear sign that the work put in at training is paying off.

Tennis improvement isn’t just about grinding away—it’s about adapting. If you keep missing the same shot, change something. Insanity is hitting the same bad shot over and over, expecting a miracle. The hard work happens at training, and that’s where new weapons are added to your game.

Term 2 Coaching – Special Deals Incoming

Jade and I have put together exclusive coaching packages for Term 2, including an option to grab a brand-new Wilson racquet if you need one. Jade will release the details this Thursday. If you’re not on our mailing list and want first access, email  mcatennis@marash.qld.edu.au.

The season starts now. See you on the courts.

Football

Mr Blair Whitlock - Football Coordinator

Week 9 Training and Trials Schedule

Trials have got off to a great start this week. If you are unable to make your trial, please make sure you email your Year Level Coordinator to let them know. See attached the training and trials schedule for Week 9.

Saturday 29 March – Trials and Games

See attached the trial and game schedules for Saturday 29 March. Please ensure you are arriving at least 10 minutes early for your trial so we can get the check-in done smoothly and efficiently. The College will and Flats will be very busy with Football and Rugby trials occurring so please give yourself some extra time for finding a park etc.

Rain & Cancellations

There is plenty of rain forecast over the coming days. Communication of any cancellations will be done via the Orbit app and sent out by 6:00am for morning sessions and 2:30pm at the latest for afternoon sessions. We will endeavour to run all trials and trainings as scheduled –cancellations will only occur if there is lightning forecast or the pitches are waterlogged to the point where we can’t run an effective session.

Wet Weather Storage

When arriving for sessions please ensure you are storing your gear in a sheltered area in case it starts raining during training. For sessions on the Flats, you can store your gear in the Shed or up the stairs to the right of the building. For sessions on Cameron Oval, you can store your gear inside the Cameron Shed.

2025 MCA Football Handbook

See attached the 2025 MCA Football Handbook. This is designed to be a one-stop shop for all questions Football!

It gives a holistic view of our program so please take the time to have a read through it leading into the 2025 season.

AIC Football Refereeing

For any Marist students looking to referee matches during the AIC season – please reach out to the Football Coordinator (whitlockb@marash.qld.edu.au) so you can be added to all future referee communications.

Football QLD is running a referee course on Wednesday 9th April for anyone interested. Details on how to register are on the attached flyer.

Marist Football - 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 Football program, including schedules and relevant information.

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 Ready Program | Year 5-12

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Rugby Ready Program. It is an enormous program with 570+ students attending eight sessions per week for four weeks!......and 25+ coaches delivering an integrated and aligned approach. Throw in the disruption of Cyclone Alfred and the program becomes even more challenging and more exciting.

The students need to be commended for the way they participated and engaged in the program. The coaches couldn’t speak more highly of the behaviour, skill development and willingness to learn. As we watch the games this season, we hope to see the high level of skill, the connection and “The Marist Way” evident in all our teams.

Thanks to the coaches for volunteering their time and expertise to the program. Andy Marshall, Mr Charlie Taylor, Mr Mal Grealy, Mr David Jackman, Mr Jye Davies, Mr Tom Dangerfield, Mr Peter Gaiter, Mr Glenn Wright, Mr Jim Midgley, Mr Matt Dangerfield, Mr Doug Perrers, Mr Steve Day, Mr Wayne Londema, Camryn Mabey, Mr John Lambourne, Mr Damien Nelson, Ms Ella Graham, Mr Anthony Graham, Mr James Trebbin, Mr Richard Coles, Mr Bill Prole, Mr Mick Morley, Mr Kabel Dawes, Mr John Milne, Cruz Day, Mr Brad Winchester, Mr Matt Millward, Willem Michelmore, Mr Ieta Fetalaiga. Marist is fortunate to have many staff, old boys and current students contributing to the rugby program. We appreciate all that they do in creating a safe and challenging rugby environment. 

Thanks also to the members of the Blue Squad who came down each Friday to connect with and support the development of our youngest bumblebees. The students are wonderful ambassadors for Marist and have been selfless with their time.

Rugby Union Training and Trials – Week 9 and 10

This weekend serves at the Rosalie Tribute Round. It is a wonderful way to celebrate our internal trial day and to acknowledge the Marist Rosalie old boys.

Please make sure you see the Parent Orbit for Year level training sessions scheduled in Weeks 9 and 10, and for the full list of trials this Saturday.

Following training this week, trial teams will be listed on Friday morning.

See the Rugby Union Key Dates Calendar in the Parent Orbit for all games throughout the season, including trial games in Term 1.

1st XV / 2nd XV vs Downland’s College | Trial Matches

Thanks to Downland’s College for hosting the trial games on Sunday. The College has a long history of playing games against Downland’s and we are pleased we can continue the association. A bus trip up the range is always a wonderful way to start a Sunday morning.

list of students who began their rugby journey at the Roosters. It is a fantastic club with some wonderful facilities, and the College appreciates the support afforded to the 1st and 2nd XV in their games against Downlands College.

The Blue Squad of 44 was trimmed to 37 for the two games. On the back of a strong internal trial, both teams were challenged to run the ball from all parts of the field as they continue their preparation for the AIC competition.

Thanks to Downland’s College for hosting us and we look forward to continuing on again in 2026.

Year Level Coordinators

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

Rugby Union Trials

Rugby trials are almost upon us! Following the conclusion of the Rugby Ready Program at the end of Week 8, the boys will start to prepare in their Year levels for the full school internal trial on Saturday 29 March (end of Week 9). This day also serves as the Rosalie Tribute Round.

Please make sure you see the Rugby Union Key Dates Calendar in the Parent Orbit for all games throughout the season.

Marist Rugby Union | Rugby Referee Program 

Congratulations to our fantastic bunch of referee graduates!!.. 

Well done to the Marist College Ashgrove and Mt St Michael’s students – Jameson McGahan, Connor O'Rourke, James Travers, Tom Cross, Matt Brennan, Toby Saunders, Ezzie Day, Ava Keogh; and parents, Christopher Barker, Chris Shay and Andy Marshall. All of them will now start their journey as a referee with some beginning this weekend in the internal trials.

A special thank you to QRU Match Official Development Officer, Daniel Mangin, for delivering the course and making the attendees feel comfortable with the content and new challenges.

We thank all of our referees in advance of the AIC season. We have an extraordinary referee community here at the College and we wish all of our referees a great season ahead.

Marist Rugby Union | Camps and Tours

Both squads have been selected and preparation is well and truly underway for the upcoming tours.

We wish Mr Chris Daykin and Mr Adam Earnshaw all our best for the 1st XV and 2nd XV tour of Northern NSW. This tour is an important part of their preparation for the upcoming AIC rugby season and will also provide a wonderful rugby experience for those students selected. 

Similarly, we wish Mr John Lambourne, Mr Anthony Graham and Mr John Lambourne all our best for the U12 tour to The Armidale School Rugby Carnival. The carnival is the largest junior rugby carnival held in Australia, attracting young rugby enthusiasts and their coaches, along with committed families and supporters from all over the country. 

Northern New South Wales Tour

1st XV and 2nd XV squad 

Games in Lennox Head and Armidale

Friday 4 – Wednesday 9, April

The Armidale School Rugby Carnival

U12 team 

Friday 11 – Sunday 13, April

These opportunities are designed to enhance player development, strengthen team culture, build independence, and prepare squads for the upcoming season. Looking ahead, we aim to further expand these opportunities to include more students within our rugby union program, ensuring a broad and inclusive pathway for all aspiring players.

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.

Sunday Sessions

This year, Marist College with be looking to win its’ 11th successive AIC Track and Field Championship. To be successful, a lot of planning, commitment and effort goes into the program across the calendar year. The focus at this early stage is Sprints / Hurdles / Throws / Jump plyometrics. Please see below details -

For all students wanting to train, Mr Rob Martin will continue to run his usual Sunday sessions. Please see below details - 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