Sport News

Sports Department

We are excited to announce some positive changes to our Sports Department starting this week. We have added an extra staff member to the sports office and restructured how we oversee our larger sports programs. Our two existing School Officer support staff roles have been dissolved and, alongside the new staff member, they will now be overseeing two key sports each in a full-time capacity. The traditional model has been a teacher or School Officer taking on coordination in addition to their full-time role. This has served us well for a number of decades but modern demands of compliance, communication and servicing the communities and the numbers participating in these programs has meant that style of role has its limitations. By adding these full-time coordinators we will be able to deliver better quality coaching programs, more opportunities for participants, holiday activities, camps and tours, improved communication and more foresight and planning ahead. We trialled this in cricket in 2025 to great success and have been able to develop a sustainable model that allows us to focus full attention on these large activities. We are excited to see where these new roles take us in the coming years.     

We welcome Mr Camryn Mabey to the sports office. Camryn is no stranger to Marist sport having coached rugby union and rugby league for us this year. Camryn joins us as our Sport Co-ordinator- AFL and Rugby League. Camryn comes to us from UniSport where he was a in a similar role managing large programs and organising competitions and events.

Mr Blair Whitlock is our new Sport Coordinator Volleyball and Football. Blair was our Boarding Rec Officer and has been our 1st XI Head Coach for 2 years and our Football Coordinator this year. Blair brings a strong understanding of the College, sport and what it means to be Marist. 

Mr Matthew Millward is our new Sport Coordinator Cricket and Basketball. Matt has transferred from his role as Sports Administration Coordinator and is well known to the Marist sport community through his outstanding work in the sports office and in cricket, cross country, rugby and track and field.

Mr Corey Robinson will continue in his role as Sports School Officer for an extended period which we are fortunate for.

Across both the full-time staff and the coordinators we are served tremendously well as a school and we are in great shape moving forward to remain at the forefront of AIC sport and continue to innovate and develop our programs.

Sports Department:         

Coordinators

Registrations - Term 1 Sports

Registrations are open for our Term 1 sports- AFL, cricket, volleyball and swimming. It is vital that all boys wanting to participate are registered. Parents can register through Parent Lounge or Orbit app. 

All information about the season, including upcoming trials will be shared through these platforms, along with email to registered students.

Trials - Term 1 Sports

Our Term 1 sports- AFL, cricket and volleyball will be conducting trials from next week. All players must be registered to trial. Coordinators will be releasing trial information in the coming days to the communities through Parent Lounge/Orbit and emails to students. 

*New students to the College in 2026 will be graded in the first two weeks of Term 1, necessitating movement as required. 

AIC Term 4 Gala Days

Good luck to all boys participating in the AIC Gala Days this weekend- Touch (Primary) Friday 24th, (Secondary) Saturday 25th, eSports Saturday 25th and Water Polo Sunday 26th. These are great opportunities for boys to showcase their skills and ability in different areas. My thanks are extended to the staff who are involved in these activities. Final details, including draws, will be released by coordinators once finalised.

• Touch- Ms Kate Moore
• eSports- Mr Greg Egan
• Water Polo- Mr Ryan Apps 

Basketball – CBSQ Junior Secondary

Congratulations to our Junior Secondary team which finished third in Div 3 at the CBSQ championships on the weekend. This was a great outcome against some of the best basketball schools in Queensland. This result sees us promoted to Div 2 next year. 

Thanks are extended to Mr James Lymer, Ms Samantha Davids, Mr Paul Stracotta and Mr James O’Hara for supporting the boys over the week. 

Use of Marist Name and Apparel

There has been an increase in the use of the name Marist or Marist sporting apparel in non-sanctioned sporting competitions recently, such as club and social competitions. If a group want to participate in non-school events please do not use the school name or playing apparel. If the competition requires school approval, please contact the Head of Sport in writing in advance to seek permission. There are a number of reasons for this including liability, reputation, consistency, quality control and opportunity and access.

Cricket

Mr Matt Millward - Cricket Coordinator

Welcome to the new season of AIC Cricket at Marist Ashgrove College. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make the 2026 Cricket season enjoyable and beneficial for all participants. There is already a significant amount of interest to play next year with over 200 boys having already signed on.

Sign On

2026 Cricket Season Sign On is now available on Parent Orbit and Student Cafe. 

All students interested in playing Cricket in 2026 are encouraged to sign-on ASAP, so you do not miss any information surrounding the season ahead.

Thank you to those who have already done so. 

Coaching Positions

We are in a very healthy position in relation to coaching appointments for 2026 and expect them to be announced in the next week. We do have some vacancies available for anyone interested in coaching. To receive more information, please click the link below and complete the form. 

https://forms.office.com/r/5DXZJ07J7W

Holiday Clinics

Keep an eye on Parent Orbit and Student Café. We are looking forward to releasing information in relation to our upcoming Cricket camps set to take place in the Christmas holidays soon. 

Term 4 Specialist Sessions

Marist Cricket are pleased to be offering skill-specific specialist programs for periods of Term 4. 

Wicketkeeping: QLD wicket-keeping coach Mr Brad Murphy will be running specialist wicketkeeper sessions on Tuesday afternoons for interested wicketkeepers. Please contact Mr Millward to register your interest. 

Spin Bowling: Former QLD Bulls player Mr Brett Henschell, will be delivering spin-specific sessions bi-weekly on Thursday afternoons on three occasions: 23 October, 6 November and 20 November. These sessions are open to any boys wanting to improve their skills in this discipline. The cost of this program is $120.00 per student. Please sign up and provide payment via Parent Orbit.

Pace Bowling and Batting: We are working to secure specialist coaches for these disciplines – when sessions become available, we will reach out via Parent Orbit and Student Café. 

Handbook

The 2026 Marist Cricket Handbook is now available to read on Parent Orbit. This document is your one-stop shop for information on the upcoming cricket season. The document is subject to change and will be updated where necessary throughout the season. Please ensure you read and understand the information within this document prior to the commencement of the 2026 season. 

Term 4 Trials and Training

Term 4 trials will commence in Week 4 – each year level 7-12 (2026) will have 2 x sessions per-week for 3-weeks. Year 6 (2026) students will have 2 x sessions across 2-weeks for trials. Please ensure you read the Cricket Handbook to understand the trial process and the selection policy of Marist Cricket. Please see below the trial schedule for Term 4. This schedule can also be found on Parent Orbit, under Cricket documents. 

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

It’s great to be back for our second week of the term and to see both new faces and returning swimmers back in the pool after the athletics season.

This week was a special one as we welcomed our Year 5 (2026) boys to their first training session on Wednesday afternoon — the beginning of their journey as Marist Men.

As the term gets busier, it’s important that we remain consistent with our training. Swimming is a sport that rewards regular effort — the more consistent we are, the greater the improvement.

We will continue to offer three sessions per week for Years 7–12, with a strong focus on technique development and building a solid training base. This foundation will set us up for quality work at the end of term and through the holiday period.

Please see this week’s swimming schedule attached. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at swim@marash.qld.edu.au.

Marist Swimming | Sign On

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

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

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

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

Timetable Adjustments for Primary School

• Year 5 (2026): Training begins Wednesdays, 15 October, continuing Wednesday afternoons throughout Term 4. Mondays will begin on Monday 10 November.
• Year 6 (2026): Training begins Wednesday, 15 October, with sessions on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings.
•  

Years 7–12 (2026)

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

Year 5 - 2026

Year 6 - 2026

Year 7 – 12 – 2025 

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Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Athletes | Qld School Sport State Titles (Townsville 16-19 Oct)

It was a great weekend in Townsville for Marist track and field Athletes following on from the fantastic AIC victory only 2 weeks prior, as athletes who qualified for Metropolitan North represented the region and the school at the Qld Representative School Sport All Schools.

There were many athletes who participated across the weekend and Marist Ashgrove athletes had a heavy haul of medals with the following performances showing the athletes from the college remain amongst the best in the state.

Hayden Lockhart (15 Years)

100m Hurdles – Gold (13.47s – new school record) 

200m Hurdles – Gold (27.16s)

Triple Jump – Gold (12.86m)

100m Silver (11.15s), 

Long Jump Silver (6.19 m)

Met North Relay – 4th Place overall

Harry Prole (16 Years)

800m – Gold (1.58.79)

1500m – Gold (4.06.66)

3000m – Gold (9.00.97)

Lyndon Maynard (17 Years)

Long Jump – Gold (6.60m)

High Jump – Silver(1.88m)

Ben Flanagan(15 Years)

800m – Silver (2.01.78)

1500m – Silver (4.16.44)

Darcy Frazier (14 Years)

400m – Bronze (54.2s)

800m – 4th (2m08.07)

James Milne (14 Years)

Shot – Bronze Medal - 14m

Max King (13 Years)

90m Hurdles – Bronze (14.15s)          

Long Jump – 10th (4.94m)

Triple Jump – 18th (9.95m)

Jack Mahuru (17 Years)

Long Jump – Bronze (6.29m)

Isaac Mastenbroek (14 Years)

Javelin – 10th 31.59m

Lucas Boshoff (17 Years)

800m – 8th 2m02.85

Ronan Sadimenko (14 Years)

1500m – 17th (4.41.81)

Ethan McKeever (13 Years)

High Jump – 6th (1.58m)

With 16 medals at these state titles, it is as good a return as we have seen in recent seasons. It was most pleasing to see different event groups having success and medals coming across many age groups from 12 to 18 years.

Thanks to coaches who also supported the athletes during the meet including Mr Tim Castley, Mr Bill Prole and Mr Rob Martin.

Well done again and these excellent results show that the team has the individual talents at state and national level to go along with their incredible team cohesion. Well done to all athletes who made the trek to Townsville.

Junior Schools Success (10-12 Years)

Earlier in the week Hugo Lockhart (Year 7) in the primary 10-12 years event achieved a silver medal in 12 Years high jump (1.62m) and qualified for the Australian 10-12 years Nationals to be held in Canberra in November 2025.

Daniel Sadimenko (Year 6) – 12 Years 800m – 9th overall (2m17.86)

New School Record

Hayden Lockhart broke his own school record in the 15 years 100m hurdles at the State titles after achieving the first record at the AIC championships. 

Hayden’s previous time was 13.55s and the new hurdles record stands at 13.47s after competing at the QRSS State Titles – well done Hayden.

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

Marist Community Notice | Use of College Name and Uniform

A reminder that only teams and competitions formally sanctioned by the College may use the Marist name, uniform, or branding. This protects student safety, supervision, insurance coverage, and alignment with our codes of conduct.

In the small number of instances where a tournament may be of particular interest or relevance, prior approval is required. The College will assess suitability and, if appropriate, coordinate an official entry to ensure supervision, insurance, and conduct standards are met. Please contact the Head of Sport before nominating teams or communicating publicly.

Key points• Only College-approved teams may represent Marist.• Marist uniform and branding must not be used without permission.• All external entries require prior approval through the Head of Sport.

We appreciate the enthusiasm to provide opportunities for our students and ask for everyone’s support in following the correct process. 

Term 4 | Preseason Training

An optional five-week preseason rugby union training block has begun for current Year 9-11 students. It's an excellent opportunity for students to improve their skills and conditioning both on the field and in the gym. 

Field sessions are led by Mr Richard Graham, Mr Chris Daykin and Mr Charlie Taylor. Athletic development is overseen by Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Mr Adam Earnshaw.

The training block will continue until Friday, November 14. Thanks to those who have already joined and are pushing themselves this term!

Marist Rugby Union | U12 The Armidale School Rugby Carnival

Thank you to the students who turned up to Week 1 of the U12 The Armidale School Rugby Carnival preparations. It kicked off last Friday with a strong turnout.

The sessions are being run in a safe, fun and competitive environment that emphasises core skills, decision-making and teamwork, while steadily building fitness before trials.

Special thanks to Mr John Lambourne, Mr James Trebbin and Mr Anthony Graham for leading the well structured sessions and creating a positive learning atmosphere.

The Armidale School Rugby Carnival is Australia’s largest junior rugby carnival and we are excited to prepare a team to represent the College in 2026. 

We encourage all interested students born in 2014 to attend consistently across the five week block. 

WHERE: Hayden Oval

WHEN: Friday mornings

TIME: 6:45am

DRESS: Marist sports shirt or bumblebee jersey, Marist sports shorts, blue or white socks

Marist Rugby Union | Scrum Ready Program

A huge thank you to those students who joined the first week of our Scrum Ready Program.

Mr Chris Daykin, Mr Doug Perrers and Mr James Trebbin are leading the five-week Scrum Ready Program in Term 4 for Years 5-11 rugby union forwards. Any students who play in the front row or the wider forward pack are invited to the Scrum Ready Program. 

Tuesday 3:30-4:30pm

Year 9-11

Wednesday 3:30pm-4:30pm

Years 5-8

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

WHERE: Des Connor Fields, Flat 5

The aim of the training sessions is to educate students on key strengthening exercises, correct technique and the ability to maintain a safe, strong and stable body position.

The five weeks will consist of:

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

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

Marist Rugby Union | Social Media 

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

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

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

Tennis

Mrs Jade Ritchie - Swim/Tennis Administrator

Term 4, Week 3

More lessons have opened up on a Tuesday morning and afternoon, please check the think smart app to book.

Elite Squad Upgrade

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

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

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

Friday Fixtues

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

Make-ups

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

Super Grade and Super League 2026

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

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

Wilson Pro Shop

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

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