Sport News

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

Associated Independent Colleges (AIC)

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

AIC MOTTO

Learning and growth through sport and competition.

VISION

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

MISSION

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

The member schools are:

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

• Marist College Ashgrove

   

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

*non-AIC

Key Performance Indicators

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

Performance

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

Life Long Love of Sport

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

Life Skills

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

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

Standards - Uniform

All boys are to wear Marist gear to training

All boys are required to wear the Marist training shirt for training sessions. Sub-consciously it builds a sense of belonging and identity or the boys to the college.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Teams - use of Marigold jersey and playing jersey

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holiday Activity

Cricket

Marist hosted the 21st Marist Cricket Carnival at the start of the December holidays. The Marist Carnival is the coming together of the top 8 cricket teams from the different Marist schools from across the country.

Our young side acquitted themselves well throughout the week in and were competitive in all matches with glimpses of the potential shining through at times. The highlight was a win against St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill on McMahon Oval. We finished fourth overall. 

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

AIC T20 Carnival

We had teams competing in the 1st XI and Year 10 AIC T20 competitions. The Year 10 competition was held here at Marist. Both of these events proved invaluable preparation for the season ahead.

Marist Cricket Week

As well as the two T20 competitions we had a 3-day junior training camp and a set of trial fixtures, including A teams playing against Iona last Friday. Thank you to Mr Matt Millward for organising these activities and all the staff and coaches who assisted or coached. I am sure they will put our boys in good stead for the season ahead.

Volleyball

Our Opens squad participated in the Australian School Volleyball Cup on the Gold Coast in early December. The boys acquitted themselves very well in preparation for the 2025 AIC season. Thank you to Mr Adam Green (Head Coach) and Mr Blair Whitlock (Coordinator) for your guidance and support of the team.

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

Swimming

Mr James Boyce and the swim staff led a camp for both senior and primary school swimmers and many of the boys have been putting in the K’s all through the summer break. Thank you to all staff involved in the preparation for our swimmers. The camp was a great success, and kick starts our assault on the AIC championship for 2026.

Track & Field

The 2025 National Schools Challenge Track and Field Titles in Melbourne in December showcased the abilities of Marist track and field athletes. This is a high-quality event, with the best athletics schools from across the country competing through qualification at state level. Our intermediate team were successful in winning the National Title against the very best from across Australia. 

Thank you to Mr Robin Martin (Head Coach) and coaches Mr Bill Prole, Mr Lee Martin, Mr Tim Castley and our Director of Track & Field Mr Richard Graham for your guidance and support of our athletes.

Well done to the team:

• Harry Prole
• Riley Hansel
• Connor Campbell 
• Eli Miles
• Ben Flanagan
• Hayden Lockhart 
• James Milne

AFL

We were well served with a training camp last week. It was great to see so many boys actively working on their core skills for the season ahead. This new initiative will give us a huge lift in preparation and help our program grow. Well done to Head Coach Mr Matt Beattie and Coordinator Mr Camryn Mabey.

Cricket - Neck Guards - Compulsory

This year the AIC has made the wearing on neck guards with helmets compulsory for all levels of cricket. After the tragic situation that occurred in a net session in Victoria earlier this summer this is a good step. It is important that all players retrospectively fit the guards to your helmets. Umpires will not let you bat without one. They are very easy to fit, it takes about 5 minutes. They are available from all good cricket suppliers, including Keith Dudgeon Cricket at The Gap.

Metropolitan North School Sport Restructure

Currently, in Metropolitan North Representative School Sport, we have a variety of different governance structures, operating principles and procedures in our constituent districts. Our districts vary in enrolment numbers, in sector representation, in fee structure, in service delivery and in governance. The current structures are highly local in nature and contextualised. Schools, parents and students sometimes find this environment difficult and confusing to engage with.

From 2026 there has been a restructure:

Six new districts

To address this and informed by the findings from the Queensland Representative School Sport Review conducted in 2019, Metropolitan North Representative School Sport’s nine districts have been reconfigured as six 10-19 years districts. When grouping schools, consideration was given to:

• equal number of students (approximately) in each district;
• secondary schools grouped with their feeder primaries, where possible;
• larger schools spread equally across the districts; and

• as many schools as practicable, kept in their former groupings.

   

There has also been a degree of rebranding, with each district having a new logo design and several changing their names whilst keeping their traditional colour schemes. The new districts are Bay, Pine, North, West, City and Central.

Marist College Ashgrove is in West District.

Support

The six new districts will be paired and an officer at AO6 level, designated as a Senior School Sport Advisor (SSSA), will be responsible for the administrative and operational tasks to facilitate the district sport program. They will be supported by one shared AO3 Administrative Officer. 

District Trial Fee

Currently across the various districts, trial fees range from $0 to $20.00. This income (user pays) covers first aid, venue hire, venue cleaning fees, equipment hire/purchase and hire of officials such as Brisbane Swimming and Queensland Athletics. To ensure equity across the Metropolitan North Sport region, and ensure the program is viable, a universal district trial fee will be adopted of $15.00.

District Trials

Marist Sport will advertise district trials from the start of the term in which the trial occurs. This will be in the College newsletter and the daily student notices throughout the term.

Boys will be asked to register an expression of interest in their sport of choice. Players must be competing for Marist at least at A level or playing at a higher club level. We are restricted to a maximum of 4 nominees per trial. We will select our 4 based on experience with an age bias towards the top of the age bracket. These players will be emailed a QR code to register with the District to trial. Once the nomination date has closed the District will send out the paperwork, which is to be completed and returned electronically to Head of Sport Derek Lennon at lennond@marash.qld.edu.au for uploading to the District. The school will also complete the Principal permission form. All trialists must pay the trial levy before attending the trial, you will not be able to trial without payment.  

Upcoming Trials

To register for an upcoming trial go to 2026 District Sport Nomination Form Round 1 – Fill out form and complete the details before the closing date.

Rugby League - 15-16 years (Boys) & 17-18 years (Boys) – closing 6 February.

Cricket

Mr Matt Milward - Cricket Coordinator

Cricket season is well underway, with the AIC season kicking off this weekend with our trial round vs Villanova College. The holiday has been a busy period with our 1st XI competing in the National Marist Cricket Carnival, placing 4th out of the 1st Division. We hosted our December and January camps which were a hit with over 100 boys attending, and had a number of trial matches for teams across the cohort. Please see below this coming week’s schedule and information around the program. 

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/trainings or games. 

• UNIFORM

  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 under the outdoor cover of the Br. Terence boarding house at the top of Cameron Oval stairs. Please ensure kits are neatly stored within this area. Please see the attached photo. Primary kit bags are to be stored under the primary building.

Sign On

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

All students interested in playing Cricket in 2026 are encouraged to Sign On ASAP.

Thank you to those who have already done so. There were some boys at sessions this week who had not yet signed on and will need to do so prior to their next session.

Coaching Positions

We are currently in a very healthy position in relation to coaching appointments for 2026. 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

Specialist Sessions

Please keep an eye out of Parent Orbit and the newsletter for specialist coaching opportunities throughout the season!

AIC Trial Round – Saturday 31 January

The schedule for Saturday 31 January will be released on Wednesday 28 January, with team lists to follow on Friday 30 January, please keep and eye out on Parent Orbit and emails for these to come out!

Term 1 Training Schedule – Week 1

Please see below this week’s training scheulde – 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. 

Cricket Season Launch – Wednesday 28 January

Wednesday 28 January, 3:30pm on McMahon Oval. The afternoon will have the 1st XI vs Old Boys match, with prizes, games and canteen available – come along and enjoy the spectacle!

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

Welcome back to what promises to be a huge and exciting term for the Swimming Program.

The holiday period was extremely busy, with our swimmers competing at the Queensland State Swimming Championships, attending the AIC Swimming Camp, and racing at the Brisbane Swimming Championships. It was fantastic to see such strong engagement and commitment from our athletes during the break.

As we move into the term, I understand that many new families may have questions regarding the program. I will do my best to support everyone and provide clear communication throughout the term.

Queensland State Championships – Results

We had a strong Marist representation at the Queensland State Swimming Championships. I would like to congratulate all swimmers who competed and highlight the following outstanding performances:

Archer Mellifont

• 2nd – Boys 17 Years 200m Freestyle
• 4th – Boys 17 Years 50m Backstroke
• 5th – Boys 17 Years 100m Freestyle

Thomas Bedggood

• 4th – Boys 15 Years 200m Freestyle
• 4th – Boys 15 Years 100m Freestyle
• 5th – Boys 15 Years 50m Freestyle
• 10th – Boys 15 Years 50m Butterfly

Sam Mapledoram

• 9th – Boys 15 Years 100m Freestyle
• 7th – Boys 15 Years 50m Butterfly

Ryan Mullin

• 7th – Boys 16 Years 400m Freestyle
• 8th – Boys 16 Years 200m Freestyle
• 6th – Boys 16 Years 200m Individual Medley

Nathan Cullen

• 4th – Boys 12 Years 200m Freestyle
• 5th – Boys 12 Years 200m Backstroke
• 4th – Boys 12 Years 50m Freestyle
• 5th – Boys 12 Years 50m Backstroke
• 4th – Boys 12 Years 100m Freestyle
• 7th – Boys 12 Years 400m Freestyle
• 6th – Boys 12 Years 100m Backstroke

Daniel Sadimenko

• 5th – Boys 12 Years 200m Freestyle
• 4th – Boys 12 Years 100m Butterfly
• 6th – Boys 12 Years 200m Backstroke
• 7th – Boys 12 Years 100m Freestyle
• 7th – Boys 12 Years 50m Butterfly
• 4th – Boys 12 Years 100m Backstroke

Thomas Fitzpatrick

• Queensland Champion – Boys 14 Years 200m Backstroke
• Queensland Champion – Boys 14 Years 100m Backstroke
• 4th – Boys 14 Years 50m Backstroke

Joseph Niere

• 7th – Boys 15 Years 200m Backstroke

AIC Swimming Camp

During the final week of the school holidays, 50 boys returned to attend the AIC Swimming Camp, held at the Sunshine Coast Recreation Centre. Throughout the camp, athletes participated in a range of activities designed to build connection, leadership, and a shared understanding of what we want our season and our program to represent.

While the camp was not as physically demanding as in previous years, the focus was on developing strong foundations for the season ahead. The boys were challenged to identify values that will guide not only this season, but future seasons of the program as well. They responded exceptionally well, working together to establish three core values: Courage, Unity, and Performance.

These values are supported by clear standards that will help hold both athletes and coaching staff accountable. This accountability is essential if we are to build a strong, connected, and successful program throughout the year.

At the camp, we were also pleased to announce this year’s Swimming Captains. Congratulations to Archer Mellifont, who has been appointed Team Captain, and Max Russo, who will serve as Vice-Captain.

As is the case every year, selecting captains is never an easy task. Both Archer and Max have consistently stood out through their commitment, leadership, and attitude, and I have no doubt they will be outstanding role models for all our boys, both in and out of the pool.

Swimming will continue this week, and I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone back in the water, as well as welcoming many new faces who are beginning their journey as a Marist man.

Brisbane Swimming Sprint Championships

Over the long weekend, a number of swimmers competed at the Brisbane Swimming Sprint Championships. It was pleasing to see many athletes achieve personal best times early in the season, along with several top-10 finishes.

Congratulations to the following swimmers:

Thomas Bedggood

• Finished 5th in the Boys 15 Years 50m Freestyle

Cooper Donaghy 

• Finished 10th in the Boys 14 Years 50m Butterfly

William Hutchinson

• Finished 6th in the Boys 14 Years 50m Freestyle
• Finished 5th in the Boys 14 Years 50m Breaststroke

Bas Martinuzzi

• Finished 6th in the Boys 17 Years 50m Backstroke

Archer Mellifont

• Finished 4th in the Boys 17 Years 50m Freestyle
• Finished 3rd in the Boys 17 Years 50m Backstroke

Daniel Sadimenko

• Finished 2nd in the Boys 12 Years 50m Backstroke
• Finished 3rd in the Boys 12 Years 50m Butterfly

West District / Regional / State Trials

Swimmers who are aiming to qualify for Regional and State Championships are required to compete at the West District Trials. This applies to students in Years 5 –12.Please note that, unlike previous years where some high school swimmers progressed directly to Met North Trials, all swimmers must compete at West District Trials this year.All district and regional trials will be held at Lawnton Pool. The key dates are as follows:

• Wednesday 18 February – West District Trials
• Monday 2 March – Met North Trials

A nomination link (Below) for West District Trials is provided for those wishing to participate. Please be aware that there are limited entries available per event. Selection will be based on times listed on Swim Results, and swimmers will be notified via email if they have been selected to compete. These nominations will close on Monday 2nd of February at midnight.https://forms.gle/Z3jP3UKLJW6MNYCBA

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 swimming program, including schedules and updates.

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

AFL

Mr Cam Mabey - AFL Coordinator

Training Schedule & Trial Round

This week’s AFL training schedule is attached. A reminder that trainings this week are still under trial conditions. 

Team lists and the match schedule for this Saturday’s trial round will be released on Friday.

Opens team lists and match schedule for Friday afternoon’s trial round will be released on Thursday.

AFL Training Uniform

A reminder that all Secondary grade Boys need to be wearing the correct kit to all trainings: 

AFL Summer Trainings

Over the School Holidays all Boys in Years 9 – 12 were invited to 8 Summer Trainings at the College. With these sessions being based around fitness and agility, well done to all the players put in strong efforts in the hot conditions. 

AFL Holiday Camp

The AFL Holiday Camp took place last Thursday and Friday on the flats. Over 120 Boys took part in the 2-day camp that consisted of AFL skills, drill, games and a swim. The camp was run by the 1stXVIII coach Matt Beattie, and twelve dedicated coaches from MB Sports. 

Club AFL Opportunities

Volleyball

Mr Blair Whitlock - Volleyball Coordinator

Trials Schedule - Week 1

See attached the week one trial schedule. If you are unable to make your trial please let the Volleyball coordinator, Mr Blair Whitlock (whitlockb@marash.qld.edu.au) know as soon as possible. 

Saturday 31 January – Trial Round vs St Edmunds College

The trial round draw will be posted on Parent Orbit this evening and all team lists will be released on Friday morning. The junior matches (Years 7, 8 and 9) will be played at home with the senior matches (Years 10, 11 and 12) away at St Edmunds College.

Volleyball Playing Uniform

The Volleyball playing uniform includes the Yellow Playing Shirt, Blue Sport Shorts and Blue Crew Socks. The uniform shop is open from 7:30am to 4:00pm on Wednesday and Friday this week for anyone needing to purchase any uniform.

Marist Volleyball | Player Registration / Sign On

Please go to Parent Orbit and see information regarding sign on. All students who wish to play Term 1 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 Volleyball program, including schedules and relevant information.

Australian Volleyball Schools Championships

During the summer holidays a team of our senior Volleyballers entered the Australian Volleyball Schools Championships which take place on the Gold Coast and have over 500 teams competing from right across Australia. The boys played strong teams throughout the week and continued to gel and connect as a group leading into the AIC season.

Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Students at National Track and Field Meets

Congratulations to our exceptionally talented Track and Field program for continuing to deliver outstanding results across the school holidays. Our students competed at two national events during this period:

1. National All Schools Track and Field Championships, where students represented their chosen state in events they qualified for against the best young athletes in the country.
2. National Schools Challenge which adopts a school-based, team-focused competition format and rewards depth, consistency and collective performance.

Firstly, congratulations to this exceptionally talented group of Marist students:

• Riley Hansel: 100-200-Relay-High Jump
• Eli Miles: Javelin
• Connor Campbell: 400m-Relay
• Hayden Lockhart: 100-200-Relay-Long Jump
• Ben Flanagan: 800-Relay
• Harry Prole: 800-Relay
• James Milne: Shot Put

This outstanding group of Marist College students deserve immense congratulations for winning the National Intermediate (U15–17) Division, defeating the best school teams from across Australia. This included the 2025 QLD GPS Champions Ipswich Grammar, long-time track rivals Nudgee College, and national track powerhouses such as Trinity Grammar (NSW), Wesley College (VIC), Barker College (NSW) and Caulfield Grammar (VIC).

The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated. Many of these schools fielded exceptionally strong teams made up of athletes who had competed only days earlier at the Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships.

What set this Marist team apart was their commitment and preparation late in 2025. Consistent training attendance, strong engagement with injury load management, competing at Shield meets on weekends, and dedicated relay sessions ensured the team arrived exceptionally well prepared. While many athletes continued to work individually with their personal coaches, there was a shared focus and one clear goal, which was evident in the results on Monday 8 December.

The saying “a champion team will always beat a team of champions” does not always apply in Track and Field, where performance outcomes are often individual and unforgiving. Yet somehow this Marist team found a way to punch above their weight in every event. Although trailing Ipswich Grammar after the opening three events, a strong one-two finish in the 100m by Hayden Lockhart and Riley Hansel shifted momentum. From there, the team maintained their lead through consistent performances across the program, securing the national title before the final relay was even contested.

It is also important to recognise the contribution of our training reserves, who prepared diligently in the event of a late injury prior to competition. Thank you to Hugo Russo (javelin) and Hugo Lockhart (high jump) for their continued support and commitment, ensuring every contingency was covered. Their attitude and readiness reflect the strong culture that underpins our Track and Field program.

Alongside our outstanding students, it is equally important to recognise the strength and support of our coaching group. Our Track and Field Head Coach, Mr Robin Martin, once again led the team with clarity and purpose. Building on his sustained success within the AIC and his previous victory at the 2022 Intermediate National Schools Challenge, this achievement further reinforces why he is regarded as one of the leading school athletics coaches in Australia.

Former Track and Field captain and current Throws coach, Mr Lee Martin, was also an exceptional contributor to the team. From December 2024, Lee worked diligently to assemble this team, sensing there was something special that could replicate the success of his Marist squad that won the Intermediate Teams division in Adelaide in 2022. His enthusiasm, drive and high-quality coaching played a significant role in the team’s success.

Mr Bill Prole, Head of Distance events within our College’s Track and Field program, was another key contributor. His on-site management, organisation and coaching support throughout travel and on the day of competition ensured the experience was both seamless and enjoyable for all involved.

Thanks also to the additional coaching support from Mr Tim Castley, our regular all-rounder (jumps/relays/throws), Ms Jane Scotney (high jump), and Mr Des Davis prior to the carnival.

The full details are outlined in the points table below, however against 11 qualifying schools and with no Marist team member finishing lower than fourth in any heat or event, the win was underpinned by both excellence and consistency. The performance was highlighted by a hat-trick of victories from Hayden Lockhart in the 100m, 200m and Long Jump, complemented by a series of consistent top three and top four finishes from Connor, Eli, James, Harry and Ben. These performances ensured the points continued to accumulate at critical moments, keeping our main rival, Ipswich Grammar, at bay throughout the day. Riley Hansel was also a significant contributor, competing in three events and a relay, matching Hayden stride for stride with top two and three finishes across the program.

Points Table and Qualifying Schools

All results from today are now available at https://www.athletics.com.au/results-records-toplists/results/ (choose Australian Athletics Schools Challenge)

Intermediate Boys Table

1 Marist College Ashgrove, QLD 240

2 Ipswich Grammar School, QLD 219

3 Trinity Grammar School, NSW 199

4 Wesley College, VIC 173

5 Trinity Grammar School, VIC 170

6 Caulfield Grammar, VIC 169

7 Nudgee College, QLD 168

8 Barker College, NSW 137

9 Frankston High School, VIC 119

10 Geelong Grammar, VIC 118

11 Launceston Grammar, TAS 117

Australian Track & Field National Schools Challenge Photos

Marist Athletes Excel at National Championships

The National All Schools Track and Field Championship was held over the four days leading into the National Schools Challenge in Melbourne, Victoria from December 4-7. With the following boys representing Queensland in their chosen Track and Field events, Marist athletes returned with a further four medals, adding to the gold already won by Hugo Lockhart at the Junior (Primary) All Schools Championships held a week earlier in Canberra.

Across the Championship, two additional school records were also broken. Medals from the 2025 National All Schools Track and Field Championships, held at Albert Park, Melbourne.

Representing Queensland in the maroon, the following students delivered outstanding performances:

Dilpreet Sharma won gold in the Under 15 Hammer Throw with a throw of 52.38m and placed fifth in the Discus with 49.24m. Dilpreet continues to develop his technical capability in the hammer, and this personal best performance and gold medal is a strong indicator of his progression. He is coached by Marist Head of Throws, Mr Des Davis.

Lyndon Maynard claimed gold in the Under 18 High Jump, setting a new school record with a clearance of 2.03m. The previous record of 2.00m was held by Rohan Hoffmann (1989). Lyndon’s technical development and ability to focus under pressure were evident, clearing both 2.01m and 2.03m on his first attempts to secure the gold medal against strong competition.

Hayden Lockhart added two bronze medals in the Under 16 Long Jump and Triple Jump, demonstrating outstanding consistency across the jumps events.

These results add to Hugo Lockhart’s gold medal in the 12 Years High Jump at the Junior All Schools Championships held in Canberra the week prior, an achievement previously acknowledged in earlier communications. Together, these performances highlight a very strong national showing from Marist athletes.

Additional excellent performances just outside the medals included:

Harry Prole finished fourth in the 3000m and fifth in the 1500m in challenging and constantly changing conditions. His 1500m time of 4:00.80 is a new school record, bettering his own previous mark of 4:01.05.

Hugo Russo placed eighth in the Under 14 Javelin, competing in his first National Championships. This performance demonstrates that he is already competitive at a national level and well positioned to continue climbing the rankings.

Connor Campbell finished fourth in the demanding 400m hurdles, one of the most technically and physically challenging events on the program. Connor ran strongly through the final stages and narrowly missed a podium finish.

Collectively, these results reflect the quality of preparation, commitment and performance culture within the Marist Track and Field program and the ability of our athletes to perform on the national stage. Congratulations and a big thank you to everyone involved in both programs.

National All Schools Track and Field Championship Photos

Sunday Sessions

For all students wanting to begin their Track and Field training, Mr Rob Martin will continue to run his usual Sunday sessions. 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.

Follow us and stay up-to-date with Marist Track and Field on Instagram - @marist_ashgrove_sports.

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Welcome to 2026

Welcome to the new school year! I hope everyone enjoyed a restful break and is excited for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead at the College.

Although the AIC rugby union competition officially kicks off in Term 2, a significant amount of preparation takes place throughout Term 1. Rugby remains one of the most popular sports at the College, with an impressive thirty-six teams competing each weekend during the Term 2 season in 2025.

Please stay updated by reading the College newsletter and checking the Parent Orbit for key information. The Key Dates Calendar on the app will provide details on training and fixture schedules. Two important dates to mark early in Term 1 are:

1. Rugby Ready Program – A mandatory four session program for all students who wish to play rugby union in 2026. (beginning Week 5 - Monday, 23 February)
2. Referee Ready Program – Open to students and family members interested in becoming referees. (beginning Week 5 - Friday, 27 February)

Looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Marist Rugby Preseason | Years 11 and 12

Please see the information for Week 1, 2 and 3, Term 1 preseason rugby union training in the Parent Orbit.

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.

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

Rugby Ready Program | Year 5-12

Starting in Week 5 (Monday 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 (see photo) and Marist rugby / white or blue sports socks. Boys will also require boots, mouthguard, and a water bottle for each session. Each session will run for 60-70 minutes.

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.

Tennis

Mr Andrew Ward - Director of Tennis

Welcome to 2026! We hope everyone had the chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy a well-earned holiday break.

Summer tennis is in full swing, with the Australian Open once again delivering the drama, the heat, and plenty of late-night matches. We’re all cheering on Alex de Minaur as he takes on Carlos Alcaraz, and keeping everything crossed for our Aussie stars still flying the flag at Melbourne Park. What a summer of tennis it’s been so far!

Closer to home, our own tennis action is about to begin. The coaching term kicks off from Monday, 2 February, with all group classes and squad sessions starting that week. We’ve designed our program to cater for everyone — from beginners picking up a racquet for the first time to advanced players looking to sharpen their competitive edge.

Most importantly, our pathway is about more than just forehands and footwork. Through tennis, students build confidence, resilience, discipline, and self-belief as they continue to grow into young men both on and off the court. We can’t wait to see everyone back on court and ready for another great year of tennis.

Lastly welcome to all the new year 5 students and their families starting their Marist journey. We look forward to working with many of you at the courts as we help sculpt the next generation of tennis players. From all the team, a happy and warm welcome and we are excited  to have you here at Marist.

Super League

Super League action kicks off on Saturday, 7 February, and Marist will be well represented, with six teams taking to the courts in search of silverware. It promises to be a competitive and exciting season, and we’re looking forward to seeing our players represent the Tennis Club with pride, sportsmanship, and plenty of fighting spirit.

Behind every great team is a strong coaching program, and our structure is designed to support players at every stage of their tennis journey. From developing sound fundamentals to preparing athletes for high-level competition, our coaching team works closely with students to help them grow both on and off the court.

We’re excited to welcome a few new faces to our 2026 coaching team, with more details to come in the next edition of the newsletter — watch this space!

Our coaching program continues to grow each year, and as a result, coaching times are now at a premium. If you are looking to book private lessons alongside squad training, we strongly encourage you to get in early to secure a time that works best for you. We will be releasing a small number of additional times this week; however, we are already heavily booked this term — particularly during the 3.30–5.30pm after-school window.

Squads

All squad programs include two squad sessions per week, plus a 30-minute or 1 hour private lesson.

• Squad members may also book a third weekly session, once all students have secured and confirmed their initial two sessions.

Unfortunately, due to limited court availability this term, we are unable to offer unlimited squad sessions.

This option was previously introduced when additional courts were available, and we appreciate your understanding. All extra sessions were free lessons that were not included in any of the term fees.

Squad Class Time Correction

We have identified a typo in the advertised time for the High Performance Squad on Thursday. This session will run from 5.00pm to 6.30pm, not 3.30pm, due to court availability. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Elite Squads

There is no need to book Elite Squad sessions. All training has already been scheduled and is included, running Monday to Thursday, 3.30–5.30pm.

Friday Fixtures

Friday fixtures are free of charge for all squad members and group class students. These sessions provide valuable match experience and run from 3.30–5.30pm.

Exclusive Wilson gear

Off the court, we’re excited to offer access to the latest Wilson gear, including racquets, footwear, and accessories — perfect for anyone looking to start the season with fresh equipment. Exclusive member deals are available to all Marist College Tennis Club members.

Meet the staff

Staff member -  Andrew Ward

Started coaching   - 1990 till present

Qualifications   - Master Club Coach Professional held with Tennis Australia   ( highest coach category )

Favourite player   -   John McEnroe and Roger Federer. Pat Cash for the Aussies.( 1987 Wimbledon winner ) Australian open runner up

Favourite thing to do   -  Fishing in his boat when he gets the chance

Favourite people   -   His wife Julie and their 5 children and two grand children. Loves being Pop and teaching the boys to play tennis.

Favourite food   -   Thai food and good sushi.

Trained under

Geoff Masters  Lv 1    winner of multiple grand slam doubles tournaments.

Rod Frawley     Lv 2     Davis cup member and past Wimbledon semi finalist losing to McEnroe

Achieved his master’s level in 2023 through Tennis Australia held in Melbourne.

Worked with Ray Kelly at Wollongong tennis Centre for 3 years. Ray was the youngest player to represent Australia in the Davis Cup.

He was an Old Boy of Marist College Ashgrove and won the singles championship 5 years straight from Year 7-11.

With these menIn year 12 he was chosen to represent Australia in Davis cup preventing him from winning a record 6 in a row. He still has the record which will take some beating.

We all know about John Eales and Matthew Hayden. Ray Kelly would be up there also as a representative of his country whilst still at school. Remarkable. Yet not many would know his name. Ray was a great bloke and a fantastic mentor for Andrew.

Fun fact he still models teaching the serve from Ray’s service action.

Bookings

For all bookings, equipment advice, or anything tennis-related, please contact our team at mcatennis@marash.qld.edu.au, or feel free to call me directly on 0437 449 523.

See you on the courts!