Last weekend saw Marist host Villanova College in the trial round. Results across the board were pleasing. The Senior A and Primary teams had good wins in chess on Thursday. In football Marist dominated across the board against Villa, with the 1st XI winning an impressive 8-nil. It was a similar story in rugby where we won the vast majority of matches and the 1st XV won 42-5 in an impressive hit out before round 1.

This weekend we are home to Iona College, with the seniors (Year 9-12) at Ashgrove and the juniors (Year 5-8) at Iona.

Good luck to all teams this weekend!

Concussion

Marist College Ashgrove and the AIC sees student welfare as its highest priority. In the coming weeks I will share more detail on the specifics of the updated concussion policy and processes as the College implements the renewed guidelines in conjunction with the AIC as the competition manager. Head injury and concussion are topical in sport at the moment as sports across the globe deal with this component of athlete welfare.

Concussion is not new, 7 of the 11 men who played in the England 1966 football (soccer) world cup winning team died with dementia, a significantly higher proportion than the average for society. The other concerning issue here is these men would have been highly unlikely to have suffered the significant trauma events we see in high contact sports from things like head high tackles, as soccer players, they are likely to have developed their disease through relatively low impact but repeated blows from heading the soccer ball. This leads to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). It is for this reason we have stand down periods when a player is considered to have suffered a concussion. Scientists believe that the impact of blows to the head are compounding in nature and so a rest period is vital to support the player to recover effectively before putting the player at risk of another blow. This is why the Australian Institute of Sport and most major codes across the country have significant stand down periods and return to play protocols.

Presently the Marist policy is the player who has suffered a suspected concussion is stood down for 20 days post injury and we execute, alongside the families, our Graduated Return to Play (GRTP) process, which, if the student remains symptom free, will see him return to the field 20 days after the initial blow. It is important to note that once a medical practitioner has documented a suspected concussion it is to be treated as a concussion. This cannot be overturned by a GP. We appreciate the support of all our families as we work with you to manage the welfare of our boys and their long-term health.

Study & Play USA

This week we had a presentation from Study & Play USA to interested families. The feedback was that this was well received and so we will look to offer more opportunities in the future. Study & Play USA essentially look to assist high school students in Australia who want to pursue opportunities for sporting and academic scholarships to go to college in the United States. For Marist, we are looking simply to provide information to families to help with decision making and the right process. We will look to have Chris and Alexia out to the college again in the future. Of course, if students want support to pursue going to college in the US through other means we will always support those as best as we can as well. For more details on this go to: https://studyandplayusa.com.au/

Spectating

Boys coming along to watch matches are required to wear their winter uniform. Boys who have played earlier in the day and are staying behind to watch matches are required to change into their winter uniform. All boys should be in correct school uniform.

Team selections- Rugby & Football

I thought it important to share with you the challenge our coaches and co-ordinators are facing in try to organise boys into teams in the short turnaround from term 1. Marist fields between 4 and 8 teams in every year level in rugby and football. This is between 70 and 130 boys to be selected into positions and teams in each sport. This is a huge task for the staff, all of whom are either teachers coaching on top of teaching duties, external coaches with full-time jobs to manage and young old boys with limited coaching experience.

I can assure the Marist community that all our coaches are doing their best to sort out our teams and prepare the players for round 1. Interesting many AIC are still adding and deleting teams from the competition this week, suggesting everyone is in the same position, and we are by far the largest sporting program in the AIC.

Playing Uniform

All players must be in the correct Marist playing uniform for the sport. Other Marist apparel, including training shirts, are not acceptable. The uniform has all items required for sale. If the shop is sold out of a required size please contact the relevant year co-ordinator in advance to request permission to play. Coaches will not let players play in wrong uniform unless approved in advance.

Absences from Training and Matches

When committing to play a sport for a season it is the college expectation that the activity will be given the highest priority. Absences from training and games lets down your coaches, your team mates and your college. From time to time absences are unavoidable with illness and significant family events and we understand these. However, clear communication, with as much notice as possible is required. Boys in Years 8-12 should take responsibility for communicating this themselves by emailing their coach and year co-ordinator explaining why they are absent from training or a game.

Wet Weather Procedure

The college manages our fields. This is different to many club sports, where the local council manages the facilities and are conscious of wear and tear with less resources to manage and more teams using the fields for longer periods of time than schools. Our aim is to train wherever possible and we will only cancel training and games if it is dangerous, such as lightning or water pooling on fields, or if it has been consistently raining and the fields are showing significant wear and tear.

Cancellations are communicated using the college app. It is important that families have notifications turned on to receive notices around changes to training, especially morning sessions where time is of the essence.

Sportsmanship

The mission for the AIC is to 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. It is important that staff, players and spectators are aware of their obligations to maintain a positive environment through healthy friendly competition.

All Marist players and coaches are expected to maintain the values and expectations of the college. This includes but is not limited to:

Following the instructions and decision of officials without question or contempt.
Respecting opponents and officials, and shaking hands at the conclusion of the match, regardless of the result.
Wearing our Marist uniform correctly and with pride.

Operational

Communication, team lists, staff and coach contacts, training times and weekly draws are available on the Orbit App each week. There are clearly some challenges with this change of platform presenting as we bed down the new systems and processes. This app functions significantly differently to the old college app, which functioned well for sport but presented significant challenges for other parts of the college. We are working with the provider and giving them feedback constantly to improve the functionality and usability of the app.

Student Achievements:

Water Polo

Some great news to share, Angus Cope, Dylan Jennison, Joseph Cervetto and former student Sean Bright just played in the Australian Youth Waterpolo championships and won gold in the 18 years boys. They were undefeated in the tournament and won the final 14-8. These 4 boys have played together since u12s and have won the tournament in u12s, u16s and now u18 (covid cancelled u14s). This is an amazing achievement. Well done boys!

Hockey

Congratulations to Damon Johnston, Matthew Alvarez, Alistair Schweitzer and Luke Keir who have all been selected in the Met North 15 Years hockey team to contest the upcoming state championships. We wish the boys well.

Marist basketball Carnival 2025

James Lymer - Coach

The 2025 Marist Basketball Carnival featured 34 teams from Marist schools all over Australia, promoting a spirit of camaraderie and competitive excellence. Marist College, Ashgrove entered the tournament with high hopes and exhibited skill, resilience, and teamwork throughout the event.

MCA set the tone for the tournament with commanding performances in their opening two matches on Day 1, defeating Marist Sion College Warragul 55-35 and St John's College Woodlawn, 81-21. Feeling optimistic, Day 2 presented a tougher challenge, coming up against three of the top nine Marist schools in the country. Being within single digits at the half, Catholic College Sale closed out the second half strong, going down the against the eventual 3rd placed team in the tournament.

Game four would stand as the team’s favourite performance, defeating the 9th place, St Augustine's College Cairns in the closing seconds, 57-53. After a gritty win, three games in one day were felt, coming out flat in the first half and unfortunately going down against Assumption College, Kilmore (finished 5th place).

Day 3 quarter final vs Marist Regional College Burnie was a game the group would love to have back, going down by a small margin to a beatable team. MCA’s defensive urgency was key to the semifinal’s success, with a convincing win against Marist College Bendigo, 52-35. The playoff matchup against Sacred Heart Adelaide was a highly competitive game, with the boys leaving it all out there in the final game of the tournament. With 4 mins left of the game and only 6 points differential, a few more shots dropped to close out the game for the opposition.

Congratulations to MCA on finishing 14th overall, with a 4-4 record against some of the top schools in the nation. After only a short time together as a group, these four days on and off the court proved a valuable experience in preparation for the upcoming AIC and CBSQ campaign in Term 3.

Individual and Team Achievements

Champagnat Medallist: Captain, Isaac Deem, was recognised for best embodying the spirit of Marcellin Champagnat through his leadership and sportsmanship.

Most Valuable Player (MVP): Leo Morris was named team MVP for his consistent high-level performances throughout the Carnival.

Thank you to Assistant Coach and Old Boy, James O’Hara and Manager, Mr John Lambourne for their dedication and support in preparing the teams and invaluable assistance throughout the tournament.

Mr Lymer (1st V Basketball Coach)

Isaac Deem - Captain

On Sunday, 30 March, prior to Week 10 of Term 1, ten boys travelled to Melbourne to compete in the annual Marist Basketball Carnival. In preparation, the team had undertaken four weeks of training. At the outset, relationships within the group varied, with some players having established connections from the previous year’s squad, while others were still developing.

We made a strong start to the tournament, recording two convincing victories on the first day against Marist Sion College (Warragul) and St John's College (Woodlawn). These wins instilled great confidence within the team; however, they may also have led to an underestimation of the challenges ahead.

On the second day, we played three matches. We began with a competitive first half against Catholic College Sale but lost momentum after halftime, allowing our opponents to dominate. The officiating also impacted our performance. Despite this setback, we responded with a narrow four-point victory over St Augustine’s College (Cairns).

Unfortunately, we later suffered a disheartening loss to Assumption College (Kilmore), who eventually finished fifth overall. This defeat was a difficult moment for the team. However, that evening, we regrouped, openly acknowledged our faults, and strengthened our bonds during a team dinner and relaxed activities back at the cabins.

Entering Day 3, our focus was to secure a win in the quarterfinal. However, fatigue and a lack of energy from the preceding two days resulted in a loss to a determined Marist Regional College (Burnie). Nevertheless, the team showed great resilience, rallying to achieve a convincing semi-final victory against Marist College (Bendigo).

Our final match, a playoff for 13th/14th place against Sacred Heart College (Adelaide), was a testament to the team’s spirit. Despite tired legs and fatigue, the boys maintained strong chemistry and pride, remaining competitive until the final minutes. With four minutes remaining, we were within six points but were ultimately unable to close the gap. Despite the result, the boys held their heads high.

Throughout the tournament, glimpses of the team's true potential were evident—at times displaying premiership-level quality. Although the carnival was filled with both highs and lows, it provided invaluable experience and memories that will last a lifetime. The tough competition will serve us well as we move forward into the AIC season.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our parents for their time, financial support, and unwavering encouragement. A special thanks is owed to Mr Lymer, Mr Lambourne, James O’Hara, for the organisation and management of the trip. Your efforts have had a profound impact on all of us, fostering a unique and traditional spirit of mateship and teamwork.

Thank you once again to everyone involved, and congratulations to the boys for their commitment and perseverance throughout the week.

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Marist Rugby Union | Sign On

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

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

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

Rugby Union Training | Wet Weather Plan

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

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

Thank you for your support.

Marist Rugby Union | Training – Term 2

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

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

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

We look forward to an exciting season ahead!

Marist Rugby Union | Trials vs Villanova College

After a disrupted end to Term 1 due to Cyclone Alfred and ongoing wet weather in Week 1, it was wonderful to see all of our teams back playing rugby union. A big thank you to our coordinators and coaches for their work across the week — including Anzac Day — to finalise teams and prepare all our students for the full school trial fixture against Villanova College on Saturday.

Thanks also to our grounds staff, who, in extremely challenging conditions, worked hard to get the fields ready so we could play our games.

Finally, thank you to all of our teams for the manner in which you approached the games. Marist is renowned for our physical attacking rugby, and it was fantastic to see the quality of catch-pass, tackle technique, and other skills transfer so clearly from our Rugby Ready Program.

Marist Rugby Union | Student Expectations

DRESS CODE :

Training

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

Travel

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

Game

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

ATTENDANCE:

Training starts at 6.45am for morning sessions and 3.30pm for afternoon sessions.
On time, in the right gear, ready to train!
Be punctual! Arrive at least 45 minutes prior to games unless your coach says otherwise.
Please DO NOT organise appointments during training times.
It is YOUR responsibility to notify your coach / Year level coordinator in advance if unable to attend a training session.

ATTITUDE and STANDARDS:

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

Marist Rugby Union | Year Level Coordinators

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marist vs Iona College | AIC Round 1

AIC Round 1 starts this week with the majority of our games against Iona College.

Please make sure you check the Parent Orbit and emails for this weekend’s schedule. The Year 9-12 cohorts will play here at Ashgrove whilst the Year 5-8 levels will be away at Iona College. Please note there are some exceptions to this.

Thanks to Mr Matt Millward in the Sports Admin Department for his work in ensuring every student plays a game. The College is scheduled to play against five different schools!

Teams for Round 1 will be announced Friday morning.

Marist Rugby Union | Social Media @marist_ashgrove_rugby

In 2024 the College delivered some wonderful rugby memories through our social media pages. From the smallest bumblebees in Year 5 through to the biggest bumblebees in Year 12, all of it was captured in wonderful colour.

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

Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Track and Field | Sign On

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

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

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

Term 2 | 2025 Interhouse Track and Field Carnival

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

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

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

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

Sunday Sessions | Track and Field Training

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

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

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

Included: Running – sprints and jumps / Throws – early pre-season fitness and cross training, along with throwing. WHEN: Sunday afternoons WHERE: Hayden Oval TIME: 3:15-4:45pm
Dress: Marist sport shirt, Marist sports shorts, white or blue socks.

Marist Track and Field – Social Media

@marist_ashgrove_sports

Marist College has continued to showcase incredible moments in Track and Field again this year, from Year 5 victories to exceptional feats by our Year 12 students, all vividly captured on our social media pages.

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

Tennis

Mr Andrew Ward - Director of Tennis

Term 2 Coaching Classes

All coaching kicked off today for this term.

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

WILSON Tennis Racquet Offer for Members

We have some smashing deals for those looking for a new racquet.

Please enquire via mcatennis@marash.qld.edu.au

These deals are so good we are not allowed to advertise the prices.

Contact Jade or myself to find out more on these members only offers.

First X Squad Training

Training for this squad is on Monday and Wednesday afternoons 3:30-5:00pm.

After our session on Wednesday the squad will be cut to a more manageable size.

If you want to be in it then please be there this week or you will not be considered for this term's training.

This squad is solely for students who think they can make the first or second teams from any year level from Year 7 onwards.

Super and Brisbane League Tennis News

Congratulations to our teams who were able to come back from a holiday break and record solid victories for their teams. Four of our five teams are well inside the top four for their divisions and the other team is 5th.

Marist Tennis is looking good for the play off finals.

Although we have another long weekend coming, matches are on this Saturday.

Term 2

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

Mid-Year Holiday Camp

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

Term 3

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

September Holiday Camp

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

Term 4

Tuesday 7 October – Coaching Resumes (pupil-free day)
Sunday 23 November – Parent-Son Tournament & 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.

Lets train to our best and hope to see you on the courts soon.

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

Welcome back to all our swimmers for Term 2!

It’s been an action-packed start to the term, with plenty of exciting competitions over the break. We’re thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our talented athletes and commend them for their dedication and hard work.

Over the holidays, swimming didn’t stop! The following boys proudly represented the College at the Australian National Age Championships: Thomas Bedggood, Isaac Farrelly, Tomas Fitzpatrick, Oliver Leigh, Noah Magoffin, Sam Mapledoram, Bas Martinuzzi, Josh Mason, Archer Mellifont, Ryan Mullin, Joseph Niere, Nick Osborn, Max Russo, and Jackson Skinner.

A huge congratulations to:

Josh Mason, who finished 2nd in the Boys 16 Years 50m Breaststroke.
Noah Magoffin, who claimed 3rd place in the 400m Freestyle.
Noah Magoffin, again, for breaking Aaron Bourke’s long-standing 200m Freestyle record from 1994!

Well done to all our competitors, particularly those who finished inside the top 20 nationally—a truly outstanding achievement.

Individual Highlights:

Thomas Bedggood (14 Years Boys)

18th – 100m Butterfly
8th – 100m Freestyle
7th – 400m Freestyle
14th – 50m Freestyle
4th – 200m Freestyle

Tomas Fitzpatrick (14 Years Boys)

15th – 200m Backstroke
16th – 100m Backstroke

Noah Magoffin (17 Years Boys)

5th – 200m Freestyle
14th – 100m Butterfly
3rd – 400m Freestyle

Josh Mason (16 Years Boys)

2nd – 50m Breaststroke
9th – 100m Breaststroke

Archer Mellifont (16 Years Boys)

6th – 100m Freestyle

6th – 200m Freestyle
9th – 100m Backstroke
12th – 50m Backstroke
13th – 50m Freestyle
6th – 400m Freestyle

Nick Osborn (14 Years Boys)

14th – 100m Butterfly
12th – 100m Freestyle
12th – 50m Butterfly
16th – 50m Freestyle
19th – 200m Individual Medley
17th – 200m Freestyle

As we move into Term 2, we are excited to announce that our squad programs will now continue year-round! This is a fantastic opportunity for all our swimmers to keep building their skills, with history showing that those who train consistently through winter make incredible progress.

Congratulations once again to all our swimmers on their outstanding performances. Let's carry this momentum into another exciting and successful term of swimming!

If you have any questions or would like to book lessons, please email swim@marash.qld.edu.au

Football

Mr Blair Whitlock – Football Coordinator

After so much rain and disruption it felt like the true start of Football season on Saturday as we had over 30 Marist teams in action. Many of our teams hadn’t been able to train together yet and it was fantastic to see everyone getting stuck in and gelling with their new teammates. While results are just one piece of the puzzle it was a positive sign that 21 of our 28 teams playing Villanova College came away with victories on the day.

AIC Round One will see us taking on Iona College who are traditionally a strong Football program through the grades and will give our boys a good test. Please ensure you are checking your emails & Orbit for this weekends draw and arriving a minimum of 30 minutes prior to your matches scheduled kick off.

A reminder that if you are unable to make your schedule training or match you need to let your year group coordinator know:

Year 5 – Mr Michael Jones (jonesmi@marash.qld.edu.au)
Year 6 – Mrs Rachelle Garton (gartonr@marash.qld.edu.au)
Year 7 – Mr Gareth Kolkenbeck Ruh (kolkenbeckruhg@marash.qld.edu.au)
Year 8 – Mrs Maddie Henry (spannm@marash.qld.edu.au)
Year 9 – Mr Marcus Schrader (schraderm@marash.qld.edu.au)
Year 10 – Mr AJ Gray (graya@marash.qld.edu.au)
Opens – Ms Kathryn Badini (badinik@marash.qld.edu.au)

Foley House News

Mrs Maddie Henry, Pastoral Leader - Foley House