North Queensland’s most outstanding student athletes of 2025

With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon, this cohort of talented teenagers could be Australia’s next gold medal winners in their respective fields.

Meet North Queensland’s most outstanding student athletes of 2025. Schools are listed alphabetically.

Note: All Townsville region high schools were invited to participate in this celebration of the district’s exceptional student athletes. If your school isn’t represented here, we encourage students and parents to reach out to school leadership about nominating deserving athletes for recognition.

ALL SOULS ST GABRIELS SCHOOL

DARCY CAMERON

Year 11

Cameron was the inter-house and inter-school Age champion at the athletics and cross country carnivals, as well as being awarded Senior Sportsman of the Year for 2025 at All Souls St Gabriels School.

He gained selection in the North Queensland cross country team, and the North Queensland athletics team which competed at the Queensland State Championships in Townsville

MASON STOREY

Year 7

Storey was both the inter-house and inter-school swimming age champion. He won eight events at the inter-school swimming carnival, seven of these in record time.

Subsequently he competed for North Queensland at the State Championships, placing first in the 100m and 200m backstroke, 400m individual medley and third in the 50m backstroke, gaining selection in the Queensland team.

At the National Titles in Ballarat, Storey had a number of personal bests, most notable was his fourth placing in the 100m backstroke and bronze medal in the medley relay.

BOWEN STATE HIGH SCHOOL

REMY HEDGES

Year 12

Hedges represented North Queensland in both cross country and athletics, and she was also a member of the Bowen SHS netball team.

The Senior Sportswoman of the Year was crowned age champion for the Bowen SHS cross country competition, as well as the Olympic Changer Maker award.

LILY MOORE

Year 9

Moore represented North Queensland in squash, volleyball and athletics – where she excels in the 100m dash and long jump events.

She was a member of the Bowen SHS netball and All Schools touch football teams, and was age champion in athletics, making her a deserved recipient of Junior Sportswoman of the Year.

JOEL WALKER

Year 7

Walker represented North Queensland in squash and athletics, and he was a member of the Bowen SHS Aussie rules football team.

Walker was named age champion at the Bowen SHS athletics carnival before he was awarded the Junior Sportsman of the Year award.

CALVARY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

UWEZO LUBENDA

Year 11

Lubenda is currently the fastest 16-year-old in Australia. He has been named athletics age champion for his age group and has featured on the Calvary 100m record sheet every year since he was eight years old.

This year, he broke a longstanding 100m record previously held by Olympian Paul DiBella at the ANQ Championships.

He also represented Northern at the State Championships in Townsville where he continued to break records, running a blistering 10.35 seconds – a new PB.

Lubenda has excelled nationally, winning gold in the U17 100m and the U17 200m at the National Championships in Perth. He was also named the North Queensland Junior Sport Star of the Year and was awarded a $10,000 scholarship through the Aussie Athlete Fund, in partnership with the North Queensland Sports Foundation.

MARIAM HALL

Year 12

Hall has finished her schooling journey at the top of her game. She was awarded overall age champion (open girls cross country and athletics), and was crowned Secondary Senior Female Sportsperson of the Year.

She made selection into the Northern track and field team in her fifth appearance and competed at the State Championships in Townsville, gaining three gold medals in the women’s 18-19 years long jump, triple jump and javelin events.

Hall also represented the Northern region for 16-19 years schoolgirls netball at the State Championships in Brisbane. As team captain, Mariam led the Calvary Vicki Wilson Cup and QISSN netball teams, receiving MVP honours.

Outside of school, she continues to excel in athletics where she is the 2024 North Queensland U20 heptathlon champion.

At the 2025 ANQ Championships, Hall placed first in javelin and second in long jump, triple jump and 100m.

KYRA PAYNE

Year 9

Payne earned overall age champion for both swimming and athletics. She claimed Queen of the Pool at the Calvary swimming carnival and broke five age-group records at the athletics carnival: shot put, discus, triple jump, high jump and 200m.

Payne was selected for the Northern track and field team and competed at the State Championships in Townsville, placing second in 14 years girls javelin.

She also continues to excel outside of school, placing third in javelin at the 2025 Australian National Championships in Perth.

Earlier this year she placed third in the U16 heptathlon, combining the results across seven events, qualifying for the National Championship in Brisbane next year.

MAX REID

Year 7

Reid is a dynamic basketball talent with a passion for the game. This year he was selected for the U12 Northern school team at the State Championships and played in the school’s open boys basketball team, and he competed with the Junior CBSQ team on the Gold Coast.

Reid has also earned selection in the Townsville Heat Division 1 U12 and U14 teams, attended the Next Gen Combined Camp as part of the State Performance Pathways program, and is part of Basketball Queensland’s U13 Futures Program.

THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL OF ST ANNE AND ST JAMES

BRADEN REBGETZ

Year 12

Rebgetz has represented the school in a diverse range of sports and achieved excellent results in all of them. His attitude to training in the school’s rowing program, preparation for the Vicki Wilson netball championships in Brisbane, and track and field field events has been consistently very committed.

Rebgetz is a standout in swimming, athletics, cross country and rowing, while representing Cathedral in netball, cricket and volleyball.

He is a member of the school’s Sports Committee and has been instrumental in ensuring his teammates and younger students have been at training sessions for the sports mentioned above.

Rebgetz’ pride in representing Cathedral has been evident at all the major carnivals and the other sports he has been involved in. He is always respectful of umpire/referee decisions and the first to congratulate opposing teams at the completion of matches/events.

He displays a positive attitude to all his sporting endeavours and is a highly respected student by the entire school community – the staff, his peers, and the students in the younger year levels.

He has been very helpful as a member of the Sports Committee in setting up for interhouse carnivals and also packing up at the completion of carnivals. He was also one of the Cathedral students assisting at the inter-school athletics in our role convening the carnival.

He is a very determined competitor with a very positive attitude to including teammates often with less ability than himself.

LARA BURGERS

Year 9

Burgers is an outstanding sportswoman with an excellent attitude to her sporting endeavours. Her attitude to training for school sporting teams and representative teams is an excellent example to her peers and younger students in the middle school.

She has managed to balance a very busy schedule in multiple sports with her school work and other sporting commitments. Her determined attitude in competitive situations and her appreciation of others as talented or with lesser skills is another fine attribute.

Burgers was selected in the Emerging Matildas squad after she was selected for Queensland Schools U15 football merit team, but she also excelled in water polo and athletics.

She represented Northern in 13-19 year girls water polo, 13-15 year girls football and track and field (although she withdrew due to injury.

She also represented Cathedral in the TSSS water polo competition in the open boys and open girls teams, Townsville Bill Turner Cup football competition boys team, Regional Futsal competition and the Secondary Schools Surf League.

EVAN DIPPENAAR

Year 8

Dippenaar won gold medals at the Queensland State Rowing Championships in the year 8 boys single scull, year 8 boys double scull and year 8 boys quad scull (coxed).

He also took out the 14 year discuss event at the Queensland Schools Track and Field State Championships with a 51.73m throw, and came fifth in the 14 year shot put with a 13.95m throw.

CHARTERS TOWERS STATE HIGH SCHOOL

HEIDI O’KEEFE

Year 10

O’Keefe was named Charters Towers State High School’s 2025 Senior Sportswomen Award Recipient.

She was crowned age champion of the interhouse and inter-school carnivals and MVP of the Charters Towers Netball A-grade women’s competition.

O’Keefe was awarded best and fairest for mixed B-grade Charters Towers touch football, Most Improved Back for the Charters Towers Miners under-17s, and she was selected into the U16 North Queensland United netball team for State Titles.

She is currently trialling for a spot in Sharon Finnan-White’s First Nations Academy of Excellence, and the North Queensland athletics team.

MAX GLENWRIGHT

Year 10

Glenwright was named Charters Towers SHS’s 2025 Senior Sports Men Award recipient.

He was the 2025 age champion for interhouse and inter-school carnivals, and went to the North Queensland athletics championships for athletics, competing in the 100m, 200m and long jump events.

Glenwright also excels away from school, and he was named Best Defender of the under-16s Charters Towers Miners team.

MAGGIE MATTHEWS

Year 8

Matthews was the school’s 2025 Junior Sportswomen Award Recipient.

She was the age champion at the interhouse carnival, Best and Fairest Award winner for the U12-U13s girls Townsville Warriors side, and U12s-U13s Bobbie Hager grand final winner.

McDonald won another grand final with the Warriors in the U14-U16s FQPL A-grade competition and played futsal for the club. Grand Final Winners- Townsville Warriors. Team Member Townsville Warriors Futsal Club,

She went to the North Queensland Championships to compete in the 1500m, 800m events, and finished first in cross country.

CURTIS KLEYN

Year 7

Kleyn was named 2025 Junior Sports Man Award Recipient after being crowned age champion at the interhouse and inter-school carnivals.

KATYA DU TOIT

Year 9

Du Toit was the recipient of Charters Towers State High School’s 2025 Sportsmanship Award.

HEATLEY SECONDARY COLLEGE

THELRINA AKENE

Akene was crowned the interhouse age champion for 16 years girls and was selected to represented Heatley Secondary College at the Red Track, earning the overall age champion for 16 years girls in the C Schools division.

She was selected to represented Northern at the Queensland Track and Field Championships where she placed 10th in the long jump final.

She was also awarded Senior Sportsperson of the Year at Heatley Secondary College for 2025, finishing ahead of a number of student athletes with impressive feats for the sporting year.

IGNATIUS PARK COLLEGE

INDYGO KEIR

Year 12

Keir was named Ignatius Park College’s 2025 Senior Sportsman of the Year.

An elite rugby player, Keir represented North Queensland and Queensland in rugby union and also played for the IPC First XIII rugby league team.

He further showcased his athletic versatility as the champion track and field athlete for Ignatius Park College in its carnival.

NORTHERN BEACHES STATE HIGH SCHOOL

KAYLANI PENNINGSON

Northern Beaches State High School proudly recognises the achievements of this year’s Senior Female Sportsperson of the Year.

Her commitment and determination have been evident through her outstanding performances across multiple sports. In 2025, she was selected for North Queensland teams in both Rugby 7s and Rugby League 7s, showcasing her strength, skill, and versatility.

As an active member of the school’s rugby league program, she has been a role model for younger students and a valued representative of the school.

JACK HEATLIE and GIOVANNI BLACKBURN

Both recipients of Northern Beaches State High School’s Senior Male Sportsperson of the Year have demonstrated exceptional energy, skill, and commitment across multiple sports, particularly in rugby league and touch football.

Their dedication to training, teamwork, and school representation has had a positive impact on their peers and junior athletes, inspiring the next generation of sportspeople.

Through their leadership and passion, they have left a lasting legacy for sport at Northern Beaches SHS.

The pair of standout athletes could not be split, leading to a rare double award for the talented students.

CHLOE BEIMANS

Beimans’ outstanding dedication and achievements across multiple sports highlight her determination, talent, and leadership. She was an active competitor in the school’s swimming, cross country and the athletics programs.

Beimans also went onto the second phase of trials for the girls rugby league team, and she demonstrated initiative and community spirit by assisting at Bluewater State School’s athletics carnival.

In 2025, she represented North Queensland in athletics (track and field.) Her commitment, sportsmanship, and involvement make Beimans a most deserving recipient of Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year.

JOEL KRAUSE

Krause’s outstanding commitment and performance across multiple sports highlight his exceptional talent, resilience and leadership.

He competed for the school in swimming, cross country and athletics, receiving age champion in both cross country and in swimming.

He then went on to achieve second place age champion at the TSSS Dan Gleeson Schools Swimming Carnival.

In 2025, Krause represented North Queensland in Aussie rules football. An active member of the school’s Sports IXL Program, he also assisted students at the Challenge Games, showing compassion and teamwork.

His dedication and sportsmanship make Joel Krause a truly deserving recipient of this award.

RYAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE

ANNIE DIXON

Year 10

Ryan’s Sportswoman of the Year represented Northern in athletics, touch football and hockey, captained multiple state teams, co-captained Australia to a gold medal in hockey, excelled as a tri-rep (swimming, athletics and cross country) and starred in a number of Ryan teams.

A-TAI LI-DOWNIE

Year 10

The college’s Sportsman of the Year was selected in two North Queensland representative teams, earnt two program athlete awards, was crowned age champion at three separate carnivals, excelled as a tri-rep (swimming, athletics and cross country) and represented Ryan Catholic College in multiple sports.

SOUTHERN CROSS CATHOLIC COLLEGE

CATIE

Year 12

Catie was one of Southern Cross Catholic College’s Spirit in Sport Award winners this year. This award recognises students who live the mantra of better people making better Southern Cross athletes … always honouring the jersey they play in and leaving it in a better place.

She has represented the college in touch football, rugby league, rugby union and various other small programs during her time at Southern Cross.

She has also represented the college at every inter-school swimming, cross country and athletics carnival throughout her high school career. In addition to representing the college, she has also represented the Northern region in countless sports such as rugby union, swimming, cross country, track and field and water polo.

RORY

Year 11

Rory was also one of Southern Cross Catholic College’s Spirit in Sport Award winners this year. This award recognises students who live the mantra of better people making better Southern Cross athletes … always honouring the jersey they play in and leaving it in a better place.

Rory has represented the college in cricket and Aussie rules football and various other small programs during his time at Southern Cross. He has also represented the college at countless inter-school carnivals across all three disciplines.

Rory has also represented the Northern region in Cricket and Aussie rules.

ST MARGARET MARY’S COLLEGE

MABATA GAMOGA

Gamoga excels in field and court sports, representing Northern in touch football and netball. This year, she earned MVP recognition on four college sports teams, including rugby league and union teams, showcasing the diversity of her skill set.

TOWNSVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

MAJELLA JEROME

Year 10

Jerome will compete at the Australian All Schools Championships in Melbourne this December in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m mixed relay and javelin events.

She is also a member of Grammar one netball team and the North Queensland United U16 netball team.

She was awarded the Davida Tucker Sportswoman of the Year award for 2025.

LIAM MACKAY

Year 11

Mackay won a swag of medals representing Grammar at the State Rowing Championships in 2025 – a bronze in year 11 pair, silver in the open double, bronze in the open quad, but most notably, bronze in the year 11 single.

He also represented Queensland at the National Pathways Regatta in Sydney in April, and was named Bill Tucker Sportsman of the Year for 2025.

TOWNSVILLE STATE HIGH SCHOOL

ABDINAJIB BUNOW ADEN

Year 12

Bunow Aden graduated at the end of 2025 after a huge year representing Town High on the sporting field.

The talented footballer represented Northern in the World Game, and he also won the Dan Gleeson Age Champion Award for cross country and broke multiple records at the Townsville Secondary School Sport Athletics carnival.

Originally published as North Queensland’s most outstanding student athletes of 2025