2022 Secondary Sports Wrap

While COVID challenges were fewer in 2022, the weather kept everyone on their collective toes sourcing alternative facilities, rescheduling matches or contending with cancellations. Despite the curveballs, St Margaret’s sport continued to thrive in 2022.

Term 1

It was a history making year in QGSSSA with the inaugural launch of the AFL season. The Senior (Years 10 -12) season was played in Term 1 and Years 7 to 9 teams took to the fields in Term 4. Although no premierships were awarded in this inaugural season, highlights of the program included our seniors playing an exhibition round at Metricon stadium, home of the Gold Coast Suns, and our Year 8A team having a particularly strong season on the field.

In a fitting tribute to Head Coach Kev Sargent’s final QGSSSA Swimming Championship, St Margaret’s placed second in the aggregate cup – the best result in over a decade. Thanks for the memories, Kev. Your mantra – It’s a beautiful day and it’s great to be alive – will continue to motivate and inspire Maggies swimmers into the future.

Floods closed Windsor Park in Term 1, so the cricket season got off to a soggy start and a disrupted season; however, the players and coaches of Wilston Norths Junior Cricket Club did all they could to maintain fitness and build their skills, displaying great passion and spirit to enjoy what the season offered.

The St Margaret’s Artistic Gymnastics teams fielded their largest QGSSSA team to date and enjoyed great success in the championships, with all divisions placing in the top four and the Opens, Year 7 and B grade claiming victory.

Secondary water polo fielded 13 teams in the BWPI season in 2022. St Margaret’s introduced two A division teams in the 12s and 13s competition, which finished second and third respectively in the regular season competition. Of the eight teams making the semi-finals, the 16Cs took out the BWPI championship trophy and the 15C Orange team won silver. In the All-Schools’ competition, the 13s team were undefeated, while at the state titles, our 12A team finished top in their division 1 pool to eventually claim bronze.

Term 2

There were some exciting changes to basketball in 2022, including a partnership with Northside Wizards, which resulted in many new opportunities, including new home courts, high level female coaches, skills clinics, and a clear pathway for club or representative programs outside of school. The players also had the chance to attend NBL1 games and watch their role models conquer the court.

COVID and rain plagued the cross country season; however, on competition day the team of 100 runners achieved outstanding results both individually and as a team. St Margaret’s placed fourth in the both the aggregate and percentage cups, with the 15 years age group and Opens finishing second, and the 14 years age group finishing third.

St Margaret’s has a wonderful tradition of lifesaving – in 2021 they brought home the Sheena Dyson Shield for the 22nd year in a row – but the competition was beyond rescue in 2022, with severe weather cancelling the Royal Lifesaving Society School State Championships in May. The season highlights were the increase in girls wanting to be involved in lifesaving and the improvement in the squad’s skills. Bring on 2023!

Like lifesaving, touch football had a record number of over 200 girls signing up to play. Weather robbed the teams of their home fields and several games, but despite this, the players had a highly successful season with the Senior As, Senior Bs, 10Bs, 9Bs, 8Bs and 7Bs placing in the top three and the 9As taking out the premiership. Soccer (football) suffered a similar fate with a shortest season ever played, yet the teams still achieved some great results. St Margaret’s Football continues to thrive under the partnership arrangement with Brisbane City FC, which has provided amazing grounds and facilities, as well as incredible coaches from whom to learn.

Term 3

Hockey fielded three teams in 2022 and enjoyed training twice a week on the Burringbar Park turf fields. The Opens team placed fourth, Senior As placed third, and the Junior As finished sixth.

Like the artistic gymnasts, our rhythmic gymnasts secured some of the best results in the history of the school’s participation in the QGSSSA competition. Podium finishes went to the Year 8 Division 1 (first), B Grade Division (second) and Opens (third) – the best result in the Opens division in St Margaret’s history.

Across Club Netball and QGSSSA Netball the teams enjoyed great success. Read more about both competitions in this issue where we talk to Head of Netball Gayle Coutts on page 49. Likewise on page 48, Head of Rowing Jared Bidwell discusses the trials and eventual triumphs of the 2022 rowing season.

Volleyball participation increased in 2022 and we were able to field six teams. Although new to the sport, the Year 7A team were the standouts, and played some punchy volleyball to place third.

At the QGSSSA Track and Field Championships St Margaret’s athletics team placed fifth in the aggregate cup and second in the percentage cup, with the 13-year-olds winning their age group pennant.

Term 4

In 2022, over 100 players signed up for badminton to represent their school at this special carnival event. St Margaret’s fielded 18 teams across the junior and senior divisions, with the best results coming from our Year 9B team which placed third.

Tennis is played all-year round at St Margaret’s, kicking off with training in Term 1, the St Margaret’s Cup in Term 2, QGSSSA competition in Term 3 and the Knowles Cup in Term 4. The Junior A team placed third in the QG competition.

St Margaret’s fielded a record number of players across many sports in the secondary school, providing outstanding opportunities not only for our most talented athletes but for the many students who just want to enjoy being active and social, learn new skills, and play to the best of their abilities at whatever level.