QGSSSA Sports & Girls' Activities
I am always very grateful to the numerous people involved in making our program function and achieve the success we are renowned for – parents/guardians, students, staff, supporters, coaches, officials and all other volunteers. Thank you!
I wish all State High families a safe and enjoyable term break. A reminder for students that the school holidays are a good time to improve or maintain your level of fitness and skills. Finding 20 - 30 minutes in your day to practise during the holidays can add up over time and help improve the development of your skills and fitness.
Here is a summary of some more great results we have seen, what has been happening over the past fortnight, as well as what’s coming up in early Term 2.
Over the Past Fortnight
- Swimming – 4th place in the Aggregate Championships. 12 years age group were CHAMPIONS!
- Cricket – Open Premiers and Division 1 Premiers. Well done to our 2nd Open team who played in the top division against other schools’ best sides.
- AFL – Runners up in the Open Division.
- Basketball – Open, 10A, 9A, 8A, 8B, 7A and 7B undefeated.
- Football – Open, Intermediate, Junior A and Junior B undefeated.
- Touch Football – Open, Senior A, 10A, 9B, 8A and 7A undefeated.
- Rowing – Congratulations to our National silver medallist, Chelsea Skipper (Year 11).
- Autumn fixtures – In Round 2 vs St Margaret, we were successful in 15 out of 19 matches with 2 draws.
- Cross Country – We hosted the first QGSSSA Invitation Meet at Yeronga in true cross-country weather with lots of rain!
Special thanks to Mr Damon Giles and Mr Matthew Langmack who took many of our Cross-Country girls and boys on a 3-day camp at the Gold Coast Recreation Precinct.
Congratulations to the following students on their representative selections:
- Australian Cricket – Chelsea Sonter (Year 11) and Aya Stafford (Year 10)
- Australian Rhythmic Gymnastics – Emily Du (Year 10)
- Australian Volleyball – Maeve McCowen (Year 11)
- Queensland Triathlon – Victoria Huang (Year 7)
- Queensland Academy of Sport Football – Rina Ichino (Year 8) and Mackenna Magill (Year 11)
Upcoming in Term 2
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Week 1 |
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Wednesday 23 April |
QGSSSA Cross Country Meet at UQ QGSSSA Autumn Fixtures| Round 4 vs Clayfield College (Home) |
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Week 2 |
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Monday 28 April |
Composite District Cross Country at Fursden Road Playing Fields |
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Wednesday 30 April |
QGSSSA Cross Country Meet at Brisbane Girls Grammar School (Rangakarra) |
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Friday 2 May |
QGSSSA Autumn Fixtures | Round 5 vs Moreton Bay College (Away) |
Athletics Update
Congratulations to all girls who competed at the Queensland Champs during March. There were some excellent performances with numerous athletes qualifying to represent Queensland in Perth in the school holidays.
Gold Medal Winners
Saskia Josipovic – Under 20 Discus (Year 12)
Georgie Burg – Under 17 1500m (Year 10)
Genesis Sa’u – Under 17 Discus (Year 10)
Faith Aghayere – Under 16 Triple Jump (Year 10)
Madden Henry-Purcell – Under 15 Shot Put (Year 9)
Madden Henry-Purcell – Under 15 Discus (Year 9)
Sienna Haynes – Under 13 Long Jump (Year 7)
Ana Hsu – Under 13 100m (Year 7)
Ana Hsu – Under 13 200m (Year 7)
Audrey Goh – Under 13 80m Hurdles (Year 7)
– Mr David Miles | Director of QGSSSA Sports and Girls' Activities
AFL
AFL has kicked off to an amazing start for the senior side of the program with participation higher than ever. Coming from having two senior teams to four has really contributed to the spirit and livelihood of the program and girls sport in general.
It is wonderful to see the uprise of participation, particularly from girls who have never played AFL in the Senior B and Bii teams. It has also been greatly rewarding as a longer-time state high AFL player, to see their progression and enjoyment within their teams.
Across the senior cohort, the rapid improvement in skills and game awareness is very impressive, especially with the limited amount of experience and training that some teams have had. Results are improving across senior teams each week and we are becoming even stronger as a program towards the pointy end of the season which is super exciting for our girls.
Over the course of the season the Opens have had a strong start in working towards securing premiership contention in the final round, only two weeks remaining until they come up against St Peters. The sense of State High pride has been electrifying on the field, showcasing the sheer skill and team dynamic between the girls. The debutants from Year 10 have meshed into Opens level incredibly well, bringing their energy and high-level footy experience, putting an impressive number of goals into the mix. With only three schools left to verse the Opens are hungry for redemption.
The girls who participate at any level, know that the community within BSHS AFL is unlike any other sport and the spirit between and within teams is outstanding. The senior season has set a high precedence for the junior season (in Term 4) including the introduction of merit entries for AFL, which is set to contribute to the exposure of women in sport.
Football
Two weeks ago marked the beginning of QGSSSA football as we took on St. Margaret’s, with impressive performances from all of our teams. Our Open Girls made a strong statement by winning 2-0 and securing the first points of the round, while our Junior A squad demonstrated our school’s prowess and dominance even in the junior divisions.
Beyond the results, the tournament sparked new friendships and a vibrant community spirit in Blue Red Blue, with our Year 7s getting their first taste of competitive play. “I enjoyed every second of the game and can’t wait for what is to come,” said Tori Lawrence, one of our junior players, after a fantastic match. The smiles on every player’s face truly highlighted the camaraderie and passion for both the sport and the team.
Despite the recent wet weather, nothing could dampen our girls’ determination. Monday mornings found our Junior and Intermediate teams gathering in I Block for extra strength and conditioning training—running up the stairs and pushing their limits—while Thursday gym sessions were filled with energy. Although our match against BGGS (Brisbane Girls Grammar) was rained out, both schools shared the spoils with a well-earned point.
As Term 1 draws to a close, the girls continue to train hard as they gear up for our first game in Week 1 against Clayfield. The effort and dedication from everyone shows that our program has never looked stronger. If you’re feeling FOMO or want to get involved, there are still spots available across all levels—from juniors to seniors (Years 7–11). For more information or to join, please get in touch with our coaches or MIC—there’s always room for more talent in our football family.
We would also like to acknowledge Queensland Pelvic Floor Centre for their platinum sponsorship of the program in 2025! This sponsorship has allowed all girls to play for FREE this year!
Zara Moore (Year 11)
Lexi Underhill (Year 9)
Pippa Bromley (Year 9)
Courtney Boyce & Mia O’Kane (2025 Football Captains)
Girls Rowing
Congratulations to the tremendous achievements by BSRA students in Tasmania at the Australian Rowing Championships last week.
The achievements by the girls again highlighted that the BSRA is the best schoolgirl rowing competition in the country, producing more competitive athletes than any other region. Further, the number of alumnae representing in clubs, or as coaches (not fully recognised below) is a testament to the ongoing dedication to the sport and the broader rowing community in Queensland.
- ISWY8+ “Youth Eight”: Sophie Malcolm (BSHS)
Individual Achievements
- Chelsea Skipper (BSHS) U17x Second
- Sophie Malcolm (BSHS) U232x First, U234x First, ISWY8+ Second
Cricket
This season BSHS is celebrating 30 years of girls’ Cricket. This program aims to develop quality players and sportswomen and they have not missed the mark.
This year, the integration of young Year 7s and inexperienced players through teams from division 2 to Open Seconds, has strengthened the community within the program. It has been wonderful to see the older girls step up into leadership roles to guide these girls through the start of their BSHS cricket journeys.
The pride in this 30 year milestone for girls Cricket has been shown in many ways. Last week, the Open First team were presented with their baggy caps that they will wear proudly during their fixtures and hold valuable for their years after State High Cricket.
As well as this, Open Firsts Co-Captain Rebecca Storrs organised the printing of personal ribbons for the entire program (shown in images). It has been wonderful to see these ribbons around the school with girls from all age groups showcasing their spirit toward the program.
The progression of skills and understanding as well as the improvement of results across teams has been amazing to see. The Open First team is undefeated with run totals skyrocketing each week and the open seconds have been continuously working to follow in their footsteps. The Division 1 team is at the top of their ladder and both Division 2 teams closely trail BGGS in a top three position.
Basketball
Our girl's Basketball program has had an outstanding start to the 2025 QGSSSA season, with rounds 1 to 3 showing great promise for the remainder of the season.
Leading the charge, our Opens team remains undefeated with a dominant 3-0 record, winning all games by convincing margins. They aim to maintain this momentum for the remainder of the QGSSSA season and secure the premiership title.
The Senior A team has also had a strong start to the year with a 2-1 record, showcasing impressive skill and determination. Meanwhile, the Senior B team has faced a challenging start with a 0-3 record but continues to improve each game. They’ll be working hard to turn their season around and secure some well-earned victories.
The 10As team has matched the Open’s success, also starting the season undefeated, going 3-0. This highly skilled team features the future stars of Brisbane State High School who will lead our opens team in the near future.
Our 10Bs team, despite a 0-2 record, is making steady progress, learning new skills, and embracing each game with enthusiasm. With their continued development, they’ll be striving to improve their record as the season unfolds.
Overall, it has been a strong start to the QGSSSA season for our senior Basketball players. Each team is focused on improving, securing more wins, and, most importantly, enjoying the games!
The Years 7 to 9 Basketball QGSSSA teams have shown incredible dedication over the first three weeks of the season. Their hard work at training and on game days, supported by our amazing coaches and volunteers, has been outstanding. The Year 7A and 7B teams have had a fantastic start, remaining undefeated in their first season, (3-0 and 2-0). The Year 8 teams have also secured wins across the board for both the teams (3-0 and 1-0), while the Year 9 girls displayed great spirit, with wins for the As (3-0) and a hard-fought match for the Bs (0-1). State High’s culture continues to thrive, as we look forward to the remainder of the season in Term 2.
Sharni Reisinger (Captain) & Isabella Daly (Junior Captain)
Touch Football
We are honoured to be named the 2025 Touch Football Captains! We are so excited for the season this year, with so much talent across the board, and lots of our teams having a great chance at winning the premiership.
After the first round being postponed due to the cyclone, all our teams had a great first game against St Peter’s, with the opens team, alongside many others, securing the win.
We look forward to some more wins ahead, and hope we can rally some support at our games on Friday nights! Thank you!
Jemma Forbes & Alexis Leota (Captains)
Cross Country
Eyes are on the Association Cup….. Can we make it 11 years in a row!
The 2025 Cross Country season is off to a flying start, with our Brisbane State High School athletes showcasing commitment, camaraderie, and competitive spirit in the 26th Edition of The Donnelly Dash which was run on Thursday 20March.
Congratulations to Emily Boyd on winning her first ever Donnelly Dash in a time of 5mins 4secs.
Over the weekend of Friday 28 March to Sunday 30 March, the team attended a high-energy preseason camp at the Gold Coast Recreation Precinct. The weather conditions were not the best, however, the girls completed a parkrun at Varisty Lakes, beach games, high ropes and indoor activities as well as a long run on the Sunday—laying a strong foundation for the season ahead. The atmosphere was one of positivity and purpose, and it’s clear the team’s culture is improving!
Earlier that week, on Tuesday 25 March, Brisbane State High School hosted our annual Cross Country Meet at Yeronga Memorial Park. It was a fantastic afternoon of racing, with our athletes rising to the challenge and producing impressive results:
- 12 Years: 1st – Zoe Raudino and 2nd – Zoe Henderson
- 14 Years: 3rd – Mya Heath
- 15 Years: 1st – Sasha Josipovic and 2nd – Zelmari van Loggerenberg
- 16 Years: 1st – Georgie Burg and 2nd – Emily Boyd
- 17 Years: 3rd – Zara Heath
Congratulations to all competitors for their determination and willingness to run despite the poor weather.
Looking ahead, our next QGSSSA lead-up meet will be held at The University of Queensland on Wednesday 23 April. With strong early-season performances and a solid training base, our team is primed to continue building momentum toward the QGSSSA Championships which will be held at John Paul College on Saturday 24May.
Blue-Red-Blue!
– Mr Damon Giles | MIC QGSSSA Cross Country