Our Athletes

Tier 1 Athletes

Featured

WEIGHTLIFTING

In August 2024, Gladis claimed the WA State Weightlifting title in her division. In October she went in to become the U15 National Champion in the 81kg+ category.

Ben Blechynden

HOCKEY

Ben is a talented young hockey player with high game IQ and advanced overhead skills. Ben’s greatest sporting achievements was being selected for the U14 Boys’ Gold State Team and winning gold at the tournament in Perth last year.

Imogen Ireland

BASKETBALL

Imogen has been a member of the Basketball WA State Performance Program since 2023, progressing through the U16 and U18 squads. Her dedication and development within these programs have led to the exciting achievement of being named in the 2025 U18 Country Women’s Team.

Edmund Toomey

ORIENTEERING

Edmund is an Orienteering athlete from Albany. He has represented WA in the Orienteering State Schools Team twice, in 2023 and 2024. His best results include placing 1st in the 2023 National Sprint Championships and 2nd in the National Relay.

Ava Marmion

BASKETBALL

Ava Marmion is an aggressive small forward. Her ability to finish from the outside and from the post make her a versatile player. In Albany, Ava plays in Women’s A Grade for Barking Owls and U18 Albany Raiders

Evie Famlonga

HOCKEY

Evie is a strong hockey player who plays a vital defensive role in her teams. Evie reads play well and has a hit bigger than most! In 2023, Evie was selected in the WA State Under 13's hockey team that went to

Teague Valli

CRICKET

Teague Valli is one of the best junior cricket players in Regional WA, a fast bowler and top-order batsman. Last year, he was the only country player chosen for the WACA state U17 academy. Being selected was

Abbey O’Donnell

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Abbey is a mountain biker specialising in the disciplines of Gravity Enduro and Downhill. She has competed at both a State and National level for several years and has acquired an impressive portfolio of

McKinnon Barrett

VOLLEYBALL

Mckinnon is an up-and-coming volleyball star based in Albany. Mckinnon currently plays for ASHS in the Albany Men's Premier League as the team's pass-hitter. Mckinnon was recently selected for the U19

Tatum (Tate) Whalley

BASKETBALL

Tate lives and breathes basketball. She is a strong point player and reliable three-point shooter. Tate currently plays for Albany Raiders U18, Barking Owls A Grade Women’s and Bunbury Slammers Div 2

Ruby Welsh

GYMNASTICS

Ruby is an outstanding and highly accomplished gymnast. Ruby trains at Denmark Gymnastics club and is a part of the WA Gymnastics State Squad. Ruby is currently a level 7 gymnast, whose favourite

Keely Berry

BASKETBALL

Keely Berry is a talented dual-sport athlete excelling in both netball and basketball. Her dedication, skill, and hard work have earned her recognition at both the state and regional levels.

In netball, Keely achieved a massive milestone by being selected for the 2025 U17 State Netball Team. The first Great Southern Athlete to do so in 14 years.

Oliver & Riley Marsh

SOCCER

The Marsh twins have been a dominant force in the Great Southern soccer scene for many years and are recognised as up and coming talent by Football West.

Emily Gadean

NETBALL

Emily is a sharp shooter who aims to once again represent WA later this year in the Under 19s State Team, and hopes to one day take her game to the national stage. Congratulations Em!

Kaleb Glas

SWIMMING

Kaleb Glas who has been selected in the SSWA 13-19yrs Interstate Team! His inclusion in the team was made after he claimed 3 silvers and 1 bronze at the recent Junior State Swimming Championships

Zoe Mills

HOCKEY

Zoe is a passionate hockey player and this year is playing in 3 local teams, coaching and umpiring. The clubs she plays for are Spencer Park and Manypeaks. Zoe is also a part of the LGSHA representative

Mason Watkins

ATHLETICS

Masons' main sport is Athletics, specialising in Triple Jump. He performs well in all three jumps – triple, long and high. He also enjoys sprints and middle-distance running. Mason is also very passionate

Isi Campbell

SURFING

Isi has won numerous state and national titles from a young age, often competing out of her age group. In 2022 she won WA Junior Surfer of the Year and collected the Under-18 Girls State Championship Title.

Ginger Gleeson

TRACK & FIELD

Ginger is a track and field athlete specialising in the 400m and 800m, running for both Albany Little Athletics Club and Albany Athletics Club. She is the current WA State All Schools title holder in the U15 800m.

Tier 2 Athletes

Featured

Mitch Pike

HOCKEY

Mitch is dynamic mid field hockey player whose athleticism is rarely matched. In 2024 he was selected to represent WA at the All-School State Championships and in the Griffin Cup.

Declan Poett

MOUNTAIN BIKE

Declan Poett is a 16-year-old downhill mountain bike rider from Albany, Western Australia. He has been actively competing in the Western Australian downhill mountain biking scene since at least 2020, when he won the under-15 category in the third round of the WA Downhill Series.

In 2024, Declan continued to showcase his talent by winning the under-19 division at the Peel Districts Mountain Bike Club's Round 6 event, held at Tom's Crossing.

Sophie Panizza

NETBALL

In 2024, Sophie was selected for the Netball WA Fever in Time Program. She was chosen to compete in the State Cup and played a key role in her teams A Division Grand Final win. As a result of her strong performance, she was chosen to represent the Western Roar in the upcoming WANL futures program.

Esme MacDonald

AFLW

Esme is an athletic and strong AFLW player, who takes every opportunity available to her, playing in both male dominated and female leagues. Esme’s skill has not gone unnoticed, and Esme has played a practice match with Claremont Under 16’s.

Amelia McDonald

EQUESTRIAN

Amelia is a talented young dressage rider who has trained her horse, Springwater Chanel, from Preliminary to Elementary and is now progressing to Medium level movements. She has represented WA at the Australian Interschool Equestrian Championships, placing 5th at the 2023 event, and was also selected to compete in the Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Show.

Henri Bellanger

SAILING

Henri Bellanger, a 16-year-old high-performance catamaran sailor from Denmark, has been sailing competitively since the age of 10. His first experience at the state championships was alongside his dad, marking the beginning of an impressive journey in the sport.

Henri has just been selected in Sailing Australia’s 2025 National Youth Squad.

Lucy Newton

TRACK & FIELD

Lucy Newton is a powerhouse sprinter, specializing in the 100m and 200m events. Running with Albany Little Athletics, Lucy has consistently excelled at the Country Championships, achieving notable success year after year. She has built momentum, finishing in the top 8 at the state level, and now sets her sights on competing at the national level.

Harrison Beres

MOTORSPORT

Harrison is the current SSA Junior Sedan National Champion, having claimed the prestigious title at Kingaroy Speedway in January 2025. He made history as the first driver from the Great Southern to ever win this championship.

Maddison Manolini

EQUESTRIAN

Maddison has competed at state events annually since 2016, earning numerous titles, high-point awards, and team and individual victories. A two-time national competitor (2021 & 2023), she played a key role in her team’s high point novice junior team victory at the 2023 Nationals.

PG Van Wyk

ATHLETICS

Another outstanding runner has joined the academy, PG van Wyk. PG is Albany based and runs the 1500m, 800m and 400m competitively, being selected in the State Junior Athletics Development Squad in

Sophia Riddell

SWIMMING

Sophia is a dedicated young swimming who competes in long course, short course and open water events. Her strongest events are the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke. Sophia is based in Albany and is a