Image: Dual MDSS Sportsperson of the Year Harper Shields and MDSS 13-19yrs Sporting Encouragement Award recipient Kayce Hoani-Vincent display their latest trophies
Outstanding Mercy College athlete Harper Shields has been named the Mackay District School Sport Stuart Jackson Sportsperson of the Year for a second consecutive season.
12-year-old Harper was recognised for his superb feats on the touch football field and received the prestigious trophy from Australian touch football representative Katie Geiger at the recent Awards Ceremony at Magpies Sporting Club.
It was a proud moment for the gifted Shields, who helped Queensland claim a silver medal at the recent SchoolSport Australia Under 12 Touch Football Championships in Wagga.
The classy middle player helped Queensland qualify for the gold medal clash against NSW on a rain-sodden Jubilee Park – with the young Blues edging out the Maroons 4-3 in a thriller.
Receiving the Stuart Jackson Trophy as Mackay District School Sport’s top Sportsperson of the Year for a second time has capped a memorable 2022 for Harper, who is also a promising rugby league fullback with the Wanderers club and emerging all round cricketer for Mackay Brothers and the Mackay-Whitsundays representative team.
Shields earlier captained Capricornia schoolboys to a second successive State Touch Football Championship; Mercy College to the inaugural Fast Four Mackay All Schools Mixed Touch Football Under 13s title and helped the Under 13 Mercy Boys reach the last 16 at the Titans All Schools Championships on the Gold Coast.
Harper also collected the major award in the Touch Football (10-12yrs Boys) category plus a Queensland State representative gold plaque.
Mercy College Sportswoman of the Year Kayce Hoani-Vincent took out the Mackay District School Sport Encouragement Award trophy (13-19yrs) for her magnificent deeds on the squash court and athletics field.
15 year old Kayce represented Queensland and Australia at the annual Trans-Tasman Schools Squash Tri Series Challenge in Brisbane where she remained undefeated in singles matches.
Number one ranked Kayce lined up for her beloved Maroons against the best junior squash players from NSW and New Zealand at the Daisy Hill Squash & Racquet Club complex and posted impressive victories in both singles and doubles formats.
At the end of the Tri Series, the gifted Hoani-Vincent made her international debut in Australian colours as part of a combined Queensland-NSW team and won all her singles matches against the formidable Kiwis.
Kayce demonstrated her versatility by also winning the Pole Vault gold medal in the 16yrs age group at the Queensland Secondary Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane.
She will now represent Queensland at the Australian All Schools Track & Field Championships in Adelaide from Friday December 9 to Sunday December 11.
Promising Holy Spirit College triathlete Cameron Wonnocott received the Amarlie Carroll Sportsperson of the Year trophy (13-19yrs) for his outstanding achievements in 2022.
Emerging hockey midfielder Matthew Davies claimed two major MDSS 10-12yrs Sports Awards for both hockey and tennis.
12-year-old Davies, a Year 7 student at Mercy College, also received a Queensland State representative gold plaque for his efforts with the Maroons at the 10-12yrs School Sport Australia and U/13 Boys National Hockey Championships.
Mercy College student Alexis Sorbello won the major 10-12yrs Netball prize while Cooper Newbery (Cricket), Jacob Durelli (Football) and Angus Barnes (Rugby League) were nominated in their respective sporting categories.
Talented Eimeo Road State School Year 5 athlete Ayla Moon was presented with the Col Webley Encouragement Award for top displays in 10-12yrs Track & Field events.
Queensland State representative gold plaques were awarded to the following St Patrick’s College and Mercy College students:
Charli Bliss (Basketball 16-18yrs); Meghan McCartney (Cricket 16-19yrs Girls); Haiden Mellifont (Hockey 13-19yrs); Kaleb Mayfield (Hockey 16yrs Boys); James Allen (Softball 13-19yrs Boys); Harper Shields (Touch Football 10-12yrs Boys); Matthew Davies (Hockey 10-12yrs Boys); Cohen Jackson (Rugby League 15yrs Boys); Kayce Hoani-Vincent (Squash 10-19yrs; Track & Field 13-19yrs) and Mikayla Webb (Track & Field 13-19yrs).
By Chris Karas
