The Gap State High School (SHS) is a fertile ground for exceptional sporting talent, with students achieving remarkable success across various disciplines. From gymnastics to athletics and volleyball, these young athletes are making their mark on national and international stages.
Kaley Croot: A Multifaceted Athletic Prodigy
Year 8 student Kaley Croot boasts an impressive array of athletic accomplishments. A consistent school athletics age champion from 2018 to 2023 and the 2023 Sportsperson of the Year, Croot has excelled in various track and field events. She has claimed first place in the 100m, 200m, and long jump while representing Met North in her age group. Croot secured second place in the 100m and 200m finals at the Queensland School Sport Track and Field State Championships last season.
She has also represented The Gap at the Little Athletics State Championships and Queensland at the National Track & Field Championships, showcasing her speed and agility. Croot’s sporting prowess extends beyond athletics. She has also demonstrated outstanding touch football skills, earning a spot on the Met Northside team that competed at the state championships.
Eli Pullen: Gymnastics Star on the Rise
Year 12 student Eli Pullen is a force to be reckoned with in artistic gymnastics. As a Junior International gymnast, Pullen secured first place at the regionals earlier this year, amassing four gold, one silver, and one bronze medal on individual apparatuses for the Boys Grammar Club.
His achievements extend to the international arena, where he contributed to Australia’s fourth-place finish at the Austrian Future Cup and a triumphant first place at the Olympic Hopes Cup as part of the Junior Australian team.
Harvey Schutte, Nicoleta Kioupelis, and Caitlin Clarke: Volleyball Virtuosos
The Gap SHS also fosters a thriving volleyball programme, with three students participating. Year 12 student Harvey Schutte, a Queensland Academy of Sport Volleyball scholarship holder, has ascended to the Queensland beach team and the Australian Junior Indoor team, which recently toured Thailand. Schutte aspires to play for the Australian Senior Men’s indoor team and pursue volleyball opportunities overseas.
Year 8 talent Nicoleta Kioupelis, emerging from the QAS emerging talent programme, has made the Queensland beach volleyball and indoor state teams. Kioupelis acknowledges The Gap SHS’s instrumental role in nurturing her volleyball journey.
Caitlin Clarke, a Queensland beach representative and Australian Junior Indoor team member who represented Australia at the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship in June, also credits The Gap SHS’s support for her success. She values the school’s volleyball community and aspires to compete for Australia at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics in Beach Volleyball.
The achievements of these remarkable students are evidence of Gap State High School’s commitment to fostering sporting excellence. As they continue to pursue their athletic passions, they inspire their peers and testify to the school’s dedication to providing a supportive environment for young athletes to flourish.
Published Date 19-July-2024
