The regional play-offs for the Queensland School’s Table Tennis Championships took place last Friday at the Leichhardt Park playing centre, showcasing some outstanding matches. Teams from four participating schools have now qualified for the state finals, which will be held at the prestigious Brisbane stadium on Friday, 29 November. There was strong representation from Rockhampton's Heights College and Gladstone's Faith Baptist Christian School, with both schools featuring prominently during the medal presentations. A total of fifty students of various ages participated in the event.
The open male division saw some fierce competition, with the top teams from Heights College and Rockhampton High School advancing to the final after winning their respective round-robin groups. In the final, Cooper Bulow gave RHS an early lead by defeating Levi Sarin in straight sets, with one set going to deuce. However, Heights’ Judd Carr turned the match around by winning the next two singles, overcoming Jackson Bulow and then Cooper Bulow in straight sets. Carr’s experience, gained through regular coaching and competition at the Rocky Association, was evident. Levi Sarin then secured the gold for Heights College with a victory over Jackson Bulow.
In the bronze medal play-off, Heights College's Andrew Ramm and James Silang triumphed over their schoolmates Joshua Verghese and Christian Alagano. The only loss for the victors came when Verghese edged out Ramm in a deciding set in the opening rubber.
Faith Baptist dominated the female open division, securing both gold and silver medals. Ryza Salutan and Emily Sauvageot narrowly defeated Lola Howells and Alice Falls in the final. In the junior female category, Faith Baptist continued their success, with Scarlett Schluter and Ava Maree taking gold, Ilsje Malherbe and Felicia Salvador earning silver, and Isabella Farr and Grace Siebuhr claiming bronze.
The junior male division featured a dramatic final, where Faith Baptist’s Levi Galea and Eli Noonan narrowly beat Heights College’s Van Ly and Jan Romualdo for the gold. Heights also captured the bronze, with Kade Legros and Justin Steel defeating teammates Cooper Wedel and Nate Benson.
In the youngest age group, the Hopes Division (for players under twelve), some impressive performances were on display. In the decisive round-robin match, Jonah Rees and Elliott Bailey from St Mary’s Catholic Primary in North Rockhampton clinched gold by defeating Faith Baptist’s Isaiah Noonan and Nate Wilson, winning three rubbers to one. The bronze medal went to Faith Baptist's Seth Morgan and Eli Binnie.