From underwater hockey to athletics, our Cape sports stars have covered themselves in glory this year. Check out our top 15 sporting stories for 2025.
15. Cooktown’s Crocs help Queensland chomp down on nationals competition
by Chisa Hasegawa
Members of the Cooktown Crocs Underwater Hockey Club impressed in the pool at the other end of the country when they donned maroon for the 2025 Australian Underwater Hockey National Championships in Ballarat. Photo: Supplied.
After donning green and gold and impressing on the world stage last year, members of the Cooktown Crocs Underwater Hockey Club headed into the 2025 Australian Underwater Hockey National Championships in Ballarat with a newfound confidence.
In total, nine Cooktown players made the trip to Ballarat to don maroon for their state in six divisions.
14. Archie packs passport for football future on UK adventure
by Lyndon Keane
Weipa’s Archie Thomas shows off some of his fancy footwork in the indoor version of the game during last year’s FNQ Futsal Titles in Cairns. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Another member of Weipa’s junior soccer talent pool couldn’t wait to combine playing and watching the game when he packed his passport for a United Kingdom adventure.
Weipa Junior Soccer Club member Archie Thomas, 10, laced up his boots at a trial in front of 30 scouts from professional leagues in the UK.
13. Hope Vale cowboys set for bucking US adventure
by Chisa Hasegawa
Just five months after his first national competition, Hope Vale’s Tyson “TJ” Ford was recruited to represent an Australian team at the World Mini Bull Finals in Utah. Photo: Supplied.
Two young cowboys’ talents took them from Hope Vale to the United States in September after being selected to represent Australia at the World Mini Bull Finals.
Tyson “TJ” Ford, 11, and 13-year-old Kaileb Kyle were recruited for based on their performances over the past 12 months at various events.
12. Eagles soar to claim Thursday Island Crusader Cup clash
by Cape York Weekly
The victorious Eagles from the Tagai State College primary campus show off the spoils of their 2025 NPA and Torres Strait Crusader Cup win. Photo: Supplied.
Skills, speed and steps were on show when more than 80 students from nine local campuses converged on Thursday Island’s Ken Brown Oval for AFL Cape York’s 2025 NPA and Torres Strait Crusader Cup on 28 March.
11. Cooktown athletes show resilience, dedication at state championships
by Chisa Hasegawa
Cooktown’s Isla Winton and Max Giese impressed by both breaking personal bests at the Little Athletics Queensland State Championships in Brisbane. Photo: Supplied.
Two junior Cooktown athletes did themselves and their community proud with strong performances at the Little Athletics Queensland State Championships.
10. Rising AFLW star turns injury setback into lesson on self-care
by Chisa Hasegawa
Despite being just 16, rising Torres Strait AFLW star Mistee Sagigi says she has been able to see the positive side to a temporary injury setback. Photo: Supplied.
An injury setback can be low point in an athlete’s life, but one young rising AFLW star chose to look at it in a positive light.
Thursday Island’s Mistee Sagigi, who plays for the Gold Coast Suns under-17 women’s team, suffered a mild concussion during a match against the Sydney Swans.
Sagigi, who has progressed rapidly in the sport, said she opted to view the injury as a blessing in disguise.
9. New TSRA strategy tackles sports funding
by Paul Roberts
A new long-term game plan to support local ideas and projects for healthy, active communities is now in play. Photo: File.
Sport in the Torres Strait region will deliver a new pro-active approach to showcase its growing commitment to communities in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The targeted strategy will increase sport and recreation activities and ignite health opportunities, according to key players in the plan.
8. Cooktown celebrates first Peninsula medal in pool
by Chisa Hasegawa
Ten-year-old Maiika Hegamaea brought home the bronze from her first swimming state championships. Photo: Supplied.
Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club celebrated its first state championship medal and several personal best performances after members returned triumphant from the 2025 Queensland Representative School Sport Swimming State Championships in late March.
Ten-year-old Maiika Hegamaea brought home bronze in her favourite event, the 200-metre individual medley, at her very first state-level competition.
7. From Weipa to US: Young runner makes giant strides
by Chisa Hasegawa
Weipa-grown runner Bridie Mahr is heading off to the US after being signed to Canisius University in Buffalo, New York. Photo: Supplied.
When Bridie Mahr competed at the Weipa Running Festival, she never thought a Division 1 school in the US was in her future. But she’s now getting ready to run for Canisius University next year.
6. Weipa gymnasts spring to success in Mareeba
by Cape York Weekly
Dana Braun proudly finishes her routine. Photo: Bee Exposed Photography.
Weipa’s gymnasts showed off their prowess on the competitive stage after travelling to the Atherton Tablelands for two days of vaulting, swinging and leaping.
Twenty-six members of the Weipa Gymnastics Club made the 1500-kilometre round trip to test themselves at the Mareeba Country Challenge on 17-18 May, a Gymnastics Australia sanctioned event designed to test their skills against about 300 other gymnasts.
5. Netball’s all smiles as familiar face joins cultural council team
by Paul Roberts
This is about ensuring First Nations voices are at the heart of netball: Liz Ellis. Photo: PCYC Napranum.
Netball Australia’s announcement to establish its First Nations Cultural Council includes a familiar name for Cape York and Torres Strait communities.
The landmark initiative reflects a bold and enduring commitment to First Nations empowerment, cultural safety and systemic reform across the sport.
4. Golden Gloves heading for Weipa trophy cabinet
by Lyndon Keane
Teammates Samson Poi Poi, Billy Reynolds, Rubyn Olsen and Jack Barton fly the Weipa flag at the 2025 Queensland Golden Gloves in Townsville. Photo: Supplied.
Weipa’s credentials as a breeding ground for boxing excellence took centre stage when four young fighters stepped into the ring at the 2025 Queensland Golden Gloves.
Cape York Boxing Weipa teammates Jack Barton, Samson Poi Poi, Rubyn Olsen and Billy Reynolds made the trek to Townsville with coach Scott Wallace and an entourage of supporters to appear on the Townsville card, with the quartet recording a mixed bag of results.
3. Musgrave rolls out AstroTurf welcome mat for Super 8s spectacular
by Lyndon Keane
Members of the Weipa Crocs and Mud Crabs prepare to take to the field to put western Cape York’s cricketing credentials on the line at the Musgrave Super 8s competition. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Had performances with the bat and ball matched the vigour put into sledging opponents and keeping hydrated at Musgrave Roadhouse over the Labour Day long weekend, more than a few players could have expected an Ashes call-up this summer.
Teams from across Cape York and Far North Queensland converged on the historic venue for the annual Super 8s showdown.
2. Aspiring Hope Vale cowboy rides his way to national finals
by Chisa Hasegawa
He may not have many years of experience under his belt, but Hope Vale’s TJ Ford held his own at the ABCRA National Finals in Tamworth. Photo: Supplied.
After just one year of competing seriously, a junior Hope Vale bull rider can now say he has represented his community on the national stage.
Ten-year-old Tyson “TJ” Ford comfortably made his way into the 2024 Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association National Finals Rodeo held in Tamworth on 23-25 January after recording a stellar competitive season travelling across Queensland.
1. Cape, Torres teams prove next generation of AFL in good hands
by Chisa Hasegawa
Under-14 and U17 players represent Cape York and Torres Strait as part of the Gold Coast SUNS North Queensland Academy on the Sunshine Coast. Photo: Supplied.
The next generation of Cape and Torres teenage footy stars took to the big stage in style at this year’s AFL Queensland Under-14 State Academy Carnival.
Eight U14 AFL Cape York players selected to represent North Queensland earlier this year took on teams from across the state, Papua New Guinea and Nauru on the Sunshine Coast from 21-24 September.
