Young Surf Stars Named Age Champions In Schools Surf League

Mackay students rule the surf and sand after recently being crowned Secondary Schools Surf League champions for 2022.

The Mercy College team of Jack Renehan, Ryan John, Zane Saye, Lars Gall, Zac Johnson, Chase Higgs, Matt Keune (Boys) and Breanna Renehan and Kiera Higgs (Girls) showcased their surf lifesaving skills at Mackay Surf Club in the prestigious schools event to bring home the championship trophy.

For outstanding duo Jack Renehan and 13-year-old Saye there was double reason to celebrate with the pair being named Age Surf Champions in their respective divisions.

Super fit Jack,14, was dominant in the Under 15yrs section – winning the Surf Swim, Iron Man, Flags and Beach Sprint events as well as finishing second on the Board.

The talented Saye won the Iron Man and Board events and finished second in the Surf Swim and Beach Sprint and third in the Flags to clinch the age championship medal.

It was a tremendous team effort from the Mercy College crew who defeated Catherine McAuley College, Holy Spirit College, North Mackay High and Northern Beaches High to claim their first-ever Surf League trophy.

Eight of the nine Mercy team members – Jack and Breanna Renehan; Keira and Chase Higgs; Saye, Gall, Keune and John all hail from the Sarina Surf Lifesaving Club with Zac Johnson the lone Mackay Surf Club representative.

There were sterling contributions from rising swimmer Breanna Renehan and Johnson who finished runners up in the Under 13s Age Championship plus the versatile John, who finished number two behind good mate Jack Renehan in the Under 15 Boys.

The talented trio underlined their depth in the squad with Breanna and Zac both winning the Flags and ultra-competitor Ryan clinching the Board race and grabbing second in the Surf Swim, Iron Man, Flags and Beach Sprint events.

Other team members Keira Higgs (third Under 15yrs Girls); Lars Gall, 15 (third in Flags); Johnson (third Iron Man, third Surf Swim and third Board) and Breanna also dominant in the Iron Man, Surf Swim, Beach Sprint and Board races.

Mercy College also swept the cameron and beach relays to consolidate their number one ranking.

Jack Renehan and John represented Queensland earlier this year at the National Surf Lifesaving Championships at North Kirra on the Gold Coast with Jack achieving a top 20 finish in the Surf Swim.

At the Queensland State Championships at Alexandra Headlands on the Sunshine Coast, the capable Saye finished seventh in the 1km Beach Run.

Breanna and Jack Renehan, Ryan and Zane have all represented Sarina Surf Club and Zac (Mackay Surf Club) at the North Barrier Branch Carnivals in recent years where they have posted impressive victories.

Mercy College team manager Adrianne Mifsud said the students were outstanding ambassadors for the Surf League with an incredible skill set.

By Chris Karas

Triumphant Mercy College team members standing L-R: Keira Higgs, Breanna Renehan, Matt Keune, Adrianne Mifsud (team manager), Lars Gall, Chase Higgs, Jack Renehan, Zane Saye and front Zac Johnson and Ryan John proudly

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