New Logan Cup to spark school sporting tradition
A celebration of friendly rivalry, community pride and sporting excellence will have crowds cheering on Thursday 23 April, when Marsden and Mabel Park high schools battle it out to win the inaugural Logan Cup.
Hundreds of high school sports academy athletes from more than 50 teams will compete in a full day of competition across the 5 sports of football (soccer), volleyball, netball, basketball and rugby league, with every match win contributing points towards claiming the overall Logan Cup trophy.
Organisers say the event is designed to unite schools, families and the wider Logan community, with the sports day being free for the public to attend on the grounds of Marsden State High School from 8 am to 5 pm.
Mabel Park State High School Executive Principal Trent Cowley says the event will build on a positive rivalry between the schools.
‘We do have a longstanding rivalry, but it is a friendly rivalry, and I think that’s the best thing – this is something we want to hold annually,’ Mr Cowley says.
Mr Cowley believes the Logan Cup has far-reaching benefits beyond the scoreboard, for both the students and the community.
‘The students will play their hardest and represent their school with pride, and we will be very proud of them, but the winner on the day isn’t really the key thing. I think the winner will be sport and that sense of community,’ Mr Cowley says.
‘And for students to have the freedom to play the sports they love – that sense of belonging – can only help to increase wellbeing.’
Mr Cowley also suggests spectators will have a chance to watch future sports stars in action. ‘We might see some future Firebirds, some future Olympians, and even athletes who go on to the NRL or NBL, so 100 per cent you will see game changers out on those courts and sporting fields.’
‘I also think if the community don’t already know how seriously we take sport for our students and how seriously our staff and our athletes take what they do as part of our sporting excellence programs, they’ll be able to see it on the day.’
Marsden State High School Executive Principal Rick O’Connor says the Logan Cup will only grow the healthy nature of the rivalry that already exists between the 2 schools.
‘Competitiveness on the field is great, and when we walk off the pitch there’s real camaraderie,’ Mr O’Connor says. ‘This concept is something that will just build year to year.’
Marsden SHS’s Sport Excellence Head of Department Jacob Stains says the new sporting event will be exciting from beginning to end, with multiple games running simultaneously and live score updates showing every match win as one point towards winning the Cup.
‘Also, as a community member, you can walk in and see boys and girls sport everywhere you look,’ Mr Stains says.
Logan Mayor Jon Raven, Deputy Mayor Scott Bannon and Councillors Paul Jackson and Mindy Russell are supporting the event.
ABOVE: Cr Mindy Russell of Division 3 where Mabel Park is located, and Cr Paul Jackson of Division 5 where Marsden is located, are both good sports when it comes to supporting friendly competition at the inaugural Logan Cup, to be held at Marsden State High School.
Crs Jackson and Russell are also enjoying some friendly rivalry between the Divisions they represent, and agree the Logan Cup could become a sporting legacy the City of Logan can proudly call its own.
Cr Jackson, who has Marsden in his Division 5, sees the inaugural competition as ‘a great celebration, not just for Mabel Park and Marsden, but of Logan as a sporting city’.
Cr Russell, who has Mabel Park in her Division 3, echoes the sentiment, calling it ‘a city‑changing opportunity’.
‘This is something everybody who lives in Logan will be so excited to come and enjoy and experience,’ Cr Russell says.
Marsden SHS School Captain and Sports Captain Chris Manirakiza believes the community will witness much more than the privilege of seeing one school win the first Logan Cup.
‘It’s a battle between two schools competing to be known as the first ever Logan Cup champions, but with sport, it’s not just a game. I believe it will be a day of honour and respect.’
ABOVE: Student athletes from Marsden and Mabel Park high schools stand with Councillors Mindy Russell and Paul Jackson, holding the Logan Cup trophy up for grabs on 23 April.
Logan Cup event information:
DATE: Thursday 23 April
TIME: 8 am to 5 pm
LOCATION: Marsden State High School, access via Gate 1 pm Moffatt Road, which runs off Muchow Road.
COST: Free
SCHOOLS: Marsden State High School and Mabel Park State High School
SPORTS: Football (soccer), basketball, netball, volleyball, rugby league
YEAR LEVELS: 7 to 12
POINTS SYSTEM: Each match win scores 1 point for the winning school. Scores will be updated live throughout the day and on display at the Centre For Excellence. At the completion of all matches, the school with the highest points score wins the Logan Cup.
PARKING: Street parking, and limited parking available in Marsden State High School car parks.
WHO CAN ATTEND: Parents, friends and all members of the public are invited.
PHOTO AT TOP: Mabel Park State High School Executive Principal Trent Cowley and Marsden State High School Executive Principal Rick O’Connor are looking forward to the big day on 23 April, to determine which school will become the inaugural Logan Cup trophy winner.