Centenary State High School Archives

Centenary State’s Teremoana Teremoana Bows Out Against Reigning Olympic Champion

Rising boxing star and Centenary State High School’s Teremoana Teremoana has been eliminated from the Paris Olympics after a closely contested match against defending champion Bakhodir Jalolov of Uzbekistan. The quarter-final bout in the 92kg+ category ended in a 5-0 decision in favour of Jalolov, despite a spirited performance from the Australian.

Read: Centenary State High Alum Teremoana Teremoana Punches His Way to Paris Olympics

Heavyweight match at the North Paris Arena

The quarter-final match saw Teremoana putting up a strong fight against his more experienced opponent. The 26-year-old Queenslander came out aggressively in the opening round, frequently forcing Jalolov against the ropes. However, the judges awarded the first round to the Uzbek boxer in a close decision.

Jalolov gained momentum in the second round with several early hits, though the Australian rallied late. The final round saw Jalolov secure points from all five judges, resulting in a unanimous decision.

Teremoana remains positive

Despite the loss, the boxer maintains his trademark optimism. “I guess it just wasn’t my time to get a medal,” he says. “I know I’ve done my family proud, done my country proud and made a little bit of history along the way.”

He expresses confidence in his abilities, stating, “I still believe I’m the best in the world, and unfortunately it’s not my day today.”

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He plans to enjoy the rest of his Olympic experience before deciding on his future in the sport. He mentions the possibility of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, saying, “I’ve given myself until 2030 to box … so LA possibly because it’s in the time frame, we’ll see how we go.”

Prior to his quarter-final match, Teremoana made history as the first Australian to win an Olympic fight in the super heavyweight division. His round of 16 bout ended with a knockout victory over Ukraine’s Dmytro Lovchynskyi, showcasing his improved performance since their last encounter.

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Teremoana, formerly known as Samson, changed his name to honour his late grandfather. This decision, along with his commitment to not cutting his hair, reflects his strong connection to his Cook Islands heritage.

Published 04-August-2024

Ex-Centenary State High School Student goes for Gold in Paris

Former Centenary State High School student, Teremoana Teremoana Jr is on a mission: to put the name of his late grandfather’s name, Teremoana Tangauru, into the history books. Since he was a kid, he has visualized being on the Olympic podium with the Australian national anthem playing.

It’s not always been a smooth road though, as he quit boxing at the age of 19 because he felt he was missing out on all the social activity his friends were enjoying whilst he was in the gym training.

After a two-year break, his determination to build a legacy in the name of his late grandfather brought him back to the sport.

Teremoana recently won a Super Heavyweight Gold medal in the Pacific Games and defeated Abner Teixeira, the Tokyo Heavyweight Bronze medalist. During the fight, Teremoana delivered a brutal combination to Teixeira, causing the Brazilian to steady himself on the ropes to avoid falling. The referee gave Teixeira a standing count and declared the fight over. Teremoana then performed a Cook Islands Haka and seemed to expend more energy doing so than the brutal KO of his opponent.

Be under no illusion this guy is a very serious boxer!

At Centenary State High, he played volleyball and is remembered for his fearsome hitting in the Open Volleyball team. Another Centenary student, Grant Irvine, represented Australia in the Rio Olympics in the 200m Butterfly.

Weighing in at around 120kg, he may well have a considerable weight and power advantage over many in the 92+ kg Super Heavyweight divison.

His coach, Shara Romer and QAS Strength and Conditioning Coach Patrick Castelli have him well prepared for the journey and Teremoana certainly won’t lack family support.

His mum is Australian and his dad is from the Cook Islands. His dad got Teremoana into boxing at the age of 12 so that he could look after his sisters. He trains at the Boxing Shop in Salisbury and he will embark on his Paris Olympics campaign from Monday 29 July late evening into Tuesday morning Brisbane time. The fight draw and schedule are yet to be set.

There will then be a four-day break before the quarter finals from the early hours to the morning of 3 August with the semi-finals on 8 August and the final on 11 August at 6:51 a.m. Brisbane time.

Let’s hope Teremoana can bring a Gold medal back to Inala where he lives.

Stan Sports will show all 329 events live spread across 40 individual channels.

Published 24-July-2024

Centenary State High Alum Teremoana Teremoana Punches His Way to Paris Olympics

Centenary State High School alum Teremoana Teremoana is now aiming for his Olympic gold, after qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Let’s delve into the remarkable journey of this rising star in Australian boxing, whose path from high school athlete to Olympic hopeful is as inspiring as it is impressive.

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Born Teremoana Junior Teremoana, the 2015 Centenary State High School graduate has deep roots in the Cook Islands, though he was raised in Brisbane. His boxing career began at age 12 when his father introduced him to the sport, initially as a means to protect his sisters.

For a decade, boxing was part of Teremoana’s life, but it wasn’t until a personal tragedy that he fully committed to the sport. The loss of his grandfather, his namesake Teremoana Tangauru, just before his 21st birthday became a turning point.

Teremoana with his grandmother and mother (Photo credit: Boxing Australia/Facebook)

“After I turned 21, I just looked at everything and thought, nah stuff this, I’m going to give it a go, give it a crack, because what can you lose?” Teremoana reflected.

Standing at an imposing 198cm (6’6″) and weighing 122kg, his physical presence is formidable. However, outside the ring, he’s described as quietly spoken and very family-oriented. This gentle giant has proven himself a force to be reckoned with in the boxing world.

In 2023, he claimed the Australian super heavyweight championship. He then secured his Olympic berth at the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, where he remained undefeated and claimed gold in the +92kg category.

Centenary State High School proudly celebrates their alumnus’ achievements, remembering him as a “fearsome ‘hitter'” on the open volleyball team. Now, as Teremoana prepares for the Paris Olympics, his goal is clear: “I don’t want to be good, I want to be great, I want to be the best.”

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This boxing champ from Brisbane is poised to make his mark on the Olympic stage, embodying the spirit of determination that took him from high school sports to the pinnacle of amateur boxing.

Published 2-July-2024

Centenary State High School P&C Presents Reggie Dabbs at CPAC Auditorium

Photo Credit: Reggie Dabbs Inc./ reggiedabbsonline.com

Reggie Dabbs, the renowned American preacher and motivational speaker, will be speaking to the students and families of Centenary State High School as part of the iDECIDE Schools Tour. Organised by the Centenary SHS Parents and Citizens Association (P&C), this out-of-school hours presentation will be held on Tuesday, 30 May 2023.

“The Centenary SHS Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) has supported an approach for an out-of-school hours presentation by Reggie Dabbs, performer and youth motivational speaker. This session will be held after school hours for students and families who wish to attend – 3:30pm on Tuesday 30th May, 2023,” Centenary State High School’s social media post reads.

During his visit to Brisbane, Reggie Dabbs will spend five days, from May 29 to June 2, as part of the iDECIDE Schools Tour.

With a career spanning over two decades, Reggie has consistently inspired students in Australian schools with his unparalleled blend of humour, music, and an awe-inspiring personal journey of resilience. The impact of his presentations is evident as numerous students, year after year, depart from the iDECIDE Tour with a resolute determination to shift their focus from the past and instead embrace the possibilities of transforming their future.

Reggie Dabbs considers himself lucky to be alive, having been born to an unwed teenager. Left with no place to call home, the pregnant teenager found herself taking shelter in a humble chicken coop in Tennessee. When she found out that she was pregnant with her fourth child, she called her 10th grade English teacher, Mrs. Dabbs, to seek help.

Mrs. Dabbs and her husband, whose children were grown, welcomed the girl into their home, providing care throughout her pregnancy. They then became foster parents to the young Reggie until the fourth grade, when they decided to officially adopt him.

Starting from his early days playing the saxophone, a skill he initially disliked but grew to love, Reggie has come a long way. Reggie embarked on his public speaking career after college. During a speaking engagement, he was invited to address a high school assembly, marking the beginning of his journey in 1987.

Reggie Dabbs’ message resonates with students as he addresses important topics with a humorous and relatable style. He emphasises his personal choices of abstaining from smoking, drugs, and alcohol, encouraging students to make similar decisions. Overcoming his own challenges, Reggie has become an in-demand speaker, empowering teenagers to confront and conquer their problems with resilience.

Residing in Ft. Myers, Florida, with his wife Michele and son Dominic, Reggie’s influential speeches empower teenagers globally, inspiring them to face and conquer their challenges with resilience.

Published 28-May-2023

Centenary SHS Girl Representing Australia in Figure Skating Around the World

Photo Credit: ISU Junior Grand Prix/YouTube

It’s a rare sport that Australia doesn’t excel at on the world stage and the nation’s history in Figure Skating has not been stellar. However, since 1952, Australia has had competitors in every Winter Olympics Figure Skating competition apart from four, and 14 out of 18 isn’t bad for the sunburnt country, with Anthony Liu finishing 10th in 2002 and Joanne Carter’s 12th in 1998 being the highlights.

Now, there is a young lady from Centenary State High School tilting at windmills and just like Joanne Carter, she’s competing overseas at a very young age to test herself against the best.

Sienna Kaczmarczyk is 14 years old and currently competing across Europe as the sole Australian representative in some of the biggest junior competitions in the world.

Sienna trains at the prodigious Boondall Figure Skating Club, alongside many other Junior and Adult state champions and national representatives.

Her latest competition was the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Gdansk, Poland.

Her skate in Gdansk was by no means her best but undoubtedly gave her an incredible experience that will help build her international reputation…from Jindalee.

A few weeks earlier, she finished 3rd in Singapore at the SEA Open Trophy.

Centenary State High School’s New Senior Learning Building Nears Completion

The construction of a new Senior Learning Building at the Centenary State High School in Jindalee is almost finished. Soon, this school community will be ready to accept more students as part of the State Government’s 2020 Ready Program.

Situated near the Visual Arts Centre and the tennis courts, the expansion consists of a multi-storey, state of the art technology learning facility with a covered link connecting to the other buildings. This site is going to be an innovative learning space for different subjects of interest to the students.

March 2019
Photo Credit: Centenary State High School/Facebook

May 2019
Photo Credit: Centenary State High School/Facebook

November 2019
Photo Credit: Centenary State High School/Facebook

Queensland’s 2020 Ready Program

Centenary State High School is one of 61 schools across Queensland to receive part of the $250 million funding to deliver more classrooms and better educational infrastructure for 2020.

“Our kids are our future and, as a Government, one of the most important things we can do is give Queensland students a world-class education,” Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad stated when the funding was initially announced in 2018.

“Queensland is a fast-growing State and this investment is about planning for the future.”

New Air Conditioning Units for 2020

In line with the expansion and improvements, Centenary State High School is also one of 300 schools in Queensland to receive funds for air conditioning that will provide for cooler and comfortable classrooms, libraries or staff rooms. The units will be set and ready for the start of the school term in January 2020.

“The majority of Centenary State High School is already air-conditioned thanks to the great work of the P&C and school community. However, there’s still around 14 classrooms that are not. These will be covered as part of our announcement,” Minister for Education MP Grace Grace relayed to concerned parents, teachers and students.