The 2022 1st V Basketball squad will be forever etched in the pages of Toowoomba Grammar School history as the first TGS team to win a GPS Basketball Premiership since the competition commenced in 1984.

Head of Basketball, and 1st V Coach, Mr Kabe Cicolini has been instrumental in the growth and success of not just our leading team, but of the TGS Basketball Program as a whole.

Kabe has come from a background of playing GPS sport – cricket, rugby and basketball as a student at Ipswich Grammar School (IGS).

“I’ve had a similar background to most of the boys here,” stated Kabe.

“Sport was everything to me and going to a Grammar School was everything to me, taking advantage of the opportunities given to me.”

His basketball coach was a huge mentor to him, igniting Kabe’s desire to coach and he took up the role at IGS straight out of school before coming to TGS in 2011 as the Sports Officer and running the Basketball Program. A year later he went to Canada to coach College basketball there. Kabe returned to TGS in 2017 as the 1st V Coach and then the Head of Basketball in 2018. He has been steadily building the TGS Basketball Program for the past five years and this year’s GPS Premiership is a culmination of that hard work.

“I am really excited for the boys to get this first Premiership,” said Kabe.

“For me personally, it’s a weird sense of accomplishment and relief; we’ve been toiling away quietly for a long time so it’s great to see the hard work come to fruition.”

Kabe said the TGS team was not the most talented in the GPS competition, but they had common values and expectations; they focussed on a game-by-game scenario rather than becoming overwhelmed by their good results or looking too far ahead.

“We weren’t expecting to achieve as well as we did each week, but the boys kept growing, and as a result we could keep going without putting too much pressure on ourselves,” said Kabe.

“Also, central to winning this Premiership was the fact that this was the first group of boys who have genuinely grown up playing TGS Basketball, with our culture, values and style of play – even though this was the first year these boys had actually played together as a team.”

The Premiership winning match against Gregory Terrace was a nail biter. TGS had a comfortable 14-point lead going into half time (45-31) and were 59-48 coming into the third quarter but GT turned it on with the score 63 all with two minutes remaining and 65 all with two seconds on the clock. Year 10 student, Samuel Geu then had a moment that dreams are made of - he hit the winning shot with just 1.4 seconds remaining!

“I’m immensely proud of the boys,” said Kabe.

“We are so young, so I’m proud of their resilience and ability to achieve what they have already.

“I’m excited for next year too, as we have the same group, so I’m content with what they’ve achieved and I’m ready to move on to the next challenge.”

Kabe loves the fast, dynamic competitiveness of the game, but said the truly unique aspect of coaching GPS Basketball is the “revolving door of boys who you can have an impact on, the chance to shape them into good men.”

“We just get to help kids keep growing and building and achieve their goals – whatever they may be.”

The 1st V 2022 Basketball Premiers are presented their caps by TGS Old Boys' Association representatives, Mark Creedon and Nicholas Hess

Latest Blog

Community Engagement
/
Friday, 09 Feb 2024

The TGS Interact Club - the Reward for Work Well Done

The Interact Club successfully raised over $10,000 last year for charities and services on a local, statewide and international scale through the hard work and commitment of its members. With these funds, the Interact Club has donated Backpack Blankets to Toowoomba's homeless, helped AEIOU's efforts in supporting children with autism, contributed to the "Are You Bogged Mate?" campaign for rural mental health and raised funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. As well as many other individual…

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Thursday, 01 Feb 2024

A Question of Character

In an age bursting with technological innovations and an overwhelming abundance of information, the present era appears to be characterised by a swift and unrelenting pace of change. Our society, young and old alike, finds itself constantly bombarded with provocative and sensationalist narratives. The media floods our consciousness with constant streams of global dilemmas, highlighting the flaws of our leaders, uncovering corporate or political scandals, and bringing conflicts and tragedies…

Read More
Boarding
/
Thursday, 25 Jan 2024

Coping with Homesickness

Homesickness can be brutal for both your son and for parents. As a parent it can feel like your heart is being ripped out in some cases daily. It is extremely hard hearing how sad your boy may sound on the phone, and then you are left reeling for 24 hours until the next call – you are often left worried that they are feeling like this all day. Rest assured only vary rare cases are that bad and in most cases it’s temporary and things usually improve as your son settles in. The reality is that…

Read More
People
/
Friday, 19 Jan 2024

Introducing Gabe Robbie, the new Head of Curriculum

I am excited to be joining the staff here at Toowoomba Grammar School in the role of Head of Curriculum. I grew up in a small coastal town in NSW and attended the University of Sydney to complete my undergraduate degree. Please don’t hold my NSW origin against me (Go Blues!). Teaching, and education, has always been a passion of mine and ever since I was in high school, the plan was to be a teacher. I graduated from the University of Sydney with a double degree in Education and Arts, majoring…

Read More
Old Boys
/
Thursday, 11 Jan 2024

What Old Boys Have Contributed to TGS Over Time

The Old Boys’ Association has played an integral role in the history and tradition of Toowoomba Grammar School. It was formed on December 29, 1888, when 25 Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys met at Long’s Imperial Hotel to create a new society. The Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Association rules were drawn up, and office-bearers elected. The inaugural president was Mr Joesph Vincent Herbert Esq. (TGS 1877-80) From there, the TGSOBA has grown significantly, ensuring that the Blue and Gold…

Read More
Sports & Activities
/
Thursday, 11 Jan 2024

TGS Strength and Conditioning Program

Toowoomba Grammar School has a unique approach to athlete development that focuses on providing students with the skills, tools and mindset required to succeed in sports and life. At TGS, the long-term athlete development (LTAD) philosophy is ingrained in every aspect of the School's approach to sport and fitness. The LTAD philosophy emphasises the importance of age-appropriate training and skill development over a long period of time. This approach recognises that athlete development is a…

Read More
The Arts
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

We Knew Them Before They Were Stars

Our boys at Toowoomba Grammar School are fortunate that Performing Arts is as popular as sport and academics, thanks to our culture of respect and inclusivity. Boys are supported and encouraged to immerse themselves in music, drama and art and are not afraid to chase their dreams in these fields. The success of our performing arts students dates back decades, with our Old Boys performing all around the world in theatre, music, film and photography and are accomplished and well recognised in…

Read More
Boarding
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

Country Roads Take Me Home

Toowoomba Grammar School boarding provides the ideal living environment for our boys while they develop the values that will define their character. Throughout the course of this year, I have been privileged to visit many of the towns and properties that our TGS boarders call home. When walking around those towns wearing a shirt with a TGS crest, it doesn’t take long to meet an Old Boy or to be asked about one of the boarders currently at the School. Our boarding staff pride themselves on…

Read More
Boarding
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

TGS Corfe House - A Home for Young Boarders

In Toowoomba Grammar School’s Boarding Program, Years 5 to 7 students reside at Corfe House – a nurturing environment providing close pastoral support and guidance to the School’s youngest boarders. The skills, relationships and perspectives that boys develop here set them up for the rest of their boarding and school journey. Toowoomba Grammar School understands the challenges for young students transitioning into boarding. Leading the way in creating a ‘home away from home’ is the Corfe House…

Read More