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.”
Latest Blog
TGS Mates Program - Character Building Education
Current research into character education has shown that educators should not be focusing solely on preparing students for their Year 12 final exams but should be supporting them to become humans who exhibit good character and virtues to contribute to creating a healthier society (The Jubilee Centre, 2022). The Jubilee Centre, which is attached to the University of Birmingham in the UK, maintains that good character is the foundation for improved attainment, better behaviour, increased…
Our TGS Old Boys' Wall of Achievement
The next time you visit the School grounds, pause for a moment at the Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Wall of Achievement. This concept was the initiative of the then Deputy Headmaster, Mr Roger Buttenshaw, and was supported by the Board of Trustees, Headmasters Mr Hugh Rose and Mr Peter Hauser, and the TGSOBA - Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Association. The opening of the Wall of Achievement took place in 2003. Thousands of TGS Old Boys have gone on to lead productive and valuable…
A Musical Reflection
As Director of Performing Arts, there is perhaps no bigger undertaking than a School musical. It requires an enormous effort from a huge team of teachers and students, and to get all these moving parts heading in the same direction is certainly no mean feat. The 2023 co-production of Footloose was my first time involved in a Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College musical, and I found it to be a very rewarding, though exhausting, experience. The process began in Term 3, 2022, as my…
TGS Success in GPS Sport
In 2023, Toowoomba Grammar School witnessed a remarkable resurgence in several of our sports programs, marking a year of triumph and growth. Although an elusive GPS premiership did not fall our way, a number of our 1st teams competed to the final whistle in Round 9 of their respective competitions, vying for their premierships. The achievements of our boys on the field and court were nothing short of exceptional, reflecting the commitment, dedication and character development that participation…
An Exceptional Learning Experience
As a member of the Junior School Leadership Team at Toowoomba Grammar School, my role involves ensuring that the Junior School’s Teaching and Learning programs are designed, implemented and managed effectively. This role is grounded in the vision, mission, and values of TGS and is crucial in supporting the Head of Junior School and the Director of Studies in providing an exceptional learning experience for our boys. At TGS Junior School, we prioritise the use of explicit teaching to ensure that…
An Inclusive Education
Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to introduce the newest addition to our education team, Amanda Gibson. Amanda commenced in Term 4, 2023 in the pivotal role of Head of Diverse Learners and will bring new direction and focus to the position in alignment with our commitment to inclusive education, aligning seamlessly with our Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the Inclusive Education Policy. “I am very excited about developing this role,” said Amanda. “I have a passion for fostering environments where…
Get Involved in Everything
As Senior Prefect at Toowoomba Grammar School, I have had the opportunity to witness the benefits of being an all-rounder firsthand. With the various activities and programs the School offers, the ability to be involved in as many things as possible is not only enjoyable but brings about numerous benefits that extend far beyond the school years. Ranging from sports to drama and debating, participating in anything the School has to offer is an excellent way to make friends and build networks of…
The Importance of Knowledge
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed traveling great distances. As a child growing up in rural New South Wales, this was inevitable. The region was speckled with towns, some more vibrant than others, and diverse landscapes where hillside ruins whispered tales of bygone eras. Over time, these landscapes and towns transformed into familiar scenes, with even minor changes in the community and environment growing more noticeable during each visit. Education parallels this journey, as…
Senior TGS Students' Advice for Starting Senior School
Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Here are some tips from some Year 7 Grammar boys who started Senior School in 2023. Get involved in different sports and activities Toowoomba Grammar School provides many sports and activities that any student can participate in. As a current Year 7 student, I highly recommend trying out as many different sports and activities as you can. Throughout my first year in high school, I…