Medals awarded at the Australian Youth Beach Championships
The 2025 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships have come to a close as the rain rolled in at Coolangatta Beach.
In what was a record tournament for entries, with 204 teams competing from six states and territories, finals day awarded medals to teams across 10 categories from Under 14s to Under 18s.
In another year of dominant performances, Queensland took home the President’s trophy for the 11th straight year, including securing 13 podiums out of a possible 30 podiums, four out of 10 gold medals and a clean sweep of the victory dais in the U17 Boys.
The Under 18s Boys title was won by Ethan Grocott and Tom Bergemann, their fourth consecutive gold medal finish at the Youth Championships, winning in a three set thriller over ACT’s Hayden Baker and Levi Beard.
“It feels so good to get the gold medal and go four years in a row,” Ethan said.
“It was the perfect way to finish off our time representing Queensland – the cherry on top.
“The ACT boys were really good competition today, they’re at the Academy down in Canberra so they’re a really strong opponent.”
“I am glad that it wasn’t a two setter, in my opinion it is always more exciting to finish it out in three sets,” Tom said.
“My highlight of the match was definitely making a crazy one arm pickup in the front corner.
“I definitely went in with my legs shaking, the whole game they were shaking, but now I can ease up.”
The U18 Girls final took place on the court adjacent to the boys, making it a hub of activity as both matches pushed through to a third set decider.
Western Australia duo Caitlin Northmore and Kaia Tuuta came out on top of Queensland pair Riley Akanoa and Maeve McCowen, with their WA teammates cheering on.
“We already went into it knowing there’s gonna be a close game and it was point for point,” Caitlin said.
“We were just kind of saying that we’re gonna do good things, and they’re gonna do good things – we just have to brush it off and keep going.
“I’m in grade 12, so there was a little bit more pressure, and I think that’s why I felt a bit more special, and at the end it got me a bit teary, but it was nice.
“The whole tournament has been amazing, and getting to partner with Kaia has been so fun.
“Winning gold last year with a different partner, and then this year with Kaia was so special, and having it be a close game just makes the win sweeter.”
“The support we have for each other is crazy, I support my partner so much, and she supports me back,” said Kaia.
“It was great to have the rest of the WA team cheering us on, WA never lets us down with the cheering.
“It was really nice to have the whole state behind us as usual.”
Their victory was WA’s only gold medal of the Youth Championships with Victoria winning three divisions and NSW two.
2025 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships
24-27 March 2025 | Coolangatta Beach
U18 Girls
Gold: Caitlin Northmore/Kaia Tuuta (WA)
Silver: Riley Akanoa/Maeve McCowen (QLD)
Bronze: James Lycett/Ruby Smith (VIC)
>> MVP: Caitlin Northmore
U18 Boys
Gold: Tom Bergemann/Ethan Grocott (QLD)
Silver: Hayden Baker/Levi Beard (ACT)
Bronze: Chase Paterson/Rayne Richardson (QLD)
>> MVP: Ethan Grocott
U17 Girls
Gold: Madison Kerr/Ava Palser (VIC)
Silver: Ruby Longmuir/Ella McDonell (VIC)
Bronze: Mackenzie Bedford/Sibella Hawkes (NSW)
>> MVP: Madison Kerr
U17 Boys
Gold: Kennedy Evans/Hudson Symes (QLD)
Silver: Lincoln Mowen/Samuel Stumer (QLD)
Bronze: Ryan Edgar/Thomas Turner (QLD)
>> MVP: Hudson Symes
U16 Girls
Gold: Jorja Grocott/Taylah Tulloch-Jeff (QLD)
Silver: Adele Curtis/Mayra Pacioni (VIC)
Bronze: Ellie Turner/Olivia Williams (SA)
>> MVP: Jorja Grocott
U16 Boys
Gold: Arvis Altanshagai/Luca Giddins (NSW)
Silver: Benjamin Kelly/Jye Turner (QLD)
Bronze: Jordan Ferguson/Dexter Sheppard (QLD)
>> MVP: Luca Giddins
U15 Girls
Gold: VIC Eila Dewhurst/Ellie Mellings/Gemma Yong (VIC)
Silver: Alexi Botha/Laura Harcourt/Madison Kelleher/Chloe Tharenou (QLD)
Bronze: Layla Collingridge/Caitlin Fitzgerald/Ava Geronimi/Sienna Russell (SA)
>> MVP: Ellie Mellings
U15 Boys
Gold: Haruto Bennie/Zachary Le/Enrico Viese Vivaldi (NSW)
Silver: Dante Caruso/Tom Ngo/Archie Nguyen/Miller Walsh (SA)
Bronze: Jack Smith/Julian Testa/Bodhi Wyer (QLD)
>> MVP: Zachary Le
U14 Girls
Gold: Greer Famous/Maika Hutton/Nanami Hutton/Victoria Kallis/Katherine Mahon (VIC)
Silver: Amber Barnett/Sophia Chakraborty/Lilianah Hunter/Malika Steytler (SA)
Bronze: Alyssa Mitchell/Gracie Tellerman/Freya King/Kayla Yau (QLD)
>> MVP: Victoria Kallis
U14 Boys
Gold: Christiopher Dallimore/Ryder Shaw/Charlie Turner/Ian Chau (QLD)
Silver: Charlie Evans/Tristian Gaviglio/Ryan To/Rio Ryan (QLD)
Bronze: Isaac Auerbach/Conrad Griffin/Adam Steiner/Rian Strasek (NSW)
>> MVP: Chris Dallimore
President’s Shield
1st Place: Queensland (27 points)
2nd Place: Victoria (14 points)
3rd Place: New South Wales (8 points)
For draw information and results – click here.
Volleyslam 2025 is supported by Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
