Albury swim star Sienna Toohey after her win in the women’s 100 metres breaststroke at the national selection trials in Adelaide on 10 June, securing her place at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore next month. Photo: NSWIS.

The father of Albury swimming sensation Sienna Toohey has described his daughter as a “champion kid” – in and out of the pool – after her stunning win at the Australian selection trials in Adelaide on 10 June.

The 16-year-old claimed the women’s 100m breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:06.55, securing her spot at the world titles in Singapore next month (27 July to 3 August).

Paris 2024 Olympian Ella Ramsey entered the event as the favourite but was pipped at the post by the Albury Swim Club member.

“She swam beautifully,” said proud dad Damian Toohey, who is the principal at Albury High School.

“She was in good form going in [to the trials], she’s put in a lot of hard work and it’s taken a big commitment – but it’s paid dividends.

“It’s been a great couple of days for her and she got very emotional after that race because it’s just such a massive goal to swim for Australia. When you reach that, it’s almost overwhelming.”

Mr Toohey said Sienna had spent the past six weeks travelling back and forth to Canberra with her mum, Simone, for more intensive training at the AIS’s ACT Performance Hub with head coach Shannon Rollason.

The pair would leave on a Sunday night and return Thursday, in time for Sienna to hand in school work and assignments and reconnect with her family and friends for the weekend, he said.

But it’s been the support of long-term Albury Swim Club coach Wayne Gould, 71, miles upon miles of laps in the local pool, surrounded by an incredible swim “family”, that has helped hone this young superstar’s skills, according to Mr Toohey.

He recalls the early days when the family would head off to the Albury pool on a Friday night with Sienna and her brothers Archie, now 18, and Jed, now 13, in tow.

All keen swimmers, the kids went down the “well-trodden path” from Gould Swim Academy to the Albury Swim Club where Sienna would eventually land with accomplished breaststroke coach Jo Gibbs at the age of nine … and the stage was set.

“Jo always said, ‘Don’t push them too hard too early’,” Mr Toohey recalled.

“We could turn her into an out-and-out champion right now but …

“So Sienna was doing PSSA [Primary Schools Sports Association] events and training three or four times a week – she wasn’t flogged but just developed technique and she loved her swimming.”

Sienna was already winning medals for swimming at state level but at the same time she was also proving a highly talented water polo player, under the tutelage of none other than Wayne’s daughter Kristy, Mr Toohey said.

She played for Albury team Pool Pirates and two years ago made the Australian Under-15 water polo squad.

But there came a time when the “big decision” had to be made, he added.

Sienna came to the attention of former Australian Olympic head swimming coach Leigh Nugent, who worked with Wayne and Sienna and encouraged her at 13 “to have a crack” towards realising her potential.

It’s been an incredible journey of dedication, discipline and determination ever since.

In an interview with the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) after her incredible achievement, Sienna said she was “very happy” with herself.

“I really wanted to make the national team, and I knew that if I didn’t make it in the 100m, I always had the 50m tomorrow,” she said. “But I’m definitely happy that I’ve done it now.”

Sienna has now sealed her place in the Dolphins squad that will compete at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

Her parents revealed they had not quite been prepared for this imminent overseas trip but their daughter was no stranger to international competition, having competed in Japan last year.

“She’s had unbelievable experiences and she has great people around her,” Mr Toohey said.

“There are a lot of people involved in getting Sienna to where she is, and the building blocks Swimming Australia have put in have provided incredible opportunities to get racing experience that build to winning a national-level race.”

Mr Toohey said there was no doubting the calibre of swimmers in the Albury-Wodonga and wider region.

“We are punching above our weight and the swim clubs do a great job,” he said.

“We love our sport on the Border and there are a lot of people putting in a lot of time and effort into training and supporting our kids.

“Sienna is very proud of coming from Albury and it’s a big thing to represent our community.”

For Sienna, it’s been a huge dream to be on the pool deck competing alongside role models she has idolised for many years, according to Mr Toohey.

She had been met with kindness from swimmers who had proven role models both in and out of the pool – “and every part of her said, ‘I want to be part of that’,” he said.

Describing his daughter as a “calm, loving kid who adores her brothers”, Mr Toohey revealed Sienna didn’t mind her downtime at home on the couch.

With a super-close circle of friends at Albury High, she was the type of person who was just as happy cheering on the success of others as she was striving for her own, he said.

But in the pool, this young girl now being hailed as the “future of Australian swimming” is a tenacious competitor.

“Leigh [Nugent] said she swims fearlessly – and I think that says it all,” Mr Toohey said.

USC football landed a massive Father’s Day commitment on Sunday from four-star 2026 Kahuku (Hawaii) linebacker Talanoa Ili, who picked the Trojans over rival UCLA. 

Ili, who played at Orange Lutheran High School in California before transferring to Hawaii for his senior season, recorded 78 tackles with eight tackles for a loss with two forced fumbles and a pass breakup as a junior. You can watch highlights from that season above. 

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Ili is rated the No. 54 overall prospect, the No. 3 linebacker and the No. 1 recruit in Hawaii via the 247Sports rankings. He is the No. 79 overall prospect and the No. 4 linebacker in the 247Sports Composite.

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USC’s 2026 recruiting class is No. 1 in the country with 29 commitments, including two other linebackers: three-star San Bernadino (Calif.) Cajon prospect Taylor Johnson and four-star Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei prospect Shaun Scott. Linebacker is a massive position of need for the Trojans this cycle. 

247Sports Evaluation: 

Ili recently made the move from Southern California to Hawaii and will play his senior year at Island powerhouse Kahuku. Was a three-year starter at Orange Lutheran, one of the state’s top programs and was arguably the best all-around linebacker in the state, regardless of class, as a junior. Offers a ton of positional versatility and is capable of playing all three ‘backer positions and in any type of defensive scheme. Physical enough and has the frame to play inside, athletic enough to cover and play in space and offers pass rush ability as well. A big hitter who loves contact, decisive making reads and can get downhill in a hurry. Fluid in coverage and looks comfortable checking tight ends and even running backs out of the backfield. Plays with suddenness and can explode through gaps and is always in attack mode. Still pretty lean but has the frame to easily add good weight and should play close to 240 pounds or so at the next level. With his all around skill set to go along with his toughness and compete level, Ili has a great chance to be a multi-year starter in college as well and an early impact player.

Virginia high school athletics ranks as one of the greatest heritages in the U.S., producing Hall-of-Fame talents like Moses Malone, Ralph Sampson, Kim Graham-Miller, Bruce Smith, Mia Hamm, and Lawrence Taylor.

Other elite talents like Michael Vick, Justin Verlander, Kam Chancellor, Tisha Waller, and Fran Tarkenton roamed the high school halls of the Old Dominion State.

And while those athletes of yesteryear made their impact, today’s athletes are also keeping Virginia’s high school scene on the map, with the high school setting the scene for the next generation of legends.

Which Virginia high schools are currently the best for athletes?

According to one study, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for “reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school”—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.

25. Lake Braddock Secondary School (Burke)Total number of sports: 2324. Benedictine College Preparatory (Richmond)Total number of sports: 1323. South County High School (Lorton)Total number of sports: 2222. Oscar F. Smith High School (Chesapeake)Total number of sports: 2421. Douglas S. Freeman High School (Richmond)Total number of sports: 2620. Walsingham Academy (Williamsburg)Total number of sports: 1619. Louisa County High SchoolTotal number of sports: 2418. St. Christopher’s School (Richmond)Total number of sports: 1517. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School (Alexandria)Total number of sports: 2416. Auburn High School (Riner)Total number of sports: 2015. James Madison High School (Vienna)Total number of sports: 2414. Highland School (Warrenton)Total number of sports: 2013. Bishop O’Connell High School (Arlington)Total number of sports: 2812. Lafayette High School (Williamsburg)Total number of sports: 2311. Salem High SchoolTotal number of sports: 3610. Blue Ridge School (St. George)Total number of sports: 159. Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg)Total number of sports: 108. E.C. Glass High School (Lynchburg)Total number of sports: 257. Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach)Total number of sports: 236. Norfolk AcademyTotal number of sports: 225. Stone Bridge High School (Ashburn)Total number of sports: 254. St. Catherine’s School (Richmond)Total number of sports: 143. St. Paul VI Catholic High School (Chantilly)Total number of sports: 252. Western Albemarle High School (Crozet)Total number of sports: 231. Woodberry Forest SchoolTotal number of sports: 18Data via Niche survey statistics

GAME 2: AUSTRALIA 19 d ARGENTINA 11

Australia have notched up another win at the Men’s U20 World Championships in Croatia overnight, with a 19-11 victory over Argentina.

The Aussies shot out to an early lead in the first quarter, with two goals to the green and gold while managing to keep their opponents to one.

In the second quarter, the Australians managed five goals with the Argentinians slotting four into the back of the cage.

With the scores standing at 7-5 at half time, the Aussies were eager to up the ante in the second half.

A 6-4 third quarter saw the Aussies extend their lead to 13-9 heading into the last quarter, before a fourth quarter push saw them slot another six goals while keeping their opponents to two, the final score 19-11 in the Aussies favour.

GAME 1: AUSTRALIA 16 d COLOMBIA 11

Australia have opened their U20s World Aquatics Championships campaign with a strong 16-11 win over Colombia in Zagreb, Croatia.

Both teams took a conservative start to the match, working on their combinations to get things moving in the pool. A low scoring affair, Colombia would go on to hold a 2-1 lead at the completion of the first quarter.

That would all change in the second quarter when Australia came out firing with back-to-back goals to Daniel Magasanik and Zac Izzard startle their opponents, heading into the second half with a healthy 7-4 lead over their South American counterparts.

Head Coach Dragan Bakic’s men continued their dominance on the scoreboard in the second half and despite having less shots on goal, the Aussies defence held strong to run out 16-11 victors at fulltime.

Harper Stewart who was awarded Man of the Match, was impressed with his team’s performance.

“We had a really good preparation and it’s exciting. It was good to get those first game jitters out and I think a couple of the players felt the same.”

The team’s focus on building on their performances throughout the tournament was clear post match. As each match is crucial in the lead up to the crossover phase of the tournament.

“I felt like as a team our counter-attack was really good, but we’ve just got to fix a couple things defensively and I think we’ll be good for the rest of the games coming up.”

Australia will shift back into gear this evening when they meet Argentina this at 6:30pm AEST.

AUSTRALIAN 20&U MEN’S DRAW

Sunday 15 June | 6:30pm AEST | Australia v Argentina

Monday 16 June | TBC | TBC

Friday 20 June | TBC | Quarter-Finals

Saturday 21 June | TBC | Semi-Finals

Sunday 22 June | TBC | Finals

AUSTRALIAN 20&U MEN’S TEAM

Sam Bloomfield (Sydney Uni, NSW), Sean Bright (Queensland Thunder, QLD), Ashton Brown (Sydney Uni, NSW), Zac Izzard (Sydney Uni, NSW), Daniel Magasanik (Phoenix, VIC), Jake Martin (Fremantle, SA), Rex Palazzi (Cronulla, NSW), Ethan Payne (Cronulla, NSW), Oliver Purcell (UTS Balmain, NSW), Lewis Saupin (Sydney Uni, NSW), Thomas Serhan (UTS Balmain, NSW), Jamie Sharman (Sydney Uni, NSW), Harper Stewart (UNSW), Harry Tucker (UWA, WA), Cory Webber (Sydney Uni, NSW) Head Coach: Dragan Bakic

Kamaru Usman took advantage of his UFC Fight Night main event with Joaquin Buckley to prove he is still one of the elite welterweights in the world. Usman took a unanimous decision win over Buckley on the strength of his wrestling base in the upset.

From the early rounds, Usman patiently worked to avoid Buckley’s dangerous strikes and pick his moments to drive in for takedowns. Once the fight hit the ground, it was clear Buckley had no defense to what Usman brought to the table.

Usman was able to score the takedown in the first four rounds. Every time the fight hit the ground, Buckley was unable to work back to his feet. Usman worked ground and pound every round, opening cuts over Buckley’s right eye and in his mouth. The fight was never in danger of being finished, but Usman was able to grind out round after round on the strength of his wrestling base.

Buckley finally avoided the takedown in the fifth round, allowing him to get his striking going. But it was too little, too late for Buckley as the former welterweight champion had already build a massive lead on the official scorecards.

After the conclusion of the fifth and final round, Usman was awarded the victory by scores of  49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.

“It feels good. It’s been a while,” Usman said after picking up his first win since losing his welterweight title to Leon Edwards in August 2022. “I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level. You have to pull off the skills and use the experience. I feel good.” 

Usman now moves back into position to attempt to regain the welterweight championship, having lost to Edwards twice before a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in a fight Usman took on 10 days’ notice at middleweight.

“I expected him to be really, really tough, which he was,” Usman said of the fight. “I know what it takes to work and get in here. Thank you to him for bringing everything he brought. I know it’s a running joke for everyone to get on the internet and say, ‘his knees, his knees,’ well shut the f— up.” 

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday, bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC Fight Night below.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

• Kamaru Usman def. Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
• Rose Namajunas def. Miranda Maverick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Petroski via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Raoni Barcelos def. Cody Garbrandt via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Cody Brundage via third-round TKO (punches)
• Alonzo Menifield def. Oumar Sy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig ends in no contest after illegal strike
• Michael Chiesa def. Court McGee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Malcolm Wellmaker def. Kris Moutinho via first-round knockout (punch)
• Jose Ochoa def. Cody Durden via second-round knockout (punch)