Southern Sports Academy Presentation Night Wrap Up

 

Southern Sports Academy celebrated its 2023/24 cohort at the Rules Club Wagga on Friday 2nd August, attended by over 230 guests. The night was hosted by the engaging Luke Francis from Hit 93.1 The Benchwarmers and brought together athletes, family, friends, and supporters of the academy in a celebration of athlete achievements throughout the year.

As a way of celebrating the success of the Southern Sports Academy over the past year, three current athletes formed part of a Q&A session with emcee Luke Francis, highlighting the outstanding achievements of Sienna Toohey (Regional Australia Bank Future Stars Program- Swimming), Hunter Behnke (QUBE Cycling Program), and Georgie Hayes (Total Ag Solutions Rugby Program). It was a valuable insight for the current cohort, families and the academies supporting partners to the rich talent, and hard work being done by the next generation of elite athletes.

The evening also saw the announcement of the Academy’s inaugural awards. These awards included Squad Athletes of The Year, SSA Athlete of The Year, Para Athlete of the Year, Indigenous Athletes of the year, Coaching Leadership and Excellence, and the prestigious Jenny King Award – Chairpersons Award for Leadership and Excellence. The five Academy wide award winners will be the Southern Sports Academy’s nominations for the subsequent State-wide Regional Academies of Sport Awards to be held in Sydney early 2025.

 

See all award winners below:

Squad Athlete of The Year

Basketball:         Sammantha Kerr & Jez Lashbrook

Cycling:               Hunter Behnke

Future Star:       Sienna Toohey (Swimming)

Golf:                    Oliver Nelson

Hockey:              Gilbert Murrell

Rugby:                Georgie Hayes

Netball:              Kewa Kahuroa

 

Athlete of the Year:

Sienna Toohey – Regional Australia Bank Future Star (Swimming)
This award was selected from those athletes nominated for squad athlete of the year and determined by the athletes’ level of competition, performance, and standard of achievement. There is also consideration to their contribution to broader athlete cohort, e.g., leadership, role modelling etc, and they have demonstrated behaviours that showcase the SSA Academy in a positive manner, such as sportsmanship, fair play, respect, and integrity.

 

 

Para Athlete of the Year:

Jackson Gray – Sureway Employment & Training Para Program (Wheelchair Basketball)
This award was selected from those athletes from the para who have displayed quality in their performance throughout the year and is determined by the athletes’ level of competition, performance, and standard of achievement. There is also consideration to behaviours that showcase the SSA Academy in a positive manner, such as sportsmanship, fair play, respect, and integrity.

 

Indigenous Athlete of the Year:

Jordyn McFadden – Total Ag Solutions Rugby, via the UAA Indigenous TID Program
This award was selected from those Indigenous athletes across all sports who have displayed quality in their performance throughout the year and is determined by the athletes’ level of competition, performance, and standard of achievement.  There is also consideration to their contribution to broader athlete cohort, e.g., leadership, role modelling etc, and they have demonstrated behaviours that showcase the SSA Academy in a positive manner, such as sportsmanship, fair play, respect, and integrity.

 

Coaching Leadership and Excellence:

Andrew Sinclair – UAA Hockey

An award to recognise a coach within the academy’s program who demonstrated an attitude above and beyond, striving for the best out of their athletes, positively representing the academy and displaying initiative to improve their coaching abilities.

 

Jenny King, Chairpersons Award for Leadership and Excellence:

Luke Anderson – Total Ag Solutions Rugby, via the UAA Indigenous TID Program

This award was named in honour of Jenny King, the academy’s first chairperson for an athlete who demonstrates an attitude that anything less than my best is not good enough, desires to achieve in all areas of their life and positively represents the academy. They have also demonstrated the following:

  • behaviours such as sportsmanship, fair play, respect, and integrity
  • Achievements beyond sporting performances, e.g., community involvement/academic achievements.
  • Contribution to broader athlete cohort, e.g., supporting, mentoring, or training younger athletes
  • Displays initiative to improve the standard of their performance and those around them.
  • & an overall hardworking athlete.

 

 

The Academy wishes to thank all sponsors who have supported the programs throughout 2023/24, without their ongoing commitment to the Academy, regional athletes from within our communities would not have the opportunities to achieve in their chosen sporting arena.

Congratulations to not only the winners, but to all Southern Sports Academy athletes. We look forward to watching your continued success wherever it may take you.