South West Academy shines brightly on Central Coast

Written on the 3 May 2016 by SWSAS

THE South West Sydney Academy of Sport has returned victorious after a phenomenal weekend of competition on the Central Coast.

The 2016 Clubs NSW Academy Games featured five of its usual sports (Basketball, Netball, Golf, Triathlon and Hockey) as well as using the weekend to showcase the sport of Surfing for potential inclusion into next years games.

It was the Academy's very own boys and girls Basketball team that impressed spectators, as they competed for the first time in the Academy Games basketball competition. 

As day two of competition commenced, the sun shone brightly on the SWSAS Triathlete team as it competed in its second year of Academy Games competition. The team dominated the weekend with young Matilda Offord placing first in the junior girls Aquathon event and Cody Turner placing second in the boys youth event plus, Ella Wooldridge also medaling with a hard fought third place in the youth girls event.

The Academy's two Netball squads also enjoyed success in what was a grueling weekend of tough competition. The division 1 team put in a brilliant overall performance only losing 2 out of their 9 games. Caitlin Porter was in outstanding form, winning the MVP award and merit team status.

The division 2 Girls performance was just as impressive, only dropping 3 out of the 9 games. Olivia Grabowski showed an excellent display of leadership, a trait that earned her the MVP award and merit team status for her division. The team also had the opportunity to showcase its skills in front of a number of supportive and encouraging NSW Swift's players.

Academy Netball Umpire Sarah McNamara shone under pressure and was awarded her National B Badge on the first day of competition.

The Academy's golfers were forced to use every bit of knowledge and talent they had, as they battled their way across 3 difficult courses, namely Shelly Beach, The Springs and Magenta Shores Golf Courses.

Players struggled to overcome the terrain and hot and windy weather conditions during their time slot and finished a creditable 5th place in the team event.

Golfer's Tim Ryan and William Buckley showed that they would be the ones to keep an eye on in future tournaments with both players finishing inside the top 20, out of a field of 58 talented competitors.

It was the boys and girls Hockey teams that brought the weekend's proceedings to a close, at the Wyong hockey fields. Both teams put in a fantastic effort, thrilling the crowd with their speed and quick movement of the ball over the two days of competition.

Aimee Watkins and Matthew Vine were recognised for their efforts by being named in their respective Academy Games merit teams and athletes Keegan Potgieter and Alycia Russell were invited by Hockey NSW to join its elite AAP training program.

Vine said, it was a great honor to be selected as part of the merit team and it shows all the hard work the Academy and its athletes have put in, is recognised by Hockey NSW. 

Academy Executive Director Gerry Knights had the final word saying, the Academy is exceptionally proud of how well each individual athlete performed in their sport and how they represented the Academy and our region so well off the field. I am proud of every one of them he said.