All 26 finalists selected for this year’s SA School Sports Awards
Nominations are closed and the countdown to SA’s 2023 School Sports Awards is on. Here are the young guns who have made the final cut.
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The nominations are in and the finalists have been selected for The Advertiser, Sunday Mail and Department for Education School Sports Awards 2023.
All 26 finalists in individual primary, secondary, officials and teams sections are listed below.
Winners and runners-up will be announced at Keith Murdoch House on Wednesday, November 22.
INDIVIDUAL PRIMARY SECTION
MADISON MEEK
Mawson Lakes School, various sports
A star in athletics and football, Meek has been a rising young star in SA sport in recent years.
The 12-year-old young gun was a key part of the U12 SA footy team which competed at the national championships in Albury, NSW and won bronze.
Meek has also excelled in a number of athletic events, winning gold in high jump and bronze in long jump at the State Individual Championships.
ARCHER BERMINGHAM
Prince Alfred College, various sports
Another young gun with the talent for a number of sports.
Bermingham was a representative in three national U12 teams through 2023, including the SA boys footy side, the inaugural boys netball team and the state swimming team.
He swam personal bests in both the 50m breaststroke and 200m individual medley at the national school sport swim meet, finished as a silver medallist with the U12 state football team and won bronze with the netball side at the national championships.
MIA STAYKOV
Thorndon Park Primary School, soccer
After just one year of competition in soccer, Staykov has become one of South Australia’s top young goalkeepers.
The star 12-year-old has shown impressive natural talent in the position, performing consistently for SA’s U12 girls team at the national championships and also as part of Football SA’s u13 girls team.
She also received MVP for her futsal side this year.
KEITH WONG
Linden Park Primary School, badminton
A fast rising star in SA’s badminton scene, Wong won multiple state and national titles in the sport this year.
A skilled and exciting player, the 12-year-old prospect was a representative of SA’s U13 and U15 teams after winning six state titles in singles and doubles events, and also finishing runner-up in the 2023 SA U17 boys singles.
Wong also experienced success at the national level, winning the national U13 boys doubles, finishing as a semi-finalist in the U13 boys singles and as a quarter-finalist in the U13 mixed doubles.
BILLY WHITE
Prince Alfred College, golf
State champion at the U12 and U14 level in golf this year, White has well and truly put himself on the map.
Boasting a handicap of 6.5 at the Royal Adelaide and Grange golf clubs and often playing as a number one, White finished top 10 in the 11/12 age division and top four in the 10/11 age division. of the Australian Junior Age Championships.
He was also selected as part of the Australian junior team which travelled to New Zealand to compete in the trans-Tasman Cup.
EMILY MARTIN
Paringa Park Primary School, football and netball
A star player at state and national level in multiple sports this year.
A versatile and reliable netballer, Martin was selected for the School Sport SA U12 girls SA team for this year’s nationals held in Perth.
She was also an important part of the U12 girls football side which competed at the national championships in New South Wales.
NAHLA SALLEY
Henley Beach Primary School, tennis
One of the highest ranked tennis players in SA at the U12 level, Salley’s achievements in the sport throughout 2023 have been major.
The 12-year-old was one of only eight girls nationally to be invited to an exclusive 2023 Australian open camp after her impressive performances which included success for SA at nationals as the highest ranked U11 Oceania player earlier this year.
She won direct entry into the Australian hardcourt U12 nationals and also earned a Masters academy invite.
JOSEPHINE DODD
Augusta Park Primary School, various sports
A star basketballer who has also experiences success in athletics, netball and football, Dodd’s list of achievements in 2023 is endless.
Dodd was one of the top performers in SAPSASA football and netball carnivals this year, leading her football side to a tournament win and her netball side to a one-goal loss in the grand final.
At just 12 years old, Dodd has played A Grade basketball against senior women for the Port Augusta Devils and also represented South Australia in the National Indigenous Basketball Carnival on the Gold Coast.
LUKE RAMSEY
Cleve Area School, cross country
One of SA’s top young para runners, Ramsey is legally blind and part of the T13 classification.
Ramsey set personal bests in all of his SAPSASA events on the track, receiving gold meals in the 100 and 800m and a silver medal in the 200m.
His specialty is cross country however, the 12-year-old won gold in the U12 SAPSASA multiclass event and also won a national gold in Canberra in the U12 multiclass 1km time trial.
TYRELL NEMETH-FORD
St Joseph’s School (Port Lincoln), swimming
With a number of successes under his belt in 2023, Nemeth-Ford has emerged as a top young swimmer in SA.
Now aged 12, Nemeth-Ford won the Bryant Trophy at the SA Country Swimming Championships as an 11-year-old for being the highest overall points scorer.
He was also named SA Country champion in five individual events including 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke and went on to compete in the National Country Swimming Championships, finishing as the top U12 performer.
INDIVIDUAL SECONDARY SECTION
FRASER ROXBURGH
Henley High School, basketball
A consistent championship player for West Adelaide in the NBL1 Central competition, Roxburgh has been a dominant basketballer at state and national level this year.
The 18-year-old signed with the Adelaide 36ers as a development player and made his NBL debut at the end of 2022.
He also attended an Australian camp for the Australia Emus U19 squad earlier this year.
PIPER WINDOW
Brighton Secondary School, football
A superstar inside midfielder and forward for Glenelg, Window has had a spectacular year in footy.
The 18-year-old gun looks set to reach the AFLW after a dominant SANFLW season in which she took out the League Best and Fairest award.
Also the Bays’ club Best and Fairest, Window earned a distinguished spot in the U18 AFLW All Australian team and received an invitation to attend the AFLW draft combine.
ELLEN SAMPSON
Walford Anglican School for Girls, sailing
The 2023 SA female sailor of the year and SA youth sailor of the year, Sampson has had a spectacular year.
The 16-year-old prospect won dozens of events in 2023 and was selected to compete at the 2023 Pacific Games for Australia.
She also finished first overall among females in the 2023 Tasmanian Youth Sail Regatta.
CAMERON ZAJER
Brighton Secondary School, volleyball
A gifted volleyballer, Zajer won gold at the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships in April and also experienced a strong year in the State League competition, becoming a women’s all star and winning the rising star award for 2023.
She also won silver at the Youth Commonwealth Games in August, won a scholarship to the AIS for 2024 and was nominated for the SA Sport Athlete of the Year.
KADE BRYANT
Henley High School, golf
A top five player and all-Australian at the national U18 golf championships, 17-year-old Bryant is a fast emerging talent in the sport.
Bryant plays at the Glenelg Golf Club, winning the men’s club pennant player of the year.
He also earned selection to the 2023 men’s pennant team of the year, won the SA Order of Merit for junior boys and finished runner-up in the men’s.
AKON BAAK
Adelaide High School, taekwondo
14-year-old Baak has excelled in taekwondo this year, representing Australia at the taekwondo Cadet World Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She won silver in that tournament to become the first ever South Australian to medal in taekwondo at the world championships level.
The Australian Taekwondo Junior Female Athlete of 2023, Baak also won gold at the President’s Cup in brisbane and the Australian Open.
LUCAS TOONEN
Thomas More College, hockey
A skilled and versatile hockey star, Toonen has experienced a big year in the sport.
Part of the U18 and U21 SA teams, as well as the Adelaide Fire this year, Toonen impressed so much with his performances that he was selected to be part of the U18 Australian Futures squad.
He also received the Hockey SA rising star award and is a SASI scholarship holder.
LUCY VOYVODIC
Scotch College, netball and rowing
A star senior netballer at Scotch College, 18-year-old Voyvodic captained the school’s side in 2023 and was named Best and Fairest at the end of the season.
Voyvodic dominated for SA at national level this year, winning gold at U19 nationals and MVP for her team in that tournament.
Success for the state led to international achievements, the star player earning selection into the U19 Australian team and winning gold at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
LUKE HUDDLESTON
Marryatville High School, volleyball
16-year-old Huddleston is one of the fastest rising volleyball talents in Australia and showcased his skills in 2023.
Huddleston most recently represented SA in the National Youth Volleyball Championships, choosing to play at the U18 level instead of U17 to extend and further his skills.
The youngest member of his side, he played as the setter and led the team to a bronze medal at the championships.
He has been invited to attend Volleyball Australia’s annual camp and will also attend a beach volleyball training camp held by Volleyball Australia and the NSW Phoenix.
CHARLOTTE MCAULIFFE
St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School, athletics
Another part of Team Australia at the Youth Commonwealth Games this year, McAuliffe has become a star of athletics in SA.
The 16-year-old track star placed fourth in the women’s 400m and won bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay.
She was also selected in the Australian Open women’s 4x400m relay squad.
STUDENT OFFICIAL SECTION
ZACH TUNBRIDGE
Investigator College, hockey
Tunbridge produced an impressive season as a hockey official in 2023.
The 17-year-old official was selected as an umpire to represent SA in the U12 boys hockey team which went over to compete in the nationals in Tasmania.
Tunbridge is in the process of earning his accreditation at Hockey SA and Victor Hockey Club.
LACHLAN MARKS
Berri Regional Secondary College, football and basketball
Commencing his football umpiring career at 11 years old, 17-year-old Marks has become an A Grade umpire in the Riverland Football League, recently boundary umpiring the RFL A Grade grand final.
He has also officiated basketball for the Barmera Basketball Club at division one level and has umpired at the SA Junior Country Championships.
ANAMIKA JAKHWAL
Australian Science and Mathematics School, surfing
Jakhwal has been an active and dedicated member of Surfer Girls SA for five years and is currently employed by Surfing Australia organisation Surf Culture Australia as a junior surfing coach.
The 17-year-old is a talented surfer herself and is set to compete for SA in the junior national titles in Victoria.
Jakhwal also does significant work in overseas humanitarian projects related to encouraging underprivileged women in the waves.
MOLLY AGNEW
Tatachilla Lutheran College, football
An umpire for the Great Flinders Football Umpires Association in 2023, Agnew has been selected for the 2024 SANFL Umpires Academy after a standout year.
An A Grade player for Myponga-Sellicks in 2023, Agnew was also an assistant coach of the club’s U17 side and coach of the club’s Auskick program.
TEAM SECTION
SA U18 GIRLS SOFTBALL
The School Sport Girls softball side became the first SA team since 2010 to win the School Sport U18 National Championships this year.
Not only did the team break the drought, but they came from fourth position to do so, defeating top team Queensland to make the gold medal match and then topping home favourites Victoria in the big dance.
UNLEY HIGH SCHOOL U17 WOMEN’S ROWING
Unley’s squad of 12 won all U17 women’s events at the Rowing SA State Championships earlier this year and all 12 rowers contributed.
Nine of the 12 girls competed at the Australian Rowing Championships in the Single, Double, Quad and Eight categories and all crews finished in the top 10.
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