All 29 finalists selected for this year’s SA School Sports Awards
Nominations are closed and the countdown to SA’s 2022 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, Messenger and Department for Education School Sports Awards 2022.
All 29 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, December 14.
SEE HOW TO WATCH THE AWARDS LIVE STREAM HERE
INDIVIDUAL PRIMARY SECTION
ASHLEIGH HEGGIE
Trinity College, various sports
Heggie has been a standout athlete at state and national level in football, track and field and swimming.
The 12-year-old star was a key part of the SA U12 football side’s runner-up campaign in this year’s national championships, represented SA in the U12 swimming championships in Brisbane, and will also be competing for the state at the upcoming national track and field titles.
TOM BRUNET-GRESEQUE
Charles Campbell College, judo
Brunet-Greseque specialises in judo and has already achieved national success.
The 12-year-old had a spectacular 2022, winning multiple gold medals in multiple divisions of the Sydney International Open and Gold Coast International Open, including in the senior boys weight division.
He has also earned entree into the Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
SOPHIE LUEY
Star of the Sea School, artistic gymnastics
At just 10 years old, Luey trains in gymnastics seven days a week and has reaped the rewards of her hard work.
Now training at the Koorana Gymnastics Club, Luey has impressed at multiple state and national championships.
Her standout performance came at the 2022 Border Challenge in Queensland, in which she was the youngest member of SA’s open age team and finished second against top women’s artistic gymnasts from Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
LOGAN BOWERS
Cobdogla Primary School, hockey
One of the most talented young hockey players in SA, Bowers’ 2022 has been exceptional.
The 12-year-old North East Hockey Club gun has been selected for multiple state and development squads and has also produced top level play in multiple district competitions.
He made the SA School Sport hockey U12s team and travelled to Canberra as vice captain, and also made the Hockey SA state U13s but was unable to compete in the Tasmania national titles after breaking his arm.
IZYUZ MIKA
Fulham North Primary School, various sports
Mika has shown talent in a variety of sports including surf lifesaving, swimming, basketball, football, soccer and track and field.
He recently finished first in a range of categories in the Brighton Jetty Classic U12 boys, won in multiple strokes during a range of SAPSASA and state swimming events and won the 100-metre sprint and 4x100-metre relay in this year’s SAPSASA athletics event.
All this while competing knockout levels in basketball, soccer and football.
KATIE SEOL
The Heights School, golf
Seol’s skill in golf is well beyond her young age of 11.
She is a reigning two-time SA primary champion and ranked number one among girls around the country in the 2022 national championships during which her team finished runner-up.
As an 11-year-old she represented the SA girls U18 state team at the 2022 national championships and won two of her five matches.
Seol’s current handicap is 1.4.
ELIJAH ONYEIZUGBO
Emmaus Christian College, track and field
Onyeizugbo was selected in the school sports 10-12 year-old track and field team for the recent national championships in Brisbane and won two gold and silver medals.
The 10-year-old also broke SAPSASA state records for the 100-metre, 200-metre and long jump events.
JACK PENTLAND
Wynn Vale School, cycling
A member of the Norwood Cycling Club, Pentland currently holds state championship gold medals in the Cyclocross U11 state championships, road U11 state championships, SA NT U11 individual pursuit, SA NT U11 time trial track event, and the SA NT U11 scratch race track event.
SIENNA SUTTON
St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, softball
At 10 years old, Sutton was selected to represent SA at the 2022 U14 national championships in NSW and she has not looked back.
She currently plays for the West Torrens Softball Club, the Giants Softball Club in Gawler and the Hills Softball Club.
She won the Golden Glove award and the U12 dedication award at West Torrens, the best utility player and the most improved batter awards at Giants.
She also won the junior state U14 championships with Hills.
LAYLA VALENTINE
Kapunda Primary School, various
Valentine represented SA in the state netball and football championships this year, finishing runner-up with the U12 football side in a narrow loss to Vic Metro.
She has also consistently represented her school in athletics and swimming district championships through 2021 and 2022.
Valentine also dedicates time to coaching and umpiring sports ranging from football and netball to basketball and swimming and was involved in a major Kapunda Primary School MND fundraiser, which ultimately raised $5,000.
INDIVIDUAL SECONDARY SECTION
KANE VIDMAR
Henley High School, soccer
At 18 years old, Vidmar is part of the Adelaide United youth team and has continued to develop his game significantly.
The soccer star was part of this season’s Young Socceroos team which competed in Spain, and then in Kuwait for the qualifiers of the 2023 AFC U20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.
MAGUIRE REID
Henley High School, surf life-saving and kayaking
18-year-old Reid has a number of achievements under his belt, including a number of strong performances at world kayaking championships.
In 2022 he was part of the Australian team which went to the Canoe Sprint Junior World Championships and he also recently represented the country in Japan for the Asia Pacific Cup kayak titles, finishing first in five events.
MILSY (EMILIA) MURRAY
Henley High School, soccer
Another soccer superstar out of Henley High School, Murray has been the golden boot winner for the SA U20 team four years running and also plays for Adelaide United in the women’s A League.
The star attacker captained the Young Matildas U20 side in the pacific women’s four nations tournament this month and was also part of SA’s team of the year.
NEVE ADAMS
John Pirie Secondary School, Softball
Adams has gained the attention of a number of NCAA colleges in America and has been offered multiple scholarships as a student athlete for softball.
The gun 18-year-old was selected in the SA U18s team for this year’s national championships in Sydney and was also named co-captain, leading her side to the grand final.
She was also selected for the SA U23 team and played for Australia soon after in the Canadian Cup overseas.
MATILDA SCHOLZ
Scotch College, football
Scholz played 11 league games for Glenelg’s SANFLW side last season and was recently selected to the AFLW academy for season 2023, a major step towards being drafted to the AFLW next year.
The gun ruck/forward utility has also dominated for Goodwood Saints and led her Scotch senior A football team to multiple titles last season as captain, best and fairest and leading goal kicker.
Scholz also represented SA at the U18 national football championships in 2022 and was named an All-Australian.
SAM HUGHES
Pembroke School, basketball
Hughes has had a breakout year in basketball through 2022.
He won the U16 boys state championships with Forestville, was selected in the SA metro side and then made the cut for 2022 Basketball Australia U15 boy’s national selection camp in Canberra.
Hughes impressed at the camp and was selected for the Australian team which recently competed in the Fiba U15 Oceania Championships in Guam.
KEIRA POST
Immanuel College, para athletics – T37 classification
Post was selected to the Australia para athletics team for the Oceania Championships in June after a spectacular 2022 season.
Her results in the championship saw her claim the fastest T37 100-metre time in the oceania region and the second fastest T37 200-metre time.
She currently holds SA para records for the 100-metre and 200-metre sprints and is the current national record holder for the U15 and U17 100-metre and 200-metres.
HANNAH BUGEJA
St Mary’s College, fencing
18-year-old Bugeja is one of SA’s biggest fencing prodigies, representing the state at U17s and U20s nationals this year.
The reigning state champion at U17 and U20s level was selected for Australia’s national team to compete in 2023 after her impressive performances at nationals.
NESTORY IRANKUNDA
Parafield Gardens High School, soccer
Irankunda remains one of the most well-known young soccer stars in Australia after a successful year for Adelaide United.
The 16-year-old has 27 appearances for United’s youth team and also played 13 A League games in 2022, scoring three goals.
The talented winger was also part of Australia’s U17 Asian Cup side, playing three games and scoring seven goals.
SOPHIE CASEY
Scotch College, netball
Casey has had a standout year in school, club and representative netball.
The star Scotch player – who led her school to the open knockout championship as captain – was dominant for Premier League side Matrics at wing defence, helping the club to its 2022 championship and taking out the team MVP award.
She also captained the SA U19s to second place at nationals, represented Australia at U19 level, got invited to the U21 Australian netball team camp and earned herself a SASI scholarship.
She is also currently training with the Thunderbirds.
STUDENT OFFICIAL SECTION
LOLA SHEPHERD
Marryatville High School, netball
16-year-old Shepherd has risen the ranks of netball officials in SA during 2022.
The star umpire – who also plays for Oakdale – earned her ‘C badge’ for national accreditation from Netball Australia this year and officiated the School Sport Australia U12 championships in NSQW.
THOMAS EDWARDS
Immanuel College, field hockey
Edwards had an outstanding year as an official, umpiring the U12 hockey nationals in Canberra, as well as the country SAPSASA competition.
He also coached the 2022 SAPSASA Airport boys side.
JESSE ISAAC
Endeavour College, field hockey
17-year-old Isaac has been umpiring hockey since he was 11 and had the opportunity to officiate the School Sport Hockey National Championships in Hobart this year.
His performance was so impressive he was given the gold medal match as a result.
TYSON HARTMANN
Trinity College, football
At 16 years old, Hartmann’s boundary umpiring career has reached new levels in 2022.
He umpires high divisions in the Adelaide Footy League and has also boundary umpired the 2022 SANFL U16s grand final.
TAYLOR HO
Unley High School, basketball
Ho has tallied over 700 games so far as a school, club and district basketball referee.
The gun Sturt Sabres player is just 16 years old but is already a senior referee for Basketball SA and is a referee coordinator at Sturt.
TEAM SECTION
BEN HINKS/CARTER BAKER
Urrbrae Agricultural High School and LeFevre High School, sailing
Hinks and Baker joined forces in 2021 and went on to achieve success at the very top of sailing.
Mainstay members of the Australian Youth Team, the duo recently won the 420 class at the Open Australian National Championships.
They also competed in the Youth World Sailing Championships.
ELLEN SAMPSON/FALLON KATZ
Walford Anglican School for Girls and Pulteney Grammar, sailing
14-year-old Sampson and 15-year-old Katz have combined to make one of the most talented teams in Australian sailing.
The pair have both earned selection into the 2022 Australian Sailing Youth Team and finished 20th in the U19 female division of the 2022 Youth World Sailing Championships held in The Netherlands.
WALFORD ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS FIRST VIII ROWING
Walford’s First VIII rowing team won the 2022 Head of the River, setting a new record of six minutes and 47.75 seconds.
The team then went on to represent SA in the pathways regatta in Canberra, an event in which they finished fourth overall.
SA U15 BOYS FOOTBALL
Made up of players from a range of government and private schools, the SA U15 boys became one of just nine SA teams – the last in 2013 – to win the national championships.
Coached by former Central District captain Matt Slade, the side beat all states and territories for the first time in 43 years, a fantastic feat considering SA’s trial pool was 150 boys compared to Victoria’s 2,500.
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