Teenage Adelaide Strikers fast bowler Darcie Brown wins top gong at SA School Sports Awards

Watch a full replay of Wednesday night’s SA School Sports Awards, see all the winners and browse a gallery of photos from the big night.

Teenage fast bowler Darcie Brown has added another award to her name after taking home the top gong at the 2020 SA School Sports Awards on Wednesday night.

The Henley High graduate, who debuted with the Strikers last year, was named the winner of the 2020 individual secondary category.

The state’s second coronavirus-enforced lockdown in November forced the 2020 School Sports Awards event to be postponed until Wednesday night’s ceremony, which was hosted at the SA Museum.

With coronavirus restrictions making it difficult for family and friends of the finalists to attend the event, it was also exclusively live streamed on advertiser.com.au – see the replay above.

Pictures of the finalists and winners on the night can also be found here.

PHOTO GALLERY: SA SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS

Brown’s WBBL debut was against Hobart Hurricanes on October 25 and helped the Strikers to an eight-wicket win, finishing with figures of 3/13, including the scalp of Australian all-rounder Nicola Carey, whom she bowled for a duck.

Netballer Hannah Petty with SA School Sport award winner and rising cricketer Darcie Brown from Henley High School at the 2020 SA School Sports. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Darcie Brown in action with the SA of the Scorpions during the WNCL match against Tasmania in Canberra this month. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The 17-year-old was clocked bowling at speeds over a remarkable 125km/hr, to be named the WBBL06 Young Gun of the tournament.

Brown’s School Sports Award win comes after she made headlines in 2019 when she was signed by the Strikers as a 16-year-old.

That made her the youngest cricketer – male or female – to do so.

The right-arm fast bowler, who is also in the SA Scorpions’ WNCL team, can count big names including Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine among her victims during the WBBL06 campaign.

Although cricket is her number one sport, Brown has excelled at netball, having claimed Garville’s reserves best and fairest in 2020.

The Northern Districts Cricket product, who was named 2019 Henley High School Female Sports Person of the Year, also played Australian rules football at school.

Meanwhile, William Brown was named the individual primary winner for his efforts in cycling.

Cricketer Wes Agar with Primary category winner William Brown from Magill School. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The Magill Primary School Year 7, who was named in Messenger’s top 20 athletes to watch in 2021, prevailed in all five of the 2020 state titles on the velodrome in the under-13 age group — including in the individual pursuit, scratch race, time trial and sprint.

He also won the 2020 Criterium State Championships and the 2020 Road State Titles.

The 11-year-old also won the 2020 Criterium State Championships and the 2020 Road State Titles.

The awards also had two new categories — team and official.

Immanuel College’s Open Girls Basketball Team won the team award.

The Novar Gardens school team triumphed in the School Sport SA Championship and the independent Girls’ Schools South Australia premiership for the third year in a row.

Golden Grove High School’s Zack Brittan was named the winner in the student official category.

Brittan, 17, umpired the Year 8/9 boys and girls Australian rules football competition as well as the open boys tournament.

Golden Grove High School’s Zack Brittan. Picture: Brenton Edwards

He also refereed the Year 8/9 girls five-a-side soccer competition, the Year 8/9 boys five-a-side soccer grand final, as well as the Year 8/9 boys and girls beach soccer competitions.

The School Sports Awards are a joint initiative of The Advertiser, The Messenger and the Department for Education.

They recognise and reward the outstanding sporting achievements of young people in our community.

Winners of the 2020 School Sports Awards:

■ Individual Secondary: Darcie Brown (Henley High School)

■ Individual Primary: William Brown (Magill Primary School)

■ Team: Immanuel College Open Girls Basketball

■ Student Official: Zack Brittan (Golden Grove High School)