Evie Saunders is Manly Daily’s Junior Sports Star, Hunter Sasikin Inspiration Award winner
The Manly Daily’s 2019 Junior Sports Star and Inspiration Award winner have been revealed at a gala dinner in Sydney.
Local Sports Stars
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sports Stars. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Teenager Evie Saunders is one of a rising tide of Australian sailors already making a mark on the world stage while still at school.
The 13-year-old’s boat of choice is the single-handed Laser 4.7, a dinghy she is already racing at the highest level, with her feats earning her the Manly Daily’s 2019 Junior Sports Star.
While most of her friends were enjoying their school holidays, the Freshwater sailor won the junior under 15s girls division at the Australian championships in December.
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE AWARDS NIGHT
She then went on to represent her county at August’s Laser youth world titles in Canada - finishing 16th in the open category and with a world silver medal in the under 16s racing.
The Manly Daily finalists for this award were Saunders, gymnast Petra Janda and softballer, baseballer and netball gun Tallulah Lewis.
“I’m pretty excited, pretty thankful for this opportunity. I wasn’t really expecting it but I’m really happy,’’ she said.
“Competing at worlds was pretty amazing, it was pretty nice to race people from different countries. It was a terrific experience.’’
Evie and Inspiration Award winner Hunter Sasikin were honoured as the Manly Daily award winners at the 2019 Local Sports Stars awards, sponsored by Featherdale Wildlife Park, Bankstown Sports Club and Northern Beaches Hospital, and held at Bankstown Sports Club on Wednesday night.
Hunter’s entry into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu wasn’t meant to be anything special but his journey in the sport since has been all that and more.
The nine year-old from Elanora Heights first took up the sport four years ago as a way to help with ADHD and anxiety issues.
Today, Hunter is ranked second in Australia in the under 16 age group.
He was undefeated in 2018, claiming gold at the local, national and international level, including at the world championships in Abu Dhabi.
Hunter’s golden run has continued into this year as he took out the Sydney Cup, Victorian State Championship and Australian National Pro.
“This is really good. I like competing and I’ve been doing it since I was four. To win this means a lot,’’ said Sasikin, who also does rugby, swimming and Nippers.
Trail runner Luke Lambley was a Manly Daily Inspiration Award finalist.
Each of our Junior Sport publication winners and Inspiration Award winners received $300 and a medal.
MORE SPORT
Joshua O’Connell (Inner West Courier) was crowned overall Junior Sports Star winner on the night after breaking the world 800m record for 11-year-old’s in April.
Swimmer John Dimech-O’Connell (Macarthur Chronicle) won the overall Inspiration Award and the under 14s Gosford City Rebels girls basketball team (Central Coast Express Advocate) the overall team award.
The overall Service to Sport winner was Chung Dang (Canterbury-Bankstown Express).