Gloria Jovic is Express Advocate’s Junior Sports Star of the Year, Annabelle Rodgers Inspiration Award winner
The Central Coast Express Advocate’s 2019 Junior Sports Star of the Year and Inspiration award winner has been revealed at a gala dinner in Sydney.
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Gloria Jovic took out the singles and doubles titles at the Australian Claycourt Tennis Championships in the 12 and under age group in April.
She is the number one ranked entrant at the Australian Grasscourt Championships in Perth in October, where she was runner-up in the singles and the doubles.
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE AWARDS NIGHT
She has also won the 14 and under Wodonga Spring Championships and the 12 and under WA Open Junior Grasscourt Gold. She also represented Australia in the Tennis Australia Junior European Tour, competing in the 14 and under division at events in Germany.
Gloria’s stellar achievements have seen her take out the Central Coast Express Advocate’s 2019 Junior Sports Star of the Year award.
“My legs are shaking. I’m so surprised. I’m just so happy,” Gloria said.
“I love Ash Barty. She’s a real inspiration to me. I want to be her one day.”
Gloria and Inspiration Award winner Annabelle Rodgers were honoured as the Central Coast Express Advocate 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.
Annabelle represented Australia for the first time at the Global Games, held in Brisbane earlier this month (October).
She has had a big year, with her achievements including winning the Para under-20 shot put at the Australian Track and Field Championships in April and winning the 16-19 years girls multi-class shot put at the NSW All Schools titles, where she secured a new PB.
At the NSW Combined High Schools titles she won the 16-19 years girls multi-class shot put, javelin and discus, setting two CHS and 2 Australian records along the way.
“I really love this. I can’t believe I am here,” Annabelle said.
“It is so exciting.”
Meanwhile the under-14s Gosford City Rebels girls basketball team won the overall team award.
The Rebels qualified for the Australian Under-14 Club Championships and NSW championships, after finishing second in the EJL and Country Championships.
They had six players chosen to represent NSW Country in the Australian Country Development Tour and five players selected to join BNSW Talented Athletes Program.
“This is amazing, it’s such an achievement and we are very surprised,” team member Dakota Parke said.
“We want to thank everyone, our parents, our association and News Local.
“We are all good friends and I think that makes a good team.”
Each of our Junior Sport publication winners and Inspiration Award winners received $300 and a medal.
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 overall Service to Sport winner was Chung Dang (Canterbury-Bankstown Express).