The Rouse Hill Times finalists for the 2018 Local Sports Star awards have been selected
Meet the nine Rouse Hill Times finalists for the 2018 Local Sports Star awards.
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Meet the finalists in our 2018 Local Sports Stars Award. The winners in each category, and the overall Local Sports Star chosen from all our mastheads across Sydney and the Central Coast, will be announced at a gala ceremony held on Tuesday, October 30.
Congratulations to all our finalists and good luck!
JUNIOR SPORTS STAR
Keegan Bell
Ranked fourth in the world in the under-18 men’s 400m, Keegan is one of the fastest rising track stars on the planet.
He is also a multiple-time state and national junior athletics champion. After narrowly missing out on a spot on the Australian team for the Commonwealth Games at the start of the year, Keegan claimed gold medals at the Australian and Oceania Championships. His results saw him earn a spot on the Australian squad for the 2018 Youth Olympics, which will be held in Buenos Aires in October.
Liam Christie
Liam is one of only two trampolinists from Oceania to qualify for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. After claiming three gold medals at last year’s nationals, Liam once again dominated at this year’s event to be named national champion in individual and double mini trampoline. He also claimed team gold in both events. Liam sealed his qualification for the Youth Olympics by taking out the Oceania Continental Championships for individual trampoline.
Ethan Grace
The only thing more impressive than Ethan Grace’s talent on the footy field is his leadership skills. Ethan represented NSW at the under-15 AFL National Championships in July after captaining an undefeated Combined Independent Schools side to victory at the NSW All Schools Carnival. At club level, Ethan has secured three premierships in four years, claiming multiple best and fairest awards along the way. He’s also part of the elite Sydney Swans Academy development program.
YOUNG SPORTING SPIRIT
Kieren Morson
No matter what sport he participates in, Kieren Morson always gives his best. Kieren is a state level swimmer and a state representative in Little Athletics.
He is also a standout on the rugby league field with the Rouse Hill Rhinos, earning a record four defensive awards during the season. However his talent shines the brightest in Nippers — he’s earned state team representation in ocean swimming, board and associated relay. Kieren travels more than an hour each way up to three times a week to train with Collaroy Surf Lifesaving Club.
Toby Farrar
Young golfer Toby’s handicap is just 9.4 and he consistently drives 200 yards. He has been playing golf since he could walk and is a regular in the A grade competitions at Lynwood Country Club in Pitt Town.
In 2017 he won the US Kids Golf Australian Open 8 years competition as well as the C grade Club Championship at Lynwood. He then repeated his US Kids Golf win earlier this year while also taking out the under 10 Harvey Norman Junior Week of Golf competition.
Tasha White
Despite only turning 12 on Saturday, Tasha White has a long history of success in the pool. She has been the metro northwest age champion since she was eight and was recently selected into the metro northwest target squad.
She has also been named Sydney west age champion and has competed at regional and state level. On top of this, Tasha enjoys acting as a mentor for new and younger swimmers. She hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of her idols, the Bronte sisters, and represent Australia at the Olympic Games.
JUNIOR SPORTS STAR TEAM
Sweet Heat
The Sweet Heat Softball Club’s under-15 girls team took out the prestigious 2018 Australia Cup carnival in Adelaide. The victory marked the team’s third consecutive Australia Cup title. Sweet Heat also claimed victory at the Australia Day Carnival earlier in the year. Each week, on top of their own club and representative commitments, the girls train every Monday evening. Many of the girls commit more than 12 hours to playing and training for softball. with the carnivals also often involving quite a substantial travel and financial commitment.
YOUNG SPORTING SPIRIT TEAM
Rouse Hill Rams
The old saying goes that getting to the top is easy — staying there is the hard part. That hasn’t been the case for Rouse Hill Rams Football Club’s under-14 division one squad. The team has won the Hills Football Association’s minor premiership and premiership in each of the past three years. They have also represented the club at the Kanga Cup international tournament in Canberra every year since 2015. Rouse Hill even took their efforts up a notch this year to finish runners-up at the Football NSW State Cup.
SERVICE TO SPORT
Lisa Biehl
For dance instructor Lisa Biehl dance is all about passion and with each lesson she teaches, her passion inspires her students to be the best they can be.
That philosophy has helped her Castle Hill dance studio thrive for 25 years. Biehl’s students have performed and competed all over the world, taking the stage everywhere from Disneyland to Universal Studios and the Kennedy Space Centre.
“Miss Lisa”, as she’s better known, says students and staff at the Lisa Williams Dance Studio are united by their shared love of dance.