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Swimmer Josh Wilkie poses for a photograph at Max Parker Leisure & Aquatic Centre, Revesby, NSW, Australia, Friday September 1, 2017. Josh has been swimming since he was 6 but has never medalled at state championships. Now 18, he has brought home two gold medals, silver and two bronze medals. (AAP Image/CRAIG WILSON)

Wilkie is 18th time lucky

Forget third time lucky. Swimmer Josh Wilkie is championing a new number — 18th time lucky. For the past seven years Wilkie has made it to NSW level 17 times — and come fourth in every race. Up until two weeks ago.

The Express
Local Sports Stars Aari Bouboulos, 13, and Peter Panagakis, 13, both play or the Bankstown Berries but have both been chosen to play for state titles.Peter Panagakis

Peter fires on the field

All-rounder Peter Panagakis is reaching state levels on the athletics field, in the water and on a football field. But it’s with a football at his feet, that the 14-year-old defence player feels most at home.

Local Sports Stars
13-year-old swimmer Hayley Rowlands at  Roselands Aquatic Centre 16 August 2017. She was named state champion in Metro South West area championships in June. NSW (AAP IMAGE/Simon Bullard)

Hayley’s rapid rise

Bitter 4.30am pool starts in winter would be enough for most kids to raise the white flag, but Hayley Rowlands isn’t most kids. She’s on a record-breaking run in the pool and is this week’s Local Sports Star.

Local Sports Stars
Coach Natasha Hill and her team pose for a photo at the Australian National Sports Club in Sydney on Thursday, August 10, 2017. Since Natasha began in 2014, she has increased female participation rates from zero to over 90 this year and has got a lot of Muslim women involved in soccer (AAP Image/Keri Megelus)

World game unites

Four years ago, you would not have found one female soccer player at Australian National Sports Club — let alone a woman in a hijab. Now the Lakemba club has over 500 players, 100 of which are Muslim women thanks to coach Natasha Hill.

Local Sports Stars
LSS Giorgio Vasiliades, 12-years at Sydney Olympic Park Archers. August 2, 2017.  Giorgio won gold at a national archery competition in April.  AAP (Image/Carmela Roche).

Archer scores Aussie title

Straight-shooter Giorgio Vasiliades has just become the Australian champion for field archery. The 12-year-old archer brought home gold from the National Youth Archery Championships in Victoria.

Local Sports Stars
Revesby Rovers U'11s Koalas. Panania, Saturday, July, 22, 2017. Revesby Rovers U'11s Koalas have been nominated as this week's Local Sports Stars in team spirit. (AAP Image/Angelo Velardo)

‘They just keep coming back’

Ten girls have won the heart of their coach Ben Russell, who brims with pride when he talks about the Revesby Rovers U11 Koalas – the only all-girls side in the Bankstown Amateur District Football Association.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-express/sport/page/33