Sporting names of the future honoured at the Leader Sports Star Awards 2016

THEY’VE enjoyed success all over the world, but some of our biggest sportspeople all started their journey winning a Leader Sports Star award.

Shane Warne is one of many sports stars who won Leader awards over the past 40 years.

WHAT do Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, Olympic gold medallist Lauren Burns and cricket legend Shane Warne have in common?

Along with excelling in their chosen sports, they were each once named a Leader Sports Star.

Now in its 40th year, the program has a proud tradition of unearthing suburban athletes from as they embark on their professional careers, supporting them with in-paper coverage and awards recognition.

Lauren Burns with her Olympic gold medal.

Cadel Evans winning the Tour de France.

Over the years the Leader Sports Star honour roll has included some of Australia’s biggest sporting names such as Pat Cash, Meg Lanning, Dante Exum, Lydia Lassila, Aaron Baddeley, Ashton Agar, Brooke Hanson, Michael Klim and Matt Welsh.

Last night a new crop of future stars was honoured at Etihad Stadium’s Medallion Club, with the 2016 Sport Star awards handed out to up and coming junior and senior athletes — representing an impressive array of sports — from each Leader masthead area.

“Leader believes in the importance of community sport, and we’re proud that our awards have supported local sports clubs and shone a spotlight on athletes across Melbourne for 40 years,’’ editor-in-chief John Trevorrow said.

Basketballer Dante Exum was recognised as a Leader Junior Sports Star winner …

… before being drafted to the NBA to play for the Utah Jazz.

Stephen Quartermain hosted last night’s event, with appearances from special guests Lauren Burns, Matt Welsh and Trent Cotchin.

The Leader Sports Star program is sponsored by Sportsmart, Sports TG, Ten Eyewitness News and Gold 104.3.

Overall Leader Sports Star winners for 2016

NORTHERN DIVISION

Team of the Year: Northcote club Southern Cross Cheerleading was named the grand champions at the Global Dance and Cheer Games in Hawaii.

Services to Sport: Lalor’s Frank Devlin, who has volunteered with West Lalor Tennis Club over the past 40 years.

Junior Sports Star: sprinter Isis Holt, from Brunswick, who won a bronze in the women’s 4x100m (T35-38) relay and silver medals in the women’s 100m (T35) and women’s 200m (T35) at this year’s Paralympic Games.

Senior Sports Star: Northcote cyclist Carol Cooke, who won gold medals in the women’s time trial (T1-2) and women’s road race (T1-2) at this year’s Paralympic Games.

EASTERN DIVISION

Team of the Year: Women’s under-18 cricket team East Metro Echidnas, who are the undefeated VicSpirit Champions.

Services to Sport: inspiring Croydon boxing coach Brian Butler, who has trained more than 30 champions in his career and mentors troubled young people.

Junior Sports Star: Mitchell Iles, from Hurstbridge, who competed in the trap shooting at the 2016 Olympic Games, and also won the open and junior world championship in Morocco.

Senior Sports Star: Anabelle Smith, who won the bronze medal in the 3m springboard synchronised diving at this year’s Olympic Games.

SOUTHERN DIVISION

Team of the Year: The Southern Mariners baseball team reached the grand final of the Senior League World Series in the US after winning the Victorian championship, the national championship and the Asian Pacific Championships. The group of 15 and 16-year-olds were inspired by their coach, Jack Larner, who is battling cancer.

Services to Sport: Cranbourne’s Russell Matthews is the go-to guy at Cranbourne Football Netball Club. His roles this season included assistant football operations manager, property steward, reserves team manager and general cleaner.

Junior Sports Star: the multi-talented Ashleigh Lefevre, from Brighton, who was selected for the Young Matildas (Under-20) to represent Australia in the AFF Women’s Championship, among other achievements in soccer, athletics, cross country and rowing.

Senior Sports Star: Rosebud’s Heath Davidson, who represented Australia in wheelchair tennis at the 2016 Paralympic Games and won the gold medal in the men’s quad doubles with Dylan Alcott.

WESTERN DIVISION

Team of the Year: Budding Aussie rules stars at Maribyrnong College sports academy played a major role in helping the Victorian U15 team bring home the cup at the National Football Championships earlier this year. The academy made up a quarter of the championship team, with three players, Daniel Mott, Emerson Jeka and Sam Ramsay, earning All-Australian honours.

Services to Sport: Janice Schulz is an institution onto her own at the St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association. Under her guidance as president, the club has grown from 38 teams to 168 with more than 1700 members. Janice was this year named the joint Volunteer of the Year for Netball Victoria and was a finalist in the State Government’s Community Sports and Recreation Awards.

Junior Sports Star: Williamstown’s Celeste Mucci is a formidable athlete who won the gold medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Victorian Open Championships.

Senior Sports Star: Werribee’s Travis Dean debuted with the Victorian Bushrangers cricket team and helped take out the Sheffield Shield for this year.