Sunbury, Macedon Ranges talent honoured at Leader Sports Star Awards
A PARALYMPIAN and All-Australian basketballer have won big at the Leader Sports Star Awards for Sunbury/Macedon Ranges.
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SUNBURY Paralympic swimming sensation Ashleigh McConnell is the 2016 Sunbury/Macedon Ranges Leader Senior Sports Star of the Year.
McConnell, who won a gold medal and broke the world record as part of the 4x100 relay at the Rio Paralympics, was honoured at a gala ceremony last night at Etihad Stadium.
Also rewarded on the night was Sunbury Jets basketball star Josh Grabham, now 18, who won the Sunbury/Macedon Ranges Junior Sports Star of the Year.
GOLD AND WORLD RECORD FOR SUNBURY SWIMMER
SUNBURY BASKETBALLER IN ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM
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Woodend alpine skier Lily Tomkinson received the North Over-15 Encouragement Award after overcoming two knee reconstructions to win gold in the open giant slalom, under-21 giant slalom and junior slalom events at the national titles.
Paralympian McConnell, 19, swam the final leg of her gold medal relay swim, holding off the individual world record holder to bring Australia home.
McConnell also competed in three individual events in the S9 class, coming equal sixth in the 100m freestyle in a personal best time and seventh in the 50m freestyle. She also won her heat in the 400m freestyle.
The former Sunbury College student, who was born without a left forearm or hand, trains six days a week at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Grabham overcame a non-cancerous tumour at age 13 that kept him from full fitness for three years to be selected in the All-Australian basketball team.
The Gisborne Secondary College student had dominated for Victoria at the 18-years-and-under national basketball championships.
Grabham was rapt to win the Junior Sports Star Award but revealed he was giving up basketball for life as an apprentice electrician and to play football with his mates at Gisborne, hoping to build a career with Australia’s indigenous game.
“With the apprenticeship starting I thought basketball training and games didn’t really work any more,” he said.
“For a year at least I plan to concentrate on footy.
“I go from six-foot-four in basketball which is average to footy where it should be a good height.”
Grabham said decision came as a shock to family and friends, as he already had a pathway for basketball organised through the American College system.
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