Western Sydney Academy of Sport’s Annual Athlete Awards Dinner was held at Wenty Leagues Club on Friday 29 September 2023. It was an unforgettable evening, with the Academy showcasing a long list of exceptional athletes, coaches and corporate partners.

Athletes across 10 sporting disciplines received awards and recognition for their outstanding achievements over the 2022/2023 sporting year. Our award winners were recognised for their talent, leadership qualities, dedication, and commitment to their respective sports.

The Academy not only recognised our talented athletes. It also presented Coach service awards to coaching staff who had achieved 5 consecutive years of volunteer service with the Academy.

These coaches were:

  • Jack Rauhihi – Softball.
  • Daniel Waddell – Rowing.
  • Jason Waddell – Rowing.
  • James Sweeney – Triathlon.
  • Michelle Bullock – Netball.

MC Sarah Ryan interviewed guest speaker and Netball icon, Julie Fitzgerald AM, who spoke about her rise in Netball and sporting career.

Highlights of the evening were athlete achievements, with Athlete of the Year awards for each individual sport and an overall Academy Athlete of the year.

Two further feature awards were:

  • Steadfast Coach Leadership Award: Daniel Waddell | Rowing.
  • Steadfast Athlete Leadership Award: Anya Barker | Volleyball.

The Academy’s Education Partner, Western Sydney University, presented the “Western Sydney University Excellence in Education Award”, which provides a grant of $1,000 to the recipient. It is awarded to an individual athlete in recognition of their academic achievements.

The winner of this award was George Abbott, one of our Future Stars (Swimming) athletes.

The full list of award winners is as follows:

Program Athletes of the Year:

BMX Athlete of the Year: Jack Edwards

Cycling Athlete of the Year: Alex O’Shaughnessy

Rowing Athlete of the Year: Ezekiel Pratt

Golf Athlete of the Year: Zak Marsh 

Future Stars Athlete of the Year: Luke Csillag

Netball Umpiring Athlete of the Year: Amber Goldie

Netball Athlete of the Year: Charlotte Ward

Triathlon Athlete of the Year: Leila Dickson

Softball Athlete of the Year: Tanika Terkildsen

Volleyball Athlete of the Year: Chelsea Cocks

Coach (5 years) Service Awards:

Jack Rauhihi – Softball

Daniel Waddell – Rowing

Jason Waddell – Rowing

James Sweeney – Triathlon

Michelle Bullock – Netball

Western Sydney University Excellence in Education Award:

George Abbott – Future Stars, Swimming

Steadfast Coach Leadership Award:

Daniel Waddell – Rowing

Steadfast Athlete Leadership Award:

Anya Barker – Volleyball

Western Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year Award:

Tanika Terkildsen – Softball

For access to the gallery, click here.