Glen Innes athletes have been awarded for their efforts on and off-the-field at the annual Northern Inland Academy of Sport's awards night.
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The Academy hosted the second of their awards nights in Armidale on Saturday and Bridgette Beatty and Jack Grob were among the award winners.
Grob was the rugby league program's athlete of the year which meant he was up for the top gong of overall athlete of the year.
"Jack led from the front at all training sessions and was outstanding in the match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Jack represented Group 19 in the Country Championships, as well as representing North West and Greater Western in the NSW CHS Championships," the Academy said.
Beatty received the coaches' award for the netball program.
Award winners:
NIAS Chairperson's Award: Lachlan Martin- Inverell RSM AFL Program
Recognition of Service: Life Member- Di Gray (Former Chairperson and current board member); Volunteer of the Year- Peter Stevens- Tamworth Services Club Rugby League Coach
Female athlete of the year: Sami Wilkie, Athletics
Sami has made some significant improvements over the season - Discus from 29.25m to 38.89m and Javelin 24.96m to 30.26m. These large gains had Sami medalling at CSSA and CIS and finished third in discus at NSW All-Schools. For the summer athletics season, Sami competed at the NSW Country Championships to pick up gold in the javelin, shot put and discus as well as setting a new record at the regional championships. At the two Athletics State Championships events, Sami picked up a sixth place, just missing the u15 NSW team and state track and field finishing just outside the podium in her events but set her new personal best in the discus. To finish of a fantastic season Sami was selected to attend the national U15 camp held at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Male athlete of the year: Luke Deasey, Cycling
In 2019, Luke finished second in the Under 19 State Time Trial, fourth in the State Criterium, fourth in the State Hill Climb and won his Tamworth Cycling Club A-Grade criterion and road race. To cap off a tremendous year, Luke was selected to represent NSW at the UCI World Tour "Tour de DMZ" where he helped his team to a seventh-place finish.
Cycling: Athlete of the year: Luke Deasey; Most Improved: Lachlan Butters; Most Dedicated: Eddie Willis; Coaches Award: Kalean Blair
Netball: Athlete of the year: Sarah McIlveen; Most Improved: Indira Barratt; Most Dedicated: Claudia Eastburn; Coaches Award: Bridgitte Beatty
Rugby League: Athlete of the year: Jack Grob; Most Improved: Archer Harrison; Most Dedicated: Billy Youman; Coaches Award: Joash Boney
Rugby Union: Athlete of the year: Matt Edwards; Most Improved: Lochlan Gerdes; Most Dedicated: Harry Irvin; Coaches Award: Rex Barwick
Tennis: Athlete of the year: Aaron Osmand; Most Improved: Lucy Gainsford; Most Dedicated: Vitorio Sardinha (absent); Coaches Award: Aiden Purvis