News & Events - Southern Sports Academy

Brother and Sister in State Team

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000

It was a real family affair for the Hensel family of Culcairn yesterday, when brother and sister combination, Matthew and Rachel gained selection in the NSW U/18 A team to play against the very strong NSW Institute of Sport Open Team in a series of matches that is shaping as the final selection trial for the selection of the NSW Under 18 team to play against Queensland in July.

The NSW teams will take on their more fancied opponents at the Taren Point Bowling Club on Saturday 26th May. Two tests will be played with the teams as follows:

BOYS; Ben Glasson (Mount Lewis) Luke Jones (Evans Head) Dylan Skinner (Figtree) William Johnson (Belrose) Nicholas Cadman (Merrylands) Mathew Hensel (Culcairn) Chris Mathers (Cabramatta) GIRLS; Ellen Ryan (Goulburn Railway) Natalie Narona (Warilla) Tayla Conway(Edgeworth) Rachel Hensel(Culcairn) Dawn Hayman (Fairy Meadow) Jamie Lee Worsnop (St Johns Park) Samantha Narona (Warilla)

The boys and girls NSW A Teams contain a bunch of fresh faces, with Rachel and Matthew among them. In an amazing effort, the Culcairn products are included in a 14 person squad, with 7 boys and 7 girls selected.

Their selection comes off the back of an outstanding performance at the Clubs NSW Academy Games, where the Southern Sports Academy team took second place in what was a very strong field.

Their selection also continues a strong representative tradition that is being developed in the Academy Lawn Bowls Program, which is only in its fourth year but has already produced two Australian Under 18 players in Bradley Thomas of Tumut and Thomas Webb of Corowa.

The bowls squad will have their next training camp in Hay in mid May.

Academy Junior Netball Camp

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The annual Southern Sports Academy Netball Talent Identification Camp is in full swing, with over 120 young athletes from throughout Southern NSW converging on the region over the past two days for the 8-11 years age group and a further 120 kids expected for the 12-15 years age group, which begins today at the Wagga Wagga Netball Centre.

The camps, which offer kids of all abilities an opportunity to learn new skills from some of the best coaches in the region, have been hosted by the Southern Sports Academy for over 10 years and is the biggest camp of its type held in regional NSW each year. . The camp for the older age group has also taken on more prominence in recent years, serving as an effective talent identification opportunity for Southern Sports Academy coaches, with a view to potential selections for the Academy Open Netball squad which conducts its trial in late October each year.

“The bulk of the kids selected for our Open squad each year have at some time attended the Junior Talent Camps that we have hosted and we are delighted that the camps continue to be so well supported by the regional Netball community”, said the convenor of the Camp, Debbie Flanigan who is also the squad manager for the Academy Open Netball Squad.

The camp involves coaches from the Academy Netball Program, the Wagga and Young Netball Associations, former Academy Netball Squad members and current squad members who assist over the four days of the two camps.

The camp is also a valuable opportunity for the current Netball squad to put something back into the sport at a local level. The squad members are obliged to assist at the camp as part of their scholarship obligation with the Academy, and in doing so gain an appreciation of the intricacies of being a well prepared and effective coach as well as the absolute joy that coaching can provide through seeing young people gaining a greater appreciation for the game, picking up new skills, making new friends and pursuing an active lifestyle.

The camp for the 12-15 year age group begins at 9:00am today.

Squads Set for Academy Games

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The Southern Sports Academy will today send a record contingent of 85 athletes to compete in the annual Clubs NSW Academy Games, being held in Wollongong from 13-15 April.

The Southern Sports Academy will be represented across five sports being Golf, Netball, Basketball, Hockey and Lawn Bowls.

The Clubs NSW Academy Games will involve the 11 regional academies of sport in NSW as well as invitational teams and Academies from interstate. Over 1,000 athletes are set to converge on Wollongong for the three day sporting festival, which is now in its 6th year.

Southern Sports Academy Executive Director, Greg McLay, was excited at the prospect of having such a large number of athletes from Southern NSW, represented at the Games.

“ Our region is widely acknowledged as a very productive nursery for developing sporting talent and the Academy is pleased to be able to provide its athletes with such a valuable opportunity to showcase their talents. The Games will involve the very best sporting talent in NSW and I know our squads will acquit themselves well.”

The Clubs NSW Academy Games will commence on Friday, where a gala Opening Ceremony will take place at the University of Wollongong, followed by the commencement of competitions throughout Wollongong.

The athletes and coaching staff will meet at the Bolton Park Stadium Carpark today at 10:00am, prior to travelling to Wollongong for the Games.

Two new sporting initiatives added to the Academy portfolio

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The Southern Sports Academy will introduce two new initiatives to its portfolio of Sporting Development Programs for the 2012 scholarship period.

The two new programs are an Athletes With a Disability Program (AWD) as well as an Individual Athlete Program (IAP).

The Athlete With a Disability Program and Individual Athlete Program will involve up to five athletes each year. The focus of each program is to provide each scholarship holder with funding ($750 per athlete) and support services which will assist the athlete in reaching their full potential. As well as the funding, each athlete will participate in workshops focussing on Sports Psychology, Strength and Conditioning and Nutrition, Recovery and Core Strength. Additionally, they will be involved in the various personal development initiatives that the Southern Sports Academy provides for its athletes each year.

The Athlete With a Disability Program is open to all age groups and requires the athlete to have represented their chosen sport at a regional level.

The Individual Athlete Program is only available to athletes aged 13-18 years, and who are a minimum state level representative. Athletes eligible to participate in the current Academy programs of Basketball, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball and Golf, will not be eligible for the Individual Athlete Program scholarship.

The Executive Director of the Southern Sports Academy, Greg McLay, was excited at the prospect of hosting the new programs in 2012:

“The introduction of the two new programs is a most exciting time for the Academy. There continues to be a large number of young athletes in Southern NSW who are crying out for help, but are unable to access this help due to financial and other considerations. Through the introduction of the Athlete With a Disability and Individual Athlete Programs, we are hoping that a lot of these athletes will no longer ‘fall through the net’ and receive the kind of support they have been seeking and undoubtedly deserve.”

The Athlete with a Disability Program and Individual Athlete Program will be kindly supported by Flynn Sprake Financial Planning who also recognise the merits of offering such a program to the wide range of talented athletes in the Southern NSW region.

Flynn Sprake Financial Planning Director Gwen Fellows said the firm was very pleased to be able to continue its support of the Southern Sports Academy through these programs.

“They give athletes the opportunity to further their skills and knowledge and compete at higher levels,” Gwen said.

Nominations for the two new programs are available at the Academy website or by phoning the Academy on 69318111.

State Honours for Lee and Hooppell

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000

Two members of the Southern Sports Academy Hockey Squad have both made their presence felt at recent Victorian State trials, with Cassie Lee being confirmed as a member of the Women’s Under 18 State Team and Ben Hooppell gaining selection in the Under 18 Men’s Squad. Both Cassie and Ben have taken part in a series of trials in recent weeks and their respective selections were only confirmed today.

Ben and Cassie have been scholarship holders in the Southern Sports Academy Hockey Program for the past three years and are carrying on the rich tradition of Albury Hockey talent making waves in the sport nationally, following on from current Australian Women’s Squad member and fellow Academy scholarship holder, Jocelyn Bartram.

Cassie is a dynamic midfielder who has pace to burn and as a consequence, is never out of the contest. She is a brilliant reader of the play and a highly valued leader within the Southern Sports Academy squad. Cassie will now travel to Newcastle for the Australian championships, which are being held from 10th April, 2012.

Ben, meanwhile, is a strapping young man who, reminiscent of his former fellow squad member Bartram, performs the unenviable task of Goal Keeping. His work ethic and commitment to the sport are second to none and thoroughly deserves his pace in the Victorian Squad. Ben will gauge if he is in the starting team in approximately three weeks time and if successful, will travel to Brisbane for the Men’s Australian Championships which are also being staged from the 10th April.

Much credit must go the Head Coaches of the Southern Sports Academy program, Paul Oakman (Field) and Nick Tinning (Goal Keeping), who have spent countless hours finetuning the respective skills of the two state representatives, over the past three pre-seasons. Many of the training sessions have been held in stifling heat and bears testament to the commitment levels of both Cassie and Ben.

The Southern Sports Academy has a training session taking place in Albury this Sunday, from 9:30am at the Albury Hockey Centre.

Southern Sports Academy Bowls Squad

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The Southern Sports Academy Lawn Bowls squad has been confirmed, following an induction and training day held at the Wagga Rules Club, who are also the sponsors of the program. The squad is as follows:

Brandon Burns (Hay)
Cody O’Keeffe (Narrandera)
Isaac Rayner (Coolamon)
Jessica Cousley (Wagga)
Luke Helson (Leeton)
Mathew Hensel (Culcairn)
Rachel Hensel (Culcairn)
Sean Smith (Junee)

Head Coach Brett White (Wagga)
Manager Linda Helson (Leeton)

The squad has had a change in coach in 2012, with Brett White taking over the reins. Brett has a superb record in representative bowls in the region and brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. The squad has achieved an enviable record in the three years it has operated, producing two Australian Under 19 representatives in Bradley Thomas and Thomas Webb.

The prospects for the 2012 intake appear very bright with two current NSW State Squad members selected into the squad in Mathew and Rachel Hensel. They are supported in the squad by several outstanding prospects who are also destined for higher honours.

The first major goal for the squad will be a good performance at the Clubs NSW Academy Games, being held in Wollongong from April 13-15.

NSW Institute of Sport Coach at Hockey Camp

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000

The normal high level of intensity experienced at a training run of the Southern Sports Academy Hockey Squad will rise to new levels this Sunday, when NSW Institute of Sport and Hockey NSW Coach – Judy Laing will put the squad through their paces from 9:30am at the Jubilee Park Hockey Fields in Wagga Wagga.

The squad, which was selected late in 2011, has already completed four training sessions under the guidance of Head Coaches, Paul Oakman and Nick Tinning and is gearing towards the Clubs NSW Academy Games, to be held in Wollongong in the April school holidays. A real bonus for the squad in 2012 has been the involvement of former Australian Schoolboy Representative and NSW State Squad member, Casey Younie, who is involved in an Assistant Coaching capacity with the squad. Experienced Hockey Coach and gun local player, Stefanie Brown is also an assistant coach of the squad.

“We are really thrilled to welcome Judy to Wagga for this training session – she is a great supporter of Hockey in regional NSW and has attended at least one of our training sessions for the last three years. Judy manages the Emerging Talent Program for NSWIS/Hockey NSW and we are sure that she will be impressed with the skill levels of our squad members,” said the Manager of the Hockey Squad, Bruce Sterling.

The Southern Sports Academy Hockey Squad has also been privileged to have had some coaching from former Australian Representative and current Australian Women’s Coach – Adam Commens, late in 2011. The Academy program endeavours to provide the best coaching possible for all of its scholarship holders and there can be no doubt that the Wagga RSL Hockey Squad has enjoyed just that in recent times.

7 Netballers in NSW TAP Squad

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -1000

The Southern Sports Academy 15 years Netball Development Squad has performed creditably at the annual Netball NSW 15’s Championships on the weekend with an unprecedented 7 members of the squad gaining selection in the Netball NSW Talented Athlete Program following the Championships.

The seven members of the squad are:

Bridgette Brown - Warburn Sally Brown - Barellan Bella Hartnett - Batlow Maddie Mannes - Colleambally Meg Neyland - Adelong Georgia Smith – Wagga Wagga Tara Horne - Wagga Wagga

All seven members of the Southern Sports Academy 15’s Squad will now attend a high performance training camp in Narrabeen, Sydney from October 28-30 where members of the NSW Swifts team will be in attendance to put the girls through an extensive weekend of skills training, physical testing and workshops relating to Netball specific issues. All athletes attending the camp will also be put through specialist skills sessions in relation to the position they play on court.

In addition to the seven members of the squad being selected in the Talented Athlete Program, Meg Neyland from Adelong has also gained selection in the Netball NSW ‘Tallies Squad’, which is obviously a program that targets the taller athletes in the state. Meg will be required to attend a separate Tallies Camp at a date to be notified.

The success of the Southern Sports Academy 15’s Development Squad is a very good indicator of the quality of young netballer that is currently in our region and a very positive sign for the potential composition of the 2012 Academy Open Netball Team, which has dominated the regional NSW Netball landscape in the last 12 months. Trials for this squad will take place on October 22 and 23 at the Junee Recreation Centre with nominations closing for the trial in mid October.

Scott Returns with National Title

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -1000

The outstanding 2011 performances of Southern Sports Academy Cycling squad member, Cameron Scott, have been capped off with the gun young cyclist winning the Australian Time Trial Championship at the National Road titles that were held in Shepparton on the weekend. Scott also collected a Silver Medal in the Criterium and rode a gutsy race to finish 5th in the Road Race.

It was the Time Trial on the first day of the National Junior Road Championships, however, where Cameron was able to stamp his class on the field. In a race against the clock, Scott peeled off an outstanding ride, stopping the clock at 15 minutes and 22 seconds, a full 4 seconds from his nearest rival, Matthew Jackson from WA. The Time Trial was held over a demanding 10km course just outside of Shepparton.

The road ride on the Saturday comprised a challenging 35km course that was largely run into the teeth of a strong headwind. A breakaway group of two riders managed to gap the main peloton, at one stage setting up a 50 second lead. Cameron took it upon himself to cut back the margin, being the lead out rider for the chasing group that was principally comprised of riders from WA. The WA team managed to latch on to the wheel of Cameron in the chase and did not leave his wheel until the final few hundred metres of the race. Cameron managed to hang on to 5th place in what was a very gutsy effort, with the final time margin being only 12 seconds to the winners.

The Criterium was held on the Sunday and comprised a 1.8 km course. All riders were to ride the course for 20 minutes, where an additional 3 laps were then required from all riders. The NSW riders supported Cameron throughout the race, until such time as the pace was really on in the final few laps. Here, Cameron rode a very smart race and turned the tables on the WA contingent by following their lead from the day before. He managed to latch on to the lead bunch of WA riders where he hung on until the final throes of the Criterium. In the final sprint, Scott managed to snare second place and the Silver Medal. Matthew Jackson from WA, who placed second behind Cameron in the time Trial, managed to hang on to win the Gold Medal in the Criterium.

According to the Head Coach of the Southern Sports Academy Cycling Program, Iain Hume, Scott can now take a well deserved rest. His outstanding season on the bike has seen him collect an Australian title in the 15 Years Time Trial, a Silver Medal in the 15 Years National Junior Criterium, 6 State titles in the 15 years age group and the prestigious Heinrich Haussler Two Day Classic.

This, in itself, is an unbelievable year – given he has another year in the 15 Years age group only serves to reinforce that Cameron Scott is one of the most talented young athletes to ever to wear the Southern Sports Academy colours.

Scott Wins Three State Titles

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000

The feats of Southern Sports Academy Cycling Squad member, Cameron Scott, continue to amaze with the 13 year old demoralising his opposition to win all three NSW road titles that were on offer at the State Road Championships, held in Armidale over the weekend.

In an unprecedented display of junior road racing, Scott won gold medals in the NSW U/15 Road Race, NSW U/15 Criterium and the NSW U/15 Time Trial. Cameron’s younger brother, Lachlan, who is also shaping as a huge talent on the bike, also managed to win a gold medal in the U/13 Road Race and a bronze medal in the U/13 Criterium.

Cameron’s performances at the State Road championships almost guarantee him a spot in the NSW Road Team to contest the Australian Junior Road Championships, to be held in Shepparton in early September.

A glance at Scott’s performances in Armidale provide a great shapshot of the level of talent he has on the bike. In a demanding road race that comprised seven laps of a demanding 4.5 kilometre circuit, including a tough 1.5 km hill climb, Scott made his move on the final lap in a solo breakaway that broke the hearts of his competitors. He went on to win the road race with over 300 metres to the second placed rider.

His performance in the Time Trial had as much, if not more merit. Over the 8 kilometre course Cameron spaced his nearest competitor by a massive 39 seconds.

Head Coach of the southern Sports Academy Cycling Squad, Iain Hume, was understandably thrilled with the latest performances of Scott.

“He sure is a very talented rider. He has probably benefited from having a very talented older brother (Jeremy Scott) who drags Cameron along with him on his own road rides. That combined with his undeniable talent and discipline make him a great kid to coach and a formidable rider for other kids in the state to catch. Let’s not forget, he still has another year to go in the Under 15’s, so he is beating kids who are a full year older than him. He is not only beating them, but putting a space on them in the process.”

“The Australian Junior Road Championships will provide a very stern test for him – the best kids from all over Australia will be there. However, we know he will acquit himself well and do his absolute best – and that is all I ask of all of our Academy squad members.”

Cameron’s little brother, Lachlan, will be eligible to make the Southern Sports Academy Cycling Squad in 2012 and based on his recent performances, the Scott family will figure in many more state titles in the future.