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WIMMERA Regional Sports Assembly’s Sport Star of the Year will be crowned tomorrow night.
Fourteen nominees are vying for the coveted award.
The first nominee is Horsham triathlete Ella Walsgott, who earned her nomination after being selected in the School Sport Victoria’s 2017 state triathlon team. Of the 32 athletes selected, she was one of four from a regional area.
She was nominated again after being selected in the Victorian umpire group to officiate at the School Sport Australia national AFL championships.
The 13-year-old achieved her level one boundary umpire accreditation and was presented with the Wimmera and District Umpires Group golden emu award for an up-and-coming umpire and possessing a unique running style.
She received a SSV academic and sporting achievement medal.
Horsham swimmer Miette Hopper was nominated after her gold medal-winning performance at the Victorian Sprint Championships.
Not only did she snare gold in the under-14, 50-metre breaststroke – but she also swam the third-fastest time of any 14-year-old to that point of the season. Her time of 34.86 seconds puts her sixth on the list among her age group.
St Michael’s tennis player Steffi McDonald was nominated after being selected in the School Sport Victoria under-18 tennis team.
She was one of eight girls from across the state to be selected. However, representing Victoria was not new to McDonald, who also won selection in the SSV under-13 team three years ago.
Horsham Pony Club member Morgan Lane was nominated after winning the Australian Stock Horse Society National Youth Point Score Competition 2016 in eventing. Lane also completed with three other equestrians representing the Midland Zone to win the Pony Club Victoria Interzones State Championship for eventing grade four.
Sebastian Dalgleish was nominated after being selected in the nine-member Victorian umpire group to officiate at the School Sport Australia national AFL championships.
He umpired the gold and bronze matches and was ranked in the top two umpires at the nationals for the second year in a row.
Dalgleish umpired the senior interleague football match between the Horsham District and Colac leagues as well as officiating the Wimmera league senior grand final – the youngest person to do so.
He was awarded the golden whistle award for the Wimmera and District Football Umpires Group.
Jackson Walsgott also won a nomination for being selected in the Victorian umpire group to officiate at the School Sport Australia national AFL championships. He was selected as a boundary umpire for the gold medal match.
Walsgott umpired his first Wimmera league senior match and went on to umpire the Horsham District league’s under-17 grand final.
All-abilities lawn bowler Josh Barry’s nomination came after claiming two golds and a bronze medal at the National Disability Championship. After winning the singles gold in a tight contest, he was in contention for selection in the Australian Commonwealth Games team.
All-abilities footballer Tyson Harris won his nomination after gaining All-Australian selection at the National Inclusion Football Carnival. Harris was the youngest All-Australian selected and his team claimed the bronze medal position. The 16-year-old is a member of the Wimmera Whippets and played for Nhill’s under-17 football team in the Wimmera League.
Harris had a solid week with the Victorian Country team being a key player in their midfield group.
World Dwarf Games medallist Joel Emmett received his nomination after returning from the games with a bronze medal in basketball. It was his first experience at an international level. He also competed in badminton, soccer and weightlifting.
Horsham volleyballers John Kearns and Noah Brennan were joint nominees after their Victorian Gold team won division one silver at the National Junior Volleyball Championships.
Brennan made his debut at the championships, playing as the team’s back up setter, whereas Kearns made his second appearance.
Horsham netballer Emma Buwalda was recognised after an outstanding year on the court. She was a key player in Horsham Demons netball grand final.
Buwalda took out the best-and-fairest award for the Demons while finishing fourth in the league medal vote count and taking out the best player under-21 award. She also played with the ACU Sovereigns under-19 development team in the Ballarat Netball Association, which placed second.
Gymnast Ben Grey won his nomination after his gold medal performance in the level two open competition at the state gymnastics championships. The 10-year-old performed on six apparatus. He won two gold, one silver, two bronze and a fifth, which placed him on top of the leaderboard.
Horsham Saints netballer Maggie Caris was the final nominee after she played in the Victorian 15-and-under netball team, which won gold at the Pacific School Games. She was selected as an All-Australian and in the Victorian 17-and-under netball team as a tier one athlete to compete at the national titles this year.