IN one of the highlights of the academy calendar, 148 athletes and 24 coaches and support staff from the Illawarra Academy of Sport headed to the Hunter region from April 16-18 to compete against more than 1300 young stars at the 2021 Your Local Club Academy Games.
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Of the 148 athletes that represented the IAS at the games, 18 came from the Shoalhaven including Amelia Anderson, Yasmin Anderson, Niki Murray, Nayana Patmore, Grace Hughes (all under 18 girls AFL), Madison Carr, Taylah Clarke, Isabella McConville (all under 16 girls AFL), Toby Royston (under 14 boys basketball), Indiana Hayburn (under 14 girls basketball), Remy Martin (under 16 boys basketball), Bella-Rose Pond (golf), Liana Taufa'ao (division one netball), Brooke Mayor, Julia Edwards, Taryn Drewe (division two netball), Zac Peters and Zara Jobson (both triathlon).
The IAS had representation in each of the six sports on offer at the games; girls AFL, basketball, golf, hockey, netball and triathlon, and came away with two gold medals, four silver medals and three bronze placings.
The two gold medals came in the triathlon, thanks to Montana Doubell - (female youth and third in the national youth title) and Mitchell Blackbourn (male junior), while the silvers were secured in the three basketball divisions (under 14 boys and girls as well as under 16 boys) and by Bella-Rose Pond (girls nett golf).
Finally, the IAS finished with the bronze in the triathlon youth mixed relay (Montana Doubell, Callum Burge, Alexis Bell and Harry Fraser) and both girls AFL age divisions (under 16 and 18).
But success isn't only measured by achievements on the field, but also off the field with the exceptional camaraderie and sportsmanship shown by the IAS athletes throughout the entire weekend.
"The characteristics and traits that we try to espouse in our athletes were on show and we were so impressed with the tenacity, respect, competitiveness, support, camaraderie, skill, pride and - dare I say it - professionalism that each athlete displayed," IAS CEO John Armstrong said.