2023 June Edition Magazine

W E L C O M E

Penrith Bluebet Stadium, 143 Station Street, Penrith 2750

(02) 4732 4977

www wsas com au

WELCOME to the Second edition of our magazine, and the latest edition of WSAS News

This year has been full of excitement and achievements for our athletes and their programs

We hope you enjoy all the latest news, athlete insights, events, sponsor information and community engagement that this magazine showcases.

FROM THE CEO

As stated in our previous edition, 2023 has been a particularly active year for the Academy across all of our operational platforms

Our various athlete development programs have been in full swing with a number of squads presented at the annual Academy Games event held in Wagga Wagga in April The Games featured our squads from Netball, Netball Umpiring, Golf, Triathlon and Volleyball, with all squads acquitting themselves wonderfully well.

I would like to recognise and say a huge thank you to our Coaches and managers who looked after our athletes

As we progress through our program operations we have provided a number technical, educational and personal development components to our athlete cohort This has included athlete recognition receptions hosted by The Hills Shire Council, Penrith and Blacktown City Councils

Our Volleyball and Netball squads are being prepared for significant match play tournaments taking place at Port Macquarie, with these events serving as talent identification and development opportunities

Many of our programs are now undergoing a review of their delivery, and extensive consultation is taking place with our key stakeholders i e Coaches, athletes and parents, SSOs and the NSW Office of Sport regarding program content, benefits, delivery schedules etc

The Academies future program offerings are also being continually assessed, with recent discussions held with Touch Football, Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls and Athletics

PENRITH PANTHERS RECEPTION!

LONESTAR ATHLETES RECOGNITION!

We have an exciting cohort of 22 talented young local Western Sydney athletes who are benefitting from their involvement in our educational and personal development services, and the provision of financial support by the Panthers Penrith Leagues Club in the administration of our Lone Star program

Supported by Panthers Penrith, we were grateful to host a short event on 11 April 2023 for our Lonestar athletes to recognise their participation in our program.

Panthers Leagues Club is a strongly established community oriented Club in the western Sydney and broader Sydney metropolitan region, and seeks to implement effective business strategies through engaging the local community and stakeholders

A big thank you to Panthers' General Manager, Jason Stone for providing us with the financial support and the relationship created to help us deliver our Lone Star Program.

Another big thank you to Melissa & Josh Wu from HrdKaw Strength and Conditioning who have helped us deliver our Lone Star program for 2022/2023

Their support has helped the Academy with the delivery of our important education seminars, athlete uniforms and Academy events

The purpose of these relationships is to ensure that the athletes of Western Sydney are seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge within their chosen sports and to provide them with a development pathway.

LIVE YOUR PURPOSE

Young Athlete Program

At Sydney West Sports Medicine, we offer Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program consisting of group Strength and Conditioning (S&C) classes for ages 12-17 years in a gym-based setting Strength training is a safe and effective for children and adolescents when appropriately designed and delivered by strength & conditioning coaches and Accredited Exercise Physiologists

It is commonly stated that “children are not mini adults” Children and adolescents do not develop at the same rate. Males and females of the same age will have varying rates of growth, physical fitness and psychosocial maturation. The LTAD program uses a holistic approach that considers mental, cognitive and emotional development of the athlete mixed with their physical development, ensuring each athlete meets their own individual needs as they develop into adolescents

Due to this individualised nature of growth and development, every child/adolescent will respond differently to a training stimulus, and therefore training programs should be specific to that athlete where possible This ensures that youth development is specific to the athlete, whilst reducing injury risk

The purpose of the LTAD program is to support and invest in athletes at all stages of their Athletic Development pathway Not only are we supporting top elite performance but we are also supporting the growth and participation rate of the sport Strength training is a supplementary to an athletes current training to enhance performance, health and longevity Implementing regular S&C sessions will assist with improving power, speed, strength, injury risk and performance in the athletes chosen sport

Strength and Conditioning coaches are qualified to provide safe, supervised, developmentally appropriate strength and conditioning programs for youth of all ages and abilities. They follow the ASCA guidelines on “Resistance Training for Children and Youth” and apply an LTAD model to youth athlete programs. Strength and Conditioning programs are reviewed on whether they enhance performance for the short-term or promote longterm, elite athletic development This will ensure a healthy and positive experience with strength and fitness that will benefit young athletes with developing their sporting career and promoting a positive attitude towards health and fitness long-term

NETBALL PLAY AT GIANTS

SSN CURTAIN RAISER!

WSAS PLAY AT GIANTS Netball SSN CURTAIN RAISER!

A big THANK YOU to our Partners at Netball NSW and the team at GIANTS Netball for the opportunity A selected squad was chosen to play an Exhibition Curtain Match for the GIANTS Netball VS Collingwood Magpies Netball

Well done to the girls and coaching staff who were chosen to represent #WSAS!

CANOE SLALOM ALUMNI

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Silver C1 2023 Paddle

Australia Canoe Slalom National Championships.

Silver K1 2023 Paddle

Australia Canoe Slalom National Championships.

Gold K1 at Tacen World Cup in Slovenia.

Gold C1 at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague.

Gold C1 at the World Cup 1 in Augsburg.

Crowned Kayak Cross National Champion at 2023 Paddle Australia National Championships.

JESSICA FOX

NOEMIE FOX

INDIGENOUS TALENT ID DAY! COMING SOON!

The WSAS Indigenous Talent ID day event, proudly supported by UAA, is a sporting platform for athletes to be identified and where suitable and where possible to gain selection in one of the WSAS sports programs and/or additional sports of their interest. Those identified will be offered the opportunity to advance to fully funded scholarship positions with the Western Sydney Academy of Sport Scholarship Programs or provided support as they seek entry into a new sporting pathway

Talent Identified Students!

WSAS will run a program for identified students from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talent ID day The successful participants may then be offered a position to a sport scholarship program where applicable Students must be committed to the opportunity before accepting the scholarship

FAIRFIELD CITY MAYORAL MINUTE!

FAIRFIELD ATHLETES RECOGNITION!

Over our 19 years of operation there has been a total of 236 athletes we have provided with scholarships from the Fairfield LGA.

The Western Sydney Academy of Sport was recognised at the Fairfield City Council meeting on 18 April 2023.

Not only is this wonderful recognition for the Academy, but also for our two athletes Zak Marsh and Steven Vo who were recognised for their achievements and goals amongst Fairfield City Council

A big thank you to Mayor, Clr Frank Carbone for your support of the Academy!

For more information, click here!

ALUMNI STANDOUT FOR GIANTS NETBALL!

Matisse Letherbarrow was apart of the Academy's Netball program over the course of 2015, 2016 and 2017.

A young shooter with a promising career ahead of her, Matisse Letherbarrow stands at 188cm tall and offers both a long range and accurate shot Entering her third season in the GIANTS' 10, the 21-year-old is ready to prove herself with any opportunity she gets.

We are so proud of her and wish her nothing but the best for her future career!

BLACKTOWN CITY MAYORAL MINUTE! BLACKTOWN ATHLETES RECOGNITION!

Over our 19 years of operation there has been a total of 660 athletes we have provided with scholarships from the Blacktown LGA

The Western Sydney Academy of Sport was recognised at the Blacktown City Council meeting on 28 June 2023.

Not only is this wonderful recognition for the Academy, but also for our athletes who were recognised for their achievements and efforts amongst Blacktown City Council

A big thank you to Deputy Mayor, Clr Julie Griffiths AM for your support of the Academy!

For more information, click here!

Pictured: Grace Tautua (Netball), Marie Claire Domingo (Golf), Murray Gibson (Softball), Kirra Gibson (Softball), Deputy Mayor Clr Julie Griffiths AM, Liam Havron (Lonestar - Swimming), Payton Meincke (Lonestar - Baton Twirling), Jason Attard (Lonestar - Tenpin Bowling) and Giselle Neil Russel (Volleyball)

BMX STANDOUTS AT NATIONAL SERIES!

SUPERCLASS for our WSAS Athletes Erica Goodwin from Penrith BMX Club & AJ Donald from Hawkesbury Hornets BMX Club had a highly rewarding weekend over in Western Australia for the AusCycling BMX Racing National Series!

Erica's RESULTS:

Round 1

4th - Junior Superclass

3rd - 14 Girls

Round 2

7th - Junior Superclass

2nd - 14 Girls

AJ's RESULTS:

Round 1

1st - Junior Superclass

1st - 16 Boys

Round 2

1st - Junior Superclass

6th - 16 Boys

ATHLETE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM!

YOUNG SPORTING STARS HONOURED AT HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL!

HILLS SHIRE ATHLETES RECOGNITION!

Our aspiring young athletes from the Hills Shire Council have been recognised for their contribution to their sporting programs during a special ceremony at Council offices on Wednesday, May 31.

Dr Peter Gangemi - Mayor of The Hills Shire Council congratulated 25 up-and-coming talented athletes and four coaches from the Western Sydney Academy of Sport and presented them with certificates of recognition

Mayor Gangemi, WSAS’s Council Director, said it was an incredible honour to be selected into the Academy, a not-for-profit community-based organisation offering a holistic development program

WSAS CEO Martin Bullock said The Hills Shire Council had been a strong supporter and advocate of their athletes and programs since the Academy’s inception in 2004

“In that time, the Academy has provided 530 scholarships to young, local Hills Shire athletes across various sports,” Mr Bullock said

For more information and photos from the event, click here!

YOUNG SPORTING STARS HONOURED AT PENRITH CITY COUNCIL!

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL ATHLETES RECOGNITION!

Our aspiring young athletes from the Penrith City Council have been recognised for their contribution to their sporting programs during a special ceremony at Council offices on Thursday, June 29.

Tricia Hitchen - Mayor of The Penrith City Council congratulated our up-and-coming talented athletes and coaches from the Western Sydney Academy of Sport and presented them with certificates of recognition

A big thank you to Mayor, Clr Tricia Hitchen and Penrith City Council for your support of the Academy!

For more information and photos from the event, click here!

SOFTBALLERS OUT WITH PRIDE!

⚾ SOFTBALL SQUAD VISIT CANBERRA ⚾

The Softball ACT Canberra Pride program is for players interested in developing their skills, having fun, travelling to new and exciting locations to play teeball and softball. Canberra Pride teams also participate in local events.

Our WSAS Softball Squad travelled down to Canberra over 19-21 May 2023 to participate in Canberra Pride hosted by Softball ACT

It was a great weekend of Softball for our athletes and they all represented the Academy with PRIDE.

A big thank you to all our Academy Softball Staff for their hard work over the weekend, organisation and commitment to our great program!

WSAS ATHLETES HEAD TO WAGGA!

REGIONAL ACADEMIES OF SPORT TAKEOVER AT YOUR LOCAL CLUB ACADEMY GAMES!

Over 1000 high performance athletes were on display at the 2023 Your Local Club Academy Games, hosted by the Southern Sports Academy in Wagga Wagga.

Our Academy athletes across Volleyball, Netball, Netball Umpiring, Golf and Triathlon participated throughout the weekend and we can't be prouder of their efforts! It was a great display of talent over the weekend across all Academies

A big thank you to all our athletes, athlete parents, WSAS staff & the team at Southern Sports Academy for all their hard work and dedication throughout the weekend!

VOLLEYBALL IN WAGGA RESULTS

SUMMARY

Well done to our Volleyball squad, who have been the FIRST WSAS Volleyball squad to join the Your Local Club Academy Games!

The volleyball competition was based out of the Bolton Park Precinct in Wagga Wagga.

The weekend featured a great display of Round Robin competition, with our Boys JUST missing out on finals to claim FOURTH place

Our girls squad competed in the final's against our friends and neighbors South West Sydney Academy of Sport and WHAT A GAME it was!

Our girls took out SECOND in what was a nailbiting display!

A big thank you to all our athletes, athlete parents, WSAS staff and coaches for all their hard work and dedication throughout this weekend!

A special thanks to our WSAS Volleyball Squad Manager Melinda and the coaching staff who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend.

GOLF IN WAGGA RESULTS SUMMARY

Well done to our Golf athletes at this year's Your Local Club Academy Games!

The squad and golf competition was based at Wagga Wagga Country Club on Saturday and Tumut Golf Club on Sunday

On Saturday, we achieved the following:

BOYS SCRATCH | Tied 1st Zak Marsh, Tied 4th Blake Hodges, 10th Noah Reitsma, Tied 31st James Hoang, Tied 35th Riley

Cleminson, 43rd Jake Thompson, Tied 49th Brent Gadd.

GIRLS SCRATCH | Tied 4th Annoushka Maikap,13th Savannah Webb, 16th MarieClaire Domingo, Tied 17th Jessica Fog.

BOYS NETT | 3rd Zak Marsh, 6th Blake Hodges, 14th Noah Reitsma, 29th Riley Cleminson, 36th Jake Thompson, 54th James Hoang, 58th Grent Gadd.

GIRLS NETT | 7th Annoushka Maikap, 12th Jessica Fog, 13th Savannah Webb, 18th Marie-Claire Domingo.

TEAM SCORES | 2nd.

A big thank you to all our athletes, athlete parents, WSAS staff and coaches for all their hard work and dedication throughout this weekend!

NETBALL IN WAGGA RESULTS SUMMARY

Well done to our Digital Realty Netball & Netball Umpiring athletes, who were a STANDOUT at this years Your Local Club Academy Games.

Based at Equex Centre in SUNNY Wagga Wagga, our GIRLS were competing against 10 fellow Academies, as well as teams from Netball NSW

Sunday - and finals - saw our Division 2 claim FIRST and WHAT A GAME it was! Our MVP's across the weekend were Charlotte Ward (Division 1) and Alannah Hardman (Division 2).

A special congratulations to our Umpire girls Samantha Hoad and Ashleigh Sagovac who courts too Also a mpire Amber Goldie mpiring C Badge!

our athletes, athlete coaches for all their ion throughout this

TRIATHLON IN WAGGA RESULTS SUMMARY

Well done to our Triathlon Squad at this year's Your Local Club Academy Games

Based out of the Oasis Centre around Bolton Park in SUNNY Wagga Wagga, our squad competed in what proved to be very high standards.

Across our Heats, we achieved the following:

Heat 1

MALE YOUTH 13-14YRS | 3RD Ethan Mackie

FEMALE YOUTH 13-14YRS | 2ND Ella Dickson

Heat 2

MALE YOUTH 13-14YRS | 4TH Alexander

Mackie, 5TH Zacary Green

Heat 3

MALE YOUTH 13-14YRS | 1ST Alexander

Eason

Para Triathlon PTS4 | 1ST Matthew Engesser

FEMALE YOUTH 15-17YRS | 1ST Leila

Dickson

A FINAL

Male Youth 13-14YRS | 4th Ethan Mackie

B FINAL

Male Junior 15-17YRS | 1st Alexander Eason

C FINAL

Male Youth 13-14YRS | 1st Alexander Mackie, 3RD Zacary Green

Para Triathlon PTS4 | 1st Matthew Engesser

Female Junior 15-17YRS | 4th Leila Dickson

D FINAL

Female Youth 13-14YRS | 1ST Ella Dickson

Team Relay | WSAS 5th & 12th

A big thank you to all our athletes, athlete parents, WSAS staff and coaches for all their hard work and dedication throughout this weekend!

ACHIEVEMENTS

ACROSS THE ACADEMY!

Nikolas Selby, Lonestar

Chelsea Cocks, Volleybal Selection in the Combined Independent Schools Junior Phoenix Squad.

Ezekiel Pratt, Rowing Crowned BEST IN THE STATE - NSW Rowing Championships.

PARTNER WITH US SECURE AN ATHLETE'S FUTURE IN SPORT ⬆

Do you know someone who would be interested in supporting the future generation of Athletes?

The Western Sydney Academy of Sport has a range of opportunities for companies and organisations to support the potential of our programs and their athletes. The Academy has options such as our Ambassador Program, which provides opportunities for local businesses and individuals to contribute a small level of support for our talented young athletes

Businesses and individuals can become an Academy Ambassador through an annual contribution of $500 which enables them to establish a connection with one of the Academy’s athletes and develop a personal relationship, supporting them in their journey and progression along the development pathway. Businesses will also receive marketing benefits in return from the Academy

As a not-for-profit community-based organisation, all revenue generated by the Academy is applied to its program operations which directly benefit over 200 athletes each year. All funds raised from the hip will be applied to the provision of specific activities for the athletes

ontact the Academy's Communications and or email madeleine@wsas.com.au for further e future of Australian athletes in sport.

TO ALL OUR PARTNERS T H A N K Y O U

LET'S GROW

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W E A R E W E S T E R N S Y D N E Y