The VIATEK Central Coast Academy of Sport Awards Evening was held on Wednesday 22nd November at Mingara Recreation Club. In a room full of influential guests, athletes, parents and supporters the CCAS announced the major award winners for 2018.
The awards evening was the second stage of the restructured awards presentation. All the sporting program athletes of the year winners and encouragement award winners (who were announced at the previous weeks Athlete Celebration), these rearward recipients were all in the running to be announced as the overall Central Coast Academy of Sport Male or Female Athlete of the Year.
The CCAS is proud to announce the following winners:
| Major Awards | |
| Male Athlete of the Year: | Eli Taylor |
| Female Athlete of the Year: | Milla Evans |
| Chairman’s Award: | Kaya Ardita |
| The Ray Sandell Dedication to Sporting Excellence:
The Office of Sport Coaching Scholarship: |
Graeme Carroll
Will Granger |
Office of Sport Coaching Scholarship – Will Granger
Will Granger is the current Program Head Coach of the Basketball program, his position as the Program Head Coach means Will oversees all coaching across the basketball program. The Club Terrigal Basketball program has ten (10) coaches involved and thirty-four (34) athletes under his direct control.
Will was chosen as a suitable coach for the OOS Scholarship based on his dedication to his coaching, his willingness to study the game and his quest for information to make him a more effective coach. As a qualified teacher the link between teaching and coaching has placed him in advantageous position, his coaching is based on his knowledge of the important of building superior fundamental skills, these then allow game strategies and technical considerations to follow.
Ray Sandell Dedication to Sporting Excellence – Graeme Carroll
Graeme Carrol has been a huge part of the CCAS Swimming Program over the past four years. Graeme is a highly qualified coach, holding a Gold Licence 246, and is backed up by a mountain of incredible experience. Graeme has coached in the World Swimming Championships in Rome and Perth, the Sydney Olympics, and in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Paralympics. Graeme has coached multiple World Record Paralympic swimmers, as well as being the Head Coach at the AIS for Paralympic swimmers, and coach for multiple NSW State teams.
Graeme is about to fly over to Japan where he has been asked to be a part of the TV series “Wonder Lesson” which shows challenges and interactions of Japanese students and coaches are invited from around the world. On their two-year history, broadcasted activities have included tennis, golf, figure skate, dancing and cooking. All coaches that have been invited are highly regarded.
Graeme’s philosophy is about having a great time as you grow within the sport, and learning from experiences. Graeme believes “Knowledge is not a personal gift… Pass it around.”
CCAS Chairman’s Award – Kaya Ardita
Kaya has had a stellar 2018 across a range of sports, including Touch Football. Kaya, like our other Touch Football award winners this season is a second-year athlete and his willingness to learn and his commitment to training for all of his sports is seeing his talent flourish. Some of the 2018 highlights for Kaya in Touch Football include selection in the NSWCHS Open Boys Touch team and making his Premier League debut for the Central Coast Dolphins. Well done Kaya!
CCAS Male Athlete of the Year – Eli Taylor
Eli has had a breakout year with the CCAS. Eli was an amazing leader for all his squad members. Eli’s year was highlighted with his selection in the NSW country U16 state team where he competed at the U16 National Championships held on the Sunshine Coast earlier in the year.. Eli also had a very consistent and successful academy games and as a result has been elevated to the Basketball NSW State Performance Program (SPP). Eli is the first Basketball player to receive this award, he holds a lofty position as the CCAS has produced some outstanding male players since the organisations inception in 2004, congratulations to Eli on achieving this outstanding result. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Eli as he is on the NSW radar as a player to watch.
CCAS Female Athlete of the Year- Milla Evans
The standard of the netball program in 2018 makes this award so difficult to allocate, as many of our athletes have demonstrated their loyal commitment and worked toward their goals. It was, however, a unanimous decision that this athlete receive player of the year for 2018. She has been in the netball program as a young 14 year old in 2016 and is one of our graduating athletes this year. She works incredibly hard, having the discipline to do so even when eyes aren’t on her. She is always trying to improve on her skills and knowledge of the game by gaining feedback and then implementing it out on court. Spectators, coaches, selectors and players can’t help but look on in awe, as she moves with speed, determination and grace on the court, striving for every ball and displaying her incredible skills. She is also very humble in her abilities and is always a team player. Her achievements range from making NSW U15’s School Netball to playing in the Samsung Premier League U20’s for Central Coast Heart. We are so excited to see where she takes her netball and know she’ll do so with passion, commitment and talent to burn. Congratulations, Milla Evans.
Emily Burgess-Moore the CCAS Events Manager said of the awards evening; “We have adjusted our awards to allow us to incorporate fun and formality. This week we were able to host the formal CCAS awards evening and recognise the talented athletes that have come through CCAS programs in 2018. It is a huge honour for Eli and Milla to have taken out the CCAS Male and Female Athletes of the Year as the talent over all the sporting programs was of such a high level. It’s also great to be able to recognise Graeme and Will and the contribution all our coaches make to the Academy, the time they devote to help our region’s best up and coming athletes is substantial, congratulations and thanks to them for everything they have done over the past year. We look forward to this evening every year and I think this year has been one of the most notable to date, the attendance by the Mayor Jane Smith to present Mayoral certificates to all our athletes was also very very special and we thank her for her support to this major sporting event of the region”
