1
South West Academy of Sport www.swaswa.com.au 9795 1783 south west academy of sport SWAS CORPORATE SPONSORS SWAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPONSORS 18SWT388446-1-22/11 is Proudly Supported by THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 SOUTH WESTERN TIMES . 33 swtimes.com.au Academy of Sport athlete’s efforts at the December carnival resulted in him claiming two gold, two silver and four bronze. Highlights for 2018 included winning a gold medal for the 5km under 16s event at the Australian Open Water Championships in Ade- South West swimming talent Kyle Lee’s 2018 campaign end- ed on a high note when he walked away from the Suns- mart WA State Age Swimming Championships in Perth with eight medals. The 16-year-old South West laide, making the national 400m individual medley final, and winning silver at the School Sport Australia national swimming champion- ships. The Australind teenager also has his sights set on the Australian Open Water Championships in Adelaide. Kyle Lee Swimmer wins a swag of medals SWIMMING Spectacular surfing action, team camaraderie and a podium finish – South West Academy of Sport ath- lete Seth Vanhaeften experienced it all when he competed at the 2018 ISA World Junior Surfing Cham- pionship. The 16-year-old Margaret River resident was part of the 12-strong Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing team, which edged out Hawaii to claim the bronze medal. Held at Huntington Beach in Cal- ifornia between October 27 and November 4, the event saw up and coming surfers from 44 different countries take to the waves, with Japan and the US taking top hon- ours. Seth, who was the only West Aus- tralian selected in the under-16 male category at the event, said it was a “crazy” culture shift to com- pete over in the US. “Competing there is so much dif- ferent,” he said. “There’s so much more team camaraderie and everyone really battles for their nation and it’s a lot more passionate. “It wasn’t just as much about in- dividual performances as it was for your team and representing Aus- tralia.” The Margaret River Senior High School student said clinching the team bronze medal was “insane.” “Everyone was so supportive of each other, and we all knew what needed to happen for us to get a good position,” he said. Seth enjoys Surfin’ USA SURFING Seth Vanhaeften It is shaping up to be a big year for Australind teenager Giselle Tay- lor, who will juggle budding netball and modelling careers with Year 12 studies throughout 2019. The 17-year-old, who capped off 2018 in fine style when she was crowned the South West Academy of Sport’s Team Female Athlete of the Year, has a big year ahead of her. The sharpshooter has been selected to the Souwest Jets open team for the second consecutive year, along with the Western Sting and WA under-19s. Her latest achievements bring the SWAS athlete another step closer to her goal of one day being signed by a Suncorp Super Netball Club – including the West Coast Fe- ver – and then ultimately the Aus- tralian Diamonds. Giselle, who represented WA at the 17 and under netball champion- ships last year, said she enjoyed the challenge of playing netball and the friendships she made along the way. “I like the challenge of learning new skills and the discipline of the game,” she said. Busy but big year ahead for Taylor NETBALL Giselle Taylor Two stars of the hockey pitch have proved they are champions of the game - whether it is played indoors or outdoors. Ella du Preez and Jordan Smith- all, who both hold proud histories of representing Western Australia at national outdoor tournaments – recently made a triumphant debut on the national indoor hockey stage. The exciting South West Acad- emy of Sport duo donned the black and gold colours of WA when they competed at the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival in Goulburn ear- lier this month. The festival, which ran for an action-packed four weeks between January 4-26, saw teams from around Australia compete for national titles across under-13, under-15, under-18, under-21 and open divisions. Ella enjoyed the distinction of representing WA back-to-back in the under-15 and 18 champion- ships, and was part of the under-18 team which won silver. In addition, the 15-year-old Bus- selton talent was named player of the tournament for the under-15 division. “I was actually pretty surprised to get it because there were a lot of quality players all throughout the teams,” Ella said. “I guess I was just fortunate – but a lot of other people could have got it. “It was definitely one of my favourite tournaments to date. It was really fun and different. And I really got to know lots of people. And I also really enjoyed the hock- ey as well.” The midfielder, who scored three goals in under-15s and two in under-18s, said she improved her game over the course of the tour- nament by developing a more attacking style of play. Jordan, a young gun from Eaton, also enjoyed a successful stint at Veolia Arena, with his under-15 team bringing home bronze. The defender said playing indoor hockey has improved his outdoor skills and he enjoyed playing alongside his peers on the national stage. “I have played hockey in Perth previously with most of the team – so it was pretty good to go away with them and be able to bring home the bronze medal,” Jordan said. South West Academy of Sport hockey talents Ella du Preez and Jordan Smithall, both 15, have returned from the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival with medals after a successful outing in Goulburn, New South Wales. Picture: Teneille Watson Future stars have the ability inside and out HOCKEY
