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The School Sports Awards recognise and reward the outstanding sporting achievements of young people in our community. The awards are an initiative of The Advertiser, Sunday Mail and the Department for Education.
Award categories
There are 4 major award categories.
- Individual primary school competitor.
- Individual secondary school competitor.
- Student official.
- Team.
Presentation of awards
An awards function will be held on Wednesday 20 November at Keith Murdoch House. Finalists will be invited to the function and receive a certificate of merit. Overall winners and runners up will receive a trophy or medal and recognition in The Advertiser or Sunday Mail.
Who can be nominated?
Young people between the ages of 10 and 18 (turning 10 after 1 January 2024, or turning 18 on or before 31 December 2024), who are enrolled in a South Australian primary or secondary school.
A young person can be nominated for any outstanding sporting achievement or service to sport as an individual within a school or club competition in South Australia.
A school aged team can be nominated for any outstanding sporting achievement.
Nominations are open to young people and teams from metropolitan and rural South Australia.
How to nominate
Submit a School Sports Awards nomination form by Sunday 3 November 2024.
Conditions of entry
Anyone can nominate a young person for the School Sports Awards.
Contact information of an appropriate coach, physical education instructor or teacher must be included on the nomination form to verify details. Nominees agree to allow the use of their nomination details and photos for publicity purposes in print publications, department intranet, public websites and social media.
History of the awards
In 1997 the department and the Messenger introduced the sports awards to recognise outstanding sporting achievements of young people within schools. Originally the Youth Sports Awards, it was rebadged to the School Sports Awards in 2012 with two major categories, a primary school and a secondary school award. The student official and teams awards were introduced in 2020.
Past winners include Olympic gold medallist, Kyle Chalmers, Olympian Jack Rossiter, and Australian cricket player Darcie Brown.
Primary school sport award
| Year | Name | School | Sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nahla Salley | Henley Beach Primary School | Tennis |
| 2022 | Tom Brunet-Greseque | Charles Campbell College | Judo |
| 2021 | Maia Taite | Southern Montessori School | Surfing |
2020 | William Brown | Magill School | Cycling |
2019 | Catrina Tan | Stirling East Primary School | Badminton |
2018 | Joshua Turner | Coorara Primary School | Archery |
2017 | Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz | Glenelg Primary School | Tennis |
2016 | Ben Hinks | Craigburn Primary School | Sailing |
2015 | Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz | Glenelg Primary School | Tennis |
2014 | Alex Haydon | Henley Beach Primary School | Squash |
2013 | Callum Park | Plympton Primary School | Baseball & Australian football |
2012 | Nikki Thompson | Para Hills Primary School | Athletics |
Secondary school sport award
| Year | Name | School | Sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lucy Voyvodic and Cameron Zajer | Scotch College and Brighton Secondary School | Netball and Volleyball |
| 2022 | Milsy Murray | Henley High School | Football (soccer) |
| 2021 | Isabella Vincent | Pembroke School | Swimming |
2020 | Darcie Brown | Henley High School | Cricket, netball & Australian football |
2019 | Alexandra Haydon | Henley High School | Squash |
2018 | Matthew Carter | Pembroke School | Diving |
2017 | Alexandra Chidiac | Open Access College | Football (soccer) |
2016 | Liam Bekric | Underdale High School | Swimming |
2015 | Kyle Chalmers | Immanuel College | Swimming |
2014 | Jack Rossiter | Woodcroft College | Shooting |
2013 | Kyle Chalmers | Immanuel College | Swimming |
2012 | Emma Checker | Immanuel College | Football (soccer) |
Teams award
| Year | School / Team | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 18 years and under girls softball state team | Softball |
| 2022 | Ben Hinks (Urrbrae Agricultural High School) and Carter Baker (LeFevre High School) Ellen Sampson (Walfod Anglican School for Girls) and Fallon Katz (Pulteney Grammar School) | Sailing |
| 2021 | St Peter's College | Open schoolboys eights rowing |
2020 | Immanuel College | Open girls basketball |
Student officials award
| Year | Name | School |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Anamika Jakhwal | Australian Science & Mathematics School |
| 2022 | Jesse Isaac | Endeavour College |
| 2021 | Sean Gabell | Salisbury High School |
2020 | Zack Brittan | Golden Grove High School |
