Sports Awards Evening 2023 | Celebrating Excellence in Athletics
The 2023 St John’s Anglican College Sports Awards Evening was a night filled with pride, celebration, and inspiration as the St John’s Anglican College community came together to recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of its student athletes. The event was hosted by the College’s 2023 Sports Prefects, Kobe Blake and Sophie Nicholls.
The event was graced by special guests, Miss Ellie Beer and Ms Tameka Yallop, who are both accomplished athletes in their respective fields.
Beer, became the youngest athlete ever to represent Australia at a World Athletics Championship at the age of 16, has consistently demonstrated her commitment to sports in various disciplines, including OzTag, Surf Lifesaving, and Athletics. She also represented Australia as a member of the Australian Open Women’s 4 x 400m relay team at the Tokyo Olympics and the World Junior Athletics Championships in Colombia. Ellie’s story serves as a shining example of dedication and persistence.
And Yallop, an accomplished football player, started her career as a member of the Junior Matildas and has since played in multiple FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, including the 2023 edition. Tameka has been a part of the Australian national team since 2007, winning the Women’s Asian Cup in 2010. Currently signed to the Brisbane Roar FC as a midfielder, Tameka’s journey reflects the spirit of determination and passion that drives athletes to reach the highest levels of their sport.
Their presence added a touch of prestige and inspiration to the evening, both Ellie and Tameka shared stories of resilience, passion, and the importance of teamwork and self-belief in achieving their goals through a Q&A session. Leaving the audience with a deeper understanding of the dedication required to excel in the world of sports.
Celebrating Sporting Achievements
The evening witnessed a remarkable array of accomplishments by our students during the 2023 season and an emphasis on the school’s sports motto for the year, “Winning or Learning”.
The awards evening provided a platform not just for celebrating collective victories but also for commending remarkable individual performances spanning a diverse array of sports. Some of the distinguished award winners included:
- Female Swimmer of the Year: Eliana Thomas
- Male Swimmer of the Year: Lewis Bear
- Female Cross-Country Runner of the Year: Tamika Gee
- Male Cross Country Runner of the Year: Andrew Byrne
- Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Acacia Wohlsen
- Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Cooper Blake
- Standout Squash Champion of the Year: Sarbani Maitra
The evening continued on to announce and acknowledge this year’s Middle School and Senior School Sportspersons of the Year.
Congratulations to;
- Middle School Female Sportsperson of the Year: Sarbani Maitra
- Middle School Male Sportsperson of the Year: Joseph Bergin
- Senior School Female Sportsperson of the Year: Maddie Newham
- Senior School Male Sportsperson of the Year: Andrew Byrne
In addition to these individual awards, recognition was given to the exceptional Teams of the Year – the Year 8 and Year 9 Football Teams, and the deserving Metropolitan West and Queensland Representatives.
The Sports Awards Evening was a night that reinforced the values of dedication, teamwork, and passion. St John’s Anglican College continues to foster a culture of excellence in sports, and the future of its athletes looks brighter than ever.
