Regional Academies of Sport Celebrate Excellence at the 2026 Regional Academy Awards 

Written on the 26 February 2026

The Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) celebrated the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches and alumni from across regional New South Wales at the 2026 Your Local Club Regional Academy Awards on Tuesday, 24^th February at Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville.

The annual event recognises excellence, leadership and commitment across the RAS pathway, highlighting athletes progressing toward national and international representation as Australia builds toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Proudly supported by Your Local Club, the Awards Night brought together athletes, families, coaches, alumni and key sporting stakeholders to celebrate performance excellence and the strength of regional sporting pathways.

Southern Sports Academy swimmer Sienna Toohey was named Athlete of the Year after an exceptional season that saw her selected for the 2025 World Swimming Championships in Singapore and become one of the youngest members of the Australian Dolphins squad.

The Athlete Leadership Award was presented to Mia Richardson (Western Region Academy of Sport), recognised for her on-court success in basketball and her leadership roles within NSW youth advisory groups.

The Coach Leadership Award was jointly awarded to Michael Robinson (Western Region Academy of Sport) for his impact on regional cycling development and James Purcell (Southern Sports Academy) for leading the rapid growth of the SSA Golf Program.

The UAA Indigenous Athlete of the Year Award was presented to Lexie Brown (North Coast Academy of Sport), following her Australian representation at the World Para Championships and record-breaking performances.

The Athlete with Disability Award was jointly awarded to Declan Budd (Central Coast Academy of Sport), who reached finals in three events at the World Para Swimming Championships, and Mia Hogan (Southern Sports Academy), who dominated the Australian Age Championships and set a national record at just 13 years old.

The Alumni Community Award was presented to Ryley Batt OAM (North Coast Academy of Sport) in recognition of his ongoing commitment to mentoring young athletes and promoting inclusive sport across regional NSW.

For the first time in RAS Awards history, a group of outstanding former athletes were inducted into as RAS Distinguished Alumni, in recognition of their sporting achievements and ongoing contributions to their communities, including Olympic champions and Paralympic medallists from across the Regional Academies network:

Alicia Lucas (nee Quirk) – Southern Sports Academy
Courtney Hancock – North Coast Academy of Sport
Emma McKeon – Illawarra Academy of Sport
Jacqa Pori-Makea Simpson – South West Sydney Academy of Sport
Jessica Fox OAM – Western Sydney Academy of Sport
Kalinda Robinson – Western Region Academy of Sport
Lauren Parker – Distinguished Alumni – Hunter Academy of Sport
Nicola Olyslagers – Distinguished Alumni – Central Coast Academy of Sport
Noemie Fox – Western Sydney Academy Of Sport
Stacey Porter Northern Inland Academy of Sport

RAS Chair, Darryl Clout said the awards highlight the strength of regional sport and the power of the academy pathway.

“These awards celebrate not only results, but character, leadership and commitment. Our athletes and alumni continue to demonstrate that talent developed in regional communities can achieve extraordinary outcomes on the world stage.”

The Regional Academies of Sport acknowledged the valued contribution of keynote speaker Noemie Fox, Olympic gold medallist and Western Sydney Academy of Sport alumni, alongside award presenters and partners Darryl Clout (Chair, Regional Academies of Sport), The Hon. Mark Hodges MP (Member for Castle Hill), Sallianne Faulkner (Netball NSW and Clubs NSW), Carlee Miller (Santos) and Pierre Commis (Office of Sport).

Their leadership and collaboration continue to strengthen pathways for athletes across regional New South Wales. The Regional Academies of Sport proudly acknowledge the ongoing support of the NSW Government and Office of Sport.
We also thank Your Local Club, Santos, Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA), Greater Bank and the NSW Institute of Sport for their continued partnership and commitment to supporting athletes, academies and sporting communities across NSW.

Together, these partnerships play a vital role in strengthening regional pathways and creating opportunities for young people to pursue their sporting ambitions.

2026 Award Nominees

Athlete of the Year: Archie Clark (Northern Inland Academy of Sport), Ebony Robinson (Western Region Academy of Sport), Harper Nelmes (Hunter Academy of Sport), Isla Basa (South West Sydney Academy of Sport), Jessie Tyack (Far West Academy of Sport), Lewis Gifford-Cock (Central Coast Academy of Sport), Lexie Brown (North Coast Academy of Sport), Marci Davis-Cook (Illawarra Academy of Sport), Matilda Webb (Western Sydney Academy of Sport), Remy Gleeson (South East Sports Academy)

Athlete Leadership Award: Ava Prince (Central Coast), Isabella Henderson (Northern Inland), Jarrod Holmes (Western Sydney), Lily Mahony (South East), Luke Anderson (Southern), Temia Robinson (Far West), Tully Flynn (North Coast), Zac Richter (Illawarra), Zara Campbell (Hunter), Zoe Bruce (South West Sydney)

Coach Leadership Award: Adine Hoey (Far West), Ben Bell (Illawarra), Darren Bird (Hunter), Emily Paulic (South West Sydney), Jack Rauhihi (Western Sydney), James Thornton (Central Coast), Kane Butler (Northern Inland), Marsheal Walker (South West Sydney), Simone Blay (South East), Zenon Kowalczyk (North Coast)

UAA Indigenous Athlete of the Year: AJ Coles (South West Sydney), Addyson Kirby (Hunter), Baxter Roper (Illawarra), Braxton Ivanoff (Southern), Jack Wighton (Central Coast), Jazzy Gordon (Western Region), Malachi Canning (North Coast), Makenna Burnett-Suey (Northern Inland), Sailor Ryan (Far West), Vince Baso (Western Sydney)

Athlete with Disability of the Year: Daniel Lill (South West Sydney), Jack Gibson (Illawarra), Lexie Brown (North Coast), Matilda Mobbs (Western Sydney), Molly Smith (Hunter), Zac Harding (Western Region)

Alumni Community Award: Brad Kahlefeldt (Southern), Charlotte Raleigh (Northern Inland), Gordon Allan (Western Sydney), Jessica Morgan (Central Coast), Mark Renshaw (Western Region), Samantha Poolman (Hunter)