Classy group excels in all sorts of sports

A DOZEN pursuits are represented across the scholarship intake in the 60th Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards.Whether it be on the canvas, court, diamond, fairways, pitch, range, rink, track, or water there have been many superb performances by these rising stars across the past 12 months.Many have excelled in more than one pursuit and a quarter of the intake competed overseas.Various sponsors play a key role in providing the cash pool for each scholarship recipient, and the backing of Development Club 24/7 is crucial in providing 12-month membership and other perks.All scholarship recipients are in the running for the Maxine Crouch Trust Fund and Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund which have helped many of the region’s best achieve success at international and national level across many sports.A new initative is the “Stay Near, Go Far” award which is sponsored by La Trobe University Bendigo.

 

January – Jordyn Lewis, athletics

One of the country’s brightest prospects in pole vaulting, Jordyn was a silver medallist in the under-15 final at the Australian All Schools field and track championships run in Melbourne in December, 2024. The Bendigo South East Secondary College student achieved a personal best of 2.95 metres at Lakeside Stadium. A great run in ’25 by Jordyn included gold in the under-16 final after she cleared 2.80m at the Victoria Country championships in Bendigo. A best of 3m by South Bendigo’s young gun equalled the Victoria Country under-14 record. Jordyn leapt 2.60m to claim bronze at the Australian field and track titles in Perth in April.

 

February – Roy Davis, clay target shooting

On the clay target range, Roy Davis excelled in point score and double barrel competitions across Victoria. Highlights included being overall champion at the North East Zone Victoria Championships where he won a shoot-off with Peter Attard, who is one of the country’s best. Roy’s prowess led to a five-hour coaching session with Olympic champions Russell and Lauryn Mark. The rising star is also in the Bendigo Academy of Sport program and is coached by Glenn Woodhatch whose son, Dean is assistant coach. When not on the Woodvale rifle range or others across the state, Roy does strength and conditioning at La Trobe University.

 

February – Tobias Sexton, canoeing, kayaking

Tobias raced at the National Wildwater Championships on the Mersey River in Tasmania. A placegetter in classic and sprints, Tobias was selected in Australia’s Junior Wildwater team to compete at an international competition on Slovenia’s Lake Solkan in July. The teenager was 40th in his class at the world under-23 and junior championships. Tobias also won three gold and three bronze medals in the under-18 class and broke PB’s in all races he contested at the Victorian Sprint Titles in Nagambie. The Goulburn River is one of many waterways where Tobias has paddled his way to victory in various classes and distances.

 

March – Marcus Murphy, baseball

Bendigo East’s gun pitcher earnt selection in Australia’s under-16 team to play a series of matches across Japan in July and August. Marcus played a key role with ball and bat in an unbeaten run of eight matches. The teenager who has represented Victoria at junior level is capable of pitching at almost 140 kilometres an hour. A run of representative matches in ’25 included the School Sport Australia nationals in Perth, and the Australian Youth titles in Sydney. Marcus also won gold at last month’s Baseball Australia national under-18 championships in Melbourne. The Bendigo Senior Secondary College student has impressed in matches for Essendon Baseball Club.

 

March – Emily Davis-Tope, ice hockey

Emily represented Australia for a seventh time at the International Ice Hockey Federation world championships in New Zealand. The Australian team won gold in division two, group B. The Flyers will compete in Group A at this year’s world titles. A highlight for Emily was being voted by team-mates as best in the win against Turkiye. Emily was the first Australian to play women’s ice hockey in Canadian University sports. She is alternate captain of nine-time national champions, Melbourne Ice. Emily is also part of the elite athlete program at La Trobe University Bendigo where she is an occupational therapy student.

 

April – Maya Murphy, kayaking

Maya was in superb form at the Australian Marathon Kayaking Championships. Highs included third placing in the short course K1, 3km; second in long course K1, 18.5km; and third in long course K2, 18.5km. Maya’s achievement in the K1 long course earnt selection in the Australian junior team to compete in Gyor, Hungary in September. The 16-year-old raced the junior women’s 18.1km final. Maya completed a gruelling race in 1hour 41minutes. Nations represented in Maya’s event included Hungary, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Spain, Germany, South Africa, and Sweden. Maya and her parents put in many hours travelling for training commitments in Bendigo or on waters far from home.

 

May – Harriet Caldwell, wheelchair basketball

Harriet competed at the Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Brisbane in April and was selected to represent Victoria Wonders in the Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League. It’s been an incredible fight by Harriet, her family and a strong support network after the teenager suffered a spinal stroke at the age of 13. A long-term goal for Harriet who has shown community sport is more than just about winning is to compete at the Paralympics. Resilience and opportunity have been among the key factors in Harriet’s success on the basketball court for Victoria, the Wonders, and possibly Australia one day.

 

June – Flynn Anderson, golf

A birdie on the first play-off hole clinched victory in the men’s Victoria Country Championship and Cobram-Barooga Open Amateur title. Flynn carded three-under in first round and even par in second. A big year has included teeing off in Port Phillip Amateur, Riversdale Cup, Australian Amateur Championship, and Australian Masters of the Amateurs. Flynn plays pennant for Southern Golf Club in Melbourne, and is a member at Bendigo and Neangar Park golf clubs. To help toward entry fees, travel, and coaching sessions, Flynn works three days a week at Bendigo Golf Club and regularly practises putting and chipping before shift, and is on the fairways after work.

 

July – Mila Childs, basketball, netball

A hectic run for Mila across July included representing Victoria in national championships for basketball and netball. First up was the Basketball Australia under-16 championships at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena. Mila played a key role in Victoria Country’s run to second place in its pool. The Big V was beaten by a powerful New South Wales team in the quarter-final. Focus then switched to netball where Mila played at the School Sport Australia National Netball Championships. Mila played at centre and wing defence as Victoria was runner-up in the 15-and-under class. Mila represented Victoria Bushrangers in the under-18 division at last month’s Australian Country Cup in Albury.

 

July – Mia Cox, basketball, netball

Mia is another of the city’s top dual-code athletes. In 2025, Mia was on court for Victoria Country at national basketball and netball championships. First of the nationals was the Basketball Australia under-16 championships at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena. Mia and her team-mates reached the quarter-finals. As goalshooter, Mia played a key role in Victoria earning the silver medal in the 15-and-under division at the School Sport Australia National Netball Championships. Last month she was on the showcourt at Lauren Jackson Arena in Albury where Victoria Goldminers struck gold in the under-18s grand final. Mia scored 12 points in the 57-39 victory against Victoria Bushrangers.

August – Shae Clifford, netball

The gun centre had an outstanding season with Bendigo Strikers in the Victorian Netball League and Sandhurst in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL competition. Shae’s play for Bendigo Strikers earnt the Most Valuable Player award in the VNA’s 23-and-under competition. The captain was a driving force in the Strikers charge to the finals. An outstanding run for the Strikers included being finalist in the VNL’s championship division. Shae also earnt the Betty Thompson Medal as fairest and best in the Bendigo FNL’s A-grade competition. Shae and her Sandhurst team-mates were runner-up to Kangaroo Flat in the grand final.

 

August – Ryan Polglaise, boxing

Ryan marked a ninth consecutive victory in amateur boxing’s junior ranks as he claimed the Warzone belt for 81kg class in the 15-17 years division on the Gold Coast. Ryan’s feats across the year which included the Australian Amateur Boxing League and Victorian Amateur League junior light heavyweight titles earnt a place in a national junior team to compete in Sheffield, England in mid-October. Although he broke his hand in the opening round of the final in Sheffield, Ryan showed plenty of courage as he fought on. Spurred on by his first defeat, Ryan has put in plenty of hours training with coach Lucas Allen at Bendigo Fight Centre.

 

September – Molly Beasley, basketball

Molly earnt selection in the National Performance Program for the second year running. She was one of two Victorian girls in last year’s basketball program. Molly also starred for Victoria Goldminers at this year’s Australian Country Cup in Albury in January. The Goldminers scored a 57-39 against Bushrangers in the all-Victorian under-16 grand final. Molly’s tally of 73 points across eight matches included six in the gold medal play-off. Molly represented Victoria Country at the 2025 national under-16 championships. She won a national netball schools championships and two state championships to cap an outstanding run in her two chosen sports across the past year.

 

October – Mia Harvey, basketball

Highs in another incredible year on the basketball court included being in the Australian Gems training squad of 20 for the world championships. The training camp in Canberra was a huge learning experience for Mia. The skilful guard was on Ballarat’s court for this year’s Basketball Australia under-20 championships. A multiple Sports Star scholarship recipient, Mia has represented Victoria in many matches. The skilful guard also played for Bendigo Braves in last year’s NBL1 competition. Mia will be in the running to represent Australia at this year’s Asia Cup under-18 level. A goal is next year’s under-19 World Cup.

 

October – Abbey Reid, athletics

Abbey went on a gold medal and record-breaking rush across 2025. The Bendigo University Athletics Club member broke another Bendigo residential record at the Victorian All Schools field and track titles at Lakeside. Racing for Girton Grammar, Abbey won the under-18 2000m steeple in 6:56 to set a Bendigo residential record for under-20 and under-18 classes. She also starred at Athletics Victoria’s cross-country championships at Newington near Ballarat. Abbey struck gold in the under-20 6km in 21.39. Later in the year, Abbey won the under-18 2000m steeplechase at Australian Athletics All Schools in Melbourne. Abbey clocked a time of 7:06 at Lakeside.

 

October – Jesper Wallace, golf

An outstanding run on the golf course by Jesper included being men’s open champion in the Ivo Whitton, Victorian state order of merit event at Heathcote. He was first in the Golf Australia junior country region championship, and Golf Central Victoria men’s open champion. He also won the Next Gen Amateur Tour under-18 order of merit. Jesper had an unbeaten run as Southern Golf Club won division two premiership. The Strathfieldsaye-based teenager was also among the 2025 intake for the Lucas Herbert Golf Scholarship. A busy round of tournaments in the past year for Jasper included teeing off at Commonwealth, Kingston Heath, and Moonah Links.

 

November – Jack Tamblyn, hockey

Jack has earnt selection in Hockey Australia’s under-16 and under-18 Futures national squads. He also gained a place in the Victorian Institute of Sport program. Jack was captain in Victoria’s rush to win gold at the under-16 national titles in Adelaide and also played at the under-18 national champs. A gun defender, Jack first played for Bendigo Senjuns Hockey Club. Jack has moved to Melbourne to board with a family to be closer to his VIS training base and will attend a sports-based school to complete his VCE. A long-term goal for Jack is to represent the Hockeyroos at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

 

December – Avery McDermid, athletics

Struck gold in the under-18 3000m at the Australian All Schools field and track championships in Melbourne. The Bendigo University Athletics Club member ran 7 ½ laps in 8:41.23 at Lakeside Stadium. A student at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, Avery was on the track less than a week after a top-10 finish in the under-20 final at the world cross-country selection trials in Canberra’s Stromlo Forest. Avery also put in a big winter racing for the Bendigo Bats in the On-backed cross-country series across the state. The Andy Buchanan-coached athlete has also contested several of the Milers Meets across Melbourne.