(Image: Mountain Bike GE Athlete of the Year Harper Nelmes in action)
The Hunter Academy of Sport is excited to announce the 2025 Athlete of the Year and Rising Star award recipients. These athletes have been recognised for their remarkable efforts, dedication and impressive performances across various sports programs.
These standout athletes will be invited to a formal awards evening in October where HAS will announce its perpetual award winners, honouring the best of the best in the academy.
2025 Athlete of the Year and Rising Star Award Winners
Aussie Rules Football
Athlete of the Year: Zac West
Rising Stars: Marli Brunkhorst
Basketball
Supported by Basketball NSW
Boys:
Athlete of the Year: Oscar Hurley
Rising Star: Mackinley Griffin
Girls:
Athlete of the Year: Addyson Kirby
Rising Star: Ameka Melmeth
Cycling
Athlete of the Year: Hayley Dell
Rising Star: Caine Platt
Future Stars
Athlete of the Year: Jack Smith
Golf
Supported by JNGJ, Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club and Callaway
Athlete of the Year: Harry Leggat
Rising Star: Cooper Ridgeway
High Performance Gym
Supported by Santos Hunter Gas Pipeline
Rising Star: Santiago Rubio
Hockey
Supported by UAA, Hockey NSW
Girls:
Athlete of the Year: Ella Craven-sands
Rising Star: Amy Fry
Boys:
Athlete of the Year: Toby Allan
Rising Star: Hamish Anson-Smith
Indigenous Program
Supported by UAA, Santos Hunter Gas Pipeline
Rising Star: Dominic Zanardi
Mountain Bike GE
Athlete of the Year: Harper Nelmes
Rising Star: Taj Thornton, Finn Burginn
Mountain Bike XCO
Athlete of the Year: Lincoln Johns
Netball
Supported by Netball NSW, Greater Bank
Athlete of the Year: Jade Stringer
Rising Star: Eve Power
Netball Umpires
Supported by Netball NSW, Greater Bank
Athlete of the Year: Taia Shedden
Rising Star: Tanisha Twitchin
Para Program
Supported by Paralympics Australia
Rising Star: Molly Smith
Sailing
Supported by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
Athlete of the Year: Hugh Howard
Rising Star: Sophie Gladman
Softball
Athlete of the Year: Dante Coxon
Rising Star: Chloe Farrar
Surf Life Saving
Supported by Surf Life Saving NSW
Rising Star: Bronte Bowker
Tennis
Supported by Tennis NSW
Rising Star: Lleythan Jenkinson
Triathlon
Supported by Triathlon NSW
Athlete of the Year: Zara Campbell
Rising Star: Audrey Russell
Volleyball
Supported by Volleyball NSW
Girls
Athlete of the Year: Gemma Weeks
Rising Star: Uyanga Gankhuyag
Boys:
Athlete of the Year: Jack Lannigan
Rising Star: Jadrian Mantilla
