Last Friday evening, the CDF Sports Awards officially returned with a bang—the first live event in two years. It was a celebration of all that is great about sport in the Diocese of Wollongong and a positive advertisement of the pathways available to students and teachers. 

The evening, held at St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong, attracted more than 450 guests with another 400 attending virtually. It proved to be a fitting culmination to a busy and difficult sporting year marked by extreme weather and COVID-19 restrictions.

Yet out of adversity comes triumph, spirit and determination. This year’s awards highlighted the achievements of nearly 200 talented and dedicated students who have proudly represented our diocese at MacKillop and NSW Combined Catholic College events. Four primary teams and four secondary teams were also acknowledged for winning state Catholic school titles. 

 PHOTOS OF ALL AWARD WINNERS BY CATEGORY

This event, proudly sponsored by the CDF, was also live-streamed and provided the opportunity for those unable to attend in person to share the event with their broader families.

The night’s proceedings featured an interview with past CDF Sports Awards winner, Amy Sligar (an alumnus of St Paul’s, Camden, and St Patrick’s, Campbelltown), who is now playing netball at the highest national level as part of the Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS) netball team.

Other past students, and now elite athletes, Xavier Cooks, Lachlan Dent and Emma Tonegato (Holy Spirit College, Bellambi), Courtney Schonell (St Benedict’s, Oran Park), Kieran Woolley (Corpus Christi, Oak Flats) and Mackenzie Hawkesby (St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong) also provided their congratulations and advice to our student-athletes through video messages.

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Director of Schools, Peter Hill, acknowledged the significance of the awards and the many people who give their time, expertise and practical support to the young people who compete as individuals and as team members across the diocese.

“I congratulate all students who have participated in sporting activities, at every level of age, ability, or representation,” he said. “What we celebrate [tonight] is a testament to the strong character and sense of community in our excellent Catholic schools. We can all be immensely proud of the young people at this event and their outstanding athletic achievements. 

“I encourage you to continue applying yourselves to your sporting goals and aspirations, remain dedicated and committed, and keep seeking a sense of personal reward and pride in who you are and what you are able to accomplish.”

Outstanding School Teams

These awards are presented to school-based teams who have won an NSW Catholic school sporting event at MacKillop, NSWCCC, or NSW All Schools level.

St Joseph’s, Bulli

Swimming – 2022 MacKillop Junior Girls 4x50m Freestyle Relay Champions
Sophie Pearce, Zarli Ashcroft, Sadie Jones, Andie Kennedy

St Joseph’s, Bulli

Swimming – 2022 MacKillop Junior Boys 4x50m Freestyle Relay Champions
Callan Primmer, Owen Olbourne, Saul Olbourne, Taj Caldwell 

St Joseph’s, Bulli

Swimming – 2022 MacKillop Senior Girls 4x50m Freestyle Relay Champions
London Campbell, Minerva Barlow, Harper Barlow, Torah Beath

Ss Peter and Paul, Kiama

Athletics – 2022 MacKillop Senior Girls 4x100m Relay Champions
Ginger Siasat, Ava Lipscombe, Maeve Burgess and Imogen Moore

St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong

Swimming – 2022 NSWCCC Girls 15-16 years 4x50m Freestyle Relay Champions
Aya Milton, Stephanie Staniforth, Ivy Miller, Jessica Cole

St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong

Swimming – 2022 NSWCCC Girls 12-19 Years Freestyle Relay Champions
Laani Cleghorn, Charli Cleghorn, Aya Milton, Grace OHara, Matisse Schettino, Jessica Cole, Sarah Locke

St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong

Tennis – 2022 NSWCCC Open Girls Tennis Team Champions
Sienna Lokker, Caitlin Abela, Natalia Jovanovski, Amelia Manevski

St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong

Basketball – 2022 NSWCCC Year 7 and 8 Girls Champions
Taylor Curtis, Olivia Pupovac, Giorgia Tarlinton, Maya Hopkins, Alina Pasakarnis, Molly Coble, Miller Bonham, Ava Germanos, Grace Tracey, Camille Suttor

MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Refer to our feature image, top left

Back row – from left
Tim Gilmour (CEDoW Deputy Director of Schools), Tony Sanderson (General Manager, CDF), Peter Hill (CEDoW Director of Schools), Amy Sligar (guest speaker, GWS netball), John Sparks (Executive Officer, Wollongong Diocese Sports Council)

Front Row – from left

The Father Ward Trophy Most Outstanding Girl Primary Sport 

Tahlia Tabone (St Clare’s, Narellan Vale)

The John Gamble Trophy Most Outstanding Boy Primary Sport

Austin Craig (Ss Peter and Paul, Kiama)

2022 Para Athlete of the Year

Eddie Clare (Holy Cross, Helensburgh)

The Terry White Trophy Most Outstanding Secondary Sportswoman 

Caitlyn Halse (Magdalene Catholic College, Narellan)

The Bishop Mascord Trophy Most Outstanding Secondary Sportsman 

Mitchell Blackbourn (Edmund Rice College, West Wollongong)