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West Auckland students get top sports awards
BY PETER WHITE

A cross section of west Auckland's abundant sporting talent took centre stage at the annual ASB Young Sportsperson of the Year awards dinner held at Eden Park.

The awards recognise the outstanding performances from Auckland secondary school students throughout 2006.

Seven west Auckland athletes won category awards. They are:

Basketball - Boys: Ben Anthony Jr is a pivotal member of the Waitakere under-19 side and was selected in the tournament team following the nationals. Ben is also in the Waitakere Division 2 open team and is a Junior Tall Black.

Diving: Charlotte Keesing-Styles. The Waitakere Diving club member from Titirangi was second at the Auckland Secondary Schools Championships and won the New Zealand Winter Nationals in the under-18 girls platform event. Charlotte is the national under-19 five metre platform champion.

Gymnastics - Rhythmic: Teegan Metcalfe. Green Bay resident Teegan at 14 was the youngest female to ever represent New Zealand at a Commonwealth or Olympic Games when she competed in Melbourne. She is the Auckland and New Zealand Secondary Schools champion.

Lawn Bowls: Mark Shine. Mark has won his second consecutive award. The Kelston Boys High School student won the senior boys' singles title at this year's Auckland Secondary Schools Championships and is in the Auckland Bowls Academy.

Netball: Paula Griffin. Paula co-captained Massey High School to the Auckland, Upper North Island and National Secondary Schools titles. She is a member of the Auckland Waitakere NPC and under-21 teams, the Auckland Diamonds, the New Zealand under-21s and late this year made the Silver Ferns squad.

Soccer - Girls: Ria Percival. Ria was the youngest member of the New Zealand under-20 team that competed at the world cup in Russia. The Green Bay High School student also played for New Zealand Secondary Schools and has been in the Lynn Avon Premier Women's side for three years.

Waka Ama - Outrigger Canoe: Tukutahi Happy (pictured above). This is the third year Tukutahi has won this award. The Rutherford College student won the national under-19 title at the National Secondary Schools champs and won a bronze medal at the World Waka Ama Championships held at Lake Karapiro.
 
 
 
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