Thrower adds more awards to cabinet
SCHOOL SPORT: Thrower Mason Hughes will need to invest in a bigger trophy cabinet if his current form continues. The discus thrower and shot putter added to his growing list of accolades, scooping the Harristown State High School sport awards last Friday. Hughes, who recently won two gold medals at the 2018 State Secondary Track and Field Championships, won four major awards at his school’s night of nights. The 16-year-old won Senior Male Sportsperson of the Year, Athlete of the Year, Most Outstanding Performance of the Year and the School Sportsperson of the Year. “It (winning) is a bit surreal to be honest. I don’t ever expect it,” Hughes said. “It’s always okay I won fantastic.” Hughes, who won two gold medals at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in March, attributes his breakout year to simple hard work. “I try to find motivation to do well in small things,” Hughes said.
“And then there are big things that hit you and you think ‘okay rev it up’.
“Basically it’s been one thing after another and the hard work pays off.”
Next up for Hughes will another national titles campaign.
“I’ll be competing with my age group and the age group above,” he said.
“It’ll be fun competing against kids I know could very well beat me.”
The award night was also a big one for young footballer Maddison Teakle.
Teakle, who will join Lions FC next season, won the inaugural Abbey Lloyd Junior Female Footballer Player of the Year award.
“It (winning the award) was exciting,” Teakle said.
“It was a good experience because I know Abbey and it’s nice to win something named after her.
“I’ve talked to her before and she is very nice. She always says ‘well done’ and encourages me and everybody else.”
Looking ahead, the now former South West Queensland Thunder midfielder is preparing to step up for Lions.
“I had to trial and it was very hard work,” Teakle said.
“It was a very different experience to Thunder but I’m looking forward to it.”