Sports award finalists

One of five nominated elite athletes will be crowned Wimmera Sports Star of the Year, as the prestigious award returns after a three-year hiatus.

Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly has announced its finalists ahead of its award ceremony on Friday, February 17.

The Wimmera Sports Star of the Year has recognised sporting-talent achievements of athletes from across the region since 1985.

With COVID-19 restrictions interrupting the awards and significant opportunities for sporting success, the award has returned for the first time since 2019, when Horsham’s international triathlete Kelly Miller won it for her Ironwoman achievements.

The finalists of the 39th edition of the award include Karla Arthur, Jock Baker, Tony Cacaviello, Logan Casey and Ash Hawker.

Arthur, a Natimuk and District Gymnastic Club competitor, was Victorian beam-apparatus champion in 2022 and finished third overall in the state championships.

Baker won his third South Australian Limited Sportsman title in 2022, to accompany his four Victorian state titles in the eclectic motorsport event.

Cacaviello won selection in the 2022 Victorian Country Cricket League ‘Team of the Year’ following his 32-wicket season, with a 7.94 average, for Noradjuha-toolondo Bullants in Horsham Cricket Association.

Casey won 2022 selection in the School Sport Victoria Team Vic 18-and-under Pizzey Cup tennis championship.

Hawker won gold at the federation for international sport shooting’s World Universal Trench Championships in 2022, in Italy.

Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly will also announce winners for its 12 sub-category awards at the ceremony, including winners of administrator of the year, team of the year, coach of the year, club of the year, ‘unsung’ hero of the year, junior athlete of the year, Koori sports star of the year, sportsmanship award, school of the year, sports star of the year for special-needs athletes, women in sport, veteran of the year, and a grass-roots award.