Accolades for season’s best
Volleyball Horsham wrapped up another successful year with its winter season presentation night.
An appreciative crowd acknowledged competition most valuable players, milestones, Phantoms representatives, academy athletes of the year and a year in review.
Award winners for each grade were: A Grade: Robinson Medal MVP – Tyler Puls, runner-up – Tyler Snowden; Abud Medal – Jack Hannan; Mcintyre Medal – Laelah Robertson. A Reserve: Alexander Medal – Chris Baker, runner-up – Noah Werry; Abud Medal – Adam Harrison; Mcintyre Medal – Tayla Eltze. B Grade: Radford Medal – Kai Dodson, runner-up – Luke Johns; Abud Medal – Joel Brilliant; Mcintyre Medal – Cher-leah Williams. C Grade: O’connor Medal – Isaac Mcpherson, runner-up – Jared Ferguson; Abud Medal – Luke Mccallum; Mcintyre Medal – Kylie Angue. Juniors: Ladlow Medal – Bonnie Grieger, runner-up – Noah Eilola; Abud Medal – Chase Kannar; Mcintyre Medal – Tiffany Petering. Womens: Most valuable player – Kymberly Murray, runner-up – Mercedes Arnott; Mcintyre
Medal – Emily Hannan. Nathan Berry took his games record tally to 554 as he was recognised for his loyalty during a 15plus year career, while Kara Johnson broke through the 450 game mark despite injury costing her the better part of the season.
Significantly, three long-serving members crashed through the 300 game barrier, with Waterhammers pair Chris Baker and Andrew Wundke finishing the season on 335 and 311 games, respectively and Mark Radford took his games tally to 312.
Academy athletes of the year were Malachy O’brien, who progressed into A Grade this year and played some consistent volleyball, showing the attributes needed to play at the level, and Paige Hemley, who made the state team for a second year, along with her Phantoms debut and playing with the senior women’s team at the Bendigo tournament.
Throughout the year members had success at tournaments in Ballarat, Bendigo junior and senior events, country and national club championships.
Membership pushed to the 275 mark underlying just how successful the year has been.
However, the year is not quite finished, with boys’ and girls’ year-12 teams participating at the Volleyball Victoria Junior Open tournament at the State Volleyball Centre this week.