Athlete, Coach & Program Manager’s Report

TRIATHLON REPORT 2022

PROGRAM STAFF

Ben Bell Coach

Scott Ashcroft Coach

Matthew Burge Manager

The focus of the Triathlon Program is to develop the athlete’s skills to be draft legally endorsed and race in the Triathlon NSW junior draft legal series, from there athletes could be selected in NSW teams and compete on a national level.

The Tri squad comprised of 14 athletes, who participated in fortnightly sessions primarily focusing on bike skills and transitions.

All squad members were draft legal and ready to race at the commencement of the 2021/22 season. The squad participated in the six event NSW State Series, racing at Maroubra, Penrith, Orange, Wollongong, Canberra and Macquarie Fields. We had 8 athletes in the top 10 of the point score.

In 2022, it was extremely pleasing to see our first Para Athlete in the program, Jack Gibson, on the top step of the podium in just about all his races, including for the National Junior Para Triathlon.

In September, five athletes represented NSW All Schools Team at the National Championship in Hervey Bay, it was a fantastic achievement for all to place inside the top 10. Earlier in 2022, squad members also competed in the Oceania Championships in Werribee, Victoria.

Majority of the squad attended the Your Local Club Academy Games in Wagga Wagga, representing the IAS superbly and being our best performing squad at the Games. Callum Burge won the male junior, Skye Bell won the female youth, and Montana Doubell, Alexis Bell and Harry Fraser all placed third in their respective races. The IAS relay team snagged the silver medal.

The coaches conducted a weeklong training camp at Jindabyne in the summer school holidays, which was a great success and enjoyed by all.

Athlete’s confidence and self-belief from the beginning of the season to the end was clearly visible and it reflected in their results. As the athletes improved and progressed, the coaches continually found new ways to challenge the athletes and evolve the program to help them achieve their goals.

The Tri squad has gone from strength to strength in 2021/22, achieving all the goals that were established at the start of the season.

VOLLEYBALL REPORT 2022

PROGRAM STAFF

Faruk Kaymak Coach

Jake Lewkowicz Coach

Nicholas Thorpe Coach

Sean Thorpe Coach

After COVID derailed the inaugural IAS volleyball program in mid-2021, we were excited about recommencing the Volleyball program for 2022.

The Volleyball program ran as two squads, with the beach program running in the summer months and indoor from March to August. The Beach Volleyball program had 16 athletes and the Indoor Volleyball Program with 23 athletes. Of these athletes we were proud to see many of them represent NSW at both the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships and the Australian Indoor Championships.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

The inaugural IAS Beach Volleyball program commenced in November, with athletes participating in a series of beach court training, strength and conditioning and education sessions. All athletes competed in the NSW Volleyball Beach Volleyball Tour, playing in tournaments up and down the NSW coastline. Mali Towers, Lara Limbrick, Alexandria Smith, Mireille Smith, Yasmim Ramos, and Aimee Lamb all had tournament wins throughout the tour.

The Beach Volleyball athletes also competed in the Sparta Competition in Wollongong and travelled to Mollymook for the Australian Junior Beach Tour.

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL

2022 saw many firsts for the indoor volleyball program, not only was it the first full program, but also the first time Volleyball competed at the Your Local Club Academy Games and Volleyball NSW held the inaugural Regional Academies Championships.

The volleyball squad showed they were a force to be reckoned with amongst the other Academies right from the very first serve. At the Your Local Club Academy Games in Wagga Wagga the IAS Senior Girls and Junior Girls were crowned the first Academy Games Volleyball champions, and our Senior Boys took the Silver.

The squad took to the training court for the next few months preparing for the first ever RASi Championship in Sydney in August. The weekend saw Head Coach of Volleyball NSW Chris Todd leading a training and education session, followed by Pathways games where the RASi participants played against the Youth Phoenix teams. The second day, the IAS took on the other Regional Academies in the inaugural VNSW RASi Championship. The IAS Senior and Junior Girls continued their outstanding form from Academy Games winning both titles.