The 2025/26 Illawarra Academy of Sport scholarship year is officially underway following the recent Induction Day held for our new cohort of athletes.
The Induction Day was held at the home of the Academy’s education partner, the University of Wollongong (UOW), as nearly 200 athletes were officially welcomed into the new scholarship year.
Athletes from a range of sports including basketball, netball, golf, triathlon, hockey, para sports, rugby 7s and more came together for a morning briefing, before undergoing various high-performance strength and conditioning tests and fitness assessments in the UOW Sports Hub.
The athletes were welcomed into the 2025/26 scholarship year by Illawarra Academy of Sport CEO Salv Carmusciano and Academy staff members who outlined the vision and expectations of being an Academy athlete. Illawarra Academy of Sport major partner the Illawarra Credit Union also delivered a presentation on financial fitness, teaching our athletes how to save and be smart with their money.
“Congratulations to all the new and returning athletes who are joining the Illawarra Academy of Sport for the 2025/26 scholarship year,” Carmusciano said during his speech at the Induction Day.
“This year the Illawarra Academy of Sport celebrated our 40th anniversary and we are proud to see so many new athletes joining the program.
“We look forward to seeing all our athletes progress in their respective sports program and we wish all our athletes a successful year ahead.”
The afternoon session consisted of the athletes undergoing various high-performance strength and conditioning tests and fitness assessments delivered by our performance partner BaiMed.
Future Stars athletes Tully McCarthy (tennis) and Lily Sproule (athletics) were standouts during the high-performance strength and conditioning tests and said the Induction Day was a huge success.
“The Induction Day has been great! I am looking forward to having another year in the Illawarra Academy of Sport program as I continue to develop my tennis game and travel overseas for tournaments,” McCarthy said.
Cross country and track athlete Sproule, who ran an impressive 7km in the morning before the Induction Day and still recorded the highest female score in the dreaded Yo-Yo Test, enjoyed catching up with friends on the day as she plans for a big year ahead on the track.
“I enjoyed all the fitness assessments and the high-performance strength and conditioning tests, I love running so taking on the Yo-Yo Test was a good challenge,” Sproule said.
“It has been good to see all the athletes again at the Induction Day and I am excited to continue with the Illawarra Academy of Sport next year.”
The Illawarra Academy of Sport would like to thank all the athletes, parents, guardians, coaches, managers and support staff, plus our valued sponsors and partners, who attended our 2025/26 Induction Day.
