The Illawarra Academy of Sport, in 2002 created a new annual perpetual award which recognises excellence in junior sport in the Illawarra. The award, presented to the Illawarra Academy of Sport’s Athlete of the Year, was named “the Tobin Family Award” in recognition of that family’s contribution to sports in the Illawarra for more than sixty-five years. 2014 is the thirteenth year the award has been presented. The recipient of the award receives a trophy and a $5000.00 scholarship to assist in their continued development within their chosen sport. The IAS was excited to attached at the recent IAS Southern Phone Presentation evening, this year’s winner was Mitchell Wright, a member of the Academy Cycling Preogram. Mitchell has won both the National Junior Track Series and the Australian Junior Track Championships over the preceding twelve months as well as numerous state titles. Throughout the 2013/14 National and State season, Mitchell won an unprecedented medal hall of 11 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze as well as claiming overall Champion of Champions at the Wagga, Canberra, Goulburn, Hunter Tours and the Queensland Road Race Championships. It is a unique achievement in Australian Junior Cycling for a junior cyclist to win six Australian Junior Championships in a little over six weeks. Such an achievement demonstrates superior dedication and commitment together with the ability to make the transition from Track Cycling to Road Cycling in a short period of time. Mitchell is proactive with his development and actively seeks out new challenges and assistance to ensure he continues to achieve excellence. His conduct is exemplary and sets a positive example in terms of sportsmanship, disciplined and achievement. Mitchell actively contributes to community through his regularly involvement with the IAS Athlete with a Disability Program where he assist in the running of weekly gym sessions. Mitchell will also be travelling to Cambodia in September 2014 to undertake a community service project with Allkids – a Cambodian/Australian foundation that assists in running of sports, craft, art and reading programs for children from 5-17 years of age. Mitchell is a strong ambassador for the sport of Cycling, the Illawarra Academy of Sport and their partners.
