Netballer wins top junior sports award

Bunbury netballer Shantelle Tassone joined an illustrious group of South West athletes when she was named the 2016 Myles Junior Sports Star of the Year on Friday night at the Hay Park Multi-Sports Pavilion.

Judges voted the 16-year-old the best young athlete from five other finalists to make her the 50th recipient of the prestigious award.

Australian School Sports hockey representative Sophie Johnston was named runner-up.

Tassone had a sensational 2015-16, representing the Australia School Sports Netball team in New Zealand, while also being part of premiership-winning sides the Souwest Jets in the WA Netball League and Bunbury in the South West Football-Netball League.

The young netballer follows in the footsteps of her aunty, Susan Wallrodt, who won the award back in 1982.

Tassone said it was an honour to win the award.

“With all my hard work paying off it is nice to be recognised,” she said.

“Especially to be among so many other talented athletes, it is an absolute honour to win.”

Tassone said her aunty was a great help in her career.

“I definitely look up to her,” she said.

“She has been helping me along the way.”

Tassone said the past 12 months had been her “most successful yet”.

“A lot of hard work has gone into it, not only by me but by my parents and coaches who have helped me get to where I am,” she said.

“Hopefully I can go up from here.”

Tassone said she was now focused on her work with the West Coast Fever as part of the Fever In Time program.

“From there hopefully I can get selected in the under-17 squad and if I get into there and play well at the nationals, I can go the AIS for a camp,” she said.

Other finalists included 13-year-old sailor Will Drew, basketballer Georgia Denehey, runner Liam Hutton and badminton player Louise Bradford.