The year 12 student was awarded with the NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association Blue Award for hockey at a presentation ceremony on Friday, November 24.

Blue is the highest sporting award available for secondary public school students in NSW and is restricted to a strictly limited number of students in each sport and gender.

Hunter was honoured alongside 53 other student athletes who had delivered outstanding performances through their high school career.

He has proven to be a highly skilled goalkeeper, with quick reflexes and excellent anticipation.

The young gun thoroughly enjoys his hockey and has represented his school, region and state with enthusiasm and commitment.

True to form, he was competing at the NSW Under 18s Indoor Hockey Championships in Goulburn and was unable to collect his award in person.

Lithgow High deputy principal Mr Dean collected the award on his behalf.

Hunter’s award specifically recognised his excellent performance for for Western Region at the NSWCHS inter-regional championships earlier in the year.

Aside from playing between the sticks, he also spent some time in the outfield for Western.

His keeping in particular was instrumental in Western being crowned state champions.

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Hunter went on to represent the NSWCHS open boys hockey side, which took out the tri series against Combined Independent Schools and Combined Catholic Colleges.

Away from school Hunter is also a member of the NSW under 18s team and a member of the under 21s squad.

He was the custodian for the Lithgow Panthers men as they claimed their 11^th Premier League Hockey title earlier this year.

The grand final against Bathurst Souths went right down to the wire and Hunter proved to be the difference with the game decided in a penalty shoot-out.

He managed to keep out three of the four Souths players to hand the Panthers 3-1 victory.