Local sports star and Australian Men’s Hockey representative Lachlan Sharp has topped off an evolutionary year in his sporting career.
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The now 21 year old has been named a finalist in the 2018 NSW Institute of Sport Awards and is up for the prestigious Mizuno Young Athlete of the Year.
Sharp said the nomination was somewhat unexpected.
“I think it’s pretty cool to be nominated for such an award because sometimes when you’re in a team sport it can be hard to get individually recognised,” he said
Sharp has gone from strength to strength since his debut for the Kookaburras in 2017 and in the last 12 months has transitioned full-time onto the National Squad in Perth.
“Looking back on the year I’ve had internationally, I’ve been a part of and won every major tournament this year with the Kookaburras which is a great accomplishment as a team,
“I’ve only ever lost one game playing for Australia… I think all these things combined have ultimately led me to being nominated for this award,” he said.
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He said it was a great accomplishment and he was very pleased to be nominated.
“I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to represent my country at such a young age and to be identified by the NSW Institute of Sport as a finalist for such an award,” Sharp said.
He also wanted to thank Hockey Australia, NSWIS, Ryde Hockey Club, Zig Zag Hockey Club, Voodoo, Aqualyte and 2XE for their continued support.
“And of course I’d like to thank my family back home in Lithgow,” Sharp said.
NSW Institute of Sport CEO Kevin Thompson said the annual awards recognised and honoured the achievements of athletes, coaches and support staff over the past 12 months.
“Each of the finalists has excelled in their respective categories, placing them among the top achievers not just in New South Wales but across Australia,” he said.
The 2018 NSWIS Awards will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November, 15 with the best sporting talent from across NSW in attendance.
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