The Western Region Academy of Sport (WRAS) held its annual presentation evening at Panthers Bathurst on Saturday 27 June 2026. With 318 guests in attendance, the night recognised and celebrated the numerous sporting achievements over the past 12 months of the graduating athletes from the 2025/26 WRAS programs.
The WRAS award categories for the presentation evening included; Strength & Conditioning, Coach’s Award, Outstanding Achievement by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, Chairman’s Nominees for Excellence and the Squad Athlete of the Year for each program.
Three WRAS athletes tied for the major award, the 2026 WRAS Athlete of the Year. Dylan Ruming (Athletics), Sophia Urquhart (BMX) and Henry Kross (Squash) were awarded the 2026 WRAS Athletes of the Year.
Dylan enjoyed a remarkable season, earning selection in the Australian Men’s 4x400m Relay Team for the World Junior Athletics Championships. At the Oceania Athletics Championships, he claimed three gold medals, setting a meet record in the 400m, a championship record in the mixed 4x400m relay. His performances earned him the Arthur Eustace Shield as the most outstanding male under-18 athlete. At the Australian Athletics Championships, Dylan won two national titles and set Australian records in both the 400m and 4x400m relay, he also took home a bronze in the 200m.
Henry cemented his place as one of Australia’s most promising junior athletes. His standout achievement being selection to represent Australia at the World Junior Squash Championships. At the Australian Junior Squash Championships, Henry delivered a superb performance to claim the silver medal in the Under 17 division. Henry’s dominance within his age group was further highlighted through his selection to the Australian team for the Trans-Tasman Series, where he competed as Australia’s number one ranked Under 17 player.
Competing in the 15 Years category, Sophia delivered impressive performances throughout the year, highlighted by a 5th-place at the Oceania Championships. Her strong national results continued with a 5th-place at the Australian National Series, earning her selection to compete at the 2026 BMX Racing World Championships.
The Chairman’s Award for Excellence was presented to Athletics’s, Savannah Auvaa of Bathurst. Savannah has captured multiple state and national titles this season across hammer, shot put, and discus. She took home a gold and 2 silver medals at the Australian Athletics Championships, gold and 2 silver at the All Schools Athletics Championships and silver at the Oceania Championships. Savannah is ranked as a top academic achiever at her school, consistently securing marks above 90% across all subjects. Savannah demonstrates exceptional community spirit and team culture; she dedicated her entire season to coaching young athletes weekly at her local club, earning widespread praise from parents for her mentorship.
Zoe Fulton (Hockey) was announced as the winner of the 2026 WRAS Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Award. This award is presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander athlete/s within the WRAS sports programs who demonstrated outstanding sporting achievement and success within their sport. Zoe enjoyed an outstanding year in hockey, earning selection in both outdoor and indoor state representative teams. She was selected to represent NSW at the National Hockey Championships, where her team achieved a silver medal. Zoe was again selected to represent NSW for the Blues team at the National Indoor Hockey Championships, helping her team secure a bronze medal.
A full list of award winners and nominees is attached below:
The Squad Athletes of the Year (highest achievers in their sport) were:
Athletics: Dylan Ruming (Bathurst)
Basketball: Jazzy Gordon (Dubbo)
Cycling: Jenna Gallagher (Perthville)
Golf: Rory Elphick (Bathurst)
Hockey: Zoe Fulton (Bathurst)
Future Stars: Henry Kross (Parkes) and Sophia Urquhart (Bathurst)
Para-Sports: Knox Gibson (Orange)
Triathlon: Emily Stone (Mudgee)
WRAS saw a three-way tie for the major award, Dylan Ruming (Athletics), Henry Kross (Squash) and Sophia Urquhart (BMX) were named the 2026 WRAS Athletes of the Year.
The Coach’s Award recipients (for the most dedicated or improved athlete) were:
Athletics: Elwyn Evans (Cargo)
Basketball Development Squad: Cassius Ebeling (Lithgow)
Basketball Senior Squad: Mason Weir (Dubbo)
Basketball Graduate Squad: Emerson Hartley (Dubbo)
Cycling: Emily Hines (Dubbo)
Hockey: Jack Dunford (Parkes) and Addison Summerhayes (Parkes)
The Chairman’s Nominees for Excellence were:
Athletics: Savannah Auvaa (Bathurst)
Basketball: Jazzy Gordon (Dubbo)
Hockey: Emily Tallentire (Bathurst)
The 2026 Chairman’s Award for Excellence was won by Savannah Auvaa (Bathurst).
The 2026 WRAS Coach of the Year was won by Kate Lynch (Athletics).
The 2026 WRAS Outstanding achievement by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander athlete: Zoe Fulton (Hockey – Bathurst)
The Strength and Conditioning Award recipients (for the most dedicated or improved athlete in S&C sessions) were: Vashti Williams (Trundle), Arthur Skinner (Dubbo), Emily Stone (Mudgee), Aston Lett (Orange), Malea Arokiaswamy (Bathurst).
