Grace Tracey takes out top Illawarra Academy of Sports honour

Sally Fitzgibbons, Emma McKeon and Blake Govers have all taken out the honour in the past and have gone on to big things. Now the 15-year-old from Wollongong is looking to do the same.

Tracey claimed the DRB Tobin family award at the IAS presentation night after a stellar year in both netball and Aussie Rules.

In the last 12 months, Tracey has been selected into the Australian All Schools netball team and the Australian All Schools AFL side.

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She was named best and fairest at the All Schools AFL as well as being named captain for the NSW All Schools Aussie Rules team.

On top of this, she has been been picked in the NSW State titles netball ID program as well as the Swans AFL U-18 Academy.

Her accolades did not stop there. Tracey was the joint winner of netball athlete of the year along with Sally Werfel.

She previously told the Mercury that she had enjoyed every moment of the past year.

"The tournaments were just amazing experiences, playing against the best U15s AFL and netball players really tested my skills. It was such a good challenge. I feel like I've learnt so much just from the two weeks I was away," Grace said.

"There were so many highlights, including being named captain of the NSW AFL team and vice captain of the NSW netball team - it was just such a privilege to lead a great bunch of girls.

"Being named in both All Australian teams was fantastic.

"It was just such an insane and unreal experience. I felt honoured to be recognised for my sporting abilities and all my hard work I've put in behind-the-scenes.

"It was also a pleasant surprise to be named joint best and fairest at AFL nationals.

"Other highlights included helping NSW secure bronze medals in both AFL and netball. Both bronze medal games had such big build-ups and we knew we had to come out and win.

"Everyone out on the court and field put everything into it and to just come out on top with my teammates was really special."

The Tobin Family Award is awarded to an athlete who displays exceptional level of sports performance, a commendable attitude to competition, persistent dedication to learning and strong community focus.

Tobin Family award - Grace Tracey

Volleyball athlete of the year - Mireille Smith

Triathlon athlete of the year - Skye Bell

Netball umpire of the year - Rhiannon Evans

Netball athlete of the year - Grace Tracey and Sally Werfel

Indigenous athlete of the year - Blake Mete

Lonestar athlete of the year - Ivy Miller

Hockey athlete of the year - Tessa Body

Vic Burrows award - Sienna Clarke

Cycling athlete of the year - Lucy Allen

Mountain bike rider athlete of the year - Alix Luckman

BMX athlete of the year - Blake Mete

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Basketball athlete of the year - Aki Langford

Para athlete of the year - Jack Gibson

Athlete leadership and excellence award - Leon Davis-Cook

Coaching leadership and excellence award - Ben Bell

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