The Wyndham Basketball Association recently held their 2023 Awards Night at the Italian Sports Club of Werribee. This is an annual night for the domestic clubs to come together with the WBA to honour some outstanding people in our basketball community, enjoy a meal & mingle together and dance the night away!
The St Andrews committee attended the evening, along with the award nominees from our club.
The biggest news of the night: St Andrews Basketball Club was thrilled to be awarded 2023 WBA Club of the Year!
This award is a testament to all the hard work the committee, volunteers, coaches, team managers and parents have put in over the last year to make this club what it is today. The award was presented to the club for our longevity, our outstanding commitment to nurturing young talent over many years, for creating a space for personal development and for helping our club members to foster a love for the game that will last a lifetime. This award was proudly accepted by club President, Peter Smith.
We are also very proud to announce the following club members who were winners in their respective categories:
Louise Pittito – Female Coach of the Year
Mia Stevens – Junior Female Coach of the Year
Louise has coached with St Andrews for over 7 years and epitomizes the essence of an exceptional coach. She is an outstanding positive influence, shaping her athletes into well-rounded individuals who not only excel in the game, but in life. She is an active part of the basketball community, engaging in initiatives that promote the sport at all levels. Most of Louise’s team have gone on to play representative basketball, which is a reflection on Louise’s exceptional development of her athletes. Each of her players feel valued, pushing them to achieve their potential.
Mia is an accomplished player at both domestic and VJBL levels. She decided to coach a junior team to give something back to the sport she loves. In the 2 years she has been coaching at St Andrews Mia has consistently shown exceptional sportsmanship, setting a high standard for her players. She has a positive influence on her players, and her support, tireless effort and ability to instill confidence has ensured her team continues to grow and mature. Her commitment is evident from her organized training sessions and dedication to attending clinics to enhance her coaching skills. She is what all junior coaches should aspire to be.
We would also like to congratulate our other very worthy club nominees:
Matt Thompson – Male Coach of the Year
Nathaniel Riches – Junior Male Coach of the Year
Ava Allen – Junior Female Referee of the Year
The WBA also held a special presentation on the night, for our own Peter Smith.
Peter was presented with a Diamond Service Award from Basketball Victoria, which he received for his more than 50 years of service to basketball, across a number of different platforms and in a variety of different roles. Peter has coached, refereed, held numerous positions on club and association committees and he was even the Werribee Devils mascot for any of you old enough to remember it!
Peter originally received this award in 2020, but due to the Covid pandemic, it was unable to be presented to him at that time. Let’s just say he was more than a little surprised to be awarded it at this event! A big thanks to the WBA for allowing everyone in attendance to show Peter the recognition and applause he deserves for this outstanding achievement.
Thanks to the WBA for putting on a great night once again and we look forward to doing it again next year.
