The Western Sydney Academy of Sport has been delivering high-quality development programs for the region’s talented young athletes for over 18 years. The academy currently boasts of six alumni who have gone on to represent Australia at the Olympics.

More recently, the following four athletes who have passed through the Academy’s programs have been included in the Australian team to compete in the U/23 Men’s World Championships being held in Argentina in October this year- Hayden Shaw (2016-17), Jack Besgrove (2018-19), Thomas Cass (2014-15, 2015-16) and Tyler Kelly (2016-17, 2017-18). Credit goes to the Academy's high accredited coaching staff and a consistent program delivery which includes utilising the best available venues to develop such talented young players. 

Jack Besgrove, a recipient of the Academy's Woolworths Scholarship in 2017, was recently included in the 2022 Aussie Steelers squad set to compete at the Men's World Cup in New Zealand, later this year in December. 

WSAS Alumni Taylah Tsitsikronis at the recent World Games

Among female athletes, some of the more recent success stories include Academy alumni Taylah Tsitsikronis (2007/08-2010/11) and Kandra Lamb (2014/15-2016/17) who were named in the Aussie Spirit squad which competed at the World Games in Birmingham earlier this month. 

Speaking of the success of the Academy alumni, WSAS Softball Program Manager Jo Beach said, "It is certainly a reflection of their time at WSAS and a result of the experienced and passionate coaches that are involved in the WSAS Softball Program - always wanting the athletes to believe in themselves and to push their boundaries to achieve their full potential whilst on their journey as a pre-elite athlete and being involved in the WSAS Softball Program".

View the Western Sydney Academy of Sport's full media release about their softball program success here.