The 2024 SBS Bank Academy Southland foundation year induction features an extended group of 14 promising young athletes across a diverse range of sports.

The two-year academy programme aims to provide vital support for predominantly senior high school-aged athletes considered capable of representing Southland on the national or international stage.

Last year’s graduates include New Zealand under 23 road cycling champion Marshall Erwood and track running star Kennedy Taylor, who recently confirmed a four-year scholarship with the University of Maine in the United States.

SBS Bank Academy Southland manager Jason McKenzie said this year’s cohort had been one of the hardest to select for some years, given the depth of talented applications.

“In the end we have gone with a slightly bigger group than the 12 we would normally select. Even then there are some young athletes who will be disappointed at not getting selected, and rightly so,” McKenzie said.

“We’re looking forward to working alongside these Foundation Year athletes, their parents and their coaches to help them become the best they can be.”

2024 Academy Southland inductee Charlotte Morris. Photo: Supplied

Over the two years of the academy programme, athletes receive a solid grounding in athlete life, mental skills, strength and conditioning at the Mike Piper Training Centre, and nutrition.

Academy co-ordinator Carly Anderson said the goal was to support young people to be successful both in sport and life.

“It’s really important that we take a holistic approach and aim for young people who have all the tools to be well-rounded athletes and people.”

An important aspect of the programme has been providing consistent and trusted nutrition advice through the academy’s registered dietician Aimee Hall.

“Many young athletes don’t appreciate how vital fueling the body well is for health, growth and development,” Hall said.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there, especially on social media. Learning how much to eat, how often, and where to get food from will mean young athletes can feel good at training, be able to concentrate on their studies, continue to develop, and be happy.”

2024 Academy Southland inductee Isla Smith. Photo: Supplied

Another exciting development has been the partnership with the Rangatahi Leadership Group, an Active Southland-supported initiative focused on providing Māori and Pasifika rangatahi with the tools to succeed within their chosen sports.

For the second year in a row, an athlete has progressed from the Rangatahi programme into the academy, providing another pathway for talented young people to achieve their goals.

2024 SBS Bank Academy Southland Foundation Year  

• Connor Gilliland (athletics) - Central Southland College
• Ollie Davis (athletics) - Central Southland College
• Carlie Scherp (athletics) - Southland Girls’ High School
• Jack Heslip (Olympic clay target shooting) - Northern Southland College
• Shahen Wijesinghe (cricket) - Southland Boys’ High School
• Charlotte Morris (cricket) - James Hargest College
• Isla Smith (football) - Southland Girls’ High School
• Libby Crawford (netball) - James Hargest College
• Ruby Duffy (netball/basketball) - Southland Girls’ High School
• Olivia Gill (rugby) - Central Southland College
• Sualo Lafoga (rugby league) - Southland Girls’ High School
• Noah Smith (tae kwon do) - Verdon College
• Emily Forsyth (cycling) - James Hargest College
• Riley Faulkner (cycling) - James Hargest College

2024 Academy Southland inductee Sualo Lafoga. Photo: Supplied