WestVic Athletes Ace Kooyong Champions’ Dinner

FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport tennis athletes, James O’Sullivan and Ruby Rothman, were acknowledged at a gala awards ceremony at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club’s 2018 Champions’ Dinner in Melbourne last Friday evening.

O’Sullivan, 14, a Ballarat Grammar student, defeated Qwyn Quittner in the final in straight sets winning, 7-6, 6-1 to be crowned Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club’s 2018 Under 16 Boys’ Singles champion.

Meanwhile, Rothman, 14, from Maryborough, also won her final in straight sets, easily defeating her opponent, Ria Mehta, 6-0, 6-3 to secure the title of Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club’s 2018 Under 16 Girls’ Singles champion.

Rothman is currently in receipt of a John Fitzgerald Scholarship to the exclusive Melbourne club, which entitles her to additional specialist coaching, sports science and medical services support.

O’Sullivan and Rothman (pictured) were presented with their awards by former Australian tennis player and prominent sports administrator, Paul McNamee.

FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport Executive Officer, Corey Saitta, said, “We are proud of what James and Ruby have achieved. For both athletes to be playing out of their age group and to defeat Melbourne based players is significant. To achieve this from the same regional academy – WestVic – is a rare feat. It speaks to the quality of local junior coaching both have enjoyed from a young age and is an acknowledgement of the work our head tennis coach, Andrew Cameron, has undertaken with the support of Tennis Victoria”.