GSAS Welcomes 16 New Athletes in Record Intake
The Great Southern Academy of Sport is excited to welcome 16 new scholarship athletes into the program following a record number of applications for the 2026 intake.
Drawing talented young athletes from across the Great Southern, including Albany, Denmark, and Mount Barker, the new intake reflects the continued growth of high-performance sport in the region and the increasing demand for pathway opportunities for emerging athletes.
This year’s intake features athletes across a diverse range of sports including basketball, athletics, tennis, cricket, swimming, equestrian, BMX, football, and surf lifesaving.
Among the intake are four new Tier 1 scholarship athletes, recognised for already performing at an exceptional level in their respective sports.
Mori Hamilton (Basketball) joins the program after an outstanding start to 2026, having earned selection in a Basketball WA State Performance Squad and representing Western Australia earlier this year at the Southern Cross Challenge.
Joining Mori in Tier 1 is fellow basketball athlete Phoenix Brown, who has also progressed into state pathway programs and continues to establish himself as one of the region’s exciting young talents.
Charlotte Mitrovski (Athletics) enters the program after a standout season which included claiming the WA State 200m Hurdles title and competing for Western Australia at the Australian Athletics Championships.
Completing the Tier 1 group is Tea Zizek (Tennis), a highly talented young athlete who has represented Western Australia on multiple occasions and is currently ranked among the top young country tennis players in Australia for her age.
The full April 2026 intake includes:
Tea Zizek – Tennis
Jack Spencer – Basketball
Mikayla Holden – Equestrian
Zachary Riddell – Swimming
Phoenix Brown – Basketball
Patrick House – Cricket
Kaylah Langdon – Basketball
Jenson Henderson – Basketball
Kate Levett – Surf Life Saving
Beau Sobey – Cricket
Asher Hotchkin – Basketball
Bryce Berwick – Basketball
Charlotte Mitrovski – Athletics
Mori Hamilton – Basketball
Holly Froehnelt – Football (Soccer)
Joel Weller – BMX
GSAS Executive Officer Dani Carne said the quality and depth of applications this year made selections incredibly competitive.
"It is fantastic to see so much talent coming through the region across such a broad range of sports. The depth this year was outstanding, and while selection is never easy, we are incredibly excited about the athletes joining the program and what they can achieve over the next 12 months."
With athletes ranging from emerging pathway talent through to state and national representatives, the 2026 squad continues GSAS’s mission of supporting regional athletes to pursue excellence while remaining connected to their local communities.
We look forward to officially welcoming the new cohort and watching their journeys unfold.