James Schiller certainly has a lot to boast about after being the first student at Young North Public School in over 20 years to be awarded a Riverina Blue Sports Award.
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The naturally gifted athlete, at just 12 years of age, was nominated for the award after a stunning year of sporting achievements.
These included qualifying for a number of Riverina teams throughout 2013 such as rugby league, touch football, basketball and swimming.
But it was also a year of tough decisions that saw Schiller pull out of three of the four teams in order to focus entirely on Riverina rugby league.
It all started in May when Schiller took part in a four-day state carnival at Dubbo where he was voted best and fairest, top try scorer and top point scorer. It was from this carnival that Schiller was selected for the NSW PSSA Invitational team.
This required him to attend the School Sport Australia Rugby League Carnival at Perth as part of a 34 player development squad, of which he was again named the team’s top try scorer and was awarded players player.
As well as competing in national carnivals, Schiller hasn’t forgotten about his home town, still playing for the Young Cherrypickers as well as representing Group 9 rugby league.
On top of already achieving his best on the field, Schiller managed to meet all the criteria required to receive the Riverina Sporting Blues Award including:
- Representing Riverina, in the nominated sport, within the current year.
- Gaining selection in a state or national schools team ,providing a official Riverina SSA team attended the state selection carnival.
- Winning an individual event at the NSW CHS or NSW PSSA Championship or gaining a first, second or third place in an individual event at a national schools event.
- Satisfying their manager/convener, school and Riverina Blues Committee they are of a suitable standard in ability, commitment, dress, behaviour and attitude to be awarded a Riverina 'Blue'.
- Through their efforts demonstrating they are a suitable role model for other Riverina students.
Schiller was one of only two rugby league players in the Riverina to receive the award in the primary category, alongside a NSW team mate from Griffith.
He, his family, and even school principal Kel Smerdon attended the gala dinner presentation night at the Wagga Wagga RSL Club in December where the young athlete was presented with his award.
The night featured 2012 London Olympics slalom canoer silver medallist Jessica Fox as guest speaker.
When asked how he felt about this prestigious accomplishment, he kept it short and sweet.
“Pretty good,” he said. “It was a surprise, it came out of nowhere.”
But the tributes have flown in.
“James is an outstanding sportsperson who is always positive, accepting of others and gracious in defeat,” Riverina Schools Sports Association Regional manager Jason Wilesmith said.
“His speed, strong defence and elusive skills saw him score a number of tries throughout the carnival.”
"James is the most outstanding primary school sportsman I have had the pleasure of teaching and is also a fine leader and young man who deserves all of the accolades that he receives," Young North Public School sport coordinator Scott Druett said.
