Former Hennessy Catholic College student Sammy Maxwell of Cootamundra has been recognised by the Young Sports Advisory Committee for her accomplishments in the sport last year.

The teenager had a big year in 2015, which also included regional representations in school cross country and athletics.

She captained not only the Southern Inland Open Women’s Redbacks at the Wagga Brumbies versus Highlander curtain raiser, but also the 2015 ACT Under 18s Schoolgirls Brumbies Sevens team at nationals, being named Player of the Tournament.

Sammy also played for the Lloyd McDermott (national Indigenous) Open Women’s team at the International Central Coast Sevens Tournament, Open Brumbies Women’s 15-a-side rugby team and the Northern Territory Open Women’s Sevens at the Open 7s Nationals.

“From the national championships, I was then selected in the Youth Australian Sevens squad... enabling me to represent Australia at the 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa,” Sammy said.

“Following the selection the squad was narrowed down to a 12-girl team over a series of three camps.”

“We won the gold medal final.”

Among other achievements, Sammy was also named Wagga City Club’s highest points scorer and highest try scorer out of men’s first, second and third grades, and the women’s side.

She was also award Wagga’s women’s Best and Fairest and Player’s Player.

Away from the oval, Sammy was Hennessy’s open girl’s athletics age champion and received an outstanding achievement in sport award.

She came first in the school’s open girls cross country event and first at the Archdiocesan (regional) level.

She also came first in javelin, discus, 1500m, 800m and 400m events at the Archdiocesan level.