When someone asks you why you became a journalist, if you're cheeky you say, "For the free food". Needless to say, that was a factor in my decision to go to the Northland Secondary Schools Sports Awards at ASB Stadium, Kensington Park, on Friday but, while I enjoyed my meal, Iwas simply amazed at the talent and skill of the award winners. The last sport I played was netball back in form one, and I gave that up because I couldn't be bothered getting up early on a Saturday. But, fortunately, hundreds of Northland teenagers are much more committed to their sports than I ever was. The number of teenagers who represented Northland, the North Island and New Zealand in their chosen sports was amazing - and a blind powerlifter from Dargaville High School even more so. Sportsman and sportswoman of the year - shooter Ethan Erceg and squash player Sacha Pou-Tito _ are both New Zealand representatives. Pou-Tito said her award win was "mean!" and came as a huge surprise. "It's really good motivation. It makes me want to do even better." Her goals are to do well in the world junior championships next year, and one day "play at Shelley Kitchen level and travel the world playing squash". Erceg was surprised as well. "It's just awesome, eh? Good reward for a good year." His goals are to retain his national title next year and shoot at the world championships in South Africa in 2010. Best reaction of the night went to Area Schools Sportswoman of the Year Tracey Morgan of Tauraroa Area School. The grin on her face was priceless, and the hugs she received on returning to her seat showed how much she and others appreciated the recognition. I think Morgan also got the gong for the "Most Sports Mentioned Next to His/Her Name" - nine. Sport Northland secondary schools director Grant Harrison said the reactions like that of Morgan and others made it all worthwhile. "We had a call just this afternoon from Te Rangi Aniwaniwa [in Kaitaia] asking if they could have one more seat because another whanau member wanted to come. That's what it means to them."
