"As illustrated at the recent Olympic Games, the Bay of Plenty has a depth of sporting talent. The sports awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise this annually," Sport Bay of Plenty chief executive Heidi Lichtwark said.
"It is a privilege to be able to honour our top athletes, officials and coaches again in 2016. We look forward to following their continuing achievements in the future, while also celebrating their contributions to date. We are proud to continue to host the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards, which have been celebrating sporting excellence since 1969."
The judging panel hotly debated the high number of quality nominations, ultimately determining each category's finalists for the awards evening to be held at the ASB Arena, Baypark, Mount Maunganui on November 18.
"The calibre of nominations never fails to amaze me, and it is fantastic what Bay of Plenty athletes, coaches, officials and administrators are achieving," Sport Bay of Plenty sport manager and judging convener, Megan Cleverley, said.
"This year has highlighted the number of athletes performing on the international stage, and in particular the wide variety of sports and schools doing well.
"This makes the judging job even more difficult but I guess it's a good problem to have."
Other local finalists include former Rotorua Boys' High School student Isaac Te Aute, nominated for the Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year for rugby sevens, and current Boys' High student Hayze Perham for the Toi Ohomai Secondary School Sportsman of the year for rugby.
Rotorua Girls' High School student Rilee Rehu has been nominated for the Aurecon Best Student Contribution to Sport in basketball.
Western Heights High School's beach volleyball team, Rotorua Boys' High School's waka ama team and Rotorua Girls' High School's Premier 1 netball team are also finalists in their categories.
The People's Choice poll continues this year with the public having an opportunity to vote for their favourite Bay of Plenty junior athlete.
Running from October 25 to November 8, all votes go into the draw to win an Apple iPad Pro 32GB powered by Vodafone.
Tickets for the 2016 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards are available at www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/bay-of-plenty-sports-awards/mt-maunganui. Adult tickets cost $90 and secondary school students, $45.
2016 Bay of Plenty Sports Awards finalists:
Farmer Auto Village International Sportsperson of the Year
Steven Adams: Basketball
Valerie Adams - Athletics
Mahe Drysdale - Rowing
Jason Lochhead Beach - Volleyball
Danny Lee - Golf
Holland Beckett Lawyers Sportswoman of the Year
Lisa Carrington - Kayaking
Molly Meech - Sailing
Luuka Jones - Canoe Slalom
Natalie Peat - Surf Lifesaving
Bayleys Real Estate Sportsman of the Year
Peter Burling - Sailing
Sam Meech - Sailing
Kane Williamson - Cricket
Sam Cane- Rugby
BayTrust Coach of the Year
Graeme Aldridge- Cricket
Paul Roozendaal- Waka Ama
Sean Horan- Rugby Sevens
Sir Gordon Tietjens- Rugby Sevens
Jay Carter - Golf
Julieta Diaz - Synchronised Swimming
Bay of Plenty Times Official of the Year
Kelly Hudson - Hockey
Ross Merrett - Surf Life Saving
Glen Jackson - Rugby
Nick Briant - Rugby
CT Team of the Year
New Zealand Men's Whitewater Rafting Team Whitewater - Rafting
Bay of Plenty Senior Men's Cricket Team - Cricket
Rangataua Men's Rugby Team - Rugby
Tauranga Women's A Team - Volleyball
Mauao Warriors Men's Volleyball Team - Volleyball
Contract Mechanical Services Junior Team of the Year
Bay of Plenty U18 Boys' Hockey Team - Hockey
Eva Morris & Jazzlee Thomas Synchronised - Swimming
Bay of Plenty U17 Women's Volleyball Team Indoor - Volleyball
Bay of Plenty U19 Men's Volleyball Team Indoor - Volleyball
Vodafone Junior Sportsman of the Year
Callum Gilbert Canoe - Slalom
Ashley Roozendaal - Waka Ama
Ben Cochrane - Surf Life Saving
Isaac Te Aute - Rugby Sevens
Eves Realty Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Amy Robinson - Hockey & Athletics
Frances Davies - Hockey
Sam Morrison - Equestrian
Radio Sport Club of the Year
Bowls Mount Maunganui - Bowls
Papamoa Football - Club Football
Te Puna Rugby - Club Rugby
Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service - Surf Life Saving
Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club - Sailing & Power Boat
Swim Rotorua - Swimming
Toi Ohomai Secondary School Sportswoman of the Year
Jazzlee Thomas - Synchronised Swimming - Bethlehem College
Hannah van der Horst - Equestrian - Whakatane High School
Elin Tawharu - Surfing - Mount Maunganui College
Brooklyn Storey - Taekwondo - Tauranga Girls' College
Frances Lloyd - Taekwondo - Tauranga Girls' College
Libby Bradley - Surf Life Saving - Katikati College
Toi Ohomai Secondary School Sportsman of theYear
Callum Aitken - Canoe Slalom - Tauranga Boys' College
Hamish Miller - Surf Life Saving, Triathlon & Aquathon - Bethlehem College
Lenny Jenkins - Rowing - Whakatane High School
Hayze Perham - Rugby - Rotorua Boys' High School
Ryan Crapp - Clay Target Shooting - Katikati College
Tristan Haycock - Mountain Biking - Tauranga Boys' College
Vo2 Secondary School Coach of the Year
Raewyn Morgan - Underwater Hockey - Trident High School
Graham Watt - Rowing - Whakatane High School
Rene Otto - Athletics - Edgecumbe College
Jeff Robb and Leo Scott Rugby & Rugby 7s - Tauranga Girls' College
Anton Williams - Underwater Hockey - Tauranga Boys' College
Bay Office Products Depot Secondary School Boys Team of the Year
Western Heights High School Beach Volleyball Team - Beach Volleyball
Whakatane High School Boys'Rowing Team - Rowing
Tauranga Boys' College Canoe Slalom Team - Canoe Slalom
Rotorua Boys' High School Waka Ama Team - Waka Ama
Bay Cardiology Secondary School Girls Team of the Year
Trident High School Senior Girls'Underwater Hockey Team - Underwater Hockey
Tauranga Girls' College Senior A Girls Volleyball Team - Volleyball
Tauranga Girls' College Rowing Team - Rowing
Rotorua Girls'High School Premier 1 Netball Team - Netball
Aurecon Best Student Contribution to Sport
George Haswell - Touch Rugby & Rugby Union - Mount Maunganui College
Angel HaeataBurrows - Netball & Volleyball - Tauranga Girls' College
Quinn McKay - Basketball - Reporoa College
Rilee Rehu - Basketball - Rotorua Girls'High School
Hugh Lees - Hockey - Bethlehem College
