"It's really awesome. When you put so much hard work and stuff throughout the year, it's just because you love it and it's because you love the sport. But when you get recognised as well and nominated for an award it makes it tonnes better. It's really great, it's the icing on the cake."
The youngster was one of more than 30 people recognised for their contribution to netball at a function in Tauranga at the weekend and she won one of the four main awards - with Arahi Wall (Tauranga) winning Netballer of the Year, Mary-Jane Araroa (Whakatane) Coach of the Year, Beverly Southee (Kawerau) Long-serving Volunteer and Whakatane the Netball Centre of the Year.
Ngongotaha Netball Club was named club of the year while Rotorua's Gail Wenmoth and Rose O'Brien were named volunteer administrator and regional umpire of the year respectively.
Samantha said she was looking forward to next season and had targeted the 2013 under-21 World Netball Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
"I've been named in the Emerging Talent Squad for New Zealand and then that's in the build up to under-21 trials next year for New Zealand. Then after that they go to world champs. So that is definitely a long-term goal."
Netball Bay of Plenty chief executive Sheryl Dawson said recognition was given to all facets of the sport. "Every year we receive an overwhelming number of nominations to recognise the efforts of so many people involved in netball," Dawson said.
"These people are the heart and soul of our sport and the communities throughout the Bay of Plenty.
"It makes us very proud to celebrate their achievements and to publicly speak about the contribution they make to netball at all levels of the game."
The 2011 Award recipients:
Long Serving Volunteer - Beverly Southee (Kawerau)
Coach of the Year - Mary-Jane Araroa (Whakatane)
Netball Centre of the Year - Whakatane Netball Centre
Netballer of the Year - Arahi Wall (Tauranga)
Secondary School Umpire of the Year - Alice McFall (Tauranga)
Secondary School Student Coach of the Year - Ashley-Kate Araroa-Waerea (Whakatane)
Secondary School Junior Coach of the Year - Sharmaine Bunting (Tauranga)
Secondary School Team of the Year - Trident High School (Whakatane)
Secondary School Coach of the Year - Te Ahuru Waititi (Whakatane)
Secondary School Administrator of the Year - Liz Davenport (Tauranga)
Secondary School of the Year - Bethlehem College (Tauranga)
Secondary School Netballer of the Year - Samantha Sinclair (Rotorua)
Innovative & Exciting Coaching Development - Netball Whakatane
Innovative & Exciting Umpiring Development - Netball Whakatane
Innovative & Exciting Competition Development - Harbourside Netball Centre Fun Day (Tauranga)
Umpire Co-ordinator of the Year - Maree Body (Tauranga)
Netball Centre Umpire of the Year - Michael Rolleston (Tauranga)
Regional Umpire of the Year - Rose O'Brien (Rotorua)
Umpire of the Year - Scott McLeod (Tauranga)
Fun Ferns and Future Ferns Coach of the Year - Karen Kiernan and Vanessa Brooks (Katikati)
Primary/Intermediate School Coach of the Year - Heather Richards (Tauranga)
Club Coach of the Year - Liana Abraham (Katikati)
Representative Coach of the Year - Mary- Jane Araroa (Whakatane)
Coaching Co-ordinator of the Year - Taneta Riki (Whakatane)
Team Manager of the Year - Moana Waititi (Whakatane)
Club of the Year - Ngongotaha Netball Club (Rotorua)
Volunteer Administrator of the Year - Gail Wenmoth (Rotorua)
Volunteer of the Year (joint winners) - Ang Hays Johnson (Tauranga) and Diane Waititi (Whakatane)
In addition New World provided community volunteer awards to:
Christine Healey - Harbourside Netball Centre
Pat Wyatt - Rotorua Netball Centre
Taneta Riki - Whakatane Netball Centre
Jackie Smith - Katikati Netball Centre
Teei Fairburn - Te Puke Netball Centre
Lorraine Apiti - Opotiki Netball Centre
Aaron Falwasser - Kawerau Netball Centre
