Millie Gerreyn reflects on the importance of team spirit ahead of 2025 Guardian Mid West Sports Awards

Last year Millie Gerreyn was a worthy winner of the junior sports star of the year gong at the 2024 Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards, after incredible seasons in netball and basketball. With this year’s awards just around the corner, the Guardian sat down with Gerreyn to discuss what the junior sports star crown meant to her. Gerreyn’s achievements, particularly in basketball, were extensive last year, with her talent recognised in all grades she played. Some of the awards on her list last year included the under-18 Geraldton Amateur Basketball Association season MVP, under-18 GABA grand final MVP, women’s 1 GABA runner-up season MVP, women’s 1 GABA all-star five, women’s 1 GABA rising star, women’s 1 Pumas MVP, and under-18 Pumas MVP. Gerreyn said the junior sports star award was a proud achievement in her sporting career. “It was awesome to be recognised for the year I had,” she said. “I had a pretty good year in both netball and basketball but it was nice to cap off the year with the award.” This year’s theme for the Mid West Sports Awards is Team Spirit, which celebrates teamwork, whether within a team of players or an individual athlete and their support crew. It recognises the collective effort and each person’s contribution to the whole result. Coming from a background of team sport in netball and basketball, Gerreyn said the importance of shining a light on such an important part of sport was vital to the enjoyment of sport altogether. “Individual success is awesome, but there’s no way that anyone in a team sport would be as good as they are without the support of their team,” Gerreyn said. “I think that’s where a lot of the enjoyment in sport comes from, is playing with your friends and teammates. “Being in a good team environment just makes it so much easier to enjoy sport and be able to push yourself, because you’ve got your team behind you, pushing you to be the best that you can be.” The Mid West Sports Awards also highlight the efforts of those behind the scenes, with numerous awards presented on the night recognising administrators, officials, volunteers, coaches and all those who make things happen off the sporting ground. “It is another reason that the awards are such an important event on the sport calendar,” Gerreyn said. “We can’t get out on the court if we don’t have the support of those off the court like staff and volunteers.” Gerreyn has just finished her netball season for Lightning, where her side fell just short in the grand final against Kazuals. The 18-year-old is now starting her basketball season for Pumas before she prepares to move to Perth in the new year. Gerreyn said she would be eyeing a spot on the list of an NBL1 West women’s side in Perth as she looked to continue to play basketball at the highest possible level. “This year has been hectic, finishing Year 12 and doing ATAR, but I still really enjoyed playing netball during the busy schedule,” Gerreyn said. “I will be looking to finish this season at Pumas and then move to Perth in the new year to hopefully land at an NBL1 West team. “I have spoken to a few coaches, so it is an exciting time ahead.” Nominations for the 53rd annual Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards have been extended until Sunday, October 26. To put forward a worthy entrant, visit mwsf.org.au/mid-west-sports-awards.