SHOAL BAY whiz kid Ali Mitchell was always destined to shine in the touch football arena.

With her mother Nicole a legendary link in her heyday with the Australian Emus and father Calvin a Blues State of Origin ace, sixteen-year-old Ali inherited those champion traits from the family gene pool.

The gifted Tomaree High School Year 11 student has experienced a memorable start to 2024 with two remarkable personal achievements.

On Australia Day, Ali received the Port Stephens Council Sportsperson of the Year Award for her outstanding deeds as a player and coach with the NSW Combined High Schools touch football team, CHS Rugby Sevens and State Championship-winning Nelson Bay Netball side and recently guided the Nelson Bay Neptunes to an Under 18 Girls Regional championship title at Tomaree Sports Complex.

The mercurial middle was named Player of the Grand Final after helping the Neptunes topple Orange 5-4 to clinch the Peter Wilson Memorial tournament trophy – scoring two tries and creating another three for her teammates in a superb display.

Both sporting feats are a testimony of Ali’s determination, strong work ethic and ability to inspire her peers and the next generation of touch football talent in the Port Stephens region.

She will gain some valuable international experience when she tours New Zealand with the NSW CHS Rugby Sevens squad during the April school holidays.

Hunter Wildfires Sevens Rugby coach Zac Rediger predicts a bright future for the teen sensation.

“Ali is a natural athlete with the potential to go a long way in touch football and Sevens Rugby,” revealed Rediger, a former sports coordinator at Tomaree High School.

“She has the skill, vision and speed which are key factors for success and shows a maturity that far belies her years,” said the rugby mentor.

“Ali is self motivated and widely respected and a great ambassador for the sport, devoting many hours into coaching the juniors in the area,” he added.

Mitchell showed her versatility last year as a netball goalkeeper when she helped the Nelson Bay women bring home the State Senior Netball Open Division 3 championship title.

Her strong defensive efforts were a feature and lifted the team to great heights at the Carnival staged in Newcastle.

Ali was introduced to touch football at the age of six and quickly made an impact with her elusive running, long balls and creative skills to force her way into the Nelson Bay Under 10, 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s representative teams.

A regular in the NSW CHS Opens side since the age of fifteen, Ali was one of a record six Tomaree High students in 2023 that earned Sports Blues for outstanding achievement.

She was Player of the Final when NSW Under 15s defeated Queensland in the annual Challenge and gained selection in the National All Schools team.

Last year Ali was named in the Emerging Blues touch football side and helped the Newcastle Open Women’s team reach the State Cup final at Port Macquarie.

The schoolgirl dynamo will line up for the Hunter Hornets Women’s Open outfit in the upcoming National Touch Football League in Coffs Harbour and hopes to push her claims for selection in this year’s NSW Under 20 State of Origin squad.

By Chris KARAS