Sport

Shepparton Gators stars score club awards

By Callum Farquhar

Aug 27, 2026

The Gators celebrate a famous underdog victory. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

With the Big V season concluded and the Country Basketball League on the horizon, one of the final chapters of the Gators’ 2026 campaign arrived with the club’s awards night.

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With the league’s presentation night in early September, the Gators have warmed up the vocal chords for potential acceptance speeches at the club’s night of nights on Wednesday.

It was skipper Josh Kooiman that took out the major honour of the night for the men’s side, claiming the Most Valuable Player award for the season.

Fellow leader and star Gator Taine Wattie took out the Offensive Player of the Year award, while Joseph Allen unsurprisingly went home with the Gators’ Defensive Player of the Year award after being named a finalist for the Division One men’s DPOY.

Sam Maher was crowned with the Player’s Player award, while young gun Aiden Whitelaw notched the Rising Star award.

For the women’s Jackie Ma Tan Fung was named MVP after a dominant season.

Elliana Gray was named as the women Gators’ Defensive Player of the Year, while Bev Rijs was voted as the Player’s Player.

Emerging talent Alice Ludlow was named the Rising Star for the team.

Additionally, Heath Vale was presented with the Spirit of the Gators award, for his unwavering support of the teams at each game throughout the season.

Ahead of the CBL season, the Gators announced Kev Ryan as head coach of the men’s program, while Paul Whitelaw will take the helm of the women’s, assisted by Renae Wayman.