Mid West Sports Awards: 2024’s senior sports star of the year, Jy Thurstun, reflects on his sporting journey

A year on from being named senior sports star of the year at the Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards, Jy Thurstun is still immensely proud of the achievement which ranks him in impressive company. Nominations are still open for the 2025 awards and Thurstun reflected on his accolade, saying it was an honour for his hard work to be recognised. Thurstun rightly earned the title as the Mid West’s senior sports star of the year after an incredible year in softball and football. The 21-year-old represented Australia in the WBSC Under-18 Men’s Softball World Cup in Mexico in 2024 and also travelled to Melbourne to represent Australia in the Under-23 Men’s Championship. “I still look back at the award and the fact that I am now able to sit among some pretty great athletes who have won the award previously,” Thurstun said. “It is certainly something that I am very proud of but also something that shows how much hard work I have put into my journey as an athlete. “It was a great experience and an honour just to be recognised that night.” 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. Thurstun said the theme was a great reminder of just how important team sports were for kids coming up through the ranks of their chosen sport. “There is nothing better than team sports,” he said. “I think to have the theme as team spirit is fitting and highlights the importance of a team environment. “I know first-hand that I wouldn’t have loved sport as much as I do now if it wasn’t for the teams I’ve had around me. “Team sports is so important for kids starting their journey in sports and being able to play with mates is a great incentive to get them interested in sports. “Sport is nothing without the support of those around you and especially in a team environment.” Thurstun made the move to Perth not long after he was recognised at the Mid West Sport Awards last year to pursue softball and football where he now has just finished his first season at Fremantle CBC in the Perth Football League. He is living in Perth where the keen Mid West athlete eyes off national selection in softball. Thurstun said his focus now lies on the goal of representing Australia in Colombia next April. “The next six months is pretty exciting with the ‘Aus’ team and all things hopefully going to plan,” Thurstun said. “Hopefully, I can get selected and then go to Colombia. “That’s always been a goal of mine and its exciting that that possibility is on the horizon.” As for football, Thurstun is at the tail end of his recovery after a nasty collision in the Perth Football League when he was hit high by a Curtin-Wesley player. He suffered facial fractures and had to sit out the remainder of the season, putting a halt to his preparations for national selection in softball. Thurstun is keen to put it behind him and move on to his goal of representing Australia. “Recovery has gone as well as it can really, obviously a bit of a road block with preparations but we are getting through it,” he said. “I am just keen to get out there for trials and be out with the team again.” Nominations for the 2025 Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards close on October 19. To nominate head to: mwsf.org.au