Rising star Sims shines
Michael Sims stocks have risen after being named Under-18 Male Bowler of the Year The national spotlight remains on Trevallyn’s Michael Sims after he was named Australia’s under-18 bowler of the year, as Terry Morris reports for the Launceston Examiner.
Sims was announced as the winner during Bowls Australia’s awards night at the Burnie Arts and Function Centre.
The 17-year-old is the first Tasmanian to gain recognition since Bowls Australia introduced the national awards in 2010.
“I had no idea, I didn’t expect to win in it,” Sims said.
“It’s a good way to finish off what has been a successful season for me and I’m treating it as the cherry on the top.”
Sims is competing in the Australian Sides Championship which continues in Burnie until Thursday and then he is looking forward to a break over winter.
A member of the national under-18 team for the past two years, Sims said his ambition for next season was to aim for the Bowls Australia development team.
“The team is made up of five bowlers and each year plays New Zealand in a Test series,” he said.
Sims was introduced to lawn bowls about eight years ago by his father David, who is also a member at Trevallyn.
“I used to go and watch Dad play pennant games and it went from indoor bowls to lawn bowls,” he said.
Sims came to national prominence last year when he beat world champion Aron Sherriff during the early rounds of the Australian Open.
He progressed to the round of 16 before being eliminated by eventual champion Aaron Wilson.
He later went on to win a gold medal in the Super 6 series in the men’s pairs at Bendigo and a third place in the Junior Golden Nugget at Tweed Heads.
Sims is a Year 12 student at Launceston College and is looking ahead to university where he will study for a bachelor of business degree.
