Hale Year 12 student, Lewis Thomas, recently received a pleasant interruption from his TEE study in the form of a letter from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, offering him a 12 month scholarship to join their men’s basketball program, commencing 17 January 2010.
Only 4 athletes, Australia-wide, have been selected for the 2010–11 programme who will join a squad of 8 existing players.
Lewis will join the Emus training camp (the Australian U/19 Men’s basketball team) in January and will stay on at the AIS. As a member of the AIS squad they play in the SEABL (South East Australian Basketball League) enabling them the experience of being in a touring competition with 15 other teams. Whilst continuing with his education in Canberra next year, Lewis will also be representing the AIS in New Zealand, Taipei, Germany and Italy.
Lewis hopes to be selected for the Emus team to play in the World Championships in 2011, followed by a 4 year scholarship to an American College with the long-term goal of one day playing in the 2016 Olympics for the Boomers!
Lewis Thomas has his sights set on the 2016 Olympic Games