by Greg Martin

I never had much time for Reginald “ Snowy ” Baker ( Feb 8 , 1884-Dec 2 , 1953 ) because of his shameful involvement in the death of the great boxing champion , Les Darcy . But that ’ s another story . However , Baker was without any shadow of a doubt , the most versatile elite athlete in modern history .

He excelled across 29 different sports and competed successfully at international level in five of them – boxing , rugby union , diving , swimming and polo .

Baker also competed at the highest levels in rowing , equestrian events , athletics , cricket , yachting , fencing , surfing and hockey .

After interviewing Bligh Park ’ s delightful Indy Aquilina , I quipped to the young lass and her equally pleasant mother , Judith , that she “ could be another Snowy Baker ” “ Who ?”, the 11-year-old asked . I told Indy that after the interview she should head to her computer and do a search for old Snowy .

I ’ m equally sure she would be embarrassed by being compared to the champion athlete .

But , by crikey , this young lady is a very talented athlete , excelling in soccer , boxing and athletics .

And I do mean , excelling , especially in the square ring and on a footy field !

They say that behind every successful man is a good woman .

Well , standing tall and delivering every means of support to Indy is a good woman , her mother , Judith , and a good man , her dad , Tyson .

“ I know that without mum and dad ’ s support , there ’ s no way I could be able to pursue my sports and achieve what I have been doing ,” Indy said .

What the young lady has “ been doing ” is becoming an Australian junior boxing champion , starring at soccer at King Park Public in the school ’ s Westfield Talented Sport Program , and competing at state level in in cross country running .

Indy attended Windsor Park Public before the budding star soccer player was given a berth as a student at King Park PS .

Indy says training for all three sports provide her with the fitness and skills to perform at a high level .

“ I train under Mark Hardman at

( Windsor ’ s ) Boxfitt Gym , and the skills he teaches me about movement in the ring have helped me with my footwork on the football field ,” Indy says .

“ And of course , training and competing at cross country certainly builds my stamina for the footy field and boxing ring .”

This 11-year-old ’ s performances in boxing and on the soccer field has certainly captured the attention of those in the know .

“ In the know ” in boxing is her mentor and perhaps greatest supporter , Mark Hardman the head trainer and owner of Boxfitt Gym .

“ She came to us as an eight-year-old and from the very beginning she was as keen as mustard to learn the skills and more importantly , put in the hard yakka to be fully prepared when she eventually got into the ring ,” Mark explained .

She “ got into the ring ” last November at the Australian Boxing League Junior Championships and boxed skillfully to claim gold in the 38kg class before moving up to the 44.5kg division and snaring a bronze .

At the soccer caper , Indy began playing the sport as a four-year-old at Colo Cougars club , remaining a Cougar for several seasons before being lured to play in stronger company in National Premier League club , Mt Druitt Town Rangers ’ junior program .

The young centre back has displayed her remarkable skills from Under 9s through to Under 12s .

Such were those skills ; Indy has been the lone girl in Rangers ’ boys ’ teams since the Under 11s !

Judith said her fellow team-mates didn ’ t readily accept Indy into their ranks “ cause she ’ s a girl ”, but gradually the fellas warmed to her , respecting her work ethic and skills .

So much in fact that she has been made captain of the Under 12s !

Indy has certainly put in the hard yards to further her soccer career , but Judith and Tyson have put in the hard kilometres to ensure their daughter is given every opportunity to attain her goals .

The doting parents share the drive to King Park PS each morning – Tyson twice , and Judith , the other three , and this remarkable mother then picks up her daughter every afternoon for the run back home .

Of course , the kilometres are also chalked up driving Indy to her various training sessions and matches but where there ’ s love , there ’ s a will and a way .

One of those runs is Valentine Sports Park at Glenwood where the soon-to-be- 12-yearold has been playing matches under Football NSW ’ s Talent Support Program , competing in Under 14 years girls ’ fixtures .

The purpose of TSP is to provide an increased number of talented players exposure to a high-quality environment and an increase in high quality games .

It will also enhance the process for talent identification and selection of representative teams and provide additional opportunities for benchmarking and identification for national teams .

That ’ s mine ! Indy Aquilina wins the ball from an opponent during a soccer match . The vastly talented young lady ’ s work ethic has seen her shine across several sports .

The sporting world is certainly Indy Aquilina ’ s oyster , and I , for one , will be eagerly following her journey in sport .

Team

THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 167 // APRIL 2024 33