2024 UniSport Nationals Recap

Last week Canberra recently hosted the UniSport Nationals 2024, a premier inter-university event that draws more than 6,000 students from across the country to compete in over 30 sports. With changing conditions and occasional wind gusts reaching 50km/h, the competition presented a different set of challenges compared to the more familiar, balmy environment of the Gold Coast last year. UNSW sent a contingent of over 500 students, many of whom are part of the UNSW Elite Athlete Program (EAP), demonstrating skillsets in a wide variety of sports. 

Badminton was one of UNSW’s standout sports, with the men’s team led by EAP athletes Asher Ooi and Ricky Tang securing a dominant gold medal. Their performance was clinical throughout the tournament, dropping only four points in total before dismantling Deakin University in the final, 6-1. On the women’s side, UNSW finished in a respectable 7th place, securing a solid 6-1 victory over the University of Sydney, demonstrating grit in a challenging field.

Basketball saw one of its largest gatherings of EAP athletes, featuring James Arthur, Melvin Chan, Jacob Corry, Marlon Reid, Alec Ryan, Anton Simdyankin, Angus Skrbinsek and Yi Tian Zou. For the women we Samantha Bidwell, Caitlin Brines, Pippa Davis, Holly Davis, Xanthe Fitzgerald, Jasinta Haydardedeoglu, Emily Nguyen and Alexandra Postma. Both teams had strong starts, battling through the group stages. However, both squads faced the same nemesis in the University of Melbourne, bowing out in the quarter-finals. The men finished 8th overall, while the women finished 6th. 

Facing winds that made beach volleyball especially difficult, UNSW’s men's and mixed teams finished 12th and 9th, respectively. The unpredictable conditions on the Canberra courts demanded adaptability and perseverance from the athletes, and while a podium finish eluded them this year, they look forward to next years Nationals.

The men’s fencing team secured gold in the opening days of competition, driven by standout performances in the sabre and epee events. The victory was a significant early boost for UNSW, establishing the university as a contender across a wide variety of sports right from the start.

UNSW's men’s football team, featuring EAP athletes Ryan McPhail, Marcus Ang, and Domenico Abruzzese, began the tournament strong but couldn't maintain momentum, finishing 8th overall. In contrast, the women’s football team secured a bronze medal in thrilling fashion. The match against the University of Canberra was decided with the final touch of extra time, as EAP athlete Chloe Smith’s goal clinched the 2-1 victory. With Chloe Smith joined by fellow EAP players Leah Burton and Amelia Dixon, the bronze medal felt hard-earned and well-deserved.

Our 2023 overall winners, the golf team, followed up last years success with an impressive medal tally of 6 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze making them an absolute powerhouse competitor at UniNational’s again.

The women’s futsal team, represented by EAP Natalie Milenkovski (goalkeeper), faced a fiercely competitive field, finishing 9th overall.

Women’s hockey also had a tough outing, with the team unable to secure a win despite some notable individual performances from EAP athlete Georgina O’Sullivan. The men’s team fared better, finishing 5th after defeating the University of Newcastle in their final match.

One of the unexpected highlights for UNSW came from the lawn bowls team, which captured gold once again, even without any EAP athletes. The victory against James Cook University secured a second consecutive championship for UNSW in this sport, with an entirely new roster of players.

Both the women’s and mixed netball teams missed out on medals but were given a unique opportunity to be coached by UNSW Ben Lexcen Scholar and NSW Swifts player Sophie Fawns. The teams featured EAP athletes Abigail Worswick, Sarah McIlveen, and Reuben Hansen, all of whom contributed to a team dynamic that was marked by positivity and cohesion. With a solid foundation, these squads will be looking to make their mark next year.

The mixed Oztag team fell just short of a bronze medal, losing to Macquarie University in a close contest. EAP athlete Kristie Vu was a standout performer throughout the competition, and with continued development, the team looks poised to compete for a medal in 2025.

UNSW’s rowing program continued to shine, with the mixed 4’s team securing a silver medal. EAP athletes Marcus Della Marta and Lucy Coleman were instrumental in the team’s success. Additionally, Della Marta claimed the prestigious Men’s 1x Willis Trophy, adding to an already impressive week for UNSW rowing. The women’s pairs also clinching silver in the pairs event.

Rugby 7’s remains one of the most demanding sports at UniGames, and UNSW’s team finished 5th overall.

In martial arts, UNSW stood out. The men’s and women’s Taekwondo teams both secured gold, led by EAP and Vice-Chancellor's Blues winner Ryan Lee. The women’s Judo team also took home gold, marking a dominant showing for UNSW in the combat sports arena.

The table tennis teams continued their strong performance from previous years. The men’s team, led by EAP athlete Victor Lim, captured a silver medal, while the women’s team followed closely behind with a bronze.

In tennis, the men’s team captured a bronze medal in Division 2, while the women’s team finished 10th overall.

Touch football saw UNSW’s men’s team finish 8th, with the women’s team unable to place despite valiant efforts. EAP athlete Molly Thomson played a crucial role for the men’s side.

In Ultimate Frisbee, a physically demanding sport, the mixed team finished 13th overall. EAP Leilani Lai delivered a notable performance, joining the team fresh off her appearance at the World Ultimate Frisbee Championships.

The men’s volleyball team reached the quarter-finals before falling to eventual gold medallist QUT, but not before delivering some impressive performances, including those from EAP athlete Jackson Cousins. The women’s team finished 7th overall.

The men’s and women’s water polo teams rounded out the competition, finishing 7th and 11th respectively. 

A special shoutout to Arc Sport for their tireless work putting UniSport Nationals together for over 500 UNSW students across the whole week including accommodation, support on the day, and organising events for them. They create an incredible family like community within UniGames and it is amazing to be apart of it every year. Also to Joanne Stephan for her wonderful photography work yet again at UniSport Nationals.

This year’s UniSport Nationals saw UNSW athletes excel in a wide array of sports, overcoming challenging conditions and tough competition. With several gold, silver, and bronze medals secured, and numerous EAP athletes leading the way, UNSW’s performance in Canberra was nothing short of brilliant. Although we weren't crowned overall winners we look forward to next year with a lot of promising superstars at this university.