In early September this year, Canberra hosted over 6,000 student athletes from across Australia for the prestigious annual UniSport Nationals. In it's 30th year and held from September 7 to 13, 400+ Monash University students went head-to-head with competitors from 42 other Australian universities, showcasing their talent and determination across a wide array of sports. With countless memories made, the week solidified Monash’s legacy in UniSport history. Monash proudly secured three Champion pennants, along with numerous other medals and unforgettable performances.

Among the standout achievements was the Women’s Volleyball team, which claimed the Gold Pennant in a dominant display. Team organiser and star player Arwen Verdnik shared her thoughts on the victory: “We took it one game at a time, but kept in mind the overall arc of the tournament and the eight consecutive wins we need to win gold. Everyone played amazingly all week and we dominated the competition.”

Arwen continued, “This year's gold is the culmination of three years of hard work with many core players looking to return and back up our results on the Gold Coast in 2025.”

Adding to Monash’s success, the Cheer and Dance teams wowed the crowd with electrifying performances. Their hard work paid off, with the Cheer team earning a Gold Pennant and the Dance team bringing home Silver.

The Men’s Judo team delivered a series of thrilling matches, ultimately securing the Gold Pennant in their event, while the Men’s Basketball team fought their way into the finals, finishing as runners-up after a hard-fought battle against the University of Tasmania.

Reflecting on the experience, Basketball team captain Mitchell Blackburn said, “On the court, I could not be more proud to compete and represent the blue and grey with a group of talented athletes, many of whom are my adversaries during the season.”

Though the team fell just short in the grand final, Mitchell added, “We unfortunately lost the grand final to finish second out of 30 odd teams but it was nice to return to our winning ways.”

The Women’s Table Tennis team also made an impressive showing, claiming Silver after battling through tough competition. Athlete Ellen Walker praised her team’s camaraderie, saying, “My table tennis team was so amazing and we all supported each other really well for the whole week, even during our 8am starts.” 

“For the whole week we were sitting around third on the rankings, however during our preliminary final we fought hard to beat UNSW 6-2, securing us the Silver medal! I have formed incredible connections with athletes from all over Australia, and will definitely treasure this experience.” She continued.

Monash’s Badminton teams delivered strong performances, with the Women’s team winning Silver and the Men’s team earning Bronze, while the Men’s Taekwondo team fought their way to a Silver medal.

In Futsal, Monash’s teams achieved a remarkable result, with Team B claiming Bronze and Team A securing Silver in Division 2. Team organiser and athlete TC Bakhour remarked, “To have both teams come away with medals, is an amazing result. I think it's the first time in the University's history that we have taken two Futsal teams to nationals and every player who participated this year was completely new to the program, including myself.”

Bakhour continued, “We gave the other universities a real challenge, only losing out in the Semi to the eventual winners, UniSyd. Now, we’re seen as serious contenders for future UniSport titles.”

Yet, the week wasn’t just about victory. Monash’s athletes represented the University with pride, sportsmanship, and unyielding energy, earning the prestigious South Spirit Champion Pennant for the second year in a row. This recognition speaks to the dedication and camaraderie of the entire team, and every athlete should be proud of this remarkable achievement.

A special shout out also goes to the incredible Team Leaders, coaches, and Monash staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring the students were at their best and that the event ran smoothly.

Congratulations to all who competed or contributed to this year’s UniSport Nationals! We eagerly await what 2025 has in store. For the full results, visit the Team Monash Facebook and Instagram, or on the UniSport Nationals 2024 page.