Author: Samuel Tancred, UniSA Bachelor of Journalism student.
Some of UniSA’s best and brightest athletes rallied upon Canberra for the UniSport Nationals between the 7th and 13th of September, taking home several medals in the process.
Over 5,000 students from across the country, representing 42 UniSport Australia member universities in 30 different sports, competed in the flagship event of the university sporting calendar. This also being the first time that this multi-sport event has been held in our nation’s capital since the mid-1990’s.
Of UniSA’s 48 representative student athletes, it was the women who were the stars of the show, bringing home two gold medals. Meiko Ikariyama won gold in the women’s kendo dan event; and Lillee Wakefield securing the top spot in the women’s judo event.
Adding to the medal tally was Taichi Igarashi in the men’s kendo dan, Andrew Wakefield in the men’s judo, Jake Nesbitt in the men’s cycling criterium, and the UniSA men’s volleyball in Division 2. All of whom won bronze medals for their efforts.
UniSA’s athletes participated with pride and valour across 7 sports: judo (m&w), kendo (m&w), cycling (men), tennis (women), netball (women), basketball (men) and volleyball (men). With every competitor giving it their all and maintaining a positive team culture throughout the day.
Of course, the university’s athlete participation would have been possible if not for the tireless and first-rate work of the UniSA team managers and coaches: Kendall McInnis, Darren Kawka, Darcy Strudwick, Naomi Gaze, Rob Gaze, Stacy Huang, Dannii Munn, Connor Turlan, and Mehdi Alizadeh. Who, along with team captains—Shannon Schutt and Sophie Fenton-Killick—as well as sports trainer, Ira Pagadut, deserve much thanks for their work in helping to get the competitors to Canberra for the opportunity to showcase their abilities, as part of a strong crop of student athletes across the nation.
UniSA results from the remaining team events:
Women’s Netball Team – (Div 2) 10th
Men’s Basketball Team – (Div 2) 17th
Women’s Tennis Team – 8th
Cycling Criterium – Darcy: 11th
Cycling Road Race – Darcy: 4th; Jake: 14th