An exciting week of multi-sport action kicks off this Sunday 24th September at the 2022 UniSport Nationals!
The event sees over 5000 participants, representing universities from across the country, battle it out to become national champions in one of 26 different sports. This year, The University of Queensland (UQ) team is traveling all the way to Perth. UQ will be represented in six sports: badminton, fencing, netball, table tennis, ultimate disc, and volleyball.
We caught up with this year’s UQ Team Captains, Erin Joyce and Harrison Seaborn, to hear about their past UniSport Nationals experiences and what to expect from this year’s event.
- How does it feel to be selected as captain for the 2022 UniSport Nationals?
Erin: I think it’s very exciting and I can’t wait to see how we go! I’m also really excited to be travelling to Perth, I’ve never been there before so I think it will be a really cool opportunity to travel and compete while leading the team.
Harrison: It’s a real honour and I’m really excited to just get around everyone and have some fun.
- What sport will you be participating in?
Erin: I am part of the women’s netball team.
Harrison: I’m in the men’s volleyball team.
- How many UniSport Nationals have you been involved in?
Erin: I went to one last year.
Harrison: I’m the same, this will be my second nationals.
- What is your best Nationals memory?
Erin: Probably just staying away as a team together. I feel like it really helped me bond with all of the girls, and it was a lot of fun.
Harrison: My team was lucky enough to get a silver medal last year, so that was really exciting. Obviously, we are looking to one up ourselves and go for gold this year.
- What is your favourite part about being involved in an event like this?
Erin: I think for me it would be the team environment, and just how everybody gets around one another and has a bit of fun playing sport.
Harrison: I think it’s the energy and excitement around big sports competitions like this. With lots of different sports and lots of teams coming together to participate, it’s always lots of fun.
- What are you hoping to see from team at this year’s Nationals?
Erin: I think it would be really cool to see everyone working together to be at their best, and then hopefully seeing the team come away with some medals for UQ.
Harrison: I think it would be really great to see everyone going to watch other sports that they maybe don’t play and supporting the teams that they’re not a part of. It’s a really great feeling having fellow UQ students on the sidelines cheering you on.
- Who are the teams/athletes to watch?
Erin: I’m not too sure about the other sports, but I think for the girl’s netball team, it’s a new group of girls and we should gel well. I’m really excited to see how we go.
Harrison: I also can’t speak too much for the other sports, but the volleyball boys are definitely a team to watch. We’ve had two silver medals in the competition the past two years, so we are 100% gunning for that top spot this time round!
- What does it mean to be selected to represent UQ at this event?
Erin: I think it’s a really big honour to go away and represent the University and I really want to make sure that we make everyone at UQ super proud.
Harrison: Obviously UQ is such a big and diverse university, it’s the biggest in Queensland, so be able to go out and represent my university makes me very proud and it’s a really exciting time.
- Any motivational words to those competing in Perth?
Erin: Make sure you leave everything out there on the court or field. Just do you best and see how you go, that’s all we can ask.
Harrison: Win or lose, Uni Nationals is all about having a bit of fun. It’s always exciting to get out and be independent when you’re part of big trip like this. It is a long five-and-a-half-hour flight to Perth, so it will be a little bit testing on us when it comes to jumping straight into competition, but don’t take it too seriously and make sure you enjoy the experience.
You can show your support for our student-athletes by following the action on UQ Sport socials. LET’S GO TEAM UQ!