This Saturday, Monash University commences their campaign against Universities from all over Australia at the 2024 UniSport Nationals, to be held in Canberra. Over 400 student athletes making up 31 Monash teams will contest 18 different sports, each hoping to take home the gold.

Nationals this year is held two weeks earlier, running from September 7 to September 13, with venues across the Australian National University campus, the Australian Institute of Sport and the University of Canberra. Despite Nationals coinciding with classes in week 8 of semester 2, there is a larger Monash contingent than previous years heading to Canberra.

2023 Nationals saw Monash take home 7 golds across 5 different sports, including the men’s and women’s badminton, women’s taekwondo, mixed netball, cheer and dance. Our judo and men’s tennis teams also bagged the silver after narrow losses.

Two experienced athletes in Vic Ly and Mitch Blackburn from Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball respectively were selected to the prestigious position of Monash University Team Captains. This is Vic’s second Nationals, after she started playing Ultimate Frisbee in 2022. Despite the narrow loss to the University of Melbourne in the Big Blue Varsity Challenge earlier this year, she is ready to bounce back at Nationals.

For Mitch, 2024 represents his third Nationals, coming off the sidelines due to injury. In 2023, Mitch had the opportunity to represent Monash and Australia at the FISU Oceania 3x3 Basketball Continental Tournament, taking home the silver medal and punching his ticket to the 3x3 FISU University World Cup Basketball Championships. Unfortunately, due to his injury, Mitch was unable to compete. When asked about competing at Nationals this year, he said that competing to him is more than just basketball.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on the court and representing the university. This is my third time attending uni nationals and I relish the opportunity to represent Monash“

Vic echoed Mitch’s comments, stating that UniSport Nationals was very special to her, allowing her to travel with her friends, and compete in a sport that she loves.

“Sometimes it feels like a holiday and it's honestly the event I look forward to every year! Being able to compete and represent Monash at a high level is an incredible opportunity and I can't wait for Canberra.”

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