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February was a month to remember for �����Ʊ athletes, with standout performances and historic moments across a range of sports. From Sevens rugby to fencing triumphs, debut milestones, and international cricket, �����Ʊ athletes have proven once again what a diverse sporting community we have. Here’s a look back at the highlights.

�����Ʊ Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholar Sid Harvey was instrumental in the Australian Men's Sevens team’s strong performance in the SVNS World Series in Vancouver. The team secured 7th place after winning 2 of their 3 group games. They fell to South Africa 14-17 in the 7th/8th place match, despite earlier beating them 17-14 in the group stages. Sid scored an incredible opening try in the 1st minute against France, with a half-field effort to cross the line. �����Ʊ alumni and Aussie Sevens co-captain, Henry Hutchison, also contributed with a try in the group stages against South Africa.

The �����Ʊ Fencing Club co-founded the Sydney Intervarsity Fencing League along with the University of Sydney and Macquarie University, and after the first round, �����Ʊ sits proudly at the top of the standings. In the men’s events, Matthew Baker took gold in Epee and Aedyn Pratley secured silver. Ethan Wang took home the bronze in Men’s Sabre with Jocelyn Keung claimed a joint third in the Women’s.

To lacrosse and we had two students, Thomas Joseph (our first ever �����Ʊ lacrosse elite athlete) and Dhilan Patel represent NSW in the Senior National Box Lacrosse Championships played in Altona, Victoria. Box lacrosse is a more physical version of the sport, played in a walled court. The NSW team finished 4th overall, with an exhilarating overtime win over Queensland to secure a place in the bronze match.

Gina Browning continued her impressive form, winning bronze in the Women’s Para Single Scull at the 2025 NSW Rowing Championships. Gina will now set her sights on Nationals in Tasmania later this month, aiming to continue her podium streak.

�����Ʊ student Amelia “Milly” Whitaker made her debut for the NSW Waratahs Women’s team in their Round 1 clash against Fiji Drua. Despite a thrilling near-comeback, the Waratahs fell 17-23. Milly, a first-year Bachelor of Public Health student and Randwick Magic junior, is an exciting prospect for the future having just been awarded the first �����Ʊ & NSW Rugby Scholarship for women’s rugby at �����Ʊ. 

A landmark event for �����Ʊ, the inaugural International Student Cricket Day took place at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. Partnering with MEDIBANK International and Venues NSW, �����Ʊ hosted the event where the Indian, Bangladesh, and Pakistani societies competed for the Usman Khawaja Cup. India emerged victorious in the first-ever edition of the prestigious competition.

The Active Women in Sport Awards recognized outstanding achievements in women’s sport while reinforcing the University’s commitment to gender equality. Awards were presented to Lydia Cheng (SHECAN Award), Elouise Pelaez (First Year Star), the �����Ʊ Hockey Club (Outstanding Club), Jennifer Avery (Trailblazer), and Daisy Carter (Champion). A special Q&A session with cricket legend and �����Ʊ alumna Alex Blackwell highlighted the challenges women face in sport and the importance of advocacy.

Overall, February was a fantastic month for �����Ʊ sport, with our athletes excelling on the national and international stage. We look forward to seeing what’s in store for us in March!