MELBOURNE —Last Friday night saw the hosting of the inaugural World University Sport Reception, an opportunity for the Monash University community to gather some of the incredible student athletes who competed in the 2018 World University Championships and acknowledge their efforts abroad.
The night celebrated the Monash Cheer team, the 3×3 Basketball women’s team and two of Monash University’s finest Karate aficionados.
Team Monash Director Martin Doulton spoke about the immense pride he felt towards those that represented Monash and Australia while acknowledged the importance of Monash University to continue to sponsor and support its athletes.
“I’m very proud of them, I’ve had the privilege of watching them prior to competing on the world stage,” Martin said.
“The pride and the passion they have for wearing the Monash badge shows just how important it is for the University to continue its support of such aspirations.”
The athletes in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the night and appreciated the recognition their awards reflected, whilst also relishing the opportunity to reflect upon and reminisce about their shared experiences overseas.
Monash Cheer and Dance squad member Katie Sawford highlighted the amount of work that was put in by the team prior to competing in Poland.
“I attended pre-season before university even started,” Sawford said. “As soon as I joined we got to work and I loved it, I wanted to take on all the teams that I could.”
Fellow Monash Cheer and Dance athlete Elizabeth Phua was overjoyed with the team’s results, winning three silver medals. “It was something outside of Australia, for most of us it was our first international competition,” Phua said.
“Then standing up on the podium with the flag, it was so special, I’m going to remember that for a long time.”
Some of the other awardees were the 3×3 Basketball women’s team, which competed in China after winning the University Nationals in Melbourne. “Just recently 3×3 has become huge, it’s now an Olympic sport,” team member Cahlia Haslam said.
After all meeting at the University Games in 2017 the women were recruited into making a 3×3 team and never looked back, thoroughly enjoying the experience overseas.
“It was awesome, getting to meet uni students from all over the world and see what basketball meant to them and how they all got into it was really cool,” teammate Sian Gillam said.
For award winners and Karate experts Dean Dritsas and Jelena Kalajdjic, the opportunity to compete in Japan was just as exciting.
“For a few of us it was our first international competition as well,” Dean said. “So to step into that next stage, with everyone around us it was a big thing.”
Teammate Jelena was impressed with how the team rallied around each other throughout the entire experience. “We had quite a small team, only 12 of us I think but it was incredible, we really came together, supported each other and the atmosphere was incredible.” Jelena said.
Overall, the night was exactly what everybody was hoping for, a chance to celebrate those within the University who strive for greatness whilst also representing Monash as students and ambassadors on a world stage.
We would once again like to thank all our athletes who were in attendance and to all awardees, each and every one of you were deserving recipients.
See the full photo album from the night here