2005 Ben Lexcen Sports Scholar

Victoria Roberts, Rowing - Arts

Alexandra Blackwell, Cricket - Medicine

William Hamlyn-Harris, Athletics- Architecture

Sonya Chervonsky, Judo - Digital Media

Having only taken up Judo in 1998, by 2001 Sonya was the National Junior Women's Champion in the 52kg division. Since then Sonya has gone on to become the National Women's Champion, Oceania Junior Women's and Oceania Women's Champion in 2002, she represented Australia at the Junior World Championships in Korea and has been named a member of Australian National team narrowly missing a place to the Commonwealth Games in 2002. Sonya won in 2003 the Victorian and New South Wales Open's, came 3rd at the Oceania Championships and 2nd at the National and ACT Open's.

James Day, Cricket - Arts/Education

In 2002 James was included in the NSW Schoolboys cricket team and at the Schoolboys Championships, was named player of the Tournament. Mainly considered as a batsmen, James is also known to take a few important wickets by bowling his medium pace, and played 1st Grade in his first year at the UNSW Cricket Club and was picked for the NSW Country U 19's.

Michael Seckold, Basketball - (Health and Sports Science)

Year 2003 started with his selection in the Combined High Schools team. From there he was selected in the All School's State team to play in Darwin where he was the tournaments "Top Scorer" and then gained selection for the Australian Schoolboys Team to tour New Zealand. Selected in the All Star 5 of the State League Div 1 team

Eva Ratanasena, Badminton - Commerce

In 2003, Eva won 5 Singles titles, which includes winning the 2003 Australian Youth Olympics Festival, the ACT open, New Caledonian International Open, , 5 Doubles titles and 2 Mixed Doubles titles. Eva finished the year by being selected for Australia to compete in the Davis Cup equivalent for Badminton.

Stuart Gomez, Badminton - Commerce

A third year scholar, Stuart had an extremely successful 2001 winning the men's singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Qld Open and spearheaded the UNSW team to ECG and AUG victories remaining undefeated throughout both tournaments. He currently has a national ranking of 4th, which saw him selected in the 2002 Commonwealth Games squad.

In November 2003, Stuart Gomez was named AUS East Male Athlete of the Year.

Peter Hatton, Mountain Biking - Engineering

Peter, a returning scholar gained selection for Australia at the World Championships and World Cup finals in 2001 finishing 7th at the North American Nationals and is ranked in the top 30 in the World. He finished 2nd in the State series in 2002 and has been the NSW U19 Champion. In 2003 Peter won the Australian Mt Biking Series and signed a deal to compete with Italian Club MAPEI.

Leighton Wren, Karate - Arts/Education

2002 was certainly a good year for Leighton's Karate career. In 2002 he was the Junior and Senior NSW Open Champion. He also managed to place 1st in the Australian National Championships in the Junior division, 2nd in the Junior teams division and 3rd in the Seniors, as well as placing 2nd at the Oceania Championships and represented Australia against Indonesia, which Australia won. In 2003 Leighton won the Australian National title, was selected to represent the Senior National team to attend the Commonwealth Karate Championships in England and the Junior World Championships in France, and finally was named Australian Junior Kumite Star of the Year for the Australian Karate Federation.

Emma Polkinghorne, Water Polo - Science

From Albury, Emma has represented the Victorian U20 Water Polo team and was also a member of the Australian Girl's Youth Squad. She has been a member of the NSW and Australian Country team's for the past three years and has been named player of the CHS Inter Regional Championships and was selected to be a part of the Australian University team to tour the United States of America. Emma is currently an integral member of the UNSW Water Polo team playing in the first National League Competition.

Eszter Hortobagyi, Modern Pentathlon - Commerce

Eszter's main priority for 2004 is to qualify for the Australian Olympic team to go to Athens later on in the year. On her way to doing this, Eszter won the Victorian Championships, placed 2nd at the National Championships and was the only Australian representative to qualify for the World Championships placing 33rd out of 70. Currently ranked 1st in Australia, Eszter travels to China in March to achieve her ultimate goal.

Jono Dore, Trampolining - Engineering

A returning scholar, Jonathon won the Qld State Championships in the double mini and finished in the top three at every major national event in the double mini tramp, trampoline and synchronised trampoline. Jono has represented Australia at four consecutive World Championships and finished in the top eight at the World Games in Japan.

Luke Trickett, Swimming - Commerce

A returning UNSW Sports Scholar, Luke has made great steps in his attempts to become Australia's premier breaststroker. A member of the Telstra Dolphins, Luke represented Australia in the Oceania Championships In Noumea in 2002, winning gold in the 200m (setting an Oceanic record), 2nd in the 50m and 100m. He also swam at various long and short course Championships for solid results and recently won the 100m and 200m Breaststroke and won bronze in the 50m Breaststroke at the NSW State Open Championships in January 2003. Luke is studying a Commerce and Economics Degree.

Matilda Johnson, Netball - Social Science/Criminology

A New South Wales Institute of Sport Scholarship holder in 2001 and 2002 for Netball, Matilda has played International level matches against the likes of the Singapore National team, England Development Squad and Commonwealth Games team, Fijian Commonwealth Games team and also Auckland. Matilda has also represented her state at both U17's and U19's level and captained the NSW U19's in 2003.

Kerryn Fieberg, Basketball - Arts/Engineering

For the past four years, Kerryn has played a big part in the City of Sydney Representative age teams. However 2003 for Kerryn was a year of achievements. Kerryn was the captain of the City of Sydney Under 18 Women's team. She was also invited to be a part of the NSW High Performance camp and to play in and tour with the Metropolitan Development League. She won a Sporting Blue at St Catherine's and also a medallion for outstanding achievement in basketball and finally won a silver medal as part of the NSW Metropolitan Under 18's Women's team.

Sian Batista De Mello, Basketball - Arts and Social Science

Sian has been an important member of the UNSW Sydney Comets team for the past 2 years. In 2003 Sian was picked in the NSW State Basketball league All-Star 5 and was selected as the most valuable player in the Grand Final.

Stuart McKay, Cricket - Medicine/Health and Sport Science

Stuart was a member of the Waverley College 1st XI in 2003. With a top score of 113 against Cranbrook College, Stuart managed to have a batting average of an impressive 56, which included 6 scores of 50 or better. These figures helped Stuart to become captain of the Combined Associated Schools Senior XI to play against the Greater Public Schools representative team.

Nick Russell, Water Polo - Engineering

Nick Russell is a Water Polo player to watch for the future. Nick has represented NSW and Australian Schoolboys in 2001 and 2002 and was named as the Most Valuable Player in the Test Series against New Zealand Schoolboys. In 2003 Nick toured with the Australian Under 18's team to Europe where he gained valuable experience. Nick is also a key member of the NSW and Australian Under 20's teams and was awarded a NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship in 2002 and 2003. Between all the tours and training, Nick finds time to fit in study for his Biomechanical Engineering at UNSW.

Holly Hawtin, Water Polo - Science

Holly's list of achievements within the sport of Water Polo, are quite impressive. Holly was a scholarship holder at NSWIS in 2003, while also being selected for the Australian Universities Women's Water Polo team to tour the USA where she came home the highest goal scorer. Holly was then invited to compete at the Hawaiin Invitational Tournament where she was again the highest goal scorer. Holly is currently an integral member of the UNSW/West's National League team competing in the first National League competition for Women's Water Polo.

Rachel Bourke, Touch - Medicine/Health and Sports Science

Rachel had a very successful 2003 on the Touch Football field. It all started by being selected for the City team to play Country at the NSW Touch Competition. At a University Games level she was the leading try scorer for the UNSW Women's Touch side at the Eastern University Games. Rachel's fitness and speed on the Touch field, comes from a successful background as a sprinter on the track. Rachel qualified for the National U 20's 100m Hurdles final in Brisbane in 2001 and in 2003 she won the Australian University Games 400m final. Rachel will be a very important member of the UNSW Women's Touch team to compete in the Sydney Championships Competition in 2004.

Louise Maraun, Hockey - Science

Lousie Maruan's sporting achievements are impressive. Louise has represented various age representative hockey teams throughout her junior career, including Sydney North Regional sides for two years. Since school, Louise has flourished further, representing NSW at both Under 18s and now Under 21s at both indoor and outdoor. The next progression is to represent NSW in the National Hockey League series. Louise will again play a central role in helping keep UNSW Women's Hockey in the Metro 1 League of the Sydney Hockey competition, and somehow fitting in her fulltime study for her Science degree.

Deon Moore, Hockey - Engineering

Originally from Cairns, Deon is in his second year of his UNSW Engineering degree. Deon is a member of the Queensland Academy of Sport, was the Queensland Under 18's hockey goalkeeper in 2003, and was unfortunate not to be selected for the Australian side at the National championships. Deon was also asked to trial for the Brisbane Blades National Hockey league team and will play for the UNSW Hockey club again this year.

Daniel Swinnerton - Building Construction Management

2003 was a successful year for Dan, captaining the Wests Club in the Mens National league Water Polo competition, representing NSW Under 20s and also the Australian Junior Mens Squad.

Dan is previously a AIS Sports Scholar, NSWIS Scholar and was selected in Australian Schoolboys in 2002.

Christopher O'Hara, Rugby - Engineering

Christopher's rugby ability has been fostered at the highly recognised rugby nursery, Marist College Canberra. This ability has helped him to represent the ACT at U 14, U 15 and U 18's level. He was also selected in the U 17 Australian development squad and big things are expected of him this year.

Charles Whiting, Rugby - Commerce and Economics

Learning his trade as a hard working back rower at the well-known St Ignatius College, Charles has made an immediate impact at the UNSW Rugby Club, playing 1st Grade in his first year. Before a season ending knee injury, Charles' work rate made him one of the form players of the NSW Suburban competition.

Michael Nicholson, Rugby - Civil and Environmental Engineering

Michael has been a product of the Combined Associated Schools Rugby program having attended St Aloysius College. Michael was picked in his final year of school for the CAS 1st XV to play against the schoolboy heavyweights Greater Public Schools (GPS). At the same time, Michael was also part of the North Sydney Bears Development Squad and managed to place 3rd overall in the State for sailing skiffs.

Keely McNamara, Cycling - Science (Honours)

Having only taken up cycling in 2001, Keely has since been included in a Talent Identification Program at the Australian Institute of Sport for potential sprint cyclists. In the same year Keely won selection as part of the NSW U/19 Team to compete at the Women's National Club Championships, due to her strong performance at the ACT U/19 Women's Championships where she won bronze medals in the Criterium and Road Race. A strong year of training has helped Keely gain selection recently for her first Australian team to compete at the Oceania Championships in New Zealand where she gained a creditable 6th in the Women's 8000m Scratch Race.

Michelle Barrera, Equestrian - Science

Michelle's sporting achievements to date are impressive. In 2000, Michelle was named NSW Junior Showjumping Rider Of The Year after placing 2nd in the Australian Junior Showjumping Championships. In 2001, Michelle was a member of the NSW and National Young Riders squad. However, 2002 was even better for Michelle. 2002 was her best year to date, with Michelle becoming the youngest rider ever to win gold in a Pacific League World Cup event at the Sale World Cup Qualifier. Michelle also won silver (team) at the 2002 Asian Games and she was selected in the National Development squad. Michelle spent most of 2003 competing in World Cup events or in Grand Prix events overseas where she placed no worse than 6t, including 1sts at Sydney Royal Easter Show, the Malaysian Open Queen's Cup, the Kuala Lumpur Championships, and 2nds at the Sale and Bega World Cup Qualifiers.

Mark Gabriel, Tae Kwon Do - Medicine/Health and Sport Science

Mark's sporting achievements to date are impressive. Over recent years, Mark has steadily progressed through various competitions, including winning gold at the Sydney West and Sydney Open Championships. More recently, Mark has starred at the State level, winning gold in the 72-78kg division, as well gold at both the Eastern University Games and the Australian University Games in 2002. In recognition of this success, Mark was selected for the Australian Universities' "Green and Gold" Team.

Sahil Prasad, Tae Kwon Do - Social Science/Criminology

In the sport of Tae Kwon Do, Sahil is a man in a hurry. In 2003 Sahil was listed as the reserve for the Australian Olympic Tae Kwon Do team for Athen's and was a quarter finalist at the World Championships, losing to the eventual gold medallist. Sahil has also achieved quite a lot as a junior by winning a silver medal at the Australian National Championships in the U'58 kg's division and won the NSW Open and Australian Open Junior tournaments.

Michael Pruscino, Fencing - Commerce and Economics

Michael began 2001, with selection for the NSW U/20 Junior Men's Epee Team. He then followed this up by winning the UTS Open and Sydney University Open Men's Epee as well as the State Under 20 Men's Individual Epee. These results saw Michael selected in the NSW Under 20 Junior Men's Epee Team in 2002. All of which was the catalyst for Michael winning the Australian National Under 20 Men's Individual Epee. In 2003 Michael won the NSW State Open Eppe Championships and the Australian University Fencing Championships Men's Eppe, and finally came 3rd at the last of the AFF Circuit's events, the NSW Tournament held in Sydney in September.

Michael Penkov, Judo - Computer Science and Engineering

Michael is an up-and-coming Judo player of the future. He has started his playing career by winning the Young Men's division and placing 2nd in the Men's 66kg division of the NSW Country Championships in 2002, and then won the Young Men's and U 60kg division at the NSW Challenge. In 2003 Michael won the NSW KYU U 66kg division title as well as the U 60 kg event at the Eastern University Games.

David Treacy, Cycling - Commerce/Law

Combining the demanding triathlon training schedule and a Commerce / Law degree, David has recorded some impressive results. In 2003, David finished first and second in the two LOOK Series Triathlons at La Perouse. In addition, David has performed well in the National Accenture Series and hopes to record good results in the remaining Accenture and Olympic preparation races. As a result of injury, David has had to turn his attention to Cycling where he has previously placed 2nd in the Road Race, 3rd in the team's Time Trial and 5th in the Individual Time Trial and Criterium.

Holly Trimble, Soccer - Arts/Social Science

Holly and the UNSW Women's Soccer teams had a very successful 2003. Holly was a part of the UNSW team to claim a silver medal at the Eastern University Games and was also selected in the Women's Merit team. At club level Holly was part of the UNSW First Grade and Under 21's teams which won their respective Minor Premiership's. As a result of all this success, Holly and the UNSW Women's Soccer teams now find themselves in the elite Super League competition in 2004.

Michael O'Hara, Soccer - Mechanical Engineering

In his second year as captain of the UNSW Men's Soccer First Grade team, Michael has been an instrumental part of the resurgence of the UNSW Soccer Club. At he 2003 Eastern and Australian University Games, the boys overcame some very strong opposition to claim a silver medal at both events.

James Chapman, Touch - Arts

James is one of UNSW's many outstanding country student athletes. Whilst playing a variety of sports in Tamworth, James soon came to realise that he excelled at Touch Football. He was the captain of the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges team in 2003. Traditionally a strong side and has also competed at the Australian U 18's Championships. James will be looking to steer the UNSW Men's Touch team to a medal at the Australian University Games in 2004.

Cameron Byrne, Touch - Town Planning

At such a young age, Cameron has shown an extraordinary ability at the game of Touch Football. In 2001 Cameron was a member of the Australian U 19's Mixed Touch team and was named player of the tournament at the World Cup in New Zealand. In 2002 Cameron was selected to represent Australia again, this time in the Men's U 19's team to tour the Cook Islands where they won all three Test Matches. Cameron will be playing for UNSW in the Sydney Championships competition.

Simon Heeringa, Triathlon - Science

Ruth Jago, Soccer - Mechanical Engineering

Ruth is one of only a few players within the UNSW Women's Soccer program who has played at a Super League level before this season. Since representing NSW at the National Youth Women's Soccer Championships in Darwin in 1999, Ruth's natural instinct for the sport of soccer has seen her nominated as Women's Super League U 21 Player of the Year, and also as Women's Super League 1st grade goalkeeper of the year. It is of no surprise to anyone, that the UNSW Women's Soccer team has been rapidly becoming one of the best teams in the country, since Ruth has been playing.

Nathan Rhodes, Soccer - Engineering/Arts

Nathan is another player who has helped the UNSW Men's soccer team improve dramatically, and he is expecting big things from himself this year in Wollongong and Perth. Nathan was an ACT junior representative player and has been a valuable member of the UNSW 1st grade team.

James Byrne, Soccer - Commerce/Science

James is certainly an all-rounder. James was a NSW Schoolboy representative in 2000/2001 for cricket where he currently makes up part of the Randwick/Petersham 2nd XI batting line-up, placed 1st at the GPS Athletics Open 1500m, won the U 18's division of the City to Surf and has also been a member of the GPS Swimming team. However, it is Soccer where he excels. Having played for two years in the NSW Super League, James was an integral part of the UNSW Men's Soccer team to capture a silver medal at last year's Australian University Games, and has committed to helping UNSW reach their ultimate goal of being promoted to the Super League competition.

Andrew Emery, Soccer - Engineering

Having learnt his trade north of the border, Andrew has since, been one of the reasons why UNSW Men's Soccer has been on the rapid improve. Andrew was a part of the team that won the silver medal at least year's Australian University Games, and big things are expected from him this season.

Stasi Capsanis, Soccer - Mining Engineering

A Hunter Valley junior, since joining the UNSW Soccer club, Stasi has made quite an impression. Initially playing in the UNSW U 21's team, Stasi has improved significantly to be a permanent starting member of the UNSW 1st grade team.

The 2004 University of New South Wales Sports Scholars