2006 Ben Lexcen Sports Scholar

Michael Stapleton, Australian Rules - Arts

Michael has played representative AFL since 2000. In 2005 Michael represented the NSW/ACT Rams U/18 side as a Vice Captain at the Australian National Championships, and as Captain at the Victorian U/18 Championships. He was a valuable contributor to his 1st grade team of North Shore Football Club taking out the 2005 premiership in the Sydney Australian Football League. Since 2004 he has been a member of the Sydney Swans Reserve Grade.

Spoorti Rattan, Badminton - Commerce

Spoorti has had extensive success in Badminton. In 2005, Spoorti represented Australia at the Pan Pacific Junior Championships reaching the semi finals in singles event and runner-up in the mixed doubles. she was selected as a member of the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Scholarship Squad in both 2003 and 2005. Spoorti has competed in various international and national tournaments and in 2005 had a national ranking of fourth in the U19 division.

Sonya Chervonsky, Judo - Arts

Having only taken up Judo in 1998, by 2001 Sonya was the National Junior Women's Champion in the 52kg division. Since then Sonya represented Australia at the Athens Olympics and claimed many titles including the ACT Open in 2006, National Women's Champion, Oceania Junior Women's and Oceania Women's Champion in 2002, and in 2003 placed 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. .

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 ortobagyi, Modern Pentathlon - Commerce

In 2004, Eszter represented Australia at the Athens Olympic Games in Modern Pentathlon. Prior to the Olympic Games 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, she was also ranked first in Australia at the time. Eszter has recently returned to training after having her second child.

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

Rahul Anne, Baseball - Medicine

Rahul has achieved outstanding results in Baseball for a number of years. Since 2003 he has been a member of the NSW Institute of Sport Baseball squad. In 2005 Rahul represented the Ryde U/18 side in the NSW major League Competition. Dedicated both on and off the field to his sport and his team, Rahul was awarded with the 'Lukas Noach Memorial Award for the Most Valuable Player' and was selected in the NSW Major League All Star Team.

Shelley Bates, Basketball - Arts & Social Sciences

Shelley Bates plays dynamic basketball with flair. As a guard she's unstoppable. In 2005 Shelley led UNSW to Silver medals at both the Eastern University Games and Australian University Games. Her performance at both championships led to selection in the respective merit teams. As a member of the Sydney Comets, playing in the Waratah League Shelley was named 'Sydney Comets Most Valuable Player', 'Sydney Comets Senior Player of the Year' and led league in assists.

Sara Louise Hungerford, Cricket - Medicine

Since the 2004/05 season Sara has Vice-Captained the Universities Women's Cricket Club 1st Grade Team as a middle-order batter, medium-fast inswing bowler, and an outstanding fielder (awarded Fielder of the Year, 04/05). She has been involved in emerging blues, NSW U/17 and U/19 development programs and in 2005/06 Sara was selected as a member of the Womens National Cricket League squad the NSW Breakers. Sara's main aim for the 2006/07 season is to be promoted from the NSW Breakers squad to the team.

Ewan Watson, Cross Country Skiiing- Engineering

Ewan has been a member of the Australian Junior Cross Country Ski Team since 2003. In 2005 Ewan was ranked 3rd in the national junior rankings, and in the senior ranks finished ahead of the number one junior. He recently came 71st at the World Junior Championships in the sprint event, and is aiming for a top 50 international junior ranking by the end of the year.

Kathleen Chua, Hockey - Commerce/ Law

Kathleen has been a member of the U/18 NSW State squad since 2004. In 2005 Kathleen played for UNSW in the Metro League 1st grade team, Vice Captained the North Shore U18 representative team, played State League Division 1 for the North Shore Opens Team, and in her final year as Vice Captain of the Pymble Ladies College Senior 1sts team won the Independant Girls Schools Sports Association Competition. In 2004 Kathleen represented NSW All Schools U/16 Hockey finishing second at the School Sport Australia Championships.

Hayley Carr, Karate - Interior Architecture

In 2005 Hayley competed at the Australian University Championships placing 3rd in Kata, and led her team to a Gold in Kumite. Her performances were recognised with a 'Green and Gold Best and Fairest' award. She followed up this performance at the 2005 Go Kan Ryu World Cup, taking the title in the Open Female Black Belt Kumite, and 2nd place in the Team Kata. Hayley has successfully competed at the international level since 2001, accumulating 6 titles.

Brynne Allen, Rowing - Interior Architecture

Brynne has competed at the National Championships since 2003, collecting a Bronze medal in 2005 in the Women's Open Eight, and a Gold Medal in the U/19 Coxless Four in 2004. She represented Australia at the World Junior Rowing Championships in 2004, achieving a Bronze in the Women's Coxless Four. Brynne has held a NSW Institute of Sport Rowing scholarship since 2004.

Alexandra Smith, Soccer - Industrial Design

In 2003, Alexandra was a member of the UNSW U/21 State League premiers and champions. She has since represented UNSW in the Womens Super League (WSL). In 2004, Alexandra topped the UNSW WSL team in goal scoring and was also a member of the UNSW 1st Grade team that won the Mitchell Cup. Her accolades for 2003 include UNSW Green and Gold team, UNSW Student Player of the Year, and Soccer NSW Top Goal Scorer.

Rocco Luca, Soccer - Medicine

Rocco is one of a number of UNSW student’s who has decided to play for his University’s team than play in a higher division. In 2005, he was a member of the UNSW 1st Grade team that finished the season as finalists, which has put the club in line for promotion to the State First Division for 2006 (the highest position the club has been in). Rocco was a member of the 2005 UNSW Eastern University Games team that qualified for the Australian University Games. In 2003 Rocco was selected for the NSW Catholic Colleges Soccer team and his good performances saw him play in the NSW Super League at an Open’s and Under 21’s level. Rocco is hoping to help the UNSW Soccer Club to be promoted to the Federation 1 competition.

David Matthews, Triathlon - Arts (Media & Communications)

In 2005 David was ranked 4th across the country in the junior division (U/20). During the year he was a NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship holder and competed in a number of championships achieving the following results: Triathlon World Championships - 37th, Hobart International triathlon - 3rd, Australian Sprint Championships triathlon - 4th and Coffs Harbour triathlon - 5th. In 2006 David's goals are to make the U/23 Australian Team for the World Championships and to race in the Asian/ European continental cup circuit.

Alexander Minchin, Volleyball - Engineering

Alexander is currently a member of the Australian national junior Volleyball squad, and has represented NSW in U/19's and U/21's. In 2005 Alexander joined the UNSW Volleyball Club and was a key player on the Division 2 Sydney Volleyball League team that won the final, losing only one game all season. Alexander helped UNSW to Silver at the 2005 Eastern University Games and fourth at the Australian University Games. Alexander is also a member of the University of Technology Sydney's Australian Volleyball League team, and trains with the Sydney North Volleyball Club Division 1 team.

Mitchell Woodward, Volleyball - Engineering

In 2005, Mitchell represented UNSW at the Eastern University Games (EUG) in Tamworth and was named on the Merit Team. Second place at EUG's gained the team selection to the Australian University Games in Brisbane, where the team just missed out on a bronze medal. Mitchell was a key member of the dominant UNSW Sydney Volleyball League Division 2 team that won the 2005 final, losing only one game all season. Mitchell has been a member of the NSW State junior sides since 2001, and first gained national junior team selection in 2001.

Daniel Lees, Water Polo - Built Environment

Daniel has been on a NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship since 2004. Playing goal keeper for a number of teams, he's achieved a silver medal playing for the Balmain Tigers 1st Grade team in the 2004 Sydney grade competition and a bronze medal at the 2004 Australian National Championships representing the NSW U/20 Junior Team. In 2005 as a UNSW Ben Lexcen Scholar, he helped UNSW to a silver medal at the Eastern University Championships, and missed the Australian University Games due to the World Summer University Games in Turkey, where the Australian team placed 9th. In the very competitive 2005 National Water Polo League, Daniel's team the Balmain Tigers won the bronze medal. He finished the year at the 13th FINA World Junior Championships in Argentina at which the Australian team placed 7th.

Johnno Cotterill, Water Polo - Economics/ Arts

In 2004/2005 Johnno captained the Australian U/17 team and was a member of the U/20 Australian touring squad. During this time he has been a scholarship holder at the Australian Institute of Sport. In his final year as part of the NSW Schools system, Johnno was awarded with a Combined High Schools Sporting Blue and the highest honour of Combined High Schools the 2005 Most Outstanding Sportsman. Awarded the Most Valuable Player of the National U/18 Club Championships in 2005, Johnno is also the 2006 NSW U/20 Water Polo Captain. His aims for 2006 are to achieve selection in the Australian U/20 junior team and the Australian open men's squad.