2007 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.

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.

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.

Alexandra Blackwell - Medicine / Cricket

Alex is a fourth year Medicine student and a returning Lexcen Scholar. Alex is a current member of the Australian Women's Cricket Test and One-Day team, earning her initial selection in 2003 after strong performances in the National League for the NSW Breakers. In 2005 Alex was a member of the victorious Australian team in the ICC Women's World Cup in South Africa. As the opening batsmen for NSW in 2005/06 season, Alex became the 3rd highest scorer in the WNCL with 422 runs at an average of 38.36. Last year Alex had a full knee re-construction and has now fought her way back to regain her spot in the Australian Team. Her personal achievements include the prestigious Australian University Sport, Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year award in 2005, the vice captaincy of the NSW Breakers, a UNSW Blue, and the 'Keys to the City' of her home town of Griffith.

Michelle Calderara - Netball

In 2005 and 2006, Michelle has played State League Division 2 netball for the Penrith District Netball Association and was presented with Rookie Of the Year by the association in 2005. In 2007 Michelle was promoted to the Penrith State League Division 1 team. Michelle was also a part of the Athlete Scholarship Program with the Western Sydney Academy of Sport from 2005 to 2006 and participated in the Academy Games winning the premiership. Since arriving at UNSW this year Michelle has taken an active role in the coaching and development of players at the club.

Tom Cooper - Arts/Cricket 'Lawson-Slater' Lexcen Scholar

Hailing from Lismore, Tom moved to Sydney to play Cricket with the University of NSW and enrol in an Arts degree. In 2006, Tom represented the successful Australian cricket team at the under 19 World cup held in Sri Lanka, where he led all run scorers for the Australians. The past three domestic seasons Tom has played for the UNSW first grade side where his outstanding results have seen him earn a rookie contract with the NSW Speedblitz Blues. This has led Tom to becoming a member of both the NSW Cricket Australia cup team, and the NSW Institute of Sport team in the last two years.

Tahnee Martin - Volleyball the 'Rural' Ben Lexcen Scholarship

Tahnee has been the UNSW women's captain since 2005, and has led the team in the Eastern and Australian University Games. She received a merit team selection in 2006 as the tournaments leading setter. She has been selected to represent the under 21 NSW sides in 2005, and 2006. Also in 2006 Tahnee competed as captain for the State cup sides in Newcastle, where she was named MVP, and in Wollongong, her team won gold on both occasions. Tahnee additionally captains the UNSW Sydney League team that achieved a bronze medal in 2006.

Daniel Natusch - Athletics

Daniel is a very talented athlete who has received very good results in both the long jump and sprints. Daniel has competed at the Men's National qualifier in the 200 metres. Daniel is the New Zealand Under 20's 200-metre champion. Daniel placed 2nd in the 200m at the Australian University Games last year, at these games he won the gold medal in the long jump. Daniel received a fourth place in the NSW Open men's 200 metre's and was crowned the Oceania Open Men's Long Jump champion. Daniel also won the very prestigious UNSW 'Scientia Sprint' up the main walkway during O week this year.

Luane Rowe - Industrial design/Swimming -Evan Fraser Lexcen Scholar

Luane hails from Willoughby Swim Club where she was named club captain in the past year. She is an exceptional athlete both in the pool and in the open water ocean events. In the past year Luane has achieved great personal success, epitomised by her qualification for the NSW state team that toured Queensland last year, and her bronze medal in the prestigious Australian open 1500m in Hobart last August. At the 2006 state championships Luane achieved a gold in the open 800m short course freestyle and a silver in the open 400m. Additionally, Luane won both the 5km and 10km races at the open water age championships in 2006, where she was named 'Swimmer of the Meet'. Luane has won numerous ocean water events, including 'The Big Swim'. More recently Luane placed 3rd in both the 5km and 10km open water races at the Australian Age Championships in Perth.

George Tang - Materials Engineering/Table Tennis

George is currently one of the top table tennis players in Australia. His recent achievements have seen him placed at 2nd on the Australian open singles order of merit. He has represented NSW at the Australian Youth Championships in 2005, and the Australian Open Championships in 2005 and 2006. In 2006 George represented Australia in the Oceania Championships where he recorded silver in the Teams event, and a gold in the doubles. Additionally, he also represented Australia at the 2006 Vietnam Golden Racket Championships. At the end of this month George will be representing Australia in the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi. George has also been selected to represent Australia at the World University Games in Bangkok in August this year.

Daniel Waldmann - Arts/Judo

Daniel has been a committed member of the UNSW Judo club since 1999 and has achieved great success in his judo career. Daniel placed second in the Under 20 National championships during 2004 and placed third in the Senior National Championships during 2005. In 2005 Daniel won first place in the International Open Championships. Daniel is also a member of the Australia "C" team. Unfortunately 2006 saw Daniel out of action due to a knee reconstruction. In 2007 Daniel started promisingly by securing a bronze medal in the ACT open, however he then unfortunately sustained a shoulder injury which has prevented him from competing. We hope to see Daniel back on the mat soon.