QUT Men crowned Australian Uni Games Champions

Hundreds of water polo loving students from all around Australia flocked to the Gold Coast last week to participate in the Australian University Games. Of the 26 university teams that participated in water polo, 10 of them were Queensland sides.

Prior to the tournament, QUT Women’s Captain, Matilda Sweeney indicated that her team was going to the Gold Coast win!

“I am aware that a lot of our competition is going to be very strong and skilled however our team has collectively decided to put up a solid front and really give it our all,” Sweeney said.

The QUT women’s worked their way into the bronze medal match, however, lost to the University of Sydney and placed 4^th.

After a notable absence in last years Uni Games, the QUT men’s team won gold against the University of Sydney, whom they had previously lost to during the tournament.

Darcy Moreland of the QUT Tigers felt as though the gold medal was a good representation of his first university games experience.

“It was really satisfying to take a win away from the only team that had beat us, but this win has just been an unreal end to such a good week,” Moreland said.

In other results for Queensland teams, Bond Uni’s men’s team ranked 7^th, UQ placed 9^th, while Griffith placed 10^th and the University of Sunshine Coast finished 12^th.

“While obviously not the outcome we would have liked, I’m happy with how we had played and going into this week I felt as though Queensland’s teams were very underrated but we’ve really proved a lot of people we are a force to be reckoned with,” Elliot Acworth of UQ said.

As for the Woman’s teams, QUT was the highest ranking Queensland side, finishing 4^th place overall. Followed by ACU in 5^th, BOND finishing 9^th, Griffith 12^th and University of Sunshine Coast 13^th.

A special mention to Chloe Parer, Emily Gallagher, Darcy Moreland, Nic Porter, Patrick Flanaghan and Sam Firrell for being named in the green and gold side.

Final Standings: