VU wins Spirit of the Games trophy

Victoria University hosted a highly successful 2016 Southern University Games (SUG) on 3-7 July in partnership with Maribyrnong City Council. More than 2,000 student athletes and support staff from 13 universities across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania gathered at VU and venues throughout the Footscray region.

In a fantastic week of competition and excitement on campus – not dampened by the cold and wet conditions – VU was represented by 220 student competitors and officials. The team won an impressive amount of medals and was awarded with the Spirit of the Games Trophy (one of 3 peak awards) recognising the university that has shown the best sportsmanship and captured the spirit of the Games. VU also finished 3rd in the Per Capita Championship and 4th overall.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Industry, Community and Sport Engagement Professor Michelle Towstoless said

“The camaraderie and sportsmanship that was displayed within the VU family, with Australian University Sport (AUS) staff and volunteers, and in competition, clearly made VU worthy recipients of the Spirit of the Games Award – graciously accepted by VU Team Captain Linley Bertacchini and Sports Officer Wade Spencer at the Closing Ceremony.

 

This Award is terrific acknowledgement as it recognises exemplary aspects of the program and VU’s participation in terms of our student athlete and team management culture.”

This is the third time VU has taken out the SUG Spirit of the Games Award (2008, 2013, 2016), since its inception in 2007.

VU performed strongly across the sport competitions taking out a number of medals and championships pennants (gold) contributing to our overall ranking of 4th place from 13 competing universities.

VU medal tally

Gold medals

• Football men
• Golf open
• Golf individual men (Seamus Whelan)
• Netball mixed
• Netball women

Silver medals

• Badminton individual men (Shaun Matthews)
• Table Tennis individual men (Jack Bouchard)
• Table Tennis men
• Ten Pin open

Bronze medals

• Basketball men
• Cross country men
• Cross country men relay
• Hockey women
• Tennis individual women (Hene Dimiri)
• Touch mixed

For a full wrap up with team details from the SUG read the Vulture News, Southern University Games - Final Wrap.

Check out the 2016 Southern University Games photo album on VU Sport's Facebook page.