![L-R: Tyson Rech, Madison Smith, Professor Peter Høj, Daniel Parnell and Jessica Osborne](/news/filething/get-styled/large/202661/Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þsport nationals VC L-R - Tyson Rech; Madison Smith; Daniel Parnell; Jessica Osborne.jpg?itok=Y2U4bGQ-)
University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj AC has congratulated Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þstudents on winning the 2018 UniSport Nationals Div 1 overall championship.
Team Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þwon nine Div 1 champion pennants - the most of UniSport's 43 member universities - to be crowned inaugural Nationals champions.
Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þplaced second in five sports, and third in a further seven events.
Professor Høj said Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þwas honoured to be Australia's top-ranked sporting university.
"Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þhas a rich sporting history dating more than a century and we are very proud to be the first ever winner of the UniSport Nationals title," Professor Høj said.
"It is pleasing to see so many students represent Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þacross a wide array of sports.
"I wish all of our student-athletes success as they represent Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þat Nationals events throughout the year."
Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þwill compete in 25 sports at Nationals Div 1 (28 September - 3 October) on the Gold Coast, with Cheer & Dance competitor Rebekah Thornton to captain Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þat the event.
The Bachelor of Communication I Journalism student said she looked forward to leading the University at her third UniSport competition.
"I am honoured to represent a team that is as strong and united as Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þis," Ms Thornton said.
"In 2018, seven of UQ's eight Cheer and Dance teams placed top-three in their divisions, and we're looking to build on those results this year."
Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þwill compete in Men's Basketball and Touch Football at next month's Nationals Div 2 (8-11 July) competition, and will be captained by basketballer Tyson Rech.
Division 2 teams ranked top-two will earn promotion to compete at this year's Nationals Division 1 event.
Mr Rech, a Bachelor of Business Management / Bachelor of Commerce student, said Nationals was a highlight on the university sporting calendar.
"Nationals is a great event to play sport at a high level and meet new people from different universities with similar interests," Mr Rech said.
"With the current success of UQ's teams, it is a privilege to lead our Div 2 squad to continue the momentum of being Australia's number one sporting university."
Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þstudents interested in competing at 2019 UniSport Nationals events are encouraged to register their interest by emailing TeamUQ@uqsport.com.au.
Image above left: Tyson Rech (Basketball) UniSport Nationals Div 2 captain
Image above right: Rebekah Thornton (Cheer & Dance) Unisport Nationals Div 1 captain
Media: Jamie Mitchell, Ãâ·Ñ»ÉƬÈí¼þSport, JamieM@uqsport.com.au, 0423 785 752.