Successes on and off the sporting field have been celebrated by the University of Tasmania with the announcement of the annual UTAS Sport awards.
Rower Kate Oliver was named Sportsperson of the Year, the UTAS Water Polo and Swimming Club received the Club of the Year trophy and Alia Knight claimed the Sports Volunteer of the Year award.
Kate Oliver finished 8th overall at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in the women’s lightweight pair this year.
She was selected as part of the 2022 Under 23 Rowing Team at the Nationals Championships where she won a Gold and a Silver medal, as well as a fourth placing.
Kate was also named the Rowing Tasmania Youth Oarswoman of the Year and claimed five first and two second placing at the Tasmanian State Club Championships.
At club level, Kate was the best senior women’s rower award for 2021/22 rowing season.
Kate was presented with her trophy and financial prize, which was supported by the Commonwealth Bank, by Josef de Vries, Senior Manager Government.
Mr de Vries said that the Commonwealth Bank were pleased to continue their long-term support of the University of Tasmania Sportsperson of the Year Award and congratulated Kate on her fantastic achievement.
It was a double win for the UTAS Water Polo and Swimming Club (UTAS Honey Badgers Water Polo Club) which was named Club of the Year and volunteer Alia Knight claiming the Volunteer of the Year prize.
Post Covid, the Club developed a bounce-back strategy that saw the introduction of a water polo scholarship and grant program.
The club has also engaged with Queensland water polo training providers Academy Waterpolo, led by former Olympians and super coaches in the sport, to conduct training camps.
Significant time and effort has been put into helping support the school water polo competition, which has seen membership to the club increase.
Club volunteer Alia Knight has been on the Honey Badgers committee since 2017.
In the past year she has overseen the bounce-back program, high level coaching camps, development of the scholarship program, expansion of water polo to the University’s Launceston campus and grown the membership to more than 260. She has been president of the club since 2020 and also served on the board of Water Polo Tasmania for more than five years as the director of operations and secretary.
Sport Operations Manager for UTAS Sport Anthony Jusup congratulated all the winners on their success.
Mr Jusup said there had been some exceptional nominees in 2022 and it was good to see sport going from strength to strength at the University.
He also thanked the Commonwealth Bank for its support for the Sportsperson of the Year award.
In addition to the major trophy awards, Full Blues were awarded to students Benita Ramage (fencing), Joshua Ragg (sailing), Samuel King (sailing), Kate Oliver (rowing), Sophie Robinson (rowing), Michael Boult (triathlon), and Jay Hennicke (freestyle football) for their sporting ability and sportsmanship throughout the year.