The 2022 UWA Blues Awards, held on Thursday 17 November at the UWA Water Sports Complex, recognised the achievements of the 2022 recipients and welcomed them to the historic Blues family.
Blues have a long-standing history at UWA, with Full Blues and Half Blues awarded by Sports Council to UWA student athletes since 1921. These awards are considered to be the highest possible honour a student athlete can achieve during their time at university. The awards not only acknowledge excellence in sport, but also the athletes’ contributions to their respective clubs throughout the year. The Blues event is a way to honour our past and present Blues and to build and grow these relationships. An outstanding 41 athletes were recognised and welcomed in the Blues family.
The evening, presented by Nathan Drudi, was attended by a variety of members of the UWA Sport community. Special guests included Chair of the UWA Sports Advisory Council John Inverarity, UWA Sports Council President Varad Mukhedkar and UWA Sport board members.
The significance of the Blues Awards were highlighted by the panel discussion headlined by Andrew Ford, Elsma Merillo, George Dale, and John Welborn. The former Blues recipients shared their remarkable sporting achievements whilst studying in different eras of the university. All panellists described the progression in student-athlete life at UWA and the impact of the UWA Blues family network.
In 2022, Full Blues were awarded to George Dale (Fencing), Angus Armstrong (Athletics), Kai Qi Teoh (Badminton) and Joshua Yong (Swimming). Half Blues were awarded to Andrew Hilditch (Athletics), Kai Metzner (Athletics), Sian O’Sullivan (Athletics), Etienne Rosseau (Athletics), Max Shervington (Athletics), Ashley Spencer (Athletics), Jin Yi Wee (Badminton), Shun Ming Yang (Badminton), Rhadika Swain (Badminton), Cooper Anspach (Boat), Oliver Hoare (Boat), Jonathan Jaschke (Boat), Dayne Metzner (Boat), Corey Rocchiccioli (Cricket), Aaron Fudge (Fencing), Holly Mellor (Hockey), Ruby Hodges (Hockey), Mikaela Tannert Podestá (Hockey), Iara Puertas (Hockey), Torva Sharwood (Hockey), Bridget Wilson (Hockey), April Htun (Rugby), Sarah Hynes (Rugby), Fraser Wood (Rugby), Conor Booth (Rugby), Alice Clements (Rugby), Jacqueline Gray (Rugby), Ainslie Morris (Rugby), Jayden Yong (Swimming), Akira Fukumura (Tennis), Luca Katsamakis (Tennis), Jacques De Verteuil (Volleyball), Qi Den Kuan (Volleyball), Jeremy Baird (Volleyball), Marcus Lin (Volleyball), Rhianna Hepburn (Triathlon), Parsa Vahdani (Water Polo).
UWA Sport is committed to maintaining contact with sport alumni and those that have made university sport a success, and we hope that the 2022 Blues recipients will continue their connection to the University for many years to come.