Sydney Uni Sport celebrated another year of extraordinary achievements at the annual Blues Dinner on Friday 7 November, honouring athletes who have excelled both in their sports and as ambassadors of the University of Sydney.
Blues of the Year Awards
Male Blue of the Year – Lino Messerschmidt
A master of Business Administration student, Lino Messerschmidt captained the Sydney University Handball Club team to back-to-back titles at the Oceania Handball Championship Cup in 2024 and 2025. Their most recent victory over the University of Queensland secured the team’ qualification for the 2025 IHF Men’s Club World Championship in Egypt, representing Oceania. Lino’s leadership and commitment have elevated Sydney University’s profile on the international handball stage.
Female Blue of the Year- Lucy Stewart
At the 2025 EnBW DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup in Germany, Bachelor of Commerce student Lucy Stewart won silver on the Uneven Bars and placed 6th on Beam. At the Australian National Championship in July, she placed 4th on Beam before representing Australia at the FIG Artistic Gymnastic World Challenge Cup in France, where she reached finals in both Bars and Floor. Lucy’s consistent performance earned her selection in the Australian Commonwealth Games squad for Scotland in 2026, a fitting recognition of her world class talent and dedication.
Blues and Golds Class of 2025
This year 33 outstanding student-athletes were awarded Blues across a wide range of disciplines, recognising their excellence in both sport and academia.
Blues Recipients
| Robbie | Moore | Basketball | 2021 |
| Hamish | Hegarty | Water Polo | 2024 |
| Alex | Liu Cao | Table Tennis | 2024 |
| Joseph | Ayoade | Athletics | 2025 |
| Samuel | Barkley | Aussie Rules | 2025 |
| Samuel | Bloomfield | Water Polo | 2025 |
| Gus | Ciesiolka | Rowing | 2025 |
| Matthew | Costelloe | Swimming | 2025 |
| Eliza | Da Silva | Athletics | 2025 |
| William | Gregory | Rowing | 2025 |
| Mitchell | Hatfield | Athletics | 2025 |
| Charles | Hely-Hammond | Soccer | 2025 |
| Luke | Irving | Snow | 2025 |
| Zac | Izzard | Water Polo | 2025 |
| Chloe | Jureta | Rowing | 2025 |
| Nancy | Lee | Water Polo | 2025 |
| Ellen | Liu | Taekwondo | 2025 |
| Jasmine | Locke | Kayak | 2025 |
| Jack | Lynch | Athletics | 2025 |
| Alicia | MacMillan | Athletics | 2025 |
| Lino | Messerschmidt | Handball | 2025 |
| Ebony | Nash | Water Polo | 2025 |
| Alexandra | O’Brien | Rowing | 2025 |
| Max | Oldham | Swimming | 2025 |
| Joseph | Roddy | Soccer | 2025 |
| William | Rogers | Rowing | 2025 |
| Lewis | Saupin | Water Polo | 2025 |
| Jamie | Sharman | Water Polo | 2025 |
| Lucy | Stewart | Gymnastics | 2025 |
| Ka Ying Lorraine | Tang | Fencing | 2025 |
| Zoya | Thakur | Cricket | 2025 |
| Lily | Tilt | Athletics | 2025 |
| Thomas | Tucker | Athletics | 2025 |
Fifteen recipients were also honoured with Golds for their long-standing services and contributions to Sydney Uni Sport and our sporting clubs, including alumni, coaches and administrators who have strengthened the community through leadership and commitment.
Gold Recipients
| Ryan | Burge | Rugby Union | 2025 |
| Anthony | Carroll | Baseball | 2025 |
| Mark | Curzon | Tennis | 2025 |
| Sara | Elliott | Fencing | 2025 |
| Antony | Green | Water Polo | 2025 |
| Irek | Kowalski | Swimming | 2025 |
| Mark | Schembri | Rugby Union | 2025 |
| James | Summerhayes | Rugby Union | 2025 |
| Michelle | Tanke | Sydney Uni Sport | 2025 |
| Constantine | Theodore | Boxing | 2025 |
| Jack | Thomas | Netball | 2025 |
| Sebastien | Traverso | Handball | 2025 |
| Simone | Whetton | Sydney Uni Sport | 2025 |
| Michael | Wiseman | Sydney Uni Sport | 2025 |
| Allen | Zhou | Boxing | 2025 |
Honouring of Past Blues
In a special tribute to generations of excellence, the evening welcomed back former Blues who helped build the proud sporting tradition we celebrate today. Notable mentions to
Samantha Lade, a Softball Blue from 1997 who attended alongside her son Zac Izzard, who received his Water Polo Blue on the night,
Other returning Blues included:
- Peter Madew (Rugby Union,1987) and Andrew Wennerbom (Rugby Union,1986)
- Joe McCosker (Rugby League,1977)
- Brendon Hyde (Athletics,1976)
- Chris Noel and Larry Cornell (Rowing,1971)
- Anne Titterton, Therese Clancy and John Boultbee (Rowing,1969)
- Rodney Tubbs (Aussie Rules,1967)
- Philip Titterton (Rowing,1966) and Hartley Anderson (Baseball,1966)
- Frank Cheok (Squash,1958)
- Dr Lloyd Hughes — a double sporting, 1958 for Rugby and 1955 for Athletics.
It was truly wonderful to have so many generations of Blues represented, reminding us of the rich legacy that continues to inspire today’s athletes.
The 2025 Blues Dinner was a celebration of sporting legacy, where generations of Sydney University athletes, past and present, came together to honour a shared pursuit of excellence. On behalf of Sydney Uni Sport we congratulate the class of 2025 Blue and Golds, who now join a prestigious group.
