Meet your 2025 UniSport Nationals team captains

The largest intervarsity sporting competition in Australia starts this weekend, with 110 University of Adelaide students set to compete on the Gold Coast in ten sports including Basketball, Fencing, Judo and Rowing. Adelaide University Sport and Fitness is proud to present the team's captains, Sienna Haxton (Beach Volleyball, Bachelor of Medicine) and Damon Turczynowicz (Volleyball, Bachelor of Criminology).

“I've had the privilege of being able to play [at Nationals] for the last two years, and being able to represent the uni in its current state before the merger is a really great responsibility, and I'm really looking forward to it,” says Turczynowicz.

"It's a great privilege to be captaining the UniNationals team this year," agrees Haxton. "They've supported me throughout my four years of uni so far, and all the previous leaders have been so supportive. I'm hoping I can bring the same kind of energy to this year's captainship and support all the athletes around me as well."

Both captains have found inspiration in their coaches, leaning on their guidance as they head off to compete. "My coach from home really focuses on being the best person you can be, as well as the best athlete," declares Sienna in reference to her coach Chico. Damon cites his own coach, too, saying that "he has a firm focus on the goal at hand, but also willing to take a step back, enjoy the moment, and see how far we've come as players. That's something that I want to bring to the uni this year."

The women's Beach Volleyball team has achieved great success for the University of Adelaide in recent Nationals competition, with Haxton and her partner placing second in 2024 and taking home the silver medal. She will be looking to compete at the same level this time around. "I'm going into this year with a fresh partner, I've never played with her before [but] we're putting our best foot forward. We've been training and I think we just need to bring that competitive spirit, teamwork and problem solving onto the court."

On her biggest challenge, the 2024 medallist names "the Queensland unis. We've got a tough game first against UQ, but we're ready to bring it, have a good swing, and do the best we can. But those girls are very good at volleyball." Her co-captain agrees, putting forward the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Monash and Melbourne Uni as the biggest Volleyball threats. "They are all great teams. I had the privilege of playing against them during a couple of rounds last year, and I look forward to playing them again this year."

According to both captains, the University of Adelaide's Nationals team is a supportive and friendly environment, with Haxton saying that "we get around not just our own team but the entire travelling team from all around the country. It's really huge when a teammate that you've only just met or a competitor that you've only met this week can sit there and cheer for you, and you cheer for them, and you build these lasting friendships."

Turczynowicz believes that "the great sense of camaraderie that we have" is the key to a successful cohort. "The teams going off to support each other when they're not playing, going out to dinners, going to the pool to rest and relax, discussing the game that has just been played - it's those little things that might not be something that other universities have the ability to do, and I think that's what makes us special here."

UniSport Nationals takes place across the Gold Coast from September 27 to October 3. Follow the Adelaide University Sport and Fitness Instagram account for daily updates on the team.