Members of ECU's Mixed & Women's Netball Club celebrate claiming the Club of the Year Award at the 2026 ECU Sport Awards.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) celebrated a year of exceptional achievement, leadership and community impact through sport at this month's 2026 ECU Sport Awards.
The annual awards recognised the students, clubs, teams and volunteers who made an outstanding contribution to ECU Sport in 2026, and celebrated one of the University's most successful years of representative sport.
The event at Hillarys Yacht Club brought together student athletes, club leaders, coaches, staff, alumni and supporters to reflect on a year that saw ECU students excel locally, nationally and internationally.
ECU Sport's night of nights was held off the back of the University's memorable performance at UniSport Nationals.
ECU sent its largest-ever contingent of students to compete across 17 sports at the 2026 edition of Australia's premier university sporting event and won three gold medals and one silver medal.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sport) Professor Sophia Nimphius said the celebration of student achievement through sport at ECU was a beautiful display of the impact of connection.
"I was truly moved by the students, staff and wider ECU Sport community, and I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has helped build such a strong and supportive environment," Professor Nimphius said.
"It was a night to remember and, as the students expressed so well, one filled with friendship and memories that will last a lifetime."
ECU Sport Awards honour roll
The Student Athlete of the Year Award went to UniSport Nationals gold medalist (mixed netball) Will Linter, in recognition of both his elite sporting achievements and outstanding contribution to the ECU Sport community.
ECU's Men's Futsal First Team claimed the Representative Team of the Year Award following their gold medal triumph at UniSport Nationals. The Division 1 Futsal Championship title was one of ECU's most significant sporting achievements of the year and enhanced the University's national sporting reputation.
ECU's Men's Futsal First Team won the Representative Team of the Year Award at the 2026 ECU Sport Awards.
Royan Norman was recognised for her exceptional commitment to developing and supporting ECU's futsal community with the ECU Spirit Award, while ECU Mixed & Women's Netball Club secretary and team captain Amber Lawson earned the Outstanding Contribution Award for her contribution to administration, communications, student engagement and social media.
ECU's Mixed & Women's Netball Club claimed Club of the Year Award honours, having welcomed more than 100 participants throughout the year, and created strong pathways into representative sport. The newly established ECU Run Club, meanwhile, won the Best New Club Award for its rapid growth and success in creating opportunities for students to connect through running since its launch in 2026.
The evening also recognised the captains of ECU's UniSport Nationals and Indigenous Nationals teams - Noah Egan, Dellabett Towaipi, Tilly Sherlock and Kalani Buckle – in acknowledgement of the leadership and commitment they demonstrated while representing the University throughout 2026.
As ECU looks ahead to 2027, the achievements recognised at the ECU Sport Awards demonstrate the powerful role sport plays in creating opportunities for students to lead, connect, achieve and thrive.
ECU Indigenous Nationals Captain Kalani Buckle.
