Oh Captain,
our Captain!
Your basketball team is 4 points down in the last quarter, and you need a
last-ditch plan… who do you turn to?
When your hockey team is battered and bruised, but you still have to keep
playing for the last 10 minutes… who do you turn to?
When you’ve just won a game of Ultimate Frisbee and want to start a
victory chant… who do you turn to?
It’s important that the role of a captain in any team sport isn’t forgotten
as being an inspirational figurehead who embodies the spirit of the team.
As USQ enter their biggest amount of participants in a Northern Uni
Games ever this year, Pete Harris and Tracey Russell have the responsibility
of upholding the role of captains for the whole USQ team. We caught up
with Pete to chat about the responsibilities that come with being a Uni
Games captain.
Firstly, what sports do you play and
how many years have you been
involved in Uni Games?
I have been involved in a range of sports
including hockey, ten pin bowling and
karate, but my two main sports have
been tennis and volleyball, with volleyball
being my focus for the past 8 years.
I’ve been involved in uni games for a
total of 4 years – 2009, 2010, 2013 and
2014. 2015 will mark my 7th and 8th uni
games. (Northern and National).
How much of a privilege is it to be
the captain of the USQ team?
It will be a pleasure to captain the
largest team that USQ has ever entered
into Uni Games. A team of this size
brings new challenges we have not
faced before. While I am a little nervous
about the logistics of handling such a
large team, I’m pumped to get things
under way! I just hope we can keep
the traditions alive and strong with
such a large group, and live up to the
expectations of the other veterans and
experienced players within the team.
What does your role as a captain
involve?
As a USQ team captain, my official
roles include attending the VIP launch
ceremony prior to the opening
ceremony and attending the closing
ceremony, where pennants are awarded
to the winning teams. Tracey and I
also act as a point of contact with the
captains and players if help is needed.
Unofficially, as an experienced Uni
Games veteran, I’ve helped to organise
some of the traditional aspects of Uni
Games, such as kangaroo court and
rookie challenges. With Tracey’s help,
we will run kangaroo court and help
encourage the new players to enjoy the
experience.
Peter Harris
USQ Uni Games captain.
How exciting is it that the Northern
Uni Games are being held in
Toowoomba this year?
I am extremely excited about
Toowoomba hosting NUGs this year!
Toowoomba last hosted NUG in 2010
and I was fortunate to share a great
experience with some close friends and
come away with a gold medal. USQ has
put an extraordinary amount of effort
into promoting Uni Games this year.
Back in 2010 we had a very small team,
maybe 40 people, while this year we’re
looking at closer to 150 people – and I
am pumped to see what the team can
achieve! I’m really looking forward to
meeting the whole team and making
great new friends!
What has been your favourite Uni
Games memory so far?
There are so many to choose from…
At NUG 2014 at the Sunshine Coast,