Rugby superstar reigns supreme at 2024 Massey Blues Awards

The virtual event, hosted by Dr Bevan Erueti and alumna Eliza McCartney, saw 161 Blues Awards bestowed to student athletes of Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, alongside the announcement of five major award categories. Tyla won both Distance Sportswoman of the Year and the Supreme Award.

The Black Fern Sevens player has made her year one to remember, with the team claiming gold in Paris and being named the 2023/2024 World Series League Champions, as well as 2024 Vancouver, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore Champions. In October 2023, Tyla was named World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year and earlier this year became the highest female point scorer in World Rugby Sevens history after gaining her 1365th point. Following her announcement to retire after the Paris campaign, Tyla still currently retains the title of the highest female point scorer, amassing a total of 1448 points during the series.

In her rugby league career, Tyla gained three caps for the Kiwi Ferns Women’s Rugby League team, helping the team secure a win against Australia for the first time in eight years. She has also played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the 2023 National Rugby League Women’s Premiership, earning nine caps.

While continuing her rugby league journey, Tyla is also pursuing a Master of Health Science at Massey. After 13 years of study, with the last 11 being at Massey, she spoke at the Blues to congratulate her fellow student athletes and acknowledged the dedication required to succeed.

“I know what it takes to juggle the study and everything life throws at you, as well as playing internationally and representing New Zealand in sport. Being at Massey, I’m thankful for how incredible my lecturers have been, allowing me extra time when needed and communicating with me on my progress. I’m extremely honoured and privileged to receive these awards tonight. To be recognised by Massey University is a huge honour. Thank you so much.”

Bachelor of Business student and rower Matt Macdonald was awarded the Distance Sportsman of the Year, having also brought home a medal from Paris with a second-place finish in the Men’s Four. He also placed third in the Men’s Four at the 2023 World Rowing Championships and achieved first place in both the Men’s Premier Coxless Pair Oars and the Men’s Premier Coxed Eight, along with a third-place finish in the Men’s Premier Coxless Four at the 2024 New Zealand Rowing Championships.

Upon receiving his award, Matt thanked Massey for the ongoing support and recognition, stating it was a cool award to win.

“There have been a lot of great athletes who have come through Massey, so it’s cool to be recognised in the same way as many who have gone before me. We’ve had a great last 10 months building up to the Games and during the Games themselves, so I’m really happy to be recognised this way and to have achieved what we have.”

Recent Bachelor of Nursing graduate Zoe Sosich was named Campus Sportswoman of the Year after an impressive year, highlighted by her participation in the New Zealand Touch Blacks team, who won a silver medal in the Open Women’s Division at the 2024 Touch World Cup in Nottingham. Zoe plans to return to Massey next year to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing.

In her acceptance speech, Zoe expressed her gratitude for all the support she’s received.

“I’ve been playing touch for Touch North Harbour since I was under nine, so it’s been a massive honour to be able to represent New Zealand at the Touch World Cup in Nottingham this year. I also wanted to say a massive thank you to my family, teammates, coaches and Touch New Zealand for getting me to where I am today. Thank you to Massey Academy of Sport for supporting me throughout my studies and with my training.”

For the second consecutive year, Bachelor of Arts student Fergus Eadie was named Campus Sportsman of the Year following an extraordinary year in his surf living saving career, where he represented New Zealand in several events. At the Orange Cup, he won three individual gold medals and a silver medal. He finished as the overall top scoring male at the German Cup, earning two individual gold medals, one silver, one bronze and four team medals. Additionally, he secured two gold medals and eight silver medals across the individual and team events at the Australian Pool Rescue Championships. Fergus was selected to represent the New Zealand Black Fins at the 2024 Australian Pool Championships and the 2024 Life Saving World Championships, becoming a member of the Surf Life Saving NZ Senior High Performance Squad.

During his acceptance speech, Fergus acknowledged the recognition and congratulated all the other finalists and winners.

“It’s a huge honour to win this award and it would not be possible without the tremendous support from Massey in my academic career and sporting commitments. Congratulations to you all.”

Throughout the night, an array of sporting talent, including current students and alumni, popped in to offer congratulations and share valuable advice, including alumnus Hamish Kerr who shared his top tips for managing the highs and lows of sport.

“Firstly, goal setting is hugely important for understanding your objectives and the tools needed to achieve them. Secondly, seek out challenges that scare you as this prepares you for high-pressure situations to come. Lastly, celebrate your achievements. You’ve all put in a massive amount of work to get where you are, and you should be proud of that. Huge congratulations on winning a Blue this year – I remember the ones I won with fond memories; they were a great time in my career.”

Watch the 2024 Blues Award here.

2024 MASSEY UNIVERSITY BLUES SPORTS AWARDS MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Massey University Blues Sports Award – Supreme Award
Tyla King – Rugby Sevens and Rugby League

Massey University Campus Sportswoman of the Year
Zoe Sosich – Touch

Massey University Campus Sportsman of the Year
Fergus Eadie – Surf Life Saving

Massey University Distance Sportswoman of the Year
Tyla King – Rugby Sevens and Rugby League

Massey University Distance Sportsman of the Year
Matt Macdonald – Rowing

2024 MASSEY UNIVERSITY BLUES SPORTS AWARDS RECIPIENTS:

ARCHERY: Chisora Hada, Isabella Wassilieff; ARTISTIC ROLLER SKATING: Aspen Fell, Felicity Nicol, Claudia McLean, Phoenix Reid, Jessica Shirley; ATHLETICS: Georgia Hulls, Eliza McCartney, Zachary Saunders, Courtney Trow, Maddi Wesche; BASKETBALL: Coola Baudry, Liam Judd; CANOE POLO: Hayley Austin, Kate Blincoe, Scott Gray, Klara Richter, Alyssa Shepherd, Georgia Wheeler; CANOE SLALOM: Oliver Puchner, James Senior; CANOE SPRINT: Jessica Cleghorn, Michael Esterhuizen, Julia Padrutt; CLAY TARGET SHOOTING: Ashling Welch; CRICKET: Bella Armstrong, Sarah Calkin, Ben Frewin, Curtis Heaphy, Ella Hogan, Nick Kelly, Ashtuti Kumar, Bayley Latter, Ben Lister, Sam Mackinder, Jessica Ogden, Hanu Rana, Gemma Sims, Nathan Smith; CYCLING: Ethan Craine, Ella Harris, Callum Saunders; DIVING: Luke Sipkes; EXTREME WHITE-WATER KAYAKING: River Mutton; FENCING: Wai Ling Natalie Chan; FOOTBALL: Mackenzie Barry, Helena Errington, Olivia Ingham, Charlotte Noakes, Olivia Page, Tim Payne, Addison Stewart, Campbell Strong, Sam Sutton, Kate Taylor, Joe Wallis: FUTSAL: Darren Juru, Tim Justice, Breanna Keenan, Pepi Olliver-Bell, Adam Paulsen; GOLF: Kazuma Kobori; HOCKEY: Nikayla Bradley, Hannah Cotter, Kaitlin Cotter, Frances Davies, Katie Doar, Kaea Elliot, Jemma Jones, Sophie Mills, Jarryd Russell, Olivia Shannon, Georgie Shotter, Molly Williams, Nic Woods; ICE HOCKEY: Hannah Cross; INDOOR CRICKET: Bayley Latter; MOUNTAIN BIKING: Toby Meek; MULTISPORT: Olivia Corrin, Sophie Egnot-Johnson; NETBALL: Zalika Clarke, Aliyah Dunn, Courtney Elliot, Suraya Goss, Latonya Lole, Atareta McCausland-Durie, Sarah Teki-Clark, Renee Savai'inaea, Chantelle Smith, Amelia Walmsley; PARA CYCLING: Anna Taylor; ROWING: Stella Clayton-Greene, Sophie Egnot-Johnson, Kathryn Glen, Kate Haines, Juliette Lequeux, Matt Macdonald, Madeleine Parker, Ben Taylor, Joshua Vodanovich, Davina Waddy, Phillip Wilson; RUGBY: Sam Coles, Moana Courtenay, Maddie Feaunati, Julian Goerke, Anahera Hamahona, Cameron Howell, Niko Jones, Elinor King, Ben Lam, Paige Lush, Rhys Marshall, Matt Masoe, Oscar Ritchie, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Ben Strang, Sam Taylor, Te Rangatira Waitokia, Taylor Waterson, Alesha Williams, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg; RUGBY LEAGUE: Tyla King; RUGBY SEVENS: Moana Courtenay, Anahera Hamahona, Elinor King, Tyla King, Paige Lush, Sam Taylor, Alesha Williams, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg; SKIING: Ben Barclay; SMALLBORE RIFLE SHOOTING: Caley McNair; SPEEDWAY: Wade McNabb;SQUASH: Leonie Marshall; SURF LIFE SAVING: Louis Clark, Olivia Corrin, Laine Creighton, Fergus Eadie, Phoebe Ozanne, Oska Smith, Maja Tyne; SWIMMING: Louis Clark, Wilrich Coetzee, Erika Fairweather, Luan Grobbelaar, Gina McCarthy, Phoebe Nelson; TABLE TENNIS: Maia Cavanagh; TAEKWON-DO: Brenna Greene; TOUCH: Zoe Sosich; TRIATHLON: Eva Goodisson; VOLLEYBALL: Georgia Browne, Ella Douglas, Kelly Newlands, Charlie Vail; WRESTLING: Brahm Richards; YACHTING: Henry Haslett, Blake McGlashan, Courtney Reynolds-Smith.