College Sports: A Golden Season for UM!
At last night’s Champions Trophy ceremony, held at the School of Pharmacy, we looked back on the outstanding results achieved this summer by UM’s teams. It was a year marked by the national championship victory of the men’s handball team and the European title won by the women’s soccer team.
Handball, rugby, and soccer: UM at the top in France and Europe
The UM men’s handball team won the national title at the French Elite University Championships, held in Tours from June 7 to 9.
After defeating the University of Lorraine (43–29) and Créteil (40–27) in the group stage, then the University of Besançon in the semifinals (26–19), the University of Montpellier faced Val-de-Marne in the final. Final score: 34–26.
The Elite Championship represents the highest level of collegiate sports. The UM team will therefore represent France at the European Championships, which will take place from July 3 to 9, 2017, in Málaga (Spain).
The UM rugby players also added to the university’s list of achievements with a victory in the N2 category. To claim the trophy, the UM XV defeated the STAPS-Orsay team 37–15 in a final played in Issoire in the Puy-de-Dôme department.
Still in team sports, the UM volleyball players remained true to the university’s tradition of excellence in this discipline by finishing in a tight pack (2nd and 3rd) at the French Elite Championships held in Grenoble in early June. The 2016 edition lived up to all expectations in terms of the quality of play. “The French University Championship was of an exceptional standard this year—the best since its inception,” noted representatives from SUAPS.
A UM duo then headed to Île de Ré for the French Beach Volleyball Championships. The pair of Theo Josserand and Thomas Nevot lost in the final to representatives from the Centre National de Beach Toulouse.
7-a-side soccer: The girls are European champions!
A major achievement for the women’s 7-a-side soccer team, which won the European University Championships in Zagreb in July, following up on the national title they won last year! The UM women’s soccer team defeated the Spanish team from Valencia 4–0 in the final.
Taekwondo: Waldeck Defaix doubles his tally…
In individual sports, UM athletes also excelled, particularly in swimming. At the French Championships held in Montluçon on May 11, 12, and 13, they secured victory in the men’s 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. UM also clinched the title in the men’s team event, which consisted of eight races. UM’s swimmers finished ahead of the teams from INSA Toulouse and Aix-Marseille University.
Let’s also celebrate Waldeck Defaix’s latest victory. The Tahitian, who had already won the title in 2015, repeated his success by becoming the 2016 French taekwondo champion in the under-87-kilogram category. Waldeck Defaix then distinguished himself at the European Championships, ending the academic season as European runner-up…
French boxing: just one step away from the title
Still in combat sports, Maxime Jublan narrowly missed out on the title, but still managed to secure the title of French runner-up in French boxing.
Finally, it is worth noting the second-place finishes by Emmanuelle Guibal and Mathilde Toinard, achieved in the combined events, respectively weightlifting and bodybuilding.
