- 2015 Highlights
Personal Statement
My dream is to study and play water polo in America at an NCAA Division I University.
I believe American Universities are among the best in the world and are known for the quality of their academic and sporting programs. I constantly aim to improve and challenge myself. Studying and competing at a NCAA Division I University will assist me in achieving my athletic and professional goals.
My achievements in academics, leadership, sport, music and my involvement in community service has equipped me to take the next step in my career, as well as add considerable value to the university I attend and the water polo team I represent. These achievements show the dedication, commitment and hard work that I apply to everything I set my mind to. I have mastered time management and organisational skills, as can be seen by my ability to succeed across a wide range of activities.
As a water polo player, I have represented South Africa 5 times internationally (25 caps and more than 70 goals). In September 2015 I received the South Africa Protea Blazer - National Junior Colours..
In December 2015 I represented SA Schools in the U18 International Series against Australia. South Africa won the series and I was awarded MVP and was top goal scorer with 26 goals. I attended the SA Men's Water Polo Training Camp and I have been selected for the South African Men's Team to participate at the FINA Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Trieste, Italy .
My first representation for South Africa was in 2013 when I was U16 and selected for the SA Schools U18 Water Polo Team to play Tri-Nations in Sydney, Australia. At this tournament I was the highest goal scorer for South Africa with 14 goals. I received SA Schools Colours that year, being the only U16 selected for SA Schools U19 Tournament Team at the National Schools Water Polo Tournament. In 2014 I represented South Africa at the FINA World Youth Water Polo Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, as well as the Continental Qualification Tournament for the FINA Youth Championships. In 2015 I was selected to the SA U20 Water Polo Team to represent South Africa at the FINA World Junior Men's Water Polo Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. At this tournament I was top goal scorer for South Africa with 14 goals.
At the 2015 Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics prize giving I was awarded the Provincial Honours Blazer and received the Junior Men's Player of the Year Award. I have represented Eastern Province Water Polo A-sides since age 11, and captained the provincial U18A, U16A, U15A, U14A & U13A sides. At the SA Schools National Water Polo Tournament (2010) I captained the U13A Eastern Province team that became the first E P team to win gold at SA Schools. This year I captained the Eastern Province U18A Team that won the SA National Water Polo Championships. It is the first time in history that Eastern Province has won this National Championship.
At school level, each year I have played for my age group as well as the higher age group and been captain of the Grey High School 1st, U15A, U14A and U13A Water Polo Teams. I started playing for Grey 1st Team in Grade 9. Being selected as Player of the Tournament at the King Edward School 1st Team Tournament in Grade 11 is something I am extremely proud of. I recently received the SACS 1st Team Tournament Best Attacker Award & Top Goal Scorer (34 goals). At a special assembly I was awarded the prestigeous Grey High School Honours Blazer & Cap for Extraordinary Achievement. This is the highest award presented to a pupil at The Grey and there have only been 7 recipients of this award. At the 2015 Awards assembly I received the Water Polo Player of the Year Award. Other Special Awards received were:
Zinober Prize – 1st in Academic Merit for 2015 (The Dux Award)
Old Greys’ Union Prize : Exhibition of moral force of character and of instincts to lead and take an interest in his schoolfellows, Literary and Scholastic Achievements, Fondness for and success in manly outdoor sports, Qualities of manhood, truth, courage, unselfishness, fellowship and devotion to duty
Anthony Glendinning Memorial Award : Awarded to a Grade 12 boy who has achieved an all-round popularity throughout the school and who has fulfilled the following criteria:
- Character- humility, loyalty, respect
- A good academic record
- A high level of participation in sports where he has shown commitment and tenacity
- Enthusiastic involvement in societies of The Grey
Bruce (Campbell) Gordon Memorial Trophy : Presented to the boy who most closely epitomises the motto of the Grey: Tria Junta in Uno
Louis Dubb Shield : One who has performed his duties courageously.
