St Peter’s College is now boasting a staff member, learner and alumnus who have been called up to represent the country in water polo.
Grade 10 learner Ethan MacLeod, college alumnus Jessica Frame and manager in charge of water polo at the college Nardus Badenhorst recalled feeling excited at the announcement of an international call-up.
Ethan said the news was huge when he found out he had been selected for the SA junior men’s squad. He had represented the country in the U16 team for the World Men’s Youth Water Polo Championships.
Ethan added, “Mr Badenhorst has been an amazing coach, and has been with me since Grade 7. It will be nice to learn some new things from a new coach. To see what I can learn in different aspects.”
Badenhorst was selected for the senior men’s squad and is also a coach of the sport.
He has represented the country since 2009 and said he had a feeling of extreme pride. “For the two of them [Frame and Ethan], it’s a great representation of what the school’s water polo programme is doing at the moment, and what players we are developing.
“For myself, it’s been one of my biggest dreams to play in the Olympics. The way water polo has progressed in the country is really exciting and making sure we can be as competitive as possible.”
The junior teams’ tours have not been confirmed yet due to the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic, but both senior teams are looking to head to the Olympics next year.
Frame, who previously represented South Africa in the U17 team at the 2018 African Swimming Federation World Championships in Durban, said she wanted to learn many new techniques from the sport’s coaches since being selected for the senior women’s squad.
Ethan said playing water polo in the United States was also on the table for him.
“I was approached to possibly get a scholarship to the States. So maybe to study and play there, but at this point I’m still uncertain.”
