Tennis aces off to the city of roses
The team is made up of 14 U15 and U19 players.
Several top-ranked players’ hard toil on the court throughout last year paid off when they were selected for the Gauteng East team to represent the district in the national high schools inter-provincial tournament in Bloemfontein this month (January).
The team, made up of 14 players, will be led by the district’s top talent, who were awarded their certificates and regional colours on December 2, as they attempt to wrestle the title from the current champions.
Gauteng East finished in 14th position in the U15 category and were eighth in the U19 earlier this year in Pretoria, as the Western Cape Cavaliers clinched the U15 title while Free State beat the Cavaliers’ U19s in the final to walk away with the U19 championship.
Boasting the likes of Shazneez Kholvadia and Angelique Jansen van Vuuren, ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the region in the U19, and Bryan Wiggill and JC Strauss, ranked fifth and ninth regionally in the U19, the
Gauteng East Tennis Association (GETA) juniors’ chairperson, Karen McRae, is adamant the team will do well.
She said she was delighted the region’s top talent was back to strengthen the squad.
McRae, a former Gauteng East player, explained it was difficult putting the team together as the majority of the players in the junior ranks showed tremendous dedication and commitment during the season, adding that with the talent pool expanding, the future of the sport looked bright.
“We’ve chosen the IPT teams to represent Gauteng East at the high schools competition in January. All the top-ranked players within our district will come together and try to raise our flag high. We are really grateful that our top players have come back to help us out in the competition,” she said.
The chairperson thanked the investors that helped with the renovations of the GETA complex’s 16 courts, adding this will spark an interest in the sport in the region.
The team:
Girls – Angelique Jansen van Vuuren, Hannah Crafford, Shazneen Kholvadia, Kristin Johnston, Azania Petersen, Chiara Vuirl and Joanna Ridgard.
Boys – Bryan Wiggill, JC Strauss, Jaydan Rooskrantz, Christian Franken, Zander de Jager, Rihal Kissun and Aidan Blaauw.
