It is with great pleasure that we ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ the following Union tennis players on their selection to represent the Eastern Cape, in their respective age groups, at the upcoming National Schools’ Week in January and Synergy Cup in February:
Cayla Newton, Amelia King, Tara Ferreira and Taylor Jacobs
We are thrilled to announce an exciting ๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฆ at the Union Schools!
Born to Play Tennis Academy, led by the dynamic duo Tiaan and Lente Mostert, will be taking over the reins of our tennis programme, catering to players from u/10 level all the way through to our senior first teams.
๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ง๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ brings a wealth of experience to our programme, boasting around 10 years of coaching expertise. As a junior player under 18, he had the honour of representing his country in international competitions in England and Scotland. His dedication to the sport has played a pivotal role in the development of many young players, earning him immense respect and admiration from those he coaches. Tiaan is known for his exceptional technical skills – thereโs no shot he canโt teach! His passion for the game and commitment to his players make him an invaluable asset to our tennis community.
๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ is no stranger to success. As a former junior player, she achieved an impressive ranking of #4 among women in South Africa during her under 18 years. Lente also had the privilege of representing her country and was awarded a prestigious scholarship to play college tennis in the USA. Her journey in tennis has fueled her passion for promoting health and fitness, which she shares with her students through the sport. Lente’s enthusiasm and expertise will undoubtedly inspire our players to reach new heights.
๐ง๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐; ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ. Their mission is to cultivate a love for tennis among players of all ages and skill levels. They aim to help our athletes compete effectively with larger schools, ensuring that every player has the opportunity to thrive. With their guidance, we are confident that our tennis programme will flourish, fostering talent and sportsmanship in our young players.
This past weekend, four of Union High School, Graaff-Reinetโs top junior boysโ and girlsโ tennis players participated in the annual ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ held in Graaff-Reinet.
Over the course of two exciting days, our players not only showcased their skills on the court but also embraced the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Competing against formidable teams from Worcester, Stellenbosch, Hermanus and Cradock, among other, both the boys’ and girls’ teams faced challenging matches that tested their abilities and character. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ต.
The tournament was not just about competition; it was also a chance for our athletes to bond and develop friendships with peers from other schools.
A special ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ goes out to the members of staff, parents and supporters who accompanied our teams and cheered them on from the sidelines.
๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ง๐ข the following Union tennis players on their inclusion in the Zone 2 Sarah Baartman District Teams:
On Tuesday afternoon, 12 October, Union High School’s Top 6 boys and girls tennis players hosted their Cradock High School counterparts for what turned out to be a very enjoyable afternoon of tennis.
All the matches were played in great spirit and tightly contested and we extend our thanks to the Cradock players for travelling to Graaff-Reinet and their wonderful sportsmanship.
Union High Schoolโs Top 12 senior tennis boys resumed tennis practice in full force this week. After months of no sport, it was heartwarming to see their enjoyment.
This past Saturday, 31 October, Union High School Grade 5 learner Grace Kemp competed in a TSA tournament in Port Elizabeth.
She did well to get to the semi-finals of the u/12 division, losing narrowly to Borderโs top-ranked player.ย Grace ended up coming third, beating a player from the Western Province in the 3rd/4th play-off match.
Congratulations to Grade 7 learner Tara Ferreira who participated in the TSA Junior Nationals championship in Bloemfontein at the end of October.
Tara, who competed in the Girls u/12 Singles division, started the tournament off well, winning her first encounter. Her second match saw her meeting the top-ranked player in the division. She lost this match 1-6, 2-6.
The rest of the back draw matches were called off due to rain.
Overall, it was a good experience for this young tennis player and, most assuredly, not her last at this level.
๐/๐ญ๐ต ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐น๐:
Congratulations to Grade 7 learner Tara Ferreira who participated in the TSA Junior Nationals championship in Bloemfontein at the end of October.