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Leah Rees

TuksSport High School Learners bust world record

On 22 August, TuksSport High School learners Mihlali Xotyeni and Benjamin Richardson represented South Africa as part of the men’s 100m relay team at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championship in Kenya. The relay team crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 38.51 seconds, setting a new world record.

Image: worldathletics.org

UP-Tuks dominate Madibaz during Varsity Netball Round 2

On 22 August, UP-Tuks faced off against NMU’s Madibaz during Tuk’s second match of the Varsity Netball tournament. UP-Tuks dominated the game, claiming their first victory of the tournament with a final score of 72-37, where UP-Tuks captain Chantelle Swart was chosen as FNB’s Player of the Match.

Image: Twitter - VarsityNetball

Varsity Sports features UP athletes on their #ChangingLives banner

Varsity Sports in their celebration of South Africa’s youth will feature UP athletes on #ChangingLives banners during the 2021 Varsity Netball and Football tournaments. Of the 20 total athletes featured on the banners, there are nine UP athletes.

These banners feature UP athletes: Shadine van der Merwe (Netball), Sokwakhana Zazini (Athletics), Lerato Mahole (Hockey), Gift Leotlela (Athletics), Onthatile Zulu (Hockey), Samkelo Mvimbi (Hockey), Akani Simbine (Athletics), Nduduzo Lembethe (Hockey) and Izette Griesel (Netball).

All the balls and whistles: Varsity Netball is back

Leah Rees

Varsity Netball is back with a bang, after a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UP-Tuks, coached by Jenny van Dyk, is ready to defend their 2019 undefeated title win and according to captain Chantelle Swart, are ready to keep the trophy in Pretoria.

UP-Tuk’s line-up for the tournament includes Alice Kennon, Anja van Heerden, Blessing Sithole, Chantelle Swart, Danielle van Zyl, Hope Sibiya, Jamie van Wyk, Jani Bergh, Jeanette Vermeulen, Mbalenhle Ntuli, Melissa van Zyl, Melodine Jacobs, Sinethemba Maseko and Tracey Mthunzi.

The tournament is taking place in a bio-bubble at Stellenbosch University and will span from 21 August to 30 August, where UP-Tuks will play a total of 7 play off matches against North West University (NWU), Nelson Mandela University (Madibaz), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the University of the Free State (Kovsies), the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Stellenbosch University (Maties) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

Van Dyk has labelled Kovsies as the team to beat in this tournament and stated that NWU and Maties are also both strong contenders to play in the final.

UP-Tuks shoots for undefeated streak and misses

Image: Twitter - VarsityNetball

Leah Rees

On 21 August UP-Tuks kicked off the Varsity Netball 2021 tournament with their first match against North West University (NWU). UP-Tuks had remained undefeated since 2019, after winning every match in the 2019 Varsity Netball tournament.

UP-Tuks started off with a weak first quarter, as NWU maintained a two point lead throughout the majority of quarter one. However, UP-Tuks brought it back towards the end of the quarter with a score of 14-13 to UP-Tuks. UP-Tuks maintained their one point lead throughout the second quarter, ending the first half of the match with a score of 30-29 to UP-Tuks.

NWU gained momentum in the third quarter with the score being 45-49 to NWU, while UP-Tuks had still had not called their power play. UP-Tuks called their power play with 10 minutes to go in the final quarter. NWU continued to score as

Image: Twitter - VarsityNetball

the team’s strong pairing inside the goal circle consisted of the goal shooter and goal attack who have both been selected to represent South Africa during the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series, taking place in Jamaica this year. UP-Tuks struggled to move the ball into the circle and could not recover in the last quarter. UP-Tuks lost to NWU with a final score of 64-73 to NWU.

NWU has become the first varsity netball squad to defeat UPTuks since 2018, and thus UP-Tuks’ undefeated streak in this tournament has ended.