Wits Sport

WITS SPORT (WS)

Wits Sport has a reputation for sporting excellence

https://youtu.be/5WT5aafx3Rc

Wits Sport offers 28 SPORT CODES to choose from Students may choose to compete at the level they are comfortable with, from beginner, right through to elite level.

OUTDOOR SPORT Aquatics Cricket Football Futsal Hockey Mountain Climbing/Bouldering Netball Orienteering Rowing Rugby Rugby 7’s Snow Skiing Tennis Ultimate Frisbee Underwater Sport Yachting

Wits Hockey Turf

a world-class sport facility has hosted the following events: - 2016 USSA Hockey, (men & women) - 2017 USSA Hockey, (men & women) - 2017 USSA Hockey, (men) - 2017 FIH World League - 2018 SA vs France (men’s series) - 2020 SA vs Germany (men’s series)

INDOOR SPORT Aerobics Basketball Boxing Chess Fencing Gymnastics Karate (JKA) Tai Chi & Yuishinkai Kobujutsu Squash Table Tennis Tang Soo Do Volleyball, Wargames

WORLD-CLASS SPORTING FACILITIES

Expect world-class sport facilities including: football, rugby, cricket fields, hard court areas for tennis, basketball and netball, two 50m swimming pools, an artificial hockey turf, extensive indoor sport facilities, futsal courts, two exceptional outdoor gyms and a Wits Fitness and Wellness Centre which offers state of the art equipment, top trainers and cutting edge facilities.

All our six HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT-

ING CODES have access to strength and conditioning training facilities at the

WITS SPORT HIGH PERFORMANCE GYM,

situated on the Wits Education Campus. This together with ELITE TRAINING, TESTING AND COACHING, ensures athletes receive integrated, sport specific, periodised training. Athletes also receive rehabilitative support. We prepare our athletes to be competitive at all levels, from representing our University to representing our country on the national and international stage. Our network of professionals is growing with the launch of WITS SPORT AND HEALTH (WiSH) which gives Wits Sport unmatched access to the world’s best sport physicians, surgeons, physiotherapists and other sport and medical professionals.

www.wits.ac.za/wish/

Wits University Women’s Football Club

FIRST WITS WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR THE VARSITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

2019 USSA Football Woman’s Team of the Tournament (Bronze Medallists)

Six Witsies took on the Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro Yacht Race on the 4th of January 2020 and finished in third place, winning the class one handicap and class one line honours.

High School: St. Brendan's Catholic Secondary School Degree: 2016, BSc Chemical Engineering (Hons); 2020 MSc Chemical Engineering Sport: Football

Achievements:

- 2020 Golden Key International Honour Society Member - 2019 USSA Bronze Medalist - 2018 Wits Women’s Football Player of the Year - 2017 USSA Women's football national team (final 30)

Why did you choose to study at Wits?

I wanted to study in a high performing institution both in academics and in sports. I have always known that Wits graduates are sought after by recruiters and are often spoilt for choice when it comes to opportunities for employment.

How do you balance studying at Wits and playing sport?

I have been a student athlete all my life. I played sports in primary and secondary school, so I would not know how to do just one. However, that does not make it any easy task. It is all about discipline! You need to plan your day and most importantly stick to the plan. I developed a routine and that made it a lot easier. I would constantly remind myself that it was okay for me to be selfish with my time in order for me to meet deadlines, training sessions and games.

What are your future goals?

I plan to pursue my chemical engineering career for the next five years. I would like to learn as much as I can while I build a network in the industry, before I can move on to the next chapter of my life. I am currently working on a project whose main objective is to offer the necessary support to emerging student athletes before they enter the higher learning set-up and to see them through the transition as well. The idea is to normalise life as a student athlete, discouraging the need to have to choose either one.

High School: King Edward VII School Degree: BCom General Sport: Rugby

Achievements:

- 2020 Captain for the U/21 Lions Currie Cup Team - 2019 U/21 Currie Cup - 2019 Supersport Challenge - 2018 U/19 - Currie Cup - 2017 SA Schools - 2017 U/18 Craven Week Captain

Why did you choose Wits?

I chose Wits because of the balance that is offered between playing rugby professionally and business life. Being able to study part-time and have the likes of Kerry Yates helping me with my academic decisions has made the whole experience enjoyable and worthwhile.

How do you balance studying at Wits and playing sport?

Time management and focusing on the most important things first. Obviously being a professional rugby player is my profession but there is more to life than rugby, so one has to balance the two in order to maintain a holistic lifestyle.

What are your future goals?

My future goals would be to captain my country, play over 100 first division games and put over 1 000 children through school.

Interview with: Karishma Naicker

High School: SAHETI School Degree: BSc Physiotherapy Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics

Achievements:

- 2020 Junior Sportswoman of the Year - 2020 Rhythmic African Championships - 2019 Three times gold medallist at the National Competition for Rhythmic gymnastics for the Senior Olympic Rhythmic Group. Senior Protea Colours for Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Why did I choose Wits?

I chose Wits because I had been on a school tour to visit the premises and I was impressed by the facilities that are available to students. Additionally, I wanted to be part of an institution that embraced diversity and Wits makes this a priority. I chose Wits because of the excellent reputation it has for supporting student athletes and, as a rhythmic gymnast, I was drawn to this. Overall, my experience with Wits has been incredible so far.

How do you balance studying at Wits and playing sport?

I think the most important life skill one can learn is time management. If you have good time management skills, you will be able to accomplish goals in many different aspects of life simultaneously. I strongly believe that life is about balance – studying, playing sport, participating in cultural events and setting aside some time to relax. I make a weekly timetable and keep a year planner so that I can see how much time I have available and where I can fit in all the activities I would like to do.

What are your future goals?

I am still formulating my future goals for sport. Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport that takes up a lot of time. I used to train with my team six days a week, for four hours a day. I do not think it is realistic to continue this kind of commitment and thus I have decided to focus on my degree for now. This means that I will continue doing rhythmic gymnastics but not competitively. If given another opportunity, I will return to competition. I am definitely going to remain involved in rhythmic gymnastics by either coaching or judging at competitions.