Magazine 2017

drastically, with four teams from U/14 through to U/19. The girls have become really competitive, featuring in a semi-final of the fives tournament at Century City in two successive years. With the dedication and commitment from the girls it is hoped that each team will feature in the upper ends of the league this season. The U/15As have had another great season. The girls have spent most of their practice time building up their fitness, focusing on foot strength and ball skills. Coach Axon has had such a positive impact on how the girls play and on their attitudes towards bettering their game. The team has really come together through various obstacles this season, including battling against some strong opposition on the field. The team’s hard work paid off when they won their last game of the season, against Buren High School. Girls' senior soccer once again took a major step towards further development and achievement. The season started off with a slight wobble against Milnerton High School. We regrouped and then went on to win the next three games. The girls were resilient and their desire to win grew with each new match. The girls participated in the fives soccer tournament and were unlucky to be knocked out in the semi-finals. At the end of the season the Parklands U/19A team ended in second position on the soccer log SOFTBALL Parklands entered five teams into the softball leagues this season and our girls played with great enthusiasm. The first team has lost only one match in the last two years while our U/15 team still remains ended their season unbeaten. We want to congratulate the following players who made the Softball district zonal teams: Mia Brown, Liezl Myburgh and Tara Goliath were chosen for the U/18A team as well as Lauren Buicke who made the B side. Special mention must be made of the Parklands College 3rd Team. This group of girls has such a positive attitude and showed beautiful teamwork throughout the season. They walked away champions from each and every match, due to their commitment to better themselves and to support their teammates. Their skills were stepped up at each new match and they just kept growing, making us all proud. SWIMMING The Parklands Swimming team hosted a league gala for the first time, with 11 schools participating. The Parklands spirit was high and the dedication from our swimmers was faultless. The Swimming team have had a very successful season, placing between first and third at all our interschool galas this quarter. The highlight of this quarter was when our boys’ and girls’ teams were both placed first at the individual gala hosted by Hoërskool Jan Van Riebeeck. TENNIS Tennis has ended with another successful season and we are pleased to welcome new players into our teams. Our players continue to make us proud when playing other schools, showing exemplary behaviour. We would also like to congratulate Ryan Baines, Ulrich Koch and Storm Elliot who all received their provincial colours. WATER POLO Water Polo continues to grow with many learners participating this season. For the first time we have been able to enter an U/14 Boys team into the Western Province league. The 1st team boys and girls had the most successful season ever in the pool with many positive results and playing some exceptional water polo. Both teams were the fittest they have ever been after all the earlymorning training sessions, a testament to their commitment to the team and improving themselves. We welcomed all our Alumni back to the College early in the year, where the 1st Team Boys played a hotly contested Water Polo match, being narrowly beaten in front of a very enthusiastic crowd. FITFLEX Fitflex was introduced earlier this year as a new way to keep fit and a place to share a passion for physical health. Fitflex embraces fun and fresh ways to keep fit, such as Calisthenics, Yoga, Pilates, Isometrics and many more. Each week new exercise routines are introduced to ensure that the learners are challenged and remain interested. Thus far Fitflex has proved to be very popular with the learners with new members joining each week. SANESA Our team has had another successful year with our two young riders Ella Rose Boyce and Skye van Straaten representing Parklands College in various disciplines including Show Jumping, Working Hunter, Equitation, Prix Caprilli and Dressage. During the four qualifiers the girls showed that hard work and dedication to their sport pays off with Ella, riding Jake, obtaining five 1st places, two 2nd places and two 3rd places. Skye, riding Midas Touch Jackpot and Thistledown Lord of the Dance, obtained five 1st places, one 2nd place and three 3rd places overall. Both girls were also placed in several of the events they took part in. Parklands College is very proud of both these girls and their outstanding performances. EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES IN SCHOOL SPORT We are extremely proud of Laura Wolvaardt for being selected for the South African Proteas Women’s Cricket Team. She participated at the World qualification tournament in Sri Lanka earlier this year where she helped South Africa qualify for the World Championships with some wonderful performances. Laura went on to impress the world at the Women’s Cricket World Cup in England. 116 Parklands College, Twentieth Edition, 2017