The Free State has a wealth of young sporting talent and is often referred to as the breeding ground for stars in the country.
This year is no exception, and the top athletes are set to be honoured at the Free State Sport Stars gala.
The awards, presented by Central24 and the UFS, celebrate the achievements of sport stars from school to senior level.
School achievers are honoured for notable performances on a national level from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022.
Recently recognised school stars like Refiloe Nketsa (netball), Wilco Nienaber (golf) and Nita Scholtz (badminton) went on to receive higher honours.
The top schools sport teams will also receive recognition.
- The schools sport stars honoured by the UFS in 2022 are: Caleb Abrahams (Grey College, rugby) – SA Schools.) Aron Alvarez Aranda (Grey College, athletics – discus) – World Athletics U20 Championships.) Taheera Augousti (Eunice High School, hockey) – SA U18 team, SA U21 team.) Casper Badenhorst (Grey College, rugby) – SA Schools.) Liné Greyling (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, tennis) – won National U18 Championship, SA Schools team.) Regan Hunter (Hoërskool Fichardtpark, bisley) – gold medal 3P score and trophy overall 3P and 10 m at SANSSU trials, British Open Championships.) Alfondso Isaacs (Grey College, rugby) – SA Schools.) Ané Janse van Vuuren (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, hockey) – SA Schools.) Donna le Roux (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, tennis) – SA Schools Team, SA U16 Billie Jean King Cup team, wins UFS Cepha Tennis Junior ITF J5 tournament.) Cornel Liebenberg (Grey College, tennis) – SA Schools.) Andro Louw (St. Andrew’s School, swimming) – two gold medals at SA Schools Championships.) Roline Louw (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, athletics – heptathlon) – Gold medal at SA Combined Events Championships.) GJ Maree (Grey College, cricket) – SA U19 team at World Cup.) Boipelo Mashwabi (Sehunelo Secondary School, table tennis) – African Youth Champs 2022, World School Games.) Leané McLaren (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, hockey) – SA U18 team.) Lukas Meyer (Grey College, rugby) – SA Schools.) Ntshopa Mokoena (Hoërskool Voortrekker, hockey) – SA U18 team, SA U21 team.) Lehlohonolo Mofokeng (Brebner High School, basketball) – African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games.) Letlhogonolo Moleyane (Grey College, athletics – 4 x 400 relay) – World Athletics U20 Championships.) Muddaththir Mukhtar (Curro Bloemfontein High School, table tennis) – African Youth Champs.) Luchelle Oosthuizen (Eunice High School, swimming) – two gold medals at SA Schools Championships.) Miané Smit (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, cricket) – SA U19 team.) Germarie Spershott (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, hockey) – SA U18 team, SA U21 team.) Miandi Steenkamp (Hoërskool Sentraal, netball) – SA top 35 squad.) JF van Heerden (Grey College, rugby) – SA Schools.) Johani van Tonder (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, athletics – triple jump) – South Africa team to African games. ) Gabbi Venter (Eunice High School, golf) – won 2022 St Andrews Junior Ladies Open, ranked number one in South Africa.) Danelle Victor (Hoërskool Hoopstad, netball) – SA top 35 squad.) Karla Victor (Hoër Meisieskool Oranje, netball) – SA top 35 squad, SA U19 team at AUSC Region 5 Youth Games.
– Jóhann Thormählen
