Two brothers have been selected to represent Western Cape for Wrestling and one of the two for rugby.
Connor and Carter Mckenzie made their family proud after being selected.
Connor was selected to represent the Western Province for both Wrestling and Rugby under 12 and has been chosen to be a prefect.
Connor is part of the Parow NTK Juniors rugby club while he and his brother are members of the Wrestling Club in Parow.
The boys are dedicated and train several hours a week after school.
For their school rugby including club, they practice eight hours a week and wrestling, three hours a week which excludes their match days.
Parents, Angus and Kelly Mckenzie are proud of their sons for making it to Western Province for these two sports.
“As parents we are excessively proud of our sons’ achievements this year, it has not been an easy year with Covid and various other challenges; however our boys remained focussed on their goals and worked hard towards them,” said Angus.
“What is more encouraging for us as parents is that they are enjoying themselves and living out their dreams.
“While I as dad would like to take all the credit for their achievements their mother must be accredited for never stopping to nag that homework gets done and good grades are achieved.
“Connor has been selected to represent Western Province at both Wrestling and Rugby and been announced as a prefect at his school and he is extremely excited and really happy that his hard work has paid off.”
Angus said Carter was sleeping, eating and breathing wrestling because that is how passionate he is.
“Carter, 10 years old, can’t believe he is the best wrestler in his age group in the country and can’t wait to proudly wear his Western Province tracksuit everywhere he goes, even to bed,” he added.
“As a family we want to thank the coaches that have been involved in perfecting our kids' talents, The Parow Wrestling Club, The Parow NTK Youth Academy as well as their school, Panorama Primary.”
Connor said although his school and sports routine was intense, he was passionate about everything.
“Our sports schedules are demanding and sometimes it is exhausting,” he explained.
“But I love what I do. I started playing rugby at crèche already and I started wrestling in Grade R.
“Through sport I have met some awesome coaches and made really good friends. And I am thankful that my parents support my brothers and I in all we do. Sport is in our blood.
“My dad and my uncle, Immanuel Mckenzie, played, so we were taught to take each opportunity from a young age because that is what we saw our family do."
Kelly added as a family they made sure the boys' lives were both balanced on the field and in the classroom: “As a mom I am proud of my boys and I am blessed to have a partner who loves being on the field or on the couch to coach his sons. Our days are filled with game plans and game analysis and we would not have it any other way.”