There is a good reason why the TuksHockey men’s team winning the 2023 USSA Hockey Championships title will remain memorable for Trevor de Lora for some time.

It is not only because he was the Player of the Tournament. For De Lora, it is a chapter-closing in his student hockey career. He is completing his BEd Senior Phase studies this semester. The 2023 USSA Hockey Champs final was the last time he could play a part in helping Tuks win a student tournament.

De Lora's onfield heroics are why he is the 2023 TuksHockey Men’s Player of the Year and Bestmed Student Sportsman of the Year. He emphasised that Tuks was always going to be the team he was going to play for after he finished high school.

"As a youngster, I dreamt of the day when I would play for Tuks. The ultimate decider for me was when Tuks won the Varsity Hockey title in 2018. That is when I genuinely knew I wanted to wear the coveted 'Tuks Stripes'. I debuted for Tuks in 2019 and never regretted my decision. All I can say is that there is something special to be said about the TuksHockey culture and student life."

Last year, De Lora co-captained the Tuks alongside Sihle Ngubane to win the Varsity Hockey tournament.

As a youngster growing up in East London, the Tuks student-athlete tried it all. He played rugby, cricket, football, and hockey. What, however, made playing hockey special was that it was something he could do with his sisters at home.

"We had access to an Astroturf where I stayed. It played a big part in my development. Running on turf seemed cooler than running on grass as a kid."

Another reason why hockey became his number one sport at Grey College was because of the challenges that come with playing the game. According to De Lora, the many rules of hockey mean you have to think all the time you play.

"I play as a striker, or more precisely, my role is more of a dropped centre forward. I enjoy running with the ball and linking up plays throughout the lines. I bring much energy and belief to a team simply because I give 100 percent effort towards the goal we have set.

"My sporting hero is Cristiano Ronaldo. You cannot talk about Cristiano Ronaldo without addressing his most potent asset. His mind, and specifically his confidence. Ronaldo has always believed in himself, and he would only have reached the levels of success he has with this mindset."

Learning from the best has led De Lora to represent South Africa U-21 at the 2021 Men's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in India. The same year, he debuted for the senior national team, playing against Argentina.

De Lora still remembers how Tim Drummond, the Proteas captain, came to him moments before they took to the field to play Argentina.

"He asked whether I was stressed. I said yes. Then, to my amazement, Tim said he was also stressed. We laughed about it. Our little banter helped to calm the nerves."