The matrics of TuksSport Combined School have proved beyond a shadow of doubt that brains and brawn make a dynamite package.

The matriculants TuksSport School, a niche school for high school students that are passionate about and dedicated to their sport, showed that their successes are not only limited to the sports field or the pool!

Despite following a strenuous training programme (at least 4 hours training per day – holidays included) and sometimes missing weeks of school as result of national and international competitions, this group proved their mettle.

Not only did they obtain a 100% pass rate, they did so in style!

12, 5% of the school’s matriculants passed with an 80% plus average, and 15, 6% with an average between 70% - 79%.

The school’s top achievers are Leon-Brink Knoll, Bianca Cant, Karlien van Heerden and Pierre de Waal.

Leon-Brink Koll, the 2^nd highest ranked junior golfer in South Africa, obtained 5 distinctions and 2 B’s. His distinctions include Mathematics, for which he scored a whopping 93%! Unfortunately he missed a 6^th distinction (English) by a mere 2%.

Bianca Cant, Karlien van Heerden and Pierre de Waal have more in common that their passion for swimming. Bianca and Karlien both obtained 4 distinctions, and Pierre 3 A’s and 3 B’s (2- 79%).

Bianca passed her matric with an average of 84%, and achieved 90% in no fewer that three subjects. Although she is happy with her results, she plans on having her Mathematics and Life Science papers remarked, as she scored 79% in both.

Mrs. de Villiers, the principal of TuksSport School said she is extremely proud of the learners. “They all worked very hard, and I am proud of every single one of them.”

She explained that the school model is similar to sport schools in Canada and Europe. “We aim to offer a strong, but flexible school structure to developing and high performance athletes that attend the school, thereby ensuring that they receive excellent tuition while pursuing their dreams of becoming top South African sport stars.

She added that whilst the learners deserve to be praised for their efforts, the success achieved is a collaborative victory. The teachers, the coaches, and the mentors in the hostels all deserve to be congratulated. “It’s a finely-tuned system of give and take between teachers and coaches, resulting in our learner-athletes being winners.”