Fifty-three judokas from eight universities converged at the University of Pretoria Sports Campus to participate in the 2015 University Sports South Africa (USSA) National Institutional Judo Championships. TuksJudo welcomed students from the University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Free State University, the University of Johannesburg and the University of Cape Town. The event took place from 26 to 28 March 2015.

The championships serve as part of the athletes’ preparation for the All Africa Games. TuksJudo coach Nikola Fillipov attributed their success to the winning culture at TuksSport and to the team’s intensive preparation: ‘If the athletes really work hard and are motivated, they are more likely to win.’ She added: ‘We are fortunate to have a very strong team that includes athletes such as Dale Whittaker, who is the current national champion in the 81 kg category.’

The hosts did not disappoint, winning seven of the nine special awards. Furthermore, of the fifteen judokas selected for the USSA national team, nine hail from TuksJudo.

TuksJudo USSA results

Male individual

Gold medals: Pierre Wolmarans, Dale Whittaker, Ruan-Tobie Snyman

Bronze medals: Michael Nothnagel, Janko Snyman

Female individual

Gold medals: Michaela Whitebooi, Sinothando Mva, Desiree Blake, Maggie Louw, Tabea Lingscheid, Unelle Snyman, Claudette-Lee Sutherland

Male open division

Gold medals: Dale Whittaker, Ruan-Tobie Snyman

Female open division

Gold medals: Sinothando Mva, Unelle Snyman

Silver medal: Michaela Whitebooi

Special awards

Most promising female newcomer: Michaela Whitebooi

Best male newcomer: Pierre Wolmarans

Best male: Dale Whittaker

Best female: Unelle Snyman

Lady prestige: Tabea Lingscheid

Fastest ippon: Janko Snyman

2015 USSA team

Pierre Wolmarans, Dale Whittaker, Ruan-Tobie Snyman, Michaela Whitebooi, Sinothando Mva, Desiree Blake, Maggie Louw, Unelle Snyman, Claudette-Lee Sutherland