James leads the pack

MATRIC pupil James Marshall is Waterfall College’s SPAR Star of the Month for September.

He is commended for his leadership ability in pulling together the rugby team, and was awarded the certificate of leadership for his successful role as rugby captain. He said that sport had helped him a lot in life. “Sport has helped me to take my mind off of my worries and do something that I enjoy. The challenge in sport is that you can’t do it in a half-hearted way and you have to focus and get your mind right.”

James has been involved in sports for as long as he can remember and was only too glad to take part in as many different sporting activities at school as he could. He also admitted that he preferred the sports field to the classroom. Cricket was one of his firm favourites in primary school. During the past year he competed in show jumping competitions, but the highlight of his sporting career had been his time as Waterfall College’s rugby captain.

At one point James was faced with a crisis in the team unity and he handled this with calm professionalism and gave his team mates the option of playing together as a united force or to stop playing altogether. This helped each player recognise they had a personal choice to make. Christine Eriksen, the sports co-ordinator at Waterfall College said, “James has shown exceptional leadership. At the school’s Sports Awards Evening, he gave an impressive speech in which he praised all the players in his team.”

Bev Surmon, the head of life orientation and English at Waterfall College said, “James’ success as a leader at WFC epitomises what our school offers young people of the Highway area – a belief in each student’s ability to maximise their potential if they embrace the opportunities given to them. James grabbed the rugby captaincy ball and ran with it and his success as a leader is evident.”

Waterfall College congratulated James on his achievement and wishes him well as he completes his matric year.