BEING the youngest player of her team, Kingsway High School matric learner, Katelynn van der Westhuizen, relishes the opportunity to play for the KwaZulu-Natal Kingdom Queens in the Telkom Netball League.

The leap she has made from high school-level netball to a provincial level has, according to Katelynn, been an intense step up, demanding far greater physicality and agility.

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“It’s hard as a young player but I enjoy the challenge. I’m the youngest in that team. My teammates have been so supportive and so helpful. They’re like mother figures to me, even though I’m not that much younger than them. They help me when I’m struggling and when there are gaps in our play, we work with each other constructively to improve our game. I think as a player, my journey is going really well. I feel like I have much more power and skill, and my experience in the league is helping me with my school games as well, and I feel I can have a greater impact to help my team win,” she said.

Katelynn plans to go to North West University after she matriculates, and continue pursuing a career in netball.

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