The sky is the limit for Jessica
Jessica Lessing may only be 18 years old but she has already achieved so much in her short life.
The Geduld resident has received her national colours for korfbal, which she only started playing in 2012.
From when she was 13 years old, Jessica has represented Eastern Gauteng in her age group every year.
This April, Jessica will be representing Easterns during the Junior Provincial Action Netball Tournament in Centurion.
In 2012, she achieved double provincial honours after she was selected to represent the U/23 ladies’ action netball team in Nelspruit.
She also represented the U/16 junior team in Randburg.
In 2013, Jessica competed with the Northern Gauteng B team at the Provincial Tournament in Kimberely, which they won.
Jessica received double honours once again.
After Jessica took part in the U/19 korfbal trials and was selected to represent South Africa in Harare during September of last year in a Tri-Nations series with Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Her team won the event and qualified to compete in the U/19 World Cup in Holland which will take place in April of this year.
Jessica is currently a Grade 12 learner at Dr Johan Jurgens Hoërskool and enjoys playing netball, cricket, athletics and shot-put.
Her favourite subjects in school include English, tourism and business studies.
She says that her academics come first,
“If I don’t do well in academics then I’m not allowed to do sport. My uncle is very strict.”
According to Jessica, her uncle Theuns, is her hero.
“He started helping me when I was in Grade Two, and when I started living with him, he introduced me to sport. He’s my biggest fan,” she smiles.
Jessica plans to study sport psychology or teaching in the future.
She wants to become a coach for netball and all of the other sports that she loves to do.
In five year’s time, Jessica dreams of seeing herself as one of the most advanced netball players in South Africa.
She is currently working on getting her colours for netball.
Jessica advises young people interested in pursuing a sporting career that there is a place for everyone.
“If you dream it, you can do it. There is no end to your dream.”
