Van Zyl and Phillips Win U19 Championship at Growthpoint Nationals

Cape Town – Dene van Zyl and Judah Phillis emerged as the champions in the U19 women’s and men’s categories, wrapping up the exciting Growthpoint SA Nationals Junior squash championships at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday.

Competing on the spectacular all-glass court at Makers Landing, Van Zyl successfully defended her title with an impressive 3-0 victory against her cousin Chante Leppan from Northerns, finishing her junior career on a high note.

Van Zyl maintained an undefeated streak throughout the tournament, earning her title rightfully, although Leppan fought valiantly in the final. After falling behind 10-5 in the third game, Leppan staged a comeback to tie it at 10-10 before Van Zyl took control to clinch the victory with scores of 11-5, 11-7, 12-10.

Top seed Judah Phillips from Northerns showcased impressive skill in winning his first national title, facing Western Province’s Thomas Boutall in the final after both had remained unbeaten in prior matches.

Though the match was competitive, Phillips controlled the game, ultimately securing a clear victory with scores of 11-6, 11-5, 11-5.

In one of the tournament’s highlights, Free State’s Dean Katzin demonstrated extraordinary resilience, emerging victorious over Eden’s Christian Swanepoel in a gripping five-game match to secure the boys’ U17 title.

This marked a rare defeat for Swanepoel, who had previously won the U15 title for the last two years during the Growthpoint Junior Nationals.

Despite holding three match points in the third game, Swanepoel displayed remarkable determination by rallying to win five consecutive points, closing the game at 12-10 and keeping himself in contention.

As the match intensified, Swanepoel’s exceptional play shifted momentum, creating a thrilling atmosphere as they entered the decisive fifth game.

Remarkably, Katzin regained his composure, taking an early 5-1 lead in the final game.

However, Swanepoel remained unfazed, evening the score at 5-5 before Katzin reclaimed a crucial three-point lead, ultimately sealing the victory on his fifth match point after an exhilarating encounter.

Post-match, Katzin expressed his disbelief at his comeback in the final game.

“Winning the title is surreal; I can hardly describe how I pulled through in the fifth,” he remarked.

“I feel immense pride in being the champion and owe gratitude to all those who supported me on this journey.”

In the girls’ U17 final, Northerns’ standout Elzandri Janse van Rensburg defended her title with an impressive performance against her longtime rival Makayla Naidoo from KZN, winning 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.

The left-handed champion was aggressive in her approach, taking advantage of loose returns with a series of powerful drives that proved too challenging for Naidoo to counter.

At times, Janse van Rensburg displayed finesse at the front, and although Naidoo put up a valiant fight to take a lead in the third game, Janse van Rensburg’s strong play ultimately prevailed, allowing her to secure the title.

“I sometimes find the conditions of the all-glass court challenging, but I felt in good form today,” Janse van Rensburg shared.

“Makayla and I have battled against each other for years, and our matches are always tightly contested, so the outcome is often uncertain. Nonetheless, I’m thrilled to have won today.”

Results:

Girls U17

Pool A: Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns) bt Makayla Naidoo (KZN) 3-0 (11-9 11-7 11-7), Starla Phillips (Northerns) bt Kate van Biljon (Border) 3-0 (11-6 11-4 12-10).

Final standings: 1 Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns), 2 Makayla Naidoo (KZN), 3 Starla Phillips (Northerns), 4 Kate van Biljon (Border).

Pool B: Tara Neville-Smyly (WP) bt Amelia Lubbe (Northerns) 3-0 (11-3 11-3 11-8), Vivienne van der Schyff (Free State) bt Hanrie Duits (Eden) 3-1 (11-4 3-11 12-10 11-7).

Final standings: 1 Vivienne van der Schyff (Free State), 2 Hanrie Duits (Eden), 3 Tara Neville-Smyly (WP), 4 Amelia Lubbe (Northerns)

Boys U17

Pool A: Dean Katzin (Free State) bt Christian Swanepoel (Eden) 3-2 (11-6 11-9 10-12 5-11 11-7), Malherbe van Niekerk (Boland) bt Dylan Keswell (WP) 3-1 (11-8 11-5 5-11 11-5).

Final standings: 1 Dean Katzin (Free State), 2 Christian Swanepoel (Eden), 3 Malherbe van Niekerk (Boland), 4 Dylan Keswell (WP).

Pool B: Logan Kidson (Northerns) bt Aiden McNeill (KZN) 3-2 (9-11 14-16 11-8 11-5 11-5). Milan Raffa (Northerns) bt Luke Goldschmidt (EP) 3-1 (11-4 11-8 9-11 11-1).

Final standings: 1 Milan Raffa (Northerns), 2 Logan Kidson (Northerns), 3 Luke Goldschmidt (EP), 4 Aiden McNeill (KZN).

Women U19

Pool A: Dene van Zyl (Boland) bt Chante Leppan (Northerns) 3-0 (11-5 11-7 12-10), Brianna Robinson (Easterns) bt Cevana Naidoo (KZN) 3-0 (11-6 11-4 11-2).

Final standings: 1 Dene van Zyl (Boland), 2 Brianna Robinson (Easterns), 3 Chante Leppan (Northerns), 4 Cevana Naidoo (KZN)

Pool B: Marlene van Wyk (Boland) bt Katelyn Walland (EP) 3-1 (10-12 11-8 11-4 11-5), Lucy Malherbe (WP) bt Benedette van Tonder (Free State) 3-0 (11-4 11-2 11-7).

Final standings: 1 Lucy Malherbe (WP), 2 Marlene van Wyk (Boland), 3 Benedette van Tonder (Free State), 4 Katelyn Walland (EP).

Men U19

Pool A: Judah Phillips (Northerns) bt Thomas Boutall (WP) 3-0 (11-6 11-5 11-5), Louis le Riche (Boland) bt Benji Newman (EP) 3-1 (11-6 7-11 11-8 11-5).

Final standings: 1 Judah Phillips (Northerns), 2 Thomas Boutall (WP), 3 Louis le Riche (Boland), 4 Benji Newman (EP).

Pool B: Anrieg Small (Boland) bt Heinu van Jaarsveld (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (11-6 11-8 4-11 11-8), Ruvay Ramdhin (KZN) bt Nicholas Basson (WP) 3-1 (4-11 12-10 11-7 12-10).

Final standings: 1 Ruvay Ramdhin (KZN), 2 Nicholas Basson (WP), 3 Anrieg Small (Boland), 4 Heinu van Jaarsveld (Joburg Squash)