CD reps ranked second favourites

RANKED: The Wanganui team Shanan Whitlock (left), Rob Moore, John Roestenburg (coach), Shane Stone, Brett McKenzie, James Van Kerkhoff, Nathan Wall and Nigel Ward (manager), is second seed for the National C Grade Squash Championships in Taumarunui this week. Absent Hamza Ali.

WANGANUI are ranked second seed for the National C Grade Squash Championships starting in Taumarunui tomorrow.

The Wanganui Squash Club team earned the right to represent Central Districts by winning the regional event in Okato in July, and they will compete against nine other teams from all over New Zealand in Taumarunui.

They enter the tournament seeded second, based on current grading list standings with their three top players, 15-year-old James Van Kerhoff, Shanan Whitlock and Brett McKenzie, all now B grade players.

This trio, joined by Nathan Wall, Shane Stone, Hamza Ali and Rob Moore, have been training for several months leading up to the event, under the watchful eye of coach John Roestenburg. The team will be managed by Nigel Ward.

Young Van Kerhof, a multi-talented sportsman, at 15 will likely be the youngest No1 at the tournament, but repaid Roestenburg's faith by going through unbeaten at the regionals. This included playing a major role in the Wanganui team's dramatic come from behind win in July against arch rivals Squashgym Palmerston.

"He plays with tremendous confidence and may well step in local high performer Rod Bannister's shoes if we can encourage him to continue in the sport," Roestenburg said.

"There is plenty of experience in the team, with the extended squad having a record it is very proud of with 20 team wins in 21 team ties over four years - a winning percentage of 95 per cent. Along the way they have won three regional graded and two national titles."

Whitlock is also a standout performer, moving from E2 to B2 grade in three years and has never been beaten in any grade in four years.

"He was in the national winning E grade team, along with Hamza Ali in 2013. Shane Stone, Brett McKenzie and Rob Moore were also members of the national D grade title winning team in 2012."

Roestenburg said each year the squad targets a grade and commits fully to a six-month exhaustive training schedule.

"There's nothing flash about what we do, we use Pak'n Save plastic cups for cones, old rope for skipping, and run the stairs to empty the tanks. We also commit to some skills improvement, and most importantly, back all our team members 100 per cent win or lose," Roestenburg said.

The National C Grade event runs from today until Saturday.