Dylan Botha will captain the Madibaz squad at the University Sports South Africa Championship in Bloemfontein on Friday and Saturday.
The first-year Mandela University student made waves when she was named in the senior South African squad doing duty at next month’s African champs in Ghana.
“I’m very excited to compete at the Ussas for the first time,” Horne, born and bred in Gqeberha, said. “I understand it’s such a fun competition.”
She expects the pressure to be very different from what she has previously experienced at the nationals because competitors have to juggle studies with the sport they love and are therefore all in the same boat.
“It’s a beautiful thing to come together as student-athletes because you choose to study and you choose to be an athlete.”
Horne is eager to learn from the more experienced members on the team.
“I’m looking forward to travelling to Bloemfontein with them. I think it’s going to be a great team-building experience.”
The Madibaz have assembled their biggest squad in years with the aim of improving on last year’s effort when they placed seventh.
The team of 14 are captained by Dylan Botha and comprise four women and 10 men. Team manager Cheryl Kotze and head coach Mark Edge are travelling with them.
The larger-than-usual outfit reflect the growth in depth of the institution’s aquatics programme, providing the Madibaz with an excellent opportunity to be in the running for top results on Friday and Saturday.
“Our aim is to better,” Kotze said.
She believes the fact that five of their members competed for Team Eastern Cape at the nationals in GQ last week proves the strides made by the Madibaz club.
The tertiary competition was “exceptionally important” for both their top swimmers, who get another opportunity to battle against the best tertiary swimmers in the country, and those who are being exposed to a national-level gala for the first time.
Horne will be a busy bee over the two days of competition as she aims to contribute to the team effort.
She has been entered in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 400m individual medley and relay events.
Her goal is simply to make the most of the experience.
“I want to enjoy the opportunity to race fiercely against my peers. The competition is strong.
“Many of the girls have raced at the SA champs, so it will be a high standard.”
One thing that is a given in Horne’s watery world is that she wants to stay grounded and keep loving the sport.
“With all the competitions and commitments, you never want to lose that enjoyment.”