Exiles and the Diaspora of South African and Rhodesian talent
Since American university athletic scholarships were legalised in 1952, the University of Oklahoma was one of the first institutions to attract foreign athletes. The first South African swimmers to win athletic scholarships to American universities began a trend that continues today.
The first NCAA Champion was Julian Dyason (Oklahoma) who won the 100 yards breastroke at the NCAA Championships in 1957. Billy Steuart Michigan) won the 440 and 1650 yards freestyle in 1958 and 1959.
Whilst many of the first group, listed below, did return, sadly many others never returned - and some have never been heard from since. Look for their names under the International Stars.
Today few South Africans would recognise the names of those who left, although most have their names engraved on the trophies awarded annually at the SA national championships, and some even on the NCAA and AAU championship trophies.
Top: Steve Mulholland (SMU), Alisdair Tiny Barnetson (SMU), Tudor Lacey (SMU), Lin Meiring (Oklahoma), Aubrey Burer (SMU) Bottom: Julian Dyason (Oklahoma), Peter Duncan (Oklahoma), Billy Stuert (Michigan State), Vernon Slovin (SMU), Graham Johnston (Oklahoma).
The first scholarship swimmers from South Africa went to the University of Oklahoma in 1953, where they made quite in impression. Click on the button to read more about them.
Numerous South African and Rhodesian/Zimbabwean swimmers, divers and water polo players that have gained scholarships to American universities, and in 2018 many still follow that path. No record is kept of this traffic, but here is an incomplete list.
Alabama
Jonty Skinner - 1975 - East London - coach Doug Skinner
Mark Jollands - 1999 - Kearsney College, Durban
Gregg Scott - 1976 - Boksburg
Jane Weir - 1978 - Cape town
Christopher Reid - 2014 - Grey High
Zane Waddell - 2016 - Grey College
Justine McFarlane - 2016 - Trinity House, Jhb
Vanessa Heyde - 2015 - Deutsche Schule, Jhb
Mark Randall - 2008 - Selborne, EL
John Ellis - 2011 - Durban
Brett Walsh - 2012 - Kloof, Durban
Glen Walshaw - 1997 - Zimbabwe
Brendan Ashby - 2001 - Gweru, Zimbabwe
Justine Macfarlane - 2016 - Trinity College, Randburg - coach Peter Williams at Waterborn SC
American River College
Scott Stirling - 2011 - Zimbabwe
Arizona
Ryk Neethling - 1997 - Grey College, Bloemfontein - coach Simon Gray
Roland Schoeman - 1998 - Willow Ridge School
Greg Owen - 2000 - Jeppe BHS, Johannesburg - coach Craig Jackson
Byron Jeffers - 2001 - Durban - coach Alaistair Hatfield
Lyndon Ferns - 2002 - Pietersburg - coach Dougie Eager
Darian Townsend - 2002 - Maritzburg College - coach Wayne Ridden (also Florida State University)
Gerhard Zandberg - 2004 - Pretoria
Craig Jordans - 2008 - Cape Town
Jean Basson - 2008 - St. Stithians Boys College, Johannesburg - coach Peter Williams
Leone Vorster - 2008 - Pietersburg
Jessica Ashley-Coooper - 2010 - Rustenburg HS, Cape Town
Michael Meyer - 2012 - Crawford College, Jhb
Brad Tandy - 2013 - Ladysmith HS
Arizona State
Nolan Shifren - 1995 - Transvaal
Marlies Ross - 2015 Pretoria
Tracey Cox - 1984 - diver - Zimbabwe
Arkansas
Nicole Gillis - 2014 - Brescia House, Braynston, diver
Auburn
Gideon Louw - 2008 - Menlopark, Pretoria
Josh Dannhauser - 2017 - Westville HS, Coach Graham Hill
Kirsty Coventry - 2003 - Harare, Zimbabwe
Boston
Stewart Cromarty - 1984 - Johannesburg
Morgan Nichols - 2015 - Clarendon, East London
Chicago
Mark van Deventer - 1983 - Zimbabwe
Darryl Smith - 1989 - Zimbabwe
Vaughan Smith - 1989 - Zimbabwe
Troy Smith - 1989 - Zimbabwe
Natalie Thain - 1989 - Zimbabwe
Cleveland State
Ryno Markgraaff - 1996 - Grey College, Bloemfontein.Henk Markgraaff - 1997 - Grey College, Bloemfontein
Marco Markgraaff - 2000 - Grey College, Bloemfontein
Lyle Wilkens - 2000 - Grey College - coach Simon Gray
Mark de Swardt - 2008 - Westville - Coach Graham Hill
Justin Kermack - 2010 - Clifton College, Durban
Jason van der Touw - 2016 - Fairmont, Cape Town - Tygerberg Aquatics (also Indian river)
Dartmouth
James Verhagen - 2012 - Randburg
Delta State
Rebekah Napier-Jameson - 2010 - Dainfern College, Randburg
Dani Meerholz - 2010 - Holy Rosary Convent, Johannesburg - on Youtube
Yvan Nys - 2011 - Maragon Private School, Johannesburg, coach Dean Price
Dylon Johnson - 2012 - Johannesburg
Denver
Mark Jankelow - 1985 - Johannesburg - coach Roy Jacobson, Wanderers SC
Noel Droomer - 1986 - Stellenbosch
Neil Anderson - 1985
John Poole -
Trent Panzera - 2017 - St Stitians, Johannesburg
Craig Jollads - 2003 - Hillcrest, Natal
Duke
Jaimee Gundry - 2012 - Johannesburg, Southampton UK - diver
Adriaan Venter - 2013 - Helpmekaar, Johannesburg
Florida
Sebastian Rousseau - 2009 - Vineyards SC coach Karoly von Torros
Hendrik Odendaal - 1998 - Paul Roos, Stellenbosch
Darien Townsend - 2004 - Maritzburg College
Renata du Plessis - 2001 - Cape Town (transferred from Hawaii)
Ingrid Haiden - 2004 - Cape Town - UCT
Florida International University
Chrisna Luus - 2005 - Garsfontein Hoërskool, Pretoria
Trudi Maree - 2008 - Hoërskool Sentraal, Bloemfontein
Kyna Pereira - 2014 - Kingsway HS, Umkomaas
Florida State
Brendan Dedekind - 1995 - Pietermaritzburg
Tanya Gurr - 1996 - (also Indian River)
Romina Armellini
Steven Forson - 1998 - Pietermaritzburg
Keryn Krynauw - 1999 - Pietermaritzburg
Christy Cech - 1999 - Pietermaritzburg (also Ohio State)
Liska Dedekind - 1998 - Wykham College, Pietermaritzburg
Greg Main-Baillie - 2000 - Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (Maritzburg College)
Lauren Sparg - 2004 - Durban
Jarryd Botha - 2004 - Paul Roos Gymnasium, Worcester
Wickus Nienaber - 2000 - Simunye, Swaziland (Sisekelo)
Mike Paulus - 2000 - Somerst Wes - Paul Roos Gymnasium
Candice Nethercott - 2000 - Johannesburg
Romy Altmann - 2003 - Deutche Schule, Cape Town
Elizabeth Parkinson - 2001 - Kingsmead College, Johannesburg
Jared Pike - 2011 - St Benedicts, Jhb
Rudo Loock - 2016 - Pretoria
Brett Peterson - 1996 - Selborne, East London
Tayla Elizabeth Jesse Lovemore - 2016 - Danville HS, Durban - coach Wayne Ridden
Kirsty Lee Carrihill - 1996 - diver - Dominican Convent, Harare, Zimbabwe
Fresno State
Tarryn Rennie - 2013 - Harare, Zimbabwe
Georgia
Wendy Trott - 2008 - Cape Town
Troy Prinsloo - 2010 - Durban, Seals SC
Neil Versfeld - 2004 - Durban - Seals SC
Sarah Poewe - 2004 - Cape Town coach Karoly von Torros
Grand Valley State
Ude Fuchs - 2018 - coach Dougie Eager Pietersburg/Polokwane
Hawaii
Renata Du Plessis
Simon Thirsk - 1999 - Camps Bay SC - coach Sam Freas
Nicholas Folker - 1998 - Pietermaritzburg
Grant Ferguson - 1994 - Sasolburg
Houston
Helena Pirow - Johannesburg
Kevin Richards - Uitenhage
Kobus Scheepers - 1979, Grey HS, Port Elizabeth - coach Tom Connel
David Lowe - 1976 - Rhodesia (also SMU)
Lauren Brukman - Durban - coach Frank Gray
Simon Gray - 1975 - Durban - coach Frank Gray
David Gray - 1975 - Durban - coach Frank Gray
Andrew Gray- 1978 - Durban - coach Frank Gray
Nickie Gray - 1980 - Durban - coach Frank Gray
Karen van Helden - 1980, Westerford, Cape Town - coach Clara Aurik
David Parrington - 1975 - Rhodesia - (US Olympic dive coach)
Debbie Hill - 1975 - Rhodesia - diver
Antionette Wilken - 1975 - Rhodesia - diver
Glenn Evans - 1977 - Johannesburg - diver
Jane Figueiredo - Rhodesia - diver
Simon Draver - Rhodesia - diver
Kim Eeson - 2008 - Tuks Sport School, Harare, Zimbabwe
Moira Fraser - 2008 - Tuks Sports School, Harare, Zimbabwe
Micaela Bouter - 2014 - St Stitians, Johannesburg - diver
Henderson State, Arkansas
Nicole Horn - 2007 -
Grant Beahan - 2008 - Harae, Zimbabwe
Indiana
Rosie Wicht - 1984 - DurbanIndian River State College
Lance Robertson - 1985 - Durban
Ryen van Wyk - 2017 - Pretoria
Sule van der Merwe - 2017 - Pietersburg
Ianthe van der Westhuizen - 2017 - Randfontein
Gideon Louw - 2006 - Hoërskool Menlopark (also Auburn)
Tayla Elizabeth Jesse Lovemore - Danville, Durban - coach Wayne Ridden (also Florida State)
Kentucky
Warren Grobbelaar - 2006 - Pretoria - TUKS Swimming
Reinhardt Strijdom - 2009 - Pretoria
Morne Boshoff - 2008 - Cape Town - coach Karoly von Torros at Vineyard SC
Claire Archibald - 2008 - St Andrews, Johannesburg
Kent State
Bryan Tatterson - 1984 - Durban. See his US Masters results hereSean Mulvey - Port Elizabeth
Kentucky
Sean Gunn - 2013 - Harare, Zimbabwe
Peter Wetzlar - 2017 - Westville Boys HS, Harare, Zimbabwe
Louisiana
Hugh Ross (also Hawaii)
Darryl Cronje - 1986 - Maritzburg College - coach Wayne Ridden
Simon Finlayson - 1987 - St John's, Johannesburg
Lindsey Mooney - 1998 - Kloof, Natal
Donna Leslie - 2002 - St Mary's, Durban
Frank Greeff - 2011 - Brandwag HS, Uitenhage - coach Nenad Miles
Taryn McKenzie - 2014 - Holy Crioss, Jhb - Waterborn
Damien Pheiffer - 2014 - Crawford College, Sandton
Mandy Leach - 1997 - Girl's College, Harare, Zimbabwe
Heather Brand - 2002 - Gateway HS, Harare, Zimbabwe
Ryan Ashby - 2001 - Falcon College, Esicodini, Zimbabwe.
la Salle
Christof Ras - 2017 - Pietersburg High School
Johan Roth - 2012 - Strand Hoër skool
Justin Hughes - 2012 - Westville Boys HS
Kelsey Jenkinson - 2013 - Rhenish Girls
Marshall
Justine Jagga - 2016 - Springfield HS, Cape Town
Mars Hill, N.C.
Brendon Cyprianos - 2018 - Christain BC, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Lorna Doorman - 2016 - Peterhouse Trelawney, Zimbabwe
Miami
Etienne van der Merwe
Roxanne Meyer
Jenna Dreyer - diver
Christy Cech
Nick Folker
Robert van der Merwe
Tyrone Tozer
Christine Zwiegers - 2005 - Somerset West
Christine Meyer - 2008 - Crawford College, Jhb - coach Dean Price
Michigan
Monica Scheff - 1976 - Colegiate, Port Elizabeth
Kyle Duckitt - 2010 - St John's, Jhb
Dylan Bosch - 2012 - Crawford College, Jhb
Michigan State
William Steuart - 1958 - KES, Johannesburg
Ian Clutten - 2002 - Westerford, Cape Town
Rudolf Wagenaar - 2002 - Cape Town
Missouri
Daan Jansen - 2009 - PietersburgNebraska
Mark Nieuwenhuis (also Alabama) - 1989 - Cape Town
Karl Rogers - King Edward, Johannesburg
Penny Heyns - 1993
Peter Williams - 1987 - Grey HS, Port Elizabeth - coach Tom Connell - head coach Waterborn SC Johannesburg.
Peter Girardeau
Lezelle Markgraaf - 1991
Lee Pennyfather - 1986 - Pinetown
Mandy Hunter-Beckinsall - 1994 - Edenvale (coach Edenvale)
Gary Albertyn - 1992 - Pretoria
Sean Frampton - 1987 - Cape Town
Heather Park (also Houston) - 1994 - Jhb
Rhett Talbert (also Hawaii) - 1989 - Umbilo
Seddon Keyter -1989 - Cape Town
Grant Ferguson - 1992 - Sasolburg (also Hawaii)
Alan Kelsey - 1992 - Edenvale
Francois Boshoff - 1993 - Richard's Bay
Helene Muller - 1997 - Potch Gym.
Jaco Kruger - 1987 - Menlo Park, Pretoria
Laren Tiltman - 1993 - Cape Town
Michael Windisch - 1994 - Pretoria
Julia Russell - 1994 - Northlands HS, Durban
Nevada
Jonathan Hugo - 2000 - Reddam, Cape town, coach Karoly von Törös
North Carolina State
Tricia Butcher - 1983 - Kloof - Westville GHS - coach in Colorado - coach Frank Gray
Susan Butcher - Kloof - Westville GHS - coach Frank Gray
Stephen Coetzer - 2011- dual US/SA citizen - Laney HS, Wilmington, NC
North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Michael Meyer - 2013 - Johannesburg, Mandeville Dolphins club team…coached by Dean Price.
Craig Emslie - 2014 - Rondebosch BHS, Cape Town (also Indian River State)
North Central College, Illinois
Ian Wilson (1962 NAIA All American -Durban butterflier)
Justin Slade?
Oachita Baptist
Tim Ferris - 2010 - Triangle, Zimbabwe
Emile Maritz - 2011 - Sierra Vista HS, Pretoria
Hein Hillmer - 2009 - Victoria Park HS, Port Elizabeth
Ohio
Kim van Selm - 2000 - Durban
Ilse Petersen - 2005 - Deutsche Schule, Johannesburg
Bianca Hauzer - 2012 - Germiston
Courtney Perrett - 2018 - Durban (transfer from Indian River)
Ohio State
Marc Dreyer (diver) - 2002 - Grey High, Port Elizabeth
Chris Cowley - 2012 - Players Academy, Pretoria
Michelle Williams - 2011 - Pretoria, via Toronto, Canada
Pace
Pasadena
Basil Hotz - 1966 - Johannesburg - US coach Don Gambril
Penn State
Eugene Botes - 2001 - van der Bijl Park
Pepperdine
Erik Luchs 1978 - water polo - Zimbabwe
Pittsburgh
Eben Vorster - 2017 - Hoërskool Sentraal, Bloemfontein coach Lynette Wessels
Princeton
Chris Aubin - 2018 - Bishops, Cape town
South Carolina
Bronwyn Dedekind - 2000 - Wykham College, Pietermaritzburg
Julia Vincent - 2014 - Kingsmead College, Johannesburg - Rippers Divng Club diver
Southern Illinois
Gerhard van der Walt - 1983 - Menlo Park HS, Pretoria (also ASU)
Erwin Kratz - 1983 - Johannesburg coch George Jacokson - now a lawyer in Texas
Gary Brinkman - 19xx - Amanzimtoti - now a coach in Australia
Keith Armstrong - Durban
Owen Kuyper - now headmaster at Crawford College, Pretoria
Jackie Taljaard - Durban - 1st coach Dean Price in Johannesburg
Kirsty Albertyn
Leane Pienaar
Herman Louw
Corne Prozesky
Philip van Niekerk
SMU - Southern Methodist
Steve Mulholland - 1958
Stephan Mulholland - 1958
Alisdair 'Tiny' Barnetson - 1962
Tudor Lacey - 1964
Aubrey Burer - 1960
Vernon Slovin - 1966 - Cape Town and Kimberley - coach Frank Gray
John Thorburn - 1971 - coach in Texas
Guy Goosen - 1975 - Rhodesia
Cliff Lyne - 1992 - Durban
Craig Jackson - 1992 - Johannesburg - coaching in Australia
Toni Palmer - 1983 - Johannesburg - coach Dean Price
Alice Escreet - 1988 - Bloemfontein - coach Santa van Jaarsveld
Jeanine Steenkamp - 1988 - Bloemfontein - coach Santa van Jaarsveld
Marianne Kriel - 1991- Cape Town - coach Clara Aurik
Marizanne Grundlingh - 2002 - Vineyard SC, Cape Town
Christy Lategan - 2008 - Klerksdorp
Marne Erasmus - 2014 - Grens Hoërskool, East London
Matthew Napier-Jamieson - 2010 Johannesburg
Brandon Norman - 2013 - Crawford College - coach Peter Williams Waterborn SC
Tara-Lynn Nicholas - 2013 - The Wykeham Collegiate, Pietermaritzburg
Kirst McLaughlan - 2013 - St. Catherines Covent, Johannesburg
Gabi Grobler - 2017 - Trinity House College, Johannesburg - coach Peter Williams, Waterborn SC
Texas, Arlington
Don Liebermann - 1975 - Salisbury, Rhodesia. Also British Columbia, Canada. First scholarship awarded to a Rhodesian swimmer or diver
Texas
Annette Cowley - 1985 - Cape Town - coach Tom Fraenkel
Suzette Jansen - 1978 - Pretoria
Texas Christian University
Robbie Stewart - 1990 - diver - Zimbabwe
Angela Clark - 1997 - diver - Zimbabwe
Tennessee
Evan Stewart - 1994 - Salisbury, Rhodesia - 1994 Diving World Champ
George du Rand - 2001 - Bloemfontein - coach Simon Gray
Ryan Coetzee - 2014 - Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool - Phalaborwa
Teresa Moodie - 1999 - Harare, Zimbabawe
Jane Woodard - 1997 - diver - Zimbabwe
Jodie McGroarty - 2008 - diver - Zimbabwe
Thomas University
Ethan Bainbridge - 2017 - St Peter's College, Jhb
Toldeo
Sheona Lottering - 199 - Pietermaritzburg
Taryn Smyth - 2003 - Bloemfontein
Louise Smyth - 2008 - Bloemfontein
Kristen Straszacker - 2017 - Cape town
UCLA
Loren Rozowsky - 1983 - Johannesburg - coach Zvi Katabi
Gary Roberts - 1981 - water polo -Zimbabwe
University of California in Pennsylvania
Amanda Kuiper - 2002 -
Clarissa Enslin - 2010 - St Andrews School for Girls - Dalview, Brakpan
Villanova
Natalie Elphick - 2009 - Durban GHS
Roxy Tammage - 2009 - Durban GHS
Yolana du Plessis - 2010 - Tuks Sports High School, Boksburg
Tarryn Els - 2018 - Collegiate, Port Elizabeth
Wyoming
Carl Marais - 2004 - Saint Albans College High School in Pretoria
