SOUTH AFRICANS IN FIELD HOCKEY IN THE USA

South Africans are heavily involved in field hockey in the USA. The Ohio University's team, the Bobcats, has three Free State girls in the team - identical twins Rachelle and Estienne Coetzee from Bloemfontein (daughters of Etienne and Annerine Coetzee), and Louzeth Schutte from Senekal (daughter of Faan and Ezeth Schutte). It is quite common to hear the team shout out Afrikaans instructions, even the American girls have picked up the language. Central Michigan University has four South Africans in their team - Kim Erasmus from Port Elizabeth (daughter of Noel and Loretta Erasmus), sisters Louise and Lizl Gericke who lived in Windhoek and South Africa, Samantha Sandham from Cape Town (daughter of Rob and Ronel Sandham), and their coach Earl Marais, from Paterson. Louise and Lizl are the daughters of Ben and Christine Gericke. Ben played rugby for Stellenbosch University, and Christine played field hockey for the SA Universities Team and SA National B Team. Earl Marais began his coaching career in 1990 in South Africa, where he was a teacher from 1990-2001 before becoming a teacher at East Union Middle School in Marshville, North Carolina. He played field hockey for four years at Paterson High, from where he graduated in 1984. He played club field hockey from 1985-2000, winning two national championships and eight conference titles as a player with Alpha Men’s Hockey Club. Earl is married to Debbie and they have two children, Robyn and Dean. The University of North Carolina has two South Africans, Ilse Davids from Wynberg and Danielle Forword from East London. Rodney Fisher is also involved in field hockey in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, as well as being a match official across the country. Rodney also coaches the Hilton Head Preparatory School volleyball team.