Pierre du Plessis '25 Recruiting Profile
Video
Pierre du Plessis...
Pierre du Plessis...
Pierre du Plessis...Personal Statement
Recruited: I am delighted to report that I will be part of Princeton's Great Class of 2029 and playing Water Polo for the Tigers.
In South Africa, water polo is primarily a school sport. I have captained every one of my school teams and at least one of my national, provincial, and club teams every year that I have played, since grade 4, earning various MVP’s, Best Goalie awards and gold medals. Since the age of 16, I have often been called up to step in as goalie for our local Cape Town men’s club, which is coached by and includes former Olympians. I have competed in three different countries and represented South Africa twice at different World Championships.
Nonetheless, I find it difficult to show off my achievements as I have always been a humble and respectful player, with the mentality, for example, that you can only ever criticise the referee if you win the game. My coaches say that I have a strong character, leading not only from the front and setting the example for others to follow, but also from the back (as a good goalie does), doing the work outside of the pool that no one wants to do. I often find myself consoling the opposition before celebrating with my team, emphasising my integrity.
I have been told by many a coach that I am the epitome of "coachable" because on top of my humility and dedication, I constantly ask questions about how I can improve and why certain things are done. Being a captain for many years has given me deep insight into field players, and at practices I often help field players with body positioning, technique and motivation.
I have never had a goalie coach and almost everything I’ve learnt has been on my own. One of the reasons I am most excited to play water polo at college level in the USA is that I believe with the level of mentoring and training available, my potential could grow exponentially.
I also excel outside of the pool, with a hunger for excellence in the classroom and a keen passion for my music. I was also a high-achieving rugby player and track and field athlete. I have a broad view on what it takes to be a student-athlete and I am willing and keen to give it all I have in order to be the best and contribute to the team for which I am recruited.
My fields of interest for academics include Economics, Cognitive Science and Psychology
Athletics
High School Information
- Years w/ Varsity
- 3 years
- Varsity Starter
- 3 years
- 2024 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #1
Individual Awards
- CAPTAIN
- 2023 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #13
- 2022 Varsity Team
- Starter
- 2021 Club/Travel Team
- Starter- Jersey: #13
Team Awards
- National 2nd Place
- 2019 Freshman Team
- Starter- Jersey: #1
Team Awards
- National Champs
Club Information
- Seasons of Club Experience
- 3 seasons
- 2024 Meerkats (Mens Club)
- Stand in goal keeper for Cape Town Men's Club team
- 2023 Greenwich Aquatics (CT) (B)
- Invited to join Greenwich Aquatics White team to play at JOs 2023
- 2022 Meerkats
- Called up to Men's Club team as goalkeeper during the First Cape Town Invitational Tournament 2022, at the age of 16. Most other teams were university and men's club teams
Coach References
- High School Head Coach
- Jared Wingate-Pearse
Events
- Camp/Event
- KES Invitational National Tournament
- 2/29/24 to 3/04/24
- This is THE most prestigious tournament of the year for U18 boys teams from across South Africa. I captained our Rondebosch Boys High School (RBHS) Team to a Win (the first time in our school's history) and was named Goalie of the Tournament and selected for the Tournament Team.
- Camp/Event
- Harvard Training Camp
- 8/04/23 to 8/06/23
- What an amazing experience. I stayed longer in the USA (and missed a week of school but managed to keep up with classes online) in order to attend this camp.
- Camp/Event
- Brown University Camp
- 7/31/23 to 8/03/23
- Another incredible experience to be able to meet water polo players from across the USA and to spend time in the pool at Brown.
- Camp/Event
- Princeton Training Camp
- 6/17/23 to 6/20/23
- Camp/Event
- Inter Provincial Tournament (IPT) 2022
- 12/09/22 to 12/14/22
- IPT is South Africa's national tournament. I will be playing as the only goal keeper for U16A. We aim to win.
- Camp/Event
- Maggie Steffens training camp
- 9/02/22 to 9/04/22
- Maggie and Charlie Steffens held a 3-day training camp in Cape Town. It was a great experience to meet them and be coached by someone of her stature. I learned a lot. And I also had a chance to ask about studying and playing in the USA.
- Camp/Event
- FINA WORLD CADET UNDER 16 MEN WATERPOLO CHAMPIONSHIP
- 8/21/22 to 8/27/22
- Our team was an underdog but we played well and won 3 matches against Ukraine, Portugal and Azerbaijan. I was captain of the team on the day we beat Azerbaijan. As a team, we only had time to train together at 3 training camps in different parts of South Africa before we left for Greece. It was an amazing experience. And it was a South African record performance.
- Camp/Event
- 21ST MACCABI GAMES 2022
- 7/14/22 to 7/26/22
- South Africa U18 Water Polo goalkeeper. This was an event I will remember forever, for the polo as much as for the experience. We also only were able to train as a full team for 2 weekends before we arrived in Israel. We beat Brazil. Winning one game set a South African record.
- Camp/Event
- Inter Provincial Tournament (IPT) 2021
- 12/15/21 to 12/19/21
- IPT is South Africa's national tournament. I played goalkeeper for the U15A team. We won Silver.
- Camp/Event
- Inter Provincial Tournament (IPT) 2018
- I was selected to play for the U13A side as a goal keeper even though I was U12. This is South Africa's annual national tournament where teams from each of our provinces are selected to compete.
- Camp/Event
- Inter Provincial Tournament (IPT) 2020
- I was selected for the U14A side but it was cancelled due to Covid.
- Camp/Event
- Inter Provincial Tournament (IPT) 2019
- IPT is South Africa's national tournament. I played goalkeeper for the U13A team. We won Gold.
Training
- Maggie Steffens Training Camp 2-4 September 2022
- 1 year
Additional Sports
- Rugby
- 8 years
- Junior Varsity Team
- Played A team rugby since primary school. Also, regional and provincial 200m, shot-put, and 400m relay race competitor. Winner of the Victor Ludorum award in 2019 (Grade 7).
Statistics
Academics
Grades
Test Scores
High School Information
Academic Accomplishments
Are you in honor classes?
Yes. Maths, Economics (Grade 10-12), Second Language (Grade 9)Are you in AP/IB classes?
Yes. Maths Stats, Maths Calculus, Cambridge A-level Economics (external)Registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
YesAwards and Activities
- AwardsSchool Colours awarded for Music (2022) Water Polo (2023) Academics (2024), Distinction Piano Grade 7 Trinity London exam (2023), Distinction in Piano Eistedfodd competition 95% (2022), All Rounder Scholarship to Rondebosch Boys High School (2020-2025), Olympiads for English, Economics and Physics (2022) Olympiad for Math (2022 2021 2020 2019) School Colours for Academics & Music & Sport in Grade 7, Consistently in Top 20 academic results throughout Primary School
- ActivitiesStudent Government Executive Board 2024 - Prefect, Student Government Executive Board 2024 - Environment Portfolio, Bass and piano player for Jazz band & Gig band & Sr Concert band (2022 & 2023 & 2024), Participant in the National Jazz Youth Festival by invitation only (2022), Horizon Math National competition top 100 (2018 & 2019), Elected to Student Council Committee - Outreach (2021 & 2022 & 2023), Community Service: Cape Town Marathon volunteer coordinator & Love in a Bowl Farm volunteer & Ladles of Love food bank volunteer & Clifton Beach Life Saving volunteer & Tutoring math grade 6