TWO Kalamunda boys brought home bronze medals after competing at the national U15 Boys cricket championships in Adelaide.

In Kalamunda boys fly east wearing black and gold (Echo News, April 4), Chayse Moir from Lesmurdie and Wynand Basson from Kalamunda said they felt a mixture of nerves and excitement leading up to the competition.

Now back at home, Chayse and Wynand said they’ve both learned a lot through the experience and are keen to get back onto the field with their new skills.

Wynand said he usually played wicket keeper but at the championships, his coaches played him on the field.

“I had some fantastic saves, took a few excellent catches and even tried my hand at the silly fielding position, which I thoroughly enjoyed,” Wynand said.

“As a wicket keeper, you’re locked in every single second of every ball, while being in the field allowed for a slightly more laid-back but still intense focus.

“Right now, I’m trying to be the biggest sponge I can be, soaking up every bit of advice to improve my game.”

Chayse said the Adelaide championships motivated him to step away from footy and golf to focus primarily on cricket.

“I’m determined to come back stronger, more prepared and ready to take my game to the next level for the upcoming cricket season.

“This experience has helped me grow both as a player and as a person, and it’s given me the motivation to chase bigger goals in the sport.”

Both Chayse and Wynand said teamwork was a highlight of the competition.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that we, as a team, brought the bronze medal back to WA,” Wynand said.

“Throughout the competition, we performed as a unit.

“Every game brought highs and a few lows, but the team stuck together, and we executed our game plan to the best of our abilities.

“The trip taught me that I can do what’s asked of me and that true teamwork gets you further than any individual performance ever could.”

Wynand said he created new friendships throughout the trip, not just within his team but across all the teams at the tournament.

“These connections are truly special and a massive part of why I love this game.”

Chayse said the win against Victoria was a standout moment, testament to the team’s overall performance.

“We only made 114 and bowled Victoria out for 50,” Chayse said.

“We also came extremely close to beating both New South Wales and Queensland – two of the strongest teams in the competition who played off for gold.

“Those matches were intense and competitive, and although we just fell short, they showed how close we were to winning the tournament.”

Chayse said winning the bronze medal was very special to him because it was his second bronze from a national competition.

“Personally, it was really special to win my second national bronze medal, having previously medalled at the U12 national championships in Darwin back in 2023.

“Representing the state at two different national levels and coming away with medals each time has been an amazing experience, and it motivates me to keep pushing for higher honours in the future.”