The 2025 Chronicle

cultural rep, community service rep, school council rep – re sponsibilities that prepare them for the demands of matric. Learning to lead is never easy, but the B Blockers rose to the task with maturity and enthusiasm. Cameron Schwegmann played first-team basketball and was named basketball cap tain for 2026; Graydon Leslie was appointed cricket captain for 2026 and represented both first-team hockey and first team cricket; Nate Ross-Kent was selected as CF Leader for 2026; and Ewan Logan represented Michaelhouse in first team golf. The boys’ transition into these roles has strength ened the House and prepared them for the weight of A Block that awaits. Lastly, we come to A Block, the seniors who carry the respon sibility of running the House. It was our privilege – and our challenge – to maintain discipline, uphold traditions and cre ate an atmosphere of warmth, fun and unity. Our task was not only to keep order but to ensure that Founders remained a home where every boy felt valued. This year the A Blockers worked hard to leave the House better than they found it. Ste fan Moolman was selected for Craven Week and played First XV rugby; William Ridl also reached Craven Week, captained first-team rugby, excelled in Toastmasters and was awarded both Rugby MVP of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year; Gordon Deutscher earned selection for KZN hockey U19A and KZN soccer U19A, and celebrated an FA Cup win with the First XI soccer; Nicholas Smithers played first-team water polo, achieved academic honours and finished first in EGD; Si mon Bailes continued to excel in Toastmasters and the Snell Society, and placed second in the grade; Luke Camerer repre sented first-team hockey and placed third in the grade; Luke Macduff served proudly on the war cry committee; Christian MacPherson played first-team basketball; Ben le Suer rep resented the first hocky side; and Agang Magang competed internationally in Commonwealth athletics for Botswana. Our final year has been one of service – to the boys, to the House and to the legacy we inherited. As the 2025 chapter of Founders draws to a close, we look back on a year that reflects everything this House stands for. Founders continues to be a place where boys grow into young men of character, where traditions are cherished and where brotherhood forms the foundation of daily life. In these red-brick walls, boys learn to support one another, challenge themselves, celebrate success and weather difficulty side by side. What makes Founders special is not only its age or its history, but the spirit of unity within it. Here, we are more than a collection of grades – we are a family. And long after we leave, one truth remains: once a Founders boy, always a Founders man. SALVETE: Samuel de Almeida, Rohan Erasmus, Callum Flockhart, James Goble, Benjamin Hingeston, Kofi Hinson, Thomas Hoy, Jock Lewis, Lukholo Matanzima, Weza Mwiwa, Khumo Ntum ba, Mholi Phili, William Rattray, Finnian Ridl, Gennaro Stravino VALETE: Simon Bailes, Luke Camerer, Gordon Deutscher, Thomas Hoy, Ben le Sueur, Luke Macduff, Christian MacPherson, Agang Magang, Stefan Moolman, Akshay Panday, Sedge Pearson, William Ridl, Nicholas Smithers, Dylan van Tonder

The year began with the arrival of the new E Block, a group of young boys stepping nervously into their new home. For many, entering Founders was both exhilarating and intimidat ing – an entirely new environment filled with unfamiliar faces, older boys and a set of traditions stretching back decades. Yet their excitement was evident too, as they eagerly began the journey that countless Founders men before them had taken. Through the support of the Cack/Cop system and the guidance of older Blocks, the E Blockers settled in remarkably quickly. They embraced House life, finding their place in com mon rooms, dormitories and sports fields. Their early achieve ments reflect their energy and spirit: Rohan Erasmus placed in the top ten in KZN debating, Lukholo Matanzima represent ed Inland C-team hockey, William Rattray excelled in Inland tennis, Benjamin Hingeston played both Inland B-team hockey and Inland soccer, Finnian Ridl earned a place in the High Performance U14 Sharks rugby squad, and Khumo Ntumba contributed significantly in the Second Marimba Band. Their arrival added new life to the House, reminding us all of where the journey begins. D Block, meanwhile, faced a famously challenging year. With out mentors or senior Blocks directly above them to lean on, they were required to navigate new levels of independence and take full responsibility for themselves. Despite the pres sure, they rose to the occasion with determination and grit. Their efforts across multiple sports and in academics demon strated maturity far beyond their years. Nick Goeller shone across codes, playing U15A rugby, U15A water polo, first-team tennis, first swimming, and representing the Junior A sevens team; Cole Freeman earned a place in the top ten academ ically; Curtis Matshela represented Midlands U15A soccer; Henco van Loggerenberg excelled in Sharks U15B rugby, provincial athletics, U15A rugby and U15A cricket; Joshua Nombewu played first-team basketball and represented KZN U15A basketball; and Max D’Aubrey contributed strongly in U15A water polo. Though their year might have been tough, it forged strong bonds and a sense of self-reliance that will serve them well as they climb toward seniority. C Block entered what many consider the most exciting pe riod of a boy’s Michaelhouse life: the C Block Journey. This phase marks the turning point between junior and senior, a year defined by growth, identity and increasing responsibili ty. Tradition holds that C Blockers step more confidently into leadership, become role models for younger boys, and experi ence a deeper sense of belonging to their House. This year’s group embodied that spirit fully. Rex Wardlaw represented the school in First XI cricket, 16A rugby and KZN cricket; Sam Hoy achieved excellence through the Dusi Canoe Marathon and competing at the Surf-ski World Championships; Nate Cochran played second-team water polo and excelled in KZN triathlon; Samuel Smithers played second-team water polo; and Griffin Goldby represented second-team squash. On the cultural front, Velentino Zedde performed in the Competition Marimba Band (and placed fifth in an Italian surf competi tion), and Simphiwe Kona also contributed to the Competition Marimba Band. The C Blockers’ journey this year was not just about achievements but about discovering what kind of men they want to become.

For B Block, 2025 was defined by leadership. This is the year when the boys begin taking on official roles – sports rep,

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