Fri, Dec 31, 2021 5:15 PM

Otway twins earn US college scholarships

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Peter Jones

Two of the region’s most promising young athletes are poised to take their talents to the United States.

Eighteen-year-old twins, Jade and Kyla Otway, have both secured full scholarships to American universities.

Jade has earned a five-year tennis scholarship to Texas Christian University, based in Fort Worth, while Kyla has picked up a four-year rowing scholarship at UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles].

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Jade Otway has been a regular member of the Marlborough rep tennis team in recent years. Photo Peter Jones 

A winner of multiple national age group singles and doubles titles, Jade is viewed as one of the nation’s most promising junior players, being named Tennis New Zealand’s junior female player of the year in 2020.

The three-time Marlborough Junior Sportswoman of the Year flew out of Blenheim on Thursday, December 30, to begin her American adventure, excited to be given such an opportunity.

Initial contact came from the TCU head coach who had heard through his Kiwi contacts that Jade was on the lookout for a US college. Negotiations took place via a Zoom chat during the 2021 lockdown, an opportune time, according to Jade.

“It was quite cool to be actually at home in lockdown during that time because my family got to talk to them as well and we were able to discuss what they had to offer. At the time I was talking to a couple of other schools as well,” explained Jade, “but [TCU] seemed the best fit for me.

“I have made a really good connection with my coach, and a couple of girls in the team, so I am hoping it will be a smooth transition.”

Jade will play for the highly-rated TCU women’s team, known as the “Horned Frogs”, initially in inter-collegiate team competition, followed by individual tournaments.

She sees it as the best of both worlds.

“It is awesome … because I get to continue my academics and play tennis as well. You are training 20 hours a week, travelling, playing other schools, getting crazy facilities to train at and you are not having to pay $100,000 a year to be on the tour or paying to get a degree.”

She will study for a business degree while at TCU.

A New Zealand Junior Federation Cup player in 2019, Jade has ensured the door is still open to national selection.

“I made sure during our negotiations that TCU would clear me to play Fed Cup if that opportunity came up, which I obviously hope it does, so they are completely supportive of that and want me to represent my country if offered the chance.”

She is especially glad that later in the year she will have her twin sister relatively close at hand, or at least a three-hour plane ride away.

“There will be some hard days over there – it’s not an easy schedule – so having family nearby will be cool.”

However, Jade will have to wait a few months for Kyla’s US arrival, her multi-talented sibling not due in California until late August.

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Kyla Otway, left, congratulates fellow Wairau rower Meg Flanagan at the recent Otago champs. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography.

A member of the successful Rangi Ruru rowing programme, Kyla was selected as a Year 12 student for New Zealand under-19 in 2020 after underlining her potential with several medals during her novice season.

Formerly, she was a nationally-ranked tennis player, joining forces with Jade to take out the NZ 12s doubles title in 2016.

But it is on the water that Kyla has made her mark most recently, recuperating from a serious knee injury in February 2021 to team up with the Wairau Rowing Club this season.

She will compete for Wairau at the forthcoming Canterbury and South Island champs in January, before heading for the nationals in February. After that she is hopeful of pairing with local Meg Flanagan and perhaps trialling for the NZ under-21 team.

Kyla is following in the path of three former NZ U21 rowers who recently went to UCLA. She met up with the Bruins’ deputy coach, who serendipitously lives in NZ and was home for a [US] summer break.

“I got to meet her face-to-face, which was awesome,” said Kyla. “Then I sent her videos of me rowing and on the erg, plus all my academics, and they offered me a full scholarship, which was a surprise as my erg time hadn’t reached the standard they set down.

“I can’t wait to get over there … it’s going to be the time of my life.”

Having her twin stationed nearby, and able to share eight month’s experience of life at a US college, will provide an added boost.

“We have family in Denver as well,” said Kyla, “but obviously we will have each other, which is the best thing.”

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