Reuben Cook
Reuben Cook
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction can bring the greatest rewards.
Reuben Cook (18) has been "madly in love" with football since he was 4 years old. So much so, the Otago Boys’ High School deputy head boy took up rowing in the summer of 2017 as a way of getting fit for the upcoming football season.
But after a couple of seasons of doing both, he discovered his love of rowing was overtaking his love of football.
"In 2019, I was asked to trial for the New Zealand under-19 secondary school football team, but I didn't because of rowing commitments.
"I was in love with the sport and wanted to see where I could take it.
"I have spent the last two summers training every day in Twizel to give myself the best chance to succeed, and it has all been worth it."
In his first year of rowing, he had the worst 2km ergometer score and was the smallest boy in the school’s rowing squad.
Now he holds the New Zealand 1000m lightweight 15-16 ergometer record, with a time of 3min 8sec.
He has won gold medals in the Maadi Cup under-18 quad, the New Zealand Rowing Championships men’s club double and a silver in the men’s club single this year, as well as golds in the South Island secondary schools under-17 quad and single last year.
He is also a member of the quad team in the 2021 NZ under-19 rowing squad.
"Rowing has given me so many opportunities in all areas of my life.
"With rowing, I have learnt that if you want something so bad, you have to give it your all — the more you put in, the more you get out."
Reuben is also a high academic achiever and would like to study at the University of Otago or overseas next year, with a career in sports science in his sights.
"I also hope to take rowing further and hopefully attend an Olympic Games, representing New Zealand in the coming cycles."
Achievements: Deputy head boy (2021); NCEA level 1 and 2 with excellence; academic Blues (2019, 2020); gold Maadi Cup U18 quad, bronze U18 double (2021); gold NZ Rowing Championships men’s club double, silver men’s club single (2021); gold South Island Secondary Schools U17 quad, gold U17 single (2020); NZ 1000m lightweight 15-16 ergometer record (3:08.0); NZ junior men's quad team (2021); Otago school boy rower of the year (2020, 2021); Stroke of Otago men’s interprovincial 8+ (2019, 2020); school rowing club captain (2019-21); 1st XI football (2019-21); Southern national age group team (2018); 3rd Otago U17 boys cross-country (2019); 1st school athletics 1500m (2021).
Role models: "All the boys who have been before me at Otago Boys’ rowing."
Hopes for the future: To study at the University of Otago or overseas, and trial for the Paris 2024 Olympic rowing team.
Boudewijn Keenan
Boudewijn Keenan
Boudewijn Keenan calls himself a "jack of all trades and a master of none".
But, by his own admission, his achievements on the cello have surpassed his expectations.
The 18-year-old Otago Boys’ High School prefect started cello for fun, but found he loved it so much that practice came easily, leading to many opportunities over the past five years.
Boudewijn is studying second-year performance cello at the University of Otago this year after gaining an A+ in his first-year performance paper last year, and he recently placed third in the inaugural Dunedin Concerto Competition.
He has also been a member of the National Youth Orchestra for the past two years, was principal cellist of the ensemble in 2020, and is already a paid cellist in the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.
Next year, he is considering studying music and performance at the University of Otago alongside other subjects, but he is still not sure what life after school will bring.
"I want to keep my options open and study something alongside music."
Boudewijn is a high academic achiever, having already gained NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 with excellence, and is studying a first-year mathematics paper at the University of Canterbury this year.
He is considering studying French, physics or business as well as music in 2022, and may look towards a career in the sciences, humanities or commerce.
But, for now, he is focused on making the most of his last few months at Otago Boys’ High School.
Achievements: Prefect (2021); NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 with excellence; academic blues (2019, 2020); National Youth Orchestra (2020, 2021), principal cellist (2020); NZCT Chamber Music Contest national semifinalist (2021); 3rd Dunedin Concerto Competition (2021); NZ Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra (2018, 2019); Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (2020); Dunedin Youth Orchestra Young Musicians’ Award (2020); A+ University of Otago Music 141 cello performance paper (2020); studying University of Otago 241 cello performance paper (2021); studying University of Canterbury math 199 (2021); 1st Otago-Southland Regional Schools Debating Championship (2021); Aotearoa Online Schools Debating premier grade quarterfinalist (2020); Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Awards.
Role model: Professional cellist Johannes Moser.
Hopes for the future: To continue studying music and performance cello at the University of Otago, possibly alongside French, physics or business.
