Captain Cronje: A Fitting Farewell

If you’ve made the journey to the USTA National Campus over the past three years, there has certainly been one Knight to catch your attention. From his high-intensity play to his personable releases of emotion, Lleyton Cronje has followed, and he has led, and through it all has ushered in a new era for the program.

Taking on the mantle of being the captain of UCF’s inaugural Big 12 squad, 2024 presented a flurry of unknowns. As first-year head coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess and assistant Kareem Allaf embarked on getting acclimated with the group, it couldn't be done alone.

Over the past two years, Cronje formed a strong partnership with former Knight Bogdan Pavel. The tandem led the squad, both in singles and doubles, along with providing an experienced voice to a roster in 2023 that included six freshmen. After their eventual second-round exit in the NCAA Doubles Championships, Cronje transitioned into a heightened role of responsibility and leadership ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Tabbed sixth in the preseason coaches poll, there weren’t many expectations in place, just a want to fight together. From a blistering 7-0 start to the eventual 14-1 non-conference record, the best in program history, each feeding challenge bread a more hopeful outlook on what was to come.

Over Cronje’s three seasons in Orlando following his arrival in 2021 from Virginia Commonwealth University, he has predominately featured on the front three courts. In line with precedence, the fifth year had stints on each court, with highs and lows to go along with.

One of the five 4-3 triumphs came against Oklahoma State and it was Cronje who was at the forefront. With each court concluded ahead of a highly contested third set on two, he had split a pair of tiebreaks with the Cowboys’ Isaac Becroft.

As the clock hit 11 p.m., the captain was serving for the match in yet another tiebreak. Seconds later, both he and assistant coach Kareem Allaf were on the floor as the entire team rushed toward the former. The victory was one of one yet one of many as the Knights continued to show the composure and grit of a team who were a family, one that he helped build.

Eventually finishing fourth in the Big 12 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Cronje and company reinvigorated the program and left a historic imprint on UCF's first season.

Now with an entire life ahead of him, his ups and downs in the sport have been well documented. Cronje will forever be remembered as the first Knights captain in the Big 12, but more importantly, he will be remembered as a leader, competitor, and brother.

Top Three Moments in Black and Gold

• Clinching the Knights’ first home match in the Big 12 against Oklahoma State (Won court two in three tiebreak sets).
• Beating Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history (won on court two in straight sets against the Gators’ 50th-ranked Jeremy Jin).
• Coming back for his final season and every practice alongside his teammates and coaches.