From rugby to hockey: the story of Bautista Camerlinckx

Baptist Nut Camerlinckx, plays in the first A of Hurling Club, but it was not always the case. Until 11 years old I played at Bella Vista Club Club, but also practiced a completely different sport, rugby. At present, his heart is divided into two: on the one hand the club where his whole family plays, and on the other, where he achieved a new sense of belonging.

“In Regatas, my whole family is, from my grandfather that was very important in the foundation of the club, to my uncles and my cousins. My dad has 13 brothers, six men who played rugby in the club, and I was soaked from sport from a very young age,” Bapti said. In addition, there are 57 cousins, and not only shared on a court and in family gatherings, but also went to school together, and leaving it was not easy. Making the decision meant leaving your comfort zone. “I had the mental block of thinking that in rugby had everything from friends to family, and how it was going to get out of that and go to a completely new sport and club,” He added.

But his fascination with hockey could more. He began to be interested when he saw his aunts and cousins ​​playing it, he approached the court so much that the last thing he lacked was to be inside. One day his aunt, Milagros Camerlinckx, told him that in Hurling there was male hockey, and that he will try. “That’s how I spent a year getting on the court in the entertainment of my premium games to start learning to play, because I had no idea like hockey.” The conversations with the mother were much easier than with her dad, a person who was soaking rugby every day, and insisted that she wanted to go tissued.

With 12 years he started from Zero in Hurling Club. “They received me as if it were a lifetime. Luckily, being a sociable person I could become friends from a very young age, and with some Shared court today.” The hospitality of the people was something that never missed the west zone club, and always do everything possible to include anyone who goes. Also in one of the worst moments of his life, it was a great support, and the support he received was what he needed to continue pushing.

Anyway, he never left Regatas aside, and he will never do it. “I go every Saturday to see my brothers and cousins ​​because I love seeing rugby and I share that passion. I grew up in regattas, and it is my family’s second house. Mine was at the time, but I am also a fan and hurling fan. I adopted the values ​​of the Irish club very fast, and I will give everything for the shirt until the age gives me.”

The Nut A party is not lost, as their relatives constantly go to encourage it, especially their parents and brothers. “I don’t know how my dad did, because I noticed at the time that my decision affected him for what it meant, but today he is the first one who is, who asks and is aware of everything”. He also commented that he relies a lot on three cousins ​​in particular, Amparo and Felicitas Pérez del Cerro and Pilar Santa Ana, who play in the first one of Regatas. Among his friends, Francisco Pisani is also a recurring presence on the other side of the court.

Someone who always leads with him is to his aunt and godmother, Majo Camerlinckx. He died in 2023 suddenly and was a break in the family. Bauti suffered a lot of this loss because they were very united, but always carries it very close. “I always carry her in my canillera. I have a photo of her and accompany me in all the games. Today I play for her.”

In 2024 he played his first playoffs with the shirt of the Green. Something that the 11 -year -old Bapti would never have imagined. “Able when I was smaller I went to the club to play because the sport had fun and ready, but from 5th I changed my mentality and became more competitive. Before that I did not imagine playing televised playoffs, with full stands, being inside the court representing the club. It was something very nice.” Hurling played the crossing with city A, and lost 3 to 1. “Beyond the result, which was clearly not what we wanted, for the club it was a motivation of where we could get. We came from staying two years in a row by a point, and that was the break where we realized that we could”, said.

The capable 2025 did not start in the best way for the Irish club, but little by little they are accommodated and adding points. The squad changed coach, and are now under the command of Marco Riccardi, who was champion with Miter in 2023. “We are with a very big players. ended.