Caribbean Junior Squash Championships…It’s a double for Guyana!!!

Jul 20, 2014 Sports

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On finals day of the team event at the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships being held in Hamilton Bermuda Team Guyana were seeking to repeat as the Boys and Girls Team Champions and to thus win the Overall Team Title for the tenth consecutive time. Team Guyana went into the final day knowing that a win in either the Boys or the Girls final would make them Overall Team Champions. And they did.
The Girls Team were first up in their match up against Trinidad & Tobago and the critical match would be the first on court as a win in the Girls Under 17 tie would almost certainly guarantee a victory for Guyana.

Taylor Fernandes was selected to play this crucial match against Marion Gillezeau. Larissa Wiltshire the first choice Under 17 player was slightly injured and it was felt that it would be a risk to play her.
Taylor began the game cautiously as both players seemed nervous. The game was very close throughout but Taylor finally closed out the game 11 – 9. This win in the first game gave Taylor more confidence. She made fewer errors in the second game and was a comfortable winner taking the game 11- 5. There was no turning back now for Taylor as she easily took the third game 11 – 3 and the match three games to love.
Next on court was Victoria Arjoon against Marie Claire Barcant. This would be Victoria’s last match as a junior player after almost ten years playing junior CASA. Victoria won the first game 11 – 5 and then easily won the second game 11 – 2. The third game was a lot closer but Victoria finally won the game 11 – 7 and the match three games to love.
Akeila Wiltshire was next up against Charlotte Knaggs. This would their third match for the tournament as they had met in the individual finals and in the Group team match. Akeila lost a close first game 8 – 11. The second game was just as close but Akeila against lost it 8 – 11. The third game was even closer but again Akeila could not finish the crucial points and lost the third game 9 – 11.
Rebecca Low then took on Alexandria Yearwood in the Under 15 girls tie. Rebecca lost the first 7 – 11. However in the second game she was a lot tighter in her play and won this game 11 – 9. Rebecca came out in the third game and seemed to lose focus and lost this game 5 – 11. She then also lost the fourth game 5 – 11 to lose the match three games to one.
As expected it had come down to the Under 13 tie to decide who would be crowned Girls Team Champions. Makeda Harding was matched up against Jinan Al Rawi. The two had met earlier in the team group match and Makeda had won easily three games to love.  Yesterday would be no different. Makeda easily won the first game 11 – 4 and was more dominant in the second game winning it 11 – 3. Winning these two games seemed to give her more confidence and she won the third game without dropping a point 11 – 0.
This meant that Guyana had secured the Girls Team Title for the ninth consecutive time and by virtue of winning the Girls Title was also assured of capturing the Overall Team Title for the tenth consecutive time.
The Boys Team final was next and the Guyana Team were up against Jamaica. Guyana knew that they needed to win the first two matches to stand any chance of recapturing the Boys Team Title. First on court was Ben Mekdeci against Tahjia Lumley in the Under 17 Division. Ben had beaten Tahjia in the quarterfinals of the individuals events so he was very confident coming into the match. Ben easily won the first game 11- 3. The second game was very close but Ben was able to secure it by winning it 11 – 9. The loss of this second game seemed to take all of the fighting spirit from Tahjia and Ben ran away with the third game winning it 11 – 3.
The next match on court would decide who would win the Boys Team title. Nyron Joseph was pitted against Jake Mahfood in the Under 19 No 2 string match. Nyron had lost to Jake three games to two in the individual semi-finals. Nyron lost a close first game 8 – 11 and then lost the second game rather badly 3 – 11. Nyron seemed to refocus and quickly jumped out to a 9 – 3 lead in the third game. It seemed as this game would be quickly over but this was not to be. Jake dug deep and won point after point to get to 9 all. However Nyron held his nerve and won this game 11 – 9. The fourth game went back and forth but with Jake leading 9 – 6 and two points from the match it seemed to be all over for Nyron. Nyron however is a fighter and clawed his way back into the game saving a match ball at 10 – 9. He was eventually able to win the fourth game 13 – 11 and for the second time in five days these two players would go into a fifth and deciding game.
The game was intense each player was giving his all. The game would go back and forth. Both players were physically exhausted but neither was giving up. Jake got to match ball at 10 – 9 but Nyron kept his cool and saved it. Nyron then had match ball and played a drop shot into the tin. Finally at 13 – 12 Nyron was able to win the next and most crucial point and with that the game 14 – 12 and the match by three games to two. Team Guyana then knew that the Boys Team Title was now almost certainly their own.
Jean Claude Jeffrey then took to the court in his match with Under 19 Individual Champion Julian Morrison. On this day Julian would prove to be the better player. Jean Claude lost the first game 7 – 11 and then lost the second game by an even closer score of 10 – 12. The loss of these two games seemed to take all of the energy from Jean Claude and he lost the third game 2 – 11.
In the Under 15 match Alex Cheeks was matched up against Jonathan Walker Individual Runner up. Alex lost the first game 5 – 11 and then lost the second game 3 – 11. He then lost the third game 2 – 11.
It was now up to Shomari Wiltshire to seal the victory for Team Guyana. This he did with ease winning the first two games 11 – 0 and then dropped one point in the third game winning it 11 – 1. Guyana had thus secured the Boys Team title to add to the Girls Team Title that they had won earlier in the day.
Final Results:
Girls Final
Guyana d Trinidad and Tobago 3-2
U13 – Makeda Harding d Jinan Al Rawi 11-4, 11-3, 11-0
U15 – Rebecca Low l Alexandria Yearwodd 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 5-11
U17 – Taylor Fernandes d Marion Gillezeau 11-9, 11-5, 11-3
U19 #2 –Victoria Arjoon d Marie-Claire Barcant 11-5, 11-2, 11-7
U19 #1 – Akela Wiltshire l Charlotte Knaggs 8-11, 8-11, 9-11
Boys Finals
Guyana d Jamaica 3-2
U13 – Shomari Wiltshire d Sebastian Levy 11-0, 11-0, 11-1
U15 – Alex Cheeks l Jonathan Walker 5-11, 3-11, 2-11
U17 – Benjamin Mekdeki d Tahjia Lumley 11-3, 11-9, 11-3
U19 #2 – Nyron Joseph d Jake Mahfood 8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 13-11, 14-12
U19 #1 – Jean Claude Jeffrey l Julian Morrison 7-11, 10-12, 2-11
Girls 3rd/4th Playoff
Jamaica d Barbados 3-2
Girls 5/6th Playoff
Bermuda d OECS 5-0
Boys 3rd/4th Playoff
Trinidad and Tobago d Barbados 3-2
Boys 5th/6th Playoff
Bermuda d Cayman 3-2

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