Player Profile of the Guyana National Junior Squash Team- FEMALES

Jul 19, 2015 Sports

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The Guyana National Squash Team has departed for the 33rd annual Caribbean Amateur Squash Association’s (CASA) Annual regional junior squash Tournament, where they are defending champions. Below are profiles of the female national players expected to vie for titles this year in Barbados from July 17th-26th.

Makeda Harding:
13 year old Makeda Harding endured a difficult CASA experience in 2014, but returns this year determined to improve, noting that her return of the serve has improved markedly since that time. She believes that she can test her opponent’s skill the most through her serve, and also believes her power and ability to think under pressure makes her a dangerous opponent. Harding, who also plays hockey, opines that there is still room to improve her drop shots, which she has been working on in the build up to the year’s top tournament for developing squash aficionados. As with many successful athletes, she believes that the sheer volume of dedicated and focused training, as well as the support of her family and coaches, have been the biggest factors in her progress thus far as an athlete. This progress was evident even in her loss to Nicolette Fernandes in the recently concluded National Senior Tournament, which she said was her best experience in her young squash career.

Madison Fernandes:
11 year Old Madison Fernandes trained almost daily for this, her first CASA tournament, and boasts in her repertoire strong serves and drives. The young athlete said that her return of serves is an area she has been striving to improve, and confidently believes she is ready to do well at the games. With her love and enjoyment of the sport a stand out feature of her play, the young Fernandes stated that her best experience thus far in squash was simply hitting her first ball.

Haley Carpenter:
10 year old Haley Carpenter expects to put in her best effort at her debut for Guyana in Barbados this year. Showing her skill in the recent Junior tournament, which was good enough to earn a spot on one of Guyana’s most successful Junior Teams, she highlighted practice and dedication as the reason for her recent success. Favoring the back hand strokes, and to a lesser extent forehand drives, she believes her control of the serve and use of drop shots still has some distance to go before they are the finished product.

Larissa Wiltshire:
Lithe, lean and experienced 17 year old Larissa Wiltshire is ready to compete and win at this year’s CASA. Finishing second in her last dig at the tournament, she believes that her strengthening of cross court shots and the mental awareness to time kill shots well are the areas that can help her go the distance this year. The Queen’s College student athlete affirmed that “squash is half a mental game, so you have to be in the right frame of mind to win”, and with her immaculate record on the educational frontier much can be expected of her on the court. Fitness and shot selection at a premium for the in -form player, Larissa has been working on the use of lobs and serving aces as ways of dismissing her opponents. A hard worker, she believes that constant training, increasing her fitness and her mental fortitude have been the pillars of her success over the years. Most recently, the Junior athlete enjoyed a grueling five set match with senior Ashley DeGroot, narrowly missing out on a win.

Rebecca Low:
Fourth place in the last CASA tournament, 15 year old Rebecca Low feels “as ready as can be” for this year’s event, and is extremely determined to do well. Her exuberant style of play reflects this determination, which she credits for her progress thus far in the sport. Low said that rather importantly she learnt from her last experience at CASA that “every point counts” and that when representing the country “every person on the team makes a difference”. The right handed player believes that she tactically defeats her opponents, especially with the use of her cross court-shots, but opined that confidence is an important facet of her game, being both a negative and positive at times.

 

Akeila Wiltshire:
Always a calm fortress, Akeila Wiltshire is the current 18 year old Junior National Squash Champion and captain of the Guyana’s Girls teams at this year’s CASA tournament. With experience of finishing second at her last outing, Wiltshire is expected to be the front runner this year for the title. Working especially her on her back hand drives, the racket wielder possesses powerful drives, and makes smart use of lobs, as well as drops, with the added skill of a strong serve. Akeila related that her highest point in the sport so far has been winning her first CASA in 2011, and this year she’ll be looking to regain the title in her last attempt as a Junior. She returns this year more mentally prepared, fitter, and with a higher skill level.

Gabrielle Fraser:
18 year old Gabrielle Fraser is no stranger to the games, having placed 7th at her last attempt at the event. Noting that from that experience she needed to be fitter, Fraser believes she has prepared well, and is eagerly anticipating testing her current skills against her opponents.

Sarah Lewis:
15 year old Sarah Lewis believes she has learnt from her previous experience of the Caribbean tournament that she needs to hold her nerves, and as evidenced by her recent performances in the local tournaments, looks set to compete and show her improvement on the regional arena. Noting natural talent, power and supreme fitness as key points to her success, she has been working on her serves, and believes she is just about ready to do well this year.

Taylor Fernandes:
Recently recovering from an ankle injury, 17 year old Taylor Fernandes is an experienced national player, who placed 3rd the last time she competed at CASA. With a never-say-die attitude, she believes her positive style of play makes her difficult to beat, and with her execution of the cross court strokes and drives, is a key player on the national squad. The 2013 national champion has been working on her play in the front court, and believes she is especially well prepared for this tournament considering her mental and tactical improvement, and the constant training she has put in leading up to the tournament.

Kirsten Gomes:
10 years old. First CASA

Aliyah Persaud:
11 Years old. First CASA

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