VI’s Joseph crowned OECS U17 Junior Champion
On the final day, each of the categories were played on a round robin basis so all juniors had the opportunity to play all persons in their age category.
In the last match of the U17 age group, Joseph defeated Rory Thornton of the BVI 20/18, 11/6, 11/3.In the Under 19 boys, Kevin Hannaway of St Vincent defeated Joseph, but not before he took a game off him. Hannaway won the first two games 11/9, 11/2 lost the third 7/11 and won the fourth 11/2.
Stefan was actually competing in two age categories this tournament as he is 16 now but turns 17 before the Caribbean Juniors in July so would have to play up an age category if he is selected for the team.
In the girls Under 17, St Lucian Zeina Reyes lost to BVI's Erin Anderson 11/3, 11/7, 11/4 and BVI’s Erika Sorrentino defeated Kenya Fagan of Dominica 11/6, 11/8, 11/8.Then Sorrentino narrowly failed to pull off an amazing comeback against Gianna Miller Alexander of St Vincent, who went on to win the five-game thriller. Miller Alexander won the first two games 11/8, 11/6 but Sorrentino came back to win the next two matches 14/12, 11/9 before being unable to keep up the momentum and going down 11/4 in the decider.
The evening ended with the prize giving and closing ceremony at the St Lucia Yacht Club. Addresses were made to the gathering by President of the St Lucia Squash Association Cheryl Renwick and Director of Sports Mr. Victor Reid.
David Piper, Tournament Director and Megan Piper 2012 Junior OECS Tournament co-coordinator, went through the results announcing the top four positions in each age categories.
In the Under 15 girls, Maddox finished 4th, in the Under 17 girls Anderson was 2nd and Sorrentino 4th. In the Under 17 boys, Joseph took the title and Thornton finished runner up. Joseph also finished 3rd overall in the U19’s.Anderson was nominated for best sportsmanship.
The Tournament started on Thursday April 12 and saw the arrival of junior squash players from St Vincent, BVI and Dominica to join host St Lucia for the 2012 Junior OECS Squash championships.
As play got underway, Rory Thornton defeated Andre Segovia of St Lucia 11/2, 11/2, 11/6 in the Under 17 boys and Stefan Joseph continued the winning streak for BVI by defeating Marcus Sweeney of St Lucia 11/4, 11/1, 11/0.
In the only five-setter for that evening between the two BVI Under 17 girls, Anderson and Sorrentino, Anderson took the first game 11/9 then Sorentino won the next two games 11/5, 11/7 before Anderson leveled the games two all by winning the fourth 11/5. The fifth and deciding game was extremely close, as the girls exchanged winning shot for winning shot before Anderson won the match 12/11.
On Friday, BVI's Abiyomi Maddox played three matches in the Under 15 girls division, losing to Thandi Myers 11/7, 11/5, 11/6, before suffering defeat in an enthralling match to Derai Myers of St Vincent. The first game was close with Maddox taking the lead throughout the game by Myers came back to win 12/10. She won the second game 11/3 then Maddox re-focused and won the third 11/7. However, Myers proved too strong in the fourth game going on to win it 11/3 and with it the match.
In her last match, Maddox was defeated 11/2, 11/3, 11/0 by Demi Olliviere of St. Vincent. Back in the Under 17 girls match, St Lucian Zeina Reyes put up a good fight but Sorrentino defeated her 11/4, 11/8, 11/4 and Anderson beat Kenya Fagan of Dominica despite losing the first game 11/9. With a determined effort and skillful play Anderson took the next three games 11/6, 11/9, 11/9 to win the match.In another Under 17 girls, Gianna Miller Alexander won her second match 11/2, 11/5, 11/5 against Anderson.
In the Under 17 boys, St Lucian Marcus Sweeney was defeated by Thornton 11/2, 11/1, 11/5 and Joseph beat Andre Segovia of St Lucia 5/11, 4/11, 0/11.In his second match for the day this time in the Under 19 category, Joseph defeated his Vincentian opponent Eshwan Adams 11/4, 11/2, 11/2 and in his third match for the day again in Under 19 boys category, Joseph played a five -setter losing the first two games 11/6 ,11/9 against his Vincentian opponent Romario Constance. However, he came back to level the match to two games each after he won the third and fourth games 11/6 and 12/10. Before running out of steam and losing the deciding game 8/11.
The President of the OECS Squash Association also announced the OECS team that had been chosen by the selection panel that afternoon. The team will participate in the Caribbean Junior Squash Championships to be held in Jamaica in July with Thornton picked in the U17 category and Joseph as a reserve in the U19’s.
Coach Joe Kniepp of BVI will travel with the team and Shane Slater will be the Team Manager.


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