By Treiston Joseph
Taylor Fernandes and Shomari Wiltshire were in top form when the 2017 Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Championships concluded on Sunday at the Georgetown Club. While 10 champions were crowned during the championships, it was Wiltshire and Fernandes who stole the spotlight, especially on the final day of action.
Wiltshire defeated Daniel Islam in three tough games to win both the Under-17 and Under-19 titles 11/6, 11/8, 11/7. Wiltshire’s accuracy and shot creativity was impeccable and while Islam showed grit and great reaction, Wiltshire’s overall game and instinct was too much for him to handle in both finals which got him the most outstanding male trophy.
In addition, Wiltshire was also crowned Under-15 champion with a straight set win over Samuel Ince-Carvalhal 11/3, 11/3, 11/5. Meanwhile, Fernandes outplayed Rebecca Low in the final match winning comfortably in straight games 11/4, 11/5, 11/6.
Fernandes simply seemed in a class all by herself and that was evident by the ease in which she outplayed not just Lowe but all her opponents as she continues to rise as one of the top females and players in the sport and will definitely be a great asset to the junior squad.
Makeda Harding also played well on Sunday, winning both the Under-15 and Under-17 female titles with her stellar play while finishing second behind Fernandes in the Under-19 category to gain the most outstanding girl trophy.
Harding topped Aliyah Persaud in Under-15 action in straight sets- 11/1, 11/2, 11/3 for a dominant showing. Kirsten Gomes was the top Under-13 female showing her wit against Paige Fernandes in straight sets that finished 11/6, 11/4, 11/1.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s full results are as follows:
Girls Under-11- Beau Fernandes defeated Isabella Ramjohn 11/4, 11/8, 11/1
Boys Under-11- Louis Da Silva beat Shiloh Asregado 11/1, 11/8, 11/2; Chad De Abreu beat DhirenPersaud 12/10, 11/5, 11/4; Mohyryan Baksh beat Nathan Rahaman 11/3, 11/1, 11/5.
Girls Under-13- Kirsten Gomes beat Paige Fernandes 11/6, 11/4, 11/1.
Boys Under-13- Demetrius De Abreu defeated James Mekdeci 11/5, 11/8, 11/7; Zachary Persaud beat Liam Carpenter 11/0, 11/1, 11/3; Michael Alphonso beat Ethan Jonas 11/4, 11/8, 11/6.
Girls Under-15- Kirsten Gomes beat Teija Edwards 11/3, 11/1, 11/1; Makeda Harding beat Aliyah Persaud 11/1, 11/2, 11/3; Abosaide Cadogan beat Madison Fernandes 5/11, 11/9, 8/11, 12/10,11/6; Aliyah Persaud beat Jahcinta Adams 11/2, 11/1, 11/1.
Boys Under-15- Jason Gomes defeated Dominic Collins 5/11, 11/9, 11/4, 11/8; Mikhail Persaud beat Osmond Mack 11/7, 11/8, 5/11, 11/5; Shomari Wiltshire beat Lucas Jonas 11/1, 11/1, 11/2; Samuel Ince-Carvalhal beat Gianni Carpenter 11/3, 11/7, 11/4.
Girls Under-19- Taylor Fernandes beat Rebecca Low 11/4, 11/5, 11/6; Taylor Fernandes beat Sarah Lewis 11/1, 11/7, 11/3.
Boys Under-17/19- Alex Cheeks beat Anthony Islam 11/3, 11/6, 11/5; Shomari Wiltshire defeated Daniel Islam 11/6, 11/8, 11/7.
Winners of categories are as follows:
Girls Under-11
Beau Fernandes – Winner
Christiana Fernandes – Second
Isabella Ramjohn- Third
Boys Under-11
MohyryanBaksh – Winner
Louis Da Silva – Second
Nathan Rahaman – Third
Shiloh Asregado – Fourth
Girls Under-13
Kirsten Gomes – Winner
Paige Fernandes – Second
Haley Carpenter – Third
Boys Under-13
Michael Alphonso – Winner
Demetrius De Abreu – Second
Ethan Jonas – Third
James Mekdeci – Fourth
Girls Under-15
Makeda Harding – Winner
AbosaideCadogan – Second
Kirsten Gomes – Third
Madison Fernandes – Fourth
Boys Under-15
Shomari Wiltshire – Winner
Samuel Ince – Carvalhal – Second
Gianni Carpenter – Third
Lucas Jonas – Fourth
Girls Under-17
Makeda Harding – Winner
AbosaideCadogan – Second
Kirsten Gomes – Third
Maya Collins – Fourth
Boys Under-17/19
Shomari Wiltshire – Winner
Daniel Islam – Second
Alex Cheeks – Third
Girls Under-19
Taylor Fernandes – Winner
Makeda Harding – Second
Rebecca Low – Third
Most Improved girl – Kirsten Gomes
Most improved boy – Michael Alphonso
Most outstanding girl – Makeda Harding
Most outstanding boy – Shomari Wiltshire
