Members of Haile Selassie High School's Under-15 team pose with their throphies after winning the all-island final 3-0 over Bishop Gibson at DeCarteret College last Saturday. They are (back row, from left) Stacy-Ann Blake, Nackiesha Whyte and Nicola Smith. In front (from left) are Shakieka Bailey, Sheinell Hyatt and Tamieka McDonald. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer
Haile Selassie High School's girls team and the boys team from host institution DeCarteret College emerged the 2007 bmobile Under-15 all-island badminton champions, following victories over Bishop Gibson and El Institutor de Mandevilla Prep last Saturday.
Haile Selassie defeated Bishop Gibson 3-0 while DeCarteret College beat El Institutor De Mandevilla Prep by a similar margin for the boys' crown.
Shakira Bailey defeated Marsha-lee Wilton (21-11, 21-15) and Nackiesha Whyte outplayed Abigail Tracy (21-8, 21-18) for Haile Selassie's two individuals victories. Bailey then teamed with Stacey-Ann Blake to beat Wilton and Nikola Lyn (21-9, 21-13) in the doubles finals for their school's 3-0 victory.
Finals
Earlier, Haile Selassie had booked their spot in the final after defeating St. Anne's High 3-0 in the semi-finals. Bishop Gibson gained their place in the final after edging St. Hugh's High 3-2 in the other semi-final.
In the boy's finals, Jordan Robert defeated Shawn Wilson and Jon-Andrew Neita beat Shane Wilson to record DeCarteret College's two singles victories. Neita returned to pair with Marion Campbell in the doubles to beat Tremar Barham and Shevon Salmon for their school's 3-0 victory.
Lisco Jackson, coach of Haile Selassie, said he was happy with his team's success.
"At the beginning, we had set our goal on winning this competition and that target was achieved because this is the first time that our females have ever won this tournament," said Jackson.
He added: "I am very delighted because the Under-15 title is the only title in the female division that we have never won. Because we have won both senior female and senior male and also the Under-15 male (titles), the Under-15 female crown was what we didn't have and we came here and did that today and I am very happy."
