The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Swimming Federation has released the names of a 36-member team that will head to Kingston, Jamaica at the end of the month to defend the title at the 2018 CARIFTA Games. Three teams were also named for the water polo competition that will be held two weeks before.

The Bahamas regained the title last year when the games was held here at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex after relinquishing it two years ago to Martinique. Prior to that, the Bahamas held the title for two consecutive years.

With the team selected this year with all qualifiers, federation president Algernon Cargill said he's confident that the Bahamas will prevail as champions again when the games take place March 31 to April 4.

"It's a very strong team that will be led by Lilly Higgs and Izaak Bastian. They are the two outstanding swimmers on the team," Cargill said.

"Lilly, obviously, had a great meet at CARIFTA last year and she's heading to the University of North Carolina next year.

"The strongest categories will be the senior boys and girls (15-17). They are very strong categories. We are very excited about the team because they are all qualifiers. So we are looking forward to going to Jamaica and successfully defending our title."

The head coach for the swim team is Travano McPhee, assisted by Andy Loviett and Jorge Rodriquez.

The team comprise of the following:

Girls 11-12 - Abayomi Brown, Devin Cuffy-Bethel, Grace Farrington, Leylah Knowles, Keianna Moss and Mia Sastre.

Girls 13-14 - Katelyn Cabral, Giovanna Eneas, Salene Gibson, Jamilah Hepburn, Delaney Mizell and Zayle-Elizabeth Thompson.

Girls 15-17 - Celia Campbell, Anya MacPhail, Lilly Higgs, Victoria Russell and Virginia Stamp.

Boys 11-12 - Amauri Bonaby, Nigel Forbes, Tristin Ferguson, Marvin Johnson and Hodari Prince.

Boys 13-14 - Rommel Ferguson, Roman Pinder, Ishan Roy, Erald Thompson III, Lamar Taylor and Kierro Stubbs.

Boys 15-17 - Izzak Bastian, DaVante Carey, Samuel Gibson, Kevon Lockhart, Peter Morley, Ian Pinder, William Russell and Luke-Kennedy Thompson. The open water swim team comprises of the following:

Girls 13-14 Giovanna Eneas and Salene Gibson.

Girls 15-17 Anya MacPhail and Kaliyah Albury.

Boys 13-14 - Taye Fountain, Lamar Taylor and Erald Thompson III.

Boys 15-17 - Darren Laing, Mark-Anthony Thompson and Tristan Thompson.

Before the swim competition gets underway, water polo will run from March 14-18. The Bahamas has selected three teams to represent the country.

Laszlo Borbely is the head coach, assisted by Krisztian Kelemen and Carl Illing. Brenna Turnquest is the team manager.

The teams selected are as follows:

19-and-under - Saequan Miller, Joshua Knowles, Adonis Sasso, Sean Knowles, Loron Bain, Johnathon Demeritte, Adrian Burrows, Michael Moore, Kurdero Major and Kurdaz Major.

16-and-under - Thor Sasso, Damian Gomez, Jahkai Gray, Gabriel Sastre, Alexander Turnquest, Liam Mills, Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield. Mataeo Ferguson, Aidan Johnson, Jelani Grant, Gabriel Encinar and Thomas Illing.

14-and-under - Oliver Roberts, Jayden Fernander, Skyler Dean, Antuwan McKenzie, Akeil Smith, Dominic Beneby, Jayden Seymour, Dominic Demeritte, Madisson Deveaux, Kaitlyn Williams, Wesley Ingraham, Joshua Gibson and Remington Minnis.

The teams will travel on March 14 and return on March 19.

"The U-16 and U-14 just won bronze medalists at the South Florida International Water Polo Tournament in Coral Springs, Florida," Cargill said. "We expect their performances to carry over to Jamaica."

The U-16 is the defending champions, while the U-19 teams were the runners to Jamaica. The U-14 didn't compete last year because there were not enough teams here, but Cargill said it's a strong team because they have been working out with the older teams.

With the competition now in Jamaica, it's anticipated that the U-19 rematch between the Bahamas and Jamaica will be an epic one. Hopefully, Team Bahamas will avenge the defeat at home to Jamaica.