The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

LYFORD Cay International School (LCIS) is preparing its student athletes for a busy stretch of regional and international competition, with volleyball, football and soccer teams set to test themselves against opponents from the Caribbean and the United States over the next month.

The school’s upcoming schedule included its first international volleyball match against The Hudson School of New Jersey, the 14th annual KPMG Football Fest U15 tournament and a soccer trip to Florida, where the boys’ and girls’ teams will face Miami Country Day School and The Posnack School.

LCIS athletic director Scot Ruggles said the competitions reflect the school’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to compete beyond The Bahamas while developing their skills and gaining experience against different levels of opposition. The first test came on Saturday, October 24, when LCIS faced The Hudson School of Hoboken, New Jersey, in a co-educational volleyball match at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

The match featured boys’ and girls’ players from grades six to 12 and marked the first time LCIS hosted an international volleyball opponent.

The Dragons prepared through training sessions every Tuesday and Thursday, with the fixture providing an opportunity for players to put their work into practice against unfamiliar opposition.

Both the LCIS senior boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams have previously won the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) Volleyball Championship, and they looked to draw on that experience as they took on their American opponents.

Attention then turns to the 14th annual KPMG Football Fest Under-15 tournament, scheduled for November 6-7, when LCIS will welcome more than 150 athletes from schools across the Caribbean.

The tournament will officially open with a ceremony at 8.15am on Friday, November 6, before teams begin competing for the Bowl, Plate, Shield and Championship titles. The semi-finals and finals across the four divisions are scheduled for Saturday.

LCIS will field 36 students across four teams, comprising two boys’ teams and two girls’ teams, as the school looks to capitalise on home advantage and challenge for titles in both categories.

Established by former LCIS athletic director Craig Massey, the tournament has developed into an annual regional sporting event. The school’s boys’ and girls’ teams have both won their respective divisions in previous editions, and they will be aiming to repeat that success this year.

The school’s international schedule will continue from November 17-20, when the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams travel to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for matches against Miami Country Day School and The Posnack School.

The trip will expose LCIS players to opponents who train throughout the year, offering a different competitive environment and an opportunity to measure their development against established school programmes in the United States.

Ruggles said preparations for the Florida trip have already influenced the school’s athletic programme, with teams beginning their training and weightlifting programmes earlier in the academic year than ever before.

The earlier preparation is expected to help players improve their physical conditioning and readiness ahead of the matches, while the trip will also give them the responsibility of representing both their school and The Bahamas.

Beyond the results, LCIS views the upcoming competitions as an opportunity to strengthen its athletic programmes and develop the relationships that come from preparing and competing as a team.

“Our goal at LCIS is to give our student athletes the chance to compete not only on island but all over the world at the highest levels,” said Ruggles.

He also recognised the support of parents and school leadership in making the opportunities possible, while commending the efforts of students and coaches preparing for the events.

“Our athletic department appreciates the parents and our school leadership for giving our student athletes these amazing opportunities. Our students and coaches have worked extremely hard in preparation for these events and this trip. Go Dragons!” he said.

Athletics is one of three pillars of the LCIS identity, alongside academics and the arts. The school says its programme is designed to encourage excellence across all three areas while fostering a global perspective and maintaining its connection to The Bahamas.

With major competitions scheduled between late October and November, LCIS athletes will have opportunities to test their abilities against international opposition, build on previous successes and gain experience that could benefit their development well.