​Wolmer’s credit tennis dominance to careful planning, investment

Wolmer’s Boys’ High School have highlighted careful planning and investment for rewards they have been reaping in the Barita Investments-sponsored Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) All-Island Tennis Championships.

For the fifth consecutive year, the David Sanguinetti-coached Heroes Circle-based institution won the boys’ Under-19 title, winning 4-2 over Hillel Academy as the three-day competition came to a close on Saturday at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre.

Deputy chairman of Sub-­Committee of Wolmer’s Boys’ School Board Ryan Foster said the road to victory was well-laid.

“Five years ago myself, and David Sangunetti met and we embarked upon a plan to have Wolmer’s Boys’ not only become competitive in lawn tennis but to develop a programme that we would be able to dominate. Five years later, the team has not disappointed,” he said.

“I am extremely happy with the performance of the boys as they have fully bought into the ­strategic objectives of the programme. We will continue to give our boys the opportunity to actualise in the sport of lawn tennis,” he added.

At the time when they were devising the plan, Foster was chairman of the school’s sports committee. He noted that the work put in extended to ­sporting ­infrastructure and drew a ­parallel to cricket, which has also emerged as a dominant sport at the institution.

Foster said: “Five years ago, we relaid our tennis court to give our boys the facility that they could train properly on. A similar exercise was done simultaneously on the development of cricket nets, as well as bringing back the cricket pitch to the school. Five years later Wolmer’s have won over six cricket trophies, to include All-Island Under-14 and Under-16 [championships]. Since then, as well, we have developed over three Youth West Indies players. Previously, we had stopped playing cricket at the school, and we had to use another ground as our home.”

The finals were quite competitive over the first four matches, which were contested in singles. Damani Cain gave Wolmer’s the lead, defeating Gabriel Azar 6-0, but John Azar fired back to defeat Ryan Muir in the second match 6-2 and level the score. Hillel then surged ahead when Ryan Cox beat Mario Campbell 6-2 before Joshua Graveney again levelled the score, with a dominant 6-2 victory over Blake Shoucair in the last singles match.

In the deciding doubles contests, Wolmer’s Boys’ came up trumps when the pair of Cain and Muir thumped Cox and Shoucair 6-0 for a 3-2 lead, followed by a 6-2 win for Campbell and Graveney over the Azar brothers.

“The current team boasts two former Jamaica junior Davis Cup players – Damani Cain, ranked number one nationally in the boys’ 18s, and Joshus Graveney, ranked number five nationally in the boys’ 18s. Mario Campbell, captain of the current team, is ranked in the top 10,” said Sanguinetti in illustrating the strength of his team.

“The Under-14 team has also excelled over the years, winning the title last year, and they were runners-up this year. The tennis programme at the school continues to be vibrant, and many boys are working hard in the hope of making the school team and keeping the tradition going,” added Sanguinetti.

Continuing, he said: “Mr Ryan Foster has played a big role in the success of the teams over the years. He has been instrumental in helping to build the championship team we now have, which has dominated high-school tennis for years. Mr Foster not only contributes financial help to the teams but can be seen at the matches giving moral support and cheering on the teams. On behalf of the teams we thank Mr Foster and look forward to defending the title next year.”

In other finals, Immaculate High School for Girls, coached by Arthur Phillpots, beat Hillel 4-1 to win the U19 girl’s title; Campion College beat St Ann’s Northgate High 3-2 in the boys’ Under-16 final, and Immaculate scored a 3-1 victory over Montego Bay High in the girls’ Under-16 title match.

Immaculate completed the girl’s treble with victory over the American International School of Kingston (AISK) in the Under-14 final, while Campion defeated Wolmer’s Boys’ 2-0 to claim the boys’ Under-14 crown.