Jarmila Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Members of the Mavisville Prep team, adorned with their championship medals, joke around at their school, as they celebrate winning the Lauderhill Youth Netball Tournament recently. - Kyle Macpherson/Freelance Photographer

Mavisville Preparatory, champions of the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) netball championship, have taken their success to the international level.

The 12-time JISA champions were double winners at the third annual Lauderhill Youth Netball Tournament, which took place earlier this month at the Lauderhill Sports Park in Florida, United States, winning the championship and dress parade.

Dedication

Jennifer Crawford, who has been coaching the team for 15 years, attributes the victory to their dedication.

"We came fourth place in our last competition and with some of the girls being on the team for three years, we decided that the only place we can go is up. So, we decided that we would be training non-stop, " said Crawford.

"So we trained every day after school and every Saturday and in September 2007 we also started training in the morning and with a bit of motivation and support from the parents we were able to pull it off."

According to Crawford, most of the girls became interested in the sport after doing it as part of the physical education curriculum and with a number of past students going on to become valuable members of Jamaica's squads - including Nadine French, Jodi-Ann French and Danae Phillips (Under 16) - it is evident that the school has a knack for churning out talented players.

Display of skill

During practice sessions, Crawford admits she often coaches from the sidelines, allowing the girls to let their own dedication and discipline lead the way.

At the tournament, she says, she was a bit taken aback by the thrilling display of skill by the girls and one in particular, Toni-Jaye Burton, who was voted the Most Valuable Player.

"They were very enthused about the tournament. They said they wanted to win it and who am I to tell them no?"

Crawford added that the entire school was overwhelmed with the victory and that the girls were treated by the board to a retreat at a resort to celebrate the accomplishment.