The national Under-16 netballers returned home Sunday to a Carnival-like welcome as parents and members of the local netball fraternity showed up at the Piarco International Airport to greet the newly crowned Caribbean youth champions.
T&T captured the top prize at the 21st Caribbean Netball Association's Jean Pierre Youth Championships at the Wildey Gymnasium, Bridgetown, St Michaels, Barbados on Saturday after beating St Lucia 34-20 to play unbeaten in the week-long regional tournament.
The young heroines were greeted by moko-jumbies, dancers and drummers who started to perform before the players emerged from the building.
The junior "calypso girls" won several special awards at the six-team tournament including best defending team, best team spirit, most discipline team, best team on parade and team with best goal average.
Goal-attack Shian Lewis was named the "Most Valuable Player" of the team and secured the "Highest Shooter" accolade.
Team captain Makayla Grant was adjudged the "Most Accurate Shooter" while she and Lewis teamed up with Natalia Chapman and Tenicia Goodridge to lead T&T to win the "Best Shooting" team prize.
Lewis was among six local players named among the best 16 players of the tournament. The others were Nefertiti Barrington, Sophia Hernandez, Kalvinelle Roberts, Kelsea Gardner, and Aneisha Hyles.
Grant credited the team officials for guiding her teammates to the title.
"The coaches, managers and all the technical staff. The trainer and physio, everyone played a role in helping us bring home this trophy. We were bonding and having fun before the game to loosen up ourselves.
"The training was intense but really rewarding. We have been training hard, focussing on strategy. Everyone put in 100 per cent."
Lewis said she was surprised to win the MVP trophy.
"It was shocking and exciting," said the multi-talented player, who competed at the Carifta Track and Field Trials the day before flying out to Barbados to join her netball colleagues. She qualified to represent T&T in the Girls' Under-17 800 metres and 1,500m at this weekend's Carifta Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.
The 2024 Carifta Girls U-17 bronze medallist shared the challenges of competing in both sports.
"It has been very hard as I had training for both the same days but I have been trying my best to do both," said Lewis.
Head coach Sojourner Hyles-Lewis said the victory puts netball back into the spotlight.
"This win gives hope that netball is not dead in Trinidad (and Tobago). It took us 21 years to bring the trophy home. Words cannot express how deeply emotional I feel about this journey.
Hyles-Lewis, who is the mother of Lewis, called for more support for the growth of netball among the younger players.
"Corporate sponsors need to invest in the youth because the youth is the next development path to go further to the senior team so we could bring back glory to the sport."
She is longing for netball to have its own training facilities, saying: "My dream and hope is that we get a netball home so young girls will be engaged."
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Community Development David Roberts was on hand to congratulate the triumphant squad.
He said, "It is a privilege to welcome them on their success. On behalf of the Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe and all at the Ministry, we would like to congratulate them. They proved they are the best in the Caribbean. We are excited and look forward to the continued partnership with the netball association.
He added: "The upgrade works at the Jean Pierre Netball Complex is not yet done. There are ongoing works at the Jean Pierre Complex. It is a facility that was built quite a few years ago so we are ensuring we bring it up to the standard that will allow for continued playing and practice in terms of netball. We have facilitated practicing at other facilities across the country (while) the work at the Jean Pierre Complex continues."
T&T U-16 team honour roll
Champions
Best defending team
Best team spirit
Most discipline team
Best team on parade
Team with best goal average
Team MVP: Shian Lewis
Highest shooter: Shian Lewis
Most accurate shooter: Makayla Grant
Best Shooting Team: Makayla Grant, Shian Lewis, Natalia Chapman, Tenicia Goodridge
Best 16 players of the tournament: Nefertiti Barrington, Sophia Hernandez, Kalvinelle Roberts, Kelsea Gardner, Aneisha Hyles, Shian Lewis
T&T contingent
Team: Makayla Grant (captain), Adannaya Martin (vice-captain), Nefertiti Barrington, Jerusha Des Vignes, Aneisha Hyles, Amara Bhagan, Kalvinelle Roberts, Rayelle Boca, Kelsea Gardner, Sophia Hernandez, Natalia Chapman, Tenicia Goodridge, Joeshel Jacob, Shian Lewis (utility player), Zweditu Alexander.
Technical staff: Sojourner Hyles-Lewis (coach), Simone Morgan (assistant coach), Jody Sprott (manager), Runako Gittens (trainer), David Mack (therapist).