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Principal of Kingston College, Dave Myrie, says sport continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the North Street-based institution and hailed their title-winning teams at the school’s prize-giving ceremony, at the Jamaica Conference Centre yesterday.
Members of the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield championship team, along with coaches and management staff, were presented with trophies while players and staff of the winning urban area under-14 team collected certificates.
Other sportsmen who also did well in their fields were also honoured for their contributions.
With the school also celebrating its centenary year, Myrie, pointed out that although the sportsmen of Kingston College continue to put the school on the map, the emphasis is to continue to develop well-balanced students.
“It is a very important part of our existence. What we try to do is produce rounded young men. We are not looking to create just bookworks or just sportsmen either. We want a balance. It can’t be all about one thing and not the other.
“I am pleased and congratulate the boys. I always say to the school that when a sportsman gets an accolade don’t fight him, because when you are sleeping and laying down these boys are out there working on behalf of the school and they still have to come back to class and do assignments at the same time because they are not going to get any ‘bligh’ whatsoever. So I lift my hat to those boys because they are the ones who continue to keep us on the map,” he said, while noting that it could not be done without the unwavering support of school, management staff and parents.
“It’s a team effort, a family effort and I am pleased. We are not one dimensional and we keep excelling. That’s the kind of KC I want to be a part of,” he told The Gleaner.
In addition to special awards to the Manning Cup and under-14 teams, Kelvin Brown, Zaire Douse and Ryan Soew were recognised for the service to football. There were cricket awards for Alixandre Elliott, Richardo Bell and Kev’Aundrae Virgo; basketball honours went to Nathaniel Bennett, Terrence Mitchell and Tuane Jarrett.
Kurt Soutar, Adhugo Thomas, Dahsean Gibbs and Jamir Johnson received recognition for hockey while Nyrone Wade and Marcinho Rose got the awards for track and field.
Myrie said their achievements continue to serve as inspiration for other students. “There is sports, the arts, there’s academics. You talk about the clubs and societies and what they are doing as well. It is good to know our boys excel in a number of different areas. It makes us proud as a school and is motivation for the rest of students as well.”
He added that they are proud to be celebrating their centenary year with the Manning Cup, Olivier Shield, urban area under-14 title and the Mortimer Geddes (Boys Champs) trophy in their grasp, and he has set their sights on adding a cricket title.
“We are going after the cricket trophy this year. We were close last year but this year with renewed vigour, we are going after a trophy.”
Manning Cup coach Vassel Reynolds said he is pleased to have helped the school celebrate 100 years with the Manning Cup and Oliver Shield in their trophy cabinet.
“It’s a great feeling to be a part of the centenary celebrations and to have this sort of achievement to go along with it. This caps it off and puts the icing on the cake. We stressed to the players to recognise that the main aim of the Kingston College football programme is to develop the boys holistically. We still have some work to do but we try to get the players to recognise the need to create that balance between the sports and the academics. And we will try and push that even further come 2025,” he said.
English (US) ·