St Hugh’s High continued their dominance of high school girls lacrosse on the island when they swept to a 2-0 victory over Wolmer’s Girls’ in the final last weekend.

It was title number five for the Swans who are the most successful team in high school girls lacrose. They have won titles in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, and now 2022.

Coach Richard Crooks, who has been with the team for four of the five title wins, was sad for the girls who missed out due to COVID-19 last year.

“For the tournament to be out for a year…it was sad for the girls who were supposed to play but didn’t get to play because most of those senior girls have left school now,” he said.

He lauded those girls, however, as they contributed to the win this year, along with the work done on their own by the current players.

“The girls that were there, they were the younger ones that were under the guidance of the older ones, and they are the ones who played this season. They trained hard and it was well deserved, so despite the COVID, the girls were doing their work at home, on their own time, because they had their sticks to work on their craft.”

Crooks believes that the win this season came down to three main factors: the hard work of his girls before and during the season, and the support of past players.

“When the season started they trained really hard, and based on the fact that some of the girls came back and gave them a power talk, that motivated them to come out there this season and do their best, and that’s why they came out victorious, so kudos to the girls on their hard work. It was well deserved because they trained really hard.”

He is delighted with the discipline of his players, which he thinks is a main reason for the team’s success.

“It was a great feeling to be coaching a set of girls that listen and work hard for the season, and due to the fact that they listen and train hard, then we are able to dominate the league.

“Every year we come out and do our best. The players who were on the team before also played a part in helping the girls who are there, the younger ones, to work on their talent and their craft and leave them with the skills and the knowledge that they know to maintain that dominance going forward every year.”

Crooks also explained that the support of the school played a big role in the team’s success, something he believes will lead to the building of a dynasty.

“The school was 100 per cent behind the team. They were behind the succes from day one. With every game that was played the school was aware of the result, whether we won or lost and that just motivated other students to be a part of the team, so I know that next year a lot of girls will train for the team for the season coming up.”

Seven members of the St Hugh’s team are also a part of the national set-up and six of them will return next year. Captain Jenille Wint, Courtney Gavin-Lewis, Alexx Kerr, Cydane Ellis, Jameila Williams, and Shadae Beckford are the national players who will return, while Sunita Singh will be graduating.

The high school programme is run by the Jamaica Lacrosse Association (JLA), but Crooks believes that it is time for the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) to help drive the sport in schools.

“ISSA needs to be on board now, the sport needs its support. We need sponsorship and their help to build awareness of the sport in Jamaica so that other schools can join,” he said.

The sport has evolved from seven vs seven to a full 11 vs 11 game since high schools started playing against each other in 2015.

The postponed boys’ final between Kingston College and Jamaica College will be played on Saturday, May 28.