HYDEL Prep were crowned JISA Prep School netball champions last week after they defeated Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) Prep to retain the title they last won two years ago.

The competition, which was sponsored by LearningHub.Online, saw Hydel defeat OLA 15-10 in the final held at the Lela Robinson Courts while Mona got the better of Alvernia 6-3 in the third-place play-off.

Despite the margin of victory, Hydel didn’t have things their own way at all times and had to fight to turn back a spirited OLA team that led at the half-time break.

In the opening day rally Alvernia got the better of OLA while Hydel beat Immaculate in the third-place play-off.

Hydel Coach Loraine Miller was elated that they were able to defend the title they won in 2019 after the long break caused by COVID-19.

“Coming back after two years of no competition, words cannot explain how I feel right now. I am so happy and ecstatic, I’m so elated for these girls.”

Miller was happy that her players were able to overcome nerves to win the final.

“I know my girls were a bit nervous so I told them that they are to go out there and play simple netball…and in the end here we are — victorious.”

OLA Coach Roland Lawrence was proud of what his young team was able to achieve over the course of the season.

“I am so proud of my girls. It was a really tough challenge but I think they gave all that they had. They gave a valiant effort, and I couldn’t be any more proud of them.

“Making two finals this season, what can I say? It’s a great feat.”

Trudy Hardy, chairperson for the JISA Sports Committee, was grateful to be able to return to active competition.

“After the two-year break we were really looking forward to coming back out. The girls, schools, coaches were looking forward to coming back out. We are really, really happy that we were able to keep this netball competition this year.

“It’s always been a challenge but we are happy that Learning Hub came on board this year, and we hope that we will have more sponsors next year,” she said.

Dr Shalette Ashman, CEO of LearningHub.Online, was pleased with what she saw and has promised to return as a sponsor next year.

“We are pleased to have partnered with JISA to sponsor the netball competition. It was a wonderful competition, and we see ourselves partnering with JISA in 2023. This competition was properly executed. We salute all the players, all the teams, and we say special congratulations to the winners, Hydel.”

With only 16 schools participating this year, Hardy is anticipating the return of a number of schools next year to swell the numbers above 20.

— Dwayne Richards