MILE GULLY, Jamaica — There was an ecstatic mood here on Monday afternoon as winners of the Under-16 2025 Junior International Netball Classics and the competition overall champions, Mile Gully High, marched through the south-central town as part of their celebrations.

Scores of students, teachers, administrative staff and political representatives joined in the march from the school’s campus to the Mile Gully square, led by the school’s band and the institution’s victorious netball team.

The team, during the Easter holiday, participated in the Junior International Netball Classics in Miramar, Florida, where they copped the Under-16 title and were named overall champions.

The team, coached by Marlon Hibbert and led by Captain Deantonette Sterling, comprised Vice-Captain Johnesia Blackwood; Johnese Blackwood; Dominique Robinson; Kendrea Brooks; Leah Lewis; Shana-Kay Mullings; Annieta Bellinsantie; Gina Forrester; and Shanquana Rowe.

Hibbert, while basking in victory, said the team faced challenges with being under-resourced, including not having a well-paved netball court.

“Netball doesn’t get the recognition it should, especially in the rural areas, but I would like to see people really look at the rural schools. Look at the courts, for example, and the resources — it is also an issue. Most of the schools in the rural areas are not financially stable but we do the best we can,” he said.

He cited the competitive nature of the netball classics, given the strong teams which participate.

“The Miami Classics have been going on for a while. A lot of schools from Jamaica and overseas participate in this competition. There were a total of 34 teams participating but we participated in the Under-16 division. We played the preliminary rounds and we were victorious. We made it to the quarter finals and the semis. We made it to the finals. There are very strong teams in the Miami Classics so the victory didn’t have to come to Mile Gully, but the girls stuck to the task and they delivered on the day,” he explained.

Sterling said the team is motivated to continue excelling in competitions.

“It makes us feel even better to go after more achievements, and it is a huge thing that we did. We are in a happy moment because all of our hard work paid off,” she said.

Bellinsantie won the top shooter title during the netball classic.

“I feel very excited. I didn’t want to do it but my coach inspired me. I thank him for that.

“I want to play more and more so that I can go to the nationals,” she said.

School Principal Christopher Tyme commended the netball team for putting Mile Gully on the international stage.

“Our mantra is, ‘Defying the odds, achieving success’, and this victory in this international competition is one way of saying to our students that once you put in the work, once you defy all the things that you think can prevent you from not achieving, once you do what you are supposed to do, you will be successful. And so, we think it is necessary to highlight this success so that all the other students in the school can see that [which they have been taught] by putting in the work and effort,” he said.

He pointed out that rural schools are often at a disadvantage in competitions but with strong support, the possibilities are endless.

“The parents invested in them because they have persons close to the school like the teachers, the MP, and the councillor [Rohan Kennedy], who is also a member of staff at the school. They all put in the funds that are necessary to make this trip a success, and then we had some members of the Mile Gully business community who also contributed,” he said.

Manchester North Western Member of Parliament Mikael Phillips also commended the netball team while emphasising the need for greater allocation of resources for schools outside urban areas.

“Rural schools in Jamaica don’t get the same amount of resources that other schools receive. And to have a sports programme, many times the school itself has to dig deep into small resources in getting even gear for the students,” he said.

— Kasey Williams