The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With their bags already packed, the 39-member team is ready to head to Pirate Bay, Curacao tonight to go for their fifth straight CARIFTA Swimming Championship title this weekend.

The team, made up of 36 swimmers and three open water swim competitors, will hold its final practice this morning, and will leave for the games tonight.

Competition is expected to start on Thursday and will wrap up on Monday. The team is scheduled to return home early Tuesday morning.

Following their practice session yesterday at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, two of the four team captains said they are thrilled to be heading the team but are confident that overall they will get the job done as the unprecedented five-peat champions.

As a part of all four championship teams, Keianna Moss, one of the two, said she’s looking forward to making a splash for Team Bahamas in her specialties in the butterfly, backstroke and individual medley events as she tries to earn some more medals as she’s done in the past both individually and as a member of the relay teams.

“The expectations is to come home with the five-peat. This is my last CARIFTA, so I just want to finish off strong and bring as many points home for the Bahamas,” said Moss, who attends McKendree University.

“We have a very fresh and new team, so I know they will have some nerves, so I’m just going to try and help them to calm their nerves down and lead us to victory.”

Moss, who along with Rhanishka Gibbs, will serve as the female team captains, said she always wanted to be in this position and now at the age of 17 in her final appearance, she gets to fulfil one of her long-time dreams for Team Bahamas. “I’ve always looked up to the captains on the team and I always wanted to be one, so haven’t been given this role, I’m really excited about this role and to have to kids look up to me,” she stated. “It’s very inspiring so I just want to be there for anything that they need.”

Marvin Johnson, a 17-year-old student at McCollie University, said also back for his fourth appearance on Team Bahamas.

“I feel great. This team is really good. Being the captain and seeing all of them work is really good. The way the team is set up, I believe we will get this five-peat faster than everybody expect because this team is full of dawgs. This team is full young swimmers, who are really hungry and they want to win this championships.”

With his workload ahead of him, having to compete in the 1,500 and 200 freestyles, 50 and 100 butterfly1,500 and 200 backstrokes, said he’s looking forward to adding to his array of medals already won in the past.

“Sine I first got on the team, I always wanted to be the captain and now the time is finally here,” said Johnson, who will serve as head of the men’s team along with Jack Barr. “I hope to have the same impact that the other guys who were before me had on me and the rest of the team.”

Even though that he will be back for his final appearance at the games when the Bahamas host CARIFTA next year, Johnson said he just want to be that “big brother to the younger swimmers because this is a family” and “I want them to look up to me and be able to come and talk to me no matter what is going on.”

Coach Travano McPhee, who was a part of Team Bahamas success in the previous four straight title runs, concurred with the team captains.

“Our eyes are set on the five-peat. We are trying to bring home the championship trophy for the fifth consecutive year,” he said. “We have a very organized team. The team captains are Keianna Moss, Marvin Johnson, Rhanishka Gibbs and Jack Barr, are great leadership for the younger swimmers.

“So we hope to go down there and take the lead on the first day and hold onto it the rest of the way over the four days of competition. We also have open water swim on the fifth day, so we hope our three swimmers will stay focus throughout the meet and do their jobs at the end of the competition.”

Once they arrive in Curacao, McPhee said the team will take to the new pool for their first workout on Wednesday before they start competing on Thursday.

Team members making the trip to Curacao are the following:

Females

Age 11-12 - Alissa Ferguson, Saleste Gibson, Madyson Julien, DNDN McKenzie, Kimaya Saunders, Skyler Smith, Jaylah Threadgill.

Age 13-14 - Lelah Lewis, Alanna Murray, Trinity Pratt, Zoe Williamson and Alexia Zatarain.

Age 15-17 - Rhanishka Gibbs, Katie Goulandris, Kyana Higgs, Keianna Moss, Seannia Norville-Smith, Mia Patton and Elle Theberge.

Males

Age 11-12 - Christon Joseph, Alexander Murray, Trace Russell, Harold Simmons, David Singh and Kaylan Williams.

Age 13-14 - William Farrington, Michael Fox, Tristen Hepburn, Donald Saunders and Dijon Simmons.

Age 15-17 – Jack Barr, Nigel Forbes, Emmanuel Gadson, Ellie Gibson, Marvin Johnson and Caden Wells.