Bahamian junior swimmers Nigel Forbes and Rhanishka Gibbs highlight the swimming team that will represent The Bahamas at the 2023 CARIFTA Swimming Championships, set for April 6-9 in Willemstad, Curacao.
The two swimmers are a part of the 36-member team that will look to lift the championship trophy for a fifth straight year, and seventh in the past eight CARIFTA meets, at the Sentro Deportivo Korsou - Pisina "Enith Brigitha", in Curacao.
Swimming in the 11-12 girls division for The Bahamas are Alissa Ferguson, Saleste Gibson, Madison Julien, DNDN McKenzie, Kimaya Saunders, Skyler Smith and Jaylah Threadgill.
Representing Team Bahamas in the 11-12 boys division Christon Joseph, Alexander Murray, Trace Russell, Harold Simmons, David Singh and Kaylan Williams.
Competing in the girls 13-14 division for The Bahamas will be Lelah Lewis, Alanna Murray, Trinity Pratt, Zoe Williamson and Alexia Zatarain.
Swimming for The Bahamas in the 13-14 boys division are William Farrington, Michael Fox, Tristen Hepburn, Donald Saunders and Dijon Simmons.
The girls 15-17 team will comprise of Gibbs teaming up with Katie Goulandris, Kyana Higgs, Keianna Moss, Seannia Norville-Smith, Mia Patton and Elle Theberge to compete for The Bahamas.
The final group, the boys 15-17 team, will see Forbes along with Jack Barr, Emmanuel Gadson, Ellie Gibson, Marvin Johnson and Caden Wells swimming for Team Bahamas.
The open water team will feature Aiden Bain, Caellum Darville and the lone female, Layla Saidi.
It will be a role reversal in the coaching staff as Cameron Bruney, who was the assistant for last year's team, will be the head coach for The Bahamas. It will be his first time serving in that capacity for the CARIFTA team. Assisting him will be Travano McPhee who was the head coach of last year's team. He is also the open water head coach. Mancer Roberts Jr. is also an assistant coach. The team manager is Celestial Darville. Karon Pinder-Johnson is the female chaperone and Traven Cargill is the male chaperone.
"I think the team is strong just as it was last year. We have some people coming up who will do very well. There are persons on the team that people do not know how well they will do. Once they get over there once they will get an opportunity to go," Bruney said. "I am looking forward to seeing them compete and doing their best. That is what it is about. It is about development and giving these swimmers an opportunity to race in an environment that they never race in. That is what brings out the best in them."
Bruney added that the team selection process was straightforward and the coaches agreed on the team selection process. As for training, he will have to consult with the other coaches to work out a favorable schedule so that they can start training as soon as possible.
"I will talk to the other coaches on the team and the other ones who have athletes on the team and come up with the best schedule possible so we can all work together," Bruney said.
The Bahamas will be looking to secure a fifth consecutive title in 2023, and seventh in the last eight meets.
The Bahamas came away with 975 total points for a win in the four-day meet in Barbados in 2022. Overall, The Bahamas finished with 65 total medals - 14 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze. Jamaica was second with 833.50 points and the Cayman Islands was third with 754 points.
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