Maroon and Gold were the dominant colors at the Campion College Auditorium on Tuesday as Wolmer’s copped both the ISSA girls’ and boys’ Under-19 Table Tennis titles.

In the girls’ final, the Heroes Circle-based school won a hotly contested final 3-2 against St. Jago High while the boys’ final saw them defeat Kingston College by a similar score line.

The girls’ final saw a Wolmer’s team boasting three national players, namely 2023 National Champion Tsenaye Lewis, her older sister Gianna Lewis as well as Liana Campbell facing a St. Jago outfit including two national players of their own, Kelsey Davidson and Keara Whyte, who was the runner up to Lewis at last year’s JTTA National Championships.

The tie began with Tsenaye Lewis defeating Kelsey Davidson three sets to one (11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7) to put the Wolmerians up 1-0.

Keara Whyte then made it 1-1 with three sets to one victory over Gianna Lewis (11-6, 11-2, 6-11, 11-6).

Wolmer’s then restored their advantage when Liana Campbell beat Leanna Smith by three sets to one (6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8).

In what was perhaps the tie’s most anticipated clash, Tsenaye and Keara White then had a rematch of the 2023 National Championship final with Lewis having the chance to clinch the title for Wolmer’s.

Whyte had the best possible start, winning the first two sets (11-9, 11-9) before Lewis came roaring back in the third set to win 11-6. The fourth set was then a back-and-forth affair, with Whyte eventually prevailing 14-12 to set up the title-deciding match between Gianna Lewis and Kelsey Davidson.

In the decider, Lewis won the first two sets (11-2, 11-6) before Davidson got on the board in the third (11-9) before Lewis won the fourth (11-9) to secure the title for Wolmer’s.

For Lewis (Gianna) and Campbell, this title meant a lot more as they are both outgoing seniors.

“I am overjoyed to be leaving with this title. My team and I have worked hard and we made it our goal to ensure we take home the gold again this year as our final hoorah,” Lewis told SportsMax.tv.

“My sister Tsenaye, Liana and I realized that this day would come when the more experienced players will leave Wolmer’s so we have prioritized training and motivating the next generation of players,” she added.

Campbell described the win as “an incredible and bittersweet feeling.”

“Ending my last year victorious is such an awarding and joyous feeling. Sharing that with the team creates another fond memory to look back on as I go. I also feel a bit saddened as I’ll never be able to play another ISSA event and represent my school with my lovely teammates. I’ll especially miss the titular bis rides to matches where it was all smiles and laughter.” she added.

The boys’ final saw Wolmer’s take a 1-0 lead over Kingston College thanks to Joel Lamm’s three sets to one win over Javier Levene (11-3, 6-11, 11-1, 11-2).

KC got back on level terms when Gemarco Smith won a five-setter (16-14, 11-3, 4-11, 8-11, 11-9) against Wolmer’s captain Azizi Johnson.

Dominic Robinson then gave the North-Street based institution a 2-1 lead thanks to a straight set (11-2, 11-6, 12-10) win over Maleek Palma.

Wolmer’s made it 2-2 when Jayden Ebanks beat Alden Howard (10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9) before Jelani Barnaby secured the title for Wolmer’s with a straight set win (11-9, 11-2, 11-6) over KC captain Chadwick Duff.

“For the girls, this is the third time that we have been champions. Originally it was U-16 but the girls moved up to U-19 and we were also the All Island champions so hopefully we can repeat that,” said winning coach Clive Grossett.

“For the boys, they also won in U-16 and now they’ve moved up as well. We’re now coming for the all island championship there as well,” he added.

Immaculate Conception High beat Jonathan Grant 3-0 to win the girls’ U-16 title while Jamaica College beat Kingston College 3-0 to win the boys’ equivalent.

The all island matchups will be finalized after the ISSA Rural Area semi-finals and finals scheduled for Friday at the GC Foster College.

It was with an air of triumph and celebration that Tsenaye Lewis secured her first Jamaica singles title at the recent National Table Tennis Championships in Kingston. Alongside her sister, Gianna, the dynamic duo also showcased their exceptional talents, leaving an indelible mark on the tournament.

Over the course of three intense days of fierce competition, the Lewis sisters emerged as triumphant champions, collecting an impressive haul of 10 trophies across seven categories. Their remarkable achievements were a testament to their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to their craft.

Tsenaye Lewis beat Keeara Whyte 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6 to win the national women’s title. She further showcased her prowess by clinching first place in the Junior Mixed Doubles alongside Rasheed Clarke. She was also queen of the U19 women. Meanwhile, she and sister, Gianna, were also runners-up in the women’s doubles beaten 13-11, 11-9, 11-13, 13-11 to Liana Campbell and Keeara Whyte.

Her collaboration with Roberto 'Dino' Byles earned her a well-deserved second-place finish in the Mixed Doubles, while her participation in the winning St. Andrew parish team underscored her versatility. Additionally, Tsenaye's partnership with Gianna led them to a commendable second place in the Junior Girls Doubles.

The championship was a remarkable achievement for Tsenaye and her sisters' exceptional performances highlighted their commitment to continuous growth and learning within the sport.

"I am happy with my performance and excited about continuing to learn and grow in the sport. I look forward to putting in more work to get my game to the next level," an excited Tsenaye said afterwards.

Meanwhile, Gianna, reflecting on the achievements during the tournament, expressed her satisfaction  despite facing some physical challenges. "It was a good tournament, although I wasn't feeling so well. I did my best and am happy that I was able to apply some of the skills I have been working on throughout the summer," she remarked.

The Lewis sisters embarked on their competitive journey seven years ago, representing Jamaica at the Caribbean Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championship. Since then, they have showcased their talent on international stages in countries such as Cuba, Guyana, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.

Their impressive track record includes title victories and defenses in various age categories at the Caribbean, national, and parish levels. Both Gianna and Tsenaye are also integral members of the Wolmer's Table Tennis team, which has clinched victory at the Inter-School Secondary Association's Table Tennis Championships on multiple occasions.

Meanwhile, Mark Phillips defeated Roberto Byles 11-8, 11-1, 13-11, 11-8 to claim the Men’s title.

Former national champion Kane Watson and partner Gari Whyte took the men’s doubles title defeating Byles and Alphanso Morris is a five-set thriller 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6.