Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, September 19, 2023 – After an active summer of events, Turks and Caicos Islands School Sports (TCISS) season 2023/24 will open with TCISS Football for Boys and Girls on September 30, 2023.

The opening ceremony of TCISS Football will take place at the TCI Football Association on Venetian Road, Providenciales and we will commute to the National Stadium for the games. Games will take place weekly on Fridays and Saturdays. After making their debut last year, TCISS Girls Football will run concurrently with Boys Football on a split pitch from September through October. The championship games are slated for October 28, 2023.

Last year’s Girls’ football champions were the Marjorie Basden High School after defeating the British West Indies Collegiate 2-1. The Boys’ champions were the Clement Howell High School who beat out the Elite High School who forfeited the game 1-0. All current students, fans and alumni are encouraged to watch the games weekly each Friday and Saturday, with tickets for Adults $5 and Children $3.

TCISS Boys Basketball quickly picks up after the Football season ends, spanning from early November 2023 to January 2024. Home and away games are one the highlights of this event, affording all teams a chance at a ‘home-court’ advantage throughout the season. As is tradition in TCISS, schools will be randomly selected and placed into pools to compete. Ultimately the strongest teams will meet at the championships. The reigning champions are the Clement Howell High School who defeated the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School 92-56 for the gold.

In a double-team affair, TCISS Girls Softball will launch a few weeks post Boys Basketball’s commencement, for a season which lasts from November 2023 – January 2024. This means softball and basketball seasons will run concurrently like last year, and tickets will allow entry to both games. The reigning champions are the HJ Robinson High School who won the championships 14-6 in their hometown Grand Turk against the Wesley Methodist High School. The championships will return to the nation’s capital next year, in honour of last year’s champions.

Ending the TCISS season will be the Track and Field events also known as Athletics. The Athletics opener will be the Track and Field Development meets. Historically this has been segmented into two meets: Sprints and Throws, Distance and Jumps.

Following will be the TCISS Inter-High Track and Field Championships also known as Nationals in March 2024 then the TCISS Inter-Primary Track and Field Championships also in March. Last year’s champions of Inter-High was the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School and for Inter-Primary the Ona Glinton Primary School. After being implemented last season, TCISS Track and Field champions are determined by a medal count with gold holding the most weight.

TCISS 2023/24 Sport Schedule

• TCISS Inter-High School Football Boys, TCISS Inter-High School Football Girls – September 30, 2023 – October 28, 2023 (Providenciales)
• TCISS Inter-High School Basketball – November 2023 – January 2024 (All-Island)
• TCISS Inter-High School Softball – November 2023 – January 2023 (Season Games – Providenciales. Semi-finals & Championships – Grand Turk)
• Track and Field Development Meets – February 2024
• TCISS Inter-High School Track and Field – February – March 2024 (Providenciales)
• TCISS Inter-Primary School Track and Field – March 2023 (Providenciales)

The full TCISS event schedule and further updates will be found on the TCI Sports Commission’s website www.gov.tc/sports/.

For the latest news on the TCISS, fans can follow on Instagram (@tcisportscommission) and Facebook (Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission). To share your experience with TCISS on social, use the hashtags #TCISS and #morethanjustsports.

(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – September 6, 2023) – The world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu witnessed another stellar performance from 23-year-old Norman Benjamin Saunders, fondly known as Benjamin or Norm, as he seized two bronze medals at the renowned Jiu-Jitsu CON held from August 31st to September 2nd at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Representing the Turks and Caicos Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Saunders’ expertise was on full display in both the Gi and No Gi competitions of the Blue Belt Adult Middleweight Division. His resilience and skills led him to three victories in the Gi competition, all through submission. In the No Gi competition, he repeated his brilliance with three wins: one by submission, another by points, and one following his opponent’s disqualification. Notably, in both categories, Saunders’ sole defeat was dealt by a distinguished adversary, who occupies the 9th global rank in the Blue Belt Adult Middleweight Division, as recognized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF).

Following this remarkable showing, Saunders has advanced his position, now proudly standing at the 20th rank globally in the Blue Belt Adult Middleweight Division by the IBJJF.

Reflecting on his time in Las Vegas, Saunders conveyed, “I stepped into Jiu-Jitsu CON with the intention to improve my global ranking, and I’m proud to have achieved that. Although I was bested by an exceptional competitor, the entire experience was enlightening. My focus is now directed towards the Toronto International Open IBJFF Jiu-Jitsu Championship on September 16th. The strides I’ve made in this sport are a testament to Coach Alex Yablong, the academy, my dedicated teammates, and the unwavering support from my family and friends.”

Saunders’ journey continues to unfold, with September marking the commencement of his studies at the Liverpool Law School, University of Liverpool. This strategic move to Liverpool positions him advantageously closer to numerous elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions in Europe, offering Saunders invaluable experiences against the best in the sport, which he believes will be instrumental in his ascent in the global rankings.

His mentor, Coach Alex Yablong, remarked, ” Witnessing Norm’s unwavering dedication and subsequent growth in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reaffirm the potential we’ve always seen in him. His recent triumphs prove that his success isn’t coincidental but a product of sheer hard work and the right guidance. I’d like to take this moment to invite more individuals to be a part of our family at the Turks and Caicos Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Together, we can shape and celebrate many more success stories.”

Lastly, Saunders emphasized the essentiality of sponsorships in elevating his game, stating “Every step I take in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just for me; it’s for the Turks and Caicos Islands. By actively seeking sponsorships and brand partnerships, I aim to compete more frequently, further enhancing my skills and experience. My goal is to shine a spotlight on our nation, proving that our small islands can produce world-class talent. Together, we can elevate Turks and Caicos in the world of athletics.”

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, August 29, 2023 – The Bahamas is on the road to being Olympic qualifiers and contenders advancing in the 2024 Olympics with a win of 82 to 75 against Argentina, a gold medalist, causing them to miss the Olympics, for the first time since 2000.

The team victory is mainly thanks to players Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon according to reports as Gordon scored 27 points and Hield 17 in the finale.

Additionally, Deandre Ayton had 10 points and 21 rebounds for The Bahamas in the win over Argentina.

Having never played in the Olympic basketball tournament, the team will now be among 24 others clawing for spots in the Paris games and tournaments next summer.

Team Bahamas continues to shine in the region as it led the metal table in the 2023 Goodwill Games ahead of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

In continuation, the women’s team is also making accomplishments as Jonquel Jones of Grand Bahama was named commissioner’s cup MVP which means most valuable player.