-
Share This:
-
Rate this article:
Weather
Partly Cloudy
Max: 85°F | Min: 75°F
| The enrichment of SAC’s legacy |
|
Fred Sturrup
Guardian Columnist/Sales Executive
Published: Mar 06, 2012
St. Augustine’s College (SAC) reigns supreme once again. The history of this country is dotted with excellent performances in sports by athletes from a number of different schools. As far back as the 1950s when school sports began to draw full national interest, the annual competitions between the student-athletes from various institutions were eagerly anticipated. Throughout all the years, on occasions, Government High School (GHS) rose to the forefront in track and field or one of the other disciplines. The same could be said for the likes of St. John’ College, then in later years, C.C. Sweeting, R.M. Bailey, St. Anne’s School, Aquinas College and Tabernacle Baptist High. Without a doubt though, one school has been more successful than the others… much more, no matter the sport. Reference of course is to the school proudly called the “Big Red Machine” by the SAC family. The Nassau Guardian sports lead on Saturday past informed that last week, SAC captured another Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) track and field title. Led by seasoned coach Dianne Woodside and international star sprinter Shaunae Miller, the Big Red Machine was awesome. The winning trend for SAC started with athletes such as track standout Oscar Francis, and the versatile Lou Adderley and Vince Ferguson; continued with track athletes Hugh Bullard, Martin Lundy, Pat McClure, Bernard Adderley, Malcolm Adderley, Clifford Moss, Whitney Rolle, Kenneth Bowe and Evanette McPhee; the legacy was prolonged by multi-sports talents Fred “Papa” Smith, Sharon Storr, Jayson Moxey, Judy Lundy, Pattie Symonette, Denizez Moss and the current era of stars. Lou Adderley, Ferguson and John Todd became legendary coaches as the sporting legacy of St. Augustine’s continued to grow. The monks at SAC in the old days, Fr. Frederic, Fr. Elias and others inspired the concept of academic/athletic excellence and a succession of educators through the subsequent decades, associated with the sporting program at SAC, have kept the spirit of dominance alive. Fr. Elias and the other monks embodied that resolve and determination to get the best out of the SAC students. The late Vince Ferguson who was so instrumental to nation building through sports and education, evolved as a Bahamian icon because Fr. Elias saw something in the young boy from San Salvador. I wish to take nothing away from the athletes, over these many years, who have contributed so much to other educational programs, sometimes in success, but more often in defeat at the hands of the powerful SAC students. Indeed, it was a tight race this time around between the SAC Big Red Machine and the Queen’s College Comets. SAC accumulated 1,307.50 points to top QC’s 1,259.50. Yet, there was a winner and it was SAC. This grand institution must be saluted for continuity at the top in sports. It is no small deed for one school to be so successful despite the year, the decade or the era. It’s truly amazing! Congratulations SAC!
•To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at fredericksturrup@gmail.com. |
