Champs in four years not a pipe dream – CC’s principal
Principal of Cornwall College Michael Ellis has declared that his vision for winning Boys’ Champs by 2025 is still at the top of their bucket list despite setbacks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ellis was speaking at the Student Athletes Appreciation Ceremony at the Cornwall College Chapel last month. He reiterated that their vision for ‘Champs in Four’ is not a pipe dream when the Montego Bay-based all-boys school continues to produce athletes such as Tyrique Gooden and Nathan Reid, who were being given a send-off ceremony to college in the United States of America (USA).
“We will not be deterred. Quite frankly, I’m going to be a realist. With all that has been happening with the pandemic and all, we have to reorganise our strategy. To some, this seems like a wildly ambitious target but for us it’s achievable. A ceremony like the one we have here is the kind of motivation that the boys need. My only regret is that more of the boys were not here today because this will help them buy in more to the dream and aspiration that we have for ‘Champs in Four’,” Ellis said.
Cornwall College is predominantly known for its prowess in schoolboy football, where they have garnered over 30 titles, to include a record 12 daCosta Cup and 10 Olivier Shield titles. The highest placings at Boys’ Champs for the Orange Street-based school has been fifth that came way back in 1979 and 1986. In fact, over the last 10 years, they have only managed a ninth and tenth place finish, and could only muster seven points in 2019.
When asked about matching their level of investment in football, the headmaster told STAR Sports that despite their achievements in football they have not been investing more in that department. He also outlined that they can and are going to match the multimillion-dollar investments of the eastern juggernauts.
“That’s what people think; however, the reality is that we don’t have a lot more money being invested in football than other sports. What we have is a lot of enthusiasm. Of course, because of the success we have had in football, we are feeding off that moment,” Ellis said.
“Of course (we will match the investment of the eastern powerhouses). Yes, we are going to invest heavily in track and field, not just financially but certainly where the human resource is,” he added.
MAJOR INVESTMENT
He continued: “A significant amount of athletes that are bringing glory to the eastern powerhouses are from western Jamaica. The truth be told, it’s very expensive for schools in the western parts of the country to travel to Kingston in any great number. So it’s not that western schools haven’t had the ambition but it’s a major investment. However, we are making it a priority because it’s one of the things we have never won, so hopefully, with the support of our network and old boys we can.”
Ellis dismissed the belief that CC will have to lower their academic standard if they are to broaden their athlete base to match the pool of the current Boys’ Champs contenders.
“I’m a traditionalist and don’t think we have to do that (lower academic standard). The truth is, in my time the brightest boys were also the ones excelling in sports. We are aspiring to inculcate in all our boys that they make the grades, we are not going to compromise,” Ellis said.