Campion celebrates its meteoric rise to SCQ champion
WITH THE coveted Schools Challenge Quiz (SCQ) trophy now on display at 105 Hope Road in Kingston as testament to Campion College’s “meteoric rise” in the famed competition, principal Grace Baston has declared that the school has sewn the seeds of an SCQ culture, which, by all indications, will only get richer.
“We have a whole stable, a whole arsenal from which to draw youngsters in the lower school who have been training with this team. So I feel that we are going to continue to be a serious contender for this title,” said Baston on Tuesday night moments after Campion, in its third final in five years, turned in an incredible performance to beat St Jago High High.
In doing so, Campion became just the 14th school to win the competition, which began in 1970.
“I see the team’s rise as meteoric. The coaches have done an excellent job in bringing us to this point. We didn’t have a SCQ culture before. We have it now,” Baston asserted.
Tuesday night marked the third time Campion reached the finals, having been beaten in 2014 and 2016. The build-up to the start of the highly anticipated clash seemed an eternity inside the Television Jamaica (TVJ) studio along Lyndhurst Road.
It was the fourth meeting between the two teams in four consecutive seasons. Both teams appeared tense at the start, with Campion the first to blink and St Jago ending section one with a slender 7-6 lead.
In the end, Campion’s composure and game management brought them the win and a highly impressive 47-39 final score.
“I am relieved for the students. They said they came in feeling confident, but that fight that St Jago put up was a serious one,” Baston said.
Principal of St Jago High Collette Feurtado-Pryce was quick to congratulate her counterpart and the victors, while also applauding her students’ effort.
“The young men did not give up. I am extremely proud of their performance this evening,” said Feurtado-Pryce. As seen, Leroy Cassanova of second form was selected to play and he was a natural. This augers well for the future. The coaches did a superb job, and we are looking forward to next season,” she added.