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Two weeks of training with a former World Champion helped Bermudian squash prodigy Micah Franklin hone his game to claim the Caribbean Under-17 crown.

Franklin, who came into the tournament in Barbados, as an outside hope for the title, cruised to victory without dropping a single game.

The 16-year-old, a popular figure who also coaches younger kids at the Bermuda Squash Club, spent two weeks before the tournament working on his game with John White, the former world number one, in Philadelphia.

He says White's tips and a rigorous personal training regime had helped him play the best squash of his life and surprise some of the Caribbean's top young players.

"Everything just felt perfect. I had prepared so well and I just played awesome. I came into the tournament as fourth seed and I was expected to maybe get to the semis.

"I had played the Guyanan top seed a few times before and had never beaten him. I went into that game with no pressure on me whatsoever and I just played the best I have ever played in a tournament. I beat him 3-0."

Winning it all

Franklin went on to beat the BVI's Kevin Hannoway 3-0 in the final to cap a dream tournament.

He said White had given him a checklist of pointers - hit the ball harder, keep your feet moving at the tee, keep your racket up - which he had read to himself before every match to be mentally prepared.

"He made a big difference to my game. Training - just me and him - for two weeks, taught me a lot."

Franklin's success was based on more than just a few weeks with a world champ. His work ethic is renowned at the Bermuda Squash Club where he trains five times a week on the court and twice a week in the gym.

"He's just become a really good player in the past few years," said Patrick Foster, director of squash at the club.

"It's all down to hard work. He has a fantastic attitude, he's really popular at the club and everyone here is so pleased to see him do well."

Franklin hopes to go to University in Philadelphia, where White is the squash coach. He would like to have a crack at going pro but his passion lies with coaching.

"I love coaching the kids at the squash club and that's something I'd like to get into full-time," said Franklin, who believes he is getting closer to challenging the likes of Nick Kyme and Foster, who have dominated the senior men's game in Bermuda for years.

Franklin was not the only young player to shine at Junior CASA. Bermuda finished third overall in the tournament featuring teams from Cayman, Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, OECS, BVI, Bahamas and Barbados.

A squad of 15 players, five of whom were making their international debuts, fared extremely well against tough opposition in the singles events.

Emma Keane, D'Vario Thompson and Kion Knights reached the semi final stages in their respective age groups. In the team event both the boys and girls team battled through the group stages to reach the semi finals before being knocked out by Trinidad & Tobago in both events.[[In-content Ad]]

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