Last May, there was a gathering of more than 500 student athletes from The UWI campuses throughout the region. They were all at the Mona Campus for the 2019 UWI Games.
On display were sporting excellence, teamwork, and Caribbean fellowship, and the announcement of the Vice-Chancellor’s Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year.
Barbadian national netball captain Vanessa Bobb of the Cavehill Campus took the Sportswoman’s trophy. Trinidad and Tobago’s own Jordan Reynos, national hockey player and third year student at the St Augustine Campus, lifted the men’s award. He was a member of the “STA” squad of outstanding young sportsmen and women that won second place at the Games. The Mona Campus team came first, Cavehill third and Open Campus fourth.
Reynos, who is working towards his degree in Sports Management, has represented Trinidad and Tobago in over 30 games. He was part of the gold medal team at the Indoor Pan America Cup 2017, scoring three goals in the finals. This young man from Cascade in Port of Spain was also a member of the national squad that took part in the 2018 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Berlin.
In addition to his sporting achievements, Reynos volunteers as a children’s coach at institutions such as the St Mary’s Children’s Home and through the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. Incredibly, he is also a Sport Development Officer with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
UWI Today sat down with Sportsman of the Year Jordan Reynos for a question and answer session.
UT: What was your Introduction to the world of hockey?
JR: I was born into the sport. My mom was a sportswoman and, when she was in school, she used to play football. She got a knee injury and was introduced to hockey. I started playing when I was five. One of my mom’s coaches, Leroy Sookdeo, started a club named SHAPE (Sookdeo’s Hockey Academy Promoting Excellence) and that’s when my brother and I started in hockey. He’s now in the Defence Force and I’m now working in the Police Service.
UT: What are some tournaments that stand out?
JR: My first tournament was a real eye-opener into the world of Hockey and the level of play. We played against England. They were ranked 6th and we ranked 28th. Then there was the Indoor World Cup in Germany 2018 - my best experience as a hockey player thus far! We played in front of the biggest crowd (of his sporting career) against the home team.
UT: What are your thoughts on sport in Trinidad and Tobago, including sport management?
JR: The reason why I’m doing sport management is because we have a lot of raw talent in Trinidad and Tobago and I don’t think our athletes reach their full potential. If we can better manage these shortcomings of ours, we can be on the world stage and achieve and maintain good recognition in numerous sports. We just need to tap into our ability as athletes and doing this degree will help me in helping other athletes.
UT: How was your UWI Games experience?
JR: Different. I went to the one in 2017 in Cave Hill and we stayed at a hotel. This time, in Mona, we stayed on a hall. And the experience was a totally different one. Mona’s atmosphere is more of a team and sport-oriented environment. From where we stayed, we could walk to the football, basketball, and netball fields. A nice experience in terms of bonding and interacting with other campuses!
UT: How does it feel to be VC Sportsman of the Year?
JR: It was a shocker because, looking at the fellow nominees, I didn’t think I would win. But it really feels great to be voted Sportsman of the Year and achieve something regionally.
UT: How would you use your position to influence others to get involved in sport?
JR: I’m all for using sport as a tool for development. My job with the Police Service is sport development officer. Sport is a tool that we can use in curbing crime and developing people. At an early age I was encouraged to use sport. When I went to QRC they always encouraged students to develop themselves not just academically, but as well-rounded people.
UT: What would you say to fellow students who may be hesitant to get involved in extracurricular activities?
JR: Sport helps in developing people. I have been travelling since I was 16. It helps in time management. That’s a big one for me - because if you don’t manage your time properly, it can affect you as a person. Sport is a really good avenue to help people learn about themselves as well. I would encourage any UWI student to get involved in a sport.
UT: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
JR: Sport has done a lot for me and my goal is to give back through sport. I like working with the youth and in any way that I can give back through sport, I will gladly do so. It’s something I love.
UT: What are your thoughts on the new sports programmes being offered through The UWI’s Faculty of Sport?
JR: They show that The UWI is really serious about sport in the region. I really like the “One UWI” mode, opening up more opportunities for Caribbean people to be involved in sport – not just playing in the sport but at the administrative and other levels. |
