Local squash player Amanda Haywood has attained a full scholarship to the University of Virginia.
The 17-year-old St Michael School student, who will be studying finance, told SUNSPORT she was grateful.
“I’m very glad, grateful and thankful for this opportunity because it’s kind of a lifetime opportunity to get a full scholarship for four years. I’m also very excited to go to Virginia,” she said.
Haywood, captain of the Barbados girls team that won 35th Caribbean Area Squash Association Junior Championships in Guyana earlier this year, explained that it was said that the way she presented herself as an individual and as an athlete would have allowed her to be considered for the opportunity.
“They try to find people who are a good personality fit for the school. So I thank the persons who not only moulded me into who I am as a squash player but who I am as an individual.”
The squash player, who also has a passion for badminton, said she was aware numerous opportunities were going to present themselves during that four years and she was open to them since they were capable of allowing her to grow as an individual and in her sport.
With more than six months at home before she leaves in August 2018, she is hoping to compete in some tournaments next year.
“I would have junior and senior nationals and then the Caribbean Squash Championships.
“For Caribbean Juniors I would definitely like to win the Under-19 category as it would be my last year and for the seniors I would like to reach finals or semis. The highest I have been was fifth,” she explained.
She added because she would be playing squash at university didn’t at all mean that she was not going to still play badminton.
“I’m still going to play badminton because I really like the game. I am going to try to train for it and still play in the nationals. I don’t know about the Caribbean,” she said.
Haywood added that now was the time to play since it was expected to be even more challenging balancing her studies and training. (RG)
