As the 2026 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games draw near, Saint Lucia’s national table tennis squad has wrapped up a months-long preparation campaign anchored by two high-stakes domestic competitions: the National Premier League and the National Championships.
Running from February through July 2026, the National Premier League brought seven teams together for intense, consistent play, and included every athlete selected to represent Saint Lucia at the August 1–8 CAC Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The men’s roster for the regional event features DeAndre Calderon, Manie Eleuthere and Leshon Francis, while Shatal Charles, Zarianne Anthony and Cherese Darcheville will compete in women’s events – all three of whom led the Blazers to the title of the league’s most competitive women’s side.
In the men’s playoff bracket, Rising Stars turned in an undefeated postseason run to claim the national crown, a result head coach Chris Wells credits heavily to the late addition of DeAndre Calderon to the squad. Led by Calderon and key contributor Khamari Harris, Rising Stars swept defending champions Eagles 3-0 in the championship match. The undefeated run included dominant wins over Tigers, Challengers and Warriors en route to the title, with the roster also featuring coach Wells and teenage talent Daniella Symphorien. Eagles, who entered the final as the regular season’s most consistent side after posting four straight 5-0 wins against Challengers, Blazers, Tigers and Lucian Strikers, counted CAC-bound athletes Eleuthere and Francis alongside Leonardo Bovell on their roster.
Following the domestic events, individual honors went to Calderon as the top male performer, while Charles took home the title of best female singles player, solidifying her standing among Saint Lucia’s top table tennis talent.
Beyond the domestic titles, Wells emphasized that the two competitions serve as an invaluable preparation step for the upcoming CAC Games. The extended five-month league schedule gave athletes repeated opportunities to test the technical and tactical skills they refined in training against a diverse range of opponents and match scenarios, helping build critical decision-making abilities, match management skills and mental resilience under pressure.
For the coaching staff, the league also provided a unique opportunity to track performance patterns over time, spot persistent weaknesses, and adjust training plans ahead of the regional qualifier and main CAC Games event.
The National Championships, which hosted women’s team, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and men’s and women’s singles events, further elevated preparation by creating a high-pressure tournament environment matching what athletes will face in Santo Domingo. The event also acted as a final assessment tool for the technical staff to evaluate athlete form, physical readiness and ability to execute game plans against the nation’s toughest competition.
With preparations complete, Wells says the program’s core goal has been to get athletes peaking at the right time for the CAC Games. He expects his squad to compete fearlessly, leave everything on the table, and put into practice all the skills and experience gained from the domestic season. While each athlete enters the regional competition with their own individual targets, Wells will be watching closely to see how competitors execute their tactical game plans, maintain mental focus and lean into their well-honed physical abilities in Santo Domingo.