Toco Police Youth Club 2nd at US Open Netball

The Toco Police Youth Club (PYC) finished second in the Mixed Championship at the 2023 US Open Netball Championships.

The championships, which involved 24 states across the USA and teams from across the world, ran from 3-5 November in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Toco PYC won seven of their nine games at the Alario Center Westwego in New Orleans.

San Francisco Stars won the ladies championship, while Vancouver Comets won the Mixed Championships.

Toco PYC head WPC Suzette Kelly said the tournament exceeded all expectations.

“I'm so proud of my players. It really goes to show with hard work, determination, commitment, discipline, support, believing in oneself, and all these wonderful ideals, that anything is possible,” she said.

 “The tournament, this year, really exceeded all expectations, having participated in 2019, before the COVID-19 Pandemic," she added.

WPC Kelly said that it was difficult to get funding for the tournament but the experience wielded the team together.

“Getting there though was no walk in the park as the team faced various setbacks with funding, visa restrictions, and injuries but I was determined not to disappoint my team as we would have been training and preparing a whole year for this auspicious occasion. All parties met and it was agreed that the team was there for a reason, having come thus far and we were not going to give up,” she said.

“Everyone supported and encouraged each other even when the competition was tight. What could have divided us brought the team together and it showed on and off the court," WPC Kelly added.

The Toco PYC head thanked WPC Sonia Robinson PC Keston Greig, Monica Maule, Joel Brown, and officials from the Bon Air PYC for their assistance.

“A win for one is a win for all Youth Clubs. We are the Toco PYC; making our community and country proud.”

In addition to the 24 States across the USA, teams came from Australia, Canada, Fiji, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Namibia, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom and the US Virgin Islands. 

Since 2009, this annual championship has brought together women’s and mixed/co-ed Netball teams from around the world to compete for the U.S. Open Netball Champion title.

Organizers said the primary objective of this event is to foster the development of American athletes, coaches, and officials, as netball is a grassroots sport in the USA.