Mahkeal Parris, a 16-year-old junior at St. Croix Central High School, is headed to Moscow, Russia, to compete in the 2018 World 9-Ball Championship Juniors on Oct. 31.
To help him travel there, a fundraising activity was held at the school on Oct. 18, with students paying a small fee to wear colored clothes, and teachers and staff gave financial donations. Mahkeal was presented with a check for $600 at a brief ceremony held at the school on Oct. 22.
“What we do as a school […], we support our students; whether it’s academics, whether it’s sports or extra-curricular activities, we are there for our students,” said Principal Carlos McGregor. “When we found out that Mahkeal [had] earned a spot on the United States team to go to Russia, we knew we had to step in and help.”
“We know he’ll come back with the big trophy because he’s been doing extremely well in the sport,” McGregor said.
Debra Parris, Mahkeal’s mother, was on hand for the check presentation. “Mahkeal has been playing the sport at a very young age and after making his attempt at the barbershop, one of the customers recommended him to a retired police officer, the late Claude E. Petersen, and he started coaching him,” she said.
Around age six, the barbershop was where Mahkeal picked up a pool stick for the first time.
“A pool table was in the middle by the barbers, and one day, I picked up a stick and I just started playing,” he said. After that, “one of the barbers began to teach me from then.”
Parris highlighted some of her son’s accomplishments in the 10 years he’s played the sport. “He has traveled to many parts of the United States to compete with the Billiards Educational Foundation,” she said.
In 2016, Parris pointed out that Mahkeal finished second in the finals, earning him a spot to compete in the World 9-Ball Championships held in Shanghai, China. In 2017, he placed fourth in the finals, making him eligible to participate in the 2018 Moscow games.
“I want to say thanks to Principal McGregor, his staff and the students of Central High School for making it possible by giving us this donation,” she said.
Mahkeal said being invited to play in Moscow came as a surprise to him. “This is shocking to me because I wasn’t expecting to go,” he said. “The president of the organization called my mother and asked me to go. It’s overwhelming.”
Mahkeal expressed his gratitude to his mother and coaches Claude E. Peterson, Jerome “JT” Anthony and Leona Edwards, and for the support they have provided over the years.
“Without them, none of this would be possible,” he said.
Mahkeal will travel with his parents and coaches to Moscow on Oct. 27 and return to St. Croix on Nov. 5.
