The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@trbunemedia.net

AFTER making a successful debut for the Apache Athletics women's tennis team at Tyler Junior College, Kerrie Cartwright came home for a much needed break over the weekend.

She spent some time with her father, Sean Cartwright, as they watched the 45th Annual Long Island Regatta in Salt Pond.

"It's nice to have this time to do some family bonding," said Cartwright, who attended the regatta for the first time. "It was a great experience for me. I love it."

Although she was amazed at the amount of alcoholic beverages that were consumed, Cartwright said it was a festive time watching everybody relaxing and having a good time.

Having helped the Apache Athletics to an impressive 13-2 win-loss season, including 4-0 at home, Cartwright said she deserved to enjoy some relaxation herself.

However, she was careful not to get too caught up with the environment as she has to get back into the flow of things at Tyler Jr College this week.

"I'm going back to school for summer school," she said. "I'm staying there so that I can finish school. Then I'm going to focus on getting into a division one college when I'm done."

While the focus will be on her education, Cartwright won't be eligible to compete in any more tournaments during the summer as she has exhausted her quota for the year. "I'm just going to train," she said.

Looking back at her season, Cartwright said she couldn't ask for a better debut at the collegiate level.

"I think we only lost twice as a team and I only lost once," she stated. "So I had so much fun playing this year."

With the season over and done with, Cartwright said her focus is on completing her studies at Tyler College before she transfers to Florida State where she intends to continue her promising tennis career.

"When I go back, I intend to complete the paper work and get ready for the transfer," she said.

Cartwright, who turned 20 on April 11, said she will miss being in Texas, even though she never envisioned that was where she would end up at Tyler Jr College.

But by the same token, she said she's looking forward to moving closer to home in Florida when she eventually transfers to Florida State.

Whenever he gets the opportunity to entertain her daughter at home, Sean Cartwright said he tries to take full advantage of the rare occasions and this was one of those special moments.

"This was a good experience for Kerrie. This was her first time being in Long Island and coming up here for a regatta was a good experience," he said. "To be able to be with people who are involved with regatta was a tremendous experience.

"She came and learnt about the racing and she got to ride in a boat and got up close to the boats and sailors as they competed. So it was good for her to learn about what the regatta is all about."

The senior Cartwright said anytime he gets an opportunity to give his daughter or even his son a chance to experience life on another island in the Bahamas, he is prepared to do so.

"They need to see the beauty of the island and this is an ideal time because she also got a chance to see the regatta as well," he said. "I think it was a really good experience for her."

He said it's something that he hopes she can relish as she goes back to Texas to complete her studies at Tyler Jr College.