The Tribune

GRAND Bahamian Rasheed Carey and Shannon Francis are playing very well for their respective college teams in the 2016 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Men’s Division National Championships.

Carey’s team, Asa Miami Silver Storms, was able to win the national title in their programme’s first year of NJCAA competition.

He played well as the No.5 five player for Asa Miami, but lost 4-6 3-6 and in doubles play, the sophomore and teammate Zarazua also lost 3-6, 3-6.  

ASA Miami narrowly edged out the 45-point effort from runner-up Seminole State (Oklahoma) with a 47-point victory.

The Silver Storms have been crowned king of the courts.

The college’s women’s team also won the NJCAA which speaks volumes for the tennis programme at the institution.

Francis, playing for Prairie State College, lost his NJCAA singles consolation match 8-5 as flight 3, but put up a very good fight playing the No. 6 seed in the tournament. He played No. 1 flight in doubles.

Francis, along with his partner Diaz, won the first round but lost to Tyler College 7-5, 6-7. The tie break was 5-7. 

Prairie State, the 2016 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference champions, have one of the strongest tennis programmes in the region.

“These two men have done very good in college tennis play this year and we expect more great things from Rasheed and Shannon in the future,” said Perry Newton, the public relations officer for the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association.

“They have represented their countries previously on national teams and now with the excellent training they are receiving in college they are advancing on the college men’s tennis field. 

“This year we have had a plethora of young Bahamians who performed well in tennis college play and we expect this to continue well into the future as the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association continues to encourage and mould the upcoming tennis athletes.”