The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THREE junior champions were crowned after their finals matchups at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) Junior Tennis Nationals.

Patrick Mactaggart, Chase Newbold, and Vonteneke Rolle were among the first champions to be crowned as the remaining finals matchups and doubles competition will continue today at the National Tennis Centre (NTC).

The championships got underway on Friday last week and will wrap up today after hosting 100 tennis players in singles and doubles matches for the under 12 through 18 divisions.

Mactaggart vs Ayai Bethel

Mactaggart took down one of Eleuthera’s top junior tennis players, Ayai Bethel. He came into the junior tennis nationals fresh off a win in the under-14 boys category at the Spring Classic tourney.

Mactaggart defeated Bethel in the under-14 boys singles matchup in two sets 6-0, 6-0 to once again win the championship of his age group.

The newest champion talked about his comfortable win. “I played pretty well it’s always good finishing off with a 6-0,6-0 but overall I had a pretty good tournament,” he said. He added that his game plan was to keep the ball in play, do not push it, and hit it.

Bethel, the under 14 boys runner up, said despite it being a tough loss it was a great match and he credited Mactaggart for simply being a better player in the matchup. Overall, he said it was a good time making it to his first finals and he will hope for a better showing next time.

Newbold vs Khai Rees

Similar to Mactaggart, Newbold not only left the Spring Classic tourney as a champion but followed it up with another win at the junior tennis nationals this week. Newbold closed out Rees in the under 12 boys singles matchup in two sets. He ended the match 6-3 in set one and 6-1 in set two.

Newbold talked about adding another championship hardware to his collection.

“In the first set I don’t think I did as well as the second set I had to push myself and push my energy also but overall in the tournament I think I did good,” he said.

He added that it felt good to be the champion of his age group because he felt that he worked hard enough in practice to put it into play on the tennis court. He said the feeling was indescribable winning two straight titles in his final year of primary school. He will now look to continue his success at St Andrew’s next.

Rolle vs Caitlyn Pratt

In one of the more competitive matchups on the day, Rolle versus Pratt was must-see action at the NTC. The two competitors gave it their all and seemed evenly matched most of the game with Pratt taking the first set 6-0. However, Rolle was determined to stay in the under 12 girls singles competition. In a tightly-contested second set Rolle finished 7-6 over Pratt. With one tiebreaker set remaining, Rolle collected another win after scoring 6-4 to topple Pratt in set three.

The under 12 girls champion talked about how it felt to earn a comeback victory over the Spring Classic champion for their age group.

“I just had confidence and I pushed my way back…I started putting a spin on my ball and just hitting with more power,” she said.

With the remaining finals resuming today including the doubles competition, Jerald Carroll will look to come out on top as a triple crown champion. Carroll will compete in three matches, including doubles competition, today to complete the triple crown feat once again.

“I am excited I have to prepare for my match tomorrow get some good sleep and just come out and play my game and I know I can win if I play how I usually play,” Carroll said.

Matchups get underway 9am this morning at the NTC.