Success for St Lucia Tennis Athletes at the 2022 ITF/ Cotecc Under 12 Team Competitions
The 2022 ITF/ Cotecc Under 12 Team Competitions officially started on Sunday July 17th 2022 at the National Racquet Tennis Centre in Trinidad & Tobago. Eight countries in sub-region four participated, including St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Grenada, Suriname, Barbados, US Virgin Islands, and Antigua & Barbuda. The host country Trinidad & Tobago was represented by two teams.
The St. Lucia Tennis Association is pleased to announce six athletes were selected to represent St. Lucia at the 2022 ITF/ Cotecc Under 12 Team Competitions. The boy's team comprised of Captain Iesha Emile, playing at racket one for the team was Alhil Cyril, student of the Carmen Rene Memorial Primary School, Racket two Denney Estava, student of the Gros- Islet Primary and racket three Sanjay Lake, student of the Methodist Primary School. After defeating all opponents in the play-off Jaelyn Henry student of the Carmen Rene Memorial Primary School was positioned at racket one, Amia Jn Marie student of the Gros-Islet Primary School was positioned at racket two and Kahenya Mukora at racket three.
Competition started on Sunday 17th July; St Lucia Boys team played their toughest tie in the tournament against the Bajan trio where they lost the tie 3-0. Alhil Cyril from St Lucia was defeated by Dimitri Kurton 6-0, 6-0 and Denney Estava from St Lucia was defeated by Zane Kirton 6-3 6-4. The Barbados pair Travis Licorish and Dimitri Kurton defeated St Lucia in the doubles game who was played by Sanjay Lake and Alhil Cyril, 6-0 6-1.
St Lucia girls' team lost their first tie to Suriname 2-1. Jn Marie played the first singles at racket one losing in straight sets 6-1 6-3. Henry snatched the second singles for team St. Lucia in straight sets 6-3 6-3. The deciding doubles match could have gone in anyone's favor but the Surinamese was lucky this time around.
Day 2 of Competition
Monday 18th was a successful day for St Lucia boys team but, the girls team lost their tie to Trinidad and Tobago. Alhil Cyril defeated Jack Brown from Trinidad & Tobago 7-6 6-4 and Denney Estava defeated Oliver Harragin 7-6 6-2. Denney Estava and Alhil Cyril teamed up in the doubles to defeat Oliver Harragin and Alex Sharma to secure the win 2-1 against the Trinidadian trio. The girls also faced Trinidadian trio unfortunately losing the tie 3-0. Amia Jn Marie faced Madison Khan losing in straight sets 6-4 6-0. Jaelyn Henray went on to face losing in straight sets 6-2 6-2. Kahenya Mukora and Jeaelyn Henry teamed up in the doubles to face Madison Khan and Lily Mohammed, the St. Lucian team lost in straight sets 6-3 6-1.
Day 3 of Competition
Tuesday 19th St Lucia boys and girls team played a solid game against Grenada girls and boys team, winning all games to secure both of the ties. The boys team won 3-0 and the girls team also won 3-0.
Day 2 of Competition
Wednesday 20th St Lucia girls' team played their final tie of the tournament against Trinidad & Tobago's second girls' team. Amia JnMarie got a walkover, her opponent was injured and Jaelyn Henry lost the second singles match against Abba Campbell-Smith 2-6 2-6. Amia JnMarie and Jaelyn Henry played a great doubles game against Cherdine Sylvester and Abba Campbell but lost 6-4 1-6 8-10.
Final Results
The 2022 ITF/ Cotecc Under 12 Team Competitions came to an end on Thursday July 21st at the National Raquet Tennis Centre in Trinidad & Tobago. The St Lucia girls and boys teams did extremely well overall and the St Lucia Tennis Association is extremely proud of the athletes. Eight countries participated and both St Lucian teams (girls & boy's) secured 3rd place wins.
The St. Lucia Tennis Association would like to express sincere gratitude towards the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) and the St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) for their generous sponsorship of the team. The goals and mission of athletes and Associations are met because of continued support from these and other organizations. Congratulations to team St Lucia and their continuous victory in regional tennis events this year and in future.
Coach Vernon Lewis was the National Coach selected to work with the athletes for months leading up to the tournament and thereafter, the athletes were handed over to Ms. Iesha Emile and Coach Ron Blanchard to train for four weeks, before the team departed. The athletes were captained and chaperoned by Ms. Iesha Emile and Coach Ron Blanchard while in Trinidad & Tobago.