CELEBRATION OF YOUTH

In this weeks edition of The Anguillian, you will find an article on Anguilla Tennis Academy’s children dominating the St. Maarteners this past weekend. Also, I believe this it has been mentioned before: I am a huge fan of the University of Florida Gators in all sports.

I frequently keep up with all sports and at this moment the Florida Gators currently find themselves at the top in many sports including American Football. This is being said because at the tennis courts of Cuisinart Resort and Spa, I spoke with Wilma and Oris Proctor, parents of Shara Proctor. They informed me that Shara would be competing in a track and field meet at Clemson University in South Carolina. On the gator zone website, the following was mentioned about Shara: “Proctor, the Anguillian national record holder in the long jump, quickly showed what she is capable of in her first-ever collegiate meet in day one of the Clemson Opener. She posted an NCAA provisional mark with a leap of 6.13m/20-1.50 to earn a first place finish by more than half a foot.”
This is an extremely exciting time for Anguillians and sports. The Anguilla Tennis Academy is building a state of the art facility solely dedicated to the instruction of children in not only tennis but academics. There is a new football stadium being constructed near the park. Young children representing the ATA travelled to St. Maarten and came back tennis champions for the first time ever and Shara Proctor placed first in a competition where the best in the world compete. It seems as if Anguilla is not so small any more. This also shows that the work people undertaking in the community in the areas of sports development are doing a fantastic job.
Many times, sports are underscored in the area of social development for young people. No one can disagree with the fact the body and mind go hand in hand. It is important to strengthen the mind but it is equally as important to strengthen and maintain the body. I encourage everyone to get their children involved in some type of physical activity and I challenge all the coaches and organizers to continue doing a incredible job.