Tuesday, December 10, 2019

SHAVAUL Butters

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#SHAVAUL Butters is putting up impressive numbers and is garnering attention from scouts for his play on the prep circuit.

#The former St George’s Jaguar has made a seamless transition continuing his high school career with the Aspire Basketball Academy Wizards in Louisville, Kentucky.

#Butters continues to post impressive numbers, most recently 30 points, 21 rebounds and two blocks Saturday night against Tennessee Prep at the Marshall County Hoopfest in Kentucky.

#The 6’7″ forward is in his first year with the programme and has made an immediate impact, averaging a double double through the first quarter of the season. He became the second Jaguar within the last three years to attend the Aspire programme following Ahmard Harvey who is currently in his freshman season with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

#Aspire Academy is a residential, basketball-centred college preparatory programme and training institute on the campus of Holy Cross High School in Louisville.

#The Wizards have produced 20 players who have matriculated to NCAA basketball over the past three years, including 14 at the Division I level.

#Student athletes have earned over $975,000 in scholarship money from those DI universities and $150,000 of scholarship money earned from two-year colleges.

#Aspire Academy offers an 11-month post graduate programme which gives participants an additional year of development, exposure and academic prep while maintaining four years of college eligibility.

#The basketball schedule consists of approximately 45-40 games against junior colleges, prep schools and D1 JV teams. According to its website, “The vision of Aspire Academy is to use the game of basketball as a vehicle to inspire, develop and cultivate future community leaders with the core academic and leadership skills to prepare them for life beyond Aspire.”

Friday, May 22, 2020

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#SHAVAUL Butters’ junior season has set the stage for a breakout senior year and a busy recruitment period for his upcoming senior season.

#Butters – a 6’8”, 210-pound “stretch four” power forward – posted impressive numbers for the Aspire Basketball Academy Wizards in Louisville, Kentucky.

#The only member of the roster to compete in all 33 contests last season, he led the team in several statistical categories in his first year with the programme.

#Butters led the team in total points (386 points), field goal percentage (57 per cent, 173-303), three point percentage (40 per cent, 19-48), and total rebounds (323). He finished second on the team at 11.7 points per game and averaged a double double with 10 rebounds per game.

#He shot 64 per cent from the free throw line and also finished with 32 total blocks, 28 steals and 35 assists.

#His season was highlighted with 30 points, 21 rebounds and two blocks against Tennessee Prep last December at the Marshall County Hoopfest in Kentucky.

#In the classroom, Butters has a 3.0 GPA and a score of 20 on his ACT. He became the second former St George’s Jaguar within the last three years to attend the Aspire programme following Ahmard Harvey who is currently in his freshman season with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

#Aspire Academy is a residential, basketball-centred college preparatory programme and training institute on the campus of Holy Cross High School in Louisville.

#The Wizards have produced 20 players who have matriculated to NCAA basketball over the past three years, including 14 at the Division I level.

#Student athletes have earned over $975,000 in scholarship money from those DI universities and $150,000 amount of scholarship money earned from two-year colleges.

#Aspire Academy offers an 11-month post graduate programme which gives participants an additional year of development, exposure and academic prep while maintaining four years of college eligibility.

#The basketball schedule consists of approximately 45-40 games against junior colleges, prep schools and D1 JV teams.

#According to its website, the vision of Aspire Academy is “to use the game of basketball as a vehicle to inspire, develop and cultivate future community leaders with the core academic and leadership skills to prepare them for life beyond Aspire.”

Shavaul Butters

Thursday, September 10, 2020

#By Renaldo Dorsett

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#SHAVAUL Butters will relocate to a new state to complete his senior season of high school basketball and prepare himself for collegiate recruitment in the class of 2021.

#The Grand Bahama native will transfer to Elevation Prep in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after he spent last season with Aspire Academy in Louisville, Kentucky.

#“Elevation Prep is a preparatory high school and postgraduate basketball academy,” according to its website. “Our mission is to provide our student-athletes with a holistic college experience to best prepare them for their careers as collegiate athletes and beyond.”

#Elevation partners with Lakewood Virtual School and local area colleges and universities to provide its student-athletes with an accredited academic experience.

#Butters has begun to garner attention from major Division I basketball programmes and received his first offer of what is expected to be an active recruiting process this summer.

#He was officially offered by the Austin Peay State University Governors. The Governors compete in the Ohio Valley Conference and most recently made the NCAA Tournament in 2016.

#He has also received high interest from UNLV, Maryland, Eastern Kentucky, North Carolina- Greensboro and several others.

#Butters, a 6’8” 210-pound “stretch four” power forward, posted impressive numbers for Aspire Academy.

#The only member of the roster to compete in all 33 contests last season, he led the team in several statistical categories in his first year with the programme.

#Butters led the team in total points (386 points), field goal percentage (57 per cent, 173-303), three point percentage (40 per cent, 19-48), and total rebounds (323). He finished 2nd on the team at 11.7 points per game and averaged a double double with 10 rebounds per game.

#He shot 64 per cent from free throw and also finished with 32 total blocks, 28 steals and 35 assists.

#His season was highlighted with 30 points, 21 rebounds and two blocks against Tennessee Prep last December at the Marshall County Hoopfest in Kentucky. In the classroom, Butters has a 3.0 GPA and a score of 20 on his ACT.

of Monday, October 2, 2017

Mark Knowles

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FROM the time he retired in 2016, former touring pro Mark Knowles said his intention was to come home and contribute to the sport of tennis.

#Now is the ideal time.

#On Tuesday, Knowles will launch his Mark Knowles Elite Tennis Programme that will be a part of the Albany Tennis Academy. The academy was opened this month and is powered by Lleyton Hewitt with Grant Doyle as the Director of Tennis.

#“I always wanted to figure out a way for me to get a programme started here,” Knowles told The Tribune. “I never really had a good fix until the Albury Tennis Academy came on stream. It’s a good fix to do it now because of the facility and Grant Doyle can assist me whenever I’m not in town because of my coaching or doing television commentary.”

#In conjunction with the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, Knowles said they will select the top players whom they will put into the programme and help groom them for international play.

#“It’s a matter of us introducing a couple of kids for an after school programme because obviously they are going to be committed to the Albany Tennis Academy,” he said.

#“They are there full time, but we will be coming in as a complimentary role and give the kids the opportunity to train with some of the kids at the academy and even get to compete with and against them.”

#So far, Jacobi Bain and Sydney Clarke, two of the top junior players who are already a part of the Albany Tennis Academy, have been identified for the sessions that will run from 3:30-6:30 pm every Tuesday and Thursday.

#“When I’m in town, I will oversee it and work with the kids,” Knowles said. “I want to be an asset in trying to help them fulfill their potential.”

#Knowles, 46, want to use the programme as a means of providing the facility and the expertise for them to be able to train right at home rather than going overseas.

#“I’m trying to get some private donations and some government support where we can make this bigger,” he revealed. “I would like to develop a junior programme in the Bahamas where the kids won’t have to be thinking about going abroad at the age of 13 and 14.

#“The facility is there at Albany, which is one of the best in the world, so this is an unique opportunity for the players to grow and eventually become world class players.”

#As the programme grow each year, Knowles said he anticipate that the numbers will also increase as they look at developing an elite junior programme.

#“It’s exciting. It’s something that I always wanted to do,” said Knowles about giving back to the Bahamas. “Hopefully we can develop these players so that we can get the next Davis Cup or Fed Cup players that can get us back to the level that we were in the past.”

#With so much talent that has come along since he left the scene, Knowles said it was disappointing when players like Ryan and Timothy Neeily left the country to play for the United States.

#Along with the academy, Knowles said he want to work along with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture as well as Tourism, to ensure that the next set of players doesn’t decide to jump ship.

#He mentioned Justin Roberts, the next best player in the pipeline, who have not played at home in a major tournament in a while and should be a part of the Davis Cup team.

#“I want to be on the inside to ensure that we are fielding the best team for Davis Cup, the best team for Fed Cup and we are giving ourselves the chance to be competitive on the international stage,” he said.

#“It’s exciting. There’s nothing better than working with young kids. So I’m really looking forward to this elite programme takes of next week.”

#With his focus on the elite programme, Knowles said he may have to continue to put his December Invitational on the backburner. He said the important thing right now is to get the programme of the ground.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Mark Knowles with some of the participants in the Elite Tennis Programme.

#MARK Knowles is continuing his Elite Tennis Programme at Albany where some of the Bahamas’ best juniors such as Donte Armbrister, Jacobi Bain and Sydney Clarke are already participating.

#Knowles, a former Bahamian men’s touring pro, has now commenced his evaluation of younger players between the ages of 8-12 years.

#Last weekend he held a clinic for talented juniors who have been recommended for the programme by the BLTA and local teaching professionals.

#“I was extremely impressed with their natural ability and their coaching by local pros has been good,” Knowles told the participants. “I will be concentrating more on any deficiencies in their stroke production, match play and how to win points. Also, of course, I will share my experiences on what it takes to become a world-class player.”

#Knowles further advised them that ability only goes so far and what separates the very best from the pack, is their work ethic and focus on their goals. “I am optimistic that with my input and our access also to the services of the Albany Academy Director, Grant Doyle, we will go from strength to strength,” Knowles proclaimed. “We are extremely fortunate to be able to tap into the Albany world class facilities and Grant, who is a top notch Tennis Professional.”

Jacobi Bain and Sydney Clarke.

riday, September 29, 2017

#THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association has endorsed the elite junior programme that former professional touring pro Mark Knowles will be overseeing, starting next month at the Albany Resort.

#Knowles was authorised by Christopher Anand of Albany to create a Bahamian elite junior tennis programme to be an adjunct to the Albany Tennis Academy.

#The Albany Tennis Academy for full-time students opened in September 2017 and is powered by Lleyton Hewitt with Grant Doyle as director of tennis.

#Albany has already accepted two former recipients of the Mark Knowles Invitational Tennis Scholarships, Jacobi Bain and Sydney Clarke, as full-time students of the Albany Tennis Academy. The after-school programme for talented Bahamian juniors will be a programme in association with the Albany Academy and their director of tennis. It will operate under Mark’s direction and guidance within the parameters of the Albany Tennis Academy and endorsed by the BLTA.

#The programme is expected to commence Tuesday, October 3.

#GOALS:

#• The selected players will attend after-school sessions at the Albany Tennis Academy and perhaps eventually graduate to full-time students. This will alleviate the need for juniors to attend expensive foreign tennis academies.

#• To identify the appropriate tennis talent within the Bahamas and offering them the opportunity to achieve their goals, even attaining the international successes of a Mark Knowles or Roger Smith.

#• The programme will offer high performance training at world-class facilities to develop local talent scouted by Mark Knowles’ Tennis Bahamas and the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s youth programmes. Juniors will also be exposed to foreign tournaments and training sessions as organised by Mark.

#• The initial squad will consist of between 4-8 juniors between the ages of 11-15 years. They will continue their education at their local schools with time off to travel to international tournaments.

#Mark will liaise with their individual schools to ensure that their academics continues to be of particular importance.

#“It is in my great interest to start a formal tennis programme at Albany that will benefit the entire Bahamas and especially identify and develop our local talent,” Knowles said.

#“I do not want any child to miss out on the opportunity to dream big and achieve lofty goals on the international stage. Now is the time to use my abilities along with the facilities at Albany to create the Bahamas’ next world champions.”

f Monday, October 2, 2017

Mark Knowles

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#FROM the time he retired in 2016, former touring pro Mark Knowles said his intention was to come home and contribute to the sport of tennis.

#Now is the ideal time.

#On Tuesday, Knowles will launch his Mark Knowles Elite Tennis Programme that will be a part of the Albany Tennis Academy. The academy was opened this month and is powered by Lleyton Hewitt with Grant Doyle as the Director of Tennis.

#“I always wanted to figure out a way for me to get a programme started here,” Knowles told The Tribune. “I never really had a good fix until the Albury Tennis Academy came on stream. It’s a good fix to do it now because of the facility and Grant Doyle can assist me whenever I’m not in town because of my coaching or doing television commentary.”

#In conjunction with the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, Knowles said they will select the top players whom they will put into the programme and help groom them for international play.

#“It’s a matter of us introducing a couple of kids for an after school programme because obviously they are going to be committed to the Albany Tennis Academy,” he said.

#“They are there full time, but we will be coming in as a complimentary role and give the kids the opportunity to train with some of the kids at the academy and even get to compete with and against them.”

#So far, Jacobi Bain and Sydney Clarke, two of the top junior players who are already a part of the Albany Tennis Academy, have been identified for the sessions that will run from 3:30-6:30 pm every Tuesday and Thursday.

#“When I’m in town, I will oversee it and work with the kids,” Knowles said. “I want to be an asset in trying to help them fulfill their potential.”

#Knowles, 46, want to use the programme as a means of providing the facility and the expertise for them to be able to train right at home rather than going overseas.

#“I’m trying to get some private donations and some government support where we can make this bigger,” he revealed. “I would like to develop a junior programme in the Bahamas where the kids won’t have to be thinking about going abroad at the age of 13 and 14.

#“The facility is there at Albany, which is one of the best in the world, so this is an unique opportunity for the players to grow and eventually become world class players.”

#As the programme grow each year, Knowles said he anticipate that the numbers will also increase as they look at developing an elite junior programme.

#“It’s exciting. It’s something that I always wanted to do,” said Knowles about giving back to the Bahamas. “Hopefully we can develop these players so that we can get the next Davis Cup or Fed Cup players that can get us back to the level that we were in the past.”

#With so much talent that has come along since he left the scene, Knowles said it was disappointing when players like Ryan and Timothy Neeily left the country to play for the United States.

#Along with the academy, Knowles said he want to work along with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture as well as Tourism, to ensure that the next set of players doesn’t decide to jump ship.

#He mentioned Justin Roberts, the next best player in the pipeline, who have not played at home in a major tournament in a while and should be a part of the Davis Cup team.

#“I want to be on the inside to ensure that we are fielding the best team for Davis Cup, the best team for Fed Cup and we are giving ourselves the chance to be competitive on the international stage,” he said.

#“It’s exciting. There’s nothing better than working with young kids. So I’m really looking forward to this elite programme takes of next week.”

#With his focus on the elite programme, Knowles said he may have to continue to put his December Invitational on the backburner. He said the important thing right now is to get the programme of the ground.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

MARK Knowles and one of his sons, Brody, enjoy the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s ITF Goombay Splash Bowl at the National Tennis Centre. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#HE was the Bahamas’ premier tennis player, having enjoyed a 20-year span on the professional circuit where he captured three of the four doubles grand slam titles.

#But in the aftermath of his accomplishment that had him sitting on top of the world in doubles, Mark Knowles is now splitting his time with his family, television commentating and coaching.

#Over the weekend, Knowles, along with one of his sons Brody, took in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s hosting of the International Tennis Federation’s Goombay Splash Bowl for players under 18. He had a keen interest watching Sydney Clarke emerge as the female singles champion and Jacobi Bain as the male runner-up and doubles champion with New Zealand partner William Kesterson.

#All three players are a part of the Albany Tennis Academy in which Knowles serves as one of the principals in his Mark Knowles Foundation. He also offers his expertise there as a coach, assisting Grant Doyle, the head coach at the Albany Academy. “It’s really special to be out there to watch the juniors compete. Jacobi and Sydney are both playing very well and I have been focusing a lot of my attention on trying to develop the next national champion,” Knowles said.

#“We have a good training base at Albany where some of the kids are involved in, so it’s good to be able to give something back. I’m helping to fund the kids like Jacobi and Sydney to allow them to go to Albany full time.”

#A fundraiser is being planned for December 6 when Knowles is hoping that they can generate some more assistance for the other kids who are involved in a programme that allows them to train there at least 2-3 times a week.

#“This is a great group of kids and so it’s very encouraging to be able to assist them,” Knowles said. “It’s been very exciting and rewarding so far. We had Jacobi and Sydney playing in their first ITF junior tournament final here at home this weekend.” Although Bain fell short of winning the title, Knowles said the 15-year-old is “an incredible athlete.”

#“He moves extremely well, especially in today’s game where he faced a guy who moved so well,” Knowles said.

#“I think he needs to be a little offensive with his forehand. But those are things that he can develop. He’s a great kid. He’s a kid who is completely devoted and he continue to get better.”

#Clarke, who celebrated her 17th birthday by winning the girls’ title, is the opposite of Bain.

#“She hits the ball so well,” Knowles pointed out. “She has such a clean strike at the ball. That’s a great thing to have on your side. Maybe getting her movement a little better is what e will have to work on.

#“But she has to develop that killer mentality that when you are up, you need to finish off your opponent and not allow them to get back into the match because it could become dangerous when you let players of a high level back into the match.”

#With the two players coming into their own and the others in the BLTA junior programme, Knowles said the future looks bright for the Bahamas and he’s eager to continue to make his contribution.

#“I’ve been doing a lot of commentary for tennis TV and I’m also concentrating on the champions initiative where we are focusing on developing the next Bahamian champion,” Knowles said.

#“Now that I am too old, we need someone else to go out there and get the Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams to compete at a high level again. We have the talent and the youth to develop, so I’m looking forward to it.”

#In addition to that, Knowles and his wife, Dawn, are rearing three children, Graham, 13 and 6-feet, 3-inches (a versatile basketball and baseball player as well as a football quarterback) Brody, 10 (who loves tennis the most) and Presley, 7, who play tennis and soccer.

#“It’s been exciting watching them grow up,” Knowles reflected. “They are playing some sports too, so it’s just a matter of being there for them too. So it’s been great.

#“We’ve never forced any sport on our kids, including tennis, but they are all very athletic. They love sports and I think I have tried to instill in them that sports in a great vehicle to life, even if you are not playing it professionally.”

#Having had the opportunity to represent the Bahamas for about 14 years in Davis Cup competition where he compiled a 23/25 win-loss record in singles and 18-7 in doubles, Knowles said he would like to continue to work with the BLTA in producing the best team possible to carry on the legacy.

#“My goal is for us to formulate a team with guys like Justin Roberts, who is out there, and we have a good team in place right now,” he said.

#“I would like to see us formulate and put together the best Davis Cup team possible and so we can get back to the heights that Roger (Smith), John (Antonas), John (Farrington) and myself had us in Zone One and even in the World Group regulation.”

#As the only player with any ATP computer points, Roberts has expressed the concern of having to come home to compete in the BLTA’s year ending Georgio Baldacci Invitational in December at the National Tennis Center.

#“That’s always a sensitive thing. We’ve had issues with that before,” said Knowles, who at one point had to deal with a similar issue.

#“I think I would like to be the intermediiary where I can maybe be the sounding platform for both sides. I understand his point. He’s trying to do everything in his power to be the best player he can be. Ultimately, I think it’s important to have requirements, but I think it’s also important to be able to bend a little bit.”

#At the end of the day, Knowles said it’s all about fielding the best team possible and get on the court to win. He said he would like to ensure that the Bahamas puts its best team out there to compete at that level.

#Last year Knowles was coaching Milos Raonic, the 27-year-old who at the time was ranked at number seven in the world and was the first Canadian player to reach the Australian Open semifinal, French Open quarter-final and Wimbledon final.

#This year, he coached American Jack Sock, 26, who got to the third round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon and the fourth round in the French and US Open.

#“When the schedule permits, I coach and mentor those guys,” Knowles stated. “I enjoy coaching. I think I have a lot to provide to the up and coming players, having experienced the game for such a long time.

#“I played pretty much my entire life, so I want to help out wherever I can. I think that’s the fun part. The toughest ting about coaching is the traveling, which I don’t enjoy because you are limited to so many weeks. But I enjoy helping others.”

#Some of that time, Knowles spent at Albany helping to coach Bahamian players like Bain, Clarke, Donte Armbrister, Michael Major Jr, Safaya Ferguson, Jackson McTaggart.

#“I think we can develop the next Bahamian champion,” Knowles insisted. “The tennis world miss the Bahamas being prominent, not just at the Davis Cup stage, but on the world stage.

#“So it’s important to me. I want to continue to develop these young kids and hopefully in the next 3-5 years, we will have a solid base again doer the Bahamas.”

#Knowles, who sat at No.1 in the world in doubles on June 24, 2002, had a 13-year partnership with Canadian Daniel Nestor that resulted in the triumph in the 2002 Australian Open, 2004 US open and 2007 French Open.

#He also won the 2009 Wimbledon mixed doubles with Anna-Lena Gronefled of Germany.

By Brent Stubbs

Friday, September 11, 2020

#TENNIS is back and so is Bahamian John Farrington as he takes advantage of the opportunity to continue his coaching career with a number of players on the international scene.

#The former national champion and Davis Cup player/captain, is currently working with touring players American Austin Krajicek from College Station, Texas and Franko Skugor from Croatia in a tournament in Kitzbuhel, Austria through Sunday when they will head to Rome for their next tournament before they prepare for the French Open at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France at the end of the month.

#Over the past year, Farrington was coaching Krajicek, who started playing doubles first time now with Skugor. The duo are seeded at No.4 at the Generali Open.

#“He works extremely hard and he is improving each and every day,” said Farrington, of Krajicek. “Franko just started playing doubles, so they have formed a great combination.”

#Krajicek, just after he and Skugor pulled off a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 win over Nikola Cacic and Dusan Ljovic from Serbia in their first round match on Tuesday, said they’ve had a pretty good year so far, despite the pandemic.

#“We’ve got in a few days before Cincinnati and we had a good tournament there and we’ve gotten off to a great start here at this tournament,” Karajicek said. “We just have to stay healthy. If we can do that, I think we can do some damage.”

#As a coach, Krajicek said Farrington’s work ethic has rubbed off on both he and Skugor and they can’t help but improve.

#“We want to get the wins, so Franko and I are just dotting our Is and crossing our Ts. That’s what it comes down to, just putting in the work and adjusting to play the match. So it’s a great fit for us and we’re making it work.”

#With tennis slowly making its way back to the international scene amid the coronavirus pandemic, Farrington said they are all excited about getting back on the court.

#“It’s different with no spectators. They are trying to keep us in a sort of bubble where we have to wear our masks, except for when you are on the court playing,” he said.

#“We’re tested just about every day or at least every other day, so they are trying to keep us all safe and healthy.”

#Krajicek, a 30-year-old southpaw, said the Covid-19 environment is obviously different from what they are used to since he turned pro in 2012, but they’re making the necessary adjustments. “There are a few fans this week, so it’s starting to look a little normal,” he said. “But it’s going to take some time wearing a mask everywhere and having to go through all of the protocols and having to get the acceptance letters from the various governments to travel to the countries.

#“We have to do what we have to do, but I think we are all enjoying it and excited to be back and playing in some tournaments. That’s all that we could ask for. We’re just delighted to have John around as our coach. He helps to get us through the day off the court.”

#Since 1998, Farrington has been coaching on the circuit, having worked with such players as Bahamian Mark Knowles and his long time partner Daniel Nestor from Canada and later his partner Nenad Zimonjic from Serbia in addition to Bahamian Mark Merklein and India’s doubles duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, Oliver Marach from Austria and Mate Pavie from Croatia.

#At times, he also coached Anastasia Rodionova from Australia; Alla Kudryavsteva from Russia and Sania Mirza from India on the WTA Tour and is currently working with identical twin sisters Nadia and Lyudemelia Kichenck from the Ukraine.

#“It was good to coach some players who were number one in the world and the goal is to get back to the level where I can coach some players who can become number one,” said Farrington of Skugor and Krajicek, who are the highest ranked at No. 33 and 36 respectively.

#While he’s doing his coaching chores, Farrington is also keeping an eye on the up and coming local tennis players, including Justin Roberts, who at age 23, is currently ranked at 786 in singles and 936 in doubles.

#“I know he have a bright future ahead of him,” Farrington said. “So I’m keeping an eye on him and also Jacobi Bain, who attend Albury Academy and hit with some of the top players whenever they visit the Bahamas.”

#Farrington, who resides in Asheville, North Carolina, is the son of former veteran tennis player and hotelier J Barrie Farrington; was the Director of Tennis at the One and Only Ocean Club for 14 years and competed in the ATP Tour for seven years.

#He was also an 11-time national champion in singles and doubles; represented the Bahamas on the Davis Cup for 10 years and coached the Bahamas team of Knowles and Merklein at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and Knowles and Devin Mullings at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.

f Friday, February 9, 2018

Bahamian John Farrington is now coaching the combo of Oliver Marach of Austria and Mate Pavic of Croatia.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#JOHN Farrington has succeeded as a player and captain of the Bahamas Davis Cup team. Now he’s honing his skills as an international coach.

#Farrington, who served as the coach for the impressive men’s doubles team of Mark Knowles and Canadian Daniel Nestor before they retired, is now coaching the combo of Oliver Marach of Austria and Mate Pavic of Croatia.

#Marach and Pavic are coming off their triumph as the men’s doubles champions of the Australian Open after pulling off an identical 6-4, 6-4 decision over the Colombian combo of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah last month in Melbourne, Australia.

#Farrington, back home for a few weeks of relaxation, started coaching Marach and Pavic at the US Open last year.

#“We had a great start, but unfortunately we lost to the Bryan brothers and we continued after that in Sweden where we won the title and then we played in Vienna,” Farrington reflected.

#“Unfortunately we had to default to the semi-final due to an injury to Oliver. But we still came in and played in the year-end championships as an alternate. We got in and played the Bryan brothers and we beat them at the year-end championships.”

#This year, Farrington said they started the year playing in Doha, Qatar where they won the title before going to Aukland, New Zealand and won again. That led their successful showing in Melbourne where they carted off the Australian Open crown.

#Pavic also teamed up to clinch the mixed doubles title with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski.

#“All in all, we had a successful start of the year,” Farrington pointed out. “We’re looking forward to some phenomenal things to come.”

#The good thing, according to Farrington, is that both Marach and Pavic understand the importance of putting their best foot forward and that has been a key to their success.

#“We work extremely hard in our practices and obviously we are getting the results from it,” Farrington pointed out. “But we also get along extremely well off the court, so I think we have a very good combination and we have a happy medium to enjoy what we are doing.”

#Farrington, who resides in Aspens, California with his wife, Donnae, said Marach and Pavicć will now prepare for their next series of trips that will take them to Acapulco, Mexico on February 26, Indian Wells, California on March 8 and Miami, Florida on March 21.

#Following the tournament in Miami, Farrington said Marach and Pavicć will stop over here in the Bahamas for a few days of relaxation and train as well. “We will take some time off to enjoy our success and then prepare for the European swing,” Farrington said.

#Having worked with Knowles and Nestor when they were the number one team in the world and even with Nestor and Zimonjic when they secured their top ranking, Farrington said it’s good to continue where he left off in the coaching world.

#“Being out there and seeing all of the guys in the world and the new faces, it’s good for me to enjoy what I’m doing,” Farrington said.

#Comparing now to the past, Farrington said a whole lot has changed. “The guys are so much more physical,” he said of the present day players. “They hit the ball bigger and obviously their rackets and strings have a lot to do with it. But their physical fitness has improved and the training is so much different in preparation during the offseason and maintaining it so they can stay physically fit.

#“But you still have to play between the white lines and you have to hit it over the net, but the game has seen the players being much bigger and physical and they hit the ball with a lot more authority. The average height right now on the tour is 6-2 and there are some guys who are 6-5 and 6-7 and they are moving like they are 6-2.”

#As a Bahamian who didn’t get to play on the pro circuit like Knowles, Roger Smith and Ryan Sweeting, Farrington said he would like to one day see some of the up and coming players like Jacobi Bain emerge on the tour in the near future.

#“A lot of players need to have that desire at a younger age to understand the commitment needed to achieve their goals,” Farringrton said. “We don’t just want the younger players to write down their goals, but it’s how do they achieve their goals. It comes from practice and playing tournaments and then they can achieve their goals.

#“I think a lot of the players around the world want to play, but when they get to a certain age and they realize what it takes to play at that level, I think some of them tend to drop out. It’s a grind to get there. Once you get on the tour, it’s your job. It’s what it’s called being a professional player.”

#On a local level, having played and captained the Bahamas Davis Cup team, Farrington said although we are back in the American Zone III, he feels the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association is on the right track in terms of getting back to the Zone One.

#“We have the Newman brothers in Spencer and Baker and Marvin (Rolle) is still playing and serving as the captain, so he brings a wealth of experience to the team that also includes Kevin (Major) and Philip (Major),” Farrinton said.

#“I think they will set us up going forward, but it will be great if we can make the leap back to Zone one. I think we are on the right track because the players are still young and hopefully they can continue to work hard. I definitely feel we have a team that is capable of being in zone two, if not zone one. The great thing about it is that at some point, they will have to add the younger players like Justin Roberts and Jacobi Bain, even if it’s just for the experience.”

#Having taken the Bahamas to a great period after he took over from John Antonas as the captain, Farrington said if given the call from the BLTA he would definitely come home and help out with the team again in the future.

#“It’s been great when I was captain. I do miss it. It was great working with the guys and putting them through the drills and pull the team together,” he pointed out. “A couple times we came close getting out of zone three. We had some difficult task in some of those South American countries.

#“But I do miss that part of it and seeing the guys compete and playing for the country and fighting for hell. So that part of it, I definitely miss it. But if the opportunity presents itself and I’m given the opportunity to work with the team again, I would be happy to take it on.”

#But for now, Farrington said his concentration is on touring with Marach and Pavić and giving them his expertise in helping them to climb up the ladder where they can become number one in the world like Knowles and Nestor or Nestor and Zimijic.

#“As a coach on the tour, we all have our challenges,” Farrington said. “But it also makes it a lot easier when you are working with a player or a team that puts in the work to be successful. So it does make it a lot easier, especially when you have to sacrifice the time to travel and be away from home.

#“But I have that support from my wife. Occasionally she gets to come to some of the tournaments so that makes it easier. But it’s work on the tour and you do whatever it takes to make it work. Obviously, you are going to have moments where it’s going to be a little more challenging, but you just have to persevere and get through it.”

#So far, Farrington said he’s on the right track in his 35-year career as a coach after he officially quit as a player in 1998.

#“Tennis has been great to me. I’ve been there as a player, team captain of Davis Cup and now as a professional teacher and a coach on the international scene,” he summed up. “There’s no complaint from me. It’s been a hell of a ride, a journey that I will not forget. I’m going to continue to do what I am doing until I can’t do it anymore.”