Home|Sports|All hail the return of the nationalsSports

New national champions crowned in bodybuilding and fitness

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 18, 2022 130 6 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Starving for an opportunity to compete, bodybuilding and fitness athletes came out in full force on Saturday night and the fans showed their approval, signaling a grand return of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s (BBFF) Novice and National Championships.

The 49th edition of the bodybuilding and fitness nationals, and the first in three years, due to the threat of COVID-19, drew hundreds to the Atlantis Theater at Atlantis on Saturday night.

Coming out with the overall titles were Fania Joseph in Open Bikini, Cara Saunders in Women’s Wellness, Kaif Young in Men’s Physique and Giovanne Farrington in Men’s Bodybuilding. Overall, 30 athletes took part in the competition and, for all of them, it was a welcomed experience after a three-year hiatus at the national level.

Joseph competed in just her second nationals. She competed for the first time in 2019 and is now the National Bikini Champion.

“I feel very good. This is incredible,” said Joseph. “I worked extremely hard for the past four months or so, and I feel as if the hard work has definitely paid off. I brought my best to the national stage and I’m very happy with the result. The work continues.”

Joseph will now prepare for the 49th Annual Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, set for July 27 to August 1, in Bridgetown, Barbados. The CACs is an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness’ (IFBB) world ranking event and an IFBB elite pro qualifier. Several Bahamians have attained their IFBB pro cards from the CACs over the years.

“I’m very grateful to the federation (BBFF) because even though we didn’t have nationals, they still provided opportunities for us to compete over the last three years,” said Joseph. “Right now, I’m just looking to going to the CACs and representing The Bahamas well. I’m optimistic that I will have a good showing.”

Joseph won the Open Bikini Class B title and the Overall Bikini title. In the Novice Division, Kastachia Stuart was the winner and she was followed by Britnae Davis and Danielle Rollins. In the Open Bikini Class G, Stuart came out on top and she was followed by Rollins. Davis took home the Class H title.

Also celebrating her first overall national title was Saunders, who duplicated her feat from the Northern Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships two weeks ago, in Women’s Wellness. She also won in Open Wellness Class C and was followed by Denica Thompson in that division. In Women’s Wellness Novice, Altonique Curtis came out on top and she was followed by Thompson, then Jackie-Jean Cleare. Curtis won in Women’s Wellness Class B and Cleare came out on top in Women’s Wellness Class D.

“This feels absolutely amazing,” said Grand Bahama native Saunders, who started competing in 2016. “After Northern Bahamas, I wanted to come out here and do the same thing, and I did. That was big for me. It’s so surreal. I wasn’t so much nervous, but I was a bit anxious.”

Saunders said she is looking to put on a little more mass, particularly in her glutes (gluteal muscles), for the CACs in less than two weeks’ time.

Prevailing in Men’s Physique for the second time in a row, dating back to 2019, was Kaif Young. He also took the Open Men’s Physique Class F title and was followed by Davin Johnson and Terrion Kemp in that division. Johnson won the Novice title and was followed by Judah Forbes and D’Angelo Edmunds in that division. Justin Lightbourne won in Men’s Physique Class A, Anthon Moxey took the Class C title, Wedlear Eugene won in Class D and was followed by his twin brother Wendly Eugene, and Forbes took the Class E title and was followed by Edmunds.

There were three other competitors in Men’s Physique – Gordon White, Kory Ingraham and sports broadcaster Marcellus Hall. Men’s Physique had the most competitors with 12 competitors in action.

In men’s Classic Physique, Andrew Gibson came out on top and was followed by Orick Nesbitt and Andrew Sweeting. Gibson won in men’s classic physique novice as well.

In Men’s Physique, Young celebrated his overall title much later than he was supposed to, as Lightbourne was initially announced as the overall winner. The BBFF admitted the error, and long after the show would have ended and fans left the arena, Young was decreed the official winner.

“I’m very happy,” said Young, who has been involved in the sport for 15 years. “It’s been a long journey for me, putting in the work since 2007, and to come here and win the national overall title is a good feeling. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to take it to further heights.

“I’m looking forward to traveling with the national team, and I hope I’m able to attain a pro card in Barbados. I’m definitely looking to finish in the top three, but it would be a blessing to attain a pro card. Normally, we would take about a week off, but with CACs being so close, it’s back in the trenches, starting tomorrow. There are no breaks this time. I want to bring back some trophies and hardware to The Bahamas. That’s the plan.”

Young said he was a bit disappointed not receiving the overall title on stage and taking a picture with the other overall winners, but he knows that mistakes happen and he is prepared to move forward.

“That’s a part of life. Mistakes happen but I try to remain humble through the whole process and move forward,” he said.

Claiming the title of Mr. Bahamas in Men’s BodyBuilding was Farrington. With athletes such as Jimmy Norius and Charles Reckley no longer on the scene, someone has to step up in Men’s Bodybuilding and carry on the legacy. Norius and Reckley are both three time national champions and Mr. Bahamas winners.

Farrington also won the Men’s Middleweight Division in Bodybuilding and was followed by Andrew Gibson and Andrew Sweeting. Gibson came out on top in Middleweight Novice, Orick Nesbitt won in Men’s Super Heavyweight, and in Men’s Masters, and was followed by Sweeting.

“It’s a great honor. I feel great,” said Farrington. “I give God all the glory and praise. Because of the Almighty, I am healthy and fit and here competing today. I was actually going to call it quits, but I just stuck in there and kept training. I went after it, and I have to give guys like Leonardo Dean and Paul Wilson credit because they encouraged me to go after it. Also, when I started my training, I was under Joel’s (BBFF President Joel Stubbs) tutelage, so I have to give him credit as well. I’m pleased and just grateful. I’m going to Barbados with a total package and bigger body,” he added.

Other winners on Saturday night included Sanadia Smith in Women’s Fit Model; Alexander Kemp, who won three gold medals – Men’s Fit Model Novice, Men’s Fit Model National and Men’s Fitness; Gemo Smith in Men’s Muscular Physique; Seanea Bowe in Women’s Fitness; and Dorcas Cox, who won in Women’s Figure Novice and Women’s Figure National.

In Men’s Fit Model National, Kemp held off Kyle Turnquest; in Women’s fFgure Novice, Cox defeated Jackie-Jean Cleare; and in Women’s Figure National, Kemp prevailed over Smith and Cleare.

Smith won the Women’s Team Player award and the Men’s Team Player award went to Demeko Nesbitt, who didn’t compete on Saturday night, but is a former athlete at the nationals level for The Bahamas and now competes as a professional.

Smith also won the Most Improved Female Athlete while Terrion Kemp took home that award for the men.

There was an award presented to the gym with the most athletes entered in the show, and that award went to J-Line Fitness Bahamas with seven athletes. The Northern Bahamas gym participation award went to Nesbitt Fitness with six athletes entered.

“I just want to say thanks to all of the athletes who took part and to everyone who worked behind the scenes to ensure that this event came off. Also, special thanks to all the athletes who came down from Freeport and made this an even better show,” said BBFF Project Manager Leonardo Dean. “We’re looking forward to getting a national team together, but for that to be realized, we will need to determine how much funding we are able to receive. If we receive the funding that is promised to us, we will be able to go to the CACs. We’re reaching out to the government to honor their commitment to us and also to corporate Bahamas. We really need this funding to make the trip to the CACs happen.”

As mentioned, the 49th annual CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships is set for July 27 to August 1 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

https://thenassauguardian.com/all-hail-the-return-of-the-nationals/

The Bahamas mixed relay team of Alonzo Russell, Bradley Dormeus, Megan Moss and Doneisha Anderson.

As of Saturday, July 16, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas, with a mixed relay team and three individual athletes, didn’t have a successful negotiation through the qualifying rounds of their respective events to advance on Friday as the World Athletics’ 2022 World Championships got underway in Eugene, Oregon.

#In the heats of the mixed relay, the Bahamas team of 24-year-old Bradley Dormeus, running a split of 47.94, 20-year-old Megan Moss (52.23), 30-year-old Bahamian Alonzo Russell (43.80) and 21-year-old Doneisha Anderson (53.76) finished seventh in three minutes and 19.73 seconds.

#The team finished in 15th place with the two heats combined.

#Grand Bahamian Donald Thomas, the 38-year-old 2007 world champion, bowed out of the qualifying rounds of the men’s high jump with a leap of 7-feet, 3-inches or 2.21 metres for a tie in 12th place in Group B and 23rd overall.

#In the evening session of day one, Samson Colebrooke was the only competitor to show up in the heats of the men’s 100m. He placed fifth in heat five in 10.23 for 39th place overall. American Fred Kerley had the leading performance with a stunning time of 9.97, followed by his compatriot Trayvon Bromell in 9.89.

#Grand Bahamian native Terrence Jones Jr was also scheduled to compete, but he didn’t.

#The only other competitor in action on Friday night was LaQuan Nairn in the qualifying round of the men’s long jump. He soared 25-7 1/4 (7.80m) for 10th in Group B and 18th overall. The top qualifier was Yuki Hashoka of Japan with 26-10 (8.18m) with American Marquis Derdy trailing with 26-9 ¼ (8.16m).

#On Saturday as day two unfolds, Anthonique Strachan, 28, will continue the Bahamas trek through the 10-day competition being held in the United States for the first time, when she contests the first heat of the women’s 100m.

#The Bahamian national runner-up will run out of lane three with her lifetime and season’s best of 10.99 ahead of her 27-year-old Jamaican training partner Shericka Jackson, who will run out of lane two with her season’s best of 10.77, just off her personal best of 10.76.

#And 29-year-old national champion TyNia Gaither will follow in heat two in lane eight with her season’s beat of 11.11. Her lifetime best is 11.02. The top contender in her heat is Jamaica’s 35-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who will also run out of lane two with her season’s best of 10.67 and her lifetime best of 10.60.

#The top three finishers in each of the seven heats and the next two fastest finishers will advance to the semi-final on Sunday. Both Strachan and Gaither will also contest the 200m starting on Monday with the heats.

#Also on Sunday, repeat Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, 28, will open her campaign in the women’s 400m as she goes after the gold that slipped away from her in 2019 in Doha, Qatar when she was beaten by Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser.  

#The Bahamas, however, will not have 26-year-old Steven Gardiner in Eugene to defend his world title in the men’s 400m. Gardiner announced just before the start of the championships that he had to withdraw from the competition with a UTE tendon inflammation to his right foot.

#The Bahamas also has the women’s 4 x 400m relay; Devynne Charlton in the women’s 100m hurdles and Ken Mullings in the men’s decathlon to compete later in the week in the bid to continue a string of winning at least one medal at the championships since 2013.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/16/world-championships-bahamian-athletes-action-day-o/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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Bahamas’ Denika Lightbourne holds onto the basketball.

Head coach Donillo ‘Donnie’ Culmer leads the Bahamas cheering squad on the sidelines.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#AFTER losing their first two games in the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Basketball Championships, Team Bahamas rebounded with three players in double figures as they took their frustration out on Jamaica on Friday in Havana, Cuba.

#Unlike their previous two losses to host Cuba on Wednesday and the Dominican Republic on Thursday, Team Bahamas came out firing on all cylinders and looked like a well oiled machine in a 74-53 rout.

#Team Bahamas surged to a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and, despite being out-scored 19-15 in the second quarter by Jamaica, the team held onto a 36-29 advantage at the half.

#Coming out of the locker room, Team Bahamas turned up the heat with a 23-16 spurt in the third to take a 59-45 margin into the fourth quarter.

#Putting the finish touches on the game, Team Bahamas went on a 15-9 tear in the final quarter to stamp their approval on what has been a gratifying performance for the coaching staff led by Donillo ‘Donnie’ Culmer and including Diasti Delancy and Deven Johnson.

#Team Bahamas, with Sasha Johnson as the trainer, saw manager Anastacia Moultrie’s 16-year-old daughter Antonicia Moultrie leading the attack with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and as many steals in her starting role in 24 minutes and 36 seconds on the court.

#Philicia Kelly, one of the veterans on the team at age 32, exploded for 14 points with three rebounds and a pair of steals, while 17-year-old Denika Lightbourne, the leading top performer for the Bahamas so far, contributed 12 points with five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

#Valerie Nesbitt, the team’s 23-year-old floor general, came through with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals; Valicia Demeritte, 22, chipped in with seven points and three assists and 29-year-old centre Britenique Harrison finished with six points, 11 rebounds and five block shots.

#Other members of Team Bahamas are Latoya Rolle, 34; Karolyn Baptiste, 19; La’Tavia Brennen, 22; Lorraine Oliver, 30; Roberta Quant, 45 and Tiffany Wildgoose, 31.

#Gezelle Anderson led Jamaica with a game high 17 points and nine rebounds.

#Team Bahamas was coming off a 73-50 loss to the Dominican Republic on Thursday after suffering a 76-44 decision to Cuba on Wednesday on day one of the tournament. With only four teams in the tournament, Team Bahamas finished third in the round robin with a 1-2 win-loss record.

#On Saturday, however, the playoffs will get underway and Team Bahamas will face the Dominican Republic (2-1), while Cuba (3-0) will battle with Jamaica (0-3). The two winners will meet for the gold and silver on Sunday and the two losers will square off for the bronze.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/team-bahamas-recovers-defeat-jamaica/?news

DEANDRE Ayton in action.

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#Deandre Ayton remains the biggest restricted free agent on the market and is just hours away from finding out whether he will have a new NBA home alongside “Buddy” Hield in Indiana or return to the Phoenix Suns.

#ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported that Ayton and the Indiana Pacers agreed to a four-year, $133 million offer sheet – the richest in NBA history for a restricted free agent. The Suns have 48 hours to match the offer sheet and retain Ayton as a member of the franchise or allow him to leave for Indiana.

#Once Ayton officially signs the offer sheet, the Suns will no longer be able to involve him in a sign and trade with Indiana.

#Furthermore, if the Suns decide to match the offer sheet, they will be unable to trade Ayton until January 15, 2023 and will be unable to trade him to the Pacers for a full calendar year. Ayton would also have the right to veto any trade offers for a full year.

#The Pacers, who currently have Buddy Hield on the roster, continue their attempt at a rebuild after they traded away guard Malcolm Brogdon last month and All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis last season.

#In his fourth season, Ayton averaged 17.2 points on a career high 63 percent from the field and 10.2 rebounds per game in 58 appearances.

#Contract negotiations between Ayton and the Suns reached an impasse last April after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a rookie contract extension.

#Tensions heightened during a surprising playoff exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.

#Ayton appeared in only 17 minutes of the Suns’ 123-90 elimination loss to the Mavericks in game seven of the Western Conference semifinals.

#The 24-year-old former no.1 overall pick was eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension that could have reached as much as $207 million if he reached benchmarks and incentives.

#During the NBA Draft Combine in May, Ayton’s agent Bill Duffy discussed his client’s future on SiriusXM’s NBA show.

#“We’re disappointed. We wanted a max contract,” Duffy said. “He went out and was a solider the whole year, played well, improved his statistics. So, we’re proud of him. A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it. Things will work out for Deandre. He’s a valuable player. There’s other teams in the league as well. He’s a restricted free agent, so we’ll see how this process unfolds.”

#Suns general manager James Jones reiterated his organisation’s desire to keep its former no.1 overall pick under contract moving forward.

#“Nothing has changed on our end. We haven’t said anything different. DA remains a huge part of what we do and he’s a free agent. So we’ll talk about free agency when that time comes, but that hasn’t changed,” Jones said following last week’s NBA Draft.

#“I think you hear his teammates. They echo the same sentiment that we have. This team is a really good team and we’re going to keep it together.”

#Several players in Ayton’s 2018 NBA draft class have received max contract extensions, including Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaren Jackson Jr of the Memphis Grizzlies, Kevin Huerter of the Atlanta Hawks and Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pacers-agree-sign-ayton-133m-deal/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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Miami Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm Jr has been on the injured list since June 29, but the Miami Marlins’ All-Star second baseman has not ruled out a return to the field for an appearance in the midseason classic.

#The 92nd MLB All-Star Game will take place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California and Chisholm still looks to make an historic appearance for both Bahamian baseball and the Marlins franchise. “My back right now is feeling alright,” Chisholm said. “I think I might be able to get on the field by [this] week. So, I feel like I should be able to play in the game,” Chisholm told reporters in a Zoom call.

#Chisholm is the first-ever Bahamian-born All-Star of the nine to ever play in the MLB. From the Marlins perspective, he joins Hanley Ramírez, Dee Strange- Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, Gary Sheffield and Giancarlo Stanton as the only Marlins to be fan-elected starters.

#Chisholm’s last appearance on the field in a Marlins uniform was June 28. He originally injured the back early in the season on a slide and re-aggravated it in late June, which forced him out of the lineup.

#He returned to the field the following game and doubled on “Bahamian Heritage Night” but was again sidelined the following day in the series finale against the New York Mets.

#Chisholm has reportedly been rehabbing his back at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Florida. No definitive timetable has been set for his return.

#Through 60 games he has a .254 average, 14 home runs, 54 hits, 45 RBI, 12 stolen bases and scored 39 runs.

#“I feel like I can go a lot further than I am now. I always say I can be a 40/40 [home run/stolen bases] guy, if I really focus the whole year. No distractions. No anything. Just go out there and play baseball,” Chisholm said. “That was always my goal. So, I’m going to keep that as my goal and my ceiling.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/jazz-my-back-right-now-feeling-alright/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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DONALD Thomas in action. (File photo)

Shaunae Miller-Uibo. (File photo)

Devynne Charlton (File photo)

Anthonique Strachan (File photo)

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunedia.net

#THE stage is set for Team Bahamas as competition gets underway today at the World Athletics’ 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, the first time the event is being staged in the United States of America for the first time since it officially got started in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland.

#Donald Thomas, the 2007 world champion from Osaka, Japan and 2010 Commonwealth Games champion from Delhi, India, will be the first to compete for the Bahamas in the 19th edition of the championships in the preliminaries of the men’s high jump at 10:10 am.

#The 39-year-old Thomas from Grand Bahama, who has produced a personal best of 7-feet, 9 ¼-inches or 2.37 metres and a season’s best of 7-4 1/2 (2.25m), will be the third of 14 competitors in group B. There are 15 competitors in group A.

#When combined, the athletes attaining the automatic standard of 7-6 ½ (2.30m) or the 12 best performances will advance to the final that will be contested on Monday at 5:45pm.

#Also, during the morning session at 11:45, the preliminaries of the mixed relays are scheduled to take place.

#In the absence of injured Steven Gardiner, the Bahamas will select from the combination of Alonzo Russell, Bradley Dormeus, Wanya McCoy, Anthonique Strachan, Megan Moss, Doneisha Anderson, Javonya Valcourt and Janae Ambrose.

#The Bahamas is slated to run out of heat six against seven other countries, including Jamaica in three and sandwiched between Brazil in five and South Africa in seven.

#A full stack of countries is entered in heat one, led by the United States in four.

#Without any day off, the first three in the two heats and the next two fastest times will advance to the final that will conclude tonight’s initial day of competition at 7:50pm.

#During the evening session, LaQuan Nairn will be the seventh of 16 competitors on the runway in Group B.

#Nairn enters the competition with a lifetime and season’s best of 26-11 ¾ (8.22m). There are 16 competitors as well in Group A. The automatic qualifying distance for the final on Saturday at 6:20pm is 26-9 (8.15m) or the 12 top performers overall.

#The heats of the men’s 100m will also take place with Grand Bahamian native Terrence Jones and Exuma native Samson Colebrooke both competing.

#Their lane assignments, however, will not be determined until the completion of the preliminary rounds during the morning session.

#The semi-finals and finals of the men’s 100m will run on Saturday at 6 and 7:50 respectively.

#Also taking place on Saturday, July 16 will be the heats of the women’s 100m featuring Anthonique Strachan and Tynia Gaither at 5:10 pm.

#On Sunday, July 17, the semi-final will be contested at 5:33 pm, followed by the final at 7:50 pm.

#The first weekend of action on Sunday, July 17 will also showcase Miller- Uibo in the heats of the women’s 400m.

#The semi-final will be staged on Wednesday, July 20 at 6:45pm and the final is set for Friday at 7:15pm.

#That would allow Miller-Uibo to once again compete in the 200m with Strachan and Gaither. The heats for the women’s 200m on Monday, July 18 at 6pm with the semi-final on Tuesday at 6:05 pm and the final on Thursday, July 21 at 7:45 pm.

#The decathlon for men with Ken Mullings as the lone competitor will be staged on Saturday and Sunday, July 23-24.

#National record holder Devynne Charlton will have to wait until Saturday, July 23 to begin competition in the heats of the women’s 100m hurdles.

#The semifinal is on Sunday, July 24 at 5:05pm with the final at 7pm.

#Team Bahamas’ final event will be the women’s 4x400m relay.

#The team, comprising of a mixture from the pool of Miller-Uibo, Strachan, Moss, Anderson, Valcourt and Ambrose will have to advance out of the heats on Saturday, July 23 at 5:10pm in order to advance to the final on Sunday, July 24 at 7:30pm.

#Following the championships, which wraps up on Sunday, July 24, some of the athletes will be heading to Birmingham, England to participate in the Commonwealth Games that will be staged from July 28 to August 8.

#Go Team Bahamas!

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/donald-thomas-first-compete-bahamas-world-champs/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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TRAVIS MUNNINGS

RADSHAD DAVIS

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#A PAIR of national team members from the recent FIBA World Cup ‘23 Americas Qualifiers will head to new locations when they resume their pro careers in Europe.

#Travis Munnings and Radshad Davis recently inked new deals with their respective clubs in France for the 2022-23 season.

#Munnings is headed to Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the French ProB League for his fourth season of pro basketball.

#Boulazac finished 13th in league standings last year at 13-19.

#Munnings previously played in France when he made his pro debut with La Rochelle Stade Rochelais of France’s NM1 League. He averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in his brief stint with the club.

#The following year, he moved to Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetbol (LPB) and averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for UD Oliveirense. He helped lead the club to a 19-7 regular season record and quarterfinal berth. The following offseason he made the move to Benfica.

#Munnings spent last season with Sporting Lisboa Benfica and helped the club complete a dominant season in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetbol (LPB) with the 2022 championship title.

#Benfica completed the regular season as the top overall seed at 24-4 and had an 8-1 run throughout the playoffs.

#In 30 games, Munnings averaged 7.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 60 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arch.

#In FIBA EuroCup play, Benfica finished just short of the quarterfinals in Group K.

#In 14 EuroCup Games he averaged 8.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

#Davis will be headed to France for the first time and will join Vendee Challans Basket of the NM1 League.

#The club finished 7-5 last season in Group C.

#Davis spent his first pro season last year with Decolor Fundacion Globalcaja La Roda in the LEB Silver League.

#The LEB Silver is the third tier in the Spanish basketball league system, after the Liga ACB and LEB Gold.

#In 26 games, he averaged 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. La Roda finished sixth in the East Division at 14-12.

#At the national team level, both players recently helped The Bahamas advance to the second round of FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers for the first time in history. The Bahamas clinched qualification with a 97-80 win over the US Virgin Islands on July 1. Davis finished with 12 points off the bench while Munnings scored 10.

#In six games of the three qualifying windows, Munnings averaged 10 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Davis played in four games of the qualifying windows and averaged 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pro-basketball-players-munnings-davis-headed-new-c/?news

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg with professional volleyball players Eugene Stuart and Shonari Hepburn, along with collegian Ras Jesse Delancy.

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#HOME on their break from playing overseas, professional volleyball players Eugene Stuart and Shonari Hepburn, along with collegian Ras Jesse Delancy, are combining their collective skills as they share their expertise to the youngsters in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Summer Camp.

#The trio are stationed at the Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park where they are among the lists of instructors participating in volleyball, basketball, tennis, softball and baseball on a daily basis from 9am to 1pm until the end of the month.

#“We’re teaching the basic fundamentals of volleyball because it’s not a sport that is popular like basketball here in the Bahamas,” said Stuart, a former basketball/ volleyball player during his high school at St Augustine’s College.

#“We just want to show them how to play the game and perfect their skills.”

#Stuart, who played in Romania during his last sting on the pro circuit, said it has been a rewarding experience so far.

#“Apart from the heat, it’s been great,” said Stuart, who is preparing for his fourth pro season overseas. “We haven’t had any injuries so far, so it’s been quite exciting for me.”

#Delancy, coming off the Player of the Year honours in his first season in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SIAC) with Benedict College Tigers, said he welcomed the opportunity to assist in the camp.

#“It’s amazing because I can now tell people behind how some of these players here have helped me to get to where I’m at right now,” Delancy said.

#“It’s been great so far. Everybody has a great attitude and they are willing to learn.

#“Even when we tell them something or we try to show them how to do it, they have been very respective. It’s been a good experience so far.”

#Delancy, who at age 22 stands at six-feet, eight-inches, noted that he really enjoys spending the time with Stuart and Hepburn because they have been able to help him expand his horizons.

#“They are my role models, so it’s good for me to learn from them at the same time,” Delancy said. “I’m heading back to school for my second collegiate season and so I’m eager to see how everything goes with them.”

#And Hepburn, who last played in Frankfurt, Germany, said it’s great to be home, but while he’s just getting the chance to get back into the gym to train with his fellow local players, he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to assist in the camp in the meantime.

#“Everybody is getting back into sports because we’re now getting used to living with COVID-19, so it’s nice to see some of the young talent that we have in the country,” Hepburn said.

#“We know that volleyball is not one of our super sports in the Bahamas and that is frustrating for me because in Europe, the sport is almost as popular as soccer.

#“When you are overseas, soccer is number one and then volleyball is a close second ahead of basketball. But here at home, everyone is playing basketball, so it’s good to see that there are some camps that are actually catering to volleyball players in the country.”

#With more exposure in camps such as the Ministry of Sports, Hepburn said they can begin to change the culture and hopefully get more players exposed to playing at both the pro and collegiate level, which will inspire more youngsters to get involved in the sport.

#“When more players get involved and they improve their game, they will encourage more persons to want to get involved in the sport as well,” he said. “That’s how we improve at the club level and the night league programme and it extends to college and the pro ranks and the circuit starts all over again.”

#Stuart, a 26-year-old 6-7 player, said as long as the players who are excelling overseas get an opportunity to be exposed to the younger players, they will encourage and inspire them to improve their level of the game and allow more players to get to the next level.

#“Everything starts small. We have to build the foundation like we are doing here in the camp,” he said.

#“Then these players will get to play at the high school level and hopefully they will move on to the club system. As time goes on, they can see the necessity of them playing the sport and making a living out of it like Shonari and I are doing.”

#Delancy, who hopes to one day be the next pro player, said he’s in it for the long haul and he just wants to motivate others to get themselves prepared to follow in their footsteps as they continue to make volleyball one of the most vibrant sports in the country.

#Hepburn, who stands at 6-7, is a 29-year-old former softball and baseball player, who is enjoying his career as a pro volleyball player.

#He, along with Stuart and Delancy, are inviting as many Bahamians to join them in the camp at Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park before it’s finished at the end of the month.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pro-volleyball-players-share-their-expertise-summe/?news

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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ADREIL PRATT, 14, had a strong showing at the Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s 50th National Swimming Championships – her final swimming competition before she heads off to Jacksonville, Florida, to continue her education. She won four bronze medals at the swimming nationals.

#FOURTEEN-year-old Adreil Pratt had a strong showing at the Bahamas Aquatics Federation’s 50th National Swimming Championships – her final swimming competition before she heads off to Jacksonville, Florida, to continue her education.

#Pratt snagged four bronze medals – 50-, 100- and 200- metres breaststroke and 200 medley mix relay. She also placed fourth in the 100m back stroke, fifth in the 200m back stroke and 6th in the 50m back stroke. She made finals in all of the races she competed in.

#She now prepares to attend the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida to enter the 10th-grade next month.

#The school is well known for producing some of the greatest swimming athletes in the world, including Olympians. Our very own Arianna Vanderpool Wallace attended the school.

#Pratt is a member of the Black Marlins Swim Club operated by Macfit 360, West Bay Street. Her coaches are former Olympian Allan Murray and his wife, Christine.

#Lisa Rahming, minister of state for social services and urban development and Member of Parliament for Marathon, is her biggest fan.

#She was joined by members of Pratt’s fan club who came out to support her during the races. They include her little brother, her father and his fiancé spiritual advisor Prophetess Sheena Moss, and chairman of the Marathon PLP Branch, Trevor Seifert. In addition to her athletic prowess, Pratt is known for her endearing personality and poise. She is also skilled in the sport of cycling.

#Adriel looks forward to representing her country on the world stage and excelling in the sport of swimming. Good luck on your journey.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/pratt-makes-her-presence-felt-swimming-nationals/?news

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is flanked by instructors and campers. Photos courtesy of Eric Rose

As of Friday, July 15, 2022

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MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg speaks to the campers.

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg greets one of the campers. Instructor Randy Cunningham looks on.

CAMP instructor Randy Cunningham, background, watches as some of the campers shoot the ball.

CAMPERS in action at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Summer Camp.

APOSTLE CARLOS REID, far left, and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, far right, share a moment with one of the campers.

CAMPERS enjoy the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Summer Camp.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#JUST before he left today for the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg toured his ministry’s youth summer programmes at the Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park, Yellow Elder School and the Edmundo Moxey community centres.

#Based on what he’s seen during his tour on Thursday, Bowleg said he was quite impressed with what the instructors are doing with the hundreds of youngsters, ages five to 17, who are participating in the various sporting and social activities.

#At the Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Park, Bowleg met with the instructor and campers participating in basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball.

#He provided them with some life skills advice that he hopes would enable them to become productive citizens in the future.

#“Just to know that these kids are out here involved in some positive activities is very encouraging,” he said. “I’m just happy to see the many kids out here and what the ministry is doing to ensure that over the summer months, we are doing something that would keep them active and deterred from the life of crime.

#“We’ve lost a lot of young men to the streets by being involved in gangs over the past two years because of the pandemic and now with my ministry, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Services, we’re trying to make sure that we conquer the whole island so we can win our youths back through some positive activities.”

#Bowleg said he’s pleased that there are some qualified instructors, including Mario Ford in baseball, Eugene Stuart in volleyball and Randy Cunningham in basketball, so the campers will definitely be exposed to some quality instructions.

#“I expect to see some up-and-coming future stars, whether it’s professional collegiate players coming out of these camps,” he stated.

#However, Bowleg said it’s more important for the campers to be able to receive instructions year-round as they continue to invest in their future and allow them to take advantage of every opportunity to become better in whatever sport they choose to pursue.

#Cunningham, one of the renowned basketball instructors, noted that the camp is free and although they have not been able to utilise any of the gymnasiums, they have created a fun-filled environment for the youngsters to participate in.

#“We are having a series of tournaments and we will be giving out medals and trophies and certificates to all of the campers,” Cunningham said. “So please send your boys and girls out so they can have a good time.”

#One of the campers, Anton Adderley, a 12-year-old student of Uriah McPhee, said he was delighted to be a part of the camp where his uncle Anton Sturrup is one of the instructors. He noted that he was pleased to have met Bowleg, who took a photo with him and encouraged him to do his best. “This was my first time seeing him (in person) and it was good to hear from him,” Adderley said. “He was encouraging. I really like the message he gave us today. Hopefully, I can live up to it.”

#Apostle Carlos Reid, who was on hand tp promote his annual Peace on Da Streets Basketball Tournament, commended the ministry for providing this atmosphere for the youngsters to engage in.

#“This is a powerful tool right now we have to use right now,” Reid said. “Parents are frustrated right now. We have not seen the results of COVID-19. We measure it in terms of death and how many people are affected mentally.

#“But parents need a break, knowing that their kids are learning something and are in a safe environment at the same time. This is what the country needs at this time, so kudos to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for hosting this kind of event.”

#Bowleg said it’s just so fantastic to provide activities such as this to keep everyone, including the parents and kids, so they can unwind, as they focus on their mental wellness coming out of COVID-19. The camps at the various sites run from 9am to 1 pm daily.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/jul/15/minister-bowleg-tours-youth-summer-programmes/?news