Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
LOCAL TENNIS talents Damar Johnson and Alexis Panton have distinguished themselves abroad by helping their college teams qualify for the National Collegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's and women's team finals.
Johnson, who is a member of the current Jamaican Davis Cup team, represents to the University of Louisville Cardinals. In his second year at the institution, he is the captain and No. 1 player. He has helped to create history by leading the 33rd ranked team to its second consecutive NCAA finals.
INSTRUMENTAL IN OPPONENTS' DEFEAT
A former Jamaican Fed Cup team member, Panton has helped her South Carolina State University make their first NCAA finals appearance. The third-year player was instrumental in helping her Bulldogs defeat Hampton University 4-2 to catapult her team to the 64-team finals.
The NCAA finals tournament's first and second rounds will be played on May 13-15 with 64 teams at 16 first and second-round sites.
The winner of each men's site will then advance to the team championships that will be held on May 21-24 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas.
The women's finals will be held from May 19-22 at a venue to be named.
Johnson and Panton have been beneficiaries of a local programme called The Scholarship Fund (TSF). The programme works to identify and assist with the development of talented but financially challenged young players.
There are now eight young players between the ages of 11 and 16 who are in the (TSF) programme.
