Under 18 tennis wins to Cook Islands

After five days of hard slog on the tennis courts, the top four East Pacific junior players have emerged in each age grade.

The top four from each grade qualifies for the Pacific Oceania Junior Tennis Championships in Fiji.

However, only two players can represent each country that took part in this week’s tournament – the participating country’s being the Cook Islands, Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.

In the under 12 boys grade, Samoa’s Harley Cronin was just too good and took out first place closely followed by American Samoa’s Kevin Maukoloa.

His fellow countryman and team mate Martin Ducknak came third and Tonga’s sprightly Teu Tongi was fourth.

In the under 12 girls, Charity Sagiao was the standout player who came first in the division followed by Simoana Reupena of Samoa in second and Loloma Ripley, also of Samoa, in third. Promising young Cook Islander Kiana Sword-Tua was fourth.

The Cook Islands dominated the under 14 boys division with Tamarua Payne, Roland Neururer and Jake Bergman taking out first, second and third respectively with Samoa’s Jerel Hunter fourth.

In the under 14 girls division, Anastasia Tapusoa of Samoa was the outright winner with the Cook Islands’ own Tayla Beddoes taking out second place.

Third place went to Samoa’s Mishaela Bonin and Tonga’s Simoko Afemui placed fourth.

In the hard fought elite under 18 division, local girl Norah Browne came first while fellow team mate and doubles partner Lilian Maui came third. Second place in the division went to Leilani Ducknak of American Samoa. Samoa’s Isabella Carruthers came fourth.

In the under 18 boys division, Elias Tukaroa took out the division for the Cook Islands after defeating American Samoa’s Christopher Sami who had to settle for second place.

Local lads Alex Beddoes and Frederick Pickering placed third and fourth respectively.

The doubles competition of the tournament played till late yesterday afternoon followed by the tournament prize giving and wrap up barbeque.

Congratulation to all the tennis stars that shone on the court this past week.

Doubles results and prizewinner photos, Monday’s CI News.