A determined squad of 13 players from Tennis Cook Islands departed for Apia, Samoa, yesterday to compete in the highly anticipated East Pacific Regional Championships (EPRC).

After weeks of rigorous training, the team is primed and ready to take on their regional rivals —Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa and Tahiti.

National head coach Malcolm Kajer is optimistic about the team’s prospects, citing last year’s impressive results as a strong foundation for success.

“Last year, we had fantastic results at the EPRC, with five of our players earning spots in the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships (POJC),” Kajer said.

“This year, we’re aiming to build on that momentum and qualify more players for the POJC to be held in Fiji this April.”

Among the rising talents in the Under-12 boys’ division are newcomers Yann Meyer and Arnav Naidu, alongside second-time competitor Evan Rennie-Moore.

The U14 boys’ division sees Mareko Webb and Luca Rossouw stepping up to the challenge, with Rossouw expressing confidence in their preparation.

“Mareko and I have been training hard, and our goal is to make it to POJC again this year.”

The U16 division features a strong contingent of four boys: Tane Wichman, CT Woonton, Benson Herman and Tui Gibson — each eager to prove themselves on the regional stage.

In the girls’ competition, Vaeiheana Roi and Mama Ra Rongo will represent the Cook Islands in the U14 division. Rongo, fresh off winning gold for Mauke at the 2024 Cook Islands Games in the U18 girls’ division, is expected to bring her championship mindset to the court.

The U16 girls’ team boasts a formidable pairing in Tekura Tamangaro and Raetea Rongo, who secured doubles gold at last year’s POJC. Raetea also claimed gold in the singles competition, making her a key player to watch in Samoa.

Having trained consistently throughout the summer, Team Cook Islands is eager for the challenge ahead.

The EPRC tournament officially kicks off on Monday, February 3, running through to Saturday, February 8. The squad will return home following the competition, hopefully with more outstanding results to celebrate.