Mitchelle Lake
To: Daily Herald From: Brenda Carty Date: July 3, 2000
Mitchelle Lake
The tennis camp has been held every year since 1996 and each year over one hundred children take advantage of the opportunity to learn the game. Lake has raised some US $20,000.00 for the camp this year; $4000.00 from BET, $3000.00 from Wilson, $5000.00 from Carson Products and $8000.00 from a selection of individuals. In addition Wilson is providing balls, prizes and equipment for the coaches and BET is providing the trophies for the winners of the matches held at the end of the camp.
During the last week several professional coaches are expected on the island. James Schor of Wilson Caribbean Sales, Maria Lopez from Venezuela, who is ranked No 1 in her country, and three teaching pros from the USA, Leandro Gutierrez, Oscar Escribano and Maria Lopez. The coaches are staying at Carimar Beach Resort and Frangipani Beach Club and will work each day with Lake and Hughes to help the children.
Mitchelle recently graduated from Gardner-Webb University, he was there on a tennis scholarship and was a collegiate tennis player. Damien, also on a tennis scholarship, attends Morehouse College, he has a degree in political science and is now going on to study law. He is a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Davis Cup team and is the secretary and public relations officer of the OECS Tennis Players Union. Both young men want to help other young people in Anguilla to gain an education through their talent in tennis. They both are strong advocates for young people and want to work diligently towards effective development of the youth of the island.
One of their plans is to set up a tennis facility with six courts, a clubhouse, pro shop and shower facilities. They have been looking at government owned land in the west of the island and are negotiating with the government to be able to use the land for the tennis facility. Already they have raised a considerable sum of money for the project. They are hoping to develop sports tourism as well as providing tennis courts for the youth of the island to develop the game into a major sport in Anguilla.
The tennis camp is open to anyone who is interested and in order to register children are asked to call Mitchelle Lake at 497 3234 or to fax 497 8214.
For more about Tennis Camp 2000, Click Here.