The twenty-second (22nd) anniversary of the Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) Summer Camp, organized by CEO and President, Mr. Mitchelle Lake, commenced on Monday, July 17th 2017 and will culminate on Friday, July 28th 2017.
Over 50 children between the ages of 5 and 17 have registered and are benefiting from the tennis sessions over the two-week period. International coaches, Chris Wade, Will Agritelley, Ethan Moskowski and Brian Rasmussen, are currently on island to impart their skills and knowledge with the participants during the final week of the camp. Coach Brian Rasmussen has been a collegiate coach for 4 seasons at DII Valdosta State University (VSU). Brian has coached 9 ITA All-Americans in his 4 seasons as an assistant coach, and VSU has placed both the men’s and women’s teams in the Division II top 10 national rankings 3 of his 4 seasons.
Mr. Glen Agritelley, owner of T Bar M Racket Club in Dallas, Texas, is also on island at the invitation of Mr. Lake to observe the camp during its final week. Mr. Agritelley purchased T Bar M Racket Club in 1997 and built one of the top Junior Development programs in the USA.
Mr. Agritelley stated, “It has been great to see the improvement the ATA athletes have made in the past year. Mitch’s team had done a consistently great job. I am very proud of the children and the ATA staff.”
Coach Chris Wade, Director of T Bar M Athletics, is returning for his 15th year and is directing the final week of the camp. Chris commented, ” I was thrilled to enter the ATA gates and find that so much improvement has happened. Both the facility and the young Anguillian athletes have raised the level of excellence. I am so pleased that the ATA, that was once an idea and a dream, has proven itself year after year to be one the best opportunities for Anguillian children to get a higher education.”
Mr. Lake and his team have secured sponsorship from over 20 local businesses to make this year’s camp possible. Organizer Lake commented, “Despite these challenging economic times, our local businesses continue to show strong support for our annual summer camp. We applaud their loyalty to our summer camp and thank them for their continued support towards the development of our children through the sport of tennis over the past 22 years.”
Mr. Lake noted that a significant highlight of this year’s camp will be the celebration of Mr. Rodrigo Vazquez, one of the ATA’s senior players who is the proud recipient of a tennis athletic and academic scholarship to attend LeTourneau University in the Fall of 2017. This is the 10th tennis athletic scholarship facilitated by the ATA to graduates of its program.
LeTourneau University is a private, NCAA Division III, university located in Longview, Texas, with programs in engineering, aeronautical science, education and business. Rodrigo will be pursuing studies in Engineering while competing for the men’s tennis team. The celebration is scheduled for Thursday, July 27th at 4:30 pm at the Anguilla Tennis Academy located in Blowing Point, Anguilla.
The camp will culminate on Friday, July 28th 2017. The participants will receive certificates and an opportunity to win many prizes donated by the international coaches. They will also witness a tennis exhibition match by the international and local coaches at the closing ceremony.
To date, over 4000 children have benefited from the Anguilla Tennis Academy summer camp and After School Program since its inception in 1996.
– Press Release
