SPORTS SECTION E
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025
Thompson twins making it happen By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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hey were separated at one point by Hurricane Dorian, but now fraternal twin sisters Cassie and Cassidra are back together and making the most of their collegiate experience as members of the Jacksonville Dolphins women’s track and field team. At the ASUN Outdoor Championships over the weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, senior Cassie repeated as the 200 metres champion in 23.24 seconds and was the runner-up in the 100m in 11.47, while Cassidra, a junior, also repeated as the champion in the 400m in 53.28. The 21-year-old daughters of Veronnette Thompson and the late Kristnor Thompson, are in
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different class levels, but are delighted just to be in each other’s company after they split up about two years ago as students of Tabernacle Baptist Academy in Grand Bahama. “When Hurricane Dorian hit us, our school was affected really badly and I came to the United States to complete my senior year running track at Southlake High School in Florida,” Cassie said. “During that time, the recruiting started and the coaches started to express their interest in me coming to their schools. I accepted the offer at JU and within the first year, I led the way and opened the door for my sister to join me here.” While she opted to wait in Grand Bahama and take a year off before school resumed in Grand Bahama, Cassidra eventually got the call after she graduated to join her sister at JU and the rest was history. “Obviously, it’s the best feeling ever, especially with us competing at the next level together,” said Cassie, who will once again leave Cassidra behind after graduating two weeks ago. “We are now achieving all of the goals we prayed for like being the first generation to actually go to college in our family and to have my twin sister right behind me is the best feeling ever.” Cassie will be leaving with her degree in health science, while Cassidra will be back next year to complete her studies in accounting. “It’s something special because Cassie makes it kind of hard for me to be second best,” Cassidra said. “She goes out there
can accommodate so several potential campers had to be turned away at the door. To avoid disappointment, you must come early to register (note registration times) so you won’t be left out – we can’t wait to see you. Here is the Camp Schedule: Monday-Wednesday June 16-18 Girls Camp 9:00am12:00pm Registration at 8:30am Boys Camp 1:00pm4:00pm Registration at 12:30pm *To provide a quality camp experience, size will be limited! *For safety concerns absolutely no unsupervised children will be allowed at Camp. *Closed Camp access only to registered campers, their parents, and Basketball Smiles staff including pre-approved volunteers. Since Basketball Smiles began, boys and girls across The Bahamas have benefitted from these free basketball camps and the life skills programme of Basketball Smiles. Over 12,000 children have been served through Basketball Smiles since our beginning in 1999.
FORWARD TANISHA SEYMOUR FITTING IN WITH SENATORS By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
year, so when they got in a new assistant coach, she was inspired to drop down to the 400m. “In a year, the coach got me down to 53 seconds and it was history after that,”
TANISHA Seymour has had a relatively good tenure so far with the Davis & Elkins Senators women’s basketball season. The 6-feet forward is now back home on a break after the Senators completed their 2024-2025 season on March 1 with a 62-45 road loss to West Virginia Wesleyan in Mountain East Conference at the Rockefeller Gymnasium in Buckhannon, West Virginia. They finished the season with a 2-25 win-loss record, but Seymour said it was a learning experience, having completed her sophomore season. “It’s been good. Come August, I will be starting a nursing programme, but basketball has been good,” said the 20-year-old Seymour. “It’s been a love-hat relationship on the court. When I love it, I love it, but when I hate it, I hate it. I just need a break like I do with spring break and Christmas. It’s time to regroup.” Despite turning in a losing season, Seymour said she and her team-mates, along with their coaching staff, get along very well. She admitted that it wasn’t all about winning, but rather developing a chemistry and they bonded together. Hopefully, it will help to propel them to bigger and better things next year. During this break, Seymour got a chance to work out with fellow Bahamian collegiate players Rhema
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TWIN sisters Cassie and Cassidra Thompson displaying their awards. and she runs and it’s almost like you have to compete just as good. “Overall, it’s amazing to know that we are sisters and she’s not just good. We’re actually both good in our events, even though we don’t get to compete
against each other that often.” When she joined Cassie, who had already established herself in the sprints at JU, Cassidra said the coach wanted her to run the 800, but that didn’t work out in her freshman
Coach Sam Nichols to visit for his 26th annual Basketball Smiles camp COACH Sam Nichols, retired Hall of Fame head women’s basketball coach at McMurry University, Abilene, Texas will be here again in June for his 26th annual Basketball Smiles Basketball Camp. Based upon the tremendous success of the 2025 camp, this year’s Basketball Smiles Camp is an elite skills development camp focusing on upper-level basketball skills for serious-minded players. This year’s camp will be limited to junior high and high school players only. To ensure a quality coach-player ratio camp size is limited-first come, first-served. The camp will be held at the Kendal Isaacs Gym and outdoor courts, June 16-18. Basketball Smiles Camps are free and coordinated by HO Nash coach Patty Johnson. This is an intensive threeday comprehensive skills development camp and campers must attend all three days. No exceptions. Basketball Smiles camps are wildly popular and unfortunately in years past we have had more students arrive for camp than we
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DERRON DONALDSON APPOINTED TO NEW POST AT BAHA MAR BAHA Mar, the Caribbean’s leading luxury resort destination, proudly announces the appointment of Derron Donaldson to director of racquets at the newly unveiled John McEnroe Tennis Center at Baha Mar. This world-class facility provides year-round excitement for tennis aficionados and perfectly complements Baha Mar’s unrivaled sporting experiences. Donaldson will help ensure that
McEnroe’s vision for the centre is rooted in excellence and reflected in the teaching style of Baha Mar tennis professionals. The John McEnroe Tennis Center at Baha Mar currently features eight meticulously maintained courts, including six professional-grade hard courts and two Har-Tru clay courts, along with six top-tier pickleball courts,
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THE SPORTS May CALENDAR COACHES Sam Nichols and Patricia Johnson. In 2007, Nichols retired from 33 years coaching women’s basketball. The last 12 years was spent as head women’s basketball coach at McMurry University. He retired as the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in McMurry University history. In 2017 he was inducted into the prestigious McMurry University Athletic Hall of Honour. Nichols has also been named as the women’s
basketball coach for the All-Century Team at McMurry University. Nichols guided the Lady Indians to national prominence during his 12 seasons at McMurry University. He also won several coach-ofthe-year honours during his career. Nichols is joined by Texas coaches Jonathan Gibson, Trovoice Jackson, Kyle and Renee Williams, David Bookman, Chris
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NATIONAL AQUATHLON/ TRIATHLON THE Bahamas Triathlon Association has announced that its 6th Aquathlon/Triathlon National Championships is scheduled for from May 24-25 in Jaws Beach. The event is open to all athletic levels. For more information, interested persons can visit bahamastriathlon.org.
TRACK OPEN HOUSE THE Blue Chip Athletics is slated to hold its Open House Invitation on Saturday, May 31 from 9-11:30am at the Queen’s College campus. The competitors will get a chance to show off their skills in discus, shot put, javelin and the hammer throws. Interested persons are urged
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