SPORTS SECTION E
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2025
Bahamas victorious, promoted to Zone II Ladies pull off one of the greatest wins in Bahamian women’s tennis history By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
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he combo of Sydney Clarke, Simone Pratt, Jalisa Clarke and Saphirre Ferguson, captained by Kim O’Kelley, pulled off one of the greatest victories in the history of Bahamian women’s tennis. O’Kelley, who has played on some of the top teams during the Fed Cup era, called the performances of the quartet as one that “can’t be imagined” after
FIBA AMERICUP: MEN SUFFER TWO STRAIGHT LOSSES – PAGE 6
they defeated Uruguay in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, on Saturday to get promoted from zone III to zone II in 2026 in the new era of the Billie Jean King Cup with an impressive 5-0 win-loss record. The Cup, the premier international team competition in women’s tennis, was changed to Billie Jean King from the Fed Cup in 2020 to honour the former World No.1 player Billie Jean King from the United States of America. The Bahamas first started playing in the Fed Cup in 1990. Pratt, the eldest member of the playing team, led by example as she opened with a hard-fought 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-1 come-back win to open the door. Sydney Clarke, the diminutive national champion, pushed the team through the tunnel with an impressive 6-3, 6-0 win to seal the deal in the second match between the top seeded players. And although they lost 6-3, 6-0 in doubles, the youthful pair of Saphirre Ferguson and Jalisa Clarke gained some valuable experience for the future, hopefully in their return for another sting in 2026. “There was some concern, but I don’t know how she did it, but Simone still got it,” said O’Kelley as she watched Pratt bounce back from losing the first
experience and to see how they put what we did in practice on the court.” The team followed suit as the men’s Davis Cup team of Denali Nottage, Michael Major Jr, Donte
Barron Musgrove Jr and Lyall Menzies win two medals each By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net BARRON Musgrove Jr and Lyall Menzies both won two medals each for Team Bahamas as the CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships came to a close yesterday. The official results have not yet been released, but The Bahamas is expected to leave Trinidad & Tobago with a fifth-place finish, an improvement on their sixth place last year. After watching 17 of the 27-member team compete in the triathlon on day one on Saturday and the rest in the aquathlon yesterday, assistant coach Grant Menzies said they were pleased with the overall performances. “We are extremely proud of the entire team for their individual and team performances over the past two days of competition,” said Menzies, who assisted head coach Marco Aballi. “After a long summer of training each team member gave everything they had amid fierce competition and tough conditions.”
CARIBBEAN VOLLEYBALL: BAHAMAS MEN CLAIM THE SILVER By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
Armbrister and Kofi Bowe, captained by veteran John Antonas, who last month in Trinidad & Tobago, advanced from Zone IV
AFTER dethroning the defending champions in the playoffs the night before, Team Bahamas fell short of claiming the gold in the men’s championship game to Curacao on Saturday at the Caribbean Volleyball Championships. Before another high spirited crowd on hand at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, Team Bahamas went down 25-21, 25-23, 25-16 as Curacoa celebrated their first championship title ever. The Bahamas was coming off a high after surging ahead 8-0 and held on for a 15-12 win in the fifth and deciding set over two-time defending champions Suriname on Friday night. But the team didn’t have the zap to match the intensity of Curacao in the final match on Saturday. Kyle Wilson, who led the team offensively throughout the tournament, said he was “disappointed” that they didn’t go all the way and claim the victory in front of the home crowd that included Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin and Minister of Housing Keith Bell. “I think we had so much more to give, but we just didn’t show up on the day,” said Wilson, who got some consolation after being named the best outside hitter. “It’s just annoying. But it was amazing hearing the crowd cheer for us. We couldn’t beat that. We just have a lot to learn and a lot to improve on. But I think we did a good job overall to
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SILVER - See Page E8
TEAM Bahamas on the medal podium, from left to right, Jalisa Clarke, Saphirre Ferguson, captain Kim O’Kelley, Sydney Clarke and Simone Pratt. set. “Sydney just played well. She didn’t give her opponent a chance to get into the match. And with the doubles, I wanted to see the young girls get an opponent to get the
Chisholm Jr, Page 3
2ND ANNUAL ESPN FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT WEEKEND HOSTED AT BAHA MAR By JONATHAN BURROWS THE excitement of the NFL season arrived early in Nassau this past weekend, as the second annual ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Weekend was hosted at Baha Mar. The event once again attracted fantasy football enthusiasts worldwide, bringing together leagues of all sizes for a weekend of competition. Participants were immersed in activities
designed to replicate the full NFL draft experience. An NFL-style combine was held on Baha Mar’s beach, featuring drills like the 40-yard dash, quarterback throwing station, and agility station. “You see the drills on TV and think they look easy, but once you’re out there, you realise how tough it is. Still, it’s all about the experience, and doing it here in
NFL - See Page E3
THE SPORTS CALENDAR
LYALL Menzies with medals.
BARRON Musgrove Jr with medal.
One of Menzies’ three sons on the team, Lyall Menzies, twin brother to Fraser, both 12 and entering grade seven at Windsor High School, got his gold in the 11-12 triathlon and a bronze in the aquathlon. Their older brother, Malcolm Menzies, competed in the 16-9 division. Musgrove Jr, a student at the University of The
Bahamas, got a silver in the boys’ 20-21 triathlon and came back and picked up the silver in aquathlon. “This is like every child’s dream come true,” said Musgrove Jr about winning his medals. “But at a top level representing your own country, this is definitely a moment I will remember and a story for me to tell.”
Musgrove Jr, the 20-year-old son of former national cyclist Barron Musgrove Sr, said the competition was very tough “fighting through the roaring waves, cycling up the high hills and running in the heat. But I managed to stick to my number one plan, which was to have
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SOFTBALL ATLANTIS ALL-STAR WEEKEND THE Atlantis Softball League has announced that its All-Star Weekend is scheduled for 3:30pm Wednesday, September 3, in the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at the Southern Recreation Grounds. The draft is slated to be held for the team
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selection for the All-Star Game and Community Family Fun Day that will be staged at 11am on Saturday, September 13. BASKETBALL BBSF TOURNAMENT THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation is scheduled to hold a meeting 6pm Thursday, August 28 at its office upstairs in the
AUG. - See Page E2