Marshall & Lambert Compete In Championships
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Two Bermudian athletes represented the island at the Special Olympics North American Tennis Championships in South Carolina.
Bridget Marshall and Micah Lambert, of Special Olympics Bermuda, took part in the competition, which attracted players from 17 states of the United States and a team from Costa Rica
The four-day event, starting with the opening ceremony last Thursday, was held at the Van Der Meer Tennis Centre in Hilton Head.
Accompanying the Bermudian players were coach Brent Smith and their parents.
Marshall, 30, played Robin Callaway, of North Carolina, in her opening game on Friday, losing 6-0, 6-1.
“It was a hard-fought match that could have gone either way,” Coach Smith told Bernews.
In her second match, Marshall faced Mandy Gonzales, of Illinois, in another tough encounter, going down 6-0, 6-3.
Lambert, 19, then took to the court to take on Aaron Stern, of New York, and delivered a spirited display, losing 6-1, 7-6 [10-8].
He then faced an opponent from South Carolina, losing 6-3, 6-1.
The next day, Marshall played Liza Ambrossi, of New York, losing 6-1, 6-3, while Lambert took on Bryan Fisher, of Florida, going down 6-0, 6-1.
Up next for the Bermudian pair was a doubles match against two male players from South Carolina, which they lost in straight sets 6-1, 6-3.
They then faced another South Carolina pair, winning the first set 6-1, losing the second 4-6 before firing back in the third-set tie-breaker, winning 10-4.
Coach Smith said Lambert and Marshall should be proud of their efforts and gained valuable experience at the championships.
“The strength of the competitors was not too much for our players, but the other players had the edge with being more ‘match tough’,” he added.
“These games have helped supply needed experience and exposure. They can now see that the rest of the field doesn’t necessarily play better, but they can overcome because they have more experience.
“Now our players are gaining more confidence with each match played.”
WAY TO GO SOB!!!