Bermuda’s two teams both finished third in the Central American & Caribbean Tennis Confederation under-12 team competitions in Dominican Republic.

With two wins and the same number of defeats, the boys, coached by Evan Heyliger, finished behind winners Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, with the girls, under the mentorship of Jacklyn Lambert, holding the same record behind Bahamas and Dominican Republic I

Lambert was full of praise for the girls and the manner in which they represented the island.

“Arianna Parra, Lee Terceira and Ella Metschnabel all left everything on the court every time they played a match in the under-12 championships that took place in Dominican Republic,’’ Lambert said.

“I couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication to represent their country and make their families proud.

“They’ve left a long and lasting impression on everyone that was able to witness their impeccable performance with us to finish in third position.

“From start to finish, these girls fought hard to win their matches with Lee Terceira’s first match against the Dominican Republic’s No 2 player, Alejandra Garcia, lasting three hours and 28 minutes, with her taking a victory as well as her being one of the youngest in the competition.

“Arianna Parra, our No 1, was high on energy and positive. She was ready for whatever was thrown at her, while Ella Metschnabel, our No 3, also came out strong, fierce and ready to do whatever was necessary to make her team proud.

“Their futures are bright and I can’t wait to be dazzled by this brightness. I’d love to take this opportunity to thank the young ladies, their parents and the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association for an amazing experience.

“As a coach, all we want to do is ensure our athletes reach beyond their potential and have the best experiences during their career journeys.

“I can’t wait to be back with them next year, as I hope they continue to love the sport of tennis and believe in their abilities as much as I do.”

Heyliger, in his second assignment as a junior coach, was impressed by his team’s display.

“Our team of boys did our country extremely proud, representing Bermuda with their high-level of tennis and class,’’ he said.

“Our team finished third, narrowly missing out on second and first, even though all of our boys were a year below the age level.

“Our No 1 player, Manuel Maldonado, was an exceptional leader throughout. He demonstrated an emotional maturity well beyond his 11 years, facing the best players in our region with an equal level of tennis and superior character.

“Oliver Anderson, at No 2, was key to the team’s success, winning a number of important matches in both singles and doubles. Ollie handled his first experience in international competition with equanimity and poise.

“At No 3, Theodore Tolaram, impressed me with his growth as a competitor. He quickly showed the Bermuda squad that he could become one of our most trusted team members, particularly with his bravery and emotional leadership on the doubles court.

“Thank you to our boys, the parents and the BLTA for making this process such a memorable one.

“I cannot stress how irreplaceable these international competitions are for developing our players’ mental strength. Throughout the tournament, each of our boys improved immensely.

“I am excited for these boys to go back next year with more competitive experience under their belts.

“I hope the coaches and the BLTA can keep pushing these boys to test themselves locally, and especially, in international competition.”