Morris steps up a notch

Lerissa Morris is taking life in its natural strides, but she will be looking to continue her exploits on the tennis court, and perhaps enhance her reputation.

With a prestigious record under her belt, Morris is focusing on her career in the senior category.

After eight years on the junior circuit, Morris’ record was not without some flair, as she notched up more titles and accolades.{{more}}

Her transition was marked last week Friday with the closing of the RBTT Junior tennis Tournament.

Morris maintained a familiar pattern and beat all before her to take the Girls Under-18 Singles.

In partnership with Kurtley Jack, Morris secured the Under-18 doubles, to add to the Girls’ doubles, when her sidekick was Yvette Young.

Morris took away the much sought after Challenge trophy for the fifth time.

These latest achievements add to the numerous awards she has hauled in over the years.

Her litany of successes includes 48 singles titles and 29 as a Doubles player.

Morris’ participation on the regional circuit has not lived up to her local productivity.

A fourth place at an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in 2001; two runners up spots last year at the OECS championship and her 2002 selection on the OECS team to the Federation Cup in Cuba complete her regional record.

Morris’ high point came in 2001, when she was named the 2000 Senior Sportswoman at the National Sports Council Awards.

Having completed her two-year programme at the St. Vincent Community College recently, Morris heads to the United States of America next year on a tennis scholarship.

As Morris makes the progression, the senior level will be no strange arena for her. She has the 2000 national singles title among her achievements.

She patented the Pepsi President’s Invitational Women’s singles title, winning consecutively from 2000 to 2002, the three years for that championship.

While Morris made her exit as a junior, others used the RBTT Bank championship to solidify their junior rankings.

Six-year-old John Anthony Thomas emerged as the find, winning the Boys Under-10. He got the nod as the championship’s most promising player.

Halimah Michael won both the Girls Under-12 and Under-14. She was voted the most promising female player of the championship.

Fabrice George was crowned Boys Under-12 champion.

Michelle Gun-Munro was in fine form taking the Girls Under-14, with Shane Huggins doing the same for the Boys in that age group.

Roxanne Russell secured the Girls Under-16 and Justin Gun-Munro, the Boys Under-16, while Fidel Providence championed the Boys Under-18.

Providence and Jack proved to be the winning combination in the Boys Under-18 doubles.

The duo of Cupid and Michelle Gun-Munro grasped the Girls Under-14 doubles. Huggins and Kohei Toshihara took the Boys’ version of that age group. Huggins and Cupid won the Under-14 Mixed doubles.

Ninety-six players participated in the championship that began July 9.