The Faces Of Coca Cola: The 31st annual ITF Junior International Tennis Tournament.

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NAME: Jordan Hunte
BORN:  21st February 2003
AGE: 11 years

He currently attends grade 5 in the Tapion School in Castries. At his school he is at present the Captain of the Table Tennis, Football, Cricket and Lawn Tennis teams. Tennis is the one sport that he is passionate about. His tennis career started at the tender age of 7 where he showed natural ability to put a racquet to a ball which was quite amazing. He entered his first tournament at the St. Lucia Racquet Club in 2010 where he lost in the semifinals. He then began to take lessons with Mr. Vernon Lewis every Saturday for about one year where he then entered the first U 10s boys singles in the 2011 Coca Cola Junior ITF Tournament where he became the champion. He then began taking his tennis a bit more seriously where he received training 3 times a week to get a better understanding of the game, learning all the necessary technics and skills of the discipline.

In 2012, with the introduction of the first ever Inter Primary Schools Tournament at the National Tennis Centre he placed 1st runner up and the following year became the winner of the tournament. During these years he entered in local Tournaments such as the Kia Tournaments, Cap Maison Tournaments, the Voyager Tournaments where his results were either winner or runner up is most of them. He continues to show great talent at his age group and is currently being groomed for the upcoming Junior Commonwealth games slated for 2018.

NAME: Adriel Anthony Bousquet
DOB: January 17th 2001
AGE: 13 years

Adriel’s success has been marked by a commitment to training with a high level of discipline, determination and integrity.  These character traits complement his physical stature and make him a formidable competitor on the tennis circuit.  In preparation for the summer 2012 season (his first year of ITF eligibility), Adriel trained nearly five hours a day which included two hours during the hottest period of the day, the 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM period.  His commitment to training has produced 16 championships over various categories and age groups which include 9 singles championship trophies.

In the summer of 2012, 11-year old Adriel Bousquet, participated in two International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments in the 14 and Under age group.  He made the main draw on each occasion, making it to the quarter finals in one of the tournaments stretching the number 1 and number 2 seeds in close matches.  With his doubles partner, he made the finals in the 14 and Under doubles category of the ITF-SVG tournament.  Representing Saint Lucia in the ITF 13 and Under championship, he helped guide the nation to a third place finish, securing a silver medal in the doubles category and finishing 10th in the singles as the youngest in the 20-boy field.

Summer 2013 saw Adriel generally improve on his performances of 2012.  He progressed to the semi-final stage of the St. Lucia ITF tournament in both singles and doubles.  In the St. Vincent ITF he progressed to the quarter final stage in singles and the finals in doubles.  Adriel was selected to play as the St. Lucian “Number 1” racquet in the ITF/GSDF U12 WILSON COTECC TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP CARIBBEAN.  Playing as the “Number 1” racquet he won all his singles matches without dropping a set and helped the team to a 4th place finish.

Locally, Adriel won every 12 and Under singles title during 2012.  These include the Kia Independence, Cap Maison Easter, Beachcomber and Coca-Cola tournaments.  During 2013, despite his ongoing eligibility in the 12 and under age group, Adriel decided to participate in the 14 and under age group of the Cap Maison Easter Tournament in 2013.  He captured the 14 and Under championship in straight sets.

This year, 2014, has started on a high with Adriel capturing the Independence 14 and Under singles and doubles titles.  His academics have not suffered, with Adriel finishing 1st in class at the end of the 2nd term in spite of representing his house in seven sporting disciplines; this follows a 2nd place finish and academic award for his term 1 performance at SMC.NAME: Aidan Nirel Gregory BousquetDOB: March 16th 2003 AGE: 11 years

The great tennis coach, Nick Bollettieri, states that to be a successful tennis player you must have three basic characteristics: Strength, Agility and Skill.  In Aidan Bousquet the last two are found in abundance and his body, which looks to have a minimum of fat, belies the definite existence of the first.  Merely examining his athletic strengths, which extend beyond tennis, would not do justice to Aidan, as his academic pursuits have also secured him accolades.

Previously not having a desire to play any sports, Aidan took up tennis at the age of seven.  In 2010, Aidan participated in a tennis camp organized by the Republic of China on Taiwan and won the camp’s “Most Promising Boy” award.  He brings a real cerebral approach to the sport ensuring that he reads various books including the autobiography of Raphael Nadal.

Aidan’s methodical approach to his tennis has paid off with him having secured five titles with nine finals appearances in singles and doubles.  He experienced a dip in form during 2013 but in 2014 has improved on his solid base and this year secured the prestigious Eastern Caribbean Championship.  In that tournament he defeated the highly ranked players from Martinique, St. Vincent, Dominica and, of course, St. Lucia.

His sporting interests are not limited to tennis but extend to athletics and soccer.  He has won numerous medals for his primary school house and was elected as House Captain in 2014.  His performances in the various disciplines caught the eye of the Road Busters club and he represented the club in the 1200 m race at the National 13 and Under meet in 2014.