By By Steve Swogetinsky / special to The Star
June 17, 2004
This is a busy time of year at the Northeast Tennis Complex.
In addition to the summer youth programs which involve more than 35 beginning and intermediate players, the State Games of Mississippi Tennis Tournament is slated for the weekend of June 25-27.
For more information, come by the Northeast Tennis Center or call 483-3526.
Summer tennis lessons will continue at the center until the first of August. More than 35 players are involved in lessons that are held from Monday until Thursday, each week. There are still openings available.
The center's 3.0 Women's team placed third in the state tournament in Jackson earlier this month.
Wade Covington will be playing in the Southern Closed Under 16 tournament in Rome, Ga., starting this weekend. Covington was ranked No. 1 in the Under 14 state division last year.
Youth baseball postseason draws near
The Meridian Youth Baseball Association season for 9 through 12 year-olds is winding down at the Phil Hardin Complex. The post-season tournaments end tonight and the all-star teams will soon be selected.
Meridian all-star teams will compete in the state Babe Ruth Tournaments as follows: nine-year-olds at Gulfport, 10-year-olds at Forest, 11-year-olds at Forest and 12-year-olds at New Albany. Tournaments start the weekend of July 8.
The 13-14-year-old league will conclude its season next week and tournament teams will be selected soon afterwards. Meridian will host the 13-year-old and 14-year-old tournaments at the Q.V. Sykes Complex.
MSA opens up in Vicksburg
The Meridian Swim Association jumped back in the water earlier this month with a big splash.
Five swimmers from the Meridian team went to Vicksburg for Meridians first competitive action of the season and did well according to coach Kyle Wilson.
Sims Partridge and Savana Boyd placed second overall in their respective age groups. Partridge won the 50 Breast and 50 Fly in the 11 and 12 division, while Boyd placed first in the 50 Breast stroke in the 8 and under division. Both swimmers placed in other events as well. Jacob Gray won the 100 Butterfly event. Also competing were Clayton Boyd and Nicole Boyd.
The Meridian team returns to the water on the weekend of June 26 for the Laurel Invitational. Wilson said about 10 swimmers were expected to compete.
Right now, the team has about 55 youth swimmer and 15 master swimmers working out each morning at Highland Park. The team is gearing up for the Meridian Invitation on July 9-11 which will be held at Highland Park.
Sunfish Triathlon is July 10
The 2004 Sunfish Triathlon will be held July 10 at Okatibbee Lake.
The event will include a .5 mile swim, a 34K (21.02 miles) bike race and an 8K run.
There will be no race day registration for this event and deadline is 5 p.m. on July 9. Those registering before June 26 will pay $50 per individual entry and $65 per team. Afterwards, the charges will be $60 per individual and $80 per team. You can register on active.com, or contact Kirk Gosa at 696-4981 or Karla Wiese at 693-4833 (day) or 679-1716.