09062016 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

‘I don’t know where my career is going’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

T

he trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil turned out to be the last of five Olympic Games appearances for men’s veteran quarter-miler Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown. After her third appearance, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace said it maybe the end of her stellar career as a swimmer.

Already the first Bahamian swimmer to make a final when she competed in the women’s 50 metre freestyle in 2012 in London, England, Vanderpool-Wallace was hoping to duplicate that feat in Rio and get a chance to win the Bahamas’ first medal in the sport.

While she was fourth in her heat in 24.80 seconds, Vanderpool-Wallace came in ninth overall, one spot shy of advancing to the final and now she’s seriously contemplating her future as a competitor.

“I’m proud of my performances,” she told The Tribune in the aftermath of the games. “It wasn’t the results that I wanted, but I know that I put everything I had into the past four years for this cycle so I’m happy with how my career has gone so far.”

But she admitted that “disappointment” wasn’t ever a word she thought about in terms of reflecting on her performances overall.

After opting not to contest the 100m butterfly, VanderpoolWallace competed in the 100m freestyle where she was seventh in her heat in 54.56 for 18th place overall.

With the Olympics over and done with, Vanderpool-Wallace has returned to her alma mater at Auburn University where she is working as a graduate assistant for the swim team and pursuing her masters degree in kinesiology.

“For now I don’t know where my career is going to go, I’m just taking it day by day,” she told The Tribune. “I don’t have any plans for competing in the near future.

Just looking at getting in shape and staying healthy this fall.”

Vanderpool-Wallace, 26, has had a glaring career from the Carifta ranks all the way to the Olympics.

Along the way, she competed at the FINA World Championships in 2009 in Rome, Italy, the Pan American Games in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, twice at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2006 in Cartagena, Colombia and 2010 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and also at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.

At the CAC Games, she picked up four gold medals in the wom-

Vanderpool-Wallace says she doesn’t have any plans to compete in the near future

ARIANNA VANDERPOOL-WALLACE, of the Bahamas, wears her gold medal earned in the women’s 50m freestyle final at the Pan Am Games on July 17, 2015, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) en’s 50m and 100m free as well as both the 50m and 100m butterflies, setting the games records then in the 100m free and 50m fly.

And at the Commonwealth Games as the flag bearer, she produced a silver in the 50m fly, but was fourth in the 50m free and fifth in the 100m free.

In Rio, Vanderpool-Wallace would have had to at least match or surpass her Bahamas national records of 24.34 in the 50m free and 54.37 in the 100m free, if she had intended to be a contender for the final and a chance to get

on the podium again.

Vanderpool-Wallace admitted that it didn’t pan out as she anticipated, but she said she gave it her best shot, just as she did throughout her career.

“I’m grateful for the Bahamas for cheering me on along the way and helping me to achieve some lofty goals that I had,” stated Vanderpool-Wallace, the most decorated Bahamian swimmer - male or female.

“If I don’t compete again for the Bahamas I hope that I have inspired another generation to

surpass me and take the Bahamas to even new heights whether it be in swimming, as any type of athlete or in life.

“The Bahamas is small and might and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

In the meantime, VanderpoolWallace said she’s weighing out all of her options in familiar surroundings where she excelled for the Tigers swim team at Auburn University during her sting from 2008-2012 where she was a multiple All-American and three-time NCAA champion.

Dallas Cowboys

Naughty on NFL, Page 3

SEYMOUR AND BRAVES IN HUNT FOR SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MINOR league baseball heads into the postseason and Anfernee Seymour’s Rome Braves are in the hunt for a spot in the SEYMOUR playoffs.

Just one half game separated the Braves and the Augusta Green Jackets for the coveted spot in the Class A (Full) South Atlantic League headed into this week.

The two teams faced off last night in the final game of the series. However, results were unavailable up to press time.

If Rome advances to the postseason, the first game of the Southern Division playoff series versus Charleston (best of three) will be held in Rome on September 7. The first two games of the Championship Series (best of five) will be played September 12 and 13 at State Mutual Stadium.

The Rome Braves are the hottest team in the South Atlantic League, having won eight of their last 10 games and the last four in a row.

In 20 games with the Braves thus far, Seymour is hitting .243 with four RBI, an OBP of .278, an OPS of .535 with six stolen bases.

Seymour was traded from the Miami Marlins to the Atlanta Braves in a three-player deal which also saw the Braves acquire pitcher Michael Mader in exchange for relief pitcher Hunter Cervenka.

He entered the Braves’ lists of prospects ranked at No.19, according to MLB.com’s 2016 Prospect Watch. He is ranked fourth among shortstops after No.1 overall prospect Dansby Swanson, No.2 Ozzie Albies and No.8 Kevin Maitan.

Seymour was ranked No.8 in the Marlins farm system but goes to a Braves organisation known for its deep talent pool in the minors.

In 124 games this year, Seymour hit .253 with 70 runs scored, 43 stolen bases and 30 RBI. He has recorded a slugging percentage of .300, an OBP of .293 and an OPS of .593 and 146 total bases.

The 5’11” 165-pound Seymour was taken by the Marlins with the 197th pick in round seven of the 2014 MLB Draft.

Seymour, who starred for the rookie Batavia Muckdogs in the Gulf Coast League last season where he played in 64 games at shortstop with a batting average of .273, was called up in April to the Grasshoppers.

Equestrian, bowling in National High School Championships

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE National Sports Secretariat, jointly headed by the Ministers of Education, Science and Technology and Youth, Sports and Culture, is broadening their base to include more National Sports Championships this year for High School Sports.

The National Sports Secretariat, formed in 2015, will be hosting a series of National Championships for the third consecutive year. But according to Evon Wisdom, the Sports Unit Director for the Ministry of Education, they have extended the programme to now include bowling and equestrian with judo, fencing and flag football to eventually be added to the schedule.

“Every year we try to do something outstanding and last year was no different with the inau-

gural National High School Basketball Championships,” Wisdom said. “We felt that event was able to highlight the young men, in particular, playing basketball.

“We had the collaboration of Nike bringing their High School Developmental League here to the Bahamas. We believe it is because of the alliance that we now have with the Bahamas Basketball Federation and we are thankful to the president and all of the vice presidents and we are hoping that we will be able to support them through super gate attendance this year.”

While Wisdom said as the Sports Unit Director for New Providence, Norris Bain has been elevated to that position in Grand Bahama.

Bain served as the past principal and basketball coach at the Tabernacle Baptist Academy.

Sherwin Major has moved from Eleuthera to replace Bain.

JUDO, FENCING AND FLAG FOOTBALL TO COME

EVON WISDOM In another move of coaches in Grand Bahama, Daniel Pratt has left North Andros High and will now be stationed at the Eight Mile Rock High.

Here in New Providence, there were a few changes with Kenny

Moxey being elevated to senior master at TA Thompson. Kendal Campbell will replace Moxey in a move from LW Young. Also, Theodore Hanna has moved from Cleveland Eneas Primary to Government High, Torsheka Cox has also moved from Sadie Curtis Primary to CI Gibson and David Ferguson goes from Government High to RM Bailey.

Over the course of the new school year, Wisdom said there will be a number of National High School Championships, which include the following: • National High School Softball Championships for girls and boys in October in Eleuthera, chaired by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

• National High School Volleyball Championships for boys and

girls in November in Grand Bahama, chaired by the Ministry of Education.

• National High School Cross Country Championships for boys and girls in November, chaired by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

• National High School Basketball Championships for boys and girls in March in New Providence, chaired by the Ministry of Education.

• National High School Track and Field Championships in March in New Providence, chaired by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

• National High School Sailing Championships, dates to be announced in Exuma, chaired by the

SEE PAGE 8

PAGE 2, Tuesday, September 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

BAAA MOBILISING TOWARDS TOKYO 2020 BAAA President Rosamunde Carey applauded all of the athletes of Team Bahamas, giving special honours to the luminaries of the Rio 2016 Games for ensuring that their performance “will be forever etched in the history of athletics in The Bahamas.”

She addressed the press during a media luncheon at the British Colonial Hilton on Friday.

In her statement she reiterated that The Bahamas will for the third time stage the IAAF World

Relays – in April of 2017 and in 2019, and that a bid has been put in for 2021 and 2023.

She noted: “There are other issues or initiatives worth mentioning such as the $15,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to advance a development programme called ARISE, the reconstruction of the Federation’s Webpage and Facebook, and equally significant the development of a plan to create more cohesion and collaboration

among all stakeholders of the Federation.

“We have also just recently been engaged with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture along with other sporting organisations to present a comprehensive plan for the way forward to Tokyo 2020. This initiative is exciting to the Federation as it synchronises with plans as we move from IWR 2017, CARIFTA 2018, IWR 2019 to TOKYO 2020.”

ROSAMUNDE CAREY speaks to the press.

Photo by Patrick Hanna/BIS

ATLANTIS WELCOMES SHAUNAE HOME IN STYLE THE Atlantis resort on Paradise Island laid out the royal treatment for Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller as she returned to Bahamian soil following her 400m triumph at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Complete with red carpet and greetings featuring junkanoo music from a host of employees excited to get a glimpse of the newest Bahamian icon, Miller was met outside the Royal Towers lobby by Stuart Bowe, senior vice president and general manager, Royal Towers.

Surprised by the reception, Miller said the love shown by Atlantis was an amazing feeling. “I’m still trying to take it all in, but I’m really very happy right now. This is a very beautiful hotel and I feel really blessed.”

The track star was treated to a two-night stay in a Royal Towers Suite.

Swimmers make a splash at Goodwill Games in St Lucia THE Bahamas Swimming Federation sent a 34-member team to St Lucia to compete in the Goodwill Games for the second time this year – August 19-21 and the team ended up 5th overall.

Swimmers aged seven to 17 competed in events throughout the three-session meet. “This was the 22nd edition of the meet and the second year we were invited as a guest country to compete. This is a developmental meet with swimmers from Barbados, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Surinam and Guyana and the host country each year is invited to invite one guest country to participate,” said a press release.

“We placed fifth overall, as we had only two girls in the 13/14 and no girls in the 15-17 age groups so lost possible points through having no relays in both ages and no individual swims in the latter age group. The team got two gold, 12 silver and nine bronze medals for a total of 23, as well as breaking two records. The team is limited by the organisation to four swimmers per age group. ” GOLD MEDALS were received by: Liya Moncur, 11/12 girls in the 50 backstroke, 35.61 SCM Marvin Johnson, 9/10 boys, 100 Freestyle, in a Meet Record time of 1:02.41 SCM (He also holds the record in the 8 & under boys 100 free from last year.)

SILVER MEDALS were received by: Passion Daniel, 8 and under girls, 50 breast, 49:73 SCM Passion Daniel, 8 and under girls, 100 Individual Medley, 1:35.61 SCM Taliyah Bowe, 8 and under girls, 50 Butterfly, 41.51 SCM Marvin Johnson, 9/10 boys, 50 Breast, 38.75 SCM Marvin Johnson, 9/10 boys, 50 Butterfly, 32.01 SCM Marvin Johnson, 9/10 boys, 50 Freestyle, 28.43 SCM ( he and the first place swimmer both broke the record) Mark Darling, 13/14 boys, 50 Backstroke, 30.33 SCMMark Darling, 13/14 boys, 50 Butterfly, 29.03 SCM Malik Hepburn, 15-17 boys, 50 Backstroke, 29.43 SCM 9/10 Boys, 400 Medley Relay- 5:30.64 SCM : Noah

Albury, Amauri Bonamy, Marvin Johnson, Hodari Prince.

9/10 Boys, 400 Freestyle Relay: 4:59.91 SCM: Noah Albury, Amauri Bonamy, Marvin Johnson, Hodari Prince 9/10 Boys 200 Freestyle Relay: 2:08.73 SCM : Noah Albury, Amauri Bonamy, Marvin Johnson, Hodari Prince BRONZE MEDALS were received by: Devin Cuffy-Bethel, 9/10 Girls, 50 Breaststroke, 41.09 SCM Devin Cuffy-Bethel, 9/10 Girls, 100 Breaststroke, 1:31.27 SCM Marvin Johnson, 9/10 Boys, 100 Breast, 1:26.94 SCM Marvin Johnson, 9/10 Boys, 200 Freestyle, 2:18.36 SCM 11/12 Boys, 400 Medley Relay, 5:52.38 SCM: Hugh Bartlett III, Reis Knowles, Ishan Roy, Ocean Smith.

15-17 Boys, 400 Medley Relay, 5:01.86 SCM: Henderson Cartwright, Uriah Cartwright, Malik Hepburn, Ethan Moxey .

11/12 Boys, 400 Free Relay, 5:00.13 SCM: Hugh Bartlett III, Reis Knowles, Ishan Roy, Ocean Smith.

13/14 Boys 400 Free Relay, 4:17.42 SCM: Mark Darling, Ricardo Jolly, Jeong-Il Kajokaya, Derren Williams.

8 & under girls 200 Free Relay, 2:34.59 SCM: Addison Albury, Taliyah Bowe, Passion Daniel, Anjaleah Knowles.

“We received a lot of fourth places where we just missed third by hundredths of a second from a person who won the slow heat and our swimmer was in the fast heat. Several medal winners are at the bottom of their age groups so will hopefully make the team again next year and be able to do even better.

Overall individual points saw Passion Daniel coming in third in 8 and under girls with 27 points and Marvin Johnson second in 9/10 boys with 58 points. Both these swimmers are at the bottom of their age groups so we can expect big things from them again next year.

As a developmental meet, most of the swimmers from participating countries will be in their first or second national team experience

OUR BRONZE-MEDAL winning 8-and-under girls 200 metres freestyle relay team (back row) on the medal podium during the Goodwill Games in St Lucia last month. and learning how to function in that setting. The meet is run just like Carifta and upper level meets, except that all events were timed finals. Swimmers who qualify for and represented their countries in those upper meets this year are not eligible to compete in the Goodwill Games.

“The competition is stiff, however, as countries with a larger number of swimmers than us, like Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, will have fast swimmers who did not get chosen to go to Carifta only because they had so many to choose from, but they would be then chosen for the Goodwill Games team. Each country is allowed to enter three swimmers in each event, the top

two from each country who will score, but all are eligible to receive their medals earned.

Six Bahamian swimmers of the seven who attended the meet last year were chosen to attend again and the experiences gained last year aided them in swimming even better this year.

“Swimmers came from clubs in Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence.

We hope to have a full team of 40 swimmers next year when the meet is to be held in Guyana. The date change to one week later than originally planned this year eliminated some good swimmers who were going away to school in the USA and their classes began before we would have reached

home, as well as one swimmer who was injured and unable to come.

On the final night, the swimmers presented their cultural item where they danced and played along with cowbells and drums to Ronnie Butler’s “Bahama Rock.”

Each country is required to make some presentation of the culture of their country at this time.

After the competition ended, 2/3 of our swimmers and their supporters stayed an extra day in St Lucia to do a tour of the island highlights. “We went by boat south to Soufriere near the volcanic crater and the twin peaks of the Pitons. We travelled by bus to a waterfall, the volcano and then

to a preserved coca plantation. Then we had lunch and went by catamaran to sightsee back up the coast again with a stop for the group to go snorkelling before returning to our hotel after a full day’s trip.

The swimmers enjoyed this opportunity to socialise with each other as they came from different islands and several different swim clubs. (We had also done two social events as a team in Nassau for the swimmers from there before leaving for St Lucia to get to know each other better.)

The Goodwill Games organisers from the various member countries were very pleased to have the Bahamas with them these two years so far as they said we will be together for regional competitions from now on and friendship between swimmers and officials in the region is important as we support each other. This makes each one better as we compete and try to win.

The swimmers and support persons trade t-shirts, caps and other items with each other at the end of the meet and each country’s federation sends a gift for the other participating counties. The swimmers will be making lifelong friends with their colleagues for the other countries.

“We are grateful for the assistance of our corporate sponsors, whom we will thank publicly shortly.

They assisted in monetary ways as well as in goods to assist in our trip. The majority of the travel and uniform funds was provided by each swimmers’ family and friends.

The support staff consisted of Shirley Mireault, Head Coach; Geoffrey Eneas and Mancer Roberts Jr, assistant coaches; Travis Bowe, team manager; Sunita Bonamy, Wendy Bowe and Livingston Duncombe, chaperones.

“These along with our 34 swimmers worked hard to make the Bahamas proud and we feel they were successful. Swimmers who were not chosen this year are already asking if they can be included next year.

We look forward to seeing what the country is like when we compete in Guyana next summer.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 6, 2016, PAGE 3

Dak to the future for the Cowboys THIS week, Dallas Cowboys fans, I’m going to address the elephant in the room, Tony Romo, and what needs to be done with him.

Let me begin by saying that I was the staunchest advocate for Tony Romo to replace Drew Bledsoe as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. I can remember it like yesterday back in ‘06 when my wife, Jamie, prevented me from kicking the neighbour’s dog (my neighbour and his dog are Dolphin fans) at half time, rushing me back inside, to show me that my wish had been granted!

Romo was at QB starting the second half and Bledsoe was out.

That old saying “be careful what you wish for, you just might get it” rings true every so often, and with Romo it has.

I got what I wanted, and oh how Romo has hurt my achey breaky Cowboy heart. To his credit Romo has also given Cowboy fans numerous positives to cheer about.

Sadly when considering the overall body of work, and factoring in age, injuries and the always lurking ‘costly turnover’ that Romo is the poster child for, the bad outweighs the good.

Similar to our local political scene, it’s time for the wounded, long in the tooth, battle weary veterans to have a well deserved seat and let youth be served.

Enter Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ fourth round pick in this years NFL Draft.

Prescott played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he was the starting quarterback from 2013 to 2015, and holds all school passing records, all while winning numerous trophies and awards during his stellar college

era. All while playing in the very competitive SEC Conference.

He posses a cannon arm and very good running ability when the situation requires it. Prescott’s athletic ability, high football IQ and veteran’s poise and moxy give the Cowboys offence a whole new dynamic and rhythm.

Add to the equation the best offensive line in the NFL along with highlytouted rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, big play wide receiver Dez Bryant, and safety valves in tight end Jason Witten and slot receiver Cole Beasley, the recipe for Dak’s success is there. All he’s got to do is cook it up.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not taking anything away from Romo’s career stats: 34,154 passing yards 248 touchdowns.

117 interceptions.

97.1 passer rating Well, if could take anything front his career it would be those damn interceptions.

I’m just keeping it in perspective. The injuries are piling up, issues with frequency and the recovery time is taking longer and ‘Father Time’ is beating on the door. It’s time for Romo to ride off into the sunset, so please give the keys to Dak after a stellar preseason, 39 of 50 passing (78 per cent) for 454 yards with five TD passes, two rushing touchdowns - and no interceptions. One in which Prescott showed poise beyond his years, maturity in the huddle and poise in the pocket (in all honesty, Prescott reminds me of a young Donavon McNabb) and taking all the circumstances into account, Dak must play, learn and win.

Now! Dak is the future at quar-

SPORTING

MISCHIEF

& MAYHEM

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’

ZENICAZELAYA

THE INJURIES are piling up, issues with frequency and the recovery time is taking longer and ‘Father Time’ is beating on the door. It’s time for Tony Romo to ride off into the sunset

“SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HAND ROMO THE CLIPBOARD AND HEADSET AND SHOW HIM TO HIS SEAT ON THE BENCH. I KNOW IT’S A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW FOR SOME OF YOU, BUT IT’S REALITY, IT’S THE TRUTH. SOONER OR LATER, MORE LIKE SOONER AS IT LOOKS NOW, DAK PRESCOTT MUST AND WILL BE THE QUARTERBACK FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS.” terback for the Cowboys, so if the Cowboys are 6-2 or say 5-3 in the win-loss col-

umn upon Romo’s return, somebody (maybe Jerry Jones, or possibly the voice

WITH a cannon arm and very good running ability when the situation requires it, Dak Prescott’s athletic ability, high football IQ and veteran’s poise and moxy give the Cowboys offence a whole new dynamic and rhythm. of the Cowboys more and more these days and definitely the voice of the Cowboys’ future, Jerry’s kid the Vice President of the club, Stephen Jones) needs to hand Romo the clipboard and headset and show him to his seat on the bench.

There it’s out, somebody had to say it. I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow for some of you, but it’s reality, it’s the truth.

Sooner or later, more like sooner as it looks now, Dak Prescott must and will be the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. No time

like the present I guess!

Until next week make your team win on NFL kick off Sunday ... unless you are a Giants fan!

TOMORROW: Naughty predicts who will win the AFC and NFC divisions and who will make the Superbowl • Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net

Kato and Vandals open Acadia Axemen have strong season on winning note Bahamian presence this year

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN one of its final seasons playing in the FBS, Kato Fawkes and the Idaho Vandals opened the season on a winning note on opening weekend.

The Vandals scored a 20-17 win over the Montana State Bobcats at the ASUIKibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. “That’s the best defence we’ve played since I’ve been here,” Vandals head coach Paul Petrino said. “Our defence really stepped up. Offensively, we rushed for 225 yards.

We found two ways to win. That’s the most important thing.”

Fawkes, now in his post graduate season, will once again appear in a reserve role for the Vandals behind starting guards Noah Johnson and Mason Woods.

The 6’4” 303-pound guard, a native of Freeport, Grand Bahama, graduated in May while he saw his first official gametime as a member of the Vandals. In the 2014 season, he was sidelined with an injury and redshirted.

Prior to his transfer to Idaho, Fawkes spent two seasons at the JUCO level at Western Iowa where his stellar play placed garnered attention from Division I programmes. Fawkes started every game for 11-1 Western Iowa and was a secondteam Iowa Community College Athletic Conference selection.

MOORE’S 24 LEAD LYNX OVER SUN MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Maya Moore was 4 of 5 from 3-point range and scored 24 points to help the defending champion Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 9379 on Sunday night.

Sylvia Fowles added 18 points and eight rebounds, and Rebekkah Brunson had 13 points.

Minnesota (24-5) remained tied with Los Angeles for first place in the overall standings and will face the Sparks on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The winner will not only take a one-game lead in the playoff race, but also secure the head-tohead tiebreaker with four games remaining.

The Lynx took the lead for good early in the second quarter but didn’t pull away until a 9-0 run spanning both halves made it 47-34 early in the third quarter. The Sun (11-18) got no closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Alex Bentley had 16 points, Jonquel Jones and Chiney Ogwumike added 14 each for Connecticut.

Iowa Western was the league leader in total offence (522.5 yards per game), passing offence (257.5 yards per game), completions (274), pass attempts (441) and touchdowns (28).

The 23-year-old lineman majored in sociology and is the son of Anthony and Bianca Fawkes.

The Vandals are on the road for the three weeks – at Washington, at Washington State and at UNLV, before returning to the Kibbie Dome for Homecoming against Troy on October 1. The Vandals currently play in the Sun Belt Conference of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to be relegated to the FCS and play in the Big Sky Conference in 2018.

According to the Idaho Statesman, The Vandals will become the first programme to make the move to drop down from the Football Bowl Subdivision to FCS since 1982, and the only one to do so without the NCAA forcing a decision.

Idaho will play in the Big Sky Conference, where all of its other teams compete, starting with the 2018 season.

The University of Idaho played football in the Big Sky Conference from 19651995, winning nine conference championships. All UI sports left the Big Sky in 1996, with most other sports other than football returning in 2014. The Vandal football team has played in the Sun Belt since 2014, its second run in the conference since leaving the Big Sky.

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Acadia Axemen begin their 2016 season next weekend (Saturday, September 10) and several Bahamian players plan to figure prominently into the team’s plans going forward.

Wide receiver Eugene McMinns and offensive lineman Shelton Williams enter their second season with the programme while Lawrence Williams will also join the offensive line this season.

The trio hopes to propel the Axemen to a bowl game after they narrowly missed an appearance in the Subway Looney Bowl last season.

The Axemen got off to a slow start with a 31-8 loss to the St Mary’s Huskies, September 3 in Halifax.

The Huskies were previously winless in the regular season and playoffs since the fall of 2014.

The two teams will face off in the regular season matchup.

Williams has started at tackle since the season opener last season and was a lynchpin in the line that has been one of the leading offences in Canadian collegiate football last season.

In five games last season, McMinns finished with five catches for 101 yards and one touchdown.

McMinns had a breakout game with two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against McGill.

He also led Acadia with three catches for 53 yards in his team’s 27-0 win over the St Mary’s Huskies.

McMinns, the 6’1”, 190-pound wide receiver, and Williams, the 6’6” 304-pound offensive lineman, were just two members of the 29-members of the 2015 recruiting class for Acadia.

Lawrence, 6’7” 330 pounds, is a member of another group of 29 recruits added to the Axemen ros-

ter this offseason.

All of the players spent two years with the Holland College Hurricanes, before eventually transferring to Acadia.

Acadia is a member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and Atlantic University Sport (AUS).

They hold more conference and national championships than any other university in Atlantic Canada and has the highest number of Academic All-Canadians for primarily undergraduate universities in the country.

In their history, the Axemen have appeared in four Vanier Cup national championships, winning two of those in 1979 and in 1981.

Recently, the Axemen had their most success in the 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2012 seasons, when the teams finished first in the AUS and reached the Uteck Bowl all four years.

In 2014, they finished 3-5 and lost in the semi-finals to St FX, 18-17.

SPORTS NOTES DARTS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THE Bahamas Darts Association is scheduled to hold its annual general meeting on Wednesday at the Tailgaters 601 on East Bay Street. The meeting is set to start at 7:30pm.

During the meeting, teams will get an opportunity to register their teams and also elect their new executive board.

MINNESOTA Lynx’s Renee Montgomery (21) tries to pass the ball behind Connecticut Sun’s Jonquel Jones, of the Bahamas, during the first half of a WNBA game on Sunday in Minneapolis.

(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

PAGE 4, Tuesday, September 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

HOW THEY SET UP IN THE AFC Sean Lissemore to a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp and Damion Square to a four-game suspension to start the season.

On offence, Melvin Gordon is trying to bounce back from his nightmarish season.

AFC NORTH 1 Cincinatti Bengals

AFC EAST 1 New England Patriots The Patriots’ offence has a few major question marks beyond the quarterback where Tom Brady will sit out the first four games of this season for his role in the “Deflategate” scandal.

There’s uncertainty at running back with projected starter Dion Lewis working his way back from knee surgery, so it might be a committee approach - as Belichick has often done. Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been sidelined since August 15 with an undisclosed ailment, while wide receivers Julian Edelman (left foot) and Danny Amendola (left knee, bone spurs in ankle) are working their way back from injuries.

The offensive line will have a new look, with David Andrews taking over at centre and rookie Joe Thuney, a third-rounder, likely starting at left guard.

2 New York Jets It took the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick the entire off-season to settle a contract stalemate, but it was a reunion both sides knew was inevitable.

Fitzpatrick took over last summer when Geno Smith had his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate and went on to set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes. Brandon Marshall broke team

marks with 109 catches and 1,502 yards receiving while scoring 14 TDs, and Eric Decker had 80 receptions for 1,027 yards and 12 TDs. The addition of versatile running back Matt Forte should make the offence even more dangerous.

The key for the Jets, though, is getting through their rough first half of the schedule. They have six road games in the first nine weeks, and five of their first six opponents made the playoffs last season.

3 Miami Dolphins Adam Gase is the NFL’s youngest head coach at 38, but his stock rose immensely during the last few years as an assistant with his work with quarterbacks.

He will have his hands full in Miami, where his QB expertise will be needed to further the development of Ryan Tannehill, who has a big arm and a big contract but has yet to post a winning record in four seasons.

He has thrown for more than 4,000 yards each of the last two seasons, but has

been inconsistent.

Whether the Dolphins have fixed their offensive line so that Tannehill isn’t under pressure all the time is another major question.

4 Buffalo Bills It has been a rough summer for Rex Ryan’s Buffalo Bills, who might have finally found a bona fide starter in quarterback Tyrod Taylor but have huge issues on defence.

Ryan fully revamped the unit after it underperformed last year, but the Bills’ two top draft picks are injured. Outside linebacker Shaq Lawson, a first-rounder, had shoulder surgery in May and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season.

Buffalo’s second-rounder, inside linebacker Reggie Ragland, is out for the season with a knee injury.

Starting defensive tackle Marcell Dareus will also miss the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy for a second consecutive year.

AFC WEST 1 Denver Broncos The six-month saga over who will guide Denver’s title defence after Peyton Manning retired came down to Mark Sanchez losing his grip on both the ball and the job when he fumbled twice inside the San

Francisco 15-yard line on August 20.

Rookie Paxton Lynch might be the franchise’s future, but the present belongs to Trevor Siemian, the seventh-round pick out of Northwestern in 2015.

The Broncos lost Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan to free agency. They have had injury issues but they are still loaded with pass rushers Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett, plus Brandon Marshall and Chris Harris Jr, Bradley Roby, Aqib Talib, Kayvon Webster, T J Ward and Darrian Stewart.

Miller parlayed his Super Bowl MVP performance into a jet-lagged off-season that included 61 flights and 47 television appearances.

Oh, and a record six-year, $114.5m deal, with $70m in guarantees. He’s looked terrific in limited action this summer.

The retooled offence features four new starters on the line, a bona fide fullback and a new tight end group. Denver has co-stars at wide receiver in Emma-

nuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, who is bent on putting last year’s drops and drama behind him.

2 Los Angeles Raiders The future of the team in Oakland remains as foggy as an autumn morning in the Bay Area. Still, the Raiders have legitimate hopes of contending for the playoffs for the first time in years.

They rebuilt the defence, signing Sean Smith, Bruce Irvin and Reggie Nelson, drafting Karl Joseph and Jihad Ward. Those five team with All-Pro Khalil Mack on what should be a muchimproved unit.

Offence all comes down to whether Derek Carr takes another step forward.

After playing very well in the first half last season, Carr struggled in the second half, in part because of injuries to Amari Cooper and Rodney Hudson. Oakland hopes signing Kelechi Osemele fortifies the line and leads to a more consistent running game.

The Bengals won the division and tied the club record with 12 victories but frittered away everything with the one of the worst meltdowns in post-season history. They haven’t won a playoff game in 25 years, the sixth-longest such stretch in league history.

They have lost a firstround playoff game in five straight seasons, again an NFL record. And coach Marvin Lewis fell to 0-7 in the playoffs - yes, also a record.

Only two other teams have longer active streaks of playoff appearances. New England and Green Bay

3 Kansas City Chiefs Justin Houston is out for now after surgery to repair a “non-functioning ACL” in February. The Chiefs also took a cautious approach with Tamba Hali after surgery on his balky knees, and Jamaal Charles, who had his right ACL repaired last season.

With injury issues a concern, the Chiefs also

feel they have more talent across the board than at any point under General Manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid. Charles and running backs Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware form a potent threeheaded monster, and Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce give Alex Smith decent pass catchers.

The defence was great last season but is a year older, with concerns about the pass rush and in the secondary, where Eric Berry reported late.

4 San Diego Chargers Joey Bosa went public with his contract dispute.

While the front office ripped Bosa, coach Mike McCoy seemed to support the former Ohio State defensive end, selected third overall in the draft. He said whenever Bosa shows up, “he is one of us”.

The Chargers went 4-12 last season and missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six years and could really use Bosa at full strength.

Their defensive line lost

have gone seven straight seasons. Denver also had made it five straight. The difference: Those other teams have reached the Super Bowl.

“We’re pleased with what we have accomplished,” owner Mike Brown said.

“We are fully aware there is one more step to go.”

2 Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger missed significant time last season with a knee injury and Le’Veon Bell tore up his knee in that first game against Cincinnati on a tackle by Vontaze Burfict.

Star receiver Antonio Brown missed a playoff loss to Denver because of a hit

by Burfict. Tight end Heath Miller retired after the season. Receiver Martavis Bryant was suspended for 2016 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Bell got a three-game suspension for missing multiple drug tests. Tight end Ladarius Green was signed to replace Miller, but has been limited by ankle surgery.

The NFL’s third-ranked offence has a lot of questions.

“The key is always staying healthy,” Roethlisberger said. “We’ve had a hard time doing that the last few years. But if we can stay healthy and be a selfless team, I think we’ve got a chance.”

3 Baltimore Ravens Baltimore suffered their

first losing season under coach Jim Harbaugh (511) with an avalanche of injuries. Eight starters and 20 players overall went on injured reserve, including quarterback Joe Flacco with a left knee injury.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs missed most of the season with a torn left Achilles tendon. Some players were still working their way back during camp, including receiver Steve Smith and linebacker Elvis Dumervil.

“I think you always want to play at full strength,” Flacco said. “But in the NFL, that’s not a reality.

You go out there, you play your best, and do your best with what you’ve got.”

4 Cleveland Browns Cleveland hired Bengals offensive co-ordinator Hue Jackson as its eighth head coach since 1999, when the Browns returned as an expansion team. They cut ties with troubled pivot Johnny Manziel and brought in Robert Griffin III, Cleveland’s 25th starting quarterback in the last 17 years.

During that span, the Browns have had two winning seasons.

“I like challenges,” Jackson said when he arrived in Cleveland. “And boy, what a challenge.”

AFC SOUTH 1 Houston Texans Houston believe they saw enough to justify signing a quarterback with only seven career starts - all of them last season with Denver.

Brock Osweiler stepped in when Manning was injured and threw for 1,967 yards and 10 touchdowns before being benched for Manning in the season finale.

The Texans defend the division title with new running back Lamar Miller, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season in Miami, to replace Arian Foster.

They drafted wide receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller to help DeAndre Hopkins. But rookie centre Nick Martin will miss the season after ankle surgery, and left tackle Duane Brown remains on the physically unable to perform list. J.J. Watt, the threetime defensive player of the year, also is recovering from groin surgery.

2 Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan has been shelling out big bucks for free agents over the past two off-seasons, such as defensive tackle Malik Jack-

son, safety Tashaun Gipson and cornerback Prince Amukamara, all new this year. New defensive coordinator Todd Walsh also has defensive end Dante Fowler available after a knee injury wiped out his rookie season, and rookies Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack join what could be a loaded defence.

The Jaguars have reworked their offensive line, including signing left tackle Kelvin Beachum, to better protect quarterback Blake Bortles who was sacked 51 times in 2015.

Bortles also has to take better care of the ball after leading the NFL with 18 interceptions to go along with his 35 TD passes.

3 Indianapolis Colts Coach Chuck Pagano has a new contract and a new defensive co-ordinator.

Now he has to hope star quarterback Andrew Luck stays on the field. Luck also has to play better after having almost as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns (15) in the seven games he

played last season.

The Colts are going with a so-far impressive rookie at centre in first-round pick Ryan Kelly, and a knee injury could keep left guard Jack Mewhort out for the next month. Injuries have hit the defence, too, forcing Indianapolis to sign veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Indianapolis are also depending on running back Frank Gore, 33, and outside linebacker Robert Mathis, 35, for veteran leadership and production.

4 Tennessee Titans Marcus Mariota turned in some dazzling moments as a rookie, but he missed four games because of sprained knees behind a line that gave up the most sacks (54) in the NFL. Tennessee revamped its offensive line yet again by signing centre Ben Jones away from Houston and putting Jack Conklin, the eighth pick overall from Michigan State, at right tackle.

Coach Mike Mularkey wants to run to help the young QB. New GM Jon Robinson traded for DeMarco Murray in March, and the 2014 offensive player of the year looks rejuvenated in Mularkey’s offence.

An offence that hasn’t had a running back go for 100 yards in the last 32 games also has Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry as insurance.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 6, 2016, PAGE 5

HOW THE NFC WILL PLAY OUT NFC WEST 1 Seattle Seahawks Seattle believe they have rediscovered their swagger from the 2013 Super Bowl title season. There’s no Super Bowl hangover from winning or losing to deal with, just the bitterness of an NFC divisional playoff loss to Carolina.

Despite a calm offseason, Seattle still have flaws: shaky on the offensive line and the performance of the blockers could determine their offensive success. If given enough time, Russell Wilson appears ready to build on last year’s evolution as a passer and his connection with Doug Baldwin, who tied for the NFL lead with 14 TD catches.

The Seahawks have been the top scoring defence in the NFL the past four seasons, and that remains the expectation with the likes of Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner still in their primes.

“I am seeing the same joy, the same intensity,

with a defence that lost a few key contributors and an offence that didn’t add much beyond No.1 overall draft pick Jared Goff, currently the backup to Case Keenum.

“It’s not up to me. Again, it’s something that I’d love to do, but it’s not my decision,” Goff said of being the starter. “That’s what they pay the coaches for, and that’s what they’re here for.”

Jeff Fisher hasn’t coached a winning team since 2008, but he’s banking on steady improvement across the board and another big year from running back Todd Gurley to alter the steady mediocrity of his first four Rams teams.

The Rams have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL with the likes of Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn, but it may not be enough to move beyond .500.

4 San Francisco 49ers The 49ers have taken a rapid fall from perennial NFC contender to also-ran in recent seasons. After a

secondary was a big reason.

But defensive leaders such as Davis tend to downplay the extent to which turnovers at those key skill positions could become a liability.

“These young guys have come in and done everything that has been asked of them,” Davis said. “The coaches are really good at what they do and they will get those guys ready ... We have a lot of faith in our young players.”

Offensively, the Panthers look as good as ever - and that’s saying something for a franchise that scored an NFL-best 500 points, and which has posted at least 100 yards rushing in an NFL-best 32 straight games (including playoffs).

2 Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan is coming off one of the worst seasons of his largely productive career. Despite having top receiver Julio Jones in all 16 games, Ryan’s 21 TD passes were his fewest since his rookie season in 2008, and he threw 16 interceptions.

4 New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton, who received a lucrative extension despite consecutive 7-9 records, hoped his team was moving in the right direction when it finished 2015 with three victories in its final four games. Yet, in three pre-season losses this summer, New Orleans have not demonstrated their offensive line can consistently protect 37-year-old star QB Drew Brees, or that its defensive line has considerably improved a pass rush that was anemic in 2015.

The secondary is young and largely unproven, particularly after the release of veteran cornerback Keenan Lewis during training camp.

Depth at numerous positions also is a concern because the Saints were constrained in free agency by meager salary cap space.

NFC EAST 1 New York Giants

same passion (as 2013),” Sherman said. “Guys just playing for one another and appreciating one another.”

2 Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals were 13-3 last season to win the division and are 34-14 under Bruce Arians. They’ve proven they can win in Seattle, a prerequisite to contending in the division.

But there is urgency surrounding Arizona. Carson Palmer is coming off his best season, but threw four interceptions against the Panthers in the blowout loss in the NFC title game.

Palmer turns 37 in December and Larry Fitzgerald is 33 so the opportunity for success may be shrinking.

Running back David Johnson showed last season he can be a great complement to Palmer and the passing game, while the defence should be buoyed by the acquisition of Chandler Jones, the drafting of Robert Nkemdiche, and return of Tyrann Mathieu.

3 Los Angeles Rams The Rams have a second honeymoon going with Los Angeles after their return home from St Louis, with 89,140 fans setting an NFL pre-season attendance record for their opener.

But the good feelings in Los Angeles will be tested if the Rams struggle early

failed experiment with Jim Tomsula in place of Jim Harbaugh, the Niners are turning to Kelly in hopes that his up-tempo style that was so successful in college at Oregon and early in his tenure with the Eagles will translate to San Francisco.

Kelly has a tall task, starting with finding a quarterback. Colin Kaepernick’s career has plummeted since nearly winning a Super Bowl following the 2012 season, and his insistence on not standing for the national anthem has sparked a furore.

Blaine Gabbert, who was elevated last season when Kaepernick struggled and was injured, could start despite a career 55.8 completion rate. At receiver, Torrey Smith is the only proven commodity.

The solid defence is led by linebacker NaVorro Bowman and recent firstround picks Eric Reid, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner.

NFC SOUTH 1 Carolina Panthers Carolina will have two new starters at cornerback, and the players most likely to step in are both rookies: James Bradberry and Daryl Worley. The Panthers led the NFL in takeaways last season with 39, and the

Atlanta hope bringing in three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack from Cleveland helps shore up Ryan’s protection. The Falcons also needed to address one of the NFL’s worst pass rushes and hope they’ve done so with veteran free agent end Dwight Freeney, going into his 15th season.

If those moves pan out, the Falcons might improve upon the eight victories in 2015 in coach Dan Quinn’s first season.

Defensive end Olivier Vernon, a major free-agent addition, was dominant in the preseason. The Giants spent $40m, for this season, to re-sign Jason Pierre-Paul and sign Vernon, defensive tackle Damon Harrison, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and linebacker Kennan Robinson. They drafted cornerback Eli Apple in the first round to upgrade the secondary. The offence will score points. If defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo gets the most

ing the shots.

Jim Schwartz is the most accomplished defensive co-ordinator in Philadelphia since Johnson passed away. His defence was outstanding in the pre-season, wreaking havoc and forcing turnovers. It won’t be easy to maintain that success when the games count, but they’re on the right track. Defensive end Fletcher Cox got paid to be an elite player and should thrive in Schwartz’s system. Linebacker Jordan Hicks returns after an injury shortened his promising rookie season. Safety Malcolm Jenkins has developed into one of the best at his position.

4 Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo’s latest injury is a big setback for the Cowboys, who were hoping to go from first-to-worstto-first. But Dak Prescott seems like an upgrade from Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel.

He also has a better supporting cast. The real problem for Dallas will be stopping other teams. Starters DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory are suspended for the first four games and Rolando McClain will miss the first 10 games of the regular season.

NFC NORTH 1 Green Bay Packers To take back the division title they’ve won eight times

back inside after a twoyear stint at the University of Minnesota while their $1.1 billion, ship-shaped, see-through venue was being built. The gawking will go on all season, with the translucent, space-age roof and the ground-to-ceiling glass on the front side giving the enclosed stadium an outdoor feel.

The controlled climate ought to help a passing game that has lagged near the bottom of the league, but losing Teddy Bridgewater sure won’t. Fifteenyear veteran Shaun Hill will step in for now, aided by the additions this season of left guard Alex Boone and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.

3 Detroit Tigers Detroit’s replacement of Calvin Johnson, following the star wide receiver’s surprise retirement at 30, will be under scrutiny all fall.

Newcomers Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin and Andre Roberts, who have 25 seasons of experience in the league between them, are getting settled with quarterback Matthew Stafford to supplement Golden Tate.

Running back Ameer Abdullah, along with thirddown standout Theo Riddick, is really the one to watch, though. The Lions ranked last in the league in rushing yards last season when Abdullah was a rookie. Offensive co-ordinator Jim Bob Cooter, under whom Stafford thrived after a mid-season change, has been tasked with establishing better balance.

3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa have finished last in the NFC South five straight times, have not made the playoffs since 2007, and have changed coaches three times in four years. But the offence showed potential under top overall 2015 draft choice Jameis Winston, who passed for more than 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Now he’ll be under a new head coach in Dirk Koetter, who also has to be encouraged by moves made to improve his defense. The Bucs drafted cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III and defensive end Noah Spence in the first two rounds after signing three new starters in free agency: cornerback Brent Grimes, pass rusher Robert Ayers, Jr., and linebacker Daryl Smith.

out of his group, New York should rise to the top.

2 Washington Redskins Kirk Cousins earned himself a one-year contract worth $19.95m on the franchise tag after throwing for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns. Robert Griffin III is gone, so there’s no quarterback controversy in DC. But Cousins still has to prove himself after the team didn’t give him a longterm contract. The Redskins gave All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman a $75m, five-year deal to bolster the secondary. Norman better walk his talk after criticizing Beckham, Bradford and others.

3 Philadelphia Eagles There hasn’t been this much excitement surrounding the Eagles’ defence since Jim Johnson was call-

in 14 years, the Packers need some improvement on defence. Linebacker Clay Matthews has moved back outside to his natural position, after a solid performance playing inside to fill in. That has put the spotlight once again on the men in the middle, a position that has often been in flux during the past decade under coach Mike McCarthy.

Jake Ryan and Sam Barrington are the expected starters for now. Ryan cracked the starting lineup down the stretch as a rookie fourth-round draft pick, and Barrington has been working his way back from a foot injury that cost him most of the season.

The Packers ranked 21st and 23rd in yards rushing allowed in the NFL the past two years.

2 Minnesota Vikings The Vikings have moved

4 Chicago Bears Alshon Jeffery was the only player who topped 500 yards receiving for the Bears last season, and calf, hamstring, groin and shoulder problems limited him to nine games.

The seventh pick in the 2015 draft, Kevin White, missed his rookie season because of a stress fracture in his left shin. That left Jay Cutler without much to work with in the passing game.

With stalwart running back Matt Forte and talented tight end Martellus Bennett gone, there’ll be even more onus on Jeffery and White to not only stay healthy but produce like a top-flight tandem. Jeremy Langford will be the featured runner, now that Forte has joined the New York Jets.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 6, 2016, PAGE 7

No all-Williams Open rematch: Venus out, Serena gets No. 308

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams went from down and out to a point from victory, then back again. In the end, she couldn’t quite get past a woman a dozen years younger and never before at this stage of a Grand Slam tournament.

Williams failed to convert a match point and lost 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the fourth round of the US Open yesterday, despite vociferous support from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd down the stretch.

“I really played the perfect point there,” the sixth-seeded Williams said about her chance to end things while up 5-4 in the third set, and Pliskova serving at 30-40, “and she managed to stay alive.”

At 36, Williams would have been the oldest woman to reach the quarter-finals at any major since Martina Navratilova was 37 at Wimbledon in 1994.

Williams made it that far at Flushing Meadows a year ago, before losing to her younger sister Serena. This time, they had been on course for an all-in-the-family

showdown in the semi-finals; Serena followed Venus in Ashe and beat Yaroslava Shvedova 6-2, 6-3 in the fourth round for her 308th Grand Slam match victory, breaking a tie with Roger Federer for most in the Open era, which dates to 1968.

Pliskova managed, just barely, to make it to her first Grand Slam quarter-final at age 24. Until this tournament, she never had been past the third round in 17 appearances at majors.

“I was prepared that I’m going to play Venus — it’s going to be tough, because all the people are cheering for her,” said Pliskova, who leads the tour in aces in 2016 and produced eight in this match.

It took her a while to finish off this one, despite going up an early break in the third set and leading 4-2. Just as it seemed she would run away with it, Williams turned things around enough to go up 5-4 and hold a match point. But Pliskova erased that with a swinging forehand volley — the sort of shot Williams loves to hit — and followed it up with another aggressive forehand winner.

Then Pliskova broke to lead 6-5 and served for the match, getting three chances to close it at 40love. After Pliskova frittered away

VENUS WILLIAMS (AP) one with a double-fault, Williams steeled herself and stepped up, smacking a volley winner, crosscourt backhand winner and two forehand winners to break back for 6-all.

“To be honest,” Pliskova said, “it was really difficult ... when I lost my serve.”

Somehow, though, she pulled herself together enough to get through the tiebreaker as Williams faltered.

“In the ‘breaker, I went for a little bit more,” Williams said, “but I didn’t put the ball in enough.”

Now Pliskova will face No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska or Ana Konjuh. Also reaching the quarter-finals with a victory Monday

KAROLINA PLISKOVA (AP) was 2014 French Open runner-up Simona Halep, who eliminated No. 11 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 7-5. Now it’s 2014 French Open runner-up Halep’s turn to try to deal with the serve of Serena Williams, who reached a tournamentbest 126 mph, delivered 11 aces and won 28 of 30 first-serve points against Shvedova.

In men’s action, 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro became the lowest-ranked man in the US Open quarter-finals in 25 years, advancing when No. 8 seed Domi-

nic Thiem stopped in the second set because of an injured right knee.

Del Potro missed 2½ years’ worth of major tournaments because of a trio of operations on his left wrist, so he’s ranked only 142nd. Jimmy Connors was 174th when he made a stirring run to the semi-finals in New York at age 39 in 1991.

Kei Nishikori, the 2014 runnerup in New York, moved into the quarter-finals by beating No. 21 Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Nishikori is slated to play 2012 champ Andy Murray, who easily won last night’s match against No. 22 Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

Del Potro has been playing as well as ever lately, winning a silver medal at the Rio Olympics and picking up victories over Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka.

In the quarter-finals, del Potro’s opponent will be No. 3 Wawrinka, a 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 winner against Illya Marchenko.

“He will be the favourite to win in that match,” said del Potro, who beat Wawrinka at Wimbledon.

“But,” del Potro added, “anything can happen in this event for me. I got the power from the crowd in every match.”

THe WeaTHer repOrT

5-Day Forecast

TOday

OrlandO

High: 89° F/32° C low: 72° F/22° C

Tampa

TOnIGHT

Wednesday

THursday

FrIday

saTurday

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy with a shower

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

High: 89°

Low: 77°

High: 90° Low: 76°

High: 89° Low: 80°

High: 90° Low: 80°

High: 90° Low: 79°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

113° F

90° F

109°-83° F

109°-91° F

107°-91° F

108°-90° F

High: 90° F/32° C low: 73° F/23° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

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almanac

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High: 84° F/29° C low: 79° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

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WesT palm BeaCH High: 88° F/31° C low: 77° F/25° C

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High: 87° F/31° C low: 77° F/25° C

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High: 87° F/31° C low: 76° F/24° C

mIamI

High: 89° F/32° C low: 76° F/24° C

7‑14 knots

Key WesT

High: 88° F/31° C low: 78° F/26° C

eleuTHera

nassau

High: 89° F/32° C low: 77° F/25° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016

High: 86° F/30° C low: 81° F/27° C

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High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

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tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

11:57 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

3.0 ‑‑‑‑‑

5:39 a.m.

6:10 p.m.

0.5 0.7

Wednesday 12:11 a.m.

12:41 p.m.

2.8 3.0

6:19 a.m.

6:57 p.m.

0.6 0.8

Thursday

12:56 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

2.6 2.9

7:03 a.m.

7:49 p.m.

0.7 0.9

Friday

1:46 a.m.

2:24 p.m.

2.5 2.9

7:52 a.m.

8:46 p.m.

0.8 0.9

Saturday

2:42 a.m.

3:21 p.m.

2.5 2.9

8:47 a.m.

9:45 p.m.

0.8 0.9

Sunday

3:41 a.m.

4:18 p.m.

2.5 3.0

9:46 a.m. 0.8 10:42 p.m. 0.8

Monday

4:39 a.m.

5:12 p.m.

2.6 3.2

10:44 a.m. 0.7 11:34 p.m. 0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:53 a.m.

7:23 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:15 a.m.

10:49 p.m.

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andrOs

san salVadOr

GreaT eXuma

High: 88° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C

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High: 89° F/32° C low: 81° F/27° C

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insurance management tracking map H

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

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Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 93° F/34° C Low .................................................... 81° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 88° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 92° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 77° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 29.90” Normal year to date ................................... 25.74”

uV inDex toDay

High: 87° F/31° C low: 82° F/28° C

4‑8 knots

mayaGuana High: 88° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CrOOKed Island / aCKlIns raGGed Island High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C low: 81° F/27° C

GreaT InaGua High: 90° F/32° C low: 82° F/28° C

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marine Forecast aBaCO andrOs CaT Island CrOOKed Island eleuTHera FreepOrT GreaT eXuma GreaT InaGua lOnG Island mayaGuana nassau raGGed Island san salVadOr

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 3‑6 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots

WAVES 4‑8 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑6 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑8 Feet 4‑8 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet

VISIBILITY 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 88° F 89° F 87° F 87° F 88° F 87° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 84° F 83° F 83° F

PAGE 8, Tuesday, September 6, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Neville 7s touch rugby tournament hits Winton

THE BAHAMAS Rugby Union held the Neville 7s touch rugby tournament on Saturday as part of the continuing fund-raising efforts for Damian Neville’s medical expenses. The BRU is planning to put on a series of women’s 7s events over the next few months. Also, the Bahamas women’s national rugby 7s team last week held a training session with Jon Isaacs at the Winton rugby pitch as the team prepares for the Caribbean Championships in November.

Photos by Tim Clarke/The Tribune

Equestrian, bowling in National High School Championships FROM PAGE 1 Ministry of Agriculture.

• National High School Soccer Championships in May in New Providence, hosted by the Ministry of Education.

• National High School Baseball Championships in May in Grand Bahama, chaired by the Ministry of Education.

The new initiatives to be included this year are as follows: • National High School Bowling League, held in conjunction with Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Centre from September to November. Each team will comprise of 10 bowlers and will bowl two games per week and will play each other at least twice.

Interested schools are urged to contact Leslia Miller-Brice at 326-8012 for more details.

• National High School Equestrian Championships in New Providence for St Andrew’s, Lyford Cay, Windsor Academy, Queen’s College, St Augustine’s College, Tambearly School, The Home School Association and a team from Grand Bahama.

A series of three events will take place. The first test event will be held on Saturday, December 3 at the Mariposa Stables Riding Club and the second on Saturday, February 11 at Camperdown Equestrian Centre and the championship will be held on Saturday, April 29 at Camperdown Equestrian Centre.

• Judo, under the auspices of the Bahamas Judo Federation, and Fencing, under the auspices of the Bahamas Fencing Association, will be introduced. More details are expected to be released

on both events.

There are also proposals for the following: • Flag football for high school boys will be held either on Friday nights or Saturday mornings and will be held in conjunction with the Commonwealth American Football League.

• Negotiations are currently going on with Under Armour and Nike to provide sporting gear and equipment for the high school players to utilise during their games.

• Efforts are also being made for the acquisition of a broadcast partner to broadcast all of the events.

• Negotiations are also in place to secure a venue hotel in both New Providence and Grand Bahama for all of the visiting athletes to stay when they travel to

the various islands to compete.

• Although Bahamasair has served as the vehicle that has primarily transported the studentathletes over the past two years, Wisdom said they are trying to renegotiate a deal that will make them the permanent national airline carrier.

Wisdom revealed that the National Sports Secretariat will appoint a chairperson to deal with each national championships and they will be responsible for forming a committee that will include the president or a senior representative from the core sporting bodies, ie, the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association and the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools.

Also on the committee will be the presidents or vice presidents

of the various sporting leagues, associations or federations, such as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, Bahamas Basketball Federation and the Bahamas Football Association.

“What we will have is the presidents or vice presidents working together at the national level to ensure that the events are successful,” Wisdom said.

“We are not using the model of Jamaica. We are using the model of the United States where you have state associations, which are normally funded by the Federation Government or the Board of Education in those states.”

Similar to what is done in the United States where they have their state championships, Wisdom said the Bahamas would host their national championships in the various sports.