The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ABIGAIL Simms is set to take her tennis career to the collegiate level and signed her national letter of intent to join the Indiana Tech Warriors programme next fall.

Simms recently made it official with the NAIA programme that competes in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

The Warriors come off a season where they reached the semi-finals of the WHAC Tournament last April. The Warriors made their first-ever appearance in the semi-finals of the conference tournament before they were eliminated. Tech concluded the season with a 7-12 record, their most wins in programme history.

Simms last competed at the national level where she reached the second round of singles play at the Goombay Splash Bowl in November. She also reached the second round of the Junkanoo Bowl in July.

A two-sport star, she was also a member of several Bahamas Football Association junior national teams.

Her older sister, Hannah-Joy Simms, is currently a member of the Brescia Bearcats women’s tennis programme in the River States Conference in the NAIA.

The youngest of the Simms sisters, Gabrielle teamed with Abigail in doubles play at the aforementioned Goombay Splash Bowl.

Their father Craig Simms previously told The Tribune that while their daughters are home-schooled, he and his wife Della are trying to secure athletic scholarships for them to follow in the footsteps of Hannah.

“That’s why we chose this sport. We want to take advantage of the financial opportunities,” he pointed out. “Coming from Grand Bahama, we don’t have as many resources and coaching, but we are making do with what we have, so it’s working out fine,” he said.

“We want them to get a good tertiary education so we hope to take advantage of the financial support that is available through scholarships. That’s goal number one. Once they are done, they can try their hands at the professional level if they so choose. It’s all up to them.”