South Charlotte Sports Report HOMETOWN TEAMS... HOMETOWN KIDS

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1 South Charlotte Sports Report HOMETOWN TEAMS... HOMETOWN KIDS Volume 4, Issue 19 February 18, FREE DREAMS DO COME TRUE FOR AMANDA TYSON 2010 SUMMER CAMPS Amanda Tyson is presented with a basketball by Head Coach Tina Lawrence to commemorate the scoring of 1,000 points in her career at Ardrey Kell High School. Many student athletes have dreams to play a sport in college, to wear the colors of their favorite school and to hit the big shot to win a game. Ardrey Kell High School senior basketball player Amanda Tyson is no different from other athletes. She has dreams as well, only hers are a little different that most all conference players. Amanda has dreamed of playing basketball for Yale University, an Ivy League School, since she was in the 9th grade. She has dreamed of walking to class on the pristine campus in New Haven, Connecticut. She wants to be a part of the university that has produced five United States Presidents and nineteen United States Supreme Court Justices. With her recent signature on an NCAA National Letter of Intent, Amanda will achieve her dream to attend and play basketball at Yale. I have dreamed about playing basketball at Yale since I was a freshman, said Amanda. I guess with hard work and perseverance: DREAMS do come TRUE! The daughter of Charles and Jacqueline Tyson has been the face of Ardrey Kell Ladies basketball for all four seasons the school has been open. She has accomplished many magical moments and added her 1,000th point in January. The Knights were on their way to their best season ever before Amanda fell victim to a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury on January 5th versus Butler. I came down the court, crossed over, and went to the basket. I went up for a lay-up, and I turned to see if the shot went in, said Amanda. The shot did The South Charlotte Sports Report is set for another fantastic season of summer camps. With a strong commitment to top-level coaching, affordable costs and customer service, The South Charlotte Sports Report Summer Camps are perfect for area families. This summer we will offer a wide variety of camps, including; baseball, basketball, cheerleading and dance, football, soccer, softball and volleyball. We will also offer a group of Advanced camps for basketball, football and volleyball players who have set their goals on excelling at the middle and high school level next season. This is always an exciting time of the year for us, said Tripp Roakes, Publisher of The South Charlotte Sports Report. We work hard all season long to build our camps and to deliver the very best instruction possible for all of our campers. We have made a firm commitment to offer affordable programming with professional, adult coaches teaching all of our campers. This summer promises to be our best summer ever for camp quality. The level of instruction provided at The South Charlotte Sports Report camps are our biggest asset. Our first class coaches include Mike Craft, Head Basketball Coach of Ardrey Kell High School. Two of the top volleyball coaches in the state, Zoe Bell (Ardrey Kell) and Karen Bradbury (Providence) will lead all of our volleyball camps. James Martin of South Mecklenburg High School returns for another year to lead our football camp program. Carolyn Beglin, a former Wake Forest University Cheerleader and current head coach at Ardrey Kell High School comes back for her third year to lead the Cheer and Dance Camp. Our baseball coaching staff is loaded with former major league players and top area high school coaches. The Soccer camp will be led by a host of former ACC soccer stars with ties to South Charlotte. We will also return with a Girls Only Basketball Camp which will be led by Charlotte Catholic Head Coach, Bobby Conrad. As you can see, we have a wide variety of coaches, who share our commitment of teaching children the proper fundamentals an a young age to allow for a firm foundation into the future. With the incredible success of our volleyball, football and basketball camps, we have elected to add an Advanced option to each camp. This camp inside of a camp, will provide more intense instruction to the top athletes in the area that want to be challenged by the very best coaches in Charlotte. The Advanced camp spots are expected to fill up fast, so don t hesitate if you are the parents of a middle school athlete that hopes to one day excel in high school athletics. Most of our camps are open to boys and girls ages We also offer the very popular sibling discount for many of our camps, a great way to save a few dollars and keep the kids together for camp. For more information on each camp and/or to enroll your child, please visit SUMMER CAMPS June June June June June June Youth Basketball Camp Prep Basketball Academy Youth Football Camp Football Challenge Camp Volleyball Camp (AM camp) Volleyball Camp (PM camp) go in, but I neglected to land with my knee bent. Instead as I turned to look at the shot, I came down with my knee fully extended. My knee popped and I was on the ground. As a result, I tore my ACL and meniscus. I bruised my knee bone and sprained my MCL. On January 29, I had surgery which was very successful. They reconstructed my ACL and took out the portion of my meniscus that was torn. Fortunately for Amanda, she has her academics to fall back on as she works her way back onto the basketball court next season. Ahh, the academics, yes, Amanda is also a superstar in the classroom. She carries a 5.2 weighted grade point average. From day one academics were the most important part of school for Amanda. Academics are so important to me because I realized that everyone is not fortunate enough to play basketball their entire lives. At some point, I will have to put the ball down and allow my mind and the knowledge I ve acquired to lead me. Whenever I reach that point in my life, I would like to still be successful. I understand that the only way this can happen is if I take my studies seriously and excel in the classroom. Amanda s academic honors include being a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of Math Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Amanda also received the Algebra 2 Award in 2007 and she is a NCHSSA student athlete winner. Once Amanda walks onto the campus of Yale she hopes to major in either Mathematics or Engineering. Now as Amanda sits and watches her teammates close out the season, she has time to reflect on her Ardrey Kell career. To know that I am about to move on and leave Ardrey Kell is sad yet exciting. It is sad in the sense that I will never put on another Ardrey Kell jersey and play. The last game I played against Butler when I was injured, I neglected to realize this significant fact. It is exciting in the sense that Ardrey Kell has provided me with many opportunities that will help me in my future endeavors. Just before Amanda was injured she scored her 1,000th point. Scoring my 1,000 point was very special to me. Unfortunately, I have missed the end of the second halves of both my junior and senior years, but to know that I was able to reach this accomplishment through these adversities is very special to me. And to be the first in Ardrey Kell history is also a plus. Amanda will always be remembered at Ardrey Kell as the nice young lady that could play basketball with on the highest level and compete with the brightest students in America inside the classroom. The South Charlotte Sports Report salutes Amanda Tyson for her hard work on both the basketball court and in the academic arena. Yes Amada, Dreams Do Come True! June Advanced Volleyball Camp June Cheerleading and Dance Camp June 28-July 1 Soccer Camp June 28-July 1 Girls Only Basketball Camp July Youth Football Camp TBA Baseball and Softball Camp

2 Page Volume 4, Issue 19 ACADEMICS ARE THE NAME OF THE GAME Our cover story on Amanda Tyson is the perfect example of how academic success can lead to athletic success. Amanda has always pushed herself hard inside the classroom and she has been rewarded with a 5.2 grade point average at Ardrey Kell High School. Along the way, Amanda found the time to play four years of varsity basketball where she passed the 1,000 point mark, in spite of missing over 20 games due to injuries. The academic success opened so many more doors for Amanda to continue her basketball career. One of the most prestigious universities in the country came calling, Yale University. Without her academic record, Amanda would have never had the chance to play in the Ivy League. I speak to students all the time that have the goal of earning a college scholarship. The very first thing I ask is what is your grade point average? Most are stunned that we would even ask as they are expecting an athletic question. Outside of the revenue producing sports of college football and basketball, academic records become nearly as important as home runs hit or goals scored in high school. A large majority of college sports are only allowed a small number of scholarships for the players. This leads to athletes receiving what is known as a partial scholarship. The athletes with superb academic records can then compete for academic scholarship funds. Trust me, when a college coach sees a student-athlete with a 4.0 grade point average that also has high level athletic skills, they become very excited! I tell students to make it very hard for a coach to say no by working just as hard in the classroom as on the field of play. Here at the South Charlotte Sports Report, we like to recognize the top student-athletes in our area. We much prefer to publish a story on the kid with a 3.5 grade point average that comes off the bench for his coach instead of the star athlete that has a 2.2 grade point average and is barely staying eligible. If you know a student-athlete with an incredible GPA that is also getting it done in their sport, then send us an so we can recognize them with a story in The South Charlotte Sports Report. We salute all our athletes that work hard to put the word student before athlete! Work hard! Tripp Roakes Publisher South Charlotte Sports Report Tripp@southcharlottesports.com SUMMER INTERNSHIP WITH THE The South Charlotte Sports Report has an internship position open for a college or high school student (current 12th graders only). This internship will provide work experience in the following areas; writing, marketing, advertising sales, newspaper delivery, proof reading, summer camp management, and event management. For those students interested in a marketing, journalism or sports management career, an internship with the South Charlotte Sports Report can be very valuable for the future. A small weekly stipend is available and an opportunity will be in place to earn additional income on ad sales and other marketing opportunities. Intern will average hours per week. Intern may start as early as May 15th. Interested students may apply by ing Tripp Roakes, Publisher of the South Charlotte Sports Report, Tripp@southcharlottesports.com P I C K U P Y O U R C O P Y O F T H E S O U T H C H A R L O T T E S P O R T S R E P O R T A T T H E S E L O C A T I O N S Play It Again Sports Community House Middle School Cardillo s Dick s Sporting Goods Pineville Dick s Sporting Goods Matthews Mathnasium Southeastern Gymnastics Steps N Motion The Fountains On Deck Baseball Tokyo One Express Extreme Ice Center Dr. Sellers Orthodontics Weddington Activity Center Baskin Robbins (Highway 521) PCAA Baseball Complex Nothing But Noodles Athletic Republic Mecklenburg Aquatic Club Carolinas Baseball Center International Sports Center Try Sports Pet Essentials Jesse Brown s Adventure Jersey Mike s (Stonecrest) CrossFit Charlotte Laxer, Long and Savage Grand Slam USA Papa Johns Camfield Corners Tebby Sports Medicine Meridian Medical Group Velocity Sports Performance Quimby and Collins Charlotte All-Stars Omega Sports Four Seasons Barber and Salon Dunkin Donuts (Highway 521) MARA Baseball Complex Fitness For Women Palone s Pizza Sports Connection Ballantyne South Charlotte Sports Report Covering the Active Children and Families of Our Community The South Charlotte Sports Report is published twice a month by The South Charlotte Sports Report, 9901 Zackery Ave, Charlotte, NC Phone: The South Charlotte Sports Report is distributed free throughout our coverage area in neighborhoods and local businesses. If you would like copies delivered to your business for distribution to customers, call Story ideas and photo submissions are welcome for use on our website and in our newspaper, to Tripp@southcharlottesportsreport.com. Advertising rates are available upon request. PUBLISHER Tripp Roakes GRAPHIC DESIGNER Frances Adams WEBMASTER Scott Page The SCSR Team! Peak Fitness Ballantyne Sports Perf. OrthoCarolina Presbyterian Urgent Care Blakeney Eddie s Restuarant BP Station near Siskey Y Citgo Station near Col. Beaty Park The Ice House Port City Java (Downtown) In the Game Athletics Premier Soccer Charlotte Running Company Chiropractic Fitness Sports Clips (Promenede) Marvin Ridge High School Marvin Ridge Middle School Charlotte Catholic High School Movie Gallery (Waxhaw) Bird Dentistry Learning RX Dr. Garden Dentistry Robek s Juice Run For Your Life Sports Orthopedic The Creamery OP Baseball Complex Baskin Robbins (Waxhaw) Sam & Carlies Deli Tutoring Club of Charlotte Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School The Q Shack The Bagel Bin Charlotte Aquatics Waxhaw Family Physicians Architech Sports & Physical Therapy Winning Awards Ardrey Kell High School Ameritrust Mortgage Dynamic Sports Performance South Library (Rea & 51) Call or Tripp@southcharlottesportsreport.com and we will add your location to this list. ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Louise Giusto PHOTOGRAPHERS Greg Arthur Gerry Wall SEND US YOUR NEWS AND TEAM PHOTOS! Tripp@southcharlottesports.com

3 Volume 4, Issue 19 BASEBALL & SOFTBALL CAMP APRIL 5-7, :00AM-12:30PM AGES 5-13 Page OLDE PROVIDENCE ELEMENTARY BASEBALL FIELDS $95 PER CAMPER SIBLING DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION FROM TOP AREA COACHES HITTING, FIELDING AND SITUATIONAL INSTRUCTION PITCHING INSTRUCTION FOR CAMPERS AGE 9 AND UP TO ENROLL IN THE CAMP, PLEASE VISIT

4 Page 4 Volume 4, Issue 19 Coach Julie Newlands Played Collegiately At Gardner Webb Formerly Pitching Coach At Queens University Available For Private Lessons! -Hitting -Infield -Pitching -3 Day Spring Break -Hitting & Infield All Skills Softball DYNAMIC SPORTS PERFORMANCE YOUNG ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AJ RAY Twelve year old AJ Ray has been named the Dynamic Sports Performance Young Athlete of the Week. AJ is the son of Myron and Kristie Ray and he attends Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School. AJ is a left handed pitcher and he also plays all three outfield positions for the CBC Cougars. AJ is looking forward to competing this year at the premier level of travel ball and hopefully winning a Super NIT to earn a trip to Florida. His major goals this year are to throw a no hitter, to hit a home run and to successfully hit left handed during a game. He has put in many hours in the off season improving his swing and pitching mechanics. AJ is very appreciative of his coaches, Coach Bruno, Coach Torbett and the staff at CBC Baseball for helping him to grow as a baseball player and as a person. To nominate an area athlete for Young Athlete of the Week, please Tripp@southcharlottesports.com. The Young Athlete of the Week award is for students 6th grade and below. Anyone can make you tired. Not everyone can make you better. Charlotte s ONLY facility specializing in youth conditioning and athletic development. Ardrey Kell High School had five wrestlers win championships in the Southwestern 4A Conference Tournament. (L-R) Michael Bedard (103), Payton Hall (152), Jeffrey Stevenson (112), Mike Basse (130) and Jordan Nevseta (171). 701 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, Matthews, NC

5 Volume 4, Issue 19 Page Athletes All have One thing in COmmOn They Can PreTTy MuCh eat Like horses. Okay, so maybe they have more than one thing in common like a drive for excellence, to deliver their best, all the time. Hey, looks like we have a lot in common with them! And we understand that appeasing big appetites should be done with big, family style portions made with delicious recipes, served up in a place that can accommodate and entertain just about any group or function. team Of the Week ST. MATTHEW WILDCATS 6TH GRADE BASKETBALL TEAM The St Matthew Catholic Church 6th grade boys won the 2010 IFBL Championship on February 13th at St Patrick s Gym. They were led by a balanced scoring attack, great defense, team rebounding, and a never give up attitude throughout the season, compiling a 9-1 record. Congratulations to the St Matthew Wildcats for being named The Buca Di Beppo Team of the Week! ALL STAR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS CHARLOTTE ALL-STAR CHAMPIONSHIP FEBRUARY HOLY TRINITY MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM BOYS AND GIRLS, GRADES 3-9 $275 PER TEAM WITH UNLIMITED FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL CAROLINAS ALL STAR CLASSIC MARCH ARDREY KELL HIGH SCHOOL & COMMUNITY HOUSE MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS, GRADES 3-9 $275 PER TEAM WITH UNLIMITED FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL ENTER BOTH TOURNAMENTS AND SAVE $50.00 UNLIMITED FREE ADMISSION FOR EVERYONE, NO HIDDEN FEES, NO $10 PER DAY TO GET IN, IT S ALL COVERED IN THE ADMISSION FEE Front Row (L-R) Jack Ruff, Jarred Richards, John Coleman, Darrin Miller, David Rizol, Back Row (L-R) McCann Mellett, Troy Merchel, Michael O Brien, Thomas Vesey, Andrew Brouse Coaches (L-R) Quentin Mellett, Steve O Brien Pineville bucadibeppo.com Event coverage in The South Charlotte Sports Report All-Tournament Teams for each division Positive community event with a commitment to good sportsmanship 3 point shootout for charity All-Star, Recreation and Club Teams are all welcome 2 game guarantee FOR INFORMATION OR TO ENTER VISIT OR TRIPP@SOUTHCHARLOTTESPORTS.COM

6 Page Volume 4, Issue 19 BEYOND THE GAME WITH JORDAN PIERPONT Written by Tara Suess, Ardrey Kell High School As a junior and steadfast swimmer, Jordan Pierpont has already begun her college search and the recruitment process that goes with it. The combination of long practice hours, competitive swim meets, regional and state tournaments has kept Jordan busy. But after talking to her, it s clear Jordan is especially motivated to exceed in swimming and seriously committed to every step along the way to accomplish her goals. It is hard to say exactly what this next year will bring for Jordan, but with her positive attitude in the world of extreme competition, it s certain that her hard work will pay off. How long have you been swimming? I have been swimming at MAC since I was seven years old, so nine years. How often do you practice a week? I practice everyday of the week but Sunday for two hours and thirty minutes. What event do you swim and what is your best time? My favorite event is the 100 and 200 butterfly. However, at Ardrey Kell I swim 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. My best time in 100 fly this season is a 1:02 and a 2:03 in 200 free. Who in swimming inspires you the most and why? Coach William Keith, the Ardrey Kell coach, has made me feel like a big leader of the team. Knowing that I am part of a team really pumps me up. He always knows just what to say to make me swim fast and want to win. LADY PANTHERS JV TEAM FINISHES 16-1 With a two year record of 35-4 the Providence High School Lady Panthers junior varsity basketball team will go down as one of the most successful teams in Panther Basketball history. Head Coach David Wilson has led a group of girls to new heights by instilling the value of teamwork into the squad. The season came to an end with a 16-1 record. Many Panther fans believe this could be the best record ever for a Providence basketball team. These young ladies have given their all to be recognized as one of the BEST women s JV programs in the area, said Coach Wilson. They have sacrificed for the better of the team and have bonded to where they really care for one another, on and off the court. The South Charlotte Sports Report congratulates the Lady Panthers for believing in themselves and completing a fantastic season of basketball. Spring U15 Travel Basketball Team Tryouts What colleges are you looking at right now? To be honest, I am looking almost everywhere. I love the warm weather and would love to stay down south. My favorite school right now is the University of Miami. How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically for a meet? Physically I warm up a ton. If I don t warm up, I tense up. Mentally I pump myself up by listening to my ipod. I also envision everyone who has ever not believed in me watching my race and pulling against me. Do you have any advice that you would give someone who wants to begin swimming? Run! Fast! Haha, just kidding. I would say to do what you love but make sure you truly love to swim before making such a huge decision. It s a lot of time. What are the dynamics of your two swim teams? The Ardrey Kell swim team has a lot of spirit. We have a lot of fun and work hard. The MAC swim team is a family. We have grown up together. We ve gone through so much as a team from funerals to weddings. Some times they can get on my nerves, but at the end of the day, they are the best, most understanding and supportive teammates I could ever ask for. The South Charlotte Lions would like to invite interested 15 year old (9th graders) young men to participate in our team tryouts for the upcoming 2010 Spring Travel Basketball Season. South Charlotte Lions stress strong fundamentals and team basketball through the coaching and teaching of a former University of Georgia assistant basketball coach. This team of 12 players will participate in 8-10 local AAU, USBA and USSSA tournaments around the Charlotte area from March through June. The team is partially sponsored to help reduce expenses. Try Outs for the 2010 Season Saturday, February 20th 3:00-5:00 Covenant Day High School Gym 800 Fullwood Lane, Matthews NC Eligibility: U15: A player must be born on or after September 1, 1994 or in the 9th grade and born on or after Sept 1, 1993 Please direct inquiries or questions to scharlottelions@live.com

7 Volume 4, Issue 19 Page 7 ALEX KILMARTIN HAS PERFORMED ALL ACROSS THE WORLD ALEX KILMARTIN Very few high school athletes have achieved international success in their chosen sport. An even smaller percentage can say they have competed on the world stage in two unique sports. One South Charlotte resident has been the top in two sports and still has another year of high school to go. Charlotte Catholic High School junior Alex Kilmartin found early success in life in Tae Kwon Do before turning his attention to basketball. Alex describes the two experiences. I have enjoyed the unique opportunities to compete in two different sports at a very high level. For many years I competed both here in the US and abroad in Martial Arts. I also played basketball for a high level travel AAU team, the Charlotte Royals. The most unusual place I have competed in basketball was in Gibraltar two summers ago. I played for the National Team of Wales in the European Championships. We trained in the UK, about 2 hours outside London. It was an honor to represent a whole country in competition. One of the best aspects of both sports was it allowed me to grow and experience new locations and challenge myself. As one can see, the son of Sean and Jane Kilmartin has lived a very exciting life full of triumph and valuable life lessons. To learn more about Alex, let s go back to his childhood to explore his experiences in the martial arts arena. My brother (Ryan) and I are both 2nd Degree Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do. I know a lot of people take TKD, but not the way we did. We trained 6~7 days a week, with top masters in the US and the UK. They were not your typical martial arts lessons where everyone gets a Black Belt. We came out of class bruised, exhausted (and occasionally bloodied) more often than not. My primary instructor was Roosevelt Moss, one of the greatest men I have ever met. He was honorable, loyal and tough; very tough. Our instructors were respected all over the country. It was an amazing commitment, one that I would never want to replace. They introduced us to Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, John Chung; loads of people. We fought with the best martial artists of all forms all over the US and abroad. Each weekend, we would be somewhere other than Charlotte. Los Angeles one weekend, Phoenix, London, Minneapolis, Toronto, Boston; somewhere new the next. It was great. We traveled as a family and went a lot of different places. What I liked about Martial Arts is that it was just me and my opponent. My brother and I appeared on TV a few times; we were both ranked # 1 in our age groups by several national magazines. Together, I think we have over 25 National AAU Championships and Junior Olympic Gold medals. It is kind of funny, but one of the people we would fight (and beat) is now a big time movie star, Taylor Lautner from the Twilight movies. I was the youngest person in the country to ever compete in the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Tae Kwon Do. The experience taught us respect and individual responsibility. With many predicting international stardom for Alex, they didn t know he would one day fall in love with another sport, basketball. His father, Sean, was a former player at Appalachian State and he played professionally overseas. Sean is still heavily involved in both local and international basketball via his company, USA Select Basketball. Once I started playing basketball, I fell in love with it. It was so much fun, the teamwork and energy from a group with a common goal. I played in the Interfaith League until middle school. We never lost a game in four seasons; it was a great group of players. The more basketball we played, my brother, Ryan and I realized we did not have the time to continue to train at the level we needed to and be able to compete on the National stage. Going out on top was kind of cool. The last year my brother and I fought, we both ended ranked # 1 in the World as Black Belts by the National Sports Karate Association (NASKA) and won the AAU National Championships and AAU Junior Olympic Gold medals all in the same year. Although I miss the training, the lessons are still with me. Basketball was up next and Alex joined the Charlotte Royals AAU Basketball organization in 3rd grade and began to work his way to the top of the basketball ladder. The Royals are a nationally known organization that has been around for 27 years and placed over 400 players on college rosters. This summer we are playing in the new Nike League with events in LA, Houston, Baltimore and then the AAU Nationals in Orlando, it will be fun. Throughout all of Alex s experiences the one constant has been the teaching and support of his father. If it has anything to do with basketball in Charlotte, Sean Kilmartin seems to be directly involved in one way or another. He has given so much of his time to helping not only his boys but hundreds of other players to improve their skills. I know that some people do not like to play sports for their dad, I am just the opposite. I honestly feel my dad was my greatest influence. He always gets excited, and teaches in a positive and academic way. He just knows the game so well, and instead of yelling at you, he explains it to you, or shows you exactly how to do it, then makes you believe you can do it. There just never seems to be a situation he has not seen and has a readymade solution for. Dad made it fun! Our AAU teams always had fun. I look around the city and see so many kids my dad coached and they all seem to have had the same experience. Dad just saw the big picture, he taught me to read the opponent, their feet, and eyes, see what they see and use it to my advantage. He taught me to be a student of the game. We learned so many offenses and defensive sets, we could write a book. If I had to pick one thing to remember is that, win or lose (mostly win) our teams sure laughed a lot. Around about now you are probably starting to wonder how in the world Alex got the opportunity to play for the Wales National Team. Alex s mom, Jane Kilmartin, (then Jane Riley) was born in Wales. In fact, she actually represented the UK in the Miss Universe pageant back in the 80 s The way in works, is that I have both an American passport, and because Mom is from the UK, I have a UK passport also. Therefore, by the FIBA rules, I could represent her home country. I was so proud. It was such an honor to represent a country in a sporting event. My grandparents told everyone they knew, I was happy they were proud of me. The summer before, my brother Ryan played for their 18 U team in the European Championships and did well also. They took Silver which was the country s highest finish in the 18 s. Alex s experience with the team included traveling to London on three occasions for tryouts over a five month period. Once he made the team, he went to Cardiff, the Capitol of Wales for a 2 ½ week training camp. From there it was on to Gibraltar on the tip of the Mediterranean (Gibraltar is connected to the edge of Spain). Alex played well in the event and helped Wales to capture the Silver Medal. Alex has been invited back to tryout for the Under 20 team along with his brother Ryan. They are exploring their schedules for the summer to see if it can be arranged. This summer will be busy for Alex; it s the most important season for increasing his college opportunities. His Royals team will play across the country in front of all of the top college coaches in the country. One lucky coach will make the right offer to Alex and will end up with a self described low maintenance player with good grades. I think I have a pretty solid understanding of the game for high school junior thanks to Dad. I am skilled for my size and can play a lot of different positions now. I have grown as an efficient scorer. I understand shot selection, points per possession and I am not a player (nor have I ever been) just jacking up bad shots to get my numbers. I am loyal and one who can be the stand up guy in the locker room. My brother is playing for Appalachian State University, so I see what he is doing, so I have already learned a lot through him. Alex has worked very hard to develop his game; his size will now present problems for the opposing team. His experiences from both martial arts and basketball have allowed him to gain a stronger mental edge than most high school players. With one more year of high school left, Alex Kilmartin is sure to take the step up the ladder and become one of the top all around players in the area. With a life full of memories, this young man is poised to add even more incredible stories to his life. The South Charlotte Sports Report salutes Alex for his dedication and passion to become the best he can possibly be.

8 Page 8 Volume 4, Issue 19 MARA Spring Lacrosse for Boys and Girls Boys ages 8-15 Girls in grades 2-8 MARA Lacrosse is run by Turn and Burn Lacrosse For more information please visit and/or On February 5th, the Providence Day 8th grade Lady Chargers won the GCMSAA basketball conference title. The Lady Chargers finished the season with a perfect 19-0 record! They began their season with 8 players and were forced to finish with only 6! The girls totaled 777 points and 560 rebounds for the season. The future looks bright for Providence Day Basketball. Team members include (L-R): Assistant Coach Matt Dengler, Addi Berry, Morgan Mosack, Nikyah Morgan, Emma Pixley, Jatarie White, Emily Dickson, Maddie Ohaus and Head Coach Nicole Okubanjo Photo Credit: ProvidenceSportsPhoto.com. GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND SUPPORT YOUTH SPORTS BY ADVERTISING IN THE! CALL TRIPP GOOD SPORT OF THE WEEK JOHN COLEMAN Eleven year old John Coleman has been named The Game Day Team Pack Good Sport of the Week. John is the son of Rick and Peggy Coleman and he attends Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School. John plays basketball at St Matthew Catholic Church and baseball for the Park Sharon Recreation Association 13U Travel Team. I think Good Sportsmanship means to always play your best and to try your hardest whether you win or lose. Congratulation to John Coleman! GAME DAY TEAM PACK - A fundraiser that makes sense! Game Day Team Packs will sponsor your organization for up to $1,000! Join National Amateur Sports, Lowes Foods and Coca-Cola in improving youth athletics through the Game Day Team Pack program Powerades / 12 Snacks / Unbelievable coupons to Lowes Foods and Coke products - $5 per Game Pack is donated back to the organization - A turn-key program with an immediate return. Contact us to make a difference today! For additional information: Tony DiBitetto at / tony@nationalamateursports.com For the Smile of a Lifetime! Dr. Keith T. Sellers 6406 Carmel Road #309 Charlotte, NC

9 Volume 4, Issue 19 Page 9 OLDE PROVIDENCE RECREATION ASSOCIATION SINCE 1974 A SOLID foundation for growth BASEBALL FAST PITCH SOFTBALL REGISTER NOW AT AGES 4-14 Building a Strong Fundamental Base For the Future Cal Ripken & Babe Ruth Baseball Developmental and Advanced Play Opportunities Fun, Fellowship and Memories to Last a Lifetime We have programs from ages 4 to 18 Early Babe Ruth season for middle school students

10 Page 10 Volume 4, Issue 19 IT S TIME TO GET OUT AND PLAY! WOW, what a winter! I wish that there was such a thing as global warming then it would not have been as cold this past winter. With that being said, the sun is out, and the warm weather is coming back, and Mom it s time to start the bus --I mean the car, and head to the soccer and baseball fields. Around this time of year, (at OrthoCarolina Sports Performance), is when we start seeing a lot of joint and muscular pain and injuries due to kids getting back outside to run and play. Weather it s at school or with their club sports, we ll see kids with pulled Hamstring Muscles, Lower Back tightness or some type of knee pain. Now you ve heard it all before, the kids and athletes must warm-up and stretch before going out and busting it in practice, before the game or just playing around outside. It s true, proper warm-up is very important. Just taking 3 to 5 minutes before any physical activity can mean the difference between optimum performance without injury or a pulled hamstring. And when it comes to proper warm-up, knowing what to do and how much is the million dollar question. Sport Performance Coaches can and will argue which is the best and most effective way to stretch until the cows come home. So which is best? 1). Static Stretching: holding a stretch for a certain length of time, OR 2). Dynamic Stretching: adding muscular effort or movement to a particular stretch. With having over thirty years of experience in the field of sports performance, I ve come to the conclusion that there are 2 ways of looking at it. First of all, by using good old fashion common since! Take for instance my dog Buddy. Every time he gets up from a nap what does he do? He stretches! Notice that all animals, when they stretch it s not for long periods of time, only about 3 to 5 seconds. The second way is looking at the research and studies that has been done in this area, (and theirs plenty). Most studies show that humans get the most benefit from a static stretch when the stretch is held for around 30 seconds. But too much static stretching can be harmful to athletic performance. At Tennessee State University, a study was done on the effects of static stretching on phases of sprint performance in elite soccer players. Without getting into the complexities of the study, the group that did a lot of static stretches for their warm-up compared to the group that did dynamic stretching ran slower times during short sprint intervals. At OrthoCarolina Sports Performance we ll always start with 10 minutes of dynamic warm-ups then finish each speed & agility session with some light static stretching. We also do some light static stretching before our weight training sessions but for short durations. The Static stretch that I like the most is the Prayer Squat Stretch position, seen in Fig.#1. Remember, only hold for 30 Seconds. Figure 1 My two favorite Dynamic stretches are -- the Russian March as seen in Fig.#2. Figure 2 This is simply marching while keeping the legs as straight as possible for 10 to 15 yards. The second is just regular skipping or an A Skip. Do this by bringing each knee high to the chest with each skip. Again do this for 15 to 20 yards. Remember, whatever the athlete decides to do, the general rule is Dynamic stretching before the activity and light Static stretching after the workout. Hopefully by proper warm-up, one can reduce the chances of seeing your friendly neighbor physical therapist this spring. Article by Chip Sigmon CSCS*D OrthoCarolina Sports Performance To Contact Chip: (704) or go to

11 Volume 4, Issue 19 Page 11 STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK CODY ESSER Sixteen year old Cody Esser has been on the mark with his play for the Cuthbertson High School Basketball Team this season. The son of Ron and Tracey Esser has helped his team through the peaks and valleys expected for any first year high school team. His outside shooting and defense have been very key to the growth of the team. Last week Cody scored 25 points, with seven 3-pointers to help his team to a win over Piedmont. In an earlier game in January, Cody hit eight 3 point shots. As the season comes to an end, Cody is looking forward to the conference tournament and a full offseason of training. He hopes to one day play college basketball. JAQUAZHA QUAY BARRINO Photo credit: Don Adkins Quay Barrino is a senior leader for one of the top ladies high school basketball teams in the state, Butler High School. The 18 year old daughter of Jackie Dunlap and Deloris Barrino plays forward for the Bulldogs and she is having a very successful senior season. The hard working athlete earned all conference honors last season and helped her team to win the 2008 Bojangles National Ladies Tournament. This season Quay is averaging 12.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg on a team filled with future college basketball players. Quay also hopes to play college basketball next season. She also runs track and hopes to play softball this spring for the Bulldogs. Cody has a 4.25 GPA and is a member of Mu Alpha Theta and the Spanish Club. Quay is a member of the A/B Honor Roll and she hopes to become a Pediatric Nurse. Congratulations to Cody Esser for being named The Architech Sports Student Athlete of the Week. Congratulations to Quay Barrino for being named The Architech Sports Student-Athlete of the Week. The two Student-Athletes of the Week will receive a Scholarship to Architech Sports and Physical Therapy for a Functional Movement Screen. ARCHITECH SPORTS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY 8918 Blakeney Professional Drive Suite 120 Charlotte, NC Ph Physical Therapy for Athletes and Weekend Warriors * Sports Performance * Soccer Speed and Agility Baseball Pitching Arm Care Evaluations * Female Jumpmetrics Training * Coaches Care Programs All programs in conjunction with Morrison Family YMCA The time is NOW to take control of your College Athletic Career! Former NFL football player Mo Collins found his passion playing football, but since retiring he s discovered his purpose, which is helping high school athletes realize their dream of playing sports in college. Collins has written what is perhaps the definitive book on the often misunderstood college recruiting process. It s entitled The Ultimate College Recruiting Guide. The book is a step-by-step informational tool which Collins believes will help to increase the chances of high school student-athletes to earn athletic and academic scholarships. Get your copy today or sign up for our free monthly recruiting tips newsletter by visiting our website. Don t waste another day, and take your first step towards securing your college athletic career. Steven Santa Ana dribbles up the court for the Jay M. Robinson Chargers basketball team.

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13 BEYOND THE GAME WITH TUCK KENNEDY Volume 4, Issue 19 Page 13 Charlotte Catholic High School sophomore Tuck Kennedy is climbing the ladder of success in a unique sport, fencing. The 15 year old son of Grace Kennedy and the late Robert Kennedy has been involved with fencing for 4 1/2 years and has found a real appreciation for the sport. Let s go beyond the game with Tuck Kennedy. How did you get started in fencing? A family friend fenced. My mom asked my brother and I if we would like to try it. I wasn t sure at first, but I quickly realized I would enjoy it. That was 4 and a half years ago. For someone that doesn t know much about the sport, how would you describe it? It s a lot more mental than people think. I guess it would be cliche calling it physical chess, but it really is. You have to train and be in shape physically, because fencing tournaments can last for many hours. But you have to be able to think quickly and stay focused, even when you are tired. Tournaments are run by splitting the fencers in pools, and using the results of the pools to feed into direct elimination bracket. Then bouts are fenced until there is a winner. Pool bouts last 3 minutes and go to 5 touches, and direct elimination bouts last 9 minutes and go to 15. There are three weapons: foil, epee, and saber. I primarily do foil. A foil is a point weapon, which means touches can only be scored by thrusting rather than cutting. A foil fencer wears a metallic vest, and when the other fencer hits his foil point to the vest, a touch is registered electronically. The vest covers the chest and back, and this is the target. Touches can only be scored in this area. Fencing has a lot of finer points, but essentially the idea is to hit the other guy, and don t let him hit you. How often do you practice and what do you practice? Currently I m training three times a week at Charlotte Fencing Academy in preparation for the Junior Olympics. A typical practice has us running and stretching followed by calisthenics. Then we do footwork and bladework drills. After that, we do some structured bouts (what the individual fights are called), and finish with free fencing. I also receive one private lesson a week with my coach, and we work on more specific things than in the group practice. What are some of your biggest accomplishments? I placed 7th out of 131 at a North American Cup in Atlanta last February. I have qualified for the Junior Olympics the last two years. I qualified for the Summer Nationals for the last 4 yeas as well. One of my favorite victories came at a tournament in Columbia, SC called the Sword in the Stone, where I took first and received a D rating. (The ratings system goes U-E-D-C-B-A, with U being unrated and A being the highest.) What goals do you have for the next few years? In the next few years I intend to receive my C rating and perhaps attempt a B. I want to win and place in some larger tournaments. How well do you perform in school? Favorite class? I am a Straight-A student. My favorite class would be History, as this subject is most interesting to me. In February, at the Junior Olympics in Memphis, TN I will receive a United States Fencing Association (USFA) Academic All-American Award. There are three classifications of this award and I will receive the First Team (or highest) for my GPA. The USFA stresses academics as well as athletics. The Providence Day 8th grade boys basketball team claimed the GCMSAA title on February 5th by defeating Lake Norman Charter School. The Chargers finished the season with a 16-6 record. With many setbacks, close games, and frustrating moments the Chargers never gave up. The team was coached by Blake Boehringer and Tavaris Little. The team players were: Nolan Nelson, Jordan Watkins, Corbin Balzer, David Sowers, Will Duncan, John Velardo, Devin Mills, Michael White, Danny Morrow, Lucas Chamberlain, Kevin Lu, Lawson Ives, Nathan Nalibotsky and Zach Featherstone It s the time of the year for emotional games in South Charlotte. Last Friday night, Ardey Kell High School topped Providence to win the # 1 seed for the Southwestern Conference 4A Basketball Championship. The Knights flooded the basketball court to celebrate the emotional win. Photo Credit: ProvidenceSportsPhoto.com.

14 Page 14 Volume 4, Issue 19 Check our web site for additional information and important dates!!! T-Softball Closes February 28, 2010 Softball 8U, 10U Closes February 28, 2010 (only a few spots left) Coach Pitch Evaluations Saturday, February 20, 2010 Minors/Majors Evaluations Saturday, February 27, 2010 Pre-Season Kick Off Party Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Sticky Fingers Johnston Road, Charlotte, NC :30pm 8:30pm (Kids Under 12 Eat Free) Please go to our website to download flyer. 10% of all sales go to PCAA Financial Aid is available, request a form at registration *Rates listed are for Spring Registration only. A once per year, once per family fee of $35 is required of all PCAA families Bryce Nelson, a senior at Grace Academy in Matthews, NC, recently scored his 1000th point for the boys basketball varsity team. Grace Academy Head coach Tim Sayles presents Bryce with the ball used to score the history making basket. COACHES, TEAM MOMS, PARENTS: SEND US YOUR TEAM PHOTOS AND NEWS TO TRIPP@SOUTHCHARLOTTESPORTS.COM

15 Volume 4, Issue 19 Page 15 On Deck Day Camps Spring Break Camp Mon. April 5th Thru Friday April 9th 9:00am - 12:00pm $45 Per Day Or $200 for all 5 days! Summer Camp Dates at On Deck June June June 28-July 2 $185 Per Person or $170 Per Person for a group of 4 On Deck Day Camp provides quality instruction in a small group environment. Our objective to this day camp is to teach fundamentals based on age & skill level. The camp will provide instruction in the following areas: THE Q SHACK COACH OF THE WEEK COACH JEFF REDDERSON Coach Jeff Redderson is the guiding force behind the Community House Middle School Boys Basketball program. In addition to teaching seventh grade social studies, Coach Redderson is very giving of his time for the basketball squad. Over the last few years, many of his players have moved onto to play for the Ardrey Kell High School program. The Cavaliers are working hard this season under Coach Redderson s direction. The team focuses their efforts in practice on basketball fundamentals, building a successful foundation for the future. Congratulations to Coach Jeff Redderson for being named The Q Shack Coach of the Week. To nominate your coach for this award, please visit The Q Shack or The winning coach will receive a $25 gift certificate to The Q Shack. Throwing/Catching, Pitching, Base running, Hitting, Fielding Please provide your child with: * Turf shoes and cleats * Appropriate baseball/softball attire, shoes and Cleats Register online or by calling (704) or ing camps@ondeckbaseball.net Freshman Alex Adams, 15, is the starting junior varsity quarterback at South Meck High School and he is also a member of the junior varsity BEYOND THE GAME WITH ALEX ADAMS Written by Sam Traxler, Ardrey Kell High School basketball team. Alex is the son of John and Cheri Adams. How long have you been playing sports? I was introduced to sports at a young age by my dad, but I have been playing basketball seriously for about four years, and football for about 3 years. I have been playing travel basketball with the Charlotte Maddawgs for 2 years and I played Olde Providence football before I came to South Meck. Which sport do you consider to be your primary sport? I would have to say football, but that is mainly because as a quarterback it is necessary to put so much work in, it is hard to play that position and have it be secondary to another sport. You are #50 in basketball, and #10 in football. Why did you pick those? Well, Chipper Jones (Atlanta Braves) is my favorite athlete, and he is # 10, and for basketball, my dad was #5, so I multiplied the two numbers together to get 50. Also, my favorite basketball player is Tyler Hansborough, who was #50 at UNC Chapel Hill. Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities? I am an active member of Advance Ministry at Forest Hill Church, but sports takes up most of my time. The South Charlotte Sports Report has an opening for a part time advertising sales director. Tripp@southcharlottesports.com for more information! Located in The Providence Promenade Providence Road Charlotte, NC What is your most memorable experience playing football? It came in a middle school game when I was in 8th grade. We were facing powerhouse Quail Hollow Middle School. In the fourth quarter, it was fourth & goal at the one yard line. The play call was a quarterback draw behind the right tackle, who happened to be me. (I played RT in middle school). I cleared a huge whole for our quarterback, and that turned out to be the game-winning block. Who do you look up to when it comes to sports? My dad is always pushing me and giving me the desire to be better in everything in life, not just sports. Also, I strive to mimic Tyler Hansborough s intensity and drive on the basketball court. How well do you perform in school? I am on the A/B honor roll at South Meck and my favorite class is geometry. After high school, my dream is to attend UNC Chapel Hill.

16 Page 16 Volume 4, Issue 19 Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association THE LEAGUE OF CHAMPIONS BASEBALL SOFTBALL FOOTBALL BASKETBALL LACROSSE S O U T H C H A R L O T T E S P O R T S R E P O R T S U M M E R C A M P S June June June June June June June June June 28-July 1 June 28-July 1 July TBA Youth Basketball Camp Prep Basketball Camp Youth Football Camp Football Challenge Camp Volleyball Camp (AM) Volleyball Camp (PM) Advanced Volleyball Camp Cheerleading and Dance Camp Soccer Camp Girls Only Basketball Camp Youth Football Camp Baseball and Softball Camp Professional Coaches...Affordable Prices...Sibling Discounts