Sports Gwinnett October 2013 by Sports Gwinnett

sports and rec in PEACHTREE CORNERS

A RIVER THROUGH ATLANTA life is active | october 2013

FAITH IN SPORTS

A DISCUSSION WITH TEAM CHAPLAINS

ALSO INSIDE: PARK EVENTS ■ Run Calendar ■ COMPETITIVE SHOOTING

Vote Online in Our SG50/2013 "Best Of" Reader Survey WWW.SPORTSGWINNETT.COM Tell us who's the best athlete, athletic program, coach, restaurant and more.

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CONTENT 8 MOVE 5K, 10K, marathons, cycling, walking

and moving

26 PARKS Highlighted events and happenings at

Gwinnett County Parks

28 best seat in the house Highlighting the past month in pictures. Front coVer sports and rec in PEACHTREE CORNERS

a riVer tHroUGH atlanta liFe is actiVe | september 2013

FAITH IN SPORTS

a discUssion WitH team cHaplains

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[12] Faith in Sports [20] CITY FOCUS:

peachtree corners Sports and Recreation in the City of Peachtree Corners

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[10] Inline skaters coming

INLINE SKATING ■ PARK EVENTS RACE CALENDAR ■ COMPETITIVE SHOOTING

COVER CREDIT Cover: Gwinnett’s NG3 (Next Generation: Character. Community. Change), a nonprofit corporation with a mission to relationally invest in the lives of athletes by focusing on character development and having the athletes serve their communities. NG3 has its roots in Gwinnett County and members currently serve at five Gwinnett County high schools – Berkmar, Brookwood, Grayson, South Gwinnett, and, beginning this fall, Archer. Photography by Jonathan Phillips Pictured: Thomas Jannett, Archer Javier Munoz, Berkmar Matt Williams, Brookwood Dustin Mattox, Grayson Michael Woelfl, South Gwinnett Jon Stinchcomb, Community Development Pictured on this page: Dustin Mattox Photography by Jonathan Phillips

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SPORTS GWINNETT

Clint Conley and Rico Figliolini C0-PUBLISHERS

Rico Figliolini EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Reg L. Carver ASSOCIATE EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Reg L. Carver Joel Hillsman Amanda Helmstetter Matthew Quinn Sydney Sattler Tori Vogt Abby Wilkerson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jonathan Phillips Kat Goduco Kathryn Nee

Sports, Speed, Agility Strength Training Private Instruction Team Training Cage and Facility Rental Youth or Corporate.

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Sports Gwinnett Magazine is published once a month by SPORTS360GROUP LLC. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers and editors are not necessarily those of the publishers, editor or Sports Gwinnett. The publisher will not accept responsibility for submitted materials that are lost or stolen. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. ©2013 SPORTS360GROUP LLC. The editors welcome submissions and photogrpahy. Please direct them to editor@sportsgwinnett.com.

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FROM THE CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHERS REG L. CARVER

Reg is a freelance writer and designer from Johns Creek, Georgia. He is the author of Jazz Profiles: The Spirit of the Nineties (Billboard Books 1998), which was nominated for the Ralph J. Gleason Award for excellence in music writing. He is also the author of Walking Up Lombard: My Long Journey Home (AuthorHouse 2012), a memoir of his journey through major depression and healing. You can find him at www.reglcarver.com.

MATTHEW QUINN

Rico Figliolini and Clint Conley Co-Publishers

Coming Issues:

Matthew W. Quinn is a freelance writer from Marietta, Ga. He is also associate editor of The Roswell Current and has edited a weekly newspaper and reported for a daily. An aspiring novelist, he has a book under consideration with two publishers.

STEVE HAMPTON

Owner and partner of H & H Multimedia sports photography, Steve has nearly a decade of experience capturing youth, collegiate, and professional sports.

NOVEMBER Ad & Editorial Deadline: October 24, 2013

• Fall Recreation Issue • Sports and Rec in Lawrenceville • Guide to Private Schools and their Sports

TORI VOGT

Tori Vogt MBA is a professional writer and marketing executive based in Peachtree Corners.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014 Ad & Editorial Deadline: November 28, 2013

• SG50/2013 Our Best of Issue FEBRUARY 2014 Ad & Editorial Deadline: January 24, 2013

• SPORTS CAMP ISSUE Please email editor@sportsgwinnett.com about advertising deadlines and editorial considerations.

ABBY WILKERSON

A country girl at heart but metro Atlanta by address, Abby cultivated a lifelong love of sports and writing at the University of Georgia before moving to Gwinnett upon graduation. Abby is a pop culture lover, brakes for yard sales, and an unashamed basher of all non-SEC conferences.

Vote in our SG50/2013 "Best Of" Reader Survey

Vote in 50 Categories. Let us know what and who you liked in 2013.

Deadline NOVEMBER 15, 2013 VISIT WWW.SPORTSGWINNETT.COM. the results - both READER'S CHOICE and EDITORIAL choices will be published in the December/January 2013 issue.

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

JONATHAN PHILLIPS

Jonathan Phillips has been a professional, award-winning photojournalist for the past 13 years and the owner of JTPhotography . Jonathan was born and raised in Gwinnett County and has seen it change and grow into the bustling metropolitan area that it is today. You can visit his website at www.capturelifethroughthelens.com

KATHRYN NEE

Kathryn is a photographer and owner of Kathryn Nee Photography. An Atlanta area native, Kathryn has been photographing life as art for over fifteen years. Her portfolio can be viewed at www.KathrynNee.com

JOEL HILLSMAN

Joel a native of Athens, GA is a sports media freelancer covering high school and pro sports since 2009. He is playby-play announcer for high school football and basketball for iBN Sports covering the southeast and produces game highlights for NBATV and Turner Sports.

KATHERINE MACMANUS

Katherine is an IB Diploma student at Norcross High School. She is a member of the NHS Marching Band and Relay for Life Team.

KARA JONES

Kara Jones is a North Gwinnett High School senior. She is an officer of National English Honor Society and the author of the novel Heavensent. In the spring, she also plays Varsity Lacrosse.

CORRECTION In the article, Edward Waters and Trent Phillips: Double-Sized Hearts (June 2013 issue), due to miscommunication to our writer, SG reported that Mr. Waters previously played Major League Baseball. While Mr. Waters has been active in the sport at various levels and in various positions, he has not played at the MLB level. SG regrets the error."

Gladiators Opening Weekend Friday, October 18th Saturday, October 19th Game time both nights: 7:05pm FRIDAY NIGHT •

Post-Game Magnetic Schedule Giveaway

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2012-2013 South Division Championship Banner Raising Ceremony

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Friendly Friday

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Hat Trick for Reading Reward Night

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October 30, 2013 Gwinnett Gladiators vs. Orlando Solar

Arena at Gwinnett Center Address: 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097 770-497-5100 hockey@gwinnettgladiators.com

MOVE

5k, 10k, Marathons, Cycling, Walking and Moving

bag. 10k and 5k awards given to M/F Overall, M/F Masters, Top 3 in age group. 100% of money raised will benefit SPECTRUM Autism Support Group

Saturday , October 5

TAG Techie 5K/10K, 8:00 AM

Come out and support your company by running in the Techie 5K/10K. This fundraiser for the TAG Education Collaborative is full of fun and excitement. For more information contact: Barbara Martin at barbara@tagonline.org or 404.920.2024. Technology Park, Norcross 130 Technology Pkwy Norcross, GA 30092 Contact Information: www.tagonline.org COURSE: The 5K and 10K are both Peachtree Qualifiers

Georgia Race for Autism, 8:00 AM USTAF certified 10k and 5k with chip timing. 1 Mile Fun Run, Tot Trot 10K and 5K start at 8am. 1 mile at 10 am and tot trot at 10: 30 am Family Fun Day 8:30-1:00 with trackless train, inflatables, face painting, food, rides, games, silent auction, exhibitors, entertainment and more! Georgia Race for Autism 2013 is in its 7th year! Walk up registration: 6:30am Runner check in: 7:00am 10k/5k: 8:00am 1 mile Fun Run will begin at 10:00am and Tot Trot at 10:30am. Fall Festival is ongoing until 1:00pm. Registration fee includes chip timing, t-shirt, participation certificate and goodie

Gwinnett Fairgrounds 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville, GA 30045 www.georgiaraceforautism.com

Rock 'n Rib Run for Breast Cancer, 8:00 AM The Annual Rock ‘n Rib Run for Breast Cancer 5K is brought to you by Tutus for Tatas (a 3-Day Breast Cancer Team) & Fleet Feet. The race is in historic downtown Lawrenceville for the run and afterward stay for the Rock ‘n Rib Fest, a family event. The route is fairly flat and will be on the streets and sidewalks of Lawrenceville. All are welcome to run or walk, but please no pets in the race. Historic Downtown Lawrenceville 145 North Perry Street Lawrenceville, GA 30045 www.facebook.com/pages/Rock-nRib-Run/343874585651161?fref=ts

Athleader’s Breast Cancer Run/Walk 5 Miler, 8:00 AM Join the group as they team up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help fight against breast cancer. This fifth year event will be held at Stone Mountain Park. Participants will receive a black/ pink t-shirt. Stone Mountain Park 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

Stone Mountain, GA 30083 www.athleader.com

Run For Romance 5K Trail Run/Walk, 8:00 AM Join friends & family for the second annual Run for Romance 5K on the beautiful paved as well as off-road trails of Settles Bridge Park in Gwinnett County. After the race continue the fun with food and activities for the whole family! See race website for complete details at PassionateSpouse.com/ race Visit PassionateSpouse.com for additional ministry details as well as other events. All proceeds go directly to this cause. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/event/5230464460

Sunday, October 6

Octoberfest Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, 7:30 AM Entire course will be run on a wide paved path through a very scenic park. Well stocked aid station at the start/finish area. Generic tech shirt and medal to all finishers. Lenora Park 4515 Lenora Church Road SW Snellville, GA 30039 www.deborahmontgomeryracing. com

Great Gwinnett Road Run, 8:00 AM In conjunction with Paint the Mall Pink Weekend at the Mall of Georgia, the Great Gwinnett Road Run is a 5K run/walk for everyone, from serious runners to casual weekend joggers to walkers. It's the culmination of a great 4 Day event at the Mall of Georgia that raises awareness for women's health and breast cancer. Mall of Georgia 3333 Buford Drive Buford, GA 30518 www.mallofga5k.com

Saturday, October 12

Taste of Suwanee, 11:00 AM

Your entry includes $5 in ticket to Taste of Suwanee. We hope that you will stay and enjoy the samplings. Town Center Park Suwanee, GA 30024 www.active.com/page/ Event_Details.htm?event_ id=2106824&assetId=50a3e1a101e8-459b-a95d-2feaa9d69156

Run Fur Their Lives 5k and Fun Run, 8:00 AM Gwinnett Animal Shelter collaborates with public and private organizations and individuals to

15 OF

ANY CLAS F S N ew membe rs only

shelter, care for and promote the adoption of stray and unwanted companion animals. This will be an excellent fur friendly, beginner friendly 5k and fun run that is part of a 24 adoption marathon.

3rd Annual Dacula Dash, 8:00 AM

Both races start and end at the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. Parking is available in the Police Academy parking lot next door. Prizes will be awarded to overalls, masters, and to the top female and male finishers in nine age groups.

It will be a morning of fun, music, food and door prizes! A Fun Run will be held as well at 9:00 a.m.

We encourage the participation of dogs that are accustomed to regular exercise and are well adjusted to crowds and noisy environments with large numbers of people and other dogs. Check the website for more information on this. Gwinnett County Animal Shelter 884 Winder Highway Lawrenceville, GA 30045 www.active.com/page/ Event_Details.htm?event_ id=2113609&assetId=192ef6af-2139496b-81aa-2937256adf6a

Sat., October 19

Peachtree Ridge Color Run, 7:15 AM All money will go to the Relay for Life team. Your registration includes a t-shirt to be worn the day of and a pair of sunglasses. Peachtree Ridge High School 1555 Old Peachtree Rd NW Suwanee, GA 30024 www.prhscolorrun.weebly.com

Awards will be given to the top three finishers in male and female age groups from 6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, then in 5 year increments all the way to 65 and up!

GYMNASTIC CLASSES ages 1 - 18 years

Gymnastics teams

(Compulsories through Elite)

Tumbling, Dance, After school care

(with included gym or tumbling class)

Camps 3145 Northwoods Pkwy, Suite 100 Peachtree Corners, GA 30071

(404) 803-1218

www.topnotchtrainingcenter.org

Dacula Elementary 2500 Fence Road | Dacula, GA 30019 www.daculadash.com

Sat., October 19

Hoofin' for Habitat 5K, 8:30 AM

The Gwinnett chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS brings back the 4th Annual “Hoofin for Habitat 5K” benefiting Habitat for Humanity. This is a very fast and flat course ideal for a personal best time. Run/Walk for a great cause, have fun and enjoy refreshments after the race. John Adams will be our Grand Marshal! Schedule for Saturday, October 19 7:00 - 8:15 a.m. - Race Day Registration and Packet pick up 8:30 a.m. - 5K Run/Walk Chip Timing provided by ORION Racing

continued on page 24

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SPIRIT

Inline skaters coming to Gwinnett en masse this October

The 87-mile 31st annual Athens to Atlanta Road Skate will take skaters through much of Gwinnett County this coming October.

by Matthew W. Quinn

round 50 people gathered in the early morning darkness in Athens, Georgia. in October of 1982. All wore roller skates.

“It was warm for October,” Henry Zuver remembered later. “It was a really nice day. It was one of those wonderful fall days in Georgia.” So began the Atlanta-Peachtree Road Rollers’ first Athens to Atlanta Road Skate. Zuver led the way in a truck as participants set out down Oglethorpe/Tallassee Road on a route that would take them onto Hog Mountain Road and Old Peachtree Road. Behind him Keith Donaldson, solidly built with shoulderlength dreadlocks in colorful beads, led the skaters. He carried a boom box the whole 87 miles, playing island music from his native Jamaica. Only six finished, something director Zu-

ver attributed to them not knowing what they were in for. Many did not understand the distances involved, while others didn’t anticipate the variable state of the roads. There were wrong turns and stops to make sure they were going in the right direction. Zuver, who is now one of the directors of the yearly A2A event, said it began as a challenge. One skater wanted to skate from Macon to Atlanta. The idea was passed around and someone else suggested they skate from Athens to Atlanta. This was the idea that stuck. Participants decided to make it a fundraiser for what was then known as The Leukemia Society, now the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The first participants plotted in pencil the 87-mile route via the back roads from Athens to Atlanta. The route hasn’t changed much since then—only some modifications, since

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

they hadn’t driven the route beforehand and found out the hard way many of the roads were unpaved. “It was all pretty rural at that time,” Zuver said. “Once you got into the outskirts of Athens it was rural all the way through Gwinnet County.” The route remained rural all the way to Stone Mountain. Attendance at each road skate ranged from 100 to 200 all the way through the early 1990s when inline skates overtook the old-fashion “quad skates.” By 1993 participation increased to 350. By the late 1990s participation peaked at around 800. As inline skating’s popularity faded, participation fell to around 150 each year for the last three or four years.

This year’s road skate will take place October 6. Participants will meet at the Classic Center in Athens at 7:30 a.m. At least 40 miles of the trip — from Auburn to Lilburn near Stone Mountain — will be in Gwinnett. “We obey all Georgia bicycle rules,” Zuver said.

Zingo also hopes the event will make the skating community more aware of what Gwinnett County has to offer. This includes Pinckneyville Park, which has a hockey rink, a skate park, and trails, as well as parks in Dacula that have trails as well. He hopes the event will inspire pride in Gwinnett as a host commu-

nity for the event. As downtown Dacula builds up, the event grows easier for participants. The city serves as a good finish line or halfway point, depending on how far participants want to go.

This means they will stay on the right-hand side of the road, stay in a single-file line, stop at all signs and lights, and indicate where they’re going with hand signals. All participants will wear helmets. Participants will have three options—38 miles from Athens to Dacula, 49 miles from Dacula to Atlanta, or the whole enchilada of 87 miles. Each leg will have a different participation price. Skaters of all ages are welcome, although those younger than 10 can only do the Athens-Dacula leg. Those interested in finding out specific prices or signing up should visit www.a2a.net. Tom Zingo, a resident of Duluth, has participated in four road skates, although he has never gone the whole route. He first became aware of the Atlanta Peachtree Road Rollers in 2004. He had been involved in running groups and seen people inline skating. He looked around and found some of his co-workers at Peachtree Software were skaters. “There were not a lot of other groups except for one, the Atlanta Peachtree Road Rollers,” he said. He got involved in the group skates as well as the A2A, the group’s major event and one of the few such events in the United States. The first year he participated was in 2006. He described the event as “really neat” due to its festival environment. It was amazing to roll through farmlands early in the morning, seeing the horses. People from different countries participated, including a FrenchCanadian hockey player who did most of the route backward. The portion between Dacula and Lilburn was the toughest to negotiate because it wasn’t in the city or the country. In the city it would be stop and go traffic, while the county would have long, winding roads. Suburban Gwinnett has busy roads like Satellite Boulevard or Highway 120 near Sugarloaf Mills Mall. Over the years traffic has increased as the area has grown more suburban. “If you don’t make it up to Dacula by 10:30 or 11, the traffic builds up,” he said. This difficulty inspired Zingo to increase awareness, so drivers wouldn’t be surprised by the large number of skaters in the road. To do this, he has worn shirts advertising the events around and talked to people and to local media outlets.

Safety Tips for Inline Skating Inline skating is an excellent form of exercise, with the Roller Skating Association International comparing it to jogging in terms of overall health benefits, caloric consumption, reduction of body fat, and leg strength development. It has less joint impact than running. However, inline skating can be dangerous, with risks including injuries to wrist, knee, leg, elbow, ankle, and even face and head. Below are some ways to avoid injury, courtesy of the Gwinnett Center for Outpatient Surgery: ■ Wear proper safety gear, including a helmet that fits well and is worn properly, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, and gloves. Skates should be of high quality and fit well, providing good ankle support. Wheels, bearings, or brakes that are getting worn should be replaced. ■ Get instruction from an experienced skater. One should have basic skills—turning, controlling speed, falling safely, and stopping—before skating in public. ■ Stay alert. Be cautious skating where there are cars, bicycles, pedestrians, and other skaters. Avoid sudden stops and turns. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially children who may run across your path or dogs on leashes. Always expect cars to emerge from driveways and if approaching a car, be prepared for someone to open a door. ■ Skate on smooth, paved surfaces. Avoid water, sand, mud, gravel, dirt, or oil. ■ Do not skate at night. But if you do, wear reflective clothing, put flashing bicycle lights on your helmet, and carry a flashlight. ■ Do not allow yourself to be towed by any vehicle or even by your dog. ■ Do not use headphones while skating. ■ Pass pedestrians, cyclists, and other skaters on the left. Be sure to say, “Passing on your left” in a pleasant tone of voice loud enough for them to hear. If skating with others, skate in single file. Stay to the right side of sidewalks and bike paths.

FAITH IN SPORTS A DISCUSSION WITH TEAM CHAPLAINS

by Reg L. Carver photography by jonathan phillips

oday, perhaps more so than ever, the notion of “faith” is making its way into sports. Prayer huddles (before and after games), “Tebowing,” and team chaplains are becoming commonplace in all sports and at age groups ranging from high school through the professional level.

But just what is the role of religious faith in sports? Does faith make an athlete perform better? Does it make an athlete a better teammate? Does it make the athlete a better person? According to authorities on the subject, the answer to all three of these questions is “yes.” TEAM CHAPLAINS AND CHARACTER COACHES SG recently met with three chaplains/character coaches serving athletes in Gwinnett County. (As for the differing titles, due to the

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

“It’s not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game even starts.” – Addison Walker “Andre Dawson . . . is listed as day to day. Aren’t we all?” – Vin Scully

Dustin Mattox (Grayson High School)

FAITH IN SPORTS issue of church and state, some schools prefer the title “character coach.” For the purpose of this article, there is no meaningful distinction in the roles these gentlemen play in the lives of young athletes.) Jorge Vallejo is from Bogota, Colombia. He played professional soccer in Colombia and the United States for seven years. Currently he develops and directs the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Soccer Ministries for Atlanta and also serves as director of FCA for Gwinnett County. Vallejo serves as Chaplain for the Atlanta Silverbacks and assists with coaching men’s soccer at Georgia Gwinnett College. Vallejo believes his current role in sports to be of utmost importance. To put it bluntly, he says he is “trying to bring about life transformation through the world’s sport.” Matt Williams and Michael Woelfl are staff members of Gwinnett’s NG3 (Next Generation: Character. Community. Change), a nonprofit corporation with a mission to relationally invest in the lives of athletes by focusing on character development and having the athletes serve their communities. NG3 has its roots in Gwinnett County and members currently serve at five Gwinnett County high schools – Berkmar, Brookwood, Grayson, South Gwinnett, and, beginning this fall, Archer. NG3’s vision is broad, with hopes to build chaplain and character development programs in high schools all over the United States. COMMON THEMES: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, ADDRESSING INJURIES, AND MISSING FAMILIES The three chaplains listed the same issues as prevalent in dealing with sports teams. First and foremost, all see their number one issue as developing character. As Vallejo defines it, “character” is “your thoughts and actions when no one else is looking.” Another role is helping the athletes through the trying times of injury. Finally, the last major role is assisting with athletes’ missing family members. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

ing in both group and one-on-one settings, the chaplains offer a variety of methods for achieving this goal. Jorge Vallejo, while he certainly spends time working directly with athletes, spends even more of his time working with team coaches. He believes it is the most efficient way to reach the largest number of athletes. Vallejo reminds of a quote from Rev. Billy Graham, “One coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime.” Vallejo believes this approach best fulfills FCA’s missions of connecting to Christ, connecting the Bible to coaching, connecting with other coaches, and, finally, connecting others to Christ. NG3 also focuses most of its energy toward character development. In fact, it has developed a list of 20 character traits (i.e. humility, honesty, family, self control, and respect) and offers lessons for building character by studying each of these traits. NG3 works with its entire teams, from coaches, to players, to other staff. It works one on one and also with groups. Often NG3 takes its cue from coaches as to what needs to be emphasized at any given time. Vallejo and NG3 steer their athletes and coaches to community service, believing this contributes greatly to development of good character. Notes Woelfl of the typical high school athlete, “you have to find a way to show them that the world is bigger than just them.” NG3 works with a number of civic and service organizations in finding community service projects. “We’ll even do something as small as having a team mow an elderly person’s lawn. We want these kids to realize they must contribute to society as a whole.” ADDRESSING INJURIES Another major role of the chaplain is in helping an athlete deal with inevitable injuries. Most times, injuries are manageable and do not threaten one’s ability to play long term. Notes Vallejo, “It is at these times that I stress to the athlete to invest in community service. While a player may not be able to get out on the field, he or she can still do something to help someone else. Again, this builds character.”

The chaplains all agreed that their overriding mission is that of building character. Work-

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

Jorge Vallejo, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Soccer Ministries for Atlanta and director of FCA for Gwinnett County

FAITH IN SPORTS Often times, it seems that when something is broken (with injuries, literally), it is the best time to devote to faith issues. The athlete may find himself or herself with extra time on hand. Vallejo and the NG3 staff agree that this is the opportune time to work on such traits as relentlessness/perseverance, humility, trust, and courage. Injuries can be devastating to an athlete, no doubt. But as NG3 points out, all moments are teachable moments. All moments have their lessons. Vallejo agrees, and notes that dealing with adversity builds character traits like no other moment. MISSING FAMILIES The issue of “missing families” unfortunately has a double meaning. As Vallejo points out, at the collegiate and, even more so, professional levels, athletes often find they have much time on the road. This can present two problems – missing loved ones, and effective use of time. Vallejo works with many professional athletes and coaches. He counsels them to use the time away from family to “plan special times when the athlete is at home.” Also, he urges them to use the free time wisely – as in serving the community. “I urge them to visit hospitals, get involved in community service in any way possible.” The flip side of missing one’s family is unfortunately prevalent (and perhaps most troubling) at the high school level. This issue is that of broken families, ones where a mother or father is not present in the home. Literally, part of the athlete’s family is “missing.” NG3’s Woelfl notes that this can be devastating to a young person. “For example, when there is no dad in the home, the kid has no one to show him what it means to be a man.” Again, NG3 uses the moment to cover various character traits. And importantly, NG3 staff tries to set the best example possible for male athletes regarding what it means to be a man. It’s unfortunate but so true that in many homes, the NG3 staff is the primary father figure in a young athlete’s life.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SIMPLY BEING THERE Just like all of society (and with athletes, more so), today’s youth face many challenges and are under intense pressure to perform. Vallejo, Williams, and Woelfl agree that perhaps one of the most important of their functions is to simply be there. A lot of Vallejo’s and NG3’s work involves dealing with one athlete on one particular issue or problem. The chaplain/character coach’s role here is to simply be there for the athlete – playing the role of sounding board, showing compassion, and often helping to find a solution. In many cases, these gentlemen are the only ones to whom many youths feel they can turn for help. As is the case with anyone in a leadership role, Vallejo, and the NG3 staff wear many hats. At its most basic level, they see their role as that of gaining respect and trust, and then helping to mold athletes into more than simply athletes. The chaplain/character coach is charged with the duty of helping build individuals with integrity and who can contribute to society in a myriad of ways. All athletes have one or more coaches – folks who teach them how to excel at their chosen sport. But life is much more than sport. Athletes also need mentors who can teach them to excel at life itself. Thanks to Jorge Vallejo, and NG3’s Matt Williams and Michael Woelfl, many of Gwinnett’s young athletes are finding the help they need in the biggest arena of all – life. For more information about Jorge Vallejo, you may contact him at jvallejo@fca.org. For more information about NG3, you may check out its website at www.ng3.co/. Reg L. Carver is a writer and designer in Johns Creek, Georgia. You may find him at www.reglcarver.com.

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

NG3 Left to right: Thomas Jannett (Archer), Javier Munoz (Berkmar), Matt Williams (Brookwood), Michael Woelfl (South Gwinnett) Dustin Mattox (Grayson), Jon Stinchcomb, Community Development

column

a road less traveled CHRIS SCALLEY AND A RIVER THROUGH ATLANTA by Reg L. Carver This is the first installment of a new and regular column, The Road Less Traveled. Here, we will take a look at individuals and sports/recreation that are often overlooked by most mainstream sports magazines. We hope you enjoy our detours.

“For the supreme test of a fisherman is not how many fish he has caught, not even how he has caught them, but what he has caught when he has caught no fish.” – John H. Bradley

hris Scalley was born in Roswell – with the Chattahoochee River for a backyard. His grandfather (on his mother’s side of the family), who lived in New York City, was an avid fisherman who cast his line from the Adirondacks to Florida, and many places in between. He visited Chris and his family often and taught Chris and his brother, John, to fish the Chattahoochee for trout using a fly rod and reel. He would often remind the boys that the Chattahoochee River offered some of the best trout fishing in the Southeast. The brothers became excellent fishermen. Chris Scalley loved fishing, and as a young man, he would have considered it a hobby – one he might enjoy for the rest of his life. Like most young men of his generation, however, Scalley went off to college to get an education – one that would ensure monetary success. Upon graduation, armed with a history degree, he joined the corporate world – became a salesman. Like so many of us, early on, life was kind of set for Scalley. He would earn a good living in business and fly-fishing would be his primary hobby.

. FROM HOBBY TO A WAY OF LIFE But sometimes in life, odd twists take us places we never thought we’d go. And sometimes, small events can take on meanings we would have never guessed. Sometimes, a few days can completely turn a person’s life around. And that is just what happened to Chris Scalley. “My dad used to take the family on great trips. And the first one that we did was to Jackson Hole [Wyoming], and we booked two boats going down the Snake River.” (Hemingway wrote that the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River was home to one of the best natural hatcheries in all the world.) “And we floated the Snake with the Tetons in the background, and I just thought, ‘man, this is it. I want to guide. I want to have a drift boat on the Chattahoochee.’” Undoubtedly, this trip indeed made for a big change of career plans. Upon returning home, Scalley took a job at The Fish Hawk, Atlanta’s “go to source” for all things fly-fishing. (This was 1994. As fate would have it, the Chattahoochee became open for fishing year round the very next year. Before that, it was only open

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

about 8 months each year.) He spent as much time as he could guiding fishing trips on the Chattahoochee, steadily building the business – calling it River Through Atlanta. After a few years, he weaned himself away from The Fish Hawk and eventually began guiding full-time. Scalley’s guide service has become a true success story. Now Orvis-endorsed, it has a staff of 8 guides, and Scalley himself spends over 200 days each year on the Chattahoochee River. River Through Atlanta offers half- and full-day boat trips, as well as classes on everything from equipment selection, to knot tying, to casting, even fly-fishing etiquette. THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND GWINNETT COUNTY Metro Atlanta holds 48 fishable miles of the Chattahoochee River with the most river frontage being in Gwinnett County – approximately 12 – 14 miles. Says Scalley, “The cool waters released from the depths of Lake Sidney Lanier at Buford Dam provide an ideal environment for trout and other wildlife species.” The river is full of

Scalley, left, hoists a beautiful brown trout from the Hooch

brown and rainbow trout. In 2003, the state record brown trout (18 lbs.) was caught in the Chattahoochee. Scalley also notes that rainbows ranging from 16 to 20 inches are not uncommon. The Chattahoochee River (voted by Georgia’s Trout Unlimited membership as being the number one trout fishing destination in the state) offers idea water temperature for trout, open space for casting, and is open year round. The brown trout are mostly wild now (the stocking of browns stopped ten years ago), and wild rainbows are becoming more common. Notes Scalley, “Folks are hopping on planes and heading to Wyoming to fish for wild trout, and we have some of the best trout fishing right under our noses!” THE MYSTIQUE AND BEAUTY OF FLY-FISHING Scalley is cognizant of the mystique that surrounds fly-fishing. (As Tom Brokaw once quipped, “If fishing is like religion, then flyfishing is high church.”) But he notes that, once broken down to its elements, it can be revered, true, but does not need to be intimidating. Scalley says, “Folks get too caught up in what they think is the complexity of flyfishing. But it’s just about relaxing and learning as you go.” (He agrees that it’s much like taking up golf nowadays. There is so much to offer in terms of clubs, ball types, shoes, etc. that we forget that Bobby Jones used some pretty basic

wooden sticks, and still scored as well as today’s best, and most well-equipped, players.) What makes a good fisherman, Scalley says, comes down to a few basic components. First, a good fisherman must know where the fish are and understand their behavior. (For example, trout need food and cover - consisting of certain aquatic insects for food, and the banks or deeper runs of the river for cover. Therefore, one must learn about the types of flies covering the river as well as learn the spots the fish will likely be.) Anyone can learn to fly-fish and learn to do it well. Beyond the above, one simply needs to learn the basics of actually fishing - casting and presenting the fly properly, hooking a fish, and then bringing it in (and then to release it back to the wild). With a modicum of education, practice, and persistence, one can build the foundation to become a really good fisherman.

And all fisherman - from Thoreau, to Hemingway, and to Scalley – will remind you, it’s not really fish they are after. Mostly, it’s the beauty of the setting - the cool water, the cover of the trees, the other wildlife (including, on the Chattahoochee, white tail deer, osprey, beaver, otter, mink, and more) – that make actually catching fish simply icing on the cake. NO SPORT LIKE IT Truth is, the sheer beauty of trout fishing cannot be matched. And as beautiful as the surroundings are, nothing in nature matches the beautiful colors of a brown or rainbow trout. Bottom line, do yourself a favor and give fly-fishing a go. As noted fishing writer, John Gierach, has said (and to which Chris Scalley would undoubtedly agree), you just can’t beat “standing in a river waving a stick.” For more information about Chris Scalley and River Through Atlanta, please visit www.riverthroughatlanta.com Reg L. Carver is a writer and designer from Johns Creek, Georgia. You may find him at www.reglcarver.com.

SPIRIT

CITY FOCUS S P O R T S A N D R E C R E AT I O N in

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA Soccer is strong in Peachtree Corners, roller hockey prominent among others

by MATTHEW W. QUINN

ne of the major sports offered in Peachtree Corners is soccer, organized by non-profit associations using county parks. The parks also host roller hockey, baseball and softball, karate, and dance, while the YMCA has sports programs of its own. Soccer and roller hockey are two of

“It’s a smaller community but we’ve had some really good teams out here,” Collins said. “For example, we’ve won three state championships in the last two years.” The U16 girls’ team won two of these championships back to back, while the U16 boys’ team won the other. The U10 girls’ and boys’ teams both were runners-up. This year, the club is starting a select program whose teams will be coached by members of the Atlanta Silverbacks professional soccer team. Members of the soccer team also play substantial roles helping coach other teams. Collins estimated there are 250 to 300 participants ages 4 to 19 in the program. Collins

the major sporting opportunities Peachtree Corners residents can pursue in their city’s athletic facilities.

“The primary mission is having fun and developing young athletes,” he said. There are two seasons, a fall one from August to October and a spring one from February to May. There are also summer camps for those who wish to sharpen their skills further. Collins is still seeking girls 16 to 19 years old to fill the remaining teams for the fall season.

Hockey Director Mark Ogden said the roller hockey team moved to Pinckneyville Park in the early 1990s, playing in an open arena with a concrete floor. In 2008, new flooring was provided and a roof built so play could take place during inclement weather. The club offers roller hockey during the fall, winter, and spring, along with summer camps. At any time of the year, there are typically 80-85 adult participants. Participation among the children ages 5-14 varies, with around 230 in the winter and 125 in the spring and fall. The summer camps typically include 40 to 45 children for the whole summer.

Gwinnett County Athletic Coordinator Gary Schussler said that Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation largely handles recreation and parks on the city’s behalf. Parks within Peachtree Corners’ boundaries, include Jones Bridge Park, West Gwinnett Park and Aquatics Center, Pinckneyville Park, and the Pinckneyville Community Recreation Center. Like other county parks, non-profit organizations manage the activities. The Peachtree Booster Club provides soccer at Jones Bridge Park and roller hockey at Pinckneyville Park. Club President Andrew Collins said the soccer program is one of the oldest in the area, dating back to 1978. It has been affiliated with the Georgia State Soccer Association for the last five years.

also said Jones Bridge Park provided great fields for the program.

PEACHTREE BOOSTER CLUB, Kohl's Cup

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

The club has a new hockey program called StreetCats for children 3-6 years old. They play street hockey in their

sneakers. Since the program teaches how to skate, games include players in sneakers and skates. Ogden said those with skates are faster but those in sneakers have more control. “It all kind of even out,” he said. StreetCats has 12-15 kids in the spring or fall and 45-46 in the winter.

STREET CATS (3-6 YRS), YOUTH AND ADULT ROLLER HOCKEY, PEACHTREE BOOSTER CLUB

Pinckneyville Park also hosts the Norcross Soccer Academy and Norcross Youth Baseball Softball. Norcross Soccer Academy Executive Director Tony Annan said the park’s soccer complex makes an excellent hosting site. It’s one of the nicest soccer complexes in Metro Atlanta, and its five lighted fields provide a good environment. “The heart of our club is our park,” he said. “This place is a large benefit to us.” Parents can walk or jog on trails while their children play. Many soccer leagues are spread out across multiple facilities and never develop the sense of community a single site can bring. Founded in 1982, the soccer academy is non-profit and provides soccer opportunities for ages 3 to 19. There’s a recreational league whose purpose is having fun and improving one’s skills and two “select” leagues, one for U8 to U12 and the other for U13 to U19. The latter has more professional coaching and plays against other soccer associations in Metro Atlanta and elsewhere. The organization has been growing rapidly—when Annan joined in 2005, there were 680 participants and now there are 1,500 to 1,600 each season. He attributes this growth to the professional staff hailing from all over the world. They expose participants to different soccer techniques and styles of play. The participants themselves also represent every demographic.

SOCCER, PEACHTREE BOOSTER CLUB

NORCROSS YOUTH AND BASEBALL SOFTBALL Top: Norcross 8U Queen of the Hill Above: 2013 11U AA Champs

4-14 and travel baseball and softball for ages 9-14. Pinckneyville Park’s seven fields, four of which have grass infields, can accommodate T-ball players all the way through those playing at the high school level. The recreational baseball program has 500 participants in the spring, while the softball program has 100 to 150. Travel baseball has 100, while travel softball has 24-25. In the fall, the numbers are roughly two-thirds that. The Pinckneyville Park Community Center was originally founded as an arts center, but now includes athletic programs

Norcross Youth Baseball Softball President Kevin Hallam said the program offers both recreational baseball and softball for ages

SPIRIT

CITY FOCUS S P O R T S A N D R E C R E AT I O N in

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA

Norcross Soccer Association

S P O R T S A N D R E C R E AT I O N in Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA 5600 W Jones Bridge Road Norcross, GA 30092 (770) 246-9622

like martial arts and ballet. Program Leader Brian Bentley said the county contracts with Charles Minter Tae Kwon Do to provide lessons not only at Pinckneyville Park but at all community centers. Classes are for ages 6 through adult and take place in six-week rotations. As far as ballet is concerned, the county contracts with Debbie Ellis to provide traditional ballet, a Mommy and Me class that allows mothers and daughters to dance together, and hip-hop. Like tae kwon do, classes are organized in six-week rotations. Schussler said West Gwinnett Park’s athletic fields are rented out for the purposes of soccer, football, lacrosse, and flag football. The aquatics center, however, hosts various swim organizations in the same vein the parks host private athletic organizations. The Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA has been open since 1997. Since Community Programs Director Lisa Brasher came on board

Peachtree Booster Club Sports Jones Bridge Park 4901 East Jones Bridge Road Norcross, GA 30092 678-277-0920 www.pbcsports.org Pinckneyville Park 4758 South Old Peachtree Road Norcross, GA 30071 678-277-0920

in 2008, the facility’s athletic programs have increased from soccer to include flag football, T-ball, volleyball and, most recently, golf. The golf program is in partnership with Gwinnett County. Participants will not only learn the physical skills to play golf, but also rules and etiquette and even the math and science behind the game. In addition to golf, the facility is signing up participants for soccer and flag football, which typically have 150 participants and 40-45 participants,respectively. Winter will bring basketball and cheerleading, while

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

West Gwinnett Park and Aquatics Center 4488 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Norcross, GA 30071 678-407-8801 Pinckneyville Community Recreation Center 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross, GA 30071 678-277-0920 Norcross Baseball Softball www.norcrossbaseballsoftball.com

spring will bring soccer, flag football, T-ball, and volleyball. “For the most part we’re looking to give the kids an opportunity to play and make new friends,” Brasher said. The YMCA would like kids to learn the necessary skills and make friends. Winning is kept in perspective. Like in all YMCA programs, participants are taught the four values of respects, responsibility, caring, and honesty.

SPONSORED STORY

Dr. Charles Kim Seeks Chiropractic Excellence Entered field as a result of golf injuries

Dr. Charlie has earned a multitude of certificates and honors during his pursuit of chiropractic excellence, a path that began with a golf injury in 1991. by MATTHEW W. QUINN r. Charlie of the Georgia Gwinnett Clinic first became aware of chiropractic medicine when he hurt his back playing golf. A sophomore at the University of Washington in 1991, he was swinging his club when the pain came. He could not move, sit, or stand for five days. He was told he needed disc surgery, but his brother told him to see a chiropractor.

“I did and a miraculous thing happened,” he said. “My back completely stopped hurting. It only took two visits for the pain to go away. Right away chiropractic care sparked my interest.” However, Dr. Charlie elected to enter investments instead. In 2005, he suffered a similar injury in Marietta and visiting a chiropractor once more solved the problem. This time, he decided to enter the field himself and enrolled in Life University. The university has been considered one of the largest and best chiropractic schools in the United States, with a great atmosphere, excellent faculty, and great programs and location. Since Dr. Charlie had many friends and family in the Atlanta area, attending school here was a bonus. After he finished his initial chiropractic education, he obtained his doctorate and pursued a master's degree in sports science at Life. He decided to specialize in treating sports injuries, especially those incurred playing golf. Upon graduating, Dr. Charlie worked at a chiropractic office in Alpharetta and at other clinics before he came to Georgia Gwinnett Clinic in 2012.

“I like the location and I’ve got friends and family around this area,” he said.

“It’s a very professional atmosphere and I like the staff.” Its location, convenient to Duluth, Johns Creek, Suwanee, Lawrenceville, and Alpharetta, was an added bonus. The clinic also had a good reputation with its patients. One service Dr. Charlie offers is the Vertical Axial Decompression or Vax-D system, something he first used when he worked in Alpharetta. According to its website, it’s a non-invasive method to treat back pain. It’s used as an alternative to surgery—80 percent of those who are supposed to have surgery for bulging or herniated discs, after treatment with the Vax-D, get better. One aspect differentiating Dr. Charlie’s practice from other chiropractors is his extensive education. The walls of his office bear dozens of certifications covering a wide variety of chiropractic and sports-related fields. One such honor is the Low Speed Rear Impact Crash Reconstruction Specialist, which he earned at the Spine Research Institute of San Diego. Dr. Charlie has spent a lot of time studying this because of the sheer quantity of injuries from car accidents. He is also a certified brain injury and whiplash traumatology specialist, a certification he sought to better care for those injured in car accidents. Other honors include certification in Gratson Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue mobilization, the Cox Flexion/Distraction technique, Spider Tech, Manipulation Under Anaesthesia, Kinesio Taping, and training from the Titleist Performance Institute, which studies how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing. Dr. Charlie is also licensed in Physiological Therapeutics/Diagnostic Imaging from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners. One field of expertise Dr. Charlie is particularly proud of is the Active Release Technique, whose website describes it as a movement-based massage technique intended to restore the smooth movement of tissues and release any trapped blood vessels or nerves. Using 500 specific moves, it can be used to treat conditions as diverse as headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow. “They get more complete care,” he said. “Not only can I correct the misalignment of their bones, continued on the next page

continued on the next page

MOVE

but also work on the soft tissue injury, including muscle, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.”

Rivergreen Business Park 4225 Rivergreen Parkway Duluth, GA 30096

Georgia Gwinnett Clinic is a sports clinic. Although there are thousands of chiropractors in Georgia, Dr. Charlie is among only a handful of certified chiropractic sports physicians. As a result, Dr. Charlie has many clients involved in sports, including PGA players, an NBA referee, a professional boxer, and a major league baseball player. Common sports injuries include harm to the shoulders, elbows, knees, wrists, ankles, and feet, as well as sciatic pain.

www.active.com/page/ Event_Details.htm?event_ id=2106075&assetId=0a61d5194ee8-4165-9670-85d6f5e39439

DR. CHARLES KIM

Dr. Charlie also emphasized his caring attitude toward his patients. “I do everything in my power to ensure that patients are being taken care of, as though they were a part of my own family,” he said. According to Georgia Gwinnett Clinic handout, Dr. Charlie’s overall mission is to promote the highest standards of excellence and clinical competence for chiropractors specializing in sports medicine and physical fitness. Through chiropractic care, he seeks to restore optimal health and performance and allow his patients to have a better quality of life. To that end, Dr. Charlie advised members of the Gwinnett community to take care of their bodies, both inside and out. “Don’t overdo what your body cannot handle,” he said. “Be conscious about your body, because having pain is your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right. Do not wait until the last minute to consult a doctor because it could be too late.” Those interested in finding out more about Dr. Charlie or the Georgia Gwinnett Clinic can contact him by phone at 678-587-5390, fax at 678-587-5314, or by e-mail at drcbkim@gmail.com.

continued from page 5

Mud Run 2013; while our interest and support in the Mud Run has been outstanding the last 2 year but due to budget constraints at the GEHC it is doubtful that we can support a mud run this year. We hope that you'll participate in the 5K (partial trail run) instead. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center 2020 Clean Water Dr Buford, GA 30519 www.righttohikeinc.com

Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013

Run The Lake Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, 7:30 AM Ella's Run: Right to Hike's 6th Annual 5K and Fun Run, 9:00 AM The 6th Annual Ella's 5k and Fun Run will again take place at the beautiful Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. The organization encourages everyone to bring their dogs for this fun mixed road and trail course. After the run/walk be sure to stick around for the festival featuring vendors, music, food, kid’s activities and much more! Sign up now for this wonderful event. All competitors that register early will receive the 6th Annual Ella’s Run t-shirt (late registration and "day of" only while supplies last) There will be prizes awarded to the top finishers for both men and women in various age groups. In celebrating the life of Meredith Hope Emerson, friends and family have founded Right to Hike, Inc., a non-profit organization that supports causes that were close to Meredith's heart, including hiking safety. Funds will be donated to purchase emergency solar/wireless phones for greenways, parks and trailheads, to help fund the Meredith Hope Emerson Award for Study Abroad at UGA, and to support animal rescues and microchipping.

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

Entire course will be run on a wide paved path through a beautiful park. Well stocked aid station at the start/finish area. Generic tech shirt and medal to all finishers. Tribble Mill Park 2125 Tribble Mill Parkway Lawrenceville, GA 30045 www.deborahmontgomeryracing.com

Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013

10K/5K/1 Mile Chick-fil-A Connect Race, 8:00 AM

Join the herd & lace up your running shoes for a 10k, 5k & 1 Mile Run/Walk at the Chick-fil-A® Connect Race Series of Gwinnett, GA. This race will include chip timing, a sanctioned and certified course, dri-fit shirts, and a chance to win Chick-fil-A® for a year! Compete in SPEED (run fast) or compete in SPIRIT (dress up like a cow) to win awesome prizes. More information at www.cfaraceseries.com. Event location: Cisco Systems, 5030 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30044

Sage School's 4th Annual Monster Dash 5K, 10K, & Fun Run, 8:00 AM Sage School will host its 3rd annual Monster Dash! Sage School is a, private non-profit Christian school in Suwanee, GA that specializes in teaching students with dyslexia. Proceeds from generous sponsors and event participants help provide resources for students at Sage School. Race-day registration will start at 7:00 am at Tribble Mill Park. Tribble Mill Park, 2125 Tribble Mill Pkwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30045 www.sageschool.net

Dash at Dusk Family Fun Run and 5k, 5:00 PM C3 Fitness is excited to invite you to our first annual C3 Party on the Pavement! We are proud to announce that proceeds will benefit Cancer Care at Gwinnett Medical Center. C3 Party on the Pavement is for the whole family! 5pm - Family Fun Run Everyone is invited to participate in a 1 mile run. You are welcome to walk or run this course, so everyone can join in on the fun! 6pm - Dash at Dusk and Trunk or Treat This 5k will have a beautiful view of the setting sun. Your family & friends will not only get to cheer you on but will get to have some fun of their own. The parking lot at C3 will be filled with vehicles decorated and trunks filled to the brim with candy and goodies. We would love to see the kids dressed up in their favorite costume. All runners can look forward to a sweet surprise at the end of their race! C3 Fitness 1065 Walther Blvd Lawrenceville, GA 30043 www.c3partyonthepavement.com

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PARKS

Highlighted Parks and Recreation Events and Programs | www.gwinnettparks.com Sat. October 5, 2013

Fri., October 18, 2013

9:00 AM Free Admission! Join the Gwinnett Parks Foundation for this Park’nership event. Give back to your community while having fun. Assist with a park cleanup and help make Gwinnett Great. Individuals, families, scout groups and service organizations can assist in mulch and debris removal. Bring gloves and sturdy shoes. Age 6-up; sign up at www.volunteergwinnett.net or call 678.277.0900. Club Drive Park, 3330 Club Drive, Lawrenceville

6:30 PM New! Ever wonder what happens in the park after dark? Bring your flashlight, eagle eyesight and enjoy a cookout dinner at the pavilion and a guided hike on the trails of Little Mulberry Park and learn about night activity in the park. Fun for the whole family plus treats at the end of the hike! Age 4-up, $7/person; must preregister by 10/15 online at here with code: SHVR14372 or call 678.277.0900. Little Mulberry Park, 3855 Fence Road, Auburn.

Mon., October 7, 2013

Fri., October 25, 2013

Great Day of Service

Monday Movie Matinee

3:00 PM Bring a friend and enjoy a bargain movie with popcorn and drink included! $2/person, must pre-register. Call 678.277.0179 for movie selections and reservations. Bethesda Park Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Rd, Lawrenceville.

Sat., October 12, 2013

Old Fashioned Picnic and Bluegrass Festival

Free! Remember yesteryear when times were simpler? Enjoy the good ole days on the grounds of the Gwinnett Historic with live music and entertainment in the gazebo, peruse craft vendors and watch artisans showcasing their talents. Pack a picnic lunch or purchase food on-site. Interested vendors, please call 770.822.5450. Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 West Crogan Street, Lawrenceville.

Secret Garden Night Hike

Mother-Son Halloween Dance

Contact 678.277.0910 Superheroes, pirates, and other cute critters are invited to dress up and enjoy this spooktacular event! Let’s do the “Monster Mash” and all the Halloween Favorites plus light refreshments. Age 4-up, $10/person; must pre-register by 10/14, online here with code: GPCC14307 or call 678.277.0910. George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center, 55 Buford Hwy, Suwanee.

Sat., October 26, 2013

Halloween Spook & Splash

Contact 678.277.0880 11:00 AM Costume contest from 11:00am-noon (costumes must be registered upon arrival for the contest), crafts, photos, candy, and swimming to follow! Event ends at 2pm. $6/ Gwinnett resident, $12/non-resident. Pre-registration required. For ages 11 & under; register online here with code:

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

BTAC31999. All children must be accompanied by a registered adult. All pool rules still apply. For more information, call 678.277.0880. Bethesda Park Aquatic Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville.

Trick or Treat 3K Fun Run Contact 678.277.0890 1:30 PM Dress in your Halloween best as you run the trails at Rhodes Jordan Park. Enjoy costume contests and other activities! Runners get a t-shirt and winner will receive a prize. Age 5-up, $21/person; must pre-register 10/23, online here with code: RJCC14315 call 678.277.0890. Rhodes Jordan Park Pavilion, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville.

Spooktacular Dance and Play Party Contact 678.277.0850 2:30 PM Come dressed up in a costume, learn a dance, play games, have a snack, make a “spooky” crafts and more! Parents join us for a short “Spooktacular” performance the last 10 minutes of the party! $10/age 3-5 (1:00pm-2:30pm) or $15/age 6-10 (2:30pm-4:30pm); must pre-register by 10/18. Register here (ages 3-5) or here (ages 6-10) or call 678.277.0850 for more information. Bogan Park Community Recreation Center, 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford.

Trick or Treat Trail Contact 678.277.0890 3:30 PM Free! (A bag of individually wrapped candy is your admission) Kids age 13-under, come wear your

costumes and bring your trick or treat bag! We’ll parade around the trail, play games, collect candy, and more! For more information call 678.277.0890. Rhodes Jordan Park Pavilion, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville.

Haunted Halloween Festival Contact 678.277.0860 5:00 PM It’s a Haunted Halloween Festival complete with crafts, games, costume contest, haunted house, hay ride and more! For older kids there is a walk-through dark attraction filled with live actors, amazing special effect s and incredible monsters. All ages, $5/person, must pre-register online here with code: LSCC14341 or call 678.277.0860. Lucky Shoals Park Communtiy Recreation Center, 4651 Britt Road, Norcross

Family Halloween Dance Contact 678.277.0920 7:00 PM Wonder Woman and Superman, queens and princes! Dress up and come have some fun for the whole family! Jam-packed fun with a costume contest, crafts, games, a ‘Spooky Room’, candy, light refreshments, prizes and much more! Age 4-up, $6/person; register online here with code: PPCC14320 or call 678.277.0920. Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center, 4650 Peachtree Ind Blvd, Norcross.

MOMS & DADS

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE The Passion of Sports and Recreation in Pictures

Above: 2013 Frazier Camp up at King University , located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Left: Practicing Skill Drills at Camp.

RABBIT HILL PARK EXPANSION ABOVE: (L-R) Ribbon cutting at Rabbit Hill Park Expansion Tommy Hunt, Steve Flynt, Chopper, Scotty Duncan among the players, cheerleaders and others. LEFT TOP: Youth soccer on the new field, LEFT: Youth Baseball on the new field RIGHT: Youth football on artificial turf

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

GRAND OPENING OF THE NORCROSS SPORTS TRAINING ACADEMY The Norcross Sports Training Academy, located on Old Peachtree Road, just up from the Pinckneyville Park Sports Complex hosted Atlanta Braves players Alex Wood and Jordan Shafer for autograph signings. Other sponsors in attendance were ZICO Premium Coconut Water, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Hawks team with it’s mobile baseball court.

Calling all vendors!

Saturday, February 1 9:00am – 3:00pm Rhodes Jordan Park

100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville

KEYNOTE SPEAKER BRIAN JORDAN • founder of the Brian Jordan Foundation • former Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons player Vendor – only $100 and a silent auction item. (Returning vendors will receive a 20% discount.) Vendors will receive a booth space in the Expo Exhibit Hall and a program listing. Online registration code: EXPO20134 As a Vendor, you will be able to gain valuable market exposure while reinforcing your branding and helping to achieve marketing objectives. • • • •

Gain access to key decision makers Be surrounded by buyers Reach a captive audience to demonstrate and showcase your products and services Establish new leads with industry leaders

Attendees will come from all over the state of Georgia. • • • •

Coaches, parents and volunteers • Parks and Recreation Departments • Private Sports and Rec Centers • YMCA’s

Boys and Girls Clubs Church Recreation/Athletics Community Youth Sports

• •

Associations Program Administrators Students majoring in Sports and Recreation

MOVE

inSIGHTS

Shooting sports: guns, air riflery and archery

GWINNETT PRACTICAL SHOOTING LEAGUE:

THE ART AND SPORT OF DISCIPLINE Written and photographed by Reg L. Carver “A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and selfcontrol is the essential quality of a good man.” – Theodore Roosevelt

the three sides of the practical shooting triangle.” Chapter president Gerard Gingco defines the mission of the GPSL as that of “bringing the sport of practical shooting to Atlanta, to increase awareness about, and promote, the sport of practical shooting.” The GPSL chapter holds weekly matches where the shooter shoots a series of paper and/or steel targets (artfully arranged and sometimes obscured

n 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States, an international group interested in “practical shooting” met in Columbia, Missouri and formed the International Practical Shooting Conference (IPSC). Several years later, in 1984, the United States Practical Shooting Association was formed and became a member of the IPSC. Today there are approximately 400 active USPSA chapters across Above: Group Photo of GPSL Officers and Match Officials; the United States. The Inset: Bob Sinclair, months shy of 80 and has been shooting for 68 years Gwinnett Practical Shooting League was formed over 20 years by barriers, bales, barrels and other props), ago and is the oldest of Georgia’s 20 chapters, known as the “course of fire,” with a handwith the chapter designation of GA-01. gun to score points. The match winner is the shooter with the highest “hit factor,” which is calculated by measuring score THE SPORT OF PRACTICAL SHOOTING and time. “Practical shooting,” as defined by the USPSA is “a sport that simultaneously measures the ability to shoot rapidly and accu- GPSL’S HOME BASE rately with a full power handgun, rifle and/ The Gwinnett Practical Shootor shotgun in a fun, fair, safe, and competitive ing League is headquartered at environment.” According to USPSA, “three el- Atlanta’s Range, Guns & Safes at ements – speed, accuracy, and power – form its newest facility located just

SPORTS GWINNETT MAGAZINE www.sportsgwinnett.com october 2013

north of Spaghetti Junction. It is a full service shooting facility, store, and training center, providing a range that exceeds industry standards for training and safety. David Aldea, RGS’s operations manager, notes that its facility welcomes “all types, from military, law enforcement, civilians, to stay at home moms. We have league nights as well as ladies’ nights where ladies can enjoy the range as a group if they like.” Range, Guns & Safes stocks all the latest in firearms and accessories, as well as state of the art safes for the home, firearm storage, and commercial use. In addition, Aldea states that it also “can order just about anything.” As for its safes, it has been in the safe business for about 20 years and RGS “is one of the biggest names in Atlanta for safes,” says Aldea. BENEFITS OF THE SPORT – SAFETY, DISCIPLINE, AND CAMARADERIE One of the primary benefits, and the chief focus, of practical shooting is providing a person with “the ability to shoot [his or her] gun safely,” noted Bart Harkey, GPSL’s safety officer. Safety is of the utmost importance with GPSL, and every new member must take a comprehensive safety course

before ever stepping foot inside the range. (Importantly, the word “weapon” is never used with GPSL, as a weapon is something used to inflict harm. Rather, as practical shooting is a sport, chapter members always use the term “firearm” in reference to a handgun.) Practical shooting also helps one in developing the disciplines of patience, focusing one’s mind, and exceptional motor skills. GPSL members noted that practical shooting – just like sports such as golf – involves developing a particular skill set. Through the meticulous learning of safe and accurate shooting techniques, regular practice, and match participation, one can become a highly skilled shooter. Indeed, many GPSL members have reached the highest skill levels, and regularly participate (and place highly) in state, regional, and national matches. Last, but certainly not least, among the benefits of GPSL is the camaraderie and friend-

GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL RIFLERY Did you know that Gwinnett County has six high schools with rifle teams? The following schools offer marksmanship as a sport - Buford, Collins Hill, Duluth, North Gwinnett, Parkview, and South Gwinnett. At the high school level, the sport is growing and Gwinnett County is well represented. Athletes shoot precision air rifles modeled after Olympic-style shooting. The students qualify and compete in the traditional “three position” events – prone, standing, and kneeling. Major Ron Tootle, USMC (Retired), Parkview High School’s rifle team coach, notes that marksmanship training helps develop a number of life skills, including “patience, composure, focus, and how to handle high pressure situation.” In addition, he says, “it shows students that positive actions repeated results in success, and it also promotes a competitive spirit that develops pride and a sense of accomplishment.” The Georgia High School Association (GHSA.net) Riflery State Championship (presented by the Georgia Army National Guard) for the 2013 - 2014 school year will be held April 12, 2014 at the Pool International Shooting Complex at Fort Benning.

A SPORT FOR A LIFETIME Practical shooting is a sport – much the same as any other - but unlike a lot of sports, one can enjoy shooting for a lifetime. It has enjoyed an unprecedented safety record. Shooters, just like all other athletes, take pride in their progress. Yes, competition plays a part, but mostly it is in competing against oneself.

David Aldea, RGS's Operations Manager

ships developed among members. Lifelong bonds are formed among chapter members. The spirit of goodwill and fellowship is palpable when GPSL members get together. Manny Romero, GPSL’s secretary/treasurer noted (with a slight lump developing in his throat) “these guys, they are my lifelong friends.”

As with any athlete, the practical shooter simply wants to be the very best he can be. It is sometimes a lifelong journey, but all shooters will tell you that the sense of accomplishment they gain from their sport is worth all the effort, discipline, and patience.

GPSL meets every Tuesday night at 6 PM. For more information, please visit www.GPSL. org. Reg L. Carver is a writer and photographer in Johns Creek, Georgia. You may find him at www.reglcarver.com.

WHAT’S IN A SURVEY? YOUR OPINION. Help us find some of the best of places, activities and more that Gwinnett has to offer. Who do you think is the best high school athlete, where is the best place to fish or who has the best food for a hungry team? Let us know!

www.sportsgwinnett.com/2013/10/bestofsurvey2013 Share it with your friends, team mates and others. Deadline: November 15th.

LAST YEAR SHE HAD THE WINNING

COMEBACK STORY. WHO WILL IT BE THIS YEAR? Know a young athlete who overcame a serious injury or illness? Nominate them for Comeback Athlete of the Month at choa.org/comeback.

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