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In This Issue:
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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
®
Columbus Valley
February 2014 March 2014
09
09 Freshman Focus Jessica Murillo
Chattahoochee County High School
10 In The Stands 15 Academic Athlete Antonio Jones
CONTENTS
15
Kendrick High School
19 2013 Columbus Valley High School Athletic Awards Banquet 28 Player Spotlight
Anthony Holtzclaw Glenwood School
31 Player Spotlight
Jacqueria Gunter Columbus High School
36 Coach’s Corner David Pollard
Also Inside Ten Questions with Dr. Michael Tucker
10
28
7
Sports Connection with Alisha Dunn
13
Injury Prevention
27
Brookstone School
34
Harris County High School
35
Jordan Vocational School
38
Northside High School
43
Finding Favor In Sports Lamar Weaver, FCA
44
19
Read. Subscribe. Share.
Carver High School
42 Rising Star
Thalia Sutherland
Veterans Memorial Middle School
36 31
42 2
www.inthegamemagazine.com
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
game
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
®
Columbus Valley
February 2014 March 2014
Publisher
Mark Dykes
Editor
Mark Dykes Kaitlynn Passmore
Area Editor
Beth Welch beth.w@inthegamemagazine.com
Graphics
Jennifer Alexander
Cover/Feature Photography Jerry Christenson
Contributing Photographers Jerry Christenson Chris Hood
Contributing Writers Robert Preston Jr. Beth Welch
Copy Editors
Crystal Hubbard Ashley Dailey
Advertising/Marketing
Mark Dykes mark@inthegamemagazine.com
Website Manager Kaitlynn Passmore
From The Publisher It seems we’ve actually had a true winter, causing us in the Columbus Valley area to keep our sweaters unpacked a little longer and to get good use out of the cold weather apparel we received as Christmas gifts. Because I am not a fan of weather below 65 degrees, I have been able to get through the bitter cold temperatures we’ve experienced by knowing the weather can change pretty quickly. While I might wear four layers of clothing to run in on Monday, by Friday I probably will need only one or two! Like the weather, high school sports this time of year are also varied. You can catch a “battle to the buzzer” basketball game indoors or put on a jacket and sit in the outdoor stands to watch track and field events. Inside this edition, we’ve got features that highlight both.
Our Player Spotlight features this month showcase two area basketball players who are stellar athletes in their sports. Columbus High School basketball standout Jacqueria Gunter is fielding offers left and right from colleges that are interested in her becoming a member of their sports or academic programs. Gunter has a true love of the game but is looking for the best opportunity to further her education. Anthony Holtzclaw’s junior year at Glenwood School was a basketball athlete’s dream. The Gators won the state championship, and Holtzclaw was named the MVP of the Year. Still, the senior has been working hard to add even more accomplishments to his resume. In January, he scored his 1000th point after just three years of high school play. Be sure to check out these great athletes’ profiles. Our Freshman Focus athlete also participates in an indoor sport. Jessica Murillo of Chattahoochee County High School is well into her first season as a member of the ChattCo Rifle Team. Murrillo has been a game hunter for years but has found that competition shooting is both challenging and different. Speaking of shooting, our Sports Connection feature highlights Marion County High School’s archery program. One of the few high schools in our area to offer the sport, MCHS has an impressive program under the director of Coach Alisha Dunn. Take time to read up on these two sports which are moving out of the shadows of “non-traditional” to take their rightful place along other school sports.
Getting outdoors again are area track and field athletes. The grass might not be green, but track athletes are gearing up for a great spring. Kendrick High School’s Antonio Jones is a two-sport athlete for the Cherokees. The senior played football in the fall and is now involved in track and field. As our Academic Athlete, Jones embodies the idea that athletes are students first. Jones is a very interesting young person who has a variety of interests and loads of talent. And when it comes to talent, well, keep the name Thalia Sutherland in mind. Sutherland is an eighth grade student at Veterans Memorial Middle School. Gifted with speed, Sutherland’s name will probably be associated with track and field accomplishments over the next few years which is why she is our Rising Star feature.
Area Schools
in the
Auburn Tigers • Beauregard Hornets Beulah Bobcats • Brookstone Cougars Callaway Cavaliers Calvary Christian Knights • Carver Tigers Central Red Devils • Chattahoochee Panthers Columbus Blue Devils Glenwood Academy Gators Grace Christian Crusaders • Greenville Patriots Flint River Academy Wildcats Hardaway Golden Hawks • Harris Co. Tigers Jordan Red Jackets • Kendrick Cherokees LaGrange Grangers • Lee-Scott Warriors Loachapoka Indians • Manchester Blue Devils Marion County Eagles • Northside Patriots Opelika Bulldogs • St. Anne Pacelli Vikings Russell Co. Warriors • Shaw Raiders Smiths Station Panthers Spencer Greenwave • Troup Tigers
Feature Writers
Beth Welch,
Editorial & Features
Also in this edition, is our Coach’s Corner. It is always good to see one of our own former athletes choose to continue their love of sports by coaching. Carver High School’s Head Baseball Coach David Pollard graduated from Shaw High School where he played football and baseball for Charles Flowers. Today, Pollard is using those lessons and others to build a team and a baseball program at a school that is known more for football than baseball. Take time to read about Pollard’s role as coach. Our 10 Questions feature focuses on a common knee injury among athletes. Dr. Michael Tucker of the Hughston Clinic takes times to explain ACL injuries. Like Pollard, Tucker is also a product of our area education system. He graduated from Hardaway High School and has returned to Columbus to practice medicine.
Robert Preston, Jr.,
Features & Commentary
Last but not least, inside this issue are the recipients of the Columbus Valley High School Athletic Awards for Fall Sports. These athletes were selected by area coaches for their talent and outstanding accomplishments in their individual sports and honored at a recent banquet at the Hughston Foundation. Please don’t miss taking a look at some of the best athletes in the Columbus Valley area.
For distribution or subscription information contact: info@inthegamemagazine.com For advertising information call: 888-715-4263 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, GA 31603
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Until next time, thank you for supporting our magazine and for your support of local high school sports. It’s always good to be In the Game!
Beth Welch
In the Game Magazine is published monthly excluding July. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2014 Dykes Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.
www.inthegamemagazine.com
R
ecent medical studies have indicated an increase in injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in high school athletes, most notably among female soccer players. The attention focused on ACL injuries increased on some levels when University of Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a football game in November. Murray was just one of several UGA players who had ACL injuries this season. Georgia Coach Mark Richt commented on the “rash” of ACL injuries by saying the injuries happen but that his understanding was that girls’ soccer has now taken the lead in producing ACL injuries among young athletes. In the Game Magazine recently asked local sports medicine physician and orthopaedist, Dr. Michael Tucker of the Hughston Clinic, 10 questions about himself and ACL injuries in both male and female high school athletes.
Ten Questions With
Dr. Michael Tucker
In the Game: How long have you been with Hughston? Michael Tucker: Five years
by Beth Welch
photos courtesy of Hughston Clinic
ITG: What area of medicine do you practice at Hughston? MT: Shoulder, knee, ankle, foot, and sports medicine ITG: Are high school athletes with sports-related injuries a part of your medical practice? MT: Yes ITG: Considering your experience in the Columbus area, are you treating more athletes with high school sports injuries than in the past? MT: Yes, because of my specialty in sports medicine ITG: Do some middle school and/or high school sports tend to have more injuries than other sports? MT: Football tends to have more injuries because it is a high contact sport. ITG: Recent published studies have indicated a rise in injuries, particularly injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, in female athletes who participate in high school soccer. In your practice, have you noticed more injuries in high school female soccer athletes? MT: Why young women are two-to-eight times more likely than young men to sustain ACL tears, especially in sports like soccer that involve deceleration, twisting, cutting, and jumping, continues to be a challenging question. Differences in the anatomy, knee alignment, hormonal profile, muscle strength, and conditioning of men and women are just some of the possible reasons for the different rates of injury. ITG: In laymen’s terms, what does a typical ACL injury involve? MT: The ACL lies inside the knee joint in the intercondylar notch, which is a depressed area at the end of the femur. This ligament provides most of the support that prevents the tibia from slipping too far forward and rotating too far inward under the femur. Women have a narrower notch than men, therefore, the space for the ACL’s movement is more limited. Within this restricted space, the thigh bone can easily pinch the ACL as the knee bends and extends, especially with the pivoting and cutting motions required in sports like soccer. Pinching of the ACL in the knee joint can lead to a rupture of the ligament.
Michael M. Tucker, MD
Age: 39 Hometown: Columbus, Georgia
ITG: Are ACL tears or injuries to the ACL more common among female athletes? MT: When young women and young men compete in the same sport, at the same high level of competition, they have nearly equal twisting and loading forces laced across their knee joints. However, women have less muscle strength in proportion to bone size than men. Muscles that help hold the knee in place are stronger in men than in women. Therefore, women’s knees rely less on the muscles and more on the ACL for stability. Therefore, the ACL often works overtime, making it more prone to injury. ITG: What is the treatment for ACL injuries? MT: If your activities will place only low demands on your injured knee, you may not need surgery.You may have good results with nonoperative treatment, which can involve crutches, wearing a knee brace, and participating in physical therapy. If you plan to have an active lifestyle, you probably will need surgery. Through surgical treatment, the doctor can rebuild or reconstruct the ligament to recreate a stable joint that can meet the demands of an active life. ITG: Is there a way to prevent injuries to the ACL? MT: Unfortunately, completely protecting your knee against ACL injury is impossible. However, you should strengthen the muscles that support your knee to reduce the risk of injury.
Education: - Graduated from Hardaway High School - Graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia with an undergraduate degree in biology - Earned a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed training in orthopaedic surgery at Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee - Sports medicine fellowship at the Hughston Foundation and has an added certificate for sports medicine Family: Proud father of two children, Mallory and Jackson Job title: Board certified in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine Hobbies: Spending time with family, playing golf, snow skiing, traveling Person you most admire: The physicians of the Hughston Clinic who have mentored me during my years of practicing sports medicine What is one of the best things about your job at Hughston? I enjoy working with athletes and watching them recover from their injuries and getting back in the game.
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ChattCo Shooter Aiming for Successful First Season by Beth Welch
J
essica Murillo doesn’t fit the stereotypical image of a 16-year-old girl. Murillo isn’t all that into fashion or watching the latest chick flicks. She confesses she can’t think of anyone of celebrity status who she “follows.” When it gets right down to it, Murillo admits that if she had to choose between being labeled “girly” or “tomboyish,” girly wouldn’t win out. Maybe being just a little bit different is one reason Murillo chose to participate in a sport that is a little different. The Chattahoochee County High School freshman is a member of the Panthers’ Rifle Team. She joined the school program at the beginning of the riflery season which, according to team coach LTC Kelvin Scott, runs from December to postseason activity in April. Murillo gains most of her knowledge of weaponry from her experience hunting with her family. Moving from hunting wild game to shooting with precision in a high school sport required a bit of adjustment, but Murillo says the transition wasn’t all that difficult. Some things are similar, and then other aspects of the two are very different.
Freshman Focus
photography by Jerry Christenson
school classifications as with most other sports. Chattahoochee County is part of Area 1, which includes 15 schools that are subdivided into a north section and a south section. CCHS is among eight schools in the Area 1 South division. The top six teams from each area advance to sectionals at the end of the regular season. Even though Murillo is just starting out with the rifle team, her coach has already developed a high opinion of her and her skills on the range. “My expectation for Jessica this season is to shoot 215 points consistently. By achieving that goal, she will have established a solid foundation as a team member. Her strengths are she is very calm and is very disciplined. Her calm nature is a strength because she does not panic when she has a low score on a shot, and she doesn’t get excited when she fires a high score on a shot,” states LTC Scott. This year’s CCHS rifle team is young. There is only one senior, one junior, and one sophomore on the team. Freshmen comprise the rest of the team. Murillo is one of the newbies, but the right-
Jessica Murillo Chattahoochee County High School
Murillo is no stranger to weaponry. She began hunting deer at an early age with her father and still enjoys early morning outings with either him or her older brother. “I like to hunt deer. It’s just peaceful out there,” she says. Both forms of shooting require equipment. For the sport, Murillo uses the standard air rifle and pellets designed for high school competition and wears a shooter’s jacket and pants along with competition footwear. The clothing is unusual in its appearance but essential for success. “The jacket, pants, and shoes are made for support for the positions we shoot in. They give stability and help, sort of, steady you when you shoot,” says Murillo. Georgia’s high school rifle programs use three positions: prone, standing, and kneeling. Murillo prefers the prone position over the other two positions. Her least favorite is the standing position, which requires a lot more work than it looks like it does. “Standing is the hardest for me. It’s not like shooting when you are hunting. You have to really focus. Being patient and not rushing is a big part of it, too. I am more stable on the ground, so prone is more comfortable to me,” she says. Murillo has a very calm, relaxed demeanor. She says she watches not only the other members of her team to gain insight into shooting techniques, but she also watches members of other rifle teams at matches. The best shooters, in her opinion, are the ones who do not rush. Taking time to make it count is one of the goals she has in learning the sport for herself. Schools in the state who participate in competition riflery are grouped into areas instead of
handed shooter handles herself like a pro. She finds the discipline and focus required to succeed with the sport to be something she already had developed as a deer hunter. “It’s not hard for me to stay focused. That part is kind of easy. The other things that make a good shooter are what I am trying to learn. Right now, I think it’s just fun to do this. It’s something to do,” she says. Murillo is not certain about her plans after high school. She knows she wants to attend college but where and what course of study to undertake is still a little unclear. After her first few months as a shooter, Murillo has begun to think a little about taking her skills to the collegiate level. That is still a long way down the road, but being a member of the rifle team has opened her eyes to the possibility. The freshman is a two-sport athlete at Chattahoochee County. She played softball in the fall and has plans to continue with that sport as well. Something that makes her a little different from other athletes is that Murillo is part of the school’s band program. She plays clarinet. Usually, it’s a choice of athletics or band. Not many students can combine the two, but for Murillo, it is all about knowing what you want to do and going after it. That attitude seems to hold true for her whether it’s in the woods waiting for the right shot or on a rifle range scoring points for her team. ITG
Getting to know Jessica: Family: Mother and father, Christie and Heath Monkus; two brothers, two sisters Pets: None (There are some hunting dogs) Favorite food: Pizza Favorite place to eat: Red Robin Music she likes: Christian and Country How she spends spare time: Hanging out with friends Church she attends: Macedonia Baptist Church Best thing about attending Chattahoochee County High School: I would say how a lot of people are involved with the Army. And how much appreciation our school shows toward that. 9
AJ McKay for Northside
Daisja Harper, Miracle Sparks, and De’Amber Lee for Northside
Christian Dorey for Northside
The dreaded table
Angel Torres dons his boggin to stave off the cold during the Hardaway game
Northside fan at Hardaway vs. Northside football game
Mykell Lucas and Anna Jones for Hardaway
Nick Morris and Julian Robinson for Hardaway
The moon splitting the uprights at the Hardaway vs. Northside football gam e
10 10
Professional Photography by Chris Hood Photography Š www.chrishoodphotography.com
Bonita Love with the pom-pom cheering on the Harris County Tigers.
Jennifer “The Fried Oreo Lady” at Tiger Stadium in Harris County
James Grimmett for Harris County
Shelton Parker cooking for the Harris County Tigers
Jasmin Wilcox and Ashley Harris
Cliff Mersfelder and Harry McBride cooking for the Harris County Tigers
rs
Thomas Brown, Chris Garner, and Drew “Baby” Rodge
Angel Allen showing off her boots at Harris County 11 11
Sports Connection
A
rchery has become more popular in recent years. It’s not listed as an official Georgia High School Athletic Association sanctioned sport, yet schools in the Columbus Valley area are slowly beginning to take notice. Archery clubs are part of several middle school programs, and some private schools have added it to their list of athletic programs. Marion County High School in Buena Vista has a successful archery program. In the Game High School Sports Magazine asked the Eagles’ archery coach Alisha Dunn to answer a few questions about the sport.
Archery Program Hits the Mark At Marion County High School With Alisha Dunn by Beth Welch
In the Game Magazine: When did you begin coaching archery at Marion County High School? Alisha Dunn: I’ve been coaching archery for six years.
ITG: Do you have specific goals for this season? AD: I would love for our overall score to be 3000 or better.
ITG: Is the archery program at MCHS a co-ed program? AD: Yes
ITG: Why would you recommend archery as a sport? AD: Students that are not skilled in sports such as softball, baseball, basketball, or football may feel a lack of self-confidence. Archery can help athletes to build confidence because it relies on them having confidence in their own instincts.
ITG: Is archery a difficult sport for a young person to begin without any prior training? AD: No, but it does take practice to become a successful archer. ITG: What is one thing most people don’t know about the sport of archery? AD: Archery is a tough sport in the fact that balance and coordination is considered one of the most important factors in being a successful archer. ITG: Most schools do not have archery programs. Is archery considered a sport at MCHS or is it an athletic club? AD: Sport ITG: When does the season for archery competition take place? AD: November through May ITG: Who are some of your athletes to watch this season? AD: Shelby Carter and Hunter Waller are two of our most successful archers.
photos courtesy of Marion County High School
ITG: What is the best thing about coaching at Marion County High School? AD: It is a good way to become involved with kids that may not feel so good about themselves because they are not skilled in popular sports, and if I can make a student feel better about themselves by helping them build up their self-esteem and confidence, it is worth the time and effort it takes to coach archery.
Alisha Dunn Age: 30 Hometown: Buena Vista, Georgia Education: High School graduate Family: Husband, Chris Dunn Person I most admire: Jesus Favorite past time: Hunting
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Academic Athlete
Antonio Jones, Jr. Kendrick High School
Jones has a natural affinity for speed. Just as his mind was designed to decipher mechanical code, his body seems designed for speed. Nowhere is that more evident than on a running track. His first and only season to date, Jones helped lead the school’s B team to a region win. He runs the fourth leg of the 4x100-meter relay. His efforts on the back stretch were instrumental in giving the gold medal to the Cherokees.
Speedy Athlete Using grades To Track His Future by Beth Welch photography by Jerry Christenson
A
ntonio Jones, Jr., has always liked to find out what makes things work. His mind has a natural inclination toward all things mechanical, which sometimes leads the Kendrick High School senior to find himself at odds with his mom. “When I was young, I would get in trouble for breaking things. I would take things a part thinking I was going to fix them, but I was breaking them,” he says. Jones hasn’t lost his love for tinkering, but now the 18-year-old has directed his passion into restoring his most prized possession - a 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix. The car has been a favorite subject to discuss since he received it prior to his sixteenth birthday. Jones and his father have spent countless hours working on the vehicle. “My dad knows just about everything there is to know about working on engines. My car needs a steering column right now, and we are trying to find one but my car is really special. All I know about cars, I have learned from my dad,” says Jones. His attraction to mechanical design is leading the teenager to think about college engineering programs upon graduation in May. Jones has three area schools in mind but is keeping his options open. One reason he hasn’t made a decision is because he might just be able to attend a college as a collegiate athlete. Jones is a two-sport athlete at Kendrick and an attractive candidate for college athletic programs, which are always on the lookout for talented athletes with a solid academic foundation. Ever since Jones started school, his mother has stressed good grades. His parents have been supportive of his athletic endeavors, but they always taught him that academics would take him places athletics couldn’t. Until high school, Jones rarely saw a B, and even now the senior (who is a part of Kendrick’s magnet program) has a 3.7 grade point average. 15
Jones isn’t just a smart student who added a couple of sports to his schedule. This fall he was a starting wide receiver for the Cherokees and an impressive track athlete last spring. Kendrick made it to the second round of the GHSA football playoffs for class 2-AA. According to Jones, it was the first time since 1995 the school had gone that deep into the playoffs. The timing wasn’t lost on him. “1995 was the year I was born,” he says. The 5’11” athlete was instrumental in the win over city rival Spencer High School and had several key plays throughout the season. Now that football is over, Jones has turned his attention to track and field. Jones has played football in some form ever since he was about eight years old. He came to Kendrick with expectations of adding basketball as a second sport but sat out his entire sophomore year due to an old knee injury that became a problem following a basketball tryout after his freshman football season. “I dislocated my kneecap. I couldn’t play any sports at all when I was in the tenth grade because it got worse when I tried out for basketball. It was not a good year,” he recalls. Instead of allowing that setback to determine his fate, Jones came back as an even better football player his junior year. Taking the injury as a warning about basketball, Jones opted to try track for a second sport. It was a wise decision. Jones has a natural affinity for speed. Just as his mind was designed to decipher mechanical code, his body seems designed for
speed. Nowhere is that more evident than on a running track. His first and only season to date Jones helped lead the school’s B team to a region win. He runs the fourth leg of the 4x100meter relay. His efforts on the back stretch were instrumental in giving the gold medal to the Cherokees. Jones also participated in the 4x400 meter relay, a few 100-meter races, and the triple jump. What surprised Jones most when he took up track and field was that he was really good at the fourth leg of a race. He enjoys the head to head against other teams and the idea that he is really competing individually. Jones doesn’t attract a lot of attention, possibly because he is used to being a part of a crowd. He is the fourth of 16 children in the combined families of his parents. Wellrespected by his peers, he was selected the 2013-14 Homecoming King for Kendrick. His friends sometimes jokingly refer to him as “Nerd” because he does well in school, and his biggest dream is to one day design automobiles for a living. Athletics make Jones’ high school days enjoyable and memorable, but he is not afraid of what’s in store after his senior year is completed. “I know I have the skills to be an athlete in college, and my grades give me a little leverage over some other people. The main thing is that I go to a good school and get a degree because my parents have always told me that my education is the real key to my future,” says Jones. ITG
Getting to Know Antonio Family: Mother, Ebony Cuffee; father, Antonio Jones Sr.; 15 brothers and sisters Pet: A fish Favorite food: Hot wings Favorite place to eat: His grandmother’s house on Sunday Favorite article of clothing to wear: Jordans Person he would most like to meet: Tavon Austin Favorite team (college or professional): Georgia Bulldogs Music: Rap, hip hop Favorite movie: Little Rascals Church he attends: Liberty Hill Baptist Church Person he most admires: My mom and dad Something people would be surprised to learn about you: I love to fish. My grandfather used to take me, and I enjoy how it feels to be out there fishing.
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Best thing about attending Kendrick High School: The atmosphere and friends. It is a family-like environment.
My
2013
Columbus Valley
High School AthLetic Awards Fall Banquet
Cora Beth Hudgins Helen Snavely Isabel McCluskey Jakyia Bridges Kayla Cotton Marki Armstrong Mary Catherine Smith Regina Falcon Savannah Claridy Sydney Sprague
Abraham Perez Bo Bridges Eddie Stafford Hakeem Mustafaa Kyle Britt
Alvin Donnell Howard Andre Harper Chris Masenburge Cordarius Smith Damarkus Robins DeAndre Bowman Deandre Howard Dylan Denny Emmanuel Brown Jacorey Butler Jailyn Trice James Traylor Javante West Jonathan Hines Jonathan Karastury Josh Siaosi Leye Olubowale Lorenzo Smothers Nicholas Sargent Tarvaska Davis Timothy Whatley Traveon Samuel Victor Ballesteros Walter Palmore Wyatt Peterson
Allie McGregor Elizabeth Locklar Katie Tidwell Maryn Ross
Ashunti Jack Brianna Gogins Carly Smart Natalie Twyford Santreece Stephens Sarah Howard Tatyana Griffin Victoria Ficklin
Brealle Henry Katelynn Burns Kayla McGuire Oliva Ivings Raja Gonzalez
Samantha Thompson Sydney White Tamia McCoy 19
Football 25
Volleyball 8 20 20
Cheerleading 7
photography by Jerry Christenson
Softball 10
Country 5
Country 5 21 21
High School AthLetic Football
25
22
Alvin Donnell Howard Harris County
Andre Harper Jordan Vocational
Chris Masenburge Hardaway High
Cordarius Smith Carver High
Damarkus Robins Spencer High
DeAndre Bowman St. Anne Pacelli
Deandre Howard Shaw High
Dylan Denny Glenwood
Emmanuel Brown Kendrick High
Jacorey Butler Shaw High
Jailyn Trice Columbus High
James Traylor Columbus High
Javante West Jordan Vocational
Jonathan Hines Kendrick High
Jonathan Karastury Northside High
Josh Siaosi Chattahoochee County
Leye Olubowale Brookstone
Nicholas Sargent Brookstone
Tarvaska Davis Spencer High
Awards Fall Banquet
Timothy Whatley Carver High
Traveon Samuel Central High
Victor Ballesteros Northside High
Walter Palmore Hardaway High
Wyatt Peterson St. Anne Pacelli
Softball 10
Cora Beth Hudgins Northside High
Helen Snavely Brookstone
Isabel McCluskey Brookstone
Jakyia Bridges Carver High
Kayla Cotton Harris County
Marki Armstrong Hardaway High
Mary Catherine Smith Columbus High
Regina Falcon Shaw High
Savannah Claridy St. Anne Pacelli
Sydney Sprague Columbus High 23
Volleyball
8
Ashunti Jack Kendrick High
Brianna Gogins Columbus High
Carly Smart Northside High
Natalie Twyford Columbus High
Santreece Stephens Brookstone
Sarah Howard Harris County
Tatyana Griffin Spencer High
Victoria Ficklin
Allie McGregor Brookstone
Elizabeth Locklar Harris County
Katie Tidwell Glenwood
Samantha Thompson Northside High
Sydney White Calvary High
Tamia McCoy Shaw High
Central High
Competition Cheerleading
7
Maryn Ross Columbus High
24
Boys Cross Country 5
Abraham Perez Northside High
Bo Bridges Columbus High
Eddie Stafford Spencer High
Hakeem Mustafaa Shaw High
Kyle Britt Smiths Station High
Brealle Henry Northside High
Katelynn Burns Smiths Station High
Kayla McGuire Shaw High
Oliva Ivings Smiths Station High
Raja Gonzalez Columbus High
Girls Cross Country
5
2013 award recipients!
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10 Tips to prevent running injuries
Fitness
Injury Prevention: 1. Warm up Before hitting your stride, muscles and joints need a chance to loosen and prepare for the work ahead. To slowly raise your heart rate, walk for 10 to 15 minutes, gradually increasing the pace.
2. Cool down Stopping too quickly can cause blood to pool in the legs and feet. To prevent muscle cramping and dizziness, walk for 10 minutes, slowly decreasing the pace.
3. Choose your shoes Skip the confusion of shoe shopping by heading for a specialty running store. The experts there can make recommendations based on your stride. Running shoes should fit snuggly with no slipping in the heel and a thumb’s width of space between the toes and the front of the shoe.
4. And then replace those shoes Over time, the cushioning in running shoes compacts, and the material in the soles breaks down. Shoes should be replaced either every 400 miles or every six months. Runners that land heavily on their heels will need to replace shoes more often.
5. Give your body rest Even the fittest body needs rest. The majority of running injuries are caused by overuse. Schedule at least two rest days per week to give your body an opportunity to recover.
6. Pace Yourself Just as skipping rest days can lead to overuse injuries, so can dramatically increasing mileage. When planning your training schedule, limit yourself to a maximum of 10% increase in mileage per week.
7. Fix your form Improper running posture can lead to pain in the hips, neck, and shoulders. Keep your body upright, with your elbows bent at a 90 degree angle, and your head up. Keeping your back straight allows your lungs to fully expand. Keep your body loose and relaxed to prevent tightness.
8. Vary the terrain Every terrain type has pros and cons, so it’s best to switch it up now and then. The flat, even surface of roads puts less pressure on the legs, but the slightly slanted surface can cause uneven stress. Trails are softer and put less pressure on joints, but can contain obstacles. Tracks have a bit of cushioning, but the oval shape can lead to stress on the hips and ankles.
9. Strengthen your muscles Including strength training in your workout routine can reduce muscle fatigue and the risk of injury. Try to strengthen both the upper and lower body with weightlifting, hill running, or plyometrics two to three times each week.
10. Prevent small hurts from becoming big injuries Caring for aches and pains can prevent them from turning into larger problems. Use the RICE – rest, ice, compression, and elevation – method to treat minor injuries. Ice reduces inflammation, while rest is crucial for allowing damaged tissue time to repair. Compression from an elastic bandage and elevation reduce swelling.
by Michele S
I
t seems like everyone is lacing up their running shoes and hitting the pavement. Unfortunately, running is rife with potential for injury.To keep your training on target, try these ten tips for avoiding an injury.
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Player Spotlight Presented by:
AISA 2012-13 Player of the Year Hopes to Win Second Straight State Title by Robert PReston, Jr.
Anthony Holtzclaw Glenwood School 28
At the time of this interview, Anthony Holtzclaw was 82 points away from scoring 1,000 points for his career at Glenwood. When he reached that milestone, he became the first player in Glenwood history to score 1,000 points in three years. How does he stay humble when the focus is always on him? “I have a lot of help. My coaches and my father help keep me grounded. I just try to focus on playing basketball and doing well in school.”
photography by Jerry Christenson
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nthony Holtzclaw, a 6’3”, 160-pound senior at Glenwood School, had the kind of season last year most young players can only dream about. His Gators went 29-3 and won an Alabama Independent Schools Association (AISA) 3A state championship. Tournament organizers awarded him the MVP of the state title game, and he was later named AISA Player of the Year. That would have been a good way to end a career, to move on to something bigger and better. But Holtzclaw was just a junior then. He has one more year with the Gators, and he would like to make the most of his final season. Holtzclaw originally enrolled at Hardaway High School when his high school career began. He stayed at Hardaway for one year and then moved to Kendrick. Two of his friends went to Glenwood during Holtzclaw’s sophomore year. He went over to Smiths Station and played with some of the guys at Glenwood that fall. He enjoyed being around the team and liked the vibe of the school, so he left Kendrick in November of his sophomore year and went to Glenwood. That season, the Gators went 26-4 and laid the foundation for their 2012-13 state title run.
Last season, Holtzclaw averaged almost 17 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists per game. His production was a big reason why the Gators won the championship, but Holtzclaw is quick to deflect any attention away from himself. “We had a great team last year. Without all of us, we wouldn’t have won the title,” he says. Holtzclaw was a steady and consistent player all of last season. He demonstrated during each game that he was one of the state’s best players. Then, when he had the opportunity to step up his game on the biggest night of his life, he made the most of the opportunity. In the state title game, the Gators were playing Lee Scott. Holtzclaw found himself in foul trouble early on and had to sit out part of the second and third periods. With about five minutes left in the third quarter, Holtzclaw returned to the floor. His Gators were behind, and he had the chance to turn around his team’s fortunes. As soon as Holtzclaw stepped on the court, the atmosphere of the game changed. He took charge and started scoring. The Gators narrowed the gap and eventually took the lead. They won the game, 51-44. Holtzclaw finished with 23 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter. And that’s what earned him MVP of the state title game. “I felt like I just took charge physically. Things really picked up
in the fourth quarter, and I was able to start scoring,” he says. After a year like that, what’s left to accomplish? Holtzclaw was adamant that he is still hungry, still fueled by an intense desire to keep winning. He doesn’t want to sit around and enjoy what he did last year. There is still room in trophy cases at his house and at Glenwood, and he would like to add a little more hardware to those shelves. At the time of this interview, it was still very early in the season. Glenwood, however, was looking good yet again. The Gators had just returned from a tournament in Tennessee when In the Game spoke with Holtzclaw; Glenwood had placed third in the tournament. The Gators were 8-2 on the young season, and Holtzclaw was averaging nearly 18 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists per game. That kind of production translates into a bright future for the Glenwood guard. He will play basketball in college - he just isn’t sure where right now. Holtzclaw has offers on the table from several schools at the Division I and Division II levels. He hasn’t made a decision yet as to where he will play. “I knew I would have a future in basketball when I was in the eighth grade. Even back then I felt like I would one day play college basketball,” he says. ITG
Anthony’s Favorites: Player: Kyrie Irving Team: New York Knicks and Duke Blue Devils Best movie in the last year: Fast and Furious 6 Last song downloaded: Tuscan Leather by Drake Superpower: Super strength Coke or Pepsi? “Neither. I don’t drink sodas.” Person to meet: Jabari Parker
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Player Spotlight
Jacqueria Gunter
Presented by:
Columbus High School
Senior has Priorities in Right Order When it Comes to Academics and Sports by Beth Welch photography by Jerry Christenson
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acqueria Gunter is in a unique position when it comes to selecting a college to attend. The Columbus High senior has a grade point average of 4.37 and is known to be “wicked good” on the basketball court. As a stellar studentathlete, Gunter is fielding various collegiate offers for both academic and athletic scholarships. Eventually, she will have to decide which one is right for her. “Right now, I am just waiting to see about a few schools. I have one good offer because of my academics, but I am sending out some more applications,” says Gunter, 17. The 5’5” point guard for the Lady Blue Devils is being modest about her popularity among college recruiters. According to her coach, Joe Cherrone, Gunter is heavily sought by some pretty prestigious four-year institutions. “She is a very smart young lady. Very smart. That makes her very attractive to colleges who are looking for athletes who can make the grades to stay in their programs,” says Cherrone. Gunter attended Richards Middle School where she was a member of the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Academics have long been a priority for her even as she participated in four sports at the middle school. It was while attending Richards and participating in IB that Gunter learned two important lessons. The first, academics are top priority, and the second, balancing academics with athletics is possible. 31
To that end, Gunter chose to attend Columbus High School to further her education. She is pretty clear about her reasoning behind that decision. “I love basketball, but I didn’t select a high school to play basketball. I wanted to get the best education for me. Basketball is temporary. My education will last all of my life,” she says. Basketball may be temporary in Gunter’s eyes, but it has been very dominant in her life thus far. The talented athlete can trace her attraction to the sport back to her childhood. Her mother, Tracey Gunter, played basketball at Kendrick High School. Due to her love of the game, she bought her younger daughter a pint-sized, toy hoop that was placed at Tracey’s hair salon to keep Jacqueria entertained while her mother worked. “I would go to the shop after school or on weekends and play with that plastic goal for hours. I guess that is where I first learned how to play,” says Gunter with a smile. From those humble beginnings, Gunter moved into playing basketball at the A.J. McClung YMCA. Of the four sports she mastered at Richards Middle School, basketball was her favorite. She has pretty much been a point guard or shooting guard for most of her time spent on the court. Listening to the articulate and intelligent young woman discuss basketball, there is a sense that the sport just comes naturally to her. Gunter talks about shooting, dribbling, and court techniques just as easily as relating what her day has been like for her. Her confidence and maturity in her abilities comes across without taking on an air of superiority. It is plainly obvious Gunter is not just a basketball player but a basketball athlete. At times, however, Gunter is her own worst critic. She admits to letting her miscues on the court follow her home. “My mom says I have a habit of being critical of myself. I can be pretty hard when I critique my game,” she says laughing. Because she has a competitive and passionate spirit when it comes to the game, Gunter is
diligently working on three parts of her court performance: shooting, dribbling, and decision-making during games. “Sometimes I have been hesitant about taking the shot. I think, ‘Do I take the shot or pass it up?’ and I know it’s just not as good as I would like it to be when it comes to making that decision. In dribbling, I am right-handed, but I need to be more confident in my left hand and have more control with my speed,” she explains. The Lady Blue Devils point guard scored 428 points last season as a junior, averaging 14.3 points per game. She was a little behind that average before the Christmas break, but her coach anticipates Gunter will break the 1000 points scored mark before the end of her 2014 season. “She is not a vocal player, but she tries her best to lead by example. She is always positive, and she gets along great with her teammates,” Cherrone says of his senior shooter. Cherrone’s team was 20-10 on the season last year, and he is counting on Gunter to help lead the Lady Blue Devils to an even better record for the 2013-14 season. With a total of 84 assists last year, Gunter is truly a team player. Her coach thinks her shooting and speed on the court set her apart from other athletes. “Her athletic ability helps her excel in ways other players cannot. With her talent and dedication, I have no doubt she will be a success at the next level,” he says. When Gunter makes the final decision about her college destination, she plans to major in criminal justice, perhaps with a minor in psychology. She says her family has a history of being involved in law enforcement which is her father’s long-time career. That part of her future is pretty much established and until her season is finished, Gunter is not too worried about college plans. Her focus is much closer to home and involves her team. “I just want us to get to be better individually and as a team. And, definitely, to win the state championship,” she says, smiling. iTG
Getting to know Jacqueria
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Family: Mother, Tracey Gunter; Father, James Gunter; one sister Pets: German shepherd dog, Prince Favorite food: Peach Cobbler Favorite place to eat: Grandmother’s house on holidays Favorite sports team (college or professional): Chicago Bulls Person she most admires: Her mom Favorite movie: Love and Basketball Best television show to watch: Scandal Sport you wish you could play but don’t: Softball One thing most people don’t know about you: I am in chorus at school. Favorite pastime: Hanging out with friends and volunteering to work with kids Person she would like to spend a day with: Kendrick Lamar Music she listens to: R&B, hip hop Best thing about attending Columbus High School: It gives you an open mind. There is a lot diversity here. 33
Brookstone Cougars Columbus, GA • www.brookstoneschool.org Seniors Lead Brookstone Boys’ Basketball Program
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Leye Olubowale, 6’3” post, is just as effective offensively as he is defensively. He’s the team’s leading defensive rebounder, almost always the first man to a loose ball. On offense, he makes himself known in the paint, but he is more thoughtful than most when it comes to making a quick move to the rim. A lot of times you’ll see him kick the ball back out, making sure the squad gets the best out of every possession. A little known fact, too, is that Olubowale’s got as good of a mid- and long-range shot as anybody on the team. Miller Page can probably be referred to as the team’s defensive specialist, using the same vision and spatial awareness that made him a top region safety during football season. He sees the best pass offensively and is a rigid defender around the perimeter and down low. Trey Thorne is in his first season with a lot of varsity time, but he’s quickly making himself known as an excellent role player. Thorne can be brought in for anything and perform as needed. When it comes down to it, the Brookstone Cougars are going to be a force in the region come early spring, and with the passion of these seniors, there’s no telling how deep in the playoffs they can go.
Brookstone School
This year’s Brookstone varsity basketball squad has as much potential as it ever has, and its seniors, Fred Davies, Jonathan Gordon, Leye Olubowale, Miller Page, and Trey Thorne, are dedicated veterans who want to give everything they have to the program before they leave. “Simply put, we want to win region,” Trey Thorne explains when asked about his outlook on the season. And these guys have a solid shot; there’s an effective player at every position who’s constantly looking to work for the team and ultimately, the win. Fred Davies, the team’s confident offensive leader, has already gotten off to an explosive start this season, scoring upwards of 20 points in several December games. Twenty-two points per game this year will secure him a spot in the 1000 point club and, right now, he’s on track. Davies is a threat all over the court and will undoubtedly see a successful season. Jonathan Gordon is the fiery point guard who can be seen driving into ridiculous traffic, coming up with two points and a drawn foul, and then distributing the ball with uncanny vision a play later. His hard-nosed defense and knack for grabbing an opportune steal is often the spark that sends Brookstone on hot streaks for two or three minutes at a time.
by Emily Allmond and Matt Hunter
Tigers Hamilton, GA • www.hctdclub.com Harris County Shotgun Team Shoots Their Way To The Top Pitz placed first in the junior varsity division; this is their third year in a row winning gold! They also placed second in the High School Open Division with a score of 579/600 targets, a great accomplishment for a JV squad! This squad won first place in the SCTP Georgia State Championships as well. Harris County is also very proud of all the other competitors who competed. The second varsity skeet squad of Michaela Carder, Olivia Jackson, and Mack Koon scored an impressive 563/600 and were only one target away from third place in the High School Open Division. Although this was their first year attending the national championship, the trap JV/IA squad of Jakob Hunsinger, Chad Smith, Ashton Terry, Harrison Tew, and Leigh Waldrop finished with a great score of 865/1000. Mitch Hart competed in sporting clays, and he had a great final score of 179/200; he also shot skeet and scored 195/200. These athletes also had the chance to compete individually against each other. In ladies varsity skeet Michaela Carder won second place with her score of 193/200. In varsity skeet, Noah Adair won fourth place in an eight-way tie for second with his score of 198/200. Rhett King shot 197/200 targets and won first place in junior varisty skeet, and Brandon Pitz, with his score of 196/200, won third place in JV skeet. Ashton Terry tied for ninth in junior varsity trap with his score of 195/200. The Harris County Shotgun Team has a history of success. For the past ten years, Harris County has at least placed in the top five at nationals. The current team worked hard all year long practicing
The Harris County Shotgun Team gathers in front of the World Shooting and Recreation Complex Sign in Sparta, Illinois, for a picture.
and improving their skills so that they could continue their record of success. Wagon Wheel Sporting Club in Box Springs, Georgia, hosts all the Harris County Shotgun Team practices and is the home club for the team. Coaches Mike Carder, Greg Carlisle, Bill Glisson, Mark Hall, Mike Jackson, Cody Philips, Randy Phillips, Jim Pitz, Austin Shepherd, and Jesse Ward all volunteer their time to coach the athletes, and they are all proud of each team member for his/her accomplishments this year. Harris County High School
Every year in July, groups of middle school, high school, and college athletes travel to the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Illinois, for the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championship to compete against hundreds of other marksmen from around the country. These athletes compete in three different sports: skeet, trap, and sporting clay shooting. All events require the participants to shoot two 100-target rounds. Athletes who compete in skeet and sporting clay form three-man squads. Trap squads consist of five athletes. Each event is a different shooting technique, but overall the goal is to crush as many clay targets as possible. At the 2013 SCTP National Championship, there were over 1,850 participants present, all competing for gold. The top three squads from the SCTP State Championships compete at nationals. The Harris County Shotgun Team accomplished fantastic wins and brought home many trophies and medals. A varsity skeet squad consisting of former 11th graders Noah Adair, Turner Carlisle, and Hunter King placed first in the High School Open Division, bringing home gold and the title of national champions! The squad also brought home an amazing second place in the varsity division, an even tougher competition. This squad won first place in the SCTP Georgia State Championships. Altogether, the squad had a score of 582/600 targets. This is the highest varsity skeet score ever posted in the high school open division! A junior varsity skeet squad consisting of former ninth graders Rhett King, Jack Makin, and Brandon
By Kaylyn Cockrell
The junior varsity skeet squad of Jack Makin, Rhett King, and Brandon Pitz hold their first place trophy up while on the podium.
The varsity skeet squad of Hunter King, Noah Adair, and Turner Carlisle proudly hold up their first place trophy!
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Coach’s Corner
David Pollard Carver High School
Success On the Side In the fall, David Pollard saw another side of the coaching profession. He helped coach the women’s volleyball team at Carver (his first time coaching a women’s team). “They needed some help, and I was available,” he says. Pollard knew a little about volleyball, but he had no experience coaching an organized team, especially a women’s team, that played at Carver’s level. “They made a lot of improvement and competed well. It was a new experience for me, but it was a good one,” he says. 36
Pollard Lands First Teaching Job and Head Coaching Position In the Same Year by Robert Preston, Jr.
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hings have moved pretty fast for David Pollard this year. In just a short span of time, he landed his first job teaching, and he was named Carver High’s head baseball coach. “I prayed time and time again for an opportunity like this. Everything is lining up right now,” says Pollard. That doesn’t necessarily mean everything has been easy. Pollard has had to play catchup over the last few years to get into this position. It has taken a lot of hard work and sacrifice, and now he has the unenviable task of transforming the beleaguered Carver High baseball program into a postseason contender. Pollard graduated from Shaw High School in 1998. He played football and baseball for the Raiders under then-coach Charlie Flowers. He then went to Albany State University
photography by Jerry Christenson
on a baseball scholarship. At ASU, Pollard, an infielder and pitcher, won three conference championships. His goal was to play for as long as possible. Like many young athletes, he had dreams of playing professionally. When that didn’t happen, Pollard went to work in the private sector for Blue Cross Blue Shield. It was a good job, but there was something missing. “I wanted something more,” says Pollard. He became a community coach at Jordan High School, working at Blue Cross Blue Shield during the day then coaching football and baseball after work. Pollard would eventually move to Carver High, where he served as an assistant baseball coach while he kept his day job. He finally made the decision to change careers and enter education full time. After two years of balancing Blue Cross Blue Shield and helping
coach at Carver, he accepted his first teaching job at the beginning of this school year. He was also named Carver High’s head baseball coach. “It’s been a long road for me. I’m still in school at Columbus State, and it’s not easy to find a job. When this came open, I knew the sky was the limit,” he says. Having been in the program since 2011, Pollard knows his team well. His goal is to take a struggling program and transform it into a team that can contend for a region title and make a strong postseason run. “We’re a young and inexperienced team. I’m fired up about impacting these kids and teaching them to love the game of baseball,” he says. Carver High has the athletes to be competitive. There just hasn’t been a strong emphasis on baseball in recent years. Pollard has been working with his players, emphasizing the need to put the same kind of time and effort into baseball that they do in football. “Everyone knows about Carver football. I want them to know about Carver baseball,” he says. In the past, the baseball team didn’t have a structured workout play. They didn’t spend a lot of time in the weight room or conditioning. Now, those things are changing. “Because I’m in the school system full-time now, I can monitor them better. I can make sure they’re lifting and running. The players are also buying into what we’re doing, and they’re really getting on board. They are catching on fast,” he says. The Carver High baseball program has steadily improved over the last few years. In 2013, the Tigers were 9-10 and showed signs of becoming a good team. They missed the playoffs by one game, something Pollard would
like to avenge this season. “I want us to get into the playoffs this year. We need to take that next step and play some postseason baseball. It’s been a long time since a Carver High baseball team went to the postseason,” he says. To get into the postseason, Pollard must emphasize fundamentals and be consistent with his players. Those kinds of practices can be repetitive and unexciting for the players. Pollard is changing the expectations of the program - no missed practices, work hard every day, encouraging older players to step up and lead - while teaching the game of baseball, often from the ground up. His coaching philosophy is developing each day, but what doesn’t change is Pollard’s commitment to hard work. It’s something he learned from his father and from Flowers. “You have to be committed in everything you do. I’m learning so much as I go along. Coach Flowers is still a big influence on me. I still talk to him pretty often,” he says. The 2014 baseball season is going to be an exciting one not only for Pollard, but also for his family: fiancé Adrienne Leonard and daughter Joy Pollard, seven. Going from assistant coach to head coach, especially in such a short period of time, all the while changing careers isn’t easy. But Pollard is looking forward to the opportunity. “I prayed heavily about this. I feel like I was called to do this. Being with these kids has been a blessing and seeing them change and grow daily has been amazing. I want to teach them to be young men who conduct themselves with class and dignity. I thank God I’m in this position to be able to help kids and make an impact on their lives in a positive manner,” says Pollard. ITG
Jordan Red Jackets Kinnett Stadium • Capacity: 6,000 • Columbus, GA Student-Athlete Stand-Out
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Photo By Sheri Green
Her name is Undria Thomas. Most kids on the campus of Jordan High School know the name. Most have even seen her play. It’s a name synonymous with sports at Jordan. She has been voted “Most Athletic” by the senior class, and the reason is quite clear. Thomas excels in three different Red Jacket sports: volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Thomas is a very talented athlete who started playing sports competitively at a young age. When she was ten years old she was introduced to the game of soccer by her Girls Inc. coach, Coach Walter McKee, who also encouraged her to try out the jump rope as a competitive sport. Since she joined Girls Inc., she has pushed herself to pursue her dreams by becoming increasingly better in all of her athletics. Most unique, however, is her passion for jump roping. Coach McKee showed her the sport, and she admits that at first she “did not think it was a sport” and was not into it. Through Coach McKee’s encouragement, however, Thomas soon began to enjoy jumproping. She has since competed internationally and across the country as a member of the Girls Inc. team. She’s had many opportunities through this group, including the chance to interact with one of America’s Best Dance Crew groups, Triforce, during a jump rope competition. The sport has proven beneficial to Thomas, whose neck is bedecked with countless medals proclaiming her success. Thomas has swung a Louisville Slugger in softball, she has laced up her volleyball shoes, and she has shot many foul shots in basketball. But she loves the game of soccer. This is the sport she hopes will lead her to a college scholarship, which is a good possibility for this Jordan High School standout. Whichever sport gets her there, Thomas’s hard work, her focus on success, and her commitment to excellence will most assuredly secure her a spot on a college team. So what goes on in the heart and mind of a four-sport athlete? Above all, Thomas is committed to her academics. She says, “Without good grades, I can’t play sports, so academics are a definite focus. I am a student first, an athlete second.” Obviously Thomas is attending practice the entire school year, moving from one sport to the next, so she makes a conscience effort to achieve balance. How-
by Adriana Canul and Sheri Green
Undria Thomas
ever, she is not just passing to play; she is facing challenging course loads, as well, taking Advanced Placement Economics and Advanced Placement Literature. She smiles and says, “I just get it all done somehow.” How does a four-sport athlete and an AP student do it all? Good music and routine. Before her games, Thomas likes to get “hyped up” so that she can be ready for what’s to come. Like many budding stars, she dons her headphones, chooses appropriate tunes for the day, and gets her game face on. The night before, she methodically sets out her equipment, polishes her cleats, and focuses on what she needs to do to motivate her teammates. Pre-game, she eats a healthy snack, takes a jog alone, and focuses on the competition and her role in it. To Thomas, the physical aspect of athletics comes easy. “You are either in game shape or you are not. Before the whistle blows is too late to prepare physically.” Before a game, the mental side of the competition is where Thomas focuses the most. When Thomas graduates from Jordan and moves on to bigger things, she hopes her fellow Red Jackets remember her as a leader. She wishes wholeheartedly to be viewed as a good contributor to all of her teams, not as the standout. “I want my peers to remember me as the girl who strived for what she wanted, someone who brought her team up. The girl who always had a positive attitude towards others, who knew how to balance sports and academics.” Thomas says, “Most people think that losing is the end of the world, but it’s not. Some people hold me too high. They don’t realize that they don’t really need me, so I push them towards focusing on being about a team instead of it all being about me.” Her personal motto is simple: “Never give up on something that you want because if you give up, it means you never wanted it in the first place.” Through her many athletic pursuits Thomas has developed a neversay-die mentality and to desire to promote her team above herself. Perhaps these qualities alone are what make Thomas stand out.
Jordan Red Jackets Columbus, GA • www.muscogee.k12.ga.us/Jordan/Athletics
Inspiring Coach Photo By Sheri Green
As we all know, behind every great athlete is a great coach, and behind Jordan High School’s girl basketball players is Coach Tiwauna Williams. Born here in Columbus, Georgia, Coach Williams has worked her way through all the challenges that life has thrown at her. As a teenager she attended Jordan High School herself and was also a basketball athlete. When asked about her high school experience and what it was like to be a student-athlete she says, “I was a grade average student. Jordan High School was a hard way to go and the principal, Mr. Screws, and the teachers didn’t play around. We were true student-athletes.” As a college athlete she attended Albany State University where she was coached by the infamous Coach John I. Davis who took her “above and beyond the game of basketball.” While playing for Albany State, Williams became the first woman in the history of the college to average 25 points, 20 rebounds, 10 block shots, and five assists per game, noting that she “enjoyed every bit” of her time on the court. She has only lost seven games in her entire playing career and was a four-time All-American, prompting her Albany State jersey #25 to be retired. Coach Williams comes from a basketball family, and she remarks that it was her destiny to coach. Her passion and devotion to the game makes it easy for her to inspire young girls to take pride in the sport. Her love of basketball and passion for the game is what inspired her to become the coach she is today. Beginning her coaching career as the assistant coach for her collegiate alma mater, Albany State, Williams proclaimed that as long as she is able, she will remain proudly the Jordan High School girls’ basketball coach. Her coaching philosophy revolves around the concept of hard work, noting that her main objective is to instill in her athletes the idea that with success comes hard work, both
by Adriana Canul and Sheri Green
Coach Tiwauna Williams
on and off the court. Williams admits that when she began coaching it was not teaching the fundamentals of the game that was challenging; it was “opening up a world to girls that really don’t know the sport” that was the more difficult aspect of her new role. Instilling a basketball mentality and intelligence remains a tough aspect of coaching. She clarifies, “There are two types of conditioning: physical and mental. When a player gets both in line, then she is ready to compete with no excuses.” And that ultimate goal is her task as an inspiring coach. Coach Williams claims that the biggest challenge her players face is dealing with her; she does not accept excuses. This inspirational coach admires her team’s sense of fight. She fondly describes their persistence in improving as individual players and as a team, working hard to continuously improve. She says, “They don’t give up; I tell them to keep working, which is challenging at times, but they are willing to accomplish the task.” Such desire is contagious and inspires Coach Williams. It is not the wins and losses. It is not the overall record. It is not even the list of impressive stats that make Coach Williams of Jordan High School an inspirational coach. Records can be broken and stats can be forgotten. What makes Coach Williams a focal point of athletics at JHS is her passion for the sport and her passion for instilling the philosophy of hard work into her players. Her advice to her team says it all: “No matter what, continue to be a team. I tell them all the time, I don’t need any heroes; I need a strong team effort that is willing to accomplish the goal set before it.” When challenges come and games are lost, she offers us all this piece of hope: “Keep your head up, and it will get better. We got to keep working to eliminate all the brain cramps.” A world with less brain cramps -what a delightful possibility.
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Track Athlete Sprinting Toward Olympic Goal by Beth Welch photography by Jerry Christenson
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Thalia Sutherland
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Veterans Memorial Middle School
t’s almost impossible for Thalia Sutherland to keep a straight face. The 14-year-old seems to have a perpetual smile which often leads to laughter. “I’m kind of silly, and I like to talk. I’m pretty happy most of the time,” she says. Just about the only time Sutherland isn’t smiling is when she is focused on her speed as a member of the Veterans Memorial Middle School track and field team. The eighth-grader is heading into her third season of running track in middle school. A self-described sprinter, the 5’2” athlete captured the Muscogee County City Championship last year in the 200-meter event and helped lead the VMMS team to the highest overall finish in the school’s history. This time around, Sutherland is looking for a little justice. Sutherland says her favorite event is the 400-meter race. She has participated in just about every track event except the mile and 800 meter. Last year at the city-wide middle school championship, Sutherland had planned on running in the 400m, but a clerical error kept her from competing. “My name got mixed up with someone else’s, and I wasn’t listed so I didn’t get to run it. I was disappointed, but it was okay. I am just looking forward to it this year,” says Sutherland. Many middle school track athletes start off participating in other sports then gravitate to track and field. Sutherland chose to run track at the urging of her mother in the sixth grade while attending Fort Middle School. Up until then, Sutherland had done a little cheering and dabbled with gymnastics for a bit but had not really played organized sports. Her early days as a track athlete were a learning experience. She was placed on the B team at Fort and also participated on the school’s relay teams. Looking back, she feels that opportunity allowed her to pick up the basics of running track. “One of the hardest things for me to learn was not to look back when reaching for the baton,” she says laughing. “I also watched the girls on the A team and saw what worked for them.”
The summer following her sixth grade year, Sutherland became involved in the track program of the local American Amateur Union (AAU). She stayed with it, and today is a member of the AAU’s Georgia Jackets and has traveled extensively while competing against track athletes from all over the country. “The main difference between middle school track and AAU is that with AAU I am up against girls from a lot of other places who have been running track for a long time. It’s more competition and more pressure,” says Sutherland. When Sutherland transferred to VMMS for her seventh-grade year, there was no doubt she would go out for the Rangers’ track and field team. Last year she competed in a variety of events which included the 4x100m relay, the 4x400m relay, the 200m, and of course, her favorite, the 400 meter. Rangers’ track coach Chad Dean expects Sutherland to run the same events this season with the possibility of adding a few 100m races. Dean, who is in his seventh season coaching at VMMS, has plans for Sutherland to take a leadership role on the team and to improve her time. “Thalia will have to be one of our leaders again this year as we are expecting to have a young team. I am hoping that her work ethic will push others to do well,” he says. “I think her best event is the 400m. Her natural ability is probably best displayed in this event. Last year (her time) was around 58-59 seconds, and for a seventh-grader, that is phenomenal! I am expecting that number to come down this season.” When asked to assess her strengths Sutherland quickly responds that she is a “good floater.” She can make up time on the back side of the race, but she has a goal this season of working
toward becoming faster right off the starting block so that she doesn’t have to worry about making up time. Her speed and running ability caught the attention of the VMMS girls’ soccer coach Andrew Oropeza, who asked Sutherland to join his team this past fall. Sutherland recalls her experience as a first-timer on the soccer field. “I wasn’t very good. I only scored one goal, and I had a hard time learning to dribble the ball with my feet,” she says, putting her hand over her mouth as she laughs. Sutherland gets serious for a moment when she discusses the reason track seems to suit her. The petite, well-spoken student-athlete admits she has a very competitive nature which is compounded by the fact that she allows her emotions sometimes to get the best of her. Running, she says, helps even out her personality and gives her an avenue to release the tensions that otherwise build up. She has already decided to attend Shaw High School next year with hopes of running track. She cites the school’s established track program as the main reason for her decision. For now Sutherland is looking no further than track season and a chance to finally run the 400-meter race in the city-wide meet. After that she hopes to advance her goals to include running one day as an Olympic track athlete. Between now and that future dream, she knows she has at least one other thing to overcome. “I get so nervous right before a meet. I mean really nervous. I know I need to work on that because I am just worried about some fast girl coming out of nowhere to beat me,” she says, then starts laughing at herself. ITG
Getting to know Thalia Family: Mother, Petra Sutherland; Father, Mark Harry; two brothers and two sisters Favorite food: Cheeseburgers Best place to eat: McDonald’s Favorite music: Hip hop, R&B Favorite movie: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Person she would most like to meet: Sanya Richards-Ross Pre-game ritual: I pray before each meet
Person she looks up to: AAU coach, Mitchell Deering Something people would be surprised to know about her: I like to sing and write songs Favorite subject at school: Language arts Best thing about Veterans Memorial Middle School: My grades have improved because teachers care, and, everyone gets along well together
Congratulations
Marion County High School Eagles! Georgia State Football Champs! State Championship for A Public
Northside Patriots Columbus, GA • www.muscogee.k12.ga.us/northside Becoming Stronger Together This has been a successful year for the Northside High School Girls’ Cross Country team. They placed second in their city meet and first in the region this season. They had new team captains to help push them to their potential and a great coach to guide them as well. The girls grew closer as a team this season and will have an even stronger bond next season as they work to fulfill new goals. Coach Teresa Roberts has been the girls’ cross country head coach since 2012. This season she has tried to help the girls improve and has encouraged them to work hard. She believes that “there are always new goals to hit and room to move forward for the girls, both as a team and individually.” There are many new runners this year, and Coach Roberts says, “I love seeing the progress of our new runners and to see their personalities come out as they bond with the team.” The girls push each other and work as a team to improve. “When one girl starts to slip, the girls help build them back up until they have improved,” Coach Roberts says. She has enjoyed coaching the girls this season and is proud of their accomplishments. She is excited to see how strong the girls come back next season and to see them succeed in the future. Three of the varsity runners are Jaimie Pate,
by Rachel Shehane
Cassie Ray, and Brealle Henry. Jaimie Pate has been running cross country for three years. She is the only senior girl on the team and is the girls’ team captain. She has run on both junior varsity and varsity and has accomplished a personal record time of 24:56. “Jaimie had a big load to carry being the only senior girls’ captain, and she did a good job of making sure everyone worked towards the same goal,” Coach Roberts says. Pate took on the responsibility and says that she “enjoyed running with the girls on the team this season and that they were all hardworking team mates.” Cassie Ray has been running cross country at Northside since her freshman year and has been on varsity every year since. Her personal record time is a 22:07. She is a junior at Northside and also a captain on the team. She has taken her role as a captain seriously and has been very motivating this season. “I am proud of my girls for winning region three years in a row, and I plan on helping them win again next season,” Ray says, “They’ve gotten stronger throughout the season by working hard, and I can’t wait to see their progress next year!” Brealle Henry is also a junior and a captain on the team. She has a passion for running and has excelled since her freshman year. This is her third time being featured in the In the Game
Magazine for her accomplishments in cross country. She began running cross country her freshman year at Northside and has been on varsity since then. She received her personal record time of a 20:07 as a sophomore. Being a senior and a captain next year, she has set multiple personal and team goals to accomplish next season. “Our team has done great this year, and next year I hope to help the team place at city and region. I want to push our team (along with other soon to be senior and captain Cassie Ray) to bring them to their full potential and help them to do their best,” Henry says. She is also striving to come in as the first place girl runner at both the city and region meets next season and to not only beat her own personal record time, but set a new school record time. With a hardworking team, captains, and coach this season, Northside’s Girls’ Cross Country team has had a lot of success. They are working hard to reach their goals next season, build up their own personal accomplishments, and bond even more as a team. Coach Roberts says, “It’s not about what happens on the course; it’s all about how well they work with each other.” Northside High School
Cassie Ray
Coach Teresa Roberts
Brealle Henry
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Finding Favor in Sports F
ifteen years later, this question still resonates within me. “Are you happy with me?” These five words from my four-yearold daughter’s mouth pierced my heart and soul. Was this a rhetorical question or did she really need validation that I loved her? Favor. We all seek it. We want favor with our bosses, our friends, our spouses, our parents. We desire it from those in authoritative positions and from those we care about. Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs calls it the need for “Love and Belonging.” These needs include longing for an intimate relationship with another person as well as the need to belong to a group and to feel accepted. Maslow emphasized that these needs involve both giving and receiving love. Notice that it is just as important to love as to be loved. In Queen’s song, “Somebody to Love,” the artist asks, “Can anybody find me somebody to love?” And the Lord said, “I will completely wipe out this human race that I have created. Yes, and I will destroy all the animals and birds, too. I am sorry I ever made them.” But Noah found favor with the Lord. (Genesis 6:7-8) Noah, while not
perfect, pleased God because he was righteous and blameless. God had become so disgusted with people’s wickedness that He was willing to remove all humanity from the earth. Thank God that Noah, living in a sin-filled world, found enough favor with God to give us all a second chance. There continues to be a lot of debate about the faith of Christian athletes’ and its place in the sports world. On January 12, 2012, after Denver Bronco wide receiver Demaryius Thomas caught a pass from Tim Tebow on the first play of overtime and ran it all the way for a gamewinning touchdown against Pittsburg, Fran Tarkenton wrote an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal titled “Does God Care Who Wins Football Games?” Sixteen years ago on January 26, 1998, Sports Illustrated ran an article called “Does God Care Who Wins the Super Bowl? Many Packers and Broncos think the Lord will decide the outcome. Theologians beg to differ.” On January 30, 2009, NBCSports.com journalist John Walters wrote an article “Does God care who wins the Super Bowl?” Even as recent as February 4, 2013, Ray Lewis was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated under the headline
by Lamar Weaver
“Does God Care Who Wins the Super Bowl?” Most football teams have a prayer before each game, either by the team chaplain or a devout player. Most prayers are for player safety and for everyone to do their best, and every now and then even for a victory. They want God’s favor in the form of performance and outcome of the game. Did not the Israelite youth David slay the Philistine giant Goliath invoking God’s name? The tribes of Israel spent much of the Old Testament believing success in battle hinged on them having the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments. If opposing sports teams have devout players, coaches, and fans fervently praying for victory, how could God possibly determine who to let win? Rather than seeking a victory, perhaps we should seek God’s favor in our lives so we can become more Christ-like as He intended. Perhaps Maslow had it right in that we all have a basic need for an intimate relationship, both giving and receiving love. Isn’t that in fact why God created us in the first place and came incarnate to earth, so we could have a personal relationship with the Almighty God himself through Jesus Christ?
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