Northeast Florida February/March 2019 Edition

Getting a Grip on Golf Emily Sullivan, Sandalwood High School

Raines, Mandarin Excel With Strong Playoff Showings

A Winner on the Courts

IN THE

GAME NORTHEAST FLORIDA

FEB/MAR 2019

Gage Sanchez, Bishop Snyder High School

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Raines, Mandarin Excel With Strong Playoff Showings 10-Year-Old Superman Smashing Records

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A Winner on the Courts Gage Sanchez, Bishop Snyder High School

Getting a Grip on Golf

Emily Sullivan, Sandalwood High School

Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Introduces ActivArmor The Latest in 3D Splinting Technology

Jaguars Crumble in Injury-Marred 2018 Season Shining in an Unexpected Way Allen Smith, Atlantic Coast High School

Special Olympics Provides Free Health Screenings for Athletes

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Cincinnati Assistant Coach Bringing Team Together Bombsquad Academy Aids Young Baseball Players

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@ITGNext Compensation Beyond Scholarships for College Athletes NFL Hall of Famers' Letter to the League Climbing the Ladder of Success Jim Martin, Providence High School

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In The Game | 7

FROM THE PUBLISHER The new year always feels like a new beginning, and I can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store.

2018 was a time of tremendous success for athletes across Northeast Florida, especially for high school football. Raines defeated Cocoa once more to become back-to-back state champions, and Mandarin won its first state title in school history.

In this issue we highlight their wins and also feature top athletes from fall sports whom we honored at our recent Northeast Florida High School Fall Athletic Awards Banquet.

We also highlight Gage Sanchez, a tennis player from Bishop Snyder. He is recognized as an elite tennis player in Northeast Florida and has already received college offers from Fordham, Idaho, Bucknell, LaSalle and Holy Cross.

We also meet Allen Smith, an Atlantic Coast junior who plays four different sports for the Special Olympics Unified Sports program. This is a wonderful program that brings together students with disabilities and students without to form teams for competition.

Also in this issue, you can read about the Duval County Special Healthy Initiative, through which they offer athletes free health screenings.

We are also introduced to Providence’s Bombsquad Academy baseball team. This special team is made up of athletes 11-and-under all the way up to 18-year-olds. It is designed with the intent of helping the younger players, especially those in the 11-U category, ramp up their game so that once they enter high school, they are playing at a higher level than others.

These are just a few of the stories in this edition of In the Game. Do you know someone who #LivesInTheGame and has a story worth sharing? Head to our website to nominate them to be featured in our next issue! And we’re not just looking for athletes. You can #LiveInTheGame in all areas of life, and we want to help those people tell their stories too.

Follow @itgnext on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for exclusive giveaways and chances to win free apparel. You’ll also be the first to hear about new apparel launches and upcoming ITG Next events.

If you’re in search of great stories, we have the answer. itgnext.com features apparel, stories from the magazine, and much more all at your finger tips. There is even a spot to submit your story ideas to us.

Tell us what you thought about the December/January issue of In the Game! info@itgnext.com

Contributors Publisher Mark Dykes Editor Anna Limoges Susannah Parmenter Graphics Mandy Douthit Cover Photography Allen Allnoch Player Profile Photography Allen Allnoch Marque Milla Reese Milla Creationz Photography Feature Photography Allen Allnoch Feature Writers Susannah Parmenter Jeff Elliott Mary Catherine Bell Alex Dunn Kaylee Kopke Justin Chandler Copy Editors Anna Limoges Advertising/Marketing Mark Dykes

mark@itgnext.com

Website Manager Mandy Douthit

In the Game is published bi-monthly. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. M&S makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content.

All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2019 M&S. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1945-1458

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Contributors

Kendra Ehrenberg Video Coordinator

aNNA Limoges

As a Pine Mountain, Georgia, native, Mandy’s move to Valdosta has brought enhanced artistry and intricacy to the ITG design team. The University of West Georgia alum graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in art with a concentration in graphic design. Her artistic nature has allowed her to use graphic design to win national and international design competitions, all of which are meant to serve as diversions and coping mechanisms for Alabama’s loss in the National Championship.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Kendra is a recent graduate of the University of North Florida (Swoop!). Playing soccer most of her life, she is excited to work for a company that highlights student athletes. She is currently living her dream of combining her love of sports and journalism into one career. When Kendra's not busy crying over the Bolts' loss to the Caps last year, she is a dog mom to her sweet pup Sandy.

After four years as an interdisciplinary studies major at Valdosta State University and three semesters as an ITG intern, Anna has remained a member of the team as an editor. Since her start in early 2016, she has devoted her editorial eye and organizational prowess to the ITG team. More importantly, although she claims to be a fan of the New Orleans Saints, there is fortunately no other sign of such irrational fandom.

Avery Stephen Marketing coordinator

Drew Pipkin Account Executive

Jeff Elliott

Susannah Parmenter is a Florida transplant originally from California. After graduating from California State University, Fullerton, with a broadcast journalism degree, she continued her education with a meteorology degree from Florida State. Now as part of In the Game, she combines her journalism and broadcast skills to highlight the athletes who inspire and motivate us to realize our inner champions.

A native of South Georgia, Avery holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Valdosta State University in mass media. His passion on and off the job is media, and he enjoys producing short films as well as playing music on the side. Avery tries not to tell cheesy jokes, even though his fellow Green Bay Packers fans are cheeseheads.

Born and raised in South Georgia, Andrew attended Valdosta State University where he obtained a degree in marketing and business. He is passionate about sports, especially high school football (Go Cats!). Andrew’s focus is to develop and cultivate relationships with businesses all around South Georgia. Like so many other Georgia Bulldogs fans, his hopes of a national championship increase every year, but in the end they are just long lost dreams.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Jeff Elliott worked at the Big Ten Conference office for 20 years, the last 17 years as the director of public relations. He moved to Jacksonville in 1990 and became editor of Jacksonville Sport magazine for four years and then was a sports writer and TV columnist for the Times-Union for 14 years. He is currently a correspondent with the Associated Press covering all Jaguars and Florida Gators home football games.

Mary Catherine Bell

Jessica May

Alfred Nairn

Jada Solomon

Contributing Writer

Videography Intern

Videography Intern

Videography Intern

A native of Charleston, South Carolina, and a student-athlete at Flagler College, Mary Catherine aspires to bring her passions for sports and journalism into one dream. After making leaps and bounds playing soccer at the collegiate level, she has used this unique background in her work as an ITG intern and now as a contributing writer.

Jessica is from New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and is a senior at the University of North Florida. When she graduates in April of this year, she will have a degree in multimedia journalism and political science. As a videography intern, Jessica films games, interviews coaches, and helps edit and produce the tv show. She is also still celebrating the Red Sox's 2018 world championship win.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Alfred is currently attending the University of North Florida. Graduating in 2019 with a degree in communications, he hopes to combine his knowledge of storytelling and sports to provide a unique perspective about athletes on and off the field.

Alfred’s two favorite sports are basketball and football. He hopes to see his hometown Jaguars win a Super Bowl before he becomes an old man.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida (DUUUVAL), Jada is graduating in 2019 from the University of North Florida with a bachelor's in multimedia journalism. She played softball for most of her life and enjoys watching it. When she's not at school or working as a resident assistant, she's catching up on all the hottest celebrity gossip and reporting it on her podcast "Jada with the Tea."

Mark Dykes

Mandy Douthit

Chief Executive Officer

Creative Director

Founder Mark Dykes is the entrepreneur and mastermind behind the In the Game vision. Back in 2007, Mark set out to create a company that captured the passion, intensity, and unrivaled commitment toward high school athletics in the South Georgia area. Today, that vision has become a reality, and he continues to be the leading influence in what lies ahead for In the Game, despite his annual prediction that UGA will win the National Championship.

Susannah Parmenter Area Coordinator

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editor

Contributing Writer

ITG Next Ambassadors 2018-19 During the 2017-18 school year, In the Game launched its inaugural ITG Next Ambassador Program.

Ideal candidates are high school students who have a strong social media presence and exhibit academic excellence, outstanding character, and a strong commitment to their schools and communities.

Ambassadors are given the opportunity to contribute to the vision of ITG Next and to play an important role in developing our brand through apparel, social media, and events. They will also represent the ITG Next brand within their respective schools and communities.

Be a part of ITG Next’s 2019-20 Ambassador Program!

For more information, email us at avery@itgnext.com.

Alana Lecointe Bishop Snyder High School

Brandon Carroll Creekside High School

An Tran

Taryn Peterson

Douglas Anderson

Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Tamara Barrs Mandarin High SchooL

Kira Goodwin

Ashley Ricketts

Kofi Bame

Middleburg High School

Paxon School

Paxon School

Leah Pelham

Alyvia Goodwin

Jalondra Jackson

Gannon Nolan

Paxon School

Ridgeview High School

Sandalwood High School

Stanton High School

Brianna Toawicha

Kelsey Sparks

Atlantic Coast High School

Creekside High School In The Game | 13

Living In the Game

Image courtesy of 11alice.com

Making Courtroom History Malcom Woodson is a college graduate who became the first person with autism to serve as a grand juror for Fulton County. Woodson now wants to work with children with disabilities to help them believe in themselves.

Image courtesy of US Paralympic via Twitter

Just Keep Swimming Aspen Shelton is a teenager from Aledo, Texas, who has been swimming since she was 18 months old. She is also legally blind. Shelton uses a cane to get around the pool deck, but needs no assistance once she gets in the water.

She was born with retinopathy of prematurity, a vision disorder that affects 3.9 million babies born in the U.S. every year. Shelton is focused on making the 2020 Paralympic team so she can travel to Tokyo and compete, and she hopes her story will inspire others to find the opportunities that challenges present.

Image courtesy of SA Skydiving

Never too Old to Jump Irene O’Shea is the oldest skydiver in the world.

The 102-year-old Australian great-grandmother jumps out of planes to raise money and awareness for motor neuron disease, which killed her daughter, Shelagh FitzHenry, at age 67.

Image courtesy of mydaytondailynews.com

Service Dog Receives Honorary Degree Service dog Griffin was awarded an honorary master's degree from Clarkson University in New York this past December when his owner, Brittany Hawley, graduated with her master's in occupational therapy. Because Griffin never missed a class, Hawley thought he had earned the degree too. The school's board of trustees said Griffin displayed “extraordinary effort, steadfast commitment, and diligent dedication to the well-being and student success” of Hawley.

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In The Game | 15

Raines, Mandarin Excel With Strong Playoff Showings Written by: Jeff Elliott Photography by: Brendan Rivers/ WJCT News

This has been a historic season for public school football teams in Jacksonville.

That’s the best way to describe the two state championships won by Raines and Mandarin the first week in December. It marked the first time ever that a pair of Duval County public school teams have captured state titles in the same season. Both championship efforts carried their own stories.

Raines became the first Duval public school to record back-to-back state championships when, for the second year in a row, the Vikings defeated Cocoa 27-13 in the Class 4A title game. Raines' season was close to a carbon copy of what the Vikings did the year before. In both seasons, Raines lost a close contest to Lee in their season opener, then proceeded to roll off 13 consecutive wins.

The Cocoa contest was tougher for the Vikings.

They held a 1-point lead with less than five minutes 16 | itgnext.com

left in the game before Brandon Marshall, who finished as the school’s alltime leading rusher, took a short pass and zig-zagged his way through the Cocoa defense for a 74-yard touchdown to secure a 2113 lead. The Raines defense then sealed the victory.

Treyvon Hobbs intercepted a Cocoa pass and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown to finish off the win.

“What a feeling, what a moment," Deran Wiley, Raines head football coach, said. "It’s surreal. Give credit to my staff and the coaches and most importantly the players who strived to be consistent every day in what they were doing and who worked hard the whole season. To be back-toback state champions is a great feeling.”

And don’t think that the Vikings aren’t already thinking about a threepeat in 2019. This time they’ll try to win a Class 5A state title after being elevated up a class following district reorganization by the FHSAA shortly after the championship games concluded.

“We’re going to try to win and win and win some more,” Wiley said.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but I feel good about us moving forward.

We have a lot of momentum, and we’re going to try to continue to achieve greatness.”

Mandarin’s greatness came when the Mustangs won nine of their last 10 games, including all five playoff contests to capture the Class 8A state championship, the first Mandarin title in any major team sport. The 3735 win over a previously unbeaten and nationally-ranked Miami Columbus team wasn’t secured until the Mustangs

stopped a 2-point try after a touchdown in the final minute of play.

Quarterback Carson Beck led a high-powered offense that averaged better than 35 points a game in the five playoff wins. He saved his best for last, with 329 passing yards and five TD passes. His trio of senior wide receivers combined for all but three catches and 16 yards, led by DeMario Douglas (9 for 141 and a state playoff record 4 TDs), Kris Mitchell (7 for 118) and Darian Oxendine (6 for 54).

The win put a cap on the greatest season in Mandarin history, just a year removed from a 2-8 season in Ramsay’s first year with the Mustangs in 2017.

“I knew we had a chance to be a good football team, and we expected to have a good football team,” Ramsay said. “As far as winning a state title, I don’t know that anybody can go into

a season with the expectation or goal of winning a state championship.

You realistically are thinking, let’s win the district so that we’re in the playoffs for sure and then just try and win each week after that.”

Ramsay had special praise for his offensive line that was led by four senior starters.

“They are the heartbeat, our foundation, our core,” Ramsay said. “Their work ethic, their toughness, the way they jelled together was amazing. Our ability to win the line of scrimmage was one of the main reasons we were able to advance as far as we did.”

World Records Still Held By MICHAEL PHELPS

Image courtesy of usatoday.com

10-Year-Old Superman Smashing Records

100 butterfly – 49.82 200 butterfly – 1:51.51 400 IM – 4:03.84 4x100 free relay – 3:08.24 4x200 free relay – 6:58.55 4x100 medley relay – 3:27.28 4x100 free relay – 3:03.20

Written by: Kaylee Kopke

To excel at a sport to the point Dia Rianda, told USA Today that from that long standing records are broken an early age Apuada showed a level and national recognition is attained, of technical skill that befitted a 16- or 17-year-old. it takes passion, determination, work ethic, discipline, and raw talent. These I believe that athletes should be are all qualities that 10-year-old Clark placed in a division in which they are Kent Apuada possesses and what able to be their own athlete and dishelped him break a play the abilities that they have. They should Michael Phelps swimTo beat the 23ming record. To beat not be made to hold the 23-time Olympic back for the sake of time Olympic gold gold medalist's marks fellow contestants. Evmedalist's marks requires near-supereryone progresses in a human levels of speed sport at their own pace, require nearand technique. There and they should be superhuman levels of able go up in division happens to be a Superman at the Salinas without being quesspeed and technique.

Aquatic Center in Calitioned. I am a firm befornia. Clark Apuada is liever in the idea that all proving that the impossible can very athletes have their own journeys and well become possible. goals that they want to achieve and Apuada, who is a part of the Monthat they should be given the freedom terey County Aquatic Team, broke to do so. Apuada’s long-term goal of Phelps' 100-meter butterfly record competing in the Olympics is an inon July 29, 2018, at the Far Western spiring and, for him, attainable goal.

Championships in Moraga, CaliforIn this world of possibilities, there nia. Apuada’s time was 1:09.38, which are individuals like Clark Apuada who was more than one second faster than are born with extraordinary talent, and Phelps’ 1:10.48. Phelps set that record they get the opportunity to find somein 1995 at the Far West Nationals. Not thing that they are passionate about. only has Apuada received recognition With the help of mentors and loved from various news media, but he even ones, they are able to accomplish ingot recognized by Phelps himself. The credible feats.

Olympian sent out a tweet a couple of days after the competition to congratulate Apuada on his achievement.

Apuada’s abilities are so outstanding that he is being placed in age divisions that are above his own and placing at the top every time. His coach,

USA HIGH SCHOOL Free Style National Records 50 FREE BOYS — Caeleb Dressel — 19.29 GIRLS — Abbey Weitzeil — 21.64

100 FREE BOYS — David Nolan — 42.34 GIRLS — Abbey Weitzeil — 47.09

200 FREE BOYS — Trey Freeman — 1:33.06 GIRLS — Katie Ledecky — 1:41.55

500 FREE BOYS — Grant Shoults — 4:12.87 GIRLS — Katie Ledecky — 4:26.58

In The Game | 17

A Winner on the Courts Written by Jeff Elliott Photography by: Allen Allnoch

It took Gage Sanchez one season away from the sport to reaffirm what he already knew – tennis is indeed his favorite sport.

Sanchez is a senior at Bishop Snyder and is generally regarded as one of the elite high school players in Northeast Florida.

Because schools vary in size and thus are in different classifications, the best players don’t always get to face each other.

But the top players know who they are, which is why they’ll often gather at various sites throughout Jacksonville and hit against each other, knowing the practice they’re getting in this fashion will strengthen their level of play more so than if they were to compete against a player on their high school team.

A couple years ago, that’s all Sanchez did. He had no high school team to compete on, but not because he was booted off the team or was ineligible to compete for Bishop Snyder. Sanchez was coming off a banner freshman year with the Cardinals in which he won the district singles title and thus qualified for the state tournament. While he lost in the first round there, Sanchez displayed enough skills and talent to give credence that he 18 | itgnext.com

would be among the top players in Class 1A for the next three years.

But when tennis season opened the following year, Sanchez was a noshow — by his choice. He wanted to come to grips with a question that had been haunting him for some time: W h a t w o u l d h i g h school life be like without tennis?

“I wanted to get a taste of high school — Gage with and without playing on the tennis team,” Sanchez said. “It was a good learning experience for me, to experience the different aspects of high school with and without the team. But I think in the long run, it was good for me.

“I kept playing tennis outside of high school because I have such a passion for the sport.

But I never played for Bishop Snyder that year.

I know that seems rather unique, but I wanted to see what would make me most happy.”

It only took that one high school season

away from tennis and his teammates to convince Sanchez that he wanted to wear Cardinals garb each spring on the tennis courts. He did so a year ago at this time and had an even stronger season than he enjoyed as a freshman, that is until Lady Luck hung him out to dry on the eve of another state tournament.

“I decided I enjoyed school m o r e Sanchez when I was playing tennis,” he said. “I was able to win districts and went to state again, but then I came down with pneumonia that week.

That’s one of the saddest things that’s ever happened to me. I was bed-ridden for two weeks so I couldn’t do anything.

That was really disappointing, but that fuels me now; I have something to strive for.”

David Osbeck has coached Sanchez since his freshman season at Bishop Snyder. He saw the youngster’s talents as a 15-year-old who only needed experience at the high school level

“I decided I enjoyed school more when I was playing tennis.”

“Learn from the greats and become greater.”

— Michael Jackson

to hone his game. He’s watched his prize player mature and develop the past three seasons with the Cardinals.

“The difference between his freshman season and now is unbelievable in terms of willingness to adapt and learn and be a little more humble,” Osbeck said. “That’s one of Gage’s better traits that he posses. He’s well liked by his classmates; he’s a class leader and is one of our better students (4.119 GPA, ranking 10th out of 104 seniors). He’s the real deal, a good package. His parents are awesome and have given him a lot of support.”

Sanchez has been playing tennis since he was 5 years old. His great-uncle, Eddie Pascual, introduced the game to Sanchez's dad, and he in turn taught his

sons how to play. The three brothers — Egan now 21 and a student at FSU; Gage, 18; and Kian, 11 — all have taken the sport to varying degrees.

When you look at Sanchez, he doesn’t equate to today’s typical tennis player — the long, lean, tall, hard-hitting, dominant players. Sanchez will settle for the lean and dominant adjectives. He’s a solid 168 pounds dripping wet and measures in at 5-foot-11, though that may be with him on his tip-toes. Opposing players may over-match him in size and with a power-hitting game, but they won’t match his tenacity, heart, and the ability to chase down nearly any ball hit on his side of the court.

“I compensate for any size differential with my quickness and footwork and my tenacity,” said Sanchez, who has a court

presence similar to Rafael Nadal. “I think mentality plays a bigger part of my game sometimes than my physical aspects do. When you’re on the court, you have to have a killer instinct. You want to win every single point, play every point as if, if you lost it, you would physically die. I live by that motto. I’m pushing to the limit.”

That line of thinking came into play this past December in a match. Sanchez was cramping up, and it had a profound effect on his game. But he pushed aside the thought of conceding defeat.

“I stayed on the court and ended up having a full body cramp and wound up in the hospital," he said. "I was cramping up pretty bad, but I refused to quit."

It’s that type of mentality, that determination, that has separated Sanchez from others at his level.

Not that such a line of thinking will assure him of victory each outing.

The important thing in a loss, however, is that he learns something from the defeat.

“My tenacity, my refuse-tolose attitude is probably the strongest part of my game,” Sanchez said. “But most important is that I’m going to learn something from every match I compete in. As long as you take something out of every match — win, lose or draw — that’s what I’m looking for. “’Learn from the greats and become greater.’ That’s a quote from Michael Jackson, whom I’m a big fan of.”

Sanchez will weigh his college opportunities in the next couple of months before deciding where he wants to play. He’s already received firm offers from Fordham, Idaho, Bucknell, LaSalle, and Holy Cross. There may be more in the coming months. He’ll major in law, wherever he decides to go.

“I’ve always loved oral presentations," he said. "I’ve always loved the competition aspect of debate. I’d love to be some type of a lawyer one day.”

A tennis player who refuses to lose. A lawyer one day who will share that same trait. Gage Sanchez is destined for success on the court and in a court.

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Randy Taylor 3041-1 Monument Road Jacksonville, FL 32225 904-642-2400

20 | itgnext.com

Danny Neri Bishop Snyder High School Baseball What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

My first high school home run my sophomore year to put my team up by one run late in the game.

Who is your biggest sports inspiration?

Tiger Woods is my biggest sports inspiration. The way he has dominated his sport and the fire and passion with which he plays the game is really an inspiration for the way I want to play my game.

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

I would play golf. I think golf is a great sport, and I would definitely play golf if I didn’t play baseball.

In The Game | 21

Getting a Grip on Golf Written by: Mary Catherine Bell | Photography courtesy of Emily Sullivan

22 | itgnext.com

Sandalwood High School senior Emily Sullivan has made an impression on the golfing community in Northeast Florida.

Sullivan earned All-Conference honors all four years of her high school career, led her team as captain starting her sophomore year, and maintained a 4.6 GPA. Sullivan found her love for the sport when her father entered her in a tournament at age 12.

“He signed me up for a tournament just to see how I stood against other people, and I lost," she said. "I came in last place. I was like, 'Oh, never again. I'm never coming in last place again.' I went out and practiced a lot to get better and so I could play some tournaments.”

Sullivan’s determination to succeed led to All-Conference honors her freshman year of high school.

“My Dad cried when I made All-Conference my freshman year because you don't really see a lot of freshmen that make All-Conference or place at that tournament," she said.

Sullivan’s successful career has not always been easy; she developed tendonitis her freshman year and had to completely change the way she held the golf club.

compliment every person after every shot, that type of thing. At practices and matches, I help out everybody and offer tips and tricks and stuff that they can remember when they go out on the course.”

Her experiences through golf have taught Sullivan how to be a better person on and off the course.

“It's taught me to learn patience and the things that you need to be patient," she said.

"It's taught me manners... and how to act.

I’ve learned a lot of confidence through golf.”

Her passion for the game strengthens the relationships she shares with her family.

“That was probably a six-month transition to just get back to where I was with a new grip on the golf club,” she said.

“I had to have a cast on my wrist for a while and take some weeks off.

That was actually before my first All-Conference tournament. I literally had to take it off right before to go out and play. It was a pretty challenging injury, and it still flares up sometimes “It's something I enbut not as bad.” joy doing with my famDespite her injury, ily," she said. "My little

Sullivan led her team as captain her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Leading her team gave her the opportunity to see the game in a different way and help other members achieve their goals.

“I like to stay positive and have those leadership qualities because I've played with people who are not positive and it's not fun,” she said. “I like to

brother actually will go out and play as well.

He's more of a baseball player, but he will go if you ask him to go to the golf course; he will say yes immediately.

It's something I really enjoy. It's a bonding experience with my dad and my brother.”

Sullivan finds inspiration through the community based atmosphere that golf creates among people.

“I volunteer with the Tim Tebow Foundation," she said. "They host the celebrity golf tournament, and they raise so much money for kids with disabilities. The PGA Tour does a lot with the Wounded Warrior Project, which is really cool to see, and a lot of golfers have their own foundations that they use to give back to their community. So I think that community atmosphere is something that really drives me to come back, to start to play and to be motivated to go out there to do my best because I know that just little things like playing golf go a long way.”

Top 10 Female Golfers 1. Park Sung-hyun South Korea 2. Ariya Jutanugarn Thailand 3. Inbee Park South Korea 4. Ryu So-yeon South Korea 5. Lexi Thompson United States 6. Minjee Lee

Australia

7. Shanshan Feng

China

8. Brooke Henderson Canada 9. Georgia Hall

England

10. In-Kyung Kim South Korea

In The Game | 23

Colby Halter Bishop Kenny High School Baseball What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

Committing to the University of Florida in my freshman year.

Who has helped you the most in your sports career?

A few coaches who have had a big effect on my career are Joe Pound and Jason Pascual.

However, my first coach was my dad, and he has supported me my whole life.

Who is your biggest sports inspiration?

Chipper Jones has been an idol of mine ever since I started playing baseball because he was a local guy and played for my favorite team.

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Nominate Male & Female Athlete of the Year

Submit your nominations to nefl@itgnext.com

In The Game | 25

Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Introduces ActivArmor The Latest in 3D Splinting Technology

Recent advancements in technology have turned 3D printing capabilities from science fiction into a very real necessity in modern manufacturing.

Layer by layer, 3D printers use different materials to print products ranging from artificial organs to high performance shoes, telescopes to jet engines.

This futuristic technology is more accessible than ever and is now available through Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institue and ActivArmor in the form of custom 3D splinting.

ActivArmor’s 3D splints are designed to be hygienic, waterproof, and breathable, features that provide a huge advantage to athletes requiring protection and immobilization. Athletes may continue to train and sweat while wearing ActivArmor, as the breathable design and hygienic material will not trap odors or bacteria like traditional casts and splints. They can ice-bath on the sidelines and bathe like normal.

ActivArmor devices are adaptable for use with advanced healing technologies such as bone stimulators, which can reduce bone fracture healing time; muscle stimulators, which can reduce muscle atrophy and rehab time; and TENS devices for pain management without the use of narcotics.

Alternative therapies can reduce injury time and allow athletes to get back into the game faster.

The process for the 3D scan takes only 30 seconds in the clinic and is completely touch free and painless. A model of the patient’s limb is created by safe white light reflecting off the skin. This is uploaded to ActivArmor with the doctor’s specific design instructions for the individual’s injury or condition.

Every ActivArmor orthosis is digitally designed using computer aided drafting, allowing for an infinite number of design options based on the patient’s medical needs and lifestyle, including thickness, coverage and exposure areas, breathability, and closure options. This empowers JOI doctors with the ability to provide their patients with the latest in high-tech healing options. Post-surgical hardware and incisions can be exposed for visualization, monitoring, and treatment, which can reduce infection rates and improve healing outcomes.

Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute is one of a handful of locations in the United States and the only orthopedic facility in the southeast to offer this revolutionary new technology for athletes. ActivArmor is the only commercially available 3D printed splint listed with the FDA on the market. It is covered by most insurances and can reduce downtime in an active lifestyle.

Speak with your physician today about an alternative to traditional casting and splinting options to get you back in the game faster!

Call JOI-2000 or Go To JOI.NET for more information.

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Jaguars Crumble in Injury-Marred 2018 Season Written by Jeff Elliott

Image courtesy of sportingnews.com

From worst to first back to worst, the Jaguars completed a threeyear cycle of the biggest roller coaster ride in team history with yet another double-digit loss season.

It was the seventh such posting in the last eight years and was by far the most disappointing of the lot. Never in the Jaguars' 24-year history had they posted a losing record followed by a winning season followed by another losing season over a three-year span.

Just 12 months earlier, the Jaguars were within three minutes of making their first appearance in a Super Bowl game, only to give up the winning touchdown to the New England Patriots with 2:48 left in the AFC Championship game. It was the closest that Jacksonville had ever come to participating in a Super Bowl. And that’s why the expectations were

so high entering the 2018 season.

The Jaguars were the pick of many to be the AFC representative in this year’s Super Bowl contest in Atlanta. And why not? They had all their key players returning from the glorious 2017 season, and on paper they appeared to have added the right pieces in free agency to plug the few holes that carried over to this year’s franchise.

So why, then, did the Jaguars go from a 12-win season that included two playoff victories to a team that finished with just four wins, making them among the worst teams in the NFL in 2018? The first thing to start with is injuries. It’s an aspect of the game that, for the most part, Jacksonville was void of the year before.

That wasn’t the case this season. The Jaguars lost their best receiver for the season when Marqise

Image courtesy of post-gazette.com

Lee went out with a torn ACL in the preseason.

It only got worse from there. Midway through the season, the Jaguars were using their fourth different starter at three different positions — left tackle, tight end, and running back. For whatever reason, the offensive side of the ball was particularly decimated by injuries.

By Week 15, the Jaguars starting offensive unit against the Washington Redskins contained just two starters — running back Leonard Fournette and right guard A.J. Cann – who were in the starting lineup for the season-opener against the New York Giants With so many backup players in the lineup, the Jaguars simply failed to generate enough punch on offense. Quarterback Blake Bortles, who played so well in the three playoff games last year, never regained that efficiency and eventual-

ly lost his starting job to Cody Kessler. But Kessler wasn’t any more effective, which will leave the Jaguars searching for a new quarterback either in free agency, a trade, or the draft prior to the 2019 season.

The defense that was healthy and effective in 2017 returned 10 starters, but it didn’t produce the same results. The talent was there and was best shown when the Jaguars shut out the offensive-minded Indianapolis Colts in Week 13; the Colts only loss in their last 10 regular-season games.

It certainly wasn’t that the Jaguars were overwhelmed week after week. During a seven-game stretch starting in Week 7, the Jaguars won one game, lost to Tennessee by 21, and lost five other games by six points or less.

There will be changes made after the season.

Executive vice president

of football operations Tom Coughlin, general manager Dave Caldwell, and head coach Doug Marrone were all given contract extensions following the 2017 season.

Some, along with certain members of the coaching staff, are in jeopardy of losing their jobs after owner Shad Khan does a thorough staff evaluation.

Just like a year ago when few people saw the Jaguars as Super Bowl contenders, even fewer thought that this year’s team would be a cellar dweller. Worst to first to worst has left few smiling faces within the Jaguars headquarters at TIAA Bank Field.

In The Game | 27

Patrick Libby The Bolles School Baseball What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

Sophmore year when I was able to play baseball with my older brother and we got to experience winning a state championship together.

Who is your biggest sports inspiration?

Tim Tebow. He inspires me with his passion and faith on and off the field through his humble character.

After your sports career is over, what do you see yourself doing?

Follow in my parents footsteps and own my own business.

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In The Game | 29

Shining in an Unexpected Way

Written By: Mary Catherine Bell | Photography By: Pamela Enteman

The walls of Atlantic Coast High School are filled with trophies won by some of best Special Olympics teams the school has produced.

The Special Olympics Unified Sports program brings together students with disabilities and students without to form teams for competition.

ACHS junior Allen Smith plays in four different sports for the Olympics Unified Sports program and has been a part of three state championship titles in his career.

When Smith started playing in the Special Olympics, he was shy and feared team sports.

“After time, my shyness went away, and I overcame my fear of playing sports with others,” he said. “Sports has been good for me in self-control of my emotions. I use to fly off the handle very easily; now I pull it in and rethink how I am going to react. This helps me in school and home. Day-to-day activities are easier to handle."

Smith’s favorite part about playing in the Special Olympics is the camaraderie that he has with his teammates and partners.

“My favorite part about Special Olympics is when we advance to state competitions and go to ESPN," Smith said. "I like meeting athletes and partners from all over the state and competing against them.”

Although Smith plays multiple sports for the program, his favorite is volleyball.

“I like the jumping aspect and hitting the ball over the net," he said. "Our practices are hard but fun.”

Adapted physical education teacher Pamela Enteman said that Smith picked up the new sport last year and played in the state competition this past May.

“This was the first year we attempted this sport, and the kids had to learn the basic skills,” Enteman said. “I pushed them hard, and they worked hard because they wanted to do it. We practice outside with a sagging net and in the grass, so to be in a major tournament indoors (ESPN) with 16 courts going at once was a bit overwhelming for the kids. Allen played his heart out and had the best time. He had to learn from the ground up. By the end of the season at state tournament, we had Allen semi-spiking the ball. He worked well with his partners and ended up winning state in their division.”

Senior baseball player Mason Dudley has been Smith’s partner in the program for the last three years.

“Mason helps me to stay focused during practices and games,” Smith said. “He trains with me and the team. Mason will redirect me if I get upset.”

Dudley enjoys interacting and working with Smith to learn more about the sports he plays on a daily basis.

“As a partner I feel like I have gained leadership qualities, and these qualities have helped me not just in Special Olympics but also in baseball, school, and Boy Scouts,” Dudley said.

Enteman hopes that assigning partners to adaptive athletes will spark a positive relationship and make an impact.

“I have had extremely good luck with my partners, and they truly make the difference with our program," Enteman said. "The athletes seem to thrive off of the structure and totally enjoy the time with the partners.”

For Dudley, Smith has left a lasting impression on him that makes him want to work with the Special Olympics every day.

“The excitement that I see on his face every day pushes me to be more like him,” Dudley said. “Allen has taught me to find the joy in everything. Allen always has a smile on his face even after doing something he doesn’t like or after getting something right the first time. He will keep trying until he gets it right and never quits.”

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Katie Vanderlinde Creekside High School Lacrosse - Goalie What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

My most memorable moment was in our district championship against Ponte Vedra. We were tied with about a minute left in the game. We turned over the ball, and one of the PV’s top players scooped up the ball and shot. I saved it, getting us the ball back, and we scored, winning the game.

After your sports career is over, what do you see yourself doing?

I want to study forensic science. I want to become a DNA analyst. My mom and I always watch “Dateline” together, and I became fascinated with how much we can learn from people’s DNA. What makes you different from everyone else?

I’m extremely competitive.

I make most things a competition. I am always competing, even off the field.

I push myself to be a better player and push the people around me.

In The Game | 31

Special Olympics Provides Free Health Screenings for Athletes Written by: Susannah Parmenter Photography courtesy of: Kendra Ehrenberg

The Duval County Special Olympics is offering its athletes free health screenings as a part of its Healthy Athletes Initiative.

The organization offers eight screenings covering a variety of health disciplines, including hearing, vision, health promotion, fitness, biometrics, dental, and mental wellness.

Selena Snowden, a professor and director of audiology services at Florida State University, volunteers with the Special Olympics and is in charge of providing hearing screenings. She believes that this outreach will improve the quality of life of the athletes.

“Research shows that individuals with intellectual disabilities have less access to healthcare," Snowden said. "We find globally that they have more hearing loss or vision loss and more difficulties with their feet and teeth. This was designed to try to lessen these problems.”

Mary Bishop, outreach manager for Healthy Community of North Florida, also works with Special Olympics and believes that this disparity is a unique problem for those with intellectual and physical disabilities.

“For this population, it can be challenging," Bishop said. "If your mouth hurts, you can say, ‘Hey, I need to go to the dentist,’ whereas they might not be able to express that as easily. This population is also relying on their caregivers, so it depends on the caregiver and the care they're receiving. It's a tough situation, but little by little we're changing it.”

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Through the initiative, participants aren’t just screened for their vision and hearing; they also learn important tools for a healthy lifestyle. Screenings also test height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, and bone density. They also check for mental wellness and well-being. Athletes can learn flexibility exercises, meditation, stress management techniques, and how they can improve their mental health.

Bishop has seen a positive response from the community.

“I work with someone at the Arc Jacksonville, and she's been an advocate for 30 years, and her son has an intellectual disability," Bishop said. "He came through our Opening Eyes screening, and he ended up needing glasses, and she's like, ‘How did this happen? Here I am, an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, and my own son, he needed glasses.’ That's just one example of why this health initiative is so important.”

Snowden agrees the initiative is changing lives for those with disabilities.

“We find that individuals with hearing loss are more susceptible to depression and social isolation," Snowden said. "You take someone with an intellectual disability that may already be fighting an uphill battle with those things, and you put hearing loss on top of it, and that can create even greater difficulties for them. We can take care of medical problems, fit them with hearing aids, and bring them back into the social environment with people. That's why I'm here.”

Currently the screenings are offered at many Special Olympic competitions and monthly at the Duval County Special Olympics office. Bishop said they also are venturing further out into the community, visiting adult day training centers and group homes.

As for Snowden, she is excited to continue making the trip from Tallahassee to Jacksonville to offer the hearing screenings.

“I think in the general work world, sometimes we get so caught up in our everyday lives that we lose focus on what's important," Snowden said. "I’ve enjoyed working with games and doing these screenings because athletes that we encounter are typically always happy and thankful that we're here.”

For more information on the Duval County Special Olympics, visit specialolympicsflorida.org/duval/.

Ryan Dowling Paxon High School Baseball

What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

Winning All-Conference last year was a memorable moment.

Who is your biggest sports inspiration?

My dad because he still says I’m not as good as he was, but I think I’m better.

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

I train MMA on the side and would also like to pursue it.

Kendall Gracie Creekside High School Lacrosse - Defense/Midfield What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

Winning districts last year for the first time in school history. It was a huge shock because we had to play against Ponte Vedra, who made it to the Final Four last year.

After your sports career is over, what do you see yourself doing?

I want to become a veterinarian. I’ve always loved animals and want to help them.

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

I would play ice hockey because you get to hit people and skating is a lot of fun too.

It just seems like a good way to release anger. I do currently play basketball as well, and it’s a lot of fun.

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In The Game | 35

Pros Raising Awareness

Cincinnati Assistant Coach Bringing the Team Together

Here are some professional athletes who use their platforms to raise awareness and money for people with disabilities.

Written by: Kaylee Kopke

The roles of an assistant coach for a football team range from program to program and from circumstance to circumstance. But, in Cincinnati, Ohio, at Mason High School, there is one assistant coach who has not only become an integral part of the team, but an irreplaceable one. Assistant coach Nate Petrey has brought a sense of togetherness to not only the players, but the coaching staff as well.

Petrey is a former Mason football player with Down Syndrome. After graduating, he decided to join the coaching staff because of the bond he had with the program. Petrey also has a close bond with head coach Brian Castner that is almost 20 years strong. Petrey’s responsibilities as an assistant coach include setting up the practice field and helping with drills.

Even though he does not have authority over schematics and game plans, he serves as the glue that binds the team together and pushes them to do better every day.

In an interview conducted by Jaclyn DeAugustino for WCPO, head coach Brian Castner said: “When he walks into the locker room or when he walks into the coaches’ office, the coaches perk up, and they're like, ‘All right, Nate Dog's here! Coach Petrey's here!’ And automatically he's making us better."

For much too long now, the world has been a harsh place to the people who are slightly different from the people that surround them on a daily basis. This dilemma is especially true for people who are diagnosed with Down Syndrome. There is a stereotype that an individual with this diagnosis is incapable for living a fully independent life and working a regular job.

Petrey is one of many people with his diagnosis who are breaking that stereotype and are gaining recognition and acceptance through not only the sport of football, but in other avenues as well.

This speaks a lot to the world that we are living in. Uniqueness between people brings diversity into our world. It also brings enrichment to our lives, new experiences, and understanding of others. Being someone who comes from a different background compared to the people around me, I believe that having people in my life who are not like me helps me become a well-rounded person. This is an inspiring story, and it is a positive step forward into acceptance, inclusivity, and togetherness as a nation.

Information (about the interview) courtesy of: www.wcpo.com

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Albert Pujols — MLB

David Ragan — NASCAR

Joc Pederson — MLB

Gene Stallings — Coach Images courtesy of yahoo.com

Bombsquad Academy Aids Young Baseball Players

Written by: Jeff Elliott Photography by: Jonathan Murphy

It’s little wonder that Providence High School has had over 100 former baseball players receive a college scholarship in the past two decades. Not when you have the Bombsquad Academy at your disposal.

The unique name applies to a program at the school under the direction of head baseball coach Mac Mackiewitz and his assistant Jonathan Murphy. It consists of kids 11 years old and under all the way up to 18 years old. It is designed with the intent of helping the younger players, especially those in the 11-U category, learn and develop their game so that once they enter high school they are playing at a higher level than others.

It’s a program that Mackiewitz conceived nearly 20 years ago. Players will typically play in the summer and fall as most players are involved with school team play in the spring. It’s a concept that has grown over the years to the

extent that there were nine different teams involved in Bombsquad play last year.

“We wanted this to be the minor leagues for school ball,” said Mackiewitz, the dean of men at Providence and head baseball coach for the past 19 seasons. “I wanted a training ground for these kids that want to go on to play on their high school team. There are travel teams out there, and they play a lot of games with an emphasis placed on winning.

“We don’t do that. We believe a third of a player’s time should be involved with strength and speed, another third devoted to practicing, and the last third to playing games. We’re seeing a much higher developmental rate with this concept.”

It’s a model that has been endorsed by parents of the players. Travel teams do just that – travel throughout the state playing games, often three, four, or five games every

weekend. Over a summer and fall schedule, that can result in some hefty expenses, not to mention being out of town many weekends.

“I saw the financial struggles that some families would go through with all the traveling they did with their youngsters, running up thousands of dollars in costs for travel, hotel rooms, food, and other necessities,” Mackiewitz said. “We don’t have to travel as we have a lot of tournaments here in Jacksonville. As a result we’ve been able to expand to the younger set.”

Murphy and Will Dorsey head up the 11-and-under teams. Last year they had three such teams at that age level. There were six other teams made up of ages 1218.

“We want the program to be fun but highly instructive, especially for the 11-and-under kids,” Murphy said. “We’re not screamers or yellers out here. It’s more like a classroom environment where we teach and instruct. We want to make sure it’s fun and competitive the whole time for them.

“That’s first and foremost.

Baseball is a thinking game.

The way you learn to love the game is you know the game, you know the intricacies of the game. When you’re mentally engaged, the game opens up, and the game becomes so much fun for you.”

Mackiewitz started the concept in the Fall of 2000.

Several years later he cut back on the traveling and put more emphasis on the weight room, batting cages, and filming. He noticed a decrease in injuries, especially with pitchers coming down with sore arms.

“This has been such a driving passion to go with this concept," Mackiewitz said.

"I’ll talk to whoever in any sport and feel I can defend it and say that these kids will develop more, that you don’t have to be playing in games all the time.

We love getting the youngsters as young as we can because we’ll have a bigger impact with

them at the younger age.”

Statistics say that the concept is working. The national average for high school baseball players who sign a college baseball scholarship is 11 percent. At Providence, 47 percent of Stallion baseball players earn a baseball scholarship, more than four times the national average. It’s an indication that an 11-year-old who goes through the Bombsquad Academy has a much higher likelihood of pursuing their dream of playing college baseball and maybe one day playing in the Major Leagues.

In The Game | 37

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In The Game | 39

Shelbea Holland Fernandina Beach High School Softball What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

Junior year, coming so close to beating Yulee, having to go into extra innings.

Who has helped you the most in your sports career?

My dad because he is my parent and coach. He has always believed in me and pushed me to go to the next level.

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

Volleyball because it’s a stress reliever.

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Creekside, Ponte Vedra Raise Money for V Foundation Written by: Brandon Carroll Photography courtesy of Brandon Carroll

On Dec. 20, the Creekside Knights and the Ponte Vedra Sharks joined forces to hold Victory Over Cancer Night as they faced off against each other in a basketball showdown.

The double-header game raised money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The foundation is named for Jim Valvano, a former college basketball coach at North Carolina State University. In 1983, Valvano lead NC State to a national championship after being highly unfavored, which allowed him to cement his name in the college basketball history books. Head Creekside boys basketball coach Will Mayer remembers the moment Valvano pulled off the win.

“It was probably the biggest upset in college history," Mayer said. "They won at the buzzer against Houston, which was a really great team.

That was his signature moment in life as a coach” On and off the court, Valvano was a fighter.

After his coaching career, he was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and died from the disease at the age of 47. The foundation was posthumously created in his honor to raise money for cancer research. The foundation has raised nearly $200 million dollars.

Both schools came together for this special night. T-shirts were sold and given out to students, parents, faculty, and staff. For Mayer, it was important to see so many give back during the holiday season.

“Everyone is excited for gifts and Christmas, but I also think it’s a great time to give back to something great like the V Foundation," Mayer said.

In the end, the students raised over $3,000.

Mayer is proud of what the schools accomplished.

“We tried to do our part to help raise some money for the V Foundation," he said. "Every single person knows someone personally or has a friend who has had to battle or died from cancer.

It is something that touches all of us.”

For more information on the V Foundation, visit, jimmyv.org.

In The Game | 41

What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

Winning Copperstown at age 12 and signing to the University of Florida.

Who is your biggest sports inspiration?

My cousin, Patrick Leonard, who plays in the White Sox organization.

He has really showed me how the game should be played, with heart.

What makes you different from everyone else?

My determination and drive to be better tomorrow than I was today.

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Nathan Hickey Providence High School Baseball

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Madisyn Davis Oakleaf High School Softball What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

The day I committed to UCF. What makes you different from everyone else?

My work ethic, working on and off the field when no one is looking, and keeping my composure when things aren't going the right way.

Who has helped you the most in your sports career?

My parents. The are constantly driving me five hours for pitching lessons and making me the best person I can be.

In The Game | 45

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Compensation Beyond Scholarships for College Athletes Written by: Justin Chandler

The debate about college athletes being compensated for more than just a free education has been going on for years. There are arguments for each side, but the chance of this debate being settled is highly unlikely. Many college athletes who are recruited out of high school are given a full-ride scholarship. Free education is a privilege that a majority of college students would love to receive.

According to a survey of college pricing, the College Board reports that the average yearly tuition for a public, four-year college for in-state students is around $9,410, while the average of a public, four-year college for out-of-state students is around $23,890.

Depending on the situation a student is in, a four-year college education could cost anywhere from $37,000 to $95,000 and beyond without a scholarship of any sort. That doesn’t include the costs of basic living expenses, fees, textbooks, and food. That is a good chunk of change for a four-year education, and many college athletes receive it for free.

It is a privilege that few are able to get; there are people all over the world who don’t have the chance to go to college.

The NCAA brings in around $1 billion in revenue annually. The majority of that mon-

NBA Top 10 All-time Scoring Leaders

ey is brought in by men’s Division I football and men’s Division I basketball. That being the case, the topic of discussion about paying college athletes is usually centered around men’s football and basketball. None of the other sports programs are bringing in near the amount those two are, but to only compensate football and basketball would cause controversy.

The idea of paying athletes beyond the free education given to them would cause more problems than it would solve. The student-athletes signed a contract with their school of choice to receive a free higher level education and play the sport they love on the national stage. If that agreement doesn’t sit well with the student-athlete, then they can pay for their own college tuition. The benefits of a free education are endless.

If an athlete ends up not making it pro, they have a fall back plan that is the degree that they earn during their years in school.

Walter Byers, the first executive director of the NCAA, coined the term student-athlete for a reason. That reason being, kids on scholarship for a sport are to be a student first and an athlete second. A free four-year education at a university is the perfect compensation for these athletes as they prepare to take their talents to the next level.

Image courtesy of prnewswire.com

From Cheering to the Paralympics Lacey Henderson is a cheerleader who has accomplished more on one leg than some people do in a lifetime. She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 9, and when chemotherapy was marginally effective, doctors recommended amputation of her leg. She went on to become the captain of her high school cheerleading squad and receive a cheerleading scholarship to the University of Denver. In 2012, she began competing in track and field, and she went on to compete for Team USA at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Top 10 Nba Players Drafted Out of High School

1.

Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar 38,387 points

1. Kobe Bryant

Lower Merion (Philadelphia)

2.

Karl Malone

36,928 points

2. LeBron James

St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)

3.

Kobe Bryant

33,643 points

3. Moses Malone

Petersburg (Virginia)

4.

Michael Jordan

32,292 points

4. Kevin Garnett

Farragut Career Academy (Chicago)

5.

Wilt Chamberlain

31,419 points

5. Dwight Howard

Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy

6.

Dirk Nowitzki

31,187 points

6. Tracy McGrady

Mt. Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.)

7.

LeBron James

31,038 points

7. Shawn Kemp

Concord (Ekhart, Indiana)

8.

Shaquille O’Neal

28,596 points

8. Amar’e Stoudemire Cypress Creek (Orlando)

9.

Moses Malone

27,409 points

9. Monta Ellis

Lanier (Mississippi)

10.

Elvin Hayes

27,313 points

10. Darryl Dawkins

Maynard Evans (Orlando) In The Game | 47

NFL HALL OF FAMERS' LETTER TO THE LEAGUE Written by: Justin Chandler

A group of the National Football League’s most prestigious players sent a letter to the hierarchy of the NFL. The letter demanded health insurance and annual salary for all Hall of Famers that includes a share of league revenue. They are demanding this because they believe that during their years of play they were sacrificing their bodies and minds, which is true. Every Sunday these guys would go out on the field and put everything they had in to each game, wearing their bodies down year after year for a paycheck while the NFL ran off with the big piece of the pie.

Stated in the letter: “The total cost for every Hall of Famer to have health insurance is less than $4 million – less than that of a 30-second Super Bowl advertisement, or about three cents for every $100 the league generates in revenue.”

Health insurance is necessary for players who are playing or have played in the National Football League. Day after day, taking and giving hits can take a major toll on a person’s mental and physical health. A lot of NFL veterans struggle with health and financial problems to this day, but to say that only Hall of Famers deserve the benefits demanded in this letter is absurd.

Demanding an annual salary of six figures years after retirement is a bit of a long shot. The players making these demands were some of the highest paid players in the league during their time. They have already been paid for their services on the field, so demanding a salary of that magnitude was a stretch for Eric Dickerson and the others who took part in sending the letter.

Health insurance is a completely different issue. Football is a full-contact sport and extremely dangerous. With all of the new research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy and obvious post-career trauma that NFL retirees suffer from, it would make sense for the league to jump on this opportunity to focus on the true problem players in the NFL face today.

American neurosurgeon and medical reporter Sanjay Gupta has done research on ex-NFL players and the issues CTE causes. Of 91 ex-NFL players who donated their brains to research, 87 were diagnosed with CTE. It is an obvious problem the NFL faces today and should be addressed by the league in one way or another. Not just Hall of Famers, but all players who retire should receive health insurance from the league for the sacrifices they have made for the rise and success of the NFL today. Each player makes a contribution to the sport when they step out on that field.

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2013-2018 PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMERS CLASS OF 2018

CLASS OF 2017

Bobby Beathard Robert Brazile Brian Dawkins Jerry Kramer Ray Lewis Randy Moss Terrell Owens Brian Urlacher

Morten Andersen Terrell Davis Kenny Easley Jerry Jones Jason Taylor LaDainian Tomlinson Kurt Warner

CLASS OF 2016

CLASS OF 2015

Edward DeBartolo, Jr. Tony Dungy Brett Favre Kevin Greene Marvin Harrison Orlando Pace Ken Stabler Dick Stanfel

Jerome Bettis Tim Brown Charles Haley Bill Polian Junior Seau Will Shields Mick Tingelhoff Ron Wolf

CLASS OF 2014

CLASS OF 2013

Derrick Brooks Ray Guy Claude Humphrey Walter Jones Andre Reed Michael Strahan Aeneas Williams

Larry Allen Cris Carter Curley Culp Jonathan Ogden Bill Parcells Dave Robinson Warren Sapp

What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

There is no single moment because there are way too many exciting and happy ones to only pick one.

Ashley Connor Paxon High School Softball

Who is your biggest sports inspiration?

Aleshia Ocasio because not only is she an amazing athelete, but she is a caring person.

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

Volleyball because I love the competitive atmosphere and the girls on the team are amazing people.

In The Game | 49

Climbing the Ladder of Success

Written by: Jeff Elliott | Photography courtesy of Melodee Nobles and Jim Martin

They don’t come much better than Providence boys basketball coach Jim Martin, on or off the court.

Martin has accumulated 493 wins and only 95 losses as of Christmas 2018. In January he will have recorded his 500th win, joining a select group of just six other Jacksonville area coaches who have achieved such a milestone.

The difference between Martin and the other 500game winners is that he is the only one to reach such a plateau with less than 100 losses. The low loss total means a lot to Martin.

“Wins are important, but I think it’s your won-lost percentage that is important, and that’s something I take a lot of pride in,” he said.

“Winning has always been important to me, but the fact that we’ve won over 80 percent of our games in my career is the most important thing to me.

“Obviously the three state titles are very important, and I feel fortunate and blessed that we won those titles. Those teams, those players are memories that are off the chart, especially when I see what these players are now doing in their line of work and with their families.”

Martin has been among the most successful coaches since the turn of the century. He started at Providence in 1999 and has posted at least 21 wins in 18 consecutive seasons, with No. 19 on the horizon this year after a 14-1 mark before Christmas. Three state titles and five trips to the Final Four are an indication of how dominant his teams have been in the last two decades.

Among his personal highlights was the opportunity to coach his two sons, Travis (2000-03) and Tyler (2008-12).

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“God had me on a mission to stay.

This is a great Christian school with a lot of great Christian people here that helped me and my walk with Christ.”

— Jim Martin

“That was fantastic,” Martin said. “I was able to win state titles in basketball with both of them.

There’s nothing better than coaching your child. I probably wasn’t an easy guy to play for. The demands on them were as great as any of the players and maybe at times a little bit tougher.

But I think we all respected the dad role and then the coach’s role.”

As successful as he’s been at Providence, Martin, 59, has had opportunities to move elsewhere, to more prestigious jobs including collegiate openings. But he has an allegiance to the school and all the spiritual times that have enriched his life on and off the court.

“I’ve stayed at Providence because my walk with Christ improved so much being here,” he said.

“God had me on a mission to stay. This is a great

Christian school with a lot of great Christian people here that helped me and my walk with Christ.”

Nine years ago, Martin had a vision to do more for the younger players who wanted to fulfill their desires to become better basketball players. He started an academy known as the Jacksonville Basketball Academy. It became so popular and was such a success that he created another facility in the Nocatee area, that one known as the Above Basketball Academy.

“We wanted to do this for player development,” Martin said. “We were seeing athletic kids, but they weren’t skilled basketball players. So we made a commitment to teach the fundamentals of basketball so that the kids at the elementary level, the middle schools, and even high schools would be prepared as skilled basketball players, not just athletes running up and down the court.

“We started with 80 kids seven years ago. Now we’re teaching 330 kids a month at the two facilities.”

And one last secret for being a successful high school basketball coach?

“You better be married to the right woman if you’re going to be a basketball coach,” Martin said. “I’ve been fortunate in that I have the best wife (Laura) in the world for the last 30 years that has allowed me to do all these things in the basketball community. If your wife’s not all in, it’s going to be hard to survive in this business.”

Little doubt, Jim Martin is a proven winner on and off the basketball court.

Jim Martin Coaching Record 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

Totals:

23-6 21-8 22-9 28-3 21-7 26-4 24-6 21-9 25-4 28-3 31-1 25-4 28-3 31-1 26-5 31-1 21-9 25-6 23-6 14-1*

493-95

*As of Dec. 25, 2018

Top 10 Jacksonville-area Boys Basketball Coach Career Wins

1. Bernard Wilkes, Ribault 758-159 2. Bruce Rosebrock, Wolfson 580-192 3. Bob Esquerra, St. Joseph’s Academy 579-427 4. Matt Schreiber, Fernandina Beach 563-356* 5. Joe Pichardo, Bishop Kenny 560-243 6. Bud Beech, Nease/Ponte Vedra 532-387* 7. Jim Martin, Providence 493- 95* 8. James Humphrey, Jackson 489-206 9. Rex Morgan, Arlington Country Day 473-88 10. John Baldwin, Bishop Kenny 433-196 *Still coaching, record as of December 25, 2018

Coach of the Year

Who Will Be this Year's?

In The Game | 51

Congratulations to all of our overall award winners! Congratulations to all of our o

Northeast Florida High School Fall Athletic Awards Banquet Written by: Susannah Parameter | Photography by: Aaron Musgrove

Living life In the Game means living each day with passion, determination, and positivity. We love highlighting those who drive home these qualities and inspire us along the way. Our awards banquets allow us to lift up top athletes across Northeast Florida as a community and give them extra recognition for all of their achievements.

We recently held our Northeast Florida High School Fall Athletic Awards Banquet. Athletes and their families were able to hear from Welton Coffey II, Camden County athletic director. Coffey gave a passionate speech on the importance of dedication and drive to find success in life. We recognized athletes who participated in all fall sports, including football, cross country, swimming and diving, golf, girls volleyball, and bowling.

ITG Next also handed out several special awards, including those for top youth athletes and our Fall Coach of the Year.

We had so much fun hosting all these student-athletes and their families! As always, if you know of an athlete who you feel deserves to be recognized, please reach out to us via our social media platforms (@itgnext) and our website (itgnext.com).

Football

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overall award winners! Congratulations to all of our overall award winners!

Boys Swimming & Diving

Girls Swimming & Diving

Boys Cross Country

Girls Cross Country

In The Game | 53

overall award winners! Congratulations to all of our overall award winners!

Girls Golf

Girls Volleyball 54 | itgnext.com

Boys Golf

Congratulations

Elizabeth Csikai & De’shyh Beaufort Wolfson Children's Hospital Youth Athlete Award

ITG Next Fall Athletic Awards Banquet

Congratulations

Paul DeGrado & Gianna Forte Airstream Ventures Scholar Athlete Award

ITG Next Fall Athletic Awards Banquet

In The Game | 55

Congratulations

Christian Rivers ITG Next Adaptive Athlete

ITG Next Fall Athletic Awards Banquet

Congratulations Deran Wiley Baker's Sports Coach of the Year

ITG Next Fall Athletic Awards Banquet 56 | itgnext.com

Congratulations Emily Sullivan

YMCA of Florida's First Coast Excellence in Character

ITG Next Fall Athletic Awards Banquet

What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

The day I committed to UF. Who has helped you the most in your sports career?

My mom has taught me work ethic. She tells me everything that I need to fix or tweak.

What makes you different from everyone else?

I lost my daddy at 8 years old. He wanted me to be a softball player, so I feel that he is my motivation.

Baylee Goddard Oakleaf High School Softball

In The Game | 59

Grand Reopening St. John’s Country Day School recently held a grand reopening for its soccer field. The field underwent extensive renovations to enhance performance and drainage. Traci Livingston, athletic director, was on hand for the event and opened the ceremony, introducing members of administration and Mr. and Mrs. Brad and Tyree Crews and their children. The new field was christened Michael L. Pickett Field, named for head girls soccer coach Mike Pickett. Pickett has coached the team for nearly 20 years and led the girls to seven consecutive state title wins and 10 wins total.

Baseball Schedule

Softball Schedule

2/19 @ Clay 2/26 Oak Hall 3/7 Clay 3/8 Providence School 3/15 Stanton 3/26 St. Joseph Academy 3/29 St. Francis Catholic 4/3 @ Creekside 4/5 @ St. Francis Catholic 4/9 @ University Christian 4/11 @ Oak Hall 4/12 @ Ridgeview 4/16 @ St. Joseph Academy 4/18 Oakleaf 4/24 Ridgeview 4/26 University Christian 4/29 Westside

2/25 First Coast Christian 3/4 @ Peniel Baptist Academy 3/5 St. Francis Catholic 3/8 @ University Christian 3/12 Fleming Island 3/26 @ St. Francis Catholic 3/29 University Christian 4/2 @ Providence School 4/5 Peniel Baptist Academy 4/9 @ St. Joseph Academy 4/9 St. Joseph Academy 4/23 Episcopal 4/25 Providence School

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A Life to Running St. Johns Country Day School cross country coach Jay Birmingham has retired after 15 years of teaching and coaching at SJCDS. Birmingham has been a life runner and a coach since 1965. He has enjoyed much success with his teams over the years.

The boys team has qualified for the state championships four times since 2005. In 2014, the boys won district and were regional runners-up. The girls team has advanced to state 11 of the past 12 years. Birmingham also taught anatomy and physiology while at SJCDS.

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In The Game | 61

Creekside Ranks as Top School for Graduation

Basketball Coach Scores 300th Win On Jan. 2, the Creekside boys basketball team won its first game of the season, and head coach Will Mayer secured his 300th career win. The boys beat Cornerstone Christian 60-44, and Mayer’s record now stands at 300-172 and 91-32 at Creekside.

Mayer previously coached at Middletown North (New Jersey), Cedar Shoals (Georgia), and Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School (Georgia) before taking the helm at Creekside. Mayer’s Knights were state title runner-ups last season. The team made it to the Class 8A state championship but fell to Blanche Ely 77-54.

XC Athlete of the Year Creekside’s Claire Openshaw has been named the Times-Unions’ high school girls cross country athlete of the year for 2018.

She also received this honor in 2017. Openshaw and her fellow Creekside runners achieved third at the state finals. She fought through a hip injury this season to triumph at the district and regional levels.

Jason Wells

Brightway, The Jason Wells Agency P: 904-260-6811 | F: 866-765-1032 Jason.Wells@Brightway.com www.BrightwayJasonWells.com

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The Florida Department of Education recently released its high school graduation rates for the 2017-18 school year.

Creekside had the highest graduation rate in St. John’s County with 98.8 percent.

According to U.S. News’ Best High Schools, Creekside ranks 27th in the state of Florida. St. John’s County has the fourth highest graduation rate in the state, and rates have increased 2.4 percent over the following year. The district also has 27 “A” schools.

Heart Challenge

Softball Schedule

First Coast Christian School is partnering with the American Heart Association to participate in this year’s Heart Challenge. The challenge allows kids to learn more about how their hearts work while also raising money for those who have serious heart conditions.

Teaching kids about heart health is an important part of the event, and FCCS students will be selecting one of three challenges to participate in. Students will either exercise for 60 minutes a day, give up sugary drinks, or do daily good deeds. While challenging themselves, they will also seek donations for the American Heart Association.

The school’s fundraising goal is $4,500. For more information on the Heart Challenge visit: american.heart.org/kidsheartchallenge.

2/25 2/28 3/4 3/26 3/28 4/16

@ St. Johns Country Day Christ's Church Academy @ Parsons Christian Academy @ Calvary Christian Academy Peniel Baptist Academy @ Christ's Church Academy

Magic Yarn First Coast Christian School’s senior Beta Club and National Honor Society worked with the Northeast Florida chapter of the Magic Yarn Project to create yarn wigs for children who are battling cancer. All of the students, along with a few parents, worked hard to create seven beautiful Rapunzel wigs that will be sent to various hospitals in the Southeastern United States to bring joy and laughter to pediatric cancer patients during this difficult time.

www.faithfield.org

“For the love of Jesus, it isn’t only about the game.”

* Using baseball as a ministry * Building leaders and reaching youth through America’s pastime * Giving back to the game for others

Follow us:

Contact us: 904-908-5544 In The Game | 63

Matthew Pounder Nease High School Lacrosse What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date?

My most memorable moment in my lacrosse career to date is either playing in the club championships on ESPN this summer or committing earlier this month.

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

If I could play any other sport, it would be basketball because once you get to a certain level you have this platform and following that you can use to help better the community. It’s something only a few people in lacrosse get.

What makes you different from everyone else?

What makes me different is that I’m a true student of the game.

Most of my life is devoted to being the best lacrosse player on and off the field.

On the ball for you.

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Our competitive advantage includes decades of championship seasons and an all-star team that stays on the ball for you—every thrilling step of the way.

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How to Redefine Success Written by: Alex Dunn

Success can have a different connotation for everyone. Some think you need to be successful to be happy, while others believe that you need to be truly happy in order to be considered successful.

With the New Year in full swing, this is the time to determine what is and what isn’t making the cut for your happiness, and if that therefore defines your version of success.

According to Dora Mekouar from VOAnews, wealth, power and position are what is used to define America’s traditional form of success. However, she also unearthed a study

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commissioned by Strayer University that concluded quite the opposite of that idea.

The study found that 90 percent of American’s define success with having good relationships with friends and family and achieving personal goals. At the same time, 34 percent also considered being rich an important factor to success.

Now, thinking that wealth contributes to success and therefore happiness isn’t necessarily the wrong opinion. Because of course it does have some weigh in on a day to day basis. It’s

when wealth and power seems to be the only contributing factor that generates the wrong mindset of what overall success should look like.

It is time to redefine success. To find a new perspective on what exactly makes you feel successful, and it all starts with one thing, your happiness. It is what you want, what you strive for, what you set your mind too, to not let others’ opinions of success shape your own.

There are a plethora of other elements that can be the building blocks for success.

Being loved by friends

and family for instance, or finally getting that raise at work after working so hard for it, or even discovering that you have indeed lost those ten pounds you were striving for at the beginning of the New Year. Bottom line: It takes more than money to be successful, it takes a lot of things, but success can’t happen unless you try you’re hardest to achieve it.

Another important factor is figuring out when it is time to step up your game if you find yourself in a rut in the pursuit of success and happiness.

For whatever it may

be, taking the time to evaluate what needs to change and making the plans to change it is another step closer to your version of success.

The main thing is to be happy when you go to sleep and happy when you wake up.

When you look forward to the day ahead.

Redefine success for how you want it to be.

There is no one size fits all model. Shape how you want the aspects in your life to define your happiness, and therefore success.

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