Sports
The Fundamentals {my sports ramblings}
Stronger Corey Gaunt thrives off of adversity {Aaron Hanshaw}
jlabmag.com
C
orey Gaunt is in the zone--the zone that every athlete knows about. He has homework to do, tests to study for, and all sorts of other worries. None of that matters now. Heís too focused on sticking this free kick. Shawnee Mission South has full control of the game. They are up 5-4 with a minute and a half left to play. The free kick is Gauntís to take; and as if the pressure isnít enough, it has been raining buckets the entire game. Then again, Gaunt has been working hard for situations like this. And, of course, he refuses to let his team down. ìLeeís Summit Tiger goal by number ten, Corey Gaunt,î the announcer says seconds later. Yeah, he nailed it. But, how good was the kick? The only word ɽ¶É ¶ÊÃÉ ¶Ã¹ ɺ¶Â¶ɺ ©Ç¶Ë¾È §Ê·Áº ¸ÄÊÁ¹ IJù ÉÄ ¹ºÈ¸Ç¾·º ¾É was ìawesome.î Ħ°©½¶É ¼Ä¶Á² ¶¹º ÊÈ ¸ÄÃIJ¹ºÃÉ ħ §Ê·Áº ȶ¾¹ Ħ É ½ºÁź¹ ÊÈ ¼ºÉ started off a lot better than last season.î It absolutely did. Then again, clutch might as well be Gauntís middle name. His heroic free kick with 20 seconds left against Leeís Summit West won the Tigers that game, too. But Gaunt has had far more important obstacles than just a goal in a soccer game. He has endured a real tragedy, one much worse than missing a late-game shot. On Aug. 6, 2007, Sierra and Larry Gaunt, Coreyís sister and grandfather, were riding their bikes. They were training hard »ÄÇ É½º ¢¨ ¶ ÁÄü ·¾Àº ÉǺÀ ·ºÃºIJÉɾü ɽÄȺ ̾ɽ ÂÊÁɾÅÁº sclerosis. Then, it was all taken away. William K. Johnson was speeding down the road when he saw Sierra and Larry nearly 1,000 feet away. He didnít slow down or move into the vacant left lane. Instead, he was careless and hit Larry and Sierra, knocking them off of their bikes and killing both. Corey doesnít want to talk about how he felt that day. And, who can blame him? Not I. ìItís a lot easier now, though,î Gaunt said. ìItís been awhile, so itís a little better.î ¤ÃÁÎ ¶ »ºÌ ̺ºÀÈ ¶»ÉºÇ ɽº ¶¸¸¾¹ºÃÉ ¶ÊÃÉ È¶Ì ½¾È IJÇÈÉ Ë¶ÇȾÉÎ action. The team began the season slowly, but they eventually recovered and snatched the Suburban Big Six Conference title. While his ability to play that season immediately after that trying time is mind-boggling, what the courts decided this ÈÊÂ异 ¾È ºËºÃ ÂÄǺ ·¶»ij¾Ã¼ ìNot guilty,î the jury foreman said concerning the two counts of involuntary manslaughter facing Johnson. Johnsonís excuse for the accident? It wasnít his ëdriving styleí to move over. But, regardless of the verdict, Gauntís family is dealing with the situation.
Ħ©½º »¶Â¾ÁÎ ½¶È ¹ºIJþɺÁÎ ¼ÄÉɺà ÈÉÇÄüºÇ ħ ¶ÊÃÉ È¶¾¹ ¬½ºÃ ½º ÈɺÅÈ ÄÃÉÄ É½º IJºÁ¹ ½ÄÌºËºÇ ¶ÊÃÉ ¹ÄºÈÃĩÉ think about any of that. ìI donít really [think about it] when I play. I donít use it [as motivation] for soccer,î Gaunt said. The team needs no extra motivation this year. Their inexperience last year caused a sluggish start that they remember all too well. And, while this year has begun well, they are cautiously optimistic. ìWeíve got to be consistent,î coach David Wiebenga said. ìHopefully, we keep moving forward.î Just as the team has gotten better since last year, so has Gaunt. Ħ º ½¶È ¼ÄÉɺà ÈÉÇÄüºÇ ¶Ã¹ ÂÄǺ ¸ÄÃIJ¹ºÃÉ Ì¾É½ ɽº ·¶ÁÁ º ½¶È ÌÄÇÀº¹ ½¶Ç¹ Äà IJþȽ¾Ã¼ ħ ¬¾º·ºÃ¼¶ ȶ¾¹ Wiebenga is not the only one to notice Gauntís improvement. Ħ ºĩÈ ÂÄǺ ¸ÄÃIJ¹ºÃÉ Äà ɽº ·¶ÁÁ ħ §Ê·Áº ȶ¾¹ Ħ ºĩÈ always working hard. He makes good passes and is always calling for the ball.î With his improvement, Gaunt has high hopes. He is determined to play soccer in college and believes the team can have a successful season. ìI want to beat Rockhurst and Oak Park to get to the state ÆʶÇɺÇIJöÁÈ ħ ¶ÊÃÉ È¶¾¹ ù ɽºÎ ¹ºIJþɺÁÎ ½¶Ëº ¶ ¸½¶Ã¸º ¶ÊÃÉ ½¾È »¶Â¾ÁÎ and his team have all gotten stronger. This season is just another obstacle to overcome. And, if the past is any indicator, Corey Gaunt will certainly beat it. 3
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