Northeast Florida April 2016 Edition

Oakleaf’s Father-Daughter Team is Creating Success Is It Wise To Spring Football Back Thad Boggs

Specialize? On The Grind Again

Mandarin High School

Trinity Baseball Hopes To Continue Tradition Of Excellence St Johns Wins! Coach Yudin St. Johns Country Day Soccer Mandarin High School

North Florida Storm Travel Baseball

WORLD WIDE WAVES

April 2016

Braidyn Cunningham

IN THIS ISSUE 9 Fast Breaks

Jacksonville Basketball North Florida Storm Travel Baseball Ribault Girls Basketball

16 Bolles Back On The Map 20 Oakleaf’s Father-Daughter Team is

Creating Success

22 Coach Yudin

Mandarin High School

24 Thad Boggs

Mandarin High School

26 Trinity Baseball Hopes To Continue

Tradition Of Excellence

30 Is It Wise To Specialize?

36 Spring Football Back On The

Grind

40 World Wide Waves Braidyn Cunningham

46 St Johns: 5 Straight Wins!

St. Johns Country Day Soccer

59 Fastest Teen In The USA Candace Hill

61 Bishop Kenny’s Run Falls Short In

Title Game

Player 50 Profiles

FROM THE PUBLISHER

26 sport: football.

As always, if you have an idea for a story, or a player you’d like to nominate for a special feature, please let us know at northflorida@itgsportsnetwork. com. We also love feedback, so tell us your thoughts through email, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram at InTheGameMagFL. We are so proud to bring you another great edition of In The Game Magazine, and we hope you enjoy it!

In the Game is published bi-monthly (excluding July). The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without written consent from the publisher. Dykes Media 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 2015 Dykes Media Group, LLC. All rights reserverd. ISSN 1945-1458

Contributors: Publisher Mark Dykes Editors Kim Hoy Cole Parker Graphics Ashlyn Peek Cover Photography Marque Milla Resse Feature Photography Marque Milla Resse Kim Hoy Feature Writers Brent Beaird James Washington Raymond Bureau Corey Davis Kim Hoy Kyler Wilson Josh Fraser Copy Editor James Washington Advertising/Marketing Mark Dykes

mark@itgsportsnetwork.com

Website Manager Cole Parker

Tell us what you thought about the Feburary issue of In The Game! info@itgsportsnetwork.com UC Wins Eighth State Title in Dominating Form Behind the Scenes: Potter’s House Christian Academy Basketball

Raines Falls In Class 4A Thriller

2016 ATHLETIC AWARDS BANQUET

Beginning With Trinity Baptist College The End In Mind Men’s Soccer Wins The National Championship

2016 Baseball Player Profiles

February 2016

We hope that all of our In The Game readers had an awesome spring break!

The talent on the First Coast never ceases to amaze us. Basketball season is over, and it yielded us two state champions: Bolles boys and Ribault girls! Congratulations to them on their amazing seasons. Also, the Jacksonville area had great success in Competition Cheer.

West Nassau won its fourth title in five years, Clay High School won its third, and we had several other area teams place in the competition, including Bartram Trail, Providence, Ponte Vedra and Fleming Island.

Congrats to all our area cheerleaders, and you’ll find a few of their stories in our Player Profiles section! Most impressively, St. Johns Country Day Girls Soccer just won its fifth state title in a row. You’d be hard pressed to find a more dominant team in the country in any

sport, and we’re lucky enough to have them right here on the First Coast! You can read about them on page 46.

You may notice that our cover is a little different than usual!

We would be remiss if we didn’t cover surfing, especially being on the coast, and Braidyn Cunningham is a perfect example of how hard work can help to make your dreams come true.

Her story is inspirational, and also just flat out cool. Read about her on page 40.

In addition to state championship recaps, we’ve also got a wide range of Player Profiles from several different schools and sports. Check them out beginning on page 51.

We’re not sure if you’re aware, but Oakleaf High School’s softball team has been ranked by MaxPreps.com as the #1 team in the country. Wow. We’ve got the inside scoop at their key to success on page 20!

Also in this issue, we put our two cents into a debate that’s been going on across the country: sport specialization.

Should you focus on one sport and achieve perfection, or play multiple sports and be well rounded? Find out our opinion on page 30.

Also, look out for our Coaches Corner: this time, it’s a lesser known sport with a lot of attitude. We also preview a few teams in everyone’s favorite

E BA S ILL V

TEST YOUR KNOWLEGE

BALL ET K E

CKSO N JA

Fast Break

acquire the ball after 1 To a missed shot is called a_________.

A. Lay up B. Foul C. Free throw D. Rebound many points is a bas2 How ket worth if shot from inside of the 3-point line?

Defensive Leaders (Team) 1. Bolles- 41.8 2. Episcopal- 43.3 3. Christ's Church- 45.0 Points Scored 1. Christian Carlyle (Bishop Kenny)- 647 2. Andre Nelson (Paxon)- 568 3. Collin Smith (Bolles)- 566 Points Per Game 1. Christian Carlyle (Bishop Kenny)- 24.0 2. Andre Nelson (Paxon)- 21.8 3. Saderius Aaron (Lee)- 21.6 Rebounds 1. Zach Appelo (Christ's Church)- 12.2 2. Darius Hicks (Ribault)- 10.8 3. Collin Smith (Bolles)- 10.4 Three-pointers Made 1. Jaquez Harris (UC)- 107 2. Tyriek Railey (Wolfson)- 65 3. Blake Partin (Orange Park)

CHECK THIS OUT

On March 2, 1962, Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in one game against New York. That is the most one player has ever scored in one game.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Offensive Leaders (Team) 1. Bishop Kenny- 67.8 2. Wolfson- 67.3 3. Providence- 63.6

GIRLS BASKETBALL Offensive Leaders (Team) 1. Ribault- 72.4 2. Fernandina Beach- 69.5 3. Terry Parker- 63.5 UC- 63.5

Which shot has the highest

3 percentage of going in the basket?

A. 3 Point Shot B. Lay-up C. Fade away D. Free throw technical fouls result in 4 Two removal from the game.

A. True B. False

Defensive Leaders (Team) 1. Seacoast Christian- 31.6 2. UC- 32.5 3. Fernandina Beach- 33.3

defensive strategy where 5 Aeveryone guards an area is called a zone defense.

Points Scored 1. Maria Kuhlman (Providence)- 633 2. Alyssa Quixley (St. Augustine)- 594 3. Dee Washington (Baker County)- 540 Points Per Game 1. Dee Washington (Baker County)- 27.5 2. Maria Kuhlman (Providence)- 23.4 3. Alyssa Quixley (St. Augustine)- 22.0 Rebounds 1. Genelle Boyer (Seacoast Christian)- 16.4 2. Jennie Powers (West Nassau)- 16.3 3. Kinsley Glasgow (Episcopal)- 12.1

A. True

B. False

occurs when 6 Aan__________ offensive player reaches a desired position first, causing a defensive player to go around him/her; delaying the progress of that defender.

A. assit B. pivot C. steal D. screen

Flip for answers.

Three-pointers Made 1. Maria Kuhlman (Providence)- 117 2. Mallory Sinsel (Fleming Island)- 72 3. Christi Begeman (Ponte Vedra)- 64

The first “hoops” were actually just peach baskets and the first backboards were made of wire.

James Naismith, a teacher at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, is credited with inventing basketball in 1891.

The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a 10-team rival league to the NBA that began play in the 1967-68 season and folded nine years later after the 1975-76 season. Four current NBA teams – Indiana, Denver, New York, and San Antonio – originated in the ABA.

Courtesy of factmonster.com

Two leagues called the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) merged after the 1948-49 season to become today’s National Basketball Association (NBA).

April 2016 Northeast

Answers

BOYS BASKETBALL

B. 2 D. 4

1. D 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. A 6. D

BOYS BASKETBALL

A. 1 C. 3

Florida Edition | 9

Fast Break Most Common Injuries Seen In ERs For Sports In 2013

North Florida Storm Travel Baseball is an organization all its own

Strain/sprain 451,480

Fracture 249,500

Contusion or abrasion 210,640

Concussion 163,670

Other/not stated 141,330

Laceration 85,560

written by: J. Kyler Wilson | photography courtesy of North Florida Storm

Dislocation 33,300

Common Body Injuries

Head

14%

Face

7%

Fingers

12%

Knees

9%

Ankles

15%

This information is courtesy of usatoday.com

10 | IN THE GAME April 2016

The North Florida Storm Baseball organization does not operate like other travel teams in the Jacksonville area. Due to the strict discipline that is enforced, the success rate for their players after high school is very impressive. Focusing on academics, family, and character is top priority to be a part of this program.

Each one of these young men have to maintain a 3.0 GPA or above.

You might ask, “Why is it important for these kids to focus on education on a travel baseball team?” It’s very simple. For Storm Manager Shelly Hall, it’s all about getting these guys to the next level. “Whether it’s NCAA, NAIA, or JUCO, grades are always a factor when a kid wants to play at the college level. My job is to get them there” says Hall. Players are also expected to respect their coaches, teammates, and all authority on and off the field. This isn’t taken lightly by Hall and the coaching staff, “My guys are not even allowed to look or speak to the umpires, regardless of the call.”

Still not convinced that they are unlike other programs around? Recently, the Storm just went International and add-

ed several players to their rosters from the Bahamas, Curacao, and Venezuela. These guys from different countries will give themselves more exposure to scouts and life experiences that they will never forget. Growth is definitely a goal of this organization not only from a culture perspective, but also for more age groups. In the summer of 1999, the North Florida Storm was established and only consisted of one 16U team. The roster included Howie Kendrick (Los Angeles Dodgers), Billy Butler (Oakland Athletics), and many other players who went on to play baseball at a high level.

Now, the Storm has expanded to three 14U, three 16U, and three 18U teams. On the staff for the Storm are Edward Waters College head coach Reggie Johnson and Edward Waters College assistant coach Shane Waller. Johnson is the 16U head coach while Waller is the 18U head coach.

Manager Shelly Hall began his coaching career as Junior Varsity head coach and Varsity assis-

tant coach under his brother at First Coast High School in 199798. After much success at FCHS, Hall and his brother then began coaching at Arlington Country Day School where dominating kept its course by winning two 1A State Championships from 1999-2001. Hall retired from being a JV head coach with a record of 72-1.

The alumni list for the Storm continues to get longer as years go by. The most recent players to get drafted that came out of this program are locals D.J. Stewart (Baltimore Orioles) and Donnie Dewees (Chicago Cubs) just to name a few. It’s very obvious to see that the North Florida Storm formula is consistent and reliable for young men who want to extend their journey in baseball after high school. But players beware! When joining this organization, you are committing yourself to the classroom, teammates and coaches who are like family, and of course, the beautiful game of baseball.

Fast Break

RIBAULT GIRLS BASKETBALL The Dynasty Reigns Again RIBAULT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016: Ribault 60, Bishop Moore 37

2014: Ribault 72, Dunbar 53 2013: Ribault 65, Coral Springs Charter 47

2003: Ribault 63, Southeast 59 2002: Ribault 70, Winter Haven 50 2001: Ribault 68, South Sumter 52 2000: Ribault 71, St. Pete Catholic 43

1999: Ribault 69, Cardinal Gibbons 50

1994: Ribault 72, Suncoast 64 1993: Ribault 73, St. Cloud 69 1988: Ribault 67, Hallandale 61

12 | IN THE GAME April 2016

written by: Corey Davis | photography coutesy of lovepeoplesports.wordpress.com

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Minus the names on the back of the jerseys and the occasional coaching change, the one constant thing that remains is the dynasty winning another state title.

Ribault cruised to its third state title in the last four years with a 60-37 win over Bishop Moore in the Class 5A state title game February 20 at the Civic Center.

Head coach Sheila Seymore-Pennick guided the Trojans to her third state title (2013, 2014) and the programs 11th overall in dominating form.

Bishop Moore surprised everyone jumping out to a 10-point lead, its largest of the game on its way to a 15-8 first quarter lead.

Kayla Rogers three-pointer in the closing seconds of the first quarter cut the lead under 10, and helped spark a 13-3 Trojans run, tying the game at 18 early in the second quarter.

DayNeshia Banks poured in 14 of her 17 first half points in the second quarter sparking the Trojans to a 28-22 halftime lead.

That was all the room the Trojans (28-1) needed to secure their state-leading 11th state title and improve to 11-2 in state title game appearances.

As with most teams, you might get lucky and play well early on, but eventually Ribault warms up and locks you down.

Ribault went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter, keyed by a pair of three-pointers by Praise Russell to blow the game out and seize control, leading 40-24 heading to the fourth quarter.

Rennia Davis led the Trojans with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, Banks added 19 points with 12 rebounds to go along with Russell (nine points) and Rogers (eight points).

Before facing Bishop Moore in the finals, Ribault first had to get through nemesis Dunbar in the state semifinals.

The two met in the 2012 and 2014 state finals, splitting games, so there was a lot of bad blood between the two programs.

As usual, Ribault started off slow and allowed Dunbar to stay in the game early on as the two went into the second quarter tied at 13.

A 14-7 run helped Dunbar take a 27-20 lead into half and put the Trojans on the verge of being eliminated in the semifinals.

However, you can’t keep the Trojans rattled for long. Davis carried the team on her back, scoring seven straight points and tying the game at 27 barely a minute into the third quarter.

A pressing defense and Davis’ hot streak sparked an explosive outpour by the Trojans, which helped them regain the lead again for the first time since the midway point of the second quarter.

A 26-6 second-half run gave Ribault its biggest lead of the game at 46-33 early in the fourth quarter.

However, Dunbar wouldn’t go away quietly, cutting the lead to 47-44 with under two minutes remaining.

Holding on to a slim lead, Davis put it away with a jumper with under a minute left, sending the Trojans into their 13th title game appearance.

Davis led the Trojans with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Banks chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Advocacy for Student Athletes Good for Sports Programs and Students Photos courtesy of Eileen Burdetsky

“It’s important to emphasize that our role as certified athletic trainers is to keep studentathletes in the game, not take them out.”

14 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Jacksonville native and Certified Athletic Trainer Jim Mackie, M Ed, ATC, LAT, has seen a lot of changes in the management of young athletes during his more than 40 years of experience working in youth athletic programs. As a private consultant, through sports medicine outreach programs, and in roles like assistant athletic trainer for the University of Florida – which he held for 13 years – Mackie has seen a positive evolution in how student-athletes are cared for on the playing field.

But the most rewarding and inspiring development he’s witnessed during his long career has been the implementation of Project 17, the collaborative effort between the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, the National Football League, Jacksonville University, the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program (JSMP), to place full-time certified athletic trainers in 17 Duval County Public high schools by 2020.

The common goal of increasing safety in public school athletic programs is what brought the group together.

“We’ve been working for years to

develop something that would place certified athletic trainers in public schools, and it’s been exciting and rewarding to see the project in its first year of development,” said Mackie “From injury prevention and management to educating youth athletes, parents and coaches, and having health care professionals accessible at games and practices to advocate for the young men and women in a variety of sports, it all goes a long way toward improving their quality of care, recovery time, performance and overall wellbeing.”

Mackie now coordinates program development for the JSMP, a program supported by THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and other community partners, and is also president of the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association. He said that as knowledge has grown about the importance of good hydration and nutrition, proper conditioning, concussion prevention and management, and general injury assessment and prevention, having someone on-site on a full-time basis to ensure these goals and guidelines

are met has become a recognized need and valuable asset to youth athletic sports programs around the First Coast.

It wasn’t that long ago that the negative health impact of a concussion was fully recognized. Today, the Florida High School Athletic Association has strict guidelines related to concussion prevention and management that ensures that students suspected of having one must go through a tightly controlled process of evaluation, treatment, recovery and physician assessment before being allowed to return to play. The same is true of assessing other injuries as they occur – making sure an athlete is evaluated right away to determine the type and level of injury so it can be properly treated before going back out to play.

“It’s important to emphasize that our role as certified athletic trainers is to keep student-athletes in the game, not take them out,” said Mackie. “We are there to minimize the time lost from an injury and to get the athletes back to an improved level of performance – and sometimes that means having them sit out of a few practices or games until they are ready to return safely.”

As support in the schools, communities

and among sports programs grows for the necessity of certified athletic trainers in high school sports programs, Mackie hopes that the student-athletes at Duval County public middle schools also will get the opportunity to have access to certified athletic trainers to monitor all sports for both genders. But it not only requires support from school administration and public community funding partners; it also needs the backing of parents through awareness of what these certified athletic trainers do in providing health care for athletic programs and for their children who are on the front lines in the football games, track meets and baseball diamonds.

“We are sports safety advocates who certainly want our local teams to win, but not at all costs,” Mackie said. “Having an advocate along the way helps keep priorities and perspective where they need to be for the benefit and safety of each and every student-athlete.”

You can get more information about Project 17 by calling 904.202.4332 or visiting the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program’s website at jsmp.us.

“We’ve been working for years to develop something that would place certified athletic trainers in public schools, and it’s been exciting and rewarding to see the project in its first year of development.”

April 2016 Northeast

Florida Edition | 15

BOLLES BACK ON THE MAP After Winning Fourth State Title

written by: Corey Davis | photography by: Seeking Smiles Photography

To say the relationship between Coach Anthony Candelino and his players has worked out tremendously would be an understatement.

Having been an assistant coach at Bishop Kenny, UNF, and at Bolles since 2005, it was a no-brainer for Candelino to be promoted to be the next Bolles head boys basketball coach when it came time.

Since taking over in 2010, Candelino has been able to take a program that fell on hard times for nearly 30 years and quickly put them back on the statewide map again.

After years of first-round playoff exits, Candelino and his team finally were able to put it all together, capped off with several playoff wins and a State Championship this season.

In his sixth year, he guided the Bulldogs (30-3) to their fourth overall state title with a 46-39 win over Melbourne Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy on Feb. 25 at the Lakeland Civic Center.

Senior Jonathan DeWane led the Bulldogs with 16 points, while fellow senior Collin Smith added 10 points and nine rebounds in the title game.

In a game of back-and-forth runs, Holy Trinity led early 17-11, but Bolles an16 | IN THE GAME April 2016

swered back with a 13-0 run to take a 2624 lead into the half.

Holy Trinity took a 31-30 lead going into the final quarter of the game, but Bolles closed it out with a 16-8 run to pull away and win its first state title since 1989.

The title is the first under Candelino and the 120th overall state title for the Bolles athletic program.

Candelino told the fans and media after the game, “The last seven minutes of the game, we won as a team. We played some great defense, hit our free throws and won a state championship. It's a great feeling and I'm just so proud of these young men and so happy for them.

They've worked so hard. They are a bunch of great kids on and off the court."

The win is especially meaningful for the seniors as they leave a lasting legacy.

Austin Williams, Lorenzo Lawrence, Nick Strawter, Joe King, Zac Crosby, Jonathan DeWane, and Collin Smith all helped bring the program to a benchmark not achieved in over 25 years.

Over the last three years, the group of

seniors guided the Bulldogs to an 80-7 record, a state championship, and its first Finals appearance since 1993.

From 1939 to 1952, Bolles advanced to the Final Four eight out of 14 years, winning its first state title in 1952. It would be another 30 years before the Bulldogs would get back to the Final Four.

Under legendary coach Buddy Ward, from 1981-1993, Bolles advanced to nine Final Fours in 13 years, including eight in a row from 1982-1989, where Ward guided the Bulldogs to two state titles (1988, 1989) and three state runner-up finishes (1984, 1985, 1986) before taking them to the big show one final time in 1993.

However, after 1993, the once-proud program had fallen on hard times again and was back to being a run-of-the-mill program that couldn’t get past the first round.

But that changed with the hiring of Candelino, who won 22 games in his first season, guiding the Bulldogs to their first second-round playoff appearance since 2001 before losing to Episcopal.

Back-to-back years of subpar seasons were followed by back-to-back 24-win seasons, but still each year ended in a first-round playoff loss.

To get to the title game, Bolles first had to knock off sixth-ranked Tampa Catholic; the Bulldogs beat them handily 68-53 in the state semifinals.

With Collin Smith in serious foul trouble and holding a slim 47-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Bolles got

big contributions from freshman Davey Crouch and senior Lorenzo Lawrence to push the lead up to nine with under five minutes to play.

Smith finished with a team high 31 points and 11 rebounds to go along with Austin Williams’ 12 points and Lawrence’s 11 points.

A day before competing in its own Final Four game, according to fans and media at the game, archrival Bishop Kenny was seen sitting in the stands and watching Bolles play in the title game and could be heard yelling “Duval” and cheering on its oldest rival in the Lakeland Center. That’s something you don’t always hear about. Later in the day, thanks to social media, former Atlanta Braves star and Bolles alumni Chipper Jones tweeted out a congratulations message to his old school.

Body Injuries in Basketball 8.8%

GIRLS

16.6% 13.0% 36.0% 12.2%

BOYS

BOLLES UNDER ANTHONY CANDELINO 2010-2011: (22-4) lost second round to Episcopal 2011-2012: (14-11) lost first round to West Nassau 2012-2013: (16-15) lost in districts to Raines 2013-2014: (26-1) lost first round to Jackson 53-45 2014-2015: (24-3) lost first round to Ribault 68-66 2015-2016: (30-3) Class 4A state champs

11.2%

11.5% 14.7% 10.3% 38.3%

This information is courtesy of momsteam.com

Did You

KNOW? Women’s basketball dates back to 1892, when women at Smith College began playing the sport invented

by Dr. James Naismith.

Today, the sport is played worldwide. Women’s basketball follows mostly the same rules as men’s basketball, with the exception that the ball is smaller.

In 1936, a team called the All American Red Heads competed in exhibition games across the country against men’s teams playing by men ‘s rules. The Red Heads, one of the first pro women’s basketball squads, were very popular and would play up to 200 games a year. Members of the Red Heads were required to wear makeup, don red wigs, or tint their hair crimson.

This information is courtesy of ehow.com

5 Tips

on Softball Hitting Techniques Softball hitting is one of the most, if the not the most, important part of the sport. When it comes to hitting, you need to make sure you have enough skill to get yourself on base more often than not. If you don’t, the coach just might sit you down because you simply aren’t able to produce runs for your team.

Click the following link to read about softball hitting and to understand why technique in this area of the sport is so important.

Softball hitting technique is essential. These five tips give you some insight on proper hitting technique.

Tip 1 Grip

When gripping the bat, the hitter applies pressure with the fingers, not the palms. She grips the bat where the calluses are. The bottom hand (left hand for a right handed batter) controls the bat, and the top hand supports the bat loosely.

The bottom hand grips the bat as a person would grip a hammer or a golf club. The top hand is placed against the bottom hand with a straight line. The arms are not crossed. The bat is gripped loosely - no white knucles here - and the wrists have flexibility. Some hitters curl the index finger of the top hand so that it only lightly touches the bat. For better bat control the player may choke up on the bat by moving both hands several inches up from the knob. Of course, a choke grip means a shorter bat and less power.

Tip 2

Hand Position The hands start close to the body about three to four inches in front of the chest and between the shoulders. Both elbows are down, and the shoulders are tension free. Some players prefer a little movement back and forth with the hands and shoulders to keep them loose. We call this position the power position, or power alley.

Tip 3 Swing

The swing begins with the legs and hips (the hands and shoulders stay back.) The hitter pushes off the ball of the back foot as the softball approaches the plate. The back knee will begin to move in and the hips begin to rotate. During rotation the hips remain parallel to the ground. During the movement of the legs and hips, it is vital that the head and eyes remain level and still. As the hands begin to move the knob of the bat toward the ball, the hitter does not allow the bat

20 | IN THE GAME April 2016

head to fall below the hands. The lead arm maintains a 90-degree angle. This method of approaching the ball ensures a shorter arc and a more compact swing.

One of the most important body parts is the fround shoulder. Stress to the hitter to drive the fround shoulder to the ball. If the front shoulder pulls away from the ball, the following problems might happen.

The head will come out of the proper position and eye contact with the ball will be reduced.

The back shoulder will drop down, which creates an unlevel position for the shoulders in their approach to the ball.

The hands will drop, creating a loop in the swing.

The back leg will collapse and eliminate any positive hip action in the swing.

The batter should allow the front shoulder to track the ball from the pitcher's hand to the contact zone. As the bat is approaching the ball, the arms remain bent. If the arms are extended too early in the swing, the swing arc will be too large and hitter will sacrifice bat speed and power. As the hands move closer to contact, the top hand begins to rotate so that at contact the palm is nearly facing up. The hips continue to rotate as the hitter approaches the contact point. The back leg continues to drive into a now firm front leg, and the back toe begins to turn toward the pitcher.

Tip 4 Contact

The contact spot for a pitch down the middle is directly opposite the front hip. If the player were delivering a punch, she would want the recipient to be standing at this spot to receive the maximum blow. Contact for an inside pitch occurs sooner, in front of the body, and the hips must open earlier. On an inside pitch the batter should drive the back elbow into the body to get the hands out sooner and open the hips more quickly. For an outside pitch the contact spot is between the center of the body and back hip, so the batter must wait on the ball. The hips stay closed until contact, and then the back hip drives through.

The hands are well ahead of the bat head on an outside pitch. The

Oakleaf’s father-daughter team is creating success

written by: Brent Beaird | photography courtesy of Brent Beaird

“His knowledge base is incredible,” Thompson said. “He’ll never be anyone’s ‘yes’ man. You need to have someone on staff to tell you what they think, whether they agree with you or not.

It makes for a much better softball team.”

The Oakleaf High softball team, who has recently been ranked number 1 of MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 poll this season, is winning with a family connection. Christina Thompson, in her sixth year as head coach and her father, Rob Thompson, who was a successful baseball coach for 26 years at Clay High, have been a good pair for the Knights.

The Oakleaf run under Thompson has been quite successful from the first year of the school’s existence.

Oakleaf has been in the playoffs every year of Thompson’s tenure, including her first year without a senior class. Equally impressive during the time is all but three players have earned college scholarships. Two players elected not to play in college and one is going into the military.

Thompson said having her dad on the staff has been rewarding.

“His knowledge base is incredible,” Thompson said. “He’ll never be anyone’s ‘yes’ man. You need to have someone on staff to tell you what they think, whether they agree with you or not. It makes for a much better softball team.”

Thompson, who coached his daughter on her travel softball team, said being on the same staff together has worked out well.

“We had some instances early on where we butted heads, but that is because we are both strong- willed and bullheaded,” the elder Thompson said. “We’re having a blast. I had to tell myself that if I offer suggestions and she takes them that’s great; if not, that’s okay. I had to remind myself that I’m not the top dog, but the assistant.”

Thompson said her father compliments her coaching style.

“He’s never been one to be quiet,” she said. “If he sees something or thinks it, he will share. Nine times out of 10 whatever he’s thinking, I’ve already thought it because he taught me all I know. We feed off of each other. Sometimes I have to tell him I’m not 12 (years old) anymore.

He catches things that I’m not paying attention to.”

The elder Thompson said he appreciates how his daughter has grown as a coach.

“I always knew how competitive she was,” he said. “She hates to lose at anything. The difference in her teams is work ethic. She doesn’t take days off due to cold weather or rain. If we have an opportunity to get better today, then we’re going to get better.”

Both coaches knew the Clay High

5 Tips Continued

batter must be patient and wait for the ball to come to her. By using good rotation of the hips, the hitter can hit just as hard to the opposite field as she does when pulling a pitch. The player must understand where to make contact with different pitches so that she can hit the ball hard at each location. This is what we mean when we say "Hit the ball where it is pitched."

At contact, both arms are bent close to the 90 degrees and the bat is driven through the ball on a level plane. After the ball has left the bat, both arms are fully extended. Both arms are straight, and the hitter should be looking down both arms and the barrel of the bat, and the V between them points directly at the contact spot. As full extension of the arm reached, deceleration occurs and the bat loses speed.

The hitter moves her head down at contact and feels her chest go to the ball while maintaining a firm and rigid front side. The action is like that of a boxer driving his back hand and body into an opponent.

Because of the pivot the back foot

and knee are pointing at the front leg. Most of the weight is transferred to the inside of the front foot and leg. The body is

game (won by Oakleaf 3-0) would stir some emotions, but they were able to move through the game with a minimum of effort.

Enjoying time together is more important to both father and daughter after the recent death of Christina’s uncle and Rob’s brother, Terry, who was an assistant on last year’s Knights team.

“I don’t know when we’ll (Thompson and her father) ever have this opportunity again,” the younger Thompson said. “We get to spend time together. Mom (Shirley, who is Thompson’s wife) is there taking pictures. Especially with Uncle Terry not being around, it’s great to have us all together in one spot.”

Rob Thompson shared an incident after a close win over district foe Atlantic Coast that reminded him of his brother.

“After Atlantic Coast win, I was feeling good and I’m on way back driving on (Interstate) 295 and got this vision of Terry,” he said. “It was with that snicker he always had. It was almost like he was proud of the girls and giving me a hard time at the same time.

You have to appreciate those moments.”

Although the father-daughter coaching story has brought a lot of attention to the team, Thompson also praised the efforts of third base coach Jason Brown for his work after he replaced Terry Thompson on the staff.

The Knights, the favorite to win district 2-8A, are among the top Jacksonville teams in hitting and in the top three in pitching.

Oakleaf has one of the deepest pitching staffs in the area with aces Kelsey Sweatt, (5-0) a junior and Madisyn Davis, a freshman.

Sophomore Rebecca Koskey and Cambria Arturo, the ace of the junior varsity team, have shown a lot of promise.

After struggling last season with a .220 team batting average, the Knights hit .360 in the playoffs. This season, the team is hitting near that same mark.

Alex Acedvedo, Rebecca Koskey, Baylee Goddard, and Mika Garcia have been among the leading hitters this season.

Thompson said he is so proud of his daughter because she coaches the right way.

“Let me be clear, she was doing great before I came aboard,” he said. “She’s one of the best

coaches that I have ever worked with. One of my fears was to go there and steal any thunder away from her, but she’s one heck of a coach. She has girls who are college commits who don’t crack the starting lineup. This may be the most talented team I’ve ever been a part of, including baseball.

It was a lot more the talent on this team than anything that I did.”

Will the elderThompson coach baseball again?

“I enjoy this immensely, but if right opportunity opens up I would listen,” he said. “I do miss baseball. It would be fun someday to coach with my brother, Glen, who is an assistant at Ridgeview High School.”

However long it lasts, Christina and Rob Thompson have had a memorable year together.

in a balanced position with the weight on balls of the feet. The body flows into the ball.

Tip 5

Follow - Through The swing doesn't end when the bat contacts the ball - it is important to make sure your players swing all the way through. After contact, the hitter should allow her arms to extend and her wrists to roll over, ending the swing with her hands near the front shoulder and her chin on the back shoulder.

The majority of the player's weight remains on the firm front leg, and the back shoulder, hip and knee should be aligned.

This information is courtesy of teamsnap.com

Coach Yudin

How Many Calories Does An Endurance Athlete Burn In 30 Minutes of Exercise?

(results based on male weighing 190 lbs and a female weighing 140 lbs.)

14-16 MPH

408 Calories

336 Calories

Freestyle

377 Calories

377 Calories

7 MPH

444 Calories 365 Calories Increased muscular endurance has benefits ranging from improved athletic performance for activities like running and cycling, to assisting in day-today activities such as walking through the grocery store or carrying a baby in your arms.

You can improve your muscular endurance using the basic principles of fitness, which include exercise frequency, intensity, time and type. Be sure to slowly increase exercise frequency, intensity and duration to avoid overuse injuries.

Vary the types of activities you do to challenge your muscles and avoid training plateaus.

This information is courtesy of livestrong.com and healthstatus.com

22 | IN THE GAME April 2016

C

written by: Corey Davis | photography by: Kim Hoy

oach Yudin is in his 22nd year of teaching and 20th year with Duval County. Prior to becoming a teacher, he worked in the private sector for three years after earning a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Valdosta State University. He decided that a career change was in order and took classes towards teacher certification at Florida Atlantic University. His first teaching position was with Putnam County Public Schools at Crescent City Junior/Senior High School, where he taught eighth-grade social studies courses and was an assistant football coach and track coach. He earned a Master of Science Degree from Nova Southeastern University and taught special education classes for six years before transitioning back into regular education social studies classes.

During his 20 years with Duval County Public Schools, he has taught three years at Northwestern Middle School, 10 years at Sandalwood (where he was also was an assistant football coach, head wrestling coach and head flag football coach), two years at Darnell-Cookman Middle/Senior High School where he served as the middle school athletic director and the last five years at Mandarin High School, where he teaches American Government and has coached boys football, wrestling, and flag football.

He has two sons who attend Mandarin, one who will graduate this year and a sophomore who will graduate in 2019. I was able to speak to Coach Yudin about his coaching career and his life recently for In the Game Magazine.

ITG: What is your coaching background?

Yudin: My coaching career began in 1991 when I was taking classes at FAU and volunteered as a wrestling coach at a high school in Broward County.

I helped coach two state champions and multiple state qualifiers for a team that was one of the strongest in the area at the time and had battles with another high school coached by Brian Smith, the longtime head wrestling coach at the University of

Missouri. There is a gap in my career while I finished up classes and I resumed my coaching career in 1994, when I began teaching at Crescent City Junior/Senior High School and coached pretty much the whole defense for the junior high team. I also coached throwers in track. My true background is in wrestling, and I coached wrestling for 12 years, one at Stanton, nine at Sandalwood, and two at Mandarin. I also coached linebackers for the football

SOME OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS ARE COACHING ONE OF MY SANDALWOOD WRESTLERS IN TWO STATE WRESTLING FINALS MATCHES IN 2003 AND 2004. THAT WRESTLER WENT ON TO COMPETE IN A SEASON OF “THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER” AND MADE IT ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE COMPETITION.

ITG: To date, what are some of you proudest moments in your coaching career?

Yudin: Results wise, some of my proudest moments are coaching one of my Sandalwood wrestlers in two state wrestling finals matches in 2003 and 2004. That wrestler went on to compete in a season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and made it about halfway through the competition. Also, giving the beastly Mandarin wrestling team a run for their money in the 2005 Gateway Conference tourney before placing second as a team. In flag football, coaching the Sandalwood Saints to the Gateway title in the inaugural Conference tourney in 2006 and helping coach the Mandarin flag football team to a State Runner-Up finish in 2013. I am most proud of my athletes who go on to college, not so much to compete, but to earn a degree and become successful in their chosen careers.

ITG: Can you tell me about this year's flag team and what we can expect?

Yudin: I can tell you that we were able to recruit more multi-sport athletes this year. We have volleyball, basketball, and soccer players, as well as a current and some former track athletes. We are faster and more coachable. There is more cohe-

Shoulder 116

ITG: Not only are you the girls’ flag football coach, I understand that you referee another sport as well?

Yudin: That is true. I have been a high school wrestling referee on and off for 11 years. I have been involved with the sport of wrestling in some way since I was 13. When I stepped away from coaching wrestling in 2009, I went back to officiating. I only went back to coaching for Mandarin until they could find a permanent coach. I felt that I had done everything that I wanted to as a coach, but I did not want to walk away from wrestling totally. Officiating wrestling allows me to give back to the sport that helped shape me as a person. As long as my knees and back hold out, I will keep officiating wrestling.

ITG: When you are not coaching or refereeing what do you like to do in your spare time?

Yudin: When I am not involved in coaching or refereeing, and the weather is good, I like to ride my motorcycle. Riding helps me relax and take in nature; I ride along the river, down to St. Augustine or Daytona, or up to Fernandina. As a history buff, I like to stop at historical sites and walk around, and then ride some more and stop for something to eat. I also read anything that interests me. I am a big fan of Stephen King and lately, I have been reading historical nonfiction. As we get closer to summer, I have been trying to spend some more time with the family, as our oldest will be graduating and heading down to Gainesville for college.

Upper Leg 155

Hip 47 Knee 300

Ankle 206

Foot 93

This information is courtesy of Simple Therapy.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE What was the fastest score in the Super Bowl history?

When and where was the first NFL Pro Bowl played?

What NFL quarterback has the most games in which he passed for 400 or more yards?

Peyton Manning holds the record for the most 400 yard passing games with 17. Drew Brees and Dan Marino are tied for second with 15.

ITG: Where are you from and why/when did you move to Jacksonville?

Yudin: I grew up in New Jersey and moved to Jacksonville in December of 1982 as a junior in high school. I graduated from Wolfson in 1984.

We left New Jersey and moved to Jacksonville because my parents bought into a business with family and this is where it happened to be. For me personally, it was a good move.

Hand 63

siveness to this year's squad than before. After winning multiple Conference and District titles, we fell off a bit last year. I believe that we will be in the running to compete and possibly bring those titles back to Mandarin this year. We are in a very competitive district with Fleming Island, Sandalwood, and Fletcher, so we have our work cut out for us.

ITG: Having been a boys football coach also, was it easy or hard to adapt to the flag football rules?

Yudin: I don't think adapting to the rule variations was difficult. I am a quick study on the rules and the terminology is the same; only the applications are slightly different. The hardest things for me to adapt to were adjusting my coaching style from boys to girls. Sometimes, girls don't respond well to criticism unless they are coming from a competitive background. The animated style of coaching from my younger days of boys’ football has evolved to a bit more relaxed style as I have coached girls’ flag over the years. My response would probably be refuted by others who you may talk to!

Head 96

The first NFL Pro Bowl was played on January 14, 1951 (for the 1950 season) in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In that game the American Conference defeated the National Conference 28-27.

ITG: Having been a coach at rival Sandalwood, do you tend to get up more for Sandalwood when your teams play them as opposed to other teams?

Yudin: I would have to say that when I first arrived at Mandarin, I would be much more pumped up when we played Sandalwood because I took some heat from my Sandalwood friends for transferring to Mandarin as opposed to returning to Sandalwood after things at Darnell-Cookman did not pan out. Now, most of my coaching friends have moved on to other schools or have left coaching altogether, so I just approach our games with Sandalwood as another game that we will play and try to win.

NFL players have collectively sustained more than 1,300 injuries on the field. Below are just a few of the injuries sustained.

In Super Bowl XLVIII (2014) the Seattle Seahawks scored on the first play of the game when the opening snap flew over Peyton Manning’s head and was recovered by Knowshon Moreno for a safety. The play took 12 seconds eclipsing the previous record of 14 seconds when Devin Hester scored for the Chicago Bears on the opening kickoff in Super Bowl XLI in 2007.

teams at Sandalwood and Mandarin. I discovered girls’ flag football at Sandalwood and jumped at the chance to coach that; I have been coaching it since 2005.

Injuries In The NFL

April 2016 Northeast

This information is courtesy of sportstrivia-nut.com

Florida Edition | 23

ThadBoggs

U.S. Navy Fun Facts

How does the Navy name its ships?

In 1819, the United States Congress placed the Secretary of the Navy in charge of naming ships—a power he or she still enjoys. Generally, names are compiled by the Naval Historical Center based on the suggestions from the public, sailors, and retirees, and from naval history. The Chief of Naval Operations formally signs and recommends the list to the Secretary. Ships named for individuals are christened by “the eldest living female descendent” of that individual. Commissioned ships are prefixed with USS, which stands for United States Ship. Though the convention had been in use since the late eighteenth century, it was not standardized or formalized until 1907,

by Teddy Roosevelt.

The Navy SEAL Trident is sometimes called the “Budweiser.”

The trident worn on the uniforms of Navy SEALs is officially designated as the “Special Warfare Insignia,” but it is sometimes called the “Budweiser,” named in part for the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) course, the grueling twenty-five week special warfare school. The trident also has an uncanny resemblance to the Anheuser-Busch logo.

NCIS isn’t just a TV show.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is a federal law enforcement agency operating from 140 locations in the world. Special agents for the largely civilian organization are charged with criminal investigations (obviously), counterterrorism, and counter-intelligence. It was founded as the Office of Naval Intelligence, and at the time was responsible for gathering information on foreign vessels, passengers, bodies of water, and naval infrastructure. During World War I, its mission expanded to espionage and sabotage.

Today, it’s a cash cow for CBS.

This information is courtesy of mentalfloss.com

24 | IN THE GAME April 2016

”I had a tennis

written by: Corey Davis | photography by: Kim Hoy

player in the early 2000’s that played the number four and five singles position as a freshman and sophomore; by the time he was a senior, he had polished his game so well that he was selected as an All-Conference player.”

Mandarin’s Thad Boggs is entering his 21st year as the boys’ tennis coach. He has been a physics/chemistry teacher at Mandarin High School since 1994.

He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile and Polymer Chemistry and from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1985 with a Master of Science degree in Systems Technology. Prior to beginning his teaching career, he served in the United States Navy for 20 years, where he was a helicopter pilot, and has flown over 3800 hours in the H-1, SH-2F, and SH-60B. As the tennis coach, his teams have amassed a record of 250-81, two Gateway Conference Championships, and one District Championship. He has been named the Mike Houser Award recipient as the Gateway Conference Coach of the Year on multiple occasions. He also has been an assistant football and boys’ basketball coach for the past 20 years.

He has been married to the former Mary Catherine Martin since June 1974, and they have one daughter, Angela Nadeau, who resides with her husband in Maryland.

I talked to Coach Boggs about his coaching career and his life, and here is what he had to say about such an amazing resume.

ITG: I see you have been at Mandarin for over 20 years; staying at one school for so long is almost unheard of. Why have you stayed at Mandarin so long?

Boggs: The atmosphere at Mandarin is such that academics and athletics are both considered important in creating a well-rounded individual. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the finest teachers who are willing to invest in the lives of not only their students, but with their fellow teachers. Cooperation was important at Mandarin before it became an educational buzz word. I have also been able to learn from many very talented coaches. Taking a little from each of them has made me a much better coach. They taught that humor, fairness, and relationships with our athletes are just as important as X’s and O’s. Making our athletes better members of our society has always been a guiding concept that we have all aimed to live by.

ITG: You have racked up over 250 wins at Mandarin, can you share with us one of your secrets?

Boggs: The most important secret I have found is that, as coaches, we must first be able to have a positive relationship with our players before they

will give their all to our programs. Part of this relationship is ensuring that all of our players are treated equally. If your best player violates a team rule, his consequence should be the same as if the last member of the bench committed the same violation and vice versa. The hardest lesson is how to deal with the individual player, because each is different and they respond differently. Some respond to immediate feedback, some have to see it on tape, and some respond to their teammates better than a coach. Knowing how a player responds is only found by having an understanding of what motivates your players.

ITG: What is your best memory so far coaching at Mandarin?

Boggs: As a head tennis coach, it would have to be winning the District championship in tennis, because my number-two doubles team had to win and it appeared that the original team was not going to be able to participate due to an injury. The injured player chose to play with a sore ankle and they won the third set to win the match and the championship. There have been many other fond memories in basketball and football; like the year we were the last seed in the district and went on to

beat two top-10 district opponents to capture the District championship and into the second round of the playoffs. Or this year in football; being able to make to the regional final game undefeated with a group of players who bought into the system lock, stock, and barrel.

ITG: Is their one particular player who stands out, one that maybe began as a freshman and wasn’t that good but by the time they were a senior became an All-Conference player or state champion?

Boggs: I had a tennis player in the early 2000’s that played the number four and five singles position as a freshman and sophomore; by the time he was a senior, he had polished his game so well that he was selected as an All-Conference player. What I remember most about him was how, regardless of the way the match progressed, he conducted himself with class and he remained that kid who just loved the game of tennis.

ITG: Were you born here? If not, where are you from, and why did you move to Jacksonville?

Boggs: I was not born in Jacksonville. I was raised in Dalton, a small town in northeast Georgia between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee. I moved here when I was in the Navy and elected to remain here after I retired.

ITG: Who are some of your favorite professional tennis players of all time, and why?

Boggs: I grew up watching Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe play tennis and would have to say they would probably be my favorites. Both of them had a style of tennis that made watching the game interesting. They both understood the mental part of the game and how to use it to their advantage, but that also had

great strokes that were fun to watch.

ITG: You spent many years in the military as a pilot, can you tell us about any of the places you went and some of your favorite memories?

Boggs: I am blessed to have had the opportunity to serve as a Navy helicopter pilot and to see a good portion of the world.

Whether it was the flying off the beaches of Rio or Bermuda or the escorting tankers in the Arabian Gulf, it was always interesting and exciting, no day was ever the same. The old Navy adage that “the Navy was more than a job, it was an adventure” was really true for me. I was able to be involved in the saving of lives, the protecting of our country, and the training of future pilots and air crew. I was able to work with some very fine officers and sailors and do something I really enjoyed. It was also where I learned many of the ideas on how to motivate and coach. It is hard to really pinpoint a favorite memory, suffice it to say I enjoyed it.

ITG: Besides coaching, what do you and your wife like to do in your off time?

Boggs: Up until this year, I coached in all three high school sports seasons and then had sports commitments most of the summer.

My wife and I have enjoyed taking summer cruises, watching Major League Baseball at different parks, or getting ready to be grandparents (in July). We both still have a full schedule with our jobs. We work on visiting family, different cruises, and just hanging out with each other.

Trinity Baseball Hopes to continue tradition of Excellence written by: Raymond Bureau | photography courtesy of Trinity Christian Academy

COACH GIL MORALES School: Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida 2015 Season: 24-8, Florida Class 4A State Champions Years As a Head Coach: 13 Overall Record: 198-145, Four state titles

IMPACT PLAYERS TO WATCH Trinity Christian has four seniors and two juniors who, both offensively and defensively, will lead the team.

• First baseman Jeff Fripp gives the Conquerors power and is their biggest run producer. He will catch the ball regardless of where it is thrown, and he saves his defense from throwing errors.

Fripp has committed to Lander University.

• Shortstop/second baseman Austin Martin provides consistent contact at the plate and uses all fields. He can steal bases, and he is an excellent overall base runner. Martin has committed to Jacksonville University.

• Second baseman Colton Yeager is a defensive whiz. Like Martin, he makes contact, gets on base, takes the walk, and knows how to run the bases. He is also

26 | IN THE GAME April 2016

an excellent bunter. Yeager will join Fripp at Lander University.

• In the outfield, J.C. Flowers runs down nearly everything.

He has a tremendous arm that keeps runners at bay. Offensively, Flowers is the ideal lead-off man with blazing speed and patience at the plate.

• Junior catcher Angel Acosta is a wall behind the plate, blocking pitches with ease. He throws out base stealers consistently. Offensively, he hits for high average and advances runners.

• Junior outfielder Logan Nugent hits the ball as hard as anyone else and drives in many runs. He scores often with the offense he has behind him. Like Flowers, Nugent has a tremendous arm.

Pitching-wise, the Conquerors are loaded with arms, beginning with Flowers, a University of Kentucky commit.

• Flowers throws mid-90’s and

averages more than a strikeout per inning. He saved five games in 2015.

has committed to the University of Louisiana-Layfayette.

• Senior Troy Jackson also averages over a strikeout per inning and can hit 90 mph. Jackson also has impeccable control.

OTHER BIG CONTRIBUTORS

• Junior A.J. Labas throws very hard with good control and is already a University of North Floriday commit.

• Junior Dalton Terrell, RHP. 8587 mph. Terrell will be a big part of the pitching staff this year

• Sophomores Chad Ragland and Levi Sigler are joining the varsity staff this year. Both throw hard with pinpoint control. Ragland also figures to close this season.

NEW KEY PLAYER TO WATCH Outfielder Todd Lott is new to Trinity in his senior year. He was named Gateway Conference Player of the Year in Jacksonville and was selected to play in the Florida Diamond Club as one of the top prospects in Florida. Lott

Coach Morales has named the following as key contributors to this year’s success:

• Senior Matt Parker, RHP. 84-86 mph with good breaking stuff • Senior Parker Aman, INF. Aman was a key role player last year, and he hit over .300 in the postseason.

TEAM STRENGTHS FOR 2016 When asked, Coach Morlaes answered, “Our strength will be the leadership returning from last year’s state championship team.

We have strong pitching coming back. Labas and Flowers both throw 90+ fastballs. We also have

2016 Stats

OFFENSE: Jeff Fripp Austin Maritn John Flowers Logan Nugent Angel Acsota Colton Yeager Todd Lott

Year BA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Sr .216 85 20 19 6 0 4 16 Jr .402 87 28 35 8 3 0 11 Sr .256 82 22 21 4 0 1 8 Jr .286 84 14 24 4 0 0 16 Sr .324 34 2 11 1 0 0 6 Sr .361 23 15 9 0 1 0 3 Sr .360 17 6 1 8

PITCHING: A.J. Labas J.C. Flowers Troy Jackson Chad Ragland Levi Sigler

Year W/L SV IP K BB ERA Jr 2-2 3 34.2 27 8 1.42 Sr 1-2 5 11.1 13 8 3.90 Sr 3-0 0 16.1 17 4 1.02 Jr 0-1 3 10.2 13 8 0.00 So 1-0 0 10 0 1 0.00

a great lineup of guys who are all advancing to the next level. We have two catchers in Angel Acosta and K.C. Isenberg who have been able to control a great staff and have pop times under 2.00.

With the schedule we play, we will undoubtedly play at a high level throughout the 2016 season.”

THIS YEAR This year, the Conquerors have seven players already committed as the season begins: • Jeff Fripp, senior Lander • Colton Yeager, senior Lander • J.C. Flowers, senior Kentucky • Todd Lott, senior Louisiana Lafayette • AJ Labas, junior UNF • Austin Martin, junior Jacksonville University • Dylan Simmons, freshman Florida State University Coach Morales expects three more of his seniors to commit before the season ends.

ARE YOU IN THE GAME?

FIND OUT MORE AT INTHEGAMESPORTSNETWORK.COM

MAGAZINE

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WEBSITE

EVENTS

“CLIMB HARD, CLIMB OFTEN” AT THE EDGE ROCK GYM written by: James A. Washington

Located on Phillips Highway in Jacksonville, The Edge Rock Gym provides a multitude of options for any and everyone that is interested in getting in shape, building stamina and endurance, or simply getting out for a good time with friends and family.

The facility offers classes that cater to everyone. The Basic Movement and Technique class, which is geared toward visitors with little to no climbing experience, emphasizes body position, hand holds, and foot placement. On the other end of the spectrum, the Lead Climbing class is open to those that have completed the top rope belay certification and are able to flash a 5.10+ climb. More in depth, the Lead Climbing class offers pointers on things such as clipping, stances, avoiding tangles, and other important safety considerations.

At The Edge, it is emphasized that, because climbing is an individual sport, participants are able to progress and grow at their own pace. It is understood, as well, that motivation and confidence are important in the lives of children. The facility has full-body harnesses that cater to nearly every age; children as young as 2 years old have been seen giving the climb a try.

The Edge provides ability-based instruction so that any interested child can work in an environment that is challenging while not becoming too overwhelmed.

For more information, contact The Edge Rock Gym via phone at (904) 683-2512, via email at theedgerockgym@ gmail.com, or visit their website at theedgerockgym.com.

Don’t hesitate; a lifetime of fitness and fun are waiting for you!

Business Hours Sunday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm Monday and Wednesday: 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm Friday: 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

DON’T H E S I TAT E ;

A LIFETIME OF FITNESS

AND FUN ARE

WAITING

FOR YOU!

FACT OR FICTION REMEMBER THE TITANS Did Coach Boone really give the “We are the Titans” speech?

Coach Boone is an excellent motivational speaker and gave a lot of speeches; at one time or another he most likely said something similar to the speech in the movie.

He also never talked about winning, but by playing our best and leaving everything on the field, we could leave the field with our heads held high no matter what the score. His favorite saying was “We are going to do this for us!” But, with his North Carolina accent it always sounded like he said “We are going to do this for Russ!” As soon as he would turn away or go into the Coach’s room we would all look around and say “Who the heck is Russ?”

Did the restaurant incident happen?

This incident may not have actually happened, but there were places of business with the attitude portrayed by the owner in that scene in certain parts of the country at that time.

KEEP GOING!

30 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Is it wise to

specialize?

It’s a hot topic in and around the high school sports world these days: should I/my child specialize in one sport to get better at it, and therefore further chances of playing it at the collegiate level?

written by: Kim Hoy | photography by: Marque Milla Reese

There’s pros and cons to each side of the argument, and the push toward specialization has increased dramatically in recent years. There are stories every year that come out about athletes who quit other sports to focus on one and end up getting highly recruited at Division I schools. There are also stories about athletes who played multiple sports throughout their childhood, and even in college, and end up playing at a high level.

So still, the question remains: to specialize, or not to specialize?

The pros of sport specialization are easy to figure out. Focusing full-time on one sport and practicing it over and over

will likely make your skill level in that sport much higher. Letting go of other sports frees up more time to practice the chosen sport as well. Specializing in one sport can also build a better relationship and a stronger bond with that coach or personal trainer because of the time spent.

However, the cons of sport specialization seem to outweigh the pros. Specializing in a sport that includes travel teams can hinder social growth among peers. It may cause the athlete to be influenced by coaches and parental interests as opposed to their own. Studies show that athletes who specialize have increased risk of burnout and de-

crease of motivation. In fact, studies have also shown that athletes who specialize in one sport have lower rates of physical activity for the rest of their lives; simply put, kids who specialize don’t seem to want to be very athletic after they retire. Specialization also does not guarantee future success. It may put a child ahead in their sport for a time, but it doesn’t guarantee a Division I scholarship or a career in the professional leagues.

Probably the scariest side effect of sport specialization is the increased risk of injury. A 2012 study showed that of the 3.5 million children treated for sports injury, over half of those were over-

MORE

FACT OR FICTION

REMEMBER THE TITANS Did everyone really get along on the team or was there a lot of conflict between each other and even the coaches because it was a different era?

Of course not everyone on a team of 80 players and coaches is going to get along and be best friends, we did respect each other and many of us are good friends. We never had any fights off the field as depicted in the movie. There were of course several ‘pushing matches’ on the field by a couple guys on the very rare occasion, but it is hard to play a violent game without the occasional loss of temper. The parties involved normally worked their differences out while they ran their mile together.

“I think that’s where most of the kids’ minds were. We were just trying to play football.”

(Ronnie Bass, player)

Did Coach Boone receive threats of violence and have bricks thrown through his window?

use injuries, or injuries caused by repetitive motions or movements.

Dr. Lyle Michele of the Children’s Hospital Boston said that 25 years ago, only 10 percent of injuries he saw were overuse injuries; today, he says that number has risen to 70 percent.

In the 2015 NFL Draft, 244 of 256 athletes were multi-sport athletes. Perhaps the most famous athlete from that draft class is Jameis Winston, first overall pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played both baseball and football growing up, and continued to play them both at a high level while at Florida State.

Other notable two-sport athletes include Julius Thomas, who went

to Morehouse on a basketball scholarship and only picked up football during his junior year of college, Jimmy Graham, who played on Miami’s basketball team and only played one year of football in graduate school, and the famous Bo Jackson, who played both collegiate and professional football and baseball.

Our recommendation? Don’t specialize! Play as many sports as you want. Many college coaches actually look for athletes who are multi-sport and well-rounded. If you are going to specialize, don’t do so before high school, as all these issues are more common in younger athletes. Also, if specializing is what the parents want

to do, make sure it’s also what the child wants to do. Being a high school athlete is pressure enough; adding pressure to excel at one sport and sacrifice time with friends can cause burnout and an athlete quitting sports altogether.

Remember: sports are just glorified games in which the goals are to win AND to have fun. Always be sure that both goals are being accomplished.

Coach Boone did receive threats, he did not share all of them with his players.

Things were thrown into his yard and through his window, once a toilet was thrown through his window.

Did we really run six plays?

The foundation of the offense consisted of six plays; they were all variations of the triple option veer. In addition to the basic running plays, which could be run from several different formations, we had a set of passing plays and a few other plays, traps, sweeps, screens, etc. The basic six plays each had three options and could be run in either direction, so in reality we had a lot of plays.

This information is courtesy of 71originaltitans.com The photo is courtesy of americanfootballfilms. com and beckett.com

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Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Careers for Sports Lovers

there are numerous ways you can still remain In the Game.

written by: James Washington

National Signing Day is behind us, and soon a new year of college athletics will begin. Student-athletes will turn to their respective campuses to better themselves and prepare for lives beyond college, some athletically and others in careers beyond sports. It is a proven reality that not all athletes become professionals in their respective sports. However, just because your time as a player comes to an end doesn’t mean that your enthusiasm and love for the game has been wasted. What makes sports great is the idea that contribution comes from all areas. Players, coaches, fans, and many others add to what makes athletics enjoyable.

For those who do not plan to pursue athletics professionally, there are still numerous ways you can still remain In the Game. Here are just a few ideas of paths that you can take: Athletic Trainer. Earning a degree in an athletic training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) can lead to a career in athletic training. Athletic trainers tending to game-time injuries and ensure that athletes are in the best condition to perform at their peak, among other things.

Sports Psychologist. After studying counseling, research psychology, or another related field and earning either a Ph.D. or a Psy.D., you can easily get your foot in the door as a sports psychologist. Sports psychologists are specially trained to help athletes in the areas of mental health and performance. You could also earn a provisional license through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) after completion of a master’s program and mentored work experience.

Public Relations Specialist. Imagine waking up

34 | IN THE GAME April 2016

one morning with one major goal on your to-do list: heading a team of reps in charge of communication and relaying information vital to the forward positive movement of the NBA Finals. In order to make this dream a reality, look into a career as a PR specialist.

Most PR specialists pursue undergraduate degrees in journalism, public relations, communication, advertising, business, marketing, or English.

Sports Agent. Perfect example: Tom Cruise in the role of the title character in the 1996 hit film “Jerry Maguire.” Your job is simple: You get athletes the money and contracts that will satisfy them. Obviously, this job would put you directly in contact with various professional athletes, which could open the door to other job opportunities if desired. Many agents study communications, business, or similar undergraduate programs and bolster their knowledge by subsequently attending law school.

Sports Journalist. You watch games. You attend practices. You conduct interviews. You report the news. Congratulations: You are a sports journalist.

While it may only grant the ESPN-caliber stardom to a select few, the life of a sports journalist can be quite rewarding, as the list of connections and partnerships can become rather lengthy. Most journalists typically pick up degrees in journalism, English, or communications.

If you can’t become a professional athlete, don’t sweat it. Chances are if you love sports enough to possess a drive to be the best on the field, court, or diamond, then that same drive will make you happy being around the sport of your preference, no matter the extent. Consider these areas of study to further your sports reach; you won’t regret it!

HIP AND GROIN PAIN IN ATHLETES

Carl R. Freeman, MD

Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute 1325 San Marco Boulevard, Suite 200 Jacksonville, FL 32207 JOI.net

Spring is now here, and it is time for some of our favorite spring sports. Baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, Lacrosse, rowing and other great sports, to name just a few, are going to be occupying our athletes from across the region over the next few months. With this will come many sports injuries, and some of those will be of the groin, hip and thigh.

There are many causes of hip and groin pain. Common causes of hip and groin pain include groin muscle strains, hip labral tears, hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement-FAI), inguinal hernias, stress fractures, slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) and other growth plate injuries, just to name a few. When assessing hip and groin pain, there are several factors to take into account. First, most minor hip injuries are a nagging pain that rapidly resolves. If pain makes weightbearing difficult, an athlete is unable to walk, or if there is excessive pain with range of motion, athletes should be advised to seek an evaluation by a healthcare provider or orthopaedic surgeon immediately. Furthermore, progressively worsening pain and pain that persists throughout the day and night, are also major red flags, and should lead athletes to seek care immediately.

GROIN STRAINS

INGUINAL HERNIA

HIP LABRAL TEARS

SCFE

Groin strains are somewhat common, although other injuries are often incorrectly diagnosed as groin strains. Groin strains tend to be mild pain in the groin with stretching of the hip. It should improve within 1 to 2 weeks with reduced activities, avoidance of sports, and anti-inflammatory medications. If groin muscle strains do not resolve or improve within 1 to 2 weeks athletes should be evaluated by their physician or an orthopaedic surgeon to determine if there is something more concerning than a groin muscle strain.

Hip labral tears are an injury that has only been recently well-understood. These injuries tend to occur after a single or multiple forceful flexion events of the hip. An example might be sliding into home base, a heavy landing from a jump, or forceful flexion caused by form during running. One example of runners who often have labral tears is hurdlers.

These injuries occur because the hip labrum- which runs around the rim of the ball and socket joint of the hip and acts as a gasket- is crushed with hip flexion, as the ball (femoral head and neck) crushes the labrum against the rim of the hip socket. These tend to cause pain in the front of the hip/groin area. Pain is usually present and more severe with hip flexion activities such as prolonged sitting, sitting in a deep chair, crossing the legs, etc. Some athletes report that the pain is “deep in the hip joint”.

These can often heal on their own, but healing time for this can take many weeks – up to 12 weeks. The initial treatment is rest, avoidance of sports, and NSAIDs. These are usually diagnosed with the help of a physical exam by an orthopaedic surgeon who may order an MRI. Treatment of hip labral tears includes physical therapy, anti-inflammatories or injections, and if these non-surgical treatments fail, then hip surgery may be recommended.

HIP IMPINGEMENT (FAI)

Many athletes, especially those in their later teenage years and into their 20s, will have hip and groin pain. Some of these athletes suffer from hip impingement. This is a painful mechanical deformity of the hip joint. Essentially, the hip socket is too deep, the rim of the socket is too high, or the femoral head is “egg-shaped”, rather than being spherical.

This condition often causes labral tears. The symptoms are very similar to labral tears. Pain is typically aching and sharp, and described as being in the front of the hip/groin, as well as deep in the hip. The pain is associated with flexion activities and often times athletes will report that they have severe pain after periods of increased physical activity, such as after a game or after a run. Diagnosis of this condition can be difficult, and athletes sometimes require referral to a hip specialist to make the diagnosis. Initial treatment of hip impingement is with physical therapy, and if conservative treatment fails, then surgical treatment may be recommended to correct the deformity.

Most athletes have heard of hernias, but they are actually somewhat uncommon. A hernia is a hole in the wall of the abdomen that allows a portion of the intestines to “poke through”. Symptoms of a hernia, in addition to groin pain, include a lump or bulge near the pubic bone and groin area, pressure in the groin, and pain and swelling around the scrotum. Most hernias are not generally caused by sports. Athletes who suspect that they have an inguinal hernia should be evaluated by their primary doctor. These are generally treated surgically.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is an injury of the growth plate at the top of the femur bone involving the femoral head. This can be either an acute injury with a rapid onset and a sudden inability to bear weight, or a chronic injury with progressively worsening pain or constant pain over a prolonged period of time. The pain tends to be associated with weightbearing as well as during physical activity. Most patients report that any activity is painful. Pain can be experienced in the hip/groin area, deep in the hip, or down the thigh or the inner knee. The most important warning signs are progressively worsening pain, pain with weightbearing, and pain during every activity. Rarely, the only symptom is a persistent limp. Athletes who suspect that they have this should be evaluated immediately by an orthopaedic surgeon. This is an urgent condition and always requires surgical treatment.

STRESS FRACTURES

Stress fractures are somewhat uncommon in teenagers, but when they do occur, they tend to occur in female athletes. It is often associated with eating disorders and lack of menstrual periods; however, it can occur in male athletes and is not always associated with those other conditions.

Stress fractures can occur anywhere in the body, but stress fractures of the femur can cause hip and groin pain as well as thigh pain. Pain tends to occur during weightbearing activities. Most patients say that even standing on the affected leg is painful. They have pain with walking, running and any other activity that involves putting weight across the bone.

In addition, many athletes with this condition will report that the pain has slowly worsened over a period of many weeks. Athletes who suspect that they have this should be evaluated by their primary physician or by an orthopedic surgeon. These can be treated with a period of non-weightbearing (using crutches), high dose vitamin D, and rarely require surgery.

At Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute, we have orthopaedic surgeons who specialize in the treatment of athletes. Any athletes who suspect they have one of these injuries, or any other injury, should call JOI-2000 for an appointment.

Defensive Football Strategy

Quick Tip

Football defenses today run numerous plays and formations throughout a game. The number of defensive linemen can vary from three to five. The number of linebacker can vary as well. Also, many teams will use 5 defensive backs in passing situations call the nickel defense.

One of the main strategies of football defenses against the pass is the blitz. This is when a player that would normally not rush the passer, rushes the passer. This may be a defensive back or a line backer.

Many teams change up who is blitzing and how many players are blitzing nearly every play.

Some teams blitz more than others. The advantage of the blitz is that a football team is more likely to get a sack or to give the quarterback less time to throw the football. The disadvantage is that there are less players downfield to tackle a runner or to cover receivers.

A defensive football strategy that is used late in games is the prevent defense. This usually means the defense has an extra defensive back and that the defenders are all staying behind the receivers. They will allow the offense to make a short pass or run in order to prevent a long pass from being successful.

This information is courtesy of ducksters.com

36 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Spring Football

Back on the grind written by: Corey Davis | photography by: Corey Davis

It’s been over six months since the majority of local high school football teams put their pads on. Fortunately for everyone, it’s time to dust them off again as spring football practice is finally here.

For 20 days and nearly the entire month of May, coaches and fans have the chance to get an early glimpse of what teams may look like for the 2016-2017 season.

Beginning April 25, schools will suit up once again, with a major task: how to fill the holes left from the departing seniors.

The month of practice concludes with a spring game or jamboree against other schools as a measuring stick of what to work on in the summer and fall.

Raines, Trinity Christian, and University Christian were the final three teams standing last fall, while Columbia advanced to the Final Four. The four will spend the spring replacing several key starters, but there is plenty of talent waiting to replace them.

LIVE ON Trinity Christian (14-0) at Raines (12-2) Perhaps there isn’t a more depleted team to repair in the area than Raines.

They had the largest Signing Day class in Jacksonville, which, although amazing, has left them with significant gaps to fill.

Gone are quarterback Augie DeBiase, tailback Alex Rutledge, trio of receivers Rick Wells, Dalvin Storey, and Ronald Patterson, as is half the offensive line.

Junior lefty quarterback Ryan Williams saw time in several games and appears to be pretty lethal. The most dangerous kick return specialist in the state is back in junior Willie Wright, who accounted for six return touchdowns while also hauling in five touchdown catches. A virtual unknown on the prospect radar last season, Wright picked up numerous D-I offers in the offseason and is now one of the most sought after recruits in the area.

Also gone is the entire defense including Michael Pinckney, Jaquan Bailey, Joshua

Bailey, and Solomon Kindley.

The Vikings will have to grow up quickly in the spring to face the most explosive team in the state: Trinity Christian.

Outside of finding a replacement for Billy Cobb III, the Conquerors return nearly everyone on both sides of the ball.

Junior tailback Rasheed Martin, junior receiver DJ Matthews, junior tailback DaeQuantae Showers, sophomore tailback Raynell Killian, and junior kicker Frankie Onate are among the many athletes on offense.

The defense is stacked with junior cornerback Shaun Wade, junior safety Derrick Smith, sophomore linebacker Eriq Gilyard, sophomore safety Chamarri Conner, and sophomore cornerback Tyreke Johnson.

THE EDGE

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Columbia (12-2) at Sandalwood (9-3) One of the featured spring games to watch is Columbia traveling to Sandalwood May 20 in a highly anticipated matchup.

Columbia is hands down the most veteran-laden team returning, with nearly the entire offense coming back.

Among those returning are junior quarterback Davin Shuck (208 of 383 for 3798 yards, 39 TD, 17 INT), junior tailback Kamario Bell (1,235 yards and 16 TD on 195 carries), and sophomore receiver Nathan Maxwell (37 catches for 585 yards, eight TD).

Defensively, the Tigers return freshman Jaylen Brown (103 tackles, 14 TFL, 5.5 sacks) and junior Robbie Moon (97 tackles, 9.5 sacks), who will have their hands full trying to stop a young but talented Saints offense.

The Saints will spend most of their spring trying to replace quarterback Eli Peters and receiver Phil Benker, who both have moved on to the Big Ten Conference. One playmaker back on offense is junior tailback Logan Wright, who ran for over 1300 yards and 11 touchdowns.

While the offense has a lot of questions to answer, the defense is solid with the return of key playmakers, junior Bradley Jennings Jr. and junior cornerback Ameer Speed. Sandalwood has also added a transfer, junior cornerback from Lee, Quran Hafiz. All three have dozens of offers and will be counted on heavily while the offense learns to adapt to new schemes.

R. Stephen Lucie, MD - Team Physician

Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute and Baptist Health are pleased to offer area athletes and weekend warriors unmatched sports medicine expertise and complete orthopaedic care.

As team physicians for the Armada, Jaguars, area high schools, colleges and universities, you’ll find us on the field and at convenient office locations across Northeast Florida. That’s good for the team — and good for you.

To learn more or to set an appointment, call JOI-2000 or visit joi.net

Clay (10-4) at Bartram Trail (9-4) With Bilal Ally off to U-Mass, the Blue Devils offense will feature a combination of junior quarterback Jaylan Jenkins and junior tailback Colin Wilson, both of whom will run behind junior guard Jarrod Leeds.

Jenkins (32 of 52 for 468 yards/three TD and 567 rushing/seven TD) is a dual threat quarterback who can burn teams either with his arm or legs.

Wilson, who has battled injuries throughout his career, came back with a vengeance, accumulating over 500 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. With teams trying

to stop Ally, it was Wilson who came up with big runs in the playoffs for the Devils.

For the Bartram Trail Bears, the quarterback combination of junior Jordan Smith (105 of 196 for 1,715 yards, 18 TD) and sophomore Joey Gatewood (59 of 103 for 713 yards/six TD, 871 rushing/six TD) should be another good one to keep an eye on. Both are back to lead the Bears offense along with junior receiver Chandler Harvin (30 catches for 612 yard, eight TD).

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40 | IN THE GAME April 2016

WORLD

WIDE WAVES Braidyn Cunningham written by: Kim Hoy | photography by: Marque Milla Reese

Braidyn Cunningham already has seven big name sponsors. She travels all around the world searching for the perfect waves.

She has serious Olympic aspirations.

April 2016 Northeast

Florida Edition | 41

“Every place I go, it feels like a totally different world almost. I meet new people, and I get this new experience that I could never get in the U.S.; it’s really awesome.”

40 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Braidyn Cunningham is 15 years old.

Surfing wasn’t really ever a conscious decision for her. Her dad was a prolific surfer in his own right, and passed on the passion and love of surfing to his six children. Braidyn, the second-youngest of those six, picked up surfing early and quickly.

“Every time they’d go surfing, I’d be on the boogie board,” Braidyn said. “But then I got kind of tired of that, so I tried standing up on it.

Then my dad told me that he saw potential in me, so then I started really surfing, and I liked it more than pretty much anyone in my family, so I kind of took it to a new level. Now I’m traveling everywhere, and it’s really becoming a career.”

Born and raised in Jacksonville, minutes from the beach, Braidyn has perfected her craft over the years, but with consequences to her schedule.

“I go surfing as much as I can,” she said. “If the waves are small, I just stay home and do schoolwork all day so I can maybe surf tomorrow. I just get up, check the surf report; if it’s good, you go for a few hours, if it’s bad you just stay home and work.

Especially living in Jacksonville, you have to surf every time you can in or-

der to practice enough to keep up.”

She’s also had to give up a lot of things that normal teenagers can sometimes take for granted.

“When I went to public school, I got to socialize and made a lot of friends,” she said. “But now I’ve lost touch with all of them. I miss going to school, because I don’t like sitting in front of a computer screen doing online school all day.”

However, Jacksonville is not the only place that she practices her surfing prowess.

“I’ve been to Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Hawaii; it’s a pretty long list,” she said. “Every place I go, it feels like a totally different world almost. I meet new people, and I get this new experience that I could never get in the U.S.; it’s really awesome. There’s this place called Marbella in Costa Rica, and it’s my favorite break by far. It’s like a perfect right and left, and it runs forever and you can do whatever you want on it.”

You don’t go surf those places if you aren’t talented. There are serious risks involved, and sometimes even seasoned veterans have scary situations.

“She was about 12 when she had a long hold down underwater,” her

mom said. “It was a hurricane; it was scary, dark, and gloomy. And you can’t find the top of the water, can’t find the bottom, if you’re facing up or down.

“And then there’s the sharks, almost every session,” Braidyn said. “One time my friend got bit by a shark. Other than that, they’re not really that scary.”

However, as she has done her whole career in surfing, she rode the wave and came out on top.

“It was tough for her for a good year in certain conditions, she would just shut down. Mentally, it took a long time for her to recover from,” her mom said. “But she’s definitely recovered, she’s fine now.”

Braidyn’s talent may come as a bit of an understatement.

“Last year I was on the developmental U.S. Team,” she said. “This year, I’m trying to get on the official team. In 2020, the Olympics are going to add surfing, so that’s basically the Olympic team. Obviously it’s really hard, but I might have a chance to win a gold medal. I also won the Surfing America East Coast in the overall under-16 division.”

Braidyn is also very smart. She knows her dreams are big, so she also has smaller, long-term goals set for herself.

“I want to become a pro, but there’s only 17 people invited on the pro circuit in the whole world,” she said. “Overall, I want

to make a surf company, promote myself, and be my own ambassador.”

She’s also sponsored by several wellknown surf and sport brands, such as Billabong, Dakine, Von Zipper, Surface Sunscreen, Natural Life, Orion Surfboards, and Aqua East Surf Shop.

Only two other girls on the East Coast have Billabong as a sponsor, so that’s impressive on its own.

Of course, nobody gets to the top all by themselves. None of this would be possible without the support of her mom, dad, and siblings.

“We all tag team,” her mom said. “My husband goes on the trips that he can with her, and sometimes I’ll go. Fortunately, we do have six kids, and my 21-year-old goes with her a lot too. You know, I never thought I would be sending her to all these places at just 15 years old.”

Although surfing isn’t very well known in Jacksonville, it’s definitely alive and thriving around the world. Braidyn is living proof that if you want something badly enough, and you work hard at it, you can achieve it, no matter your age or your circumstances.

Maybe sometime, if you’re up early enough at Jax Beach, you might see Braidyn in the distance, skillfully carving up the waves with a huge smile on her face.

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Shoulder Injuries

written by: Dr. Michael Adams | photography by: Donna Conversano

Athletes And The Complex Mechanics Of The Shoulder Shoulder injuries and athletics are a common pairing especially in overhead sports such as baseball. Repetitive overhead stress activities like pitching place significant forces across the shoulder that may result in microtears which over time can culminate in injury.

The shoulder is a complex machine with the most freedom of motion of any joint in the body. A series of anatomic structures ranging from bony architecture to muscles, labrum, and capsule, all work in synergy to provide stability, strength, and the ability to throw a ball. If one of these structures weakens, stress loads are increased in the others, which can eventually cause damage.

Typical symptoms of shoulder injury commonly begin as pain in addition to a sense of popping or instability; however, at times, these symptoms may be as innocuous as loss of motion or even endurance and velocity of pitches.

Some of the most common injuries seen in pitchers involve the rotator cuff, biceps tendon, labrum, and scapula. Lateral or posterior pain may stem from rotator cuff tendinitis or even tears, and can occur with improper mechanics and strength. Tendinitis and tears to the biceps tendon or its attachment to the glenoid (SLAP tears), may manifest as sharp, deep anterior to posterior pain and popping. Increased tightness or laxity and muscle imbalance may lead to Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD) and Scapular Rotation Dysfunction (SICK Scapula), as well as instability issues and “dead arm� feeling after throwing. While these issues can occur in both the adult and adolescent thrower, a unique condition causing pain in the shoulder in the pediatric athlete, involves the shoulder growth plate as a result of improper pitch count monitoring.

The most important way to treat shoulder injuries in the throwing athlete is to prevent their occurrence all together. Proper strength and stretching programs, pitching mechanics, and pitch counts begin at the individual and team level involving the athlete and coaches. Whenever symptoms first occur, they are usually assessed by the team trainer. Most times, they can be corrected at their early onset with a quick return to sport. Oc-

casionally, they require evaluation by the team doctor to help coordinate a plan for return to pitching. This should always involve cessation of pitching until appropriate medical evaluation is completed. Most commonly, a physical therapy program coupled with treatment modalities such as anti-inflammatory pain medications, ice, and heat, is all that is necessary to treat the affected athlete. Occasionally, corticosteroid injections are required to augment the therapy program. Rarely, surgical intervention is required to fix tears or conditions that have not responded to more conservative management.

In summary, shoulder injuries in throwing athletes are not uncommon, however, they are usually preventable. A proper supervised program of pre and post activity stretches, in and offseason strengthening, pitching mechanics, and pitch count all play a role in injury prevention. A team approach involving the athlete, coaching staff, trainers, and team physicians is required to identify at risk athletes, appropriately treat them, and return them to their sport as quickly and safely as possible.

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Test Your Knowledge!

1. What is the minimum number of players that can play on one soccer team?

2. In what country did the name “soccer” instead of football originate?

3.

A _______ card cautions a player and marks a foul.

4. How many players are on a soccer team?

5.

A _______ card dismisses a player from the game.

6.

What is the circumference of an official soccer ball?

7. Which college wrote early fundamental and influential rules for soccer?

8.

What is the main protective gear worn by soccer players?

St Johns 5 Straight Wins!

written by: Corey Davis | photography courtesy of St. Johns Country Day

9.

Which is the only position where a player can use their hands?

10.

True or False. Kicker is a position on the soccer field.

11.

What is the major world soccer competition that takes place every four years?

12.

How long is a half of a soccer game?

FLIP TO SEE HOW YOU SCORED! 1. Seven 2. England 3. Yellow 4. 11 5. Red 6. 28 inches 7. Cambridge 8. Shin Guards 9. Goalkeeper 10. False 11. FIFA World Cup 12. Forty Five Minutes

This information is courtesy of legendsofthespiral.com

46 | IN THE GAME April 2016

St. Johns Country Day Soccer adds even more hardware to its trophy case.

It might be hard to believe, but winning didn’t always come so easily for the St. Johns Country Day girls soccer program.

In the early days of the program, it was quite common for the Spartans to bow out in the second round of the playoffs.

In fact, prior to head coach Mike Pickett taking over in 1999, the Spartans had never been past the second round of the playoffs. That continued for a short while as they fell in the same round in five consecutive appearances (‘97, ‘98, ‘99, ‘02, ‘03) thanks to rivals Gainesville Oak Hall and Tallahassee Maclay.

"To be honest, it was about changing the culture here," Pickett said. "Before I got here, there were not any high expectations at all, they were satisfied with just getting to the playoffs and the second round. They didn't even practice on Fridays."

In his fifth year, a 6-0 win over

Maclay in the first round was the spark the Spartans needed to end the streak; they haven't looked back since.

Wins over Trinity Catholic and PK Yonge put the Spartans in their first Final Four, where they held off Lakeland Christian 4-2, but lost a 1-0 nail-biter to American Heritage in the title game.

In 2005, the Spartans were back in the Final Four and avenged the previous year’s state title loss to American Heritage with a 2-1 win to win their first of many future state titles.

St. Johns (22-0-1) added to its trophy case again, winning the schools eighth overall title February 2 with a 5-0 win over Naples Community School.

Even more impressive in the feat was the fact the Spartans held all of its opponents scoreless, outscoring them 25-0 during its playoff run.

St. Johns nearly makes it impossible for its opponents to try to defend them. Throughout the season, the Spartans were led by

numerous scorers, including six who scored 10 or more goals.

The leader of the Spartans offensively was Kirsten Pavlisko (25 goals, 18 assists), along with Kammy Loustau (19 goals, 28 assists), Payton Crews (17 goals, 28 assists), Abbey Newton (18 goals, 8 assists), Alisa Detlefsen (14 goals, 25 assists), and Kim Swiggett (10 goals, 8 assists).

Cassidy Wasdin was behind the goal for the Spartans and allowed just six goals while making 58 saves, while backup keeper Maddie Wilkes allowed two goals and made 23 saves.

In the semi-final 6-0 win over Lakeland Christian, the Spartans scored all six of their goals in the first half.

Five minutes into the game, Crews put the Spartans on top early with a 1-0 lead. Pavlisko and Zhanee Anderson added goals, and Loustau and Crews each scored twice to put the Spartans ahead 6-0 at the half.

Wasdin and Wilkes combined on the shutout as each made two

"Having both Brad and Cody here has been a blessing, but that’s what we do here," Pickett said. "A lot of our coaches are former students and athletes that come back."

Did You Know?

A soccer field is called a “pitch” because every regulation field is pitched — or sloped — 5 degrees upwards from one end to the other. The teams switch sides after each half so each team has to play slightly uphill for half the match.

Known as “soccer” in the United States, the sport is known as “football” elsewhere. But the game’s original name was actually “basket-ball” because the first goals were overturned wicker baskets.

From 1994 to 1998, the English Premier League had red, yellow and teal cards. Teal cards were used for possible fouls that were to be reviewed by instant replay.

In 2002 the XEPL, a soccer league launched by the WWE’s Vince McMahon, played four games in the United Kingdom. The league folded due to lack of attendance and too many injuries from the trap doors placed throughout the field.

This information is courtesy of medium.com

more

Did You Know?

There are 32 panels on a traditional soccer ball, one for each country in Europe.

Brazilian soccer legend Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento. He took the nickname Pelé, a Brazilian Portuguese word meaning “six feet,” due to being born with six toes on each foot.

The national sport of Canada is soccer.

In most countries, a soccer player’s uniform is called a “kit.” The cleats are called “hooves.

Soccer developed in London’s famed Newgate Prison in the early 1800s.

Prisoners who had their hands cut off for crimes of theft came up with a sport that used only the feet. The game spread from there.

The first American professional soccer league, the USSA, played from 1919 to 1921 and paid its players 35-cents for every goal scored.

The original World Cup was made of papier-mâché, but it had to be replaced after the heavy rains of the 1950 World Cup. Soccer was illegal in Mississippi until 1991.

Triathlon Factoids

This information is courtesy of medium.com

"I started an after-school soccer program for third, fourth, and fifth graders, and we play against other small private schools in the spring," Pickett said.

"So now I will have girls who will have nine years of coaching underneath me.” saves each to preserve the win.

Against Community School in the 1A state finals, the Spartans made it a little more interesting, scoring at least two goals in each half on the way to the 5-0 win.

Wasdin and Wilkes again combined on the shutout and each had one save to preserve the eighth state title.

Newton found the net twice while Detlefsen chipped in a goal with six minutes in the first half to give the Spartans a 3-0 halftime lead. Loustau and Sydney Monroe contributed with goals in the second half.

Pickett, 363-58-27 in 18 seasons, along with longtime assistant coach Brad Schmidt and assistant coach Cody Slaughter, have figured out the recipe of not only how to build a dynasty, but also how to keep it going.

Schmidt, who has been with Pickett 15 of the 18 years, along with Slaughter (in his fifth year) are both St. Johns grads and former boys’ soccer players, while Slaughter was a member of the last boys’ state soccer title back in 2005.

"Having both Brad and Cody here has been a blessing, but that’s what we do here," Pickett said. "A lot of our coaches are former students and athletes that come back."

You would think by building a dynasty perhaps, players from nearby Orange Park and Ridgeview both struggling programs would be knocking on the door to transfer to St. Johns, but that's not the case.

"We have the advantage of having a middle school program,

The youngest person to ever do an Ironman was 14-yearold Rodkey Faust from Rathdru, Idaho. He completed the February 1982 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in 13:36:17

and 15 of the 22 on my current roster have been playing for me since sixth grade. All but one of the remaining seven kids have been playing here since ninth grade," Pickett said.

Over the last five years, not one single athlete has transferred in.

Nearly all of his players come from Orange Park, Fleming Island, or Middleburg.

"Our success has drawn some of those kids to come visit and look at us, but nearly all of them can't afford it," Pickett added.

"We don't offer any scholarships and very little financial aid. It's extremely difficult to get in here with such high academic standards."

Pickett also mentioned a pilot program he started with the elementary-age kids that will also help benefit his program.

"I started an after-school soccer program for third, fourth, and fifth graders, and we play against other small private schools in the spring," Pickett said. "So now I will have girls who will have nine years of coaching underneath me."

Winning five in a row may make some players a little complacent, however Pickett has a plan for that every year.

"Over the last two weeks I meet with every player and make them a sign a one-year annual contract." he said. "We go over their weaknesses and strengths so they can work on their own or with their club team. They keep a signed copy and I always bring that up to them that nothing comes easy."

As proud as he is of their onfield accomplishments, he is

In 1982, 23-year-old college student Julie Moss had one of the most famous Ironman finishes of all time and because it was filmed on ABC’s Wide World of Sports, millions watched her as she literally crawled to the finish.

Suddenly, the popularity of triathlon boomed.

even more overwhelmed by the off-field accomplishments.

"Two of my seniors, Zhanee Anderson and Madeline Schultz, have both signed with Valdosta State and Air Force respectively, they make the 22nd and 23rd players to sign college scholarships."

Several of his younger players, including Crews (TCU), Detlefsen (Troy), Newton (LSU), and Pavlisko (FSU), have already committed to major Division I-A schools.

A lot of his former players come back and help him with camps and clinics, including his own daughter Carson Pickett, a recent FSU grad and fourth overall pick by the Seattle Reign.

"That's a big motivation for the girls; seeing one of their own make it to the professional ranks is huge," Pickett said. "That helps more girls come out and more playing."

And as long as Pickett is there, St. Johns Country Day will only continue to get better.

"I've thought about retiring a couple of times; I guess I keep waiting for that special class, but then I say that nearly every year, and then I keep coming back.”

And that’s bad news for everyone in the area, and more importantly at American Heritage, Lakeland Christian, and everybody else in 1A. The road to title number six has already begun.

Dave Scott was the first Ironman to be inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame in 1993. Dave is also a great supporter of Team In Training having been one of our national spokespersons. He is often seen at triathlon events wearing a TNT tri suit!

The slowest finish time ever recorded was 26:20:00 set by 73-year-old Walt Stack in 1981.

This information is courtesy of tnttxg.blogspot.com

Mentoring and Guidance I am driven and striving to help our youth reach their full potential.

Most training facilities help athletes become bigger, faster, stronger but they don’t focus on the position the child plays. That’s where TSD stands apart.

I want to get these young men where they need to be on and off the field.

Organizer and Coach

Ronnie Mason (919) 451-6116

coachmason@the-solution-dynamics.org

Find Out More At:

www.the-solution-dynamics.org

50 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Profiles

Position Focus and Skill Development Training

Player

The Solution Dynamics

Aleah Stiles Competitive Cheerleading WEST NASSAU HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR THREE-TIME STATE CHAMPION

PLAYER FACTS Status: Uncommitted Favorite Athlete: Carly Manning Life Goals: Be successful, have a family and provide for them What motivates you: My team and all my teammates Favorite Food: Mac and cheese Favorite Movie: Bring It On Favorite Subject: Health Powerade or Gatorade: Gatorade Dream place to Travel: Bora Bora

Alicia Glisson Competitive Cheerleading CLAY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR TWO-TIME STATE CHAMPION

PLAYER FACTS Status: Uncommitted Favorite Athlete: Tim Tebow Life Goals: To be successful and enjoy what I do What motivates you: My whole family Favorite Food: Steak Favorite Movie: Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors Favorite Subject: Biology Powerade or Gatorade: Gatorade Dream place to Travel: Bora Bora

52 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Alex Zenonos Tennis PAXON SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES SENIOR HEIGHT: 5' 10" WEIGHT: 150

PLAYER FACTS Status: Committed to Drexel Favorite Athlete: Marcos Baghdatis Life Goals: Go pro, excel at Drexel What motivates you: Wanting to succeed and being goal-driven Favorite Food: Eggplant Parmesan Favorite Car: Prius Favorite Subject: Chemistry Powerade or Gatorade: Neither, I prefer water Batman or Superman: Batman Dream place to Travel: Lebanon or Israel April 2016 Northeast

Florida Edition | 53

Brittney Rayfield Softball THE BOLLES SCHOOL SENIOR POSITION: PITCHER SECONDARY POSITION: THIRD BASE

PLAYER FACTS Status: Committed to USF Favorite Athlete: Jennie Finch Life Goals: To get through college and just be happy What motivates you: Not wanting to ever have to

experience my last game; to keep going as long as I can

Favorite Food: Steak and lobster Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump Favorite Subject: Math Powerade or Gatorade: Gatorade Dream place to Travel: Australia

54 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Jarvis Weightlifting Desue BAKER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR HEIGHT: 5' 4" WEIGHT: 164

PLAYER FACTS Status: Uncommitted Favorite Athlete: Reggie Bush Life Goals: Be the best person I can be What motivates you: Disabled people, I

really do it for them because they can’t, and my dad who passed away.

Favorite Food: Spaghetti Favorite Car: Maserati Favorite Song: “Trophies” by Drake Favorite Subject: Math Powerade or Gatorade: Powerade Batman or Superman: Superman Dream place to Travel: Paris

April 2016 Northeast

Florida Edition | 55

Kit Loferski Soccer BARTRAM TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR POSITION: FORWARD

PLAYER FACTS Status: Committed to University of Florida Favorite Athlete: Abby Wambach Life Goals: To be successful What motivates you: My dad and my whole family Favorite Food: Chick-Fil-A Favorite Song: “Change” by Moon Taxi Favorite Movie: All the Harry Potter movies Favorite Subject: Science Powerade or Gatorade: Gatorade Dream place to Travel: Santorini, Greece 56 | IN THE GAME April 2016

Becca Anderson Soccer CREEKSIDE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR POSITION: DEFENDER

PLAYER FACTS Status: Committed to Saint Leo University Favorite Athlete: Alex Morgan Life Goals: To be happy What motivates you: My dad and my whole family Favorite Food: Chipotle Favorite Song: “Daughters” by John Mayer Favorite TV Show: Friends Favorite Subject: English Powerade or Gatorade: Gatorade Dream place to Travel: Australia

April 2016 Northeast

Florida Edition | 57

STAY IN THE GAME

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The fastest teen of all time just turned pro – at 16 years old written by: Robert Preston Jr. | photography courtesy of www.ajc.com

Candace Hill, 17, lives in Conyers, Georgia.

She’s a sophomore at Rockdale County High School, and she’s the fastest high school runner in the state. You won’t, however, be reading about her bid for a state championship this year in track. It’s not that she couldn’t win a state title. She would almost certainly win every race she entered. Hill isn’t just the fastest teen in Georgia; she’s the fastest female teen of all time. And Hill is now a pro, a member of ASICS professional team, and can no longer compete in high school competition.

Last year, Hill became the first female teen to break the 11-second mark in the 100 meters. She ran a 10.98 at the Brooks PR Invitational in Washington in June of 2015. Her historic run completely altered the course of her future. Shortly after breaking the 11-second mark, Gatorade named Hill the National Girl’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year. In so winning, she joined Marion Jones as the only sophomore to ever win the award. Two weeks later, Hill earned a spot in the 2015 World Youth Championships in Colombia.

She didn’t turn in another sub-11 second

performance at the world championships; however, she still took first place in the 100 meters, and also won the 200 meters.

After winning the world championships, Hill decided to turn pro. By doing so, she would be forfeiting the opportunity to run in high school or college competitions. She signed a 10-year contract with ASICS and became a professional sprinter before she had even had her driver’s license for a year.

A relative late-comer to the track, she didn’t start running until she was in the seventh grade. Hill progressed quickly and broke several state records as a freshman. Then came her record-setting performance as a sophomore. The early success has her pursuing her ultimate goal – the Olympic Games – about four years early. Hill will likely seek a spot on the Olympic team for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Will she make it? It’s a long shot, but if her recent success is any indicator, she has as good a shot as anybody.

Candace Hill. Remember the name. You’re going to be hearing it a lot more going forward.

CNN.com and Wikipedia.org contributed to this story.

FACTS TO RUN WITH Short interval training is an excellent way to burn fat. Sprinting for 8 seconds and then doing a slow run for 12 seconds in the span of 20 minutes can burn five times more fat than jogging for 40 minutes in uniform speed.

The New York Times reported that Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented through running. According to the report, a study made by Wahington University scientists found that elderly mice put on a running program experienced less dementia then those that didn’t run.

In the United States, there were 44.6 million pairs of running footwear sold in 2012 amounting to $3.04 billion in sales. It’s also been estimated that about 1 billion running shoes are sold around the world annually.

The yearly average injury rates of runners is between 24% - 68%. About 2% - 11% involve the hips while 13% - 17% are shin splints.

This information courtesy of marathontrainingschedule.com

TRAIN LIKE A PRO ATHLETE

written by: Whitney Cole and Byron Paidoussi

Do you want to be more like the guys you’ll be watching every Sunday during the NFL season? Well then you need to train like one. Trust me, no NFL players pump up their muscles by spending hours on a treadmill, elliptical or a stationary bike. So ditch the steady-state cardio workouts and start a more structured strength, power and anaerobic fitness routine.

Like Father, Like Son The Signing Day Saga written by: James Washington

National Signing Day has come and gone; on the first Wednesday of February, high school seniors were officially eligible to sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with any school that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). All around the country, cameras recorded the memories as high school stars announced their decisions. Some caught onlookers by surprise; others simply confirmed verbal commitments that had been made prior. While the day has become a spectacle for many, perhaps extra eyes trained on a few particular individuals. Below is a brief list of young men who are the latest in a pipeline of gridiron greatness. Each one of these players share a single common thread: their fathers suited up and played on Sundays, playing football at the highest level in the National Football League.

In the fall, they will look to continue the paths that their fathers paved, hoping to one day hear their names called on the biggest stage.

Jair Anderson (WR)

(Northview, Johns Creek, Georgia) Son of Willie Anderson (Attended Auburn) College: Georgia Tech

Andrew Boselli (OG)

(Episcopal School, Jacksonville, Florida) Son of Tony Boselli (Attended University of Southern California) College: Florida State (already enrolled)

Baylen Buchanan (CB)

(Peachtree Ridge, Suwanee, Georgia) Son of Ray Buchanan (Attended Louisville) College: Tennessee

Rayshad Lewis (CB, WR)

(Bishop Moore, Orlando, Florida) Son of Ray Lewis (Attended Miami) College: Utah State

Bryce Matthews (OL)

(Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, Tennessee) Son of Jason Matthews (Attended Texas A&M) College: Ole Miss

Thaddeus Moss (DL,TE)

(Mallard Creek, Charlotte, North Carolina) Son of Randy Moss (Attended Marshall) College: North Carolina State

Lorenzo Neal (DT, G)

(St. Thomas Catholic, Houston, Texas) Son of Lorenzo Neal (Attended Fresno State) College: Purdue

Tyler Tupa (WR)

(Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Broadview Heights, Ohio) Son of Tom Tupa (Attended Ohio State) College: Ohio

Antoine Winfield, Jr. (FS,SS)

(The Woodlands, The Woodlands, Texas) Son of Antoine Winfield (Attended Ohio State) College: Minnesota

START LIFTING HEAVY

In order to gain maximum strength and muscle, you need to move heavy weight, and increase the load and intensity of the workouts. Lift heavy and work out hard for short bursts of time - pushing your body harder, but for short durations. Cardio is necessary, but upgrade slow steady-state cardio for intensive cardio that gets the heart rate high and keeps it there for a short time, followed by an equal amount of recovery time.

I’m not saying that you should go out and try to bench press 275 lbs. like professional football players, but I would suggest using the heaviest weight that you could manage to lift (with correct form) for a total of 5 repetitions. Focus on the large muscle groups that function as prime movers, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, chest, and back. Pay less attention to smaller muscles such as biceps, triceps and calves. Alternate cardio days with sprint intervals at 85% of you max heart rate (220 – your age), and use a heart rate monitor to ensure you’re working at the correct intensity.

STRENGTH WORKOUT: Power cleans – 5 sets x 3 reps Squats – 5 sets x 5 reps Bench press – 5 sets x 5 reps DB rows – 5 sets x 5 reps Dead lifts – 5 sets x 5 reps DB overhead press – 5 sets x 5 reps Pull-ups – 5 sets x 5 reps Burpees 5 sets x 10 reps with 30 seconds between sets Core plank for 1 minute Crunches on SB using band for resistance Plate twists

CARDIO WORKOUT: Endurance Sprints: Two 150-meter sprints with 30 seconds rest between each run. Finish each run in less than 20 seconds.

Rest three minutes.

Three 200-meter sprints with 30 seconds rest between each run. Finish each run in less than 30 seconds.

Rest three minutes.

One 300-meter sprint. Run in less than 50 seconds.

Rest five minutes.

Stadium Stairs: Sprint up stairs and walk down. Do 10 repetitions with 10 seconds rest between each rep.

Rest five minutes.

Sled Drag: Load a drag sled with 90 lbs. Sprint with the sled for 30 yards, then rest for 30 seconds. That’s one repetition. Do 8 reps.

60 | IN THE GAME April 2016

This information is coutesy of muscleandfitness.com

HERE’S MORE

Did You

KNOW? The inaugural season of the WNBA was 1997.

Eight teams competed in the WNBA’s first season. Original franchises were located in Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, and Utah. Tina Thompson was the first player chosen in the inaugural WNBA Draft and the first MVP was Cynthia Cooper. In its first season, the WNBA drew more than one million fans.

The Houston Comets own the distinction of winning the first WNBA championship, defeating the NY Liberty Pat Summitt is the alltime winningest coach at any level in college basketball. She has won eight national championships and recorded more than 1,000 victories.

This information is courtesy of ehow.com

Check This Out Michael Jordan, who retired in January 1999 but returned to the league in 2001, has scored more points (5,987) in the playoffs than any other player.

Bishop Kenny’s run

falls short in title game written by: Corey Davis | photography by: Timothy Yocum Photography

Playing in its first state championship game since 1962, Bishop Kenny’s talented boys’ basketball team was ready to make history again.

Unfortunately, it was all but over in about three minutes as Kenny took its only lead of the game at 2-1 and never led again in a 6642 loss to Kissimmee Poinciana in the FHSAA Class 5A State Championship Game on February 27 at the Lakeland Center.

Uncharacteristic turnovers and perhaps nerves got the best of the Crusaders (28-4) who fell behind early and could never seem to catch up.

According to Justin Barney from The Florida Times-Union, Bishop Kenny played their worst game of the year, and only shot 2-of-12 in the first quarter.

Despite the turnovers and shots not falling, the Bishop Kenny Crusaders only trailed 24-16 at the half.

Poinciana’s Eagles then switched to a stall offense, killing the clock and limiting the Crusaders offensive possessions.

Chris Joyce’s jumper cut the deficit to 24-18 just minutes into the third quarter, but the Eagles were able to stretch the lead to 18, their biggest lead of the game, at the end of the third quarter.

Poinciana’s advantage grew to as many as 24 in the closing minutes as BK senior Christian Carlyle was taken out of the game, closing out a tremendous high school career in which he moved into ninth place all-time in Jacksonville area scoring and second place all-time in Bishop Kenny scoring with 2,112 career points.

While the loss hurts, the senior class can look back and see how far they have come, taking the Crusaders to just their seventh Final Four and first since 2013.

Over the last four years, the

Crusaders have gone 97-27 and have been to the Final Four twice; they lost in the Elite Eight in 2014 and suffered a firstround loss to Palatka last season.

To get to the final game, Kenny had to win a 55-54 nail-biter over Tampa Jesuit in the semifinals.

In that game, Carlyle led the Crusaders with 28 points, while Joyce added nine and Gabe Merete chipped in eight points.

With an eight-point lead going into the fourth quarter, BK looked well on their way to advancing to the title game, but Jesuit had other ideas.

Up two points with 0.8 seconds left, BK was called for a foul, sending Jesuit to the line with a chance to tie the game. It looked all but over, but luckily Jesuit could only convert 1 of 2 free throws, sending the Crusaders into the championship game.

You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!

5,987

According to Barney, Carlyle surpassed former St. Joseph great Dwayne Preston and St. Augustine great John Randolph to move into ninth place all-time during the first half of the state semifinal win over Jesuit.

US Army during WWII developed a grenade that was about the same size and shape as a regular baseball making it easy to use for the American soldiers who had grown up playing baseball

Many MLB players have refused to face softball pitcher, Jennie Finch, in her ‘This Week in Baseball’ TV segment, where she challenges the best hitters in MLB, because she strikes out so many of them.

This information is courtesy of kickassfacts.com

Lefty slugger, Prince Fielder was born a natural right handed hitter, but his father forced him to bat lefty saying he’d thank him for it later