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content Don Vaughan PuBlISHER
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STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS Please send to editor@tricitytribuneusa.com We’ve got more photos than we can use. Check out the photo gallery for each issue at www.fourcornerssports.com Majestic Media 100 W. Apache Street Farmington, NM 87401 505.516.1230 www.majesticmediausa.com Four Corners Sports magazine is published once a month by Majestic Media. Material herein may not be reprinted without expressed written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Four Corners Sports magazine. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or ommissions. © 2014 Four Corners Sports magazine.
|4| Gotta run up to get down HESPERuS – It is minute 45 of 60 as I press into my third lap and third mile of the Ski Hesperus Vertical Hour ski mountaineering race set by Miles Venzara and Scott Simmons of the newly established Pine Needle Mountaineering uphill Ski Club.
| 24 | San Juan County loses a great one On Jan. 22 the sporting world of San Juan County lost one of its biggest supporters in Kevin Holman. Coach Holman was the current head coach of the lady Broncos in Kirtland and had previously coached in Wingate, Farmington and Shiprock.
|8|
| 22 | Supporting, teaching
Pucker Up!
skiers
DuRANGO – Many of you know that Chapman Hill in Durango is a wonderful venue for winter enthusiasts. The ski hill provides a great and inexpensive opportunity for those learning how to ski and snowboard.
When people go skiing or snowboarding, many do not realize the time and effort it takes to keep them safe on the mountain.
| 26 | Winter Sports
| 12 | Polar Plunge Baby, it was cold outside on Jan. 18, but that didn’t stop Farmington Police officers and members of the Four Corners law Enforcement Torch Run from taking a dip in freezing water to benefit Special Olympics.
| 14 | Team Players Come wind, snow, rain or shine they are ready to serve in their big canary yellow machines.
| 18 | Living with a concussion In eighth grade, lucas Maestas was a phenomenal athlete. He was the quarterback for the Bloomfield eighth grade team, he was an accomplished wrestler and he participated in track and field – until a series of events resulted in three concussions.
As February kicks off, so does the tournament season for the Winter Sports teams. Basketball is in its second round of district play with the district tournament and state right around the corner.
| 28 | Dancing across the pond Farmington High School senior Bliss Campbell is making her mark in the high school world of dance.
| 30 | 10 Questions with Anthony Romero.
| 31 | Heights Color Guard Eight pre-teen girls hold purple flags on poles taller than themselves, standing in the Heights Middle School Commons and awaiting directions from their coach.
| 19 | Traumatic Brain Injury Dr. James Wright loves to visit his daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren in Farmington. Residing in Butte, Mont., Dr. Wright is a retired Colonel from the Air Force specializing in general surgery, plastic surgery, and flight medicine while serving our country.
covercredit
| 34 | Fantasy Football with Rick Hoerner.
Tim Thomas skates toward the descent and the gates on his third lap. — Ben Brashear
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Scott Simmons is literally flying toward the gates and his second lap.
Uphill Ski Club, Ski Hesperus host Uphill Race Series Story and photos by Ben Brashear HeSpeRUS – It is minute 45 of 60 as I press into my third lap and third mile of the Ski Hesperus Vertical Hour ski mountaineering race set by Miles Venzara and Scott Simmons of the newly established pine Needle Mountaineering Uphill Ski Club. I shoulder my Dynafit race skis and kick my boots into the icy steps winding up the last 150 feet of the black diamond ski run, Why Not, toward the summit of Hesperus.
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With each step I take, my legs burn against the single-digit temperatures. The metallic taste on my tongue and the black and white motes dancing before my eyes are telltale signs that in spite of my heart humming at 180 beats per minute I cannot get enough oxygen to carry on this pace for much longer. My chest heaves white vapors toward the morning sun only to have them freeze in my beard and on my cheeks. even my breath cannot rise against this 35-de-
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gree pitch and I drop my head longing for the oak brush vista of the summit. It is the first randonèe or ski mountaineering race in a monthly uphill race series sponsored by pine Needle Mountaineering Uphill Ski Club and Ski Hesperus ski resort. It is also my first experience with uphill ski racing and, I believe the saying goes, curiosity killed the randonèe novice.
Thirteen racers have gathered on lightweight racing skis and are clad in brilliant neon colored Lycra head to toe. Four participants have chosen to brave the racecourse equipped only with snowshoes strapped on to tennis shoes. The event consists of a 60-minute time limit, one to one-and-a-half miles per lap, and roughly 650 vertical feet gained from the base lodge to the top of the mountain. “It’s a way to bring attention to the partnership between Pine Needle Mountaineering Uphill Ski Club and Ski Hesperus, and to the sport of uphill ski racing,” said Miles Venzara founder of the ski club and part owner of Pine Needle Mountaineering in Durango, Colo. This is a niche sport appealing to cyclists, Nordic skiers, and runners. According to SnowSports Industries America, the sport has seen an increase of more than 50 percent in participation numbers since 2010. “Pine Needle has doubled its
Miles Venzara gives the pre-race briefing. Racers left to right: Tim Thomas, Paul Hamilton, Brendan Trimboli, Miles Venzara, Ben Kneller, Chris Stewart, Brendan Curoick, Scott Simmons, Drew Gunn
sale of randonèe race gear just in the last year,” said Venzara. With the public interest piqued, bear in mind that this is a sport of adventure or, as the French word randonèe translates, “excursion.” It is a sport of inherent risk that combines the disciplines of mountaineering and skinning re-
quiring the use of specialty equipment that can carry a hefty price tag. A full race package can range from $1,000 to $3,000. Nylon climbing skins adhere to the bottom of skis with special glue affording the skier uphill traction, lightweight race skis combined with titanium tech bindings allow the foot to pivot when skinning, and a personal locator beacon, probe, and
Pine Needle Uphill Ski Club Membership Cost: $50 Annual Fee Benefits include access to practice clinics hosted every Tuesday and Thursday 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Ski Hesperus. Members will also receive discounted entry fees to races. Race dates are tentative. For Info. and Membership: Call Miles Venzara at Pine Needle Mountaineering 970.247.8728
Upcoming Events: February 15 Vertical Hour Where: Ski Hesperus Ski Resort Open to the Public $10 non-member participation fee $5 member participation fee Racer Categories: Racer Recreational Snowshoe Randonée gear and snowshoes available for rent at Pine Needle Mountaineering, Durango, Colorado
Leah Fein descends with good form from her first lap up the Hesperus race course.
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shovel lend an element of safety should an avalanche occur. “There is this revolution happening at ski areas throughout the country, especially in Colorado, with uphill skiing. Areas offer a controlled environment to ski and exercise that is safer than the backcountry,” said Venzara. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Colorado is the leading state in avalanche related fatalities, with 259 reported deaths since 1950. The uphill ski club and Ski Hesperus not only provide a safe place to ski and train, but Pine Needle Mountaineering has also partnered to establish the Peter Carver/ Joe Philpott Avalanche School scholarship. The scholarship will help to provide access to courses in avalanche education to a younger generation of backcountry skiers.
and sense of adventure the sport provides. It is the journey through sweeping vistas and untouched summits and, as many of the racers quipped, it is also about the journey into the mind and suffering a little.
first place finisher of the Vertical Hour, Scott Simmons about the nature of the sport of uphill ski racing. Simmons quickly grinned wide beneath his faded green baseball cap and relayed to me a brief anecdote.
Suffering was evident from the beginning as racers toed the start line in near negative temperatures with chattering teeth and arms windmilling blood to numb fingers. Racers shot back and forth the opinion that a little suffering is good for the body.
He spoke of a woman that had seen him practicing skinning and skiing several mornings in a row. The woman had asked him “So, do you ever ski for, you know, fun?”
Farther into the race on laps three and four, as the physical and mental demands became greater on the racers and as parallel turns became gyrating arcs on fatigued legs, I saw that pushing through the suffering seemed to be cathartic, as their smiles only seemed to get bigger and bigger.
“The proceeds from race entry fees will go to support the scholarship,” said Venzara.
Now, a sport that requires one to endure may not sound appealing. I have more than likely turned most readers’ attention back toward the comfort of the hot coffee in your cups, but let me convince you otherwise.
It seems that part of the appeal to an endurance sport such as randonèe is the risk
The day before the race I asked nationally ranked randonée racer, SkiTrab athlete, and
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I looked to Simmons for his answer. He gave a quick laugh that shook his 6- foot-4 frame. Looking sidelong at me beneath the frayed bill of his ball cap, he made sure that I understood the irony of the woman’s question. Simmons said that he told the woman, “Of course I ski to have fun! It can be hard work, but if it wasn’t fun do you think I’d be out here skiing every day?” I can tell you that these are not the words of an exercise-crazed man attempting to justify his addiction to an endurance sport. Simmons has a true passion for randonée skiing. So much so, that it has become a family affair. His wife Holly Simmons and his oldest boy Quinn Simmons have taken to the sport and often train and race side by side with Simmons.
I keep Simmons’ words in my mind, chanting them, this is fun, this is fun, as I settle into a mid-pack pace. It is a pace that has me fighting to keep my breakfast, a banana and coffee, from inching its way from the top of my Adam’s apple, where it now sits, and the windblown snow at my feet. I try to push the thoughts of the leaders out of my mind – Scott Simmons, Miles Venzara, and Nick Gould. They are battling in the front of the pack seemingly without much effort, and skiing toward their fourth lap. I command my focus on the current battle for eighth, ninth, and tenth place.
that, somehow by doing so, it will make whoever it is behind me disappear. I crest the slope and drop my skis to the snow. My chest is heaving and there is a short circuit that affects my legs, hands, and brain, each unwilling to cooperate with the other without my verbal command.
I glance over my shoulder down the 35-degree slope to Eric Dixon, who is currently in tenth place. He is a mountaineer and climber new to uphill racing and is quickly gaining on me. The clack of his skis and labored breath pushes me forward further into a sort of madness that seems to drive my steps upslope even faster. I swallow down my breakfast for the second, or maybe even the third time and increase my pace. I try to close the gap between eighth place Nick Martin and me.
Steve Ilg charges headlong on his running snowshoes for his first lap up Hesperus.
sist. I am steps away from the top of the ski slope and it is the clack of magnesium buckles on plastic ski boots that demands my attention. I ignore the urge to turn around hoping
I lose sight of Nick Martin as he crests the hill and I drop my head. Though my body squirms under the heavy hand of gravity, I per-
In my mind I am yelling out the mantra familiar to most randonèe racers that keeps the mind coherent and hands functional when transitioning from uphill climbing to downhill skiing – boot, binding, skin. I yell out “Boot!” but the word simply dribbles out from between my numb lips. My hands, swollen with blood, fumble to latch the buckles on my boots. It may have been the endorphins manipulating me, but in that moment with the La Plata Mountains rising and falling in stature with each breath, the wind coaxing tears from my eyes through my goggles as I descended through the aspen glades, I was allowed the joys and contentment I once knew as a boy. And all it took was the challenge of the Vertical Hour, embracing the suffering of frigid cold and heart popping heart rates, and the simple taunt we all remember from childhood – “I bet I can go farther and faster than you!”
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Chapman Hill offers hockey leagues for all ages by Tom Yost l Photos by Josh Bishop DURANGO – Many of you know that Chapman Hill in Durango is a wonderful venue for winter enthusiasts. The ski hill provides a great and inexpensive opportunity for those learning how to ski and snowboard. At the same time, the ice rink offers opportunities for ice skating lessons and, during “open skate” times, the great family activity of ice skating. What many of you probably don’t know is that Chapman Hill offers the hockey enthusiasts an opportunity to play the sport in an adult competitive league format. The Durango Adult Hockey League (www.durangoadulthockeyleague.com) has been in existence since the winter of 2000 and now boasts over 37 hockey teams ranging in ability levels from never been ice skating (Level 4) to the highest level of ex-high school and college hockey players (Level 1), with various other levels in between. Matt Morrisey, the league director and recreation supervisor at Chapman Hill Ice Rink, explains, “The adult hockey league offers competitive hockey for players of all
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ability levels. The games follow the USA Hockey rules except for the fact that we are no-check leagues. But that doesn’t mean that they are non-contact leagues.”
another player who has possession of the puck with the intention of separating them from the puck. This is not allowed in these adult leagues.
For those that are not familiar with the rules of hockey, checking involves skating into
“Players must be 18 years of age and have the necessary equipment,” said Morrisey.
“Other than that, players can enter a level that they feel comfortable with and can move up or down at their discretion. Some players start at Level 4 and stay there forever … while others start at Level 4 and through hard work and practice have moved up to Level 1 after 4 or 5 years.”
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The games are played every night of the week from the first week of December until the end of April. “The majority of the games are played on Saturday and Sunday,” stated Morrisey. “The games last one hour, with three 12minute periods. Each team is guaranteed 16 regular season games and two playoff games, with teams that move further along in the playoffs getting to play more games.” The total fee for a team to enter the adult hockey league is $2,300, but costs per individuals are nominal due to business sponsorship. “Most players don’t pay very much because they have a business sponsor their team,” stated Morrisey. “So the major cost to the individual is the equipment, which can vary based on buying new or used equipment and the quality you choose to buy. In hockey, though, you get what you pay for when it comes to equipment.” The Durango Adult Hockey League is a coed league, meaning that they do not discriminate and allow women to play alongside men. They also offer leagues for adults over the ages of 40 and 50 years. “The leagues are very competitive at all levels,” said Morrisey, “but our main focus is the safety of our players, because everyone has to get up and go to work the next day.”
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Group jumps in to raise money for Special Olympics by Debra Mayeux l Courtesy photos Baby, it was cold outside on Jan. 18, but that didn’t stop Farmington Police officers and members of the Four Corners Law Enforcement Torch Run from taking a dip in freezing water to benefit Special Olympics. It was the third annual Polar Plunge and four teams – including the “Team We ARE Torch Run,” the Farmington Professional
Firefighters Association, The Farmington Library’s “Penguin Plungers” and eight individuals – braved the cold water. They raised $6,600 in pledges for Special Olympics. The Polar Plunge is a nationwide trend that caught on in Farmington as a Special Olympics benefit, and the Farmington Police Department is the only New Mexico agency to
sponsor a plunge. During the event, the department also showed off its new T3 Patroller, which is a three-wheeled vehicle equipped with lights and a siren to patrol city parks. The T3 can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and can travel 25 miles on a single battery charge.
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Activity bus drivers are MVPs for all of Farmington schools’ sports by Debra Mayeux l Photos by Josh Bishop Come wind, snow, rain or shine they are ready to serve in their big canary yellow machines.
The drivers eat meals with the teams, and even go out of their way to take the kids and coaches to the out-of-town restaurants of their choice. The students always thank the drivers for the extra effort, and the drivers show their appreciation by decorating their buses and making Christmas ornaments for the students.
They are carrying special packages from one destination to another, and the packages must be delivered safely to their destination. Their job sounds simple, but what they provide is so much more than a delivery service. These people are school bus drivers. Their packages are the children, and they are transporting them to and from school.
busing assignment. They are the activity and substitute bus drivers, who transport children to special events of both academic and sporting natures.
Thomas Harper, Cheesa Cheebenally, LaRaine Yazzie, Amanda Russell, Maggie Mahan, Roger Nixon and Zsa Zsa have a special
Farmington Municipal Schools’ policy allows these drivers to transport teams within a 500-
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them – helping them to eat the right thing,” Cheebenally said. She acts as both a caregiver and a cheeerleader. “These are my kids.” Cheebenally gets so excited when her kids compete that she has been thrown out of games for being too rowdy. This happened in Roswell, during a Piedra Vista Panthers basketball game. Her cheering was so loud, security tried to escort her out of the stadium. She was not heckling the other team, but
her enthusiam was great enough it got her noticed. Cheebenally laughed when she told about how parents in the stands often mistake her for a parent. She has been asked which child is hers, and her response is: “They all are.”
tired. “I like doing it, because you get back into high school sports,” he said, adding he likes to motivate the teams. “The best thing to do is to tell them if they don’t win, they walk home.”
Each activity bus driver has their own way of showing support to the teams they transport.
Much like Harper, Roger Nixon became driver after retirement. “I blended right in,” he said. “I’m enjoying it. We get pampered by the coaches.”
The Piedra Vista Panteras love Thomas Harper, who became a bus driver after he re-
The drivers eat meals with the teams, and even go out of their way to take the kids and
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coaches to the out-of-town restaurants of their choice. The students always thank the drivers for the extra effort, and the drivers show their appreciation by decorating their buses and making Christmas ornaments for the students, according to Billy Huish, transportation director for Farmington Municipal Schools. LaRaine Yazzie, who named her bus Betsy and started driving last year, refers to the drivers as the students’ No. 1 cheerleader. Cheebenally agreed, saying she attempts to get the students mentally ready for competition. “I tell them, ‘Get on the bus, if the intent is to win,’” she said. “My motto is: Believe in yourself and together make it happen.” Cheebenally’s bus is named Tatonka, the Great Buffalo, and she wields it with expertise, wherever the destination. She has been to Denver, Colo., Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix; Las Vegas, Nev., and everywhere in between. The drivers love traveling with the teams, and they always are prepared with tool kits, duct tape, a case of water, snacks, flashlights, blankets and pillows. Amanda Russell even brings gum, which is a favorite for wrestlers, who can’t drink or eat before competitions. Russell started driving because she wanted a job that allowed here to work on a school schedule and spend time with her children. “It’s grown into way more than that,” she said. Maggie Mahan started for reasons similar to Russell’s. She wanted to spend time with her children, and even brings her youngest daughter Jewelianna on the bus. “She is the mascot,” Russell said. “We sit and watch all the games. The kids are like family.” And the drivers often take care of the students as they would their own child. Sometimes students get sick to their stomachs or soil themselves on trips. The drivers will keep the accidents quiet, and then clean up the bus and student later. Some even take soiled clothing to the laundromat and have it ready for the child after the event. “We deal with driving issues, all kids of issues, and as a supervisor, you couldn’t ask for a better team,” Huish said. The job is about transportation and safety, but it also is about the students. “It’s a good feeling to get comments from paretns, who say, ‘Thanks for bringing my kids home safely,’” Cheebenally said.
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Living
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concussion Lucas Maestas helping kids, parents understand serious results of brain injury by Tom Yost l courtesy photos
In eighth grade, Lucas Maestas was a phenomenal athlete. He was the quarterback for the Bloomfield eighth grade team, he was an accomplished wrestler and he participated in track and field – until a series of events resulted in three concussions in a span of fewer than four months, causing it all to end. “It all started with the pool incident,” remembered Maestas. “My sister’s high school friends were throwing me from the shallow end of the pool into the deep end, when I slipped and hit my head at the bottom of the four-foot deep part of the pool. I was over my symptoms after a week and was cleared to start football practice. Everything was going great until my first game against Kirtland, when I got sacked multiple times. My head started to hurt and I started to feel other symptoms – like dizziness. I then sat out the rest of football season, but was cleared to start wrestling a month later. That is when I was participating in my PE class at school and got hit in the side of the head by a basketball that was drop-kicked inside the gym by another student.” It has now been 26 months since his last concussion, and Lucas has been battling the symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury, or TBI, ever since.
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TraumaTic Brain injury Dr. Wright: Poor laws, lack of education spur widespread concussions by Tom Yost l Photo by Josh Bishop
Dr. James Wright loves to visit his daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren in Farmington. Residing in Butte, Mont., Dr. Wright is a retired Colonel from the Air Force specializing in general surgery, plastic surgery, and flight medicine while serving our country. His focus in the latter part of his career became researching the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment, or HBOT, on service men and women returning from combat suffering from traumatic brain injury, or TBI. As a member of the Montana Governor’s Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council, Dr. Wright has been a driving force in the treatment of head injuries through the use of pure oxygen. When it comes to concussions and injuries to the head, Dr. Wright described a perfect storm of poor laws, a lack of education for parents, and players and student athletes becoming their own worst enemy in dealing with the concussion pandemic today. “To start with, the New Mexico Concussion Law is now inadequate” explained Dr. Wright. “The New Mexico law was groundbreaking in 2010 when it was passed, but advances in the understanding of youth concussions since then have made it obsolete. There is no standardized requirement for parent and athlete education. The New Mexico law provides for coach education, and coaches are fine with following concussion protocol, but when athletes lie to them to get back into the game there is no preventive measure to take.”
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Parents and students are required to be provided with educational materials, but the educational requirement should be more clearly spelled out and mandatory classes for youth athletes required. This material is provided free on the Center for Disease Control website. www.cdc.gov/concussion/sports/resources.html
Dr. Wright continued, “Because youth athletes cannot be trusted or relied on to report all concussions, the parents and teachers need to be educated and involved. Often it is a parent or teacher who recognizes that a child may have suffered a head injury.” The misconceptions or myths about concussions are proving tough to overcome in a nation that thinks you have to be knocked out to sustain a concussion. “Look at Muhammad Ali,” exclaimed Dr. Wright. “To my knowledge he was never knocked out but with all of the hits he took to his head over the years – he is an absolute mess right now. What people usually don’t understand is that any hit in the head can cause a brain injury – even the repetitive bouncing of a soccer ball off of the head can
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“Because youth athletes cannot be trusted or relied on to report all concussions, the parents and teachers need to be educated and involved. Often it is a parent or teacher who recognizes that a child may have suffered a head injury.” — Dr. James Wright cause long-term problems.” Dr. Wright professes that the education of athletes, parents, teachers and coaches is paramount to understanding the long term effects of TBI. “People don’t realize that the effects of head injuries frequently aren’t noticeable until later on in life,” stated Dr. Wright. “Look at NFL players 20 years later – they get divorced, can’t keep a job, make impulsive de-
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cisions to go through money and become addicted to alcohol and drugs. Why is that? Do they wake up one morning and want to do all of this? No. They are suffering from a head injury.” Unfortunately, student athletes may have no idea that they have sustained a brain injury – when many of them have. Due to the millions of nerve connections in the brain, the effects of a hit to the head might not show up until years later. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, migraines, memory loss, irrational behavior, irritability, anger, impulsive decision making and depression. “You only have one brain,” said Dr. Wright. “And playing some of these contact sports is like a student athlete playing Russian roulette. Take, for example – a kid down the street from me killed himself after talking with his girlfriend. He was a star hockey player, 17 years old and had suffered eight concussions. That impulsive behavior was due to the head injuries he had suffered. His story helped us get the first concussion law passed in Montana in 2013, even though many lawmakers were against it.”
Through a research study, Dr. Wright has been able to use treatments – only approved by the FDA for wound healing and blood circulation therapy – called hyperbaric oxygen to treat patients with TBI. The results were nothing short of astounding when it came to healing the damaged brain and eliminating symptoms. “The reason HBOT has been effective is that the burst of 100 percent oxygen causes brain cells which are disconnected and dysfunctional to repair themselves and start making new neural circuits,” explained Dr. Wright. “The brain can grow new brain cells and make new connections –although not enough to make us rocket scientists.” But even with the research that has been done by Dr. Wright and others, the studies have not been controlled enough to gain FDA approval. “For FDA approval, a controlled study could cost upward of $50 million,” said Dr. Wright. “But just because it is not approved as a certified treatment doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. In fact, everyone that participated in our study improved – with some being completely healed.”
To explain better how FDA certified treatments work, Dr. Wright explained that some drugs such as aspirin are not FDA certified treatments for headaches and only certified for other uses. “Are these drugs effective in the treatment of headaches?” asked Dr. Wright. “You bet they are, but nobody wants to spend millions of dollars to get them approved by the FDA. When you take these drugs for conditions other than the FDA approved ones, even though they may work, they are considered “off label” treatments” So what is being done today with the majority of suffering patients with traumatic brain injuries? “Most military members and veterans are being given drugs for their TBI,” explained Dr. Wright disgustedly. “Drugs mask the symptoms and can actually prevent the healing from taking place.” “So you are irrational, irritable, impulsive, angry? Here is some medication – you will be sedated and won’t be able to function nor-
mally, but you won’t have the symptoms and the drugs may prevent you from screaming at your loved one.” Many hospitals around the country have hyperbaric oxygen chambers, but most will not participate in the research study necessary to treat TBI because of a lack of funding. There are many freestanding facilities that are participating in these studies, sometimes free of charge to the patient, and are available for head injuries, wound healing and carbon monoxide poisoning. “They offer treatments that last one hour and are given five days per week,” said Dr. Wright. “It might take 40 to 80 treatments and cost upwards of $20,000 out of pocket, but the cost is nominal when you can eliminate headaches, trouble sleeping and irritability in patients for the remainder of their lives.” Dr. Wright also encourages hand-to-eye coordination activities, graduated activity and cognitive learning skills to help with the healing of head injuries.
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Hesperus Ski Patrol volunteers make sure the mountain is safe by Lauren Seip | courtesy photos When people go skiing or snowboarding, many do not realize the time and effort it takes to keep them safe on the mountain. At Hesperus Ski Area near Durango, Colo., there is a team of volunteers who have patrolled the mountain for nearly 50 years. The Hesperus Ski Patrol is “a not for profit organization with the goal to promote, encourage, and support a positive skiing experience in the community,” according to their website, hesperusskipatrol.com. It also is a member of the National Ski Patrol.
100 hours of training; however, people with a medical background may be able to take a “shortened ‘bridge’ class,” according to the Hesperus ski patrol website. The ski patrol candidates also complete training with other organizations, such as with the Colorado search and rescue teams, according to Branch. “We are part of the emergency medical system.” Other training requirements include participating in the annual chairlift evacuation training and practice and passing the ski and toboggan training.
The group was started after Buz Branch, Hesperus ski patrol director, invited members of the National Ski Patrol system at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort to become part of the Hesperus ski patrol.
Once a potential candidates passes the training, he or she then is required to complete certain responsibilities during a patrol shift.
“The Hesperus ski patrol now is all volunteers. There are about 40 of us on patrol,” Branch said.
These responsibilities include making “sure the mountain is safe and if there are any barriers that need to be taken up or if there are any hazardous obstacles,” Branch explained. The ski patrollers also are required to carry radios to communicate with one another and learn about any injuries that may have happened.
To become a ski patroller, one must complete demanding training that involves an Outdoor Emergency Care class, which is similar to an emergency medical technician’s training. The Outdoor Emergency Care class involves
But aside from carrying out their daily responsibilities, the ski patrollers are a tight-knit “family,” who are extremely involved at Hesperus Ski Area, Branch said.
The ski patrol organizes annual three-day Avalanche Classes that “allow students to gain insight into the danger of avalanches through class work and hands-on skills training,” according to the Hesperus Ski Patrol website. The Avalanche Class was started 17 years ago by Kathy and Don Fritch, who were longtime ski patrollers and had more than 100years of ski patrolling experience, Branch said. “The Avalanche Class is a public service effort and offered in January.” The patrollers also host the community ski swap at the La Plata Fairgrounds. The ski swap allows for people to exchange skiing and outdoor equipment. “We had our 50th anniversary last November,” Branch said. So what is the most rewarding part about being a ski patroller? Branch said it is “helping other people realize skiing is fun, but it is also challenging. There is a certain satisfaction knowing you can be there to help, not just with medical care, but helping people with their ski techniques.” If interested in joining the Hesperus Ski Patrol, visit hesperusskipatrol.com or contact Assistant Patrol Director LT Meshew at lt@durango.net.
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February 2014
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San Juan County loSeS a great one
Coach Kevin Holman loved everything sports by Rick Hoerner l Courtesy photos On Jan. 22nd the sporting world of San Juan County lost one of its biggest supporters in Kevin Holman. Coach Holman was the current head coach of the Lady Broncos in Kirtland and had previously coached in Wingate, Farmington and Shiprock.
ball coach in the county, leading the Shiprock boys to a Final Four before accepting a position as the girls’ basketball coach in Farmington. In 2002 Holman led the Lady Scorpions to their first state championship since 1979.
Kevin was a three-time state champion, his first winning a golf state championship at Shiprock. Kevin was best known as a basket-
In 2004 Kevin moved back to the boys, taking over for legendary coach Marv Sanders at Farmington High. Kevin’s teams were four-
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time district champions in his seven seasons. In 2011, his first year at Kirtland Central, he led the Lady Broncos toward the state championship, falling to the Gallup Bengals. The Lady Broncos returned to the championship game the following year, Holman winning his third state championship as the Lady Broncos defeated Roswell in a one-point thriller.
Kevin’s sports legacy in the Four Corners is far from limited to his coaching achievements. He was a big fan of high school sports and attended multiple events even if his school wasn’t playing. Kevin volunteered at the Connie Mack World Series, worked as a football broadcaster for Fox Sports and was an avid golfer. Kevin’s turn from sports fan to fanatic – when it came to his Chicago Bears, Cubs and Bulls – was legendary. He was known on occasion to stop during a road trip on a Saturday afternoon to make sure not to miss a Fighting Irish game. His love for sports was a borderline obsession. He was the master of the DVR and the prime marketing example for the multi-Sportscenter viewer. There are many who knew Kevin only by what they saw on the sidelines, and so really didn’t know him. As a coach he was a very competitive – even combatant – rival, but at the end of the 32 minutes, he left it on the floor. He was friendly to opposing players and coaches, as well as to the officials who were getting an earful just minutes earlier. Kevin was well respected by his coaching brethren and former players, as well as those on other teams who got to know him through basketball camps or as a fan watching them play. He always had a story to tell, whether about the time he worked at Wingate when one of his players attacked a football official or multiple stories about his time coaching on the reservation or taking the L Train across Chicago to see the Cubs while ditching grade school. This skill made Kevin a natural in the broadcast booth where he started as a color commentator for Piedra Vista football before taking on the play-by-play duties for Farmington High. Kevin leaves behind his son Griffin, who looks like a 1970’s version of his father, a daughter Quinn, who was the light in his eye, three brothers, and his mother Pat, who was as strong as anyone could imagine over the past weeks. For Kevin’s many friends, he was the glue that held a group together. Many of Kevin’s friends have reminisced over their love of spending time together hanging out, talking sports and having a good time, usually over a cold beer. There is no doubt San Juan County sports lost its greatest supporter and a coach who left his mark on his friends, the players and other coaches. Anyone who truly knew Kevin Holman, liked Kevin Holman, and he will be missed greatly by a thankful community.
February 2014
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WINTER SPORTS
District tournament season begins; leader board taking shape by Rick Hoerner As February kicks off, so does the tournament season for the Winter Sports teams. Basketball is in its second round of district play with the district tournament and state right around the corner. For the wrestlers and swimmers, the district and state meets are coming up by the end of the month. With the long winter sports season heading toward the end, it’s time to see how the district stacks up for the tournament season.
Boys’ Basketball As expected, Kirtland Central has exemplified the class of the district. Led by post man Christian Mackey, the Broncos are the only team in the district that has been consistently in the top ten of the Max Preps power ratings. The Broncos will remain the district favorite as long as they continue to get improved guard play and Mackey remains the dominant force of the district. Should the Broncos win the district, they could be a top four seed come state playoff time. Farmington has shown the most improvement throughout the season and has been the best defensive team in the district. The Scorpions have a quality win against what was then number one Academy, and have already beat the Panthers at the Roswell Poe Corn Tournament with a
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close loss to the Broncos in the Marv Sanders Invitational. Hovering around the .500 mark may make it difficult for the Scorps come selection Sunday, but if the committee considers the end of their schedule they may get in – with or without a district title. Piedra Vista, like Farmington, has been playing just above the even clip through a non-district season. The one word that would best describe the Panthers is “inconsistent,” beating the likes of Gallup one night, then turning around the next night and losing to Bayfield. The Panthers outside play has been strong, led by Troy Dixon and Alonzo Araiza, so the Panthers have lived and died by the outside shot. For the Panthers to get one of the coveted 16 spots they will need to finish at or near the top of the district. Like Farmington and Piedra Vista, Aztec is right around the break-even point going into the district season. However, the strength of schedule factor may be against the Tigers. Going into district, Aztec has no wins against 4A opponents and has seven losses to teams in lower classifications. Undoubtedly the Tigers will have to win the district to get a chance to play in March.
February 2014
Piedra Vista Girls’ Basketball
Wrestling
Broncos get into the state tournament is to win the district. that is not really all that unlikely. they are still Kirtland Central and purple and gold has ruled the district.
the fact of the matter is that everyone is chasing the Panther Wrestling team at Piedra Vista. the three-time defending state champions appear to be as strong as ever. Even without defending state champs anthony Juckes and Jacob Palmgren – who have been out due to injury – the Panthers have continued to roll along. ryan rino, Dillon stunk, Wyatt Weaver and Zach ahlgrim have continued to lead the Panthers in tournaments and duals. Juckes returned late in January and Palmgren is hoping to be back by the district tournament, making the strong even stronger. in reality, it’s not just the district that’s chasing the Panthers, it’s the whole state. Belen and Capital are the best competition for the Panthers, but a fourth title seems all but inevitable. the rest of the teams in the district are chasing PV, with aztec most likely the best of the rest. the tigers are led by isaiah Valdez at 145 lbs, but Valdez’s task just got more difficult with PV’s anthony Juckes, perhaps the best pound for pound wrestler in the state, moving up to his weight. Farmington’s tierney staley leads Farmington high as they adjust to a new coach. Kirtland Central will be at the bottom of the pack. the Broncos just don’t have the numbers or depth to compete with the rest of the district.
Girls’ Basketball the District is a little down in girls’ basketball this year. Only Piedra Vista has cracked the Max Preps top ten. Kirtland Central may be the sentimental favorite this season after losing head coach Kevin holman to cancer in January. this year the Broncos have struggled, but never should be counted out. aztec
Farmington is greatly improved and at 10-10 entering the district season has a chance to be a threat in district. Farmington’s schedule is much softer than PV’s or Kirtland’s meaning Farmington will more than likely have to win the district for any chance at the playoffs. Perhaps the most athletic team in the district is aztec. the tigers look to get up and down the floor and pressure the basketball. this makes aztec dangerous and they cannot be considered a “gimme” in district play. they make a few more shots and they will be in the mix against any team.
ChristianMACKEY Kirtland Central
and Farmington have been steadily improving under new head coaches. Just like the boys, the Piedra Vista girls could best be described as inconsistent. the team has had a Jekyll and hyde story from game to game and even quarter to quarter. For example, the Panthers put up 69 one night then only mustered 26 the next game out. they have also put big numbers in one quarter then disappeared in the next. if the Panthers can find some consistent play and put four quarters together, they should be the district favorite. the Broncos have struggled to find consistent scoring and have played a very difficult schedule. More than likely the only way the
the girls’ story of the year so far has been shiprock. the Chieftains are undefeated entering district play and have taken on all comers, including all the local 4a squads as well as 3a defending champ hope Christian and 4a defending state champ Los Lunas. Coach henderson’s squad plays hard and shares the ball better than any team around. Look for the Chieftains to be the no. 1 or no. 2 come state tournament time.
swimming & Diving the swimming and diving district and state championships are coming up at the end of the month and while the local teams will have a difficult time taking down the likes of academy or Los alamos, Farmington’s nathan isaacson and PV’s sheala Moffitt look to make noise in individual races.
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Bliss Campbell performs in London; wins state Heisman by Debra Mayeux l Courtesy photos Farmington High School senior Bliss Campbell is making her mark in the high school world of dance. Campbell, a captain of the Kelly Greens, was selected by the Universal Dance Association to travel to London, England, and perform in the New Year’s Day parade, and she also was named the recipient of the Wendy's High School Heisman for the state of New Mexico. The chance to perform in the New Year’s Day parade came from Campbell’s participation in the Universal Dance Association’s summer camp. “At every camp you are selected to try out for Young American,” Campbell said. She had to learn a specific dance routine and perform it. Then she was judged on her abilities. She was selected with approximately 400 other dancers for the honor of representing the U.S. in the London parade. “It is very competitive,” Campbell said.
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The High School Heisman came after Campbell’s high school guidance counselor encouraged her to apply for the contest. She competed at the local level and then was selected as a state finalist. She won the state competition along with a Joshua Miller, a Carlsbad High School student. “State winners are exceptional examples of wellrounded students who excel academically, lead and serve others with the passion and persistence of a Heisman winner,” said Archie Griffin, two-time collegiate Heisman Trophy winner. “While these students are recognized as leaders in their communities, the Wendy's High School Heisman award gives them the national recognition their achievements have earned.” Campbell said the recent recognition comes from her dedication to hard work in both academics and dance. “The award has to do with involvement in the community, dance, leadership and sports,” she said, adding she had to write an essay as part of the competition. It covered how leadership has played a role in her life and what she has learned from being a leader.
Campbell’s leadership skills and passion for dance were built in the Kelly Greens organization. While still in 8th grade, she was included in the first set of teenage girls to join the team. She learned that being a Kelly Green means many things. “We work hard in dance and in our community,” Campbell said. The team has the highest ranking grade point average as a group at Farmington High School. “It’s pretty awesome. We support each other and that’s what pushes us to be better on the court and on the field.” Prior to joining the Kelly Greens, Campbell said she didn’t know what she wanted to do. Now she can say, “Dance is my life. I have a true passion for it,” and she works at it with several practices a week. In addition to the hard work, the Kelly Greens are a team and they are friends who help each other in
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every aspect of high school. There even is a large amount of support from the parents, including Vickie Campbell, the mother of Bliss. Vickie became the Kelly Green’s coach in 2010, when there was a need for a coach. Vickie, as coach, has first-hand knowledge of how much each girl dedicates to the team. “It’s a huge commitment and is the only sport that runs all year aside from cheerleading. They have dedicated their lives to this,” she said, adding she tries to instill life lessons in the girls. “That’s why we do community service, stress grades and incorporate other elements into dance so they have these life skills.” As for Bliss, she is busy trying to decide which college she will attend. She knows she wants to study engineering, but she also would like to remain involved in dance as a member of the Universal Dance Association, for which she plans to teach and judge competitions.
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Owner of Complete Physique Gym in Farmington. He is a certified personal trainer who was approved by Donald Trump’s Universal to train Miss New Mexico U.S.A. Kamryn Blackwood.
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Why did you decide to become a trainer and how long have you been working in this field? As a gym owner 20 years ago, I realized the need as well as the potential for one-on-one training. At that time, the field of personal training was just starting to grow. What are some of the skills a person needs to have in order to be a successful personal trainer? Being a good motivator is a must! Success as a personal trainer requires vast knowledge as well as experience in the trade.
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What are some reasons for hiring a personal trainer? Working with a personal trainer enables clients to learn how to lift weights safely and with correct form. Accountability of clients to their trainers is also very beneficial.
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How does the workout of an athlete differ from that of someone who is training to lose weight or get healthy? Each person's workout, cardio, and food plan varies, depending on their particular needs and goals. The workout for an athlete would be high in intensity. The diet plan would also be different.
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As a personal trainer, do you develop diets as well as workouts? Whether a person's goal is to lose weight, build muscle, or maintain their healthy weight, proper eating is essential for success. Some clients are already on their own food programs. Others often ask for a diet plan, which I am happy to provide.
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Do you train people who want to compete in bodybuilding, figure and swimsuit competitions? I train competitors in all of these categories.
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ANTHONYROMERO 7
You are the personal training for Miss New Mexico U.S.A. How long have you been training her?
Kamryn Blackwood began training with me in May 2013.
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How is the training different for Kamryn Blackwood than it would be for some of your other clients?
Some clients are working to build more muscle, but Kamryn already carries a lot of muscle. Her goal at this point is to reduce and cut.
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How do you keep your clients, such as Blackwood, motivated?
Kamryn is easy. She already is a highly determined and motivated athlete, but she does need a kick in the rear occasionally!
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What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in fitness and/or as a personal trainer?
To work in this field you must enjoy working with people and be genuinely concerned with helping them meet the needs and goals for which they hired me.
New program gives middle school girls creative outlet by Debra Mayeux l Photos by Josh Bishop Eight pre-teen girls hold purple flags on poles taller than themselves, standing in the Heights Middle School Commons and awaiting directions from their coach. the girls are part of a new program, funded by the Connie Gotsch Foundation, to help develop a middle school color guard drill team in Farmington. the program began at the start of the 2013-2014 school year, when Andrea Fear agreed to be the coach to the young ladies. “this gives them an opportunity to be in a group that is athletic and creative – to be able to perform to music,” she said. During a typical routine the girls will go from using their flags to using rifles to per-
forming a choreographed dance piece. “It gives them opportunities to become familiar with and use different types of equipment,” said Fear, who used to participate in and coach color guard, prior to setting up this team. the girls became involved with the team for various reasons. Some have a background in dance or were searching for an outlet. rachel Duran, 11, said she found what she was looking for when Fear introduced the concept of a color guard team. “When we had our first meeting, Mrs. Fear picked up a broom and started doing tricks with it,” Duran said. “I wanted to learn to do that, because it was different and looked hard.”
rebecca Martinez, 13, had a different interest in the team. “My mom was a flag coach at Piedra Vista and she got me hooked on it,” she said. Several of the other girls had dance experience. “When I was little I did ballet, but I never knew about the flag team. I got interested in it and it’s good,” 12-year-old Darian Jarboe-Whiting said. “We all wanted to do something new.” Jarboe-Whiting got her friend Emily Miller, 13, involved. “She wouldn’t leave me alone until I signed up, and I like it,” Miller said. Monique Urioste, 12, also had done ballet and wanted to try something new.
February 2013
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Lainey Collins, 12, had tried all different types of dance. “I take Hip Hop, tap, ballet, lyrical and modern – a whole lot of dance,” she said. “I saw others participating in flags and figured I could do it because of my dance experience.” Collins discovered that her favorite part is learning how to control the flags. The Color Guard team is the only sport or activity in which sixth-grade girls can participate, and that is why Emmeri Tafoya, 12, joined. Her friend, Amberly “Bug” Smith, an 11-year-old sixth-grader, also was searching for an activity to do with her friends. “If each of these girls sticks with the program, they will feed directly into the Piedra Vista High School Color Guard, and they already will have the team experience from middle school. “We have trouble recruiting at high school,” said Tina Happel, Piedra Vista Color Guard Coach and assistant coach at Heights. “It’s easier to get them interested in middle school and teach them all of the basics.”
Fear agreed, saying that if they start early, and get their hands on the flags in middle school, their interest will continue, before they “get wrapped up in high school life.” Fear also hopes to expand this program by sponsoring regional competitions at Heights. The Four Corners Winter Guard and Percussion Invitational will be March 15 at Heights Middle School.
orado, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and all over the Four Corners,” Fear said. The event will begin at 9 a.m. in the school’s gymnasium. There will be a presentation of solos and ensembles followed by the winter guard presentations and percussion. “Anyone can attend and experience something different,” Fear said.
“We’ve invited guards from Southern Col-
February 2014
The cost to view the competition is $3.
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Fantasy football is done for another season and it is time to go back and look at our AllFantasy Teams from the best of the best to the wasted draft picks to the injured and the brilliant managerial roster moves. Here is this fantasy season’s All-Geek Teams All FAnTAsy PoinT TeAm Broncos QB Peyton manning– 5,477 yards and 55 TDs gives manning the season’s highest point total chiefs RB Jamal charles – 1980 Total yards, 70 catches, and 19 TDs propelled the chiefs into the playoffs and charles to the top of the running back list. Bears RB matt Forte –1933 Total yards, 12 TDs and 74 catches make Forte a top 10 prospect for next year Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas – 92 catches, 1,430 yards and 14 TDs made Thomas the no. 1 receiver on the no. 1 offense steelers WR Antonio Brown –110 catches, 1,499 yards, 9 TDs gave the steelers a more than adequate replacement for mike Wallace. Also a bonus if your league gave return yardage saints Te Jimmy Graham – 86 catches 1,215 yards, 16 TDs put Graham nearly in a class by himself eagles RB lesean mccoy (Flex) – 52 catches, 2,146 yards, 11 TDs. mccoy was invaluable in chip kelly’s offense and outside of manning should be considered the offensive mVP carolina DsT – 60 sacks, 20 ints, 4 TDs and only 237 points allowed All WAiVeR WiRe TeAm eagles QB nick Foles – 2,891 yards, 31 TDs, and only 2 interceptions made Foles a blessing for anyone who lost a starting QB Broncos RB knowshon moreno –1,576 Total yards, 60 catches and 13 TDs – moreno took over what was a mess of a backfield situation
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THE FANTASY GEEK
RickHOERNER in Denver and balanced their offensive attack Rams RB Zach stacy – over 1,100 Total yards, and 8 TDs made stacy a Godsend for anyone with an underachieving or injured RB Browns WR Josh Gordon – 87 catches, 1,737 yards and 9 TDs after missing the first four games. Gordon will be high on most draft boards next year Bears WR Alshon Jeffery – 89 catches, 1,526 yards and 7 TDs were unexpected numbers, except for the most diehard of Bears fans, from a no. 2 receiver Dolphins Te charles clay – 69 catches 759 yards, 6 TDs and he got rushing yardage as well Patriots WR Julian edelman (Flex) – With 105 catches, 1,067 yards and 6 TDs edelman may not have replaced Wes Welker, but was pretty close Bills DsT – 57 sacks, and 27 ints. By the end of the year, a top 10 DsT All WAsTeD DRAFT Pick TeAm Giants QB eli manning – The Giants underachieved offensively and manning threw more picks than touchdowns colts RB Trent Richardson – After what Richardson did with woeful Browns, expectations were high after the trade, but he couldn’t hold off Donald Brown Ravens RB Ray Rice –The most reliable offensive player for the super Bowl champs was under a 1,000 yards of total offense for the season cowboys WR miles Austin – With only 24 catches, 244 yards, and no TDs, Austin disappointed as a high powered offense’s no. 2 chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe – his 57 catches, 673 yards and 5 TDs were mostly late in the
February 2014
season after everyone gave up on him lions Te Brandon Pettigrew – 41 catches 416 yards, 2 TDs. Did not prosper from the addition of Reggie Bush and averaged only 29 yards per game Bills RB cJ spiller (Flex) – After last year’s breakout season, spiller was a highly sought commodity who couldn’t keep Fred Jackson off the field lions DsT – There was a lot of preseason hype on the lions DsT and how dominant they would be, but they don’t crack the top 20 All inJuReD Packers QB Aaron Rodgers – many teams lost their way after losing Rodgers for the whole second half of the fantasy season Bucs RB Doug martin – martin was a first tier running back in most draft formats and didn’t make it through a quarter of the season Giants RB Davis Wilson – Wilson seemed to be the heir apparent to Ahmad Bradshaw, but a poor start, fumblitis and then injury reserve sunk the Giants running game Falcons WR Julio Jones – Before the injury, Jones was leading the league in receptions and yardage. losing him was a killer for my team colts WR Reggie Wayne – Wayne was Andrew luck’s most reliable target and was on the verge of another big season Patriots Te Rob Gronkowski – When Gronk was there he was a big scoring threat, but just not there enough Texans RB Arian Foster (Flex) – A tough year for the Texans and Foster, who never really seemed in the form that made him a top two pick in a lot of leagues Just a few months down the road and we will be getting draft prep ready to go. Here’s to having a great fantasy football season and a better one to come.
Concussion continued from 35 “I have headaches daily, dizziness and a dull pain in my head that won’t go away,” explained Maestas. “Doctors tell me that there is not any medicine for my symptoms and only time will heal.” “Being a star athlete and then being told that you are not allowed to play these sports that you love is pretty devastating for a 14-year old boy,” said Phyllis Maestas, Lucas’ mom. “Besides the other symptoms, Lucas was going through depression. What makes it tougher is that people don’t realize he is suffering because he doesn’t have a physical wound to show them.” player head injury is on the forefront. Enter Coach Frank DeHoyos, the head baseball coach at Bloomfield High School and a family friend. Coach DeHoyos encouraged Lucas to start a website that would tell his story and update it with information for fellow youth athletes, their parents and coaches. Taking the advice, Maestas started the website www.livingwithaconcussion.com a little over four months ago. The site tells Lucas’ story, video links of other athletes that are dealing with traumatic brain injuries, a blog, a parents section, coach section, symptoms, laws and other facts related to TBI. “I just want to help kids and parents understand how serious concussions are,” explained Maestas. “The goal is to prevent a second concussion from happening or realizing what the symptoms are after the first concussion. I want to supply information and steps to take for parents – and for coaches to see a real person with a real story. And while the website is telling Lucas’ story, the concern the Maestas family has for future
“I think that kids are starting to play football at too young of an age,” said Maestas. “Their heads are developed but their bodies and necks can’t support the helmet on their heads. They look like bobble heads on the field.” “But coaches have to teach better tackling techniques so kids learn the right way to tackle,” continued Maestas. “They need to have their heads up and not using the helmet to hit another player.” “I coached youth football for over 18 years,” said Eric Maestas, Lucas’ father. “I can tell you personally it was different watching your own son get hit – and not just in the head, but hit in general. Knowing what I know now, I would not have let Lucas play football after the pool incident, because it doesn’t have to be a big blow to the head to cause an injury – every kid is different.”
“Parents and friends still ask me to this day why I am not able to play.” Only time will tell. For more information on concussions, please visit Lucas’ website at www.livingwithaconcussion.com
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For now, Lucas Maestas is concentrating on his schoolwork and his website – which has received over 2,300 visits in four months. With his current symptoms he has been unable to participate in any sports, but hopes that with time his symptoms will be tolerable enough to get involved in non-contact sports.
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“Impact testing is a series of tests to develop a baseline level for each individual player,” stated Maestas. “Then if a player gets hit in the head, coaches and medical staff can use these same tests to determine whether or not a player has suffered a concussion.”
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Lucas and his family are hoping that others who deal with his kind of pain and suffering will find his website helpful. Lucas also has plans to
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talk to legislators and lawmakers to help get better concussion laws passed. And he is in favor of impact testing for all players before they play.
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