Celebrating Our Community Sports Winter 2013
Where is he now...
MVPs Coaches’ Picks
Clarence jackson
marlton’s New Fields of Dreams
Concussions Among Kids 10 Simple Off-Season Steps for Basketball Players
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Publisher’s Note
MARLTONSPORTS Celebrating Our Community Sports
Welcome to Marlton Sports Magazine
Winter 2013 Co-Owners
Ever since my son could walk, he was drawn to sports. Throwing a football, swinging a golf club, kicking a soccer ball...that’s all he wanted to do. So, as soon as we could sign him up for Marlton Rec, he was on the list. Now, many years later, Marlton sports has become a community for us. Not just for him, but for my husband and I as well. We’ve formed many friendships with the parents while cheering for our kids on the sidelines. We’ve bonded with coaches as they’ve taught our son the dynamics of each sport. So, when a few of us flirted with the idea of starting a Marlton sports magazine, it just seemed right. The ideas quickly turned into actions and the brainstorming rapidly led to tasks. With all that said, we welcome you to the launch of Marlton Sports Magazine! We’re here to celebrate our kids in sports. Our magazine will keep you up-to-date on issues that affect our athletes. We’ll feature rising stars like Jake Powell on the front cover. We’ll follow Marlton graduates as they venture into the professional world like Clarence Jackson on page 9. And we’ll update you with Marlton Recreation Council news and Cherokee sports. We’ll also be giving back to the sports community! Ten percent of all advertising profits will be donated to Marlton sports. Marlton Sports Magazine is here to make a difference. Whether your daughter is in tot soccer or your son is on the varsity football team, Marlton Sports Magazine will keep you informed and entertained. You’ll see your friends, teammates, coaches and fellow Marlton residents throughout the pages of each issue. If you’d like to share your thoughts, please feel free to email us at marltonsports@gmail.com. Thanks so much for reading and see you on the fields. Stephanie Biddle Publisher
Will Stith
Stephanie Biddle
Publisher Stephanie Biddle Editor Dubravka Cortese Photography Will Stith Graphic Design Corporate Imagination Contributing Writers Dave Distel Kerry Holt Social Media Emma Stith Printing Consultant Paul Biddle
MSM
Nominate Your
Favorite Coach Coaches impact us in so many ways, both on and off the field. We’d like to hear how your favorite coach has helped you to be the best you can be.
Essays due by April 1s t.
Nominate your favorite coach by sending in a one page essay to marltonsports@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name, age, phone number and how this coach made a difference for you. We’ll choose our favorite essays to feature in an issue of Marlton Sports Magazine. Winter 2013
© 2014 Marlton Sports Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A. Published three times a year (winter, spring, fall) by Creative Publishing, LLC. Marlton Sports Magazine and Creative Publishing neither endorse nor take responsibility for products or services advertised herein. No part of this magazine ma be reproduced without permission from the editor. Creative Publishing makes no warranty, representation or guarantee as toe the accuracy or timeliness of its content. The publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertising at any time. To submit a news item or offer a feature story idea to Marlton Sports Magazine, email marltonsports@gmail.com. To advertise in Marlton Sports Magazine or to receive a media kit, email marltonsports@gmail.com.
1
Contents Features: 6 Winning and
teaching life lessons
Marlton travel baseball teams win multiple titles
9
Hit the mats
Marlton takes Dual title
10 MRC cross country team places 8th at Nationals
12
Keeping it rolling
14
Cherokee football
6
Cherokee’s bowling team is alive and well
Chiefs raid Vikings for South Jersey title
13
16 Marlton’s new
fields of dreams
18
19
24
25
concussions among kids
Researchers stress need for more research and national standards
Basketball
4th Annual Marlton Chiefs Holiday Classic Tournament championship games
10 Simple offseason steps for basketball players
In Every Issue: Publisher’s Note. . . . . . . . . . . 1
Sports Unity expands the playing field for special needs
Middle School MVPs . . . . . 11 Marlton Rec News. . . . . . . . 27 Sport Fans Selfies. . . . . . . . 26
CHS marching band keeps the beat
Celebrating Our Community Sports www.marltonsports.com Winter 2013
Where is he now...
MVPs Coaches Picks
2
4 Report calls for action on
CLARENCE JACKSON
MARLTON’S New Fields of Dreams
Concussions Among Kids MARLTON TRAVEL BASKETBALL WINS AGAIN
On the Cover Triple-threat Jake Powell, who plays tight end and defensive end for Cherokee High School football, as well as basketball and baseball for the Chiefs, holds the school’s single-season and career receiving record after catching 35 passes for 440 yards and five touchdowns in the 2012 football season. The Cherokee senior has already committed to continuing his football playing days at the University of Delaware, which happens to be his father’s alma mater and where his older brother Tyler currently plays baseball. Jake, team captain for the second year in a row, also earned honors by being named to All County 1st Team, All Conference 1st Team and All County Academic Team. Photo courtesy of Richard Ta.
23
Departments: 13 Where are they now?
20
23
27
Clarence Jackson
Expert advice
Overuse injuries start before symptoms appear
Sports nutrition
“To drink, or not to drink�
A message from the mayor
Sports and Marlton
22 14
16
Winter 2013
21
3
This story was posted on USA TODAY’s website on Oct. 30, 2013
By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY Sports
Report calls for action on
I
concussions among kids
f you’re a parent worried about concussions in youth sports – and not just football – you’ve got reason for concern, according to a 306-page report issued that urged more research on younger athletes and establishment of a national system to monitor how often they are concussed. The report was issued in Washington by the Committee of SportsRelated Concussions in Youth, affiliated with the non-profit, private National Academy of Sciences. Notes the report: “Parents worry about choosing sports that are safe for their children to play, about finding the equipment that can best protect their children, and about when, if a child does receive a concussion, it will be safe for him or her to return to play or if it might be time to quit a much-loved sport entirely.’’ Those parents won’t find all the answers to those questions in the report. It is focused on raising the key questions. “The findings of our report justify the concerns about sports concussions in young people,” Robert Graham, chair of the committee, says in a news release. “However, there are numerous areas in which we need more and better data. Until we have that information, we urge parents, schools, athletic departments, and the public to examine carefully what we do know, as with any decision regarding risk, so they can make more informed decisions about young athletes playing sports.’’ At a briefing in Washington, committee members stressed the need for more data and research. 4
“Constantly, we came to this place where there’s just nothing about kids. … This has to hit home. We have to start doing better studies,” said Arthur Maerlender, assistant professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth College.
The report is a summary of existing “available literature” on the topic youth sports concussions, in other words, what is believed to be known and what isn’t. Among the findings: • Numbers are scarce. “There is currently a lack of data to accurately estimate the incidence of sports-related concussions across a variety of sports and for youth. … Nevertheless, existing data suggest that sportsrelated concussions represent a significant public health concern.’’ • Culture of resistance. The report finds failure to report concussion symptoms by athletes themselves isn’t just an issue in pro sports. “In surveys, youth profess that the game and team are more important than their individual health and that they may play through a concussion to avoid letting down their teammates, coaches, school and parents.” • Equipment. The report says there is “limited evidence” that current helmet designs reduce risks of concussions.” But it notes, “there is evidence that helmets reduce the risk of other injuries, such as skull fracture, and thus the use of properly fitted helmets should be promoted.” The report says there is no evidence that mouth guards or face masks reduce risk of concussion but that they should be worn to prevent injuries to the eyes, face, mouth and teeth. Marlton Sports Magazine
While the study focused on athletes ages 5-21, it does address some issues commonly associated with professional athletes. Those are issues on the minds of parents of young athletes, too. The autopsied brains of former NFL players have shown evidence of the brain injury chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). It has been linked by some researchers to depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s. Might head injuries sustained in youth and high school sports also lead to CTE? “Whether repetitive head impacts and multiple concussions sustained in youth lead to long-term neurogenerative diseases, such as (CTE) remains unclear,” says the report. “Additional research is needed to determine whether CTE represents a unique disease entity and, if so, develop diagnostic criteria for it.” The report was done by two arms of the National Academy of Sciences: the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. The report was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Education, Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Athletic Trainers Association Research and Education Foundation,
e ” m o er H r end u o l “Y wn to
the National Institutes of Health and the CDC Foundation (via a grant from the National Football League). Here is what the committee recommends:
• The CDC should set a national surveillance system to determine the rate sports-related concussions among youth, and include data on protective equipment, causes and extent of the injuries.
“
• The NCAA and National Federation of State High School Associations “should undertake a rigorous scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of age-appropriate techniques, rules, and playing and practice standards in reducing sports-related concussions.” • The National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense should fund research on age- and sex-related variants in risk for concussions.
”
“The findings of our report justify the concerns about sports concussions in young people”
• The National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense should support research to improve concussion diagnosis and create age-specific guidelines for managing concussions. • National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense should conduct studies on effects of concussion and repetitive head impacts over a life span. To aid this research, the National Institutes of Health should maintain a national brain tissue bank.
• The NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations, in conjunction with the other groups, should develop “large-scale efforts to increase knowledge about concussions and change the culture (social norms, attitudes, and behaviors) surrounding concussions among elementary school through college-aged youth and their parents, coaches, sports officials, educators, trainers, and health care professionals.’’ MSM
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Winning and
Teaching Life Lessons By Dubravka Cortese
T
he 2013 baseball season was a banner one for the Marlton Baseball program. Five Marlton Baseball teams made it to the state finals. Three of those teams, 8-and-under, 9-and-under and one 11-and-under team won their state titles, and two went on to clinch regional titles. The Marlton Reds 8-and-under and 9-and-under tournament baseball teams went further than any other Marlton baseball team has ever gone before when they both won their respective Cal Ripken Middle Atlantic Regional Championships. The Marlton Reds 8-and-under team compiled a 5-2 record in the 6
tournament and were undefeated in the state and district tournaments, finishing the season with a 31-6 record. Tom Bimmer, head coach of the 8-and-under team, credits a group effort on the part of the players, coaches and parents for the success of the team, a group of boys who had never played together before. “I think our success was due to the commitment of the kids, their love of the game, their willingness to practice and be open to what the coaches want them to do. The parents were a great group that allowed us to coach. Everyone got it. The players played, the coaches coached, and the parents came to cheer them on. The atmosphere was always positive.� Marlton Sports Magazine
“We play together as a team, and we work hard together. We are a special group of kids, and we play well together.” Aaron Bergstrom
8-year-old regional champions
9-year-old regional champions
Ethan Stith of the 9-year-old Reds
Bimmer, a first year coach, said he likes the direction the Marlton Baseball program is going with its multi-goal approach to coaching: winning and teaching life lessons. “It’s important to give everybody an opportunity to play,” Bimmer said. “It is a competitive sport, but it’s not all about winning. We wanted to make sure each kid was learning, having fun and contributing to the team, developing as individuals and as teammates. The winning takes care of itself after that.” Chase Bimmer, 8, who plays right and left field as well as third base, said winning the regionals was “exciting. It felt great.” Chase also had Winter 2013
11-year-old district champions
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positive things to say about his teammates. “We “We hit the ball, worked well together we have great pitching and and didn’t fight with our fielders make every play. each other. We were always cheering for And we always try to keep each each other. And the other’s heads up, to help each coaches were nice and taught us a lot.” other stay in the game.” Catcher Jason Blake Morgan Schooley, 8, says great fielding, hitting and catching is what helped his team win. “It felt good to win because our team is so good, and we went so far. We have a lot of fun together. We cheer each other up when we are feeling down. The coaches taught us a lot, and we learned how to be great players. I feel really happy that we won it all.” The Marlton Reds 9-and-under team compiled a 6-0 record in the tournament, beating out other state championship teams from Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Reds were also undefeated in the state and district tournaments, finishing the season with a 37-3 record. Rob Reynolds, now in his third year as head coach of the team, credits the hard work of the kids with their winning season. “The kids work really hard all year long,” he said. “When the season kicks in, they come together. They support each other. Baseball is the ultimate team sport. We work really hard at practice, but we have a lot of fun as well.” Reynolds said playing baseball in Marlton has its advantages as well. “Marlton Baseball has given us the ability to work out all year long and to compete in competition tournaments. It’s a good thing to be able to compete in a tournament level under your town’s name.” Reynolds, a former minor league player himself, said the team’s goal throughout the season was to make it to regionals. “If we got there, anything could happen.” And it did. Aaron Bergstrom, 10, shortstop and pitcher, said he was nervous going into the tournament, but “felt great” when his team won. Jason Schooley “We play together as a team, and we work hard together. We are a special group of kids, and we play well together.” Blake Morgan, 10, echoed Aaron’s sentiments. “It felt great!” he said about winning the regionals. “We hit the ball, we have great pitching and our fielders make every play. And we always try to keep each other’s heads up, to help each other stay in the game.” MSM
“The coaches taught us a lot, and we learned how to be great players. I feel really happy that we won it all.”
The Spring issue will revisit Marlton’s new baseball facility and how it impacts our recreation and travel teams. Read more about it on page 16.
www.wiggle-buttz.com 8
Marlton Sports Magazine
WRESTLING Marlton Takes Dual Title
The Marlton Chiefs dual wrestling team took 1st in the 2014 New Jersey Dual League Tournament at Cherry Hill West High School. The number one seeded Chiefs had a bye in the quarter-finals, beat Seneca 48-28 in the semi-finals and knocked off Rancocas Valley 50-17 in the finals.
mat ville University e h t ff o d n for Millers ness on a ment er of Intent
awarerecently signed a National Lett d for the state wrestling tourna m s i t u a g n i r DJ Mele Rais . DJ qualifie kee wrestle scholarship
Winter 2013
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9
MRC cross country team places 8th at Nationals
I
t’s a long run to cross country nationals, but one group of local boys made it seem like a walk in the park. The Marlton Recreation Council’s (MRC) 11-12 year old cross country team placed eighth in the nation at the AAU National Championship held on Dec. 7, 2013 in Fort Gordon, Ga. Team members Liam Duffy, Brett Shea, Christian Jimenez, Christopher Spisak, Dylan Odud and Ethan Wechsler all ran their personal bests in the 3000 meter race. The team’s showing at nationals is especially noteworthy since the MRC cross country program is only in its second year. The team won the South Jersey championships in its first year of competition. “Our kids are outstanding, they really are,” said head coach and MRC Track Commissioner Bill Shea. Shea is joined by assistant coaches Frank Wechsler
and Rich Spisak and eighth grade co-captains Justin Kelly and Joe Falk. About 40 kids made up this year’s MRC cross country teams. Last year, the program graduated four eighth graders - two boys and two girls - who are all now on Cherokee High School’s varsity cross country team. Shea said the program’s success is due to the focus on building selfconfidence in the kids through proper training and conditioning. “This sport is not about winning today, it’s about doing it right, and then you’ll win,” Shea said. “Take the pressure away from the kids, and they will win.” And win they did. “It was a thrilling experience to compete nationally,” said Christian. “It felt good to see our hard work pay off.” Brett laid it out when he said, “We drove 800 miles in 24 hours within two days to run for 11 minutes, and it was worth every second!” Ethan felt it “was a fun and adventurous experience running and bonding with my teammates.” Dylan agreed, saying, “Everyone trained hard, and it felt good to perform well.” Congratulations to a job well done, team! MSM
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Marlton Sports Magazine
Middle School MVPs
Coaches’ Picks - Soccer
olf Rebecca W for the a team leader
was Rebecca Wolf ot only did ccer Team. N So s irl G i DeMas t she also bu , as goalie 0% 11 ve gi e sh in the art of ger students mentored youn the pace for Rebecca set expertise goal keeping. ar er and sh ing ay pl am te a g bein s. rienced player with less expe
Dylan Bailouerycaptains for the
e of Dylan was on the goalie ins. Dylan was ph ol D S M D 2013 mes to keep am in close ga and kept our te e continued ed record. H our undefeat saves. He in with amaz g g bi up e m to co t of the seah pain for mos played throug hen he was oken hand. W en hand, son with a br due to his brok ell. ed in el sid ly final ld as w ader off the fie Dylan was a le
Rome Young cdle Boys So arlton Mid M ro e sc th f ’s o nt part the team r Rome was an importa u s s. o a n d w so le e a e m se H o R assists. past two 9 e 1 th d r n a ve M o ls 4 goa lped M S cer team ason he he be the year with 1 se is st th r La e r. d a a re to ing le rd this ye ip, and desi ates and 11-2-1 reco le, leadersh m st team to an m u a h te is is H h . record t by both n e id v great high e e s to a 13-0-1 a can be w im becom h e t h lp r e h ye la ill p peting nex best ristics w ard to com rw se characte fo o h g T in . k o ch a co is lo luck. r. I know he the best of school playe e and we wish him roke year at Che
seman Connor Chouerecaptains for the
e of Connor was on dle School Dolphins. id M i as eM D , Connor 2013 of the season se ur Over the co turned to that our team example was the leader by ld. He led fie e th off d on an determined rd work and ha s hi h ug ro th the flow of or controlled field poattitude. Conn m his center id h ug ro th e m the ga set plays such a vital part of as w e H n. io sit s. He was one s and free kick as corner kick team. leaders for the of the scoring
Cecelia Ghaly We are p le for the ased to honor C Marlton ecelia G haly Mid top scori ng playe dle Girls Socce as an outstand r in rs for th Lady Mu e past tw team. She was g player stangs to on o is a stro ng lead a 7-1-1 record years and help e of our er who ed lead for the 2 their be enco the 013 st addition and gives it he urages all of he season. Ceceli r all duri a r teamm , she is a ng ate ve improve her gam ry coachable pla practices and g s to do e. Her e tude ma ames. In yer who xce ke c her play her an asset to llent work eth onstantly tries to ic an again an d wish h y team. We loo and positive att er the b k iforward est of lu to seein ck next g year.
11
bowling Keeping it rolling
M
any residents may not realize it, but bowling is alive and well in Marlton youth sports, thanks to a group of 16 students from Cherokee High School who make up the Chiefs’ boys and girls bowling teams.The two teams compete throughout the winter high school sport season, hosting their home matches at Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade. Both teams have been coached for the past seven years by Cherokee science teacher Pete LaMonaca. According to LaMonaca, each team is made up of five bowlers. Three games are played at each bowling match. The winning team receives a point for each game won. Ties are possible, however, since the team with the most pins in the match receives an extra point. The Chiefs’ girls team, however, only has four bowlers, which means they get a handicap called “blind pins.” In other words, 25 points are deducted from the competing team’s lowest bowler’s score for each game.
Team members competed in the South Jersey Singles Tournament at Brunswick Lakewood Lanes in Lakewood Township on Dec. 14, 2013. Senior Alex Bees placed an impressive fifth out of 80 competitors. Alex’s average for the season had been 208. Both teams competed in sectionals in February. The Chiefs’ girls team competed in sectionals on Feb. 1 at Laurel Lanes. Unfortunately, none of the girls qualified for individuals at the state tournament. The boys sectionals were held on Feb. 8 at Brunswick Zone in Deptford. LaMonaca predicted the competition would be tough, and his team worked hard despite none of the players advancing to the individual state tournaments. MSM
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12
Marlton Sports Magazine
Where are they now?
Clarence Jackson Q: How do you feel your experience playing sports in Marlton prepared you for a career in professional basketball?
A: Marlton basketball put structure into my game. I was one of those kids that had
talent, but was pretty raw. Marlton basketball helped me learn the game more as far as structural background, learning where to be on the floor, plays and an overall knowledge of the game. I have had so many people in this area that have helped so much with my career (such as high school coaches Ron Powell and Dave Distel). Dave was like a father figure to me. He is still a mentor to the kids throughout the town. He put me in the right position to excel. Basketball always kept me out of trouble. There were so many resources in this town, such as numerous leagues, the Blue Barn, camps, etc. that kept me busy and away from negative influences. My family moving me here was a blessing for me. I love to call Marlton my hometown. It is a great place to raise a family.
Q: What is your fondest memory playing here? A: When I first moved here (in fifth grade), I was on a team with kids that I didn’t
know. I was coming from Philadelphia and was the only black kid on the team. But the kids welcomed me with open arms, and they are still my great friends today. They helped make the transition for me easier. They helped me with my confidence and to become a better player. We won our first championship that year, and it was only my first year playing structured basketball in the town. My favorite high school memory was winning Cherokee High School’s first South Jersey championship. A big goal for me was to give the school its first ever basketball championship, and I was able to do that luckily, in my senior year.
Jackson started the Clarence Jackson Basketball Skills Academy in the summer of 2012. The week long camp teaches children from 7 to 18 years of age the basics of basketball, as well the importance of healthy living. Q: Why is it important to you to give back to youth sports in Marlton?
Marlton native and professional basketball player Clarence Jackson left his mark on local basketball, and now he wants to help other young players do the same. Jackson’s summer youth basketball skills camp, which recently completed its second season, is his way of “paying it forward.” Jackson, who helped lead the Cherokee High School Chiefs basketball team to its first ever South Jersey divisional title in 2007, credits his time playing basketball at Marlton Middle School, with the Marlton Rec Council, JKMBA, AAU and at Cherokee with his success in the sport. Jackson, 24, went on to play four years of basketball at Siena College and pro ball Winter 2013leagues. But he still fondly calls Marlton home. in European
A: It’s the least I can do. It was a no brainer to give back. I had so many people help me in so many ways when I first moved here. It just shows how much this community backs up people when they need it, especially when they care about you and believe in you. I never thought I would be working with kids this much, but I’ve developed a love for it. There is so much talent in this town. Q: What words of inspiration would you give to a young kid dreaming of a career in professional sports? A: Don’t let anyone shatter your path. People will talk, but it’s about what you believe
in and how you think. I had some people doubt me, and I could easily have gone down a different path. But it helped develop a little fire in me, and in a humble way, I was able to take that and run with it. As long as you keep a basketball in your hand and have a love for that object, it can take you many places, whether your goal is playing at the highest level or to be a coach. As long as you love what you do and have a passion for it, you can do anything. MSM 13
Cherokee Football
14
Marlton Sports Magazine
Chiefs raid Vikings for South Jersey title The Cherokee High School Chiefs football team won the South Jersey Group 5 Championship on Friday, Dec. 6 by beating Eastern High School with a score of 38-2. The game, held at Rowan University, gave Cherokee its ninth sectional title in school history. The Eastern Vikings, led by quarterback Tom Flacco, brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, had averaged close to 38 points a game during the regular season. But during the championship game against the Chiefs, Flacco was sacked three times, and the Vikings turned the ball over five times. The Chiefs, coached by P.J. Mehigan, finished the season with an 11-1 record, suffering only one loss early in the season to Williamstown High School.
Winter 2013
15
marlton’s
New Fields of Dreams By Dubravka Cortese
(This article was first published in The Central Record in September 2013)
A
field of dreams will soon be reality for the township’s young softball and baseball players. The township broke ground in August on a $5.3 million softball and baseball field complex on the site of the former Johnston and Morrison tracts, next to the municipal complex on Tuckerton Road. The four-field clover-shaped softball and baseball complex will allow Marlton Recreation Council (MRC) to hold four regular games or eight T-ball games simultaneously and in the same complex. Officials expect the new complex to be used for tournaments as well, bringing in additional revenue. About 1,700 township children participate in recreational baseball and softball. The township held a “ribbon-cutting” ceremony on Sept. 10 at the site. Mayor Randy Brown, a major proponent of the complex, thanked the MRC for its work in bringing the idea to fruition. In his speech, Brown referenced the community wide effort that made the construction of an often controversial, but much used, turf field a reality at the Memorial Sports Complex nearly a decade ago. “Here we are seven years later, and we are about to build another fabulous sports center,” Brown said. Calling the complex not just a sports center but a “community center,” Brown said, “These games are a community-wide event. So when we build, we invest in the town.” He went on to say that such construction is meant to make residents want to stay in town. “That’s why we create fabulous complexes like this.” 16
Brown thanked Chuck Horner of the Pinelands Commission for his help with the getting the necessary approvals for the construction. “They are honest,” Brown said of the commission. “Whether we agree or disagree...they want what we want, and that is building facilities for our kids.” Brown joked about the extensive wish lists presented by MRC softball commissioner Jim Cucinotta and baseball commissioner Joe Schooley when plans for the complex first began. Both commissioners noted the cooperation within the MRC and with other township entities, such as the council and community members, as reasons for the project coming to fruition. “We preach the importance of teamwork to the kids,” Schooley said. “What you’re seeing here is teamwork. This is how we get it done.” Tony Valenzano of Valenzano Winery in Shamong was on hand, as he has plans to build an ice cream shop across the street from the complex. The mayor also thanked engineer Greg Valesi of CME Associates, Dan Giangiulio of Glendale Excavating and Al Buciorelli of American Athletic Courts for their work on the project. The township will cover the cost of the complex with a general improvement bond and will pay the debt service using funds from the open space and recreation trust over 15 years. If not all the appropriated funds are used, the township can cancel the remaining bond balance, move that to the general fund and use it toward the debt payment. Despite the hefty price tag, Brown believes the project will come in under budget. Marlton Sports Magazine
“There is no doubt in my mind that it will be lower.” Opening day for the complex is set for Saturday, April 5, 2014. The complex will feature infields of clay, synthetic turf outfields, and permanent marks
on all the fields to allow them to be easily used for T-ball games as necessary. Each of the fields will have lights, dugouts, spectator stands, a public announcement system and a scoreboard. The scoreboards will have space for future revenue generating advertising. Protective
netting will be installed as well. There will also be portable pitching mounds, four batting cages in two locations, a half mile walking track around the perimeter and an asphalt path connecting all the fields and leading to the existing fields across the street in the Memorial Sports Complex. There will also be a warm up area separate from the dugouts. The concession stand, located in the center of the clover, will be a two-story 30 foot by 30 foot building with bathrooms and storage space. The upper floor will house scoring tables with a window facing each field. There will be a second restroom facility as well. An additional 43 parking spaces will be added west of the municipal lot as well as 14 spaces in front of the municipal building. There will also be a 100 foot wide section at the field entrance for cars dropping players off. Two tot lots will be located, one at each end of the complex. One of the tot lots will be fully handicap accessible. The clay/turf fields will allow for better drainage and less maintenance. A brown turf ring will create a transition between the clay and turf parts of the field. MSM
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basketball Boys 8th Grade Travel
4th Annual Marlton Chiefs Holiday Classic Tournament Championship Games
Girls 7th Grade Travel A
The 2013 Marlton Chiefs Holiday Classic was a great success. Over 75 boys and girls teams from the tri-state area competed from December 26th to December 31st at Cherokee High School and Marlton Middle School. A list of the 13 champions is on the next page. Marlton won 3 championships: Boys 8th Grade, Girls 8th Grade and 7th Grade A girls. Marlton teams that made finals were Boys 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 8A, 8B, Girls 7A, 8A. Next year’s tournament will be held on December 26-31, 2014. The 2014 SJBL Boys playoffs where Marlton will host 4A, 5B, 7A, 7C, 8C quarterfinals and semifinals will be on February 22nd and March 2nd. Also all 13 SJBL championships will be held at Cherokee on Sunday, March 9th.
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Marlton Sports Magazine
10 Simple Off-Season Steps for Basketball Players
Girls 8th Grade Travel
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6th Grade Boys West Cinnaminson over Marlton 8th Grade Boys West/East Marlton over RJS Senior Girls Marlton over Voorhees 4th Grade Boys West Medford over Mt. Laurel 5th Grade Boys West CBAA over Marlton Junior East Girls Cherry Hill over Mt. Laurel 8th Grade Boys North Absecon over Marlton Junior West Girls Marlton over Pinelands 7th Grade North/South Washington Twp. over Monarchs 6th Grade Boys North/South Delran over Absecon 4th Grade Girls Washington Twp. over Voorhees 4th Grade Boys North/South Delran over Marlton 5th Grade Boys North Mt. Laurel over Marlton Winter 2013
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Basketball players are made from March to November. Basketball teams are made from November to March.
hese are words to live by for serious basketball players. The momentum for a successful season starts approximately 3 weeks after the end of your winter season. Your body and mind need that 3 weeks to rest and decompress from a long basketball season. The following steps are only a suggestion for young boys and girls who truly want to improve and become a more complete player.
Champions
By Dave Distel
1. Meet with your coach from the season you just finished. Speak with him or her and have an open mind. Talk about the high points and low points of your season. Understand your strengths and weaknesses and truly try to understand what specifically you need to improve upon. Be true to yourself and be honest about your self-evaluation. Sometimes it's tough to hear the truth, but ultimately it will only help you. 2. After taking some much needed time off, start working on your shooting stroke. Take time each day to work on the mechanics of shooting (hands, feet, elbow and follow through). Trying to work on your shooting during your season is very difficult. 3. Begin to work in your off-season skill improvement program of dribbling, shooting and passing. Most basketball skill work can be done on your own or with a teammate or friend. Many of your coaches can help with a program or there can be many found in books or online. Focus on your weaknesses that were discussed with your coach. Create a schedule on what you will do each day and for how long. Chart your progress. 4. Incorporate strength training into your daily routine. Push-ups and sit-ups are excellent starting exercises for young boys and girls and will help regardless of what sports you play. For older high school kids, get to your school's weight room at least 3 times per week.
5. Play basketball. Whether it's an organized Spring/Summer League or 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 with your friends, play basketball! There's no replacement for the enjoyment of the game, gaining new experiences and learning new things. 6. Go to as many summer camps as possible. Although camps should be fun, make sure you attend camps that you will learn from. Good competition, different players and improving your skills are the most important components to a good camp. Step out of your comfort zone and meet new people that can help you. 7. As you head back to school, scale back strength training and start to ramp up cardiovascular training. Get yourself into great shape by running sprints and preparing for in-game running. Continue focusing on your weaknesses from last season and work hard at improving your dribbling, passing and shooting. 8. Focus hard on your school work. Basketball is a long season that creates many demands on your time, focus and effort. If you don't start strong with your studies you could easily fall behind. As much as we all love sports, school work is always first! 9. Begin to meet with your teammates. Organize Captain's Practices and work together on team concepts. Work on team drills and incorporate individual work as well. 10. Take a few days to relax before your first practice and/or tryout. Feel confident that you've put a lot of time into yourself and to your offseason improvemnt. Enjoy your season! Put your time in! Work hard and be committied! Good luck! MSM Dave Distel Assistant Varsity Coach Cherokee High School 19
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Expert Advice
Overuse injuries start before symptoms appear By Dr. Kerry Holt, PT, DPT
I
grew up in a baseball-loving family. I remember being allowed to stay up past my bedtime to watch Don Mattingly play for the Yankees. My father had been a pitcher at Rutgers. He learned how to throw from his older brother, my uncle, who knows more about baseball than anyone I’ve ever met. Then my dad imparted that teaching to me. I loved softball, and luckily I got to play it injury-free throughout my youth. Or so I thought. I had decided to forego competitive play in college, and it’s a good thing I did because I started to develop left shoulder pain. Throughout college, the pain was intermittent so I never connected it to my history with softball. It wasn’t until my second week of physical therapy school that I realized the connection. This was when my professor pulled me up to the front of the classroom to demonstrate to my classmates the ‘prototypical pathomechanical shoulder complex’. Really? I had no idea. She pointed out my winging scapula and my reduced shoulder rotation range of motion. I had developed, what I now know to be, GIRD (Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit), which is the root of many baseball / softball injuries. GIRD itself is totally asymptomatic, it’s the injuries that result from it that hurt. You name it: rotator cuff tendinopathy, subacromial bursitis, biceps tendinosis, SLAP tear; they can all be prevented by preventing GIRD. I knew how to throw with good mechanics. But what if my coaches had known what GIRD was? More importantly, what if they had known how to PREVENT it? Maybe I would not be plagued by the chronic shoulder pain I now experience as an adult. This is only one example of one overuse injury in one sport. The list of similar, and more severe, examples in all sports is endless. I can’t rewind time and teach my coaches what to do to prevent my injury. But those coaching today’s youth can be taught - about the body as it relates to their sport, the biomechanics of the movement pattern of their sport and how to recognize faulty biomechanics so they can correct it. They should also be taught about the common injuries of their sport and how to recognize them. And most importantly, they should know practice-ready techniques on how to prevent them from happening in the first place. Prevention of overuse injuries must become standard practice amongst coaching staff for this simple reason: overuse injuries start before symptoms appear. The athlete may have anatomical factors that predispose him to a future injury; i.e. muscle weakness here leads to compensation there. Or the athlete may actually have an injury that just doesn’t present with symptoms. Research shows that preventative measures can reduce injury rates significantly. But research also shows that injury rates are on the rise. This, frankly, is incomprehensible to me. Clearly there is a disconnect between the research and the playing field which must be corrected. MSM Dr. Kerry Holt, PT, DPT • Founder / CEO PrevenT Consulting, LLC (856)396-9060 • kholt@preventconsulting.org www.preventconsulting.org Marlton Sports Magazine
70 lb weight class
Rec Football
85 lb weight class
Photo courtesy of Treena Reynolds
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Winter 2013
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cherokee soccer
The Cherokee boys soccer team finished the season with an overall 11-4-3 record and a 4-1-1 Lenape district record. The team is coached by Glenn Thomsen.
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Marlton Sports Magazine
Sports Nutrition
“To drink, or not to drink”
By Jill Castle
This article was originally posted on the National Alliance for Youth Sports website on June 13, 2013
T
he popularity and consumption of sports drinks is on the rise in children and teens, whether they are athletes or not. This often brightly colored fluid, loaded with electrolytes and carbohydrate, can be found on the playing fields of nearly every sport, from mini soccer fields to large natatoriums. Yet, most American children are not physically active enough to reap the benefits of a sports drink. If you’ve gotten into the habit of offering a sports drink each time your child or teen heads off to practice or a game, you may want to rethink your drink. Why? • Most American children and teens are not physically active for over an hour at a time. Elite and high school athletes likely exceed this time frame. • Children and teens engaged in prolonged exercise (greater than one hour), in high
temperatures and/or humidity, benefit from the use of small amounts of sports drinks. Examples of intense physical activity are: football training during the summer, marathon training and races, competitive soccer and tennis matches, swimming, and long cycling races. • Consuming sports drinks may result in extra calories, sodium and sugar. Used inappropriately, sports drinks may negatively influence weight status and health. • Sports drinks place children at higher risk for tooth decay. • Sports drinks may displace and crowd out essential nutrients for growth and health. • Marketing and advertising efforts directed at children and teens entice them to purchase and consume sports drinks. Some common messages kids hear include: sports drinks are a healthy alternative to soda; they help improve athletic performance; they increase energy levels; and are a healthy thirst quencher.
What should athletic kids and teens be drinking? The most basic, fundamental thirst quencher and dehydration preventer on the planet: water. In the presence of a balanced diet, drinking water before, during and after exercise may be enough to prevent dehydration, even with prolonged exercise. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that if children and teens are engaged in normal physical activity for three hours or less a day, plain water is adequate. So, if plain water can cover hydration needs without the potential negative side effects, doesn’t it make sense to rethink the sports drink? MSM Jill Castle, MS, RD is a registered dietitian and child nutrition expert. She is the co-author of Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School and creator of Just The Right Byte, a child and family nutrition blog.
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Sunday May 4, 2014
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Top male & female runner will receive the Tim Frantz Memorial Medal as well as a $100 Visa Gift Card Top finishers in each age group will receive an award to commemorate their achievment
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River Park - Pennsauken JoinCooper us and raise funds for kids with cancer and their families in the tri-state area!! Join us and raise funds for kids with cancer and their families in the tri-state area!! Winter 2013 Run, Walk or Stroll the Certified Course at Cooper River. Race starts at the track on North Park Drive.
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Sports Unity expands the playing field for special needs By Dubravka Cortese
(This article was first published in The Central Record in February 2014)
Michael and Mark vonBerg
O
ne township group is on a mission to make recreational sports something every youngster can participate in, regardless of mental or physical disabilities. And they plan on making that happen one sport at a time. Formerly affiliated with and known as TOPSoccer, (The Outreach Program for Soccer), the Sports Unity program is the Marlton Recreational Council’s (MRC) new special needs sports program offering boys and girls ages 5 to 18 with special needs the opportunity to learn and play sports while feeling like they are part of a team. The program is offered to participants free of charge, thanks to it being fully funded through sponsorships. Last spring, the MRC launched TOPSoccer, its inaugural special needs sports program, through an affiliation between Marlton Soccer and US Youth Soccer. At that time only soccer was offered for special needs children, but response to the program far exceeded the organizers’ initial expectations. A fall TOPSoccer program was equally well received. “It really is amazing,” said program commissioner and soccer coordinator Mark vonBerg. “It was only a year ago that we put our heads together to try this.” Beside the name change and its break from the nationally recognized TOPSoccer, Sports Unity expanded its program to include other sports. “The whole idea was to expand into different sports,” said vonBerg. “We more or less created our own special needs sports category (within the MRC).” Sports Unity now offers five sports year round. Soccer is offered in the spring and fall for ages 5 to 17. The 2014 spring season will be held
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Saturdays, from April 12 through June 14 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Beeler Elementary School. Soccer participants receive a jersey, soccer ball and shin guards. If the kids outgrow either their shin guards or balls, they will be replaced at no cost to the participants. The first Sports Unity basketball program started January 13 and has 75 participants and 85 Buddies. Each participant is provided with a T-shirt, basketball and drawstring bag. The basketball program is open for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade and is held Monday nights in the Blue Barn through March 3. The first track season will begin April 12 and will run until June 14 for children ages 5 to 17 on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at Beeler. Cheerleading will also begin on April 12 for children ages 5 to 17, but will run until June 7. Those sessions will be held on Sundays from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Blue Barn. Sports Unity plans to add baseball and softball programs in the future. Response to the current Sports Unity programs so far from both participants and their parents has been extremely positive, vonBerg said. “The feedback has been phenomenal.” He recalled the story of one child who ran to his father ecstatic to tell him he had “a coach.” The father replied by telling the coach, “I never thought I’d hear that.” The goal of the program is not just to teach the basics of a sport, but to build each participant’s self-esteem and confidence. Each participant is also assigned a “Buddie.” Buddies must be 11 to 19 years of age and help the participants with the program. They are expected to commit to at least four weeks of the session and can earn community service hours as a result. Each Buddie must complete a certification class as well.
The Buddies seem to enjoy the program as much as the participants, as evidenced by the fact that many of the 100 Buddies in the inaugural spring soccer program made up the 135 Buddies that signed up for the fall TOPSoccer session. “The kids feel so good about themselves and the friendships they form with their Buddies,” vonBerg said. “They (the Buddies) are a big part of the puzzle.” Something else Sports Unity participants may be experiencing for the first time is having their picture taken as part of a team. “None of these kids ever had sports team pictures,” vonBerg said. “We did it with the soccer program and that was just overwhelming.” Sports Unity’s team photographer, Kids at Heart Photography, is donating 20 percent of its sales back to the program. Other sponsors of the Sports Unity program include: Phoenix Lithographing Corporation, Halo Health International, Parente Beard, Begley Law Group, Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital, New Balance, The Bistro at Haddonfield, Israeli Krav Maga, Marlton Elks Lodge #2514, Schaeffer Family Homes, Oak Mortgage, Family Hearing Center, CFG Health Network, Carmen Petulla DDS and Kristin Petulla DDS, Premiums and Specialties. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, as long as there are children willing to play, and volunteers willing to help, Sports Unity will continue to bring a sense of belonging to all who participate. For more information on Sports Unity, to register or to be a Buddie, visit the MRC website, www.marltonreccouncil.org, the Sports Unity Facebook page or contact vonBerg at coachvonberg@comcast.net. MSM Marlton Sports Magazine
CHS marching band keeps the beat
T
he 2013 Cherokee High School marching band season has been extremely successful. This year’s show, “Samurai, the Way of the Warrior,” is focused on a male color guard member (Paul Naidas) who passes away in the beginning of the show and is then reborn into the Samurai warrior. He trains to battle against the evil army (the horn-line members), falls in love with a fellow color guard member and overcomes the odds against him by defeating the evil force (drum major Dan Lim) at the conclusion of the show. At most competitions thus far, the Cherokee marching band has scored higher than every other band at the competition. At the Yamaha Cup competition at Giants Stadium, the band came in a close second with a score of 78.175, behind Somerville. At the National Championships held in November at Giants Stadium, the band placed second in Group 5A and received Best Color Guard and Best Percussion in 5A, and the Cadet Award of Excellence. Band director Michael Lynch knows every member in the marching band is trying their hardest and putting in all their effort to make the performance the best it can be. The judges at some competitions have commented on how the show was well performed, but not entertaining. Lynch is happy that the band does not simply “entertain” the judges; he does not resort to such measures to simply win and get a high score. Whether or not the band places first at competitions, what is important is that the members march off the field knowing they just smashed their performance. Winter 2013
Most of the band’s members agree that they keep doing what they do because of the feeling they get after an extremely well performed show. That’s what marching band is about for most of the veteran members; that’s what really matters, not winning the competition, but knowing you did all you could do to leave “no points on the field.” One of Lynch’s priorities is to maintain the band’s class both on and off the field. How band members carry themselves reflects on the band as a whole, so Lynch is adamant that band members are well behaved and wellmannered at competitions and football games
Marching band is not like any other extracurricular activity; it’s unique in many ways. Each member plays varsity, and no one can slack off. If you make a mistake, everyone can see or hear it. No one can hide behind other stronger members. Each person connects on a spiritual level with everyone else. The band is a big family that does something astounding each week. This year’s group of marching band members are going to leave a very positive mark on the following Cherokee marching band groups. They are truly special in what they do. MSM
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sports fan selfies
Send us your selfies from a Marlton sporting event and we’ll pick the best ones to be featured! Email: MarltonSports@gmail.com @MarltonSportsMag
Marlton Sports Magazine
MarltonSportsMag
congratulations National Signing Day February 5, 2014
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The following athletes from Cherokee signed Letters of Intent to the following schools:
Football
Swimming
Jake Powell ~ University of Delaware
Emily Werth ~ UNC Asheville
Soccer
Wrestling
Courtney Simpson ~ Loyola Stephen Scian ~ Goldey-Beacom
DJ Mele ~ Millersville University
Marlton Sports Magazine
A Message from the Mayor
Sports and Marlton By Randy Brown
A
thletics are just one part of what makes Evesham Township a great place to live. Thousands of Evesham children participate in youth sports of all levels. Cherokee High School students impress us on an annual basis with championship-caliber seasons, the Marlton Recreation Council hosts numerous winning teams and we, as a township, offer several locations for our youth in the area to showcase their skills. As an Evesham Township native playing on various teams and eventually playing for Cherokee became a part of who I am, and have stuck with me. As a kid growing up in Evehsam, I played baseball, soccer and basketball for the MRC in the 70s and 80s. Those experiences were critical in my development as a young man and an adult. I harnessed leadership qualities, which I
use to this day. When I began as mayor in 2007, bringing community back was at the top of my list. Part of reigniting unity was the town’s annual July 4th celebration. The entire celebration from the parade to the Mayor’s Cup 5k are examples of how athletics are woven into our community fabric. As an NFL Super Bowl-winning coach, my focus orbits around the team, how to better myself and others in addition to constantly being the best. There’s a saying by Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Though it was quoted by Aristotle, coaches have been preaching this idea for hundreds of years. To succeed, you must be excellent. To be excellent you must practice. Children participating in athletic programs at a young age helps to promote a healthy lifestyle, leadership, social skills and the ability
to problem solve under pressure. Council and I support getting up and getting out there, and engaging oneself in team activities. Come April, the township will celebrate the grand opening of the baseball/softball complex. I truly believe in this project and how it will positively affect the township, even after council and I have finished our terms and are retirees. Our children will be learning, playing and growing at the recreation center. This project holds great importance to me and I’m thrilled for first pitch in the spring. We will provide nothing but excellence. We will gather as a community, as family, as friends and as a team to cheer on one another and celebrate. MSM
For All Your Marlton Rec Council News
• Registrations • Fundraisers • All General Information
Upcoming Events: • Street Hockey Rumbos at the Rinks March 8-16 at the NEW renovated rink • Marlton Basketball will be hosting 5 Divisions of SJBL playoffs (Boys Travel), 2 Divisions of ICBL Playoffs (Girls Travel), at the end of February and into March. SJBL Championship Day will be at Cherokee on Sunday March 9th. 13 Championship Boys Travel Games. Intown playoffs for grades 4th-12th Boys and Girls, begin the week of February 17th. Most intown championships on Saturday March 1st at MMS.
www.marltonreccouncil.org Winter 2013
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Sign-Up For Players, Coaches, Managers & Player “Buddies” at The “Spring Training Event” on The Boundless Field at Challenge Grove,Old Bortons Mill Road Off Brace Road in Cherry Hill Registration $20 Per Player (“Scholarships” Available)
Please email them to marltonsports@gmail.com and we’ll try to get them in the Spring issue!
Saturday, March 29 - 12-2 PM No Experience Necessary! Can’t Attend? Sign up at www.ccnjml.org or call 856-662-4418 Play This Spring At Challenge Grove’s Boundless Field Developed by The Camden County Board of Freeholders League Sponsored by:
Introducing Our New Program... Evesham Child Care’s
Teddy Bear Academy
Teddy Bear Academy is a full-day child care program for children ages 6 weeks old to pre-kindergarten. The program is located at Marlton Middle School. Grand opening, the fun begins June 30, 2014! For more information, don’t miss
Teddy Bear Academy’s Open House and Early Registration Saturday, March 15, 2014 • 9 am - 12 noon Located at Marlton Middle School • 150 Tomlinson Mill Road, Marlton, NJ Come tour the facility, ask questions and see what Teddy Bear Academy is all about! Spaces are limited. Registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. In order to secure a spot for your child, please bring the following to the Open House: • $75 Non-refundable registration fee per child (check or money order, made payable to Evesham Child Care) • Up-to-date immunizations • Complete registration packet - to be given at open house
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Full Day Child Care and Half-Day Preschool Programs available
For more information call Evesham Child Care at 856-988-0686 Marlton Sports Magazine
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