sport: July 2011

sportLANSING.com

TAKING TURNS 55 Seasons Of Thrills, Spills Spartan Speedway’s Saga

mason

williamston

SEAN WREN

VANCE DeCAMP

Stands Tall In Fall, Spring Triumphs

Overcomes Tragedy, Teaches Life Lessons

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SPARTAN SPEEDWAY

FEATURES 10 POOLING THEIR TALENT

Chiefs’ Offense, Defense Share Championship Success

BY DAVID HARNS

55TH ANNIVERSARY MASON, MICHIGAN

14 SHORT & SWEET

Mason’s Sean Wren Stands Tall In Two Sports

BY CHIP MUNDY

22 AN AMAZING SIGHT

Vance DeCamp Shows The Difference Between Seeing And Believing

BY ANDREA NELSON

26 LANSING’S

FIRST SUPERSTAR

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Vic Saier Was National League’s Best Player

BY ANDY FLANAGAN

The Need For Speed

Spartan Speedway Home To The Stars For 55 Years

BY CHIP MUNDY

DEPARTMENTS eb-servation

05 Positively Mid-Michigan Some Never Give Up, Just Live Up To All Expectations

BY JACK EBLING

spartans will

30 Chip Off The Ol’ Charlie LB Kaleb Thornhill Learns, Now Teaches NFL Players

BY ANDREA NELSON

sports authority

08 Victory For All

Organizations Provide Opportunities For Athletes Of All Ability Levels

BY BRENDAN DWYER

finish line

32 United States

MSU Baseball Teams Forever Tied By Titles

BY JIM COTTER

Volume #3 • Issue #6 JULY 2011

JULY 2011

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assists

EDITOR Jack Ebling Jack has covered sports and more as a writer and broadcaster in Mid-Michigan since 1978. A three-time Michigan Sportswriter of the Year, he was a 2006 inductee into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame. He has written four books on Michigan State and one on the Detroit Tigers and is finishing book six, Heart of a Spartan (www.heartofaspartanbook.com). He has contributed more than 125 pieces for national publications and is a founding partner in Sportswriters Direct, a new freelance business. The former English teacher and coach spent nearly a quarter-century as a beat writer and columnist for the Lansing State Journal and won 21 major writing awards. A two-time graduate of MSU, he has lived in Greater Lansing for 37 years. With his wife, Robin, he has helped raise two remarkable young adults, Zach and Ali.

CONTRIBUTORS Chip Mundy Chip has spent his entire life in Mid-Michigan and always has had a passion for sports. He spent more than 25 years in the sports department at the Jackson Citizen Patriot and covered everything from Super Bowls and World Series to Little League Baseball and the rodeo. Chip’s first book, “Michigan Sports Trivia,” was published in November of 2010.

Andrea Nelson Andrea is a junior at Michigan State University, studying journalism with an emphasis in sports and public relations. She is a member of the Honors College and Tower Guard and has a true passion for sports. Andrea helped Frankfort High win backto-back state titles in girls basketball in 2005-06. Today, she combines her love of basketball and football with caring for her two dogs and helping with her family’s prize-winning alpacas.

She is also an assistant editor of sport.

Greater Lansing Sport Magazine is published monthly by Sport Community Publishing with offices at 617 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Michigan 48912. Postage is paid under USPS Permit #407.

Subscriptions: One copy of the Greater Lansing Sport Magazine, is mailed complimentary to qualified business addresses in the Greater Lansing metropolitan area. Residential, promotional, out-of-area and additional subscriptions are available for $36 per year (a saving of 40% off the $5 cover price per issue) by mailing a check to Sport Community Publishing or paying online at www.

SportLansing.com. When available, back issues can be purchased online for $10 each.

Postmaster: Address changes should be sent to: Sport Community Publishing, 617 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing, Michigan 48912.

4 JULY 2011

Publisher Camron Gnass Sport Community Publishing Editor Jack Ebling Assistant EditorS Andy Flanagan Andrea Nelson WRITING Jim Cotter Brendan Dwyer Jack Ebling Andy Flanagan David Harns Chip Mundy Andrea Nelson COVER Photo Brett Maxwell PhotographY Mark Bialek Chris Boylan Meghan Carmody Greater Lansing Sports Authority Alan Holben Jim Leasure Mike Major Mary Sue McLaughlin Matthew Mitchell MSU Athletic Communications Terri Shaver MAGAZINE Design & LAYOUT Traction www.projecttraction.com Printing Millbrook Printing, Co. Mailer ICS Editorial Office 617 East Michigan Avenue Lansing, Michigan 48912 (517) 455-7810 www.SportLansing.com Copyright © 2011 Sport Community Publishing All rights reserved.

eb-servation

Positively Mid-Michigan Some Never Give Up, Just Live Up To All Expectations

BY JACK EBLING

If rainy days can get us down, whiny days can keep us there.

Photography chris boylan

But I have a big advantage over most of you when it comes to snapping out of self-defeating funks. All I have to do is do my job – this job.

It’s almost impossible not to be inspired by some of the special people we meet and the stories we run in these pages each month. By your neighbors and you.

The biggest problem in putting Greater Lansing sport together is deciding which pieces to put on the shelf. On the list of life’s problems, that’s a great one to have.

Better than having financial worries for 55 years. Better than having to outperform athletes nearly a head taller. And infinitely better than becoming blind and having a home swept away.

Those are just three of the stories we tell in this issue, a mid-summer right to dream.

Our cover story is about a Mid-Michigan institution for more than a half-century, long enough that even Ron Parish missed the first checkered flag at Spartan Speedway.

From the tireless promotion of “Poor Paul” Zimmerman to the fan-friendly changes under Jim Leasure’s leadership, the quarter-mile track at the corner of Cedar and College has been a Friday night fixture since 1956.

Yes, Dale Earnhardt raced there one evening.

And Tony Stewart recently paid a visit. But in good times and bad, it has been the local racers who’ve kept the track afloat.

This year, it’s the parking lot that has nearly floated away. But in Chip Mundy’s wideranging look at a short-track addiction, we meet a colorful cast of characters.

In a true family sport, the Fedewas are what Spartan Speedway is all about. First, it was Gary. Today, it’s Tommy. Soon, 8-year-old Tommi will take the wheel.

Mundy stays in Mason to profile recent high school graduate Sean Wren, a two-sport star who’s supposed to be too short to excel in either one of them.

At 5-foot-7, 155-pounds, Wren has earned

a football scholarship to Saginaw Valley State and would’ve been a Big Ten prospect if he’d been a half-foot bigger.

The aspiring filmmaker did his best work on Friday nights as a pass receiver, defensive back and kick returner for the Bulldogs, co-champs in the CAAC Red Division.

And after missing his junior season of track and field with two sports hernias, all Wren did was win four events in a Division 2 Regional in May, setting school records or personal bests in every one of them.

Despite being vertically challenged as a high hurdler and pole vaulter, Wren did all right in the genetic lottery. His father, Steve, a recordsetting vaulter at Haslett, and his mom, Teresa, couldn’t be prouder.

And I couldn’t be prouder to call anyone a friend than Vance DeCamp. The former Fowlerville cross country coach lost his sight when hit by a drunk driver, then lost his home in the 2007 Williamston tornado.

So how does he manage to see everything so clearly? Assistant Editor Andrea Nelson explains that and more in a terrific profile, one of my 10 favorite stories in our first 27 issues.

Vance, his wife, Barbara, and his tethered running partners don’t know the meaning of can’t. When we start to feel sorry for ourselves, we should think of trading places for a day.

Most of us should be so lucky.

All I know is he always seems to remember more of what I’ve said on the radio than I do. During the old days of “The Jack and Tom Show,” his opinion meant more to me than station management’s.

From the young at heart to the young and smart, we present a program with sustained excellence, the Okemos water polo team. In David Harns’ story, we meet Nikki Baron, Katie Dudley and the other members of a state championship squad.

Friday Night Lights Families have fun at Spartan Speedway, a Mid-Michigan institution.

We also go back in time to meet first baseman Vic Saier, arguably the best player in the National League in the early 1900s. Assistant Editor Andy Flanagan tells the tale of Lansing’s first major-league star and the oldest name on our much-discussed list of the top 150 athletes in Mid-Michigan history.

And Nelson is back with a “Spartans Will” look at former Eastern High and Michigan State linebacker Kaleb Thornhill, a student-athlete who learned to make the most of his moments on and off the field. Today, he teaches those lessons to the Miami Dolphins.

Finally, in our Finish Line back-page column, we hear from MSU Director of Admissions Jim Cotter, a former Spartan pitcher, about the similarities and lifetime bonds between the 1979 and 2011 Big Ten baseball champions.

Three generations of auto racers, with a fourth on the way…a hurdler who knows no obstacles…a teacher of life with 20/20 blindness…a team that keeps making a big splash…a national hero from a century ago…a player who proves and preaches there’s life after football…and a proud alum who’s still in there pitching.

I meant to tell you I was really mad about something this morning. Hmm. For some reason now, I can’t remember what it was. H JULY 2011

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your shot

Send Us Your Photos! www.SportLansing.com Published photos will receive a poster commemorating Your Shot, courtesy of Capital Imaging.

From Dusk To Dawn Nick Walton of Haslett and his racing partner, Josh Sheldon of Grand Ledge, both members of the Michigan Canoe Racing Association, paddle all night long to take third place in the 2010 63rd annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon. Racers train for months to travel 120 miles from Grayling to Oscoda in the non-stop endurance challenge.

Photographed by Mark Bialek

greater lansing sports authority

Victory For All Organizations Provide Opportunities For Athletes Of All Ability Levels

BY BRENDAN DWYER

That’s kind of the way it works. Sports just have that effect on people.

No matter which sport calls to you, you end up listening to it and following it for the rest of your life. Whether you’re still putting on cleats or you never miss a game on TV, that’s passion.

Now, imagine if you can, that passion disappearing and right along with it all the fun and camaraderie you have enjoyed playing in games and for teams your whole life. Leaves quite a hole doesn’t it?

Sadly, a life like this, void of the thrill of competition and the lessons that are born out of team play, are a reality for people with physical disabilities all over the world. It is for this reason that tournaments like the Michigan Victory Games and Special Olympics events are the best possible translation of the value and importance of athletic competition.

The Michigan Victory Games, held in Greater Lansing for the 10th time from May 17-20, brought over 200 athletes to the community, as well as hundreds of other family, friends and supporters. For three days the athletic facilities of Michigan State University played host to a myriad of sports, including bowling, swimming, hand-cycling, weight lifting and many more for athletes of all ages and ability levels.

According to Meghan Carmody, manager of events with the Greater Lansing Sports Authority, the competition has all the passion and drama good sports evoke.

“The competitors at the Michigan Victory Games are individuals who are constantly breaking through barriers and preconceived limitations of their abilities,” Carmody said.

“When they get onto the fields or courts of athletic competition, it’s an avenue for them to show what they can do, instead of 8 JULY 2011

what they cannot. Winning for these athletes simply has more pinned to it. It’s not just a victory that day. It sends a message of independence and self-worth that has immeasurable value.”

The same spirit rings true for a long-time event for the Greater Lansing community, the Special Olympics of Michigan State Poly Hockey Finals. Every November this event takes over the Summit Sports Complex and Aim High facilities, bringing nearly 700 participants and their dedicated entourage to the community.

No matter your level of knowledge or involvement with the Special Olympics you can see in their mission statement that this organization is more than just a fan of athletics, but advocates for humanity and quality of life for all – “Athletes are given continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness and athletic skill, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.”

Events with big hearts don’t always have big budgets to match. It is for this reason that Mike Price, executive director with the GLSA, thinks the Michigan Victory Games and different Special Olympics events come back to Greater Lansing year after year.

“These groups often operate on very tight budgets and upon the shoulders of volunteers.

The GLSA’s many free event services are a big part of why organizers choose Greater Lansing for their events,” Price said. “Also, Greater Lansing’s central location cuts down on travel time and costs no matter where in the state participants live. We’re glad to be

a home away from home for these dedicated athletes and their families.”

There appears to be no end in sight for events for athletes of all abilities. The Greater

Goal-Driven Participants in the 2010 Special Olympics State Poly Hockey Tournament enjoy competition and camaraderie.

Lansing area will host a softball tournament for the Central Athletic Association of the Deaf July 15-17 at the East Lansing Softball Complex. The event will welcome teams to the region from throughout the Midwest. This first-time softball event comes on the tails of a successful CAAD basketball tournament held last fall.

Thanks to these events and organizations, athletes of all ability levels gain the joy of competition, the thrill of victory and the many lessons learned from the keen sting of defeat. The full range of human emotion that athletic competition provides can be made available to everyone.

“The GLSA is proud to welcome these organizations and events to our region,” Price said. “We welcome all sports groups, of course, but these athletes are an inspiration. They truly embody the very best that can come from athletic competition.” H

Photography Meghan carmody/greater lansing sports authority

You picked up this magazine because you have an interest in sports. Maybe it’s just a casual interest or you’re stuck in a local waiting room, passing time as you get new tires or your child receives a check-up. More likely, your sports interest needle slants more toward passion than casual curiosity.

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Looking for some serious fun for your kids this summer?

Check out Lansing Community College Summer Youth Sports Camps.

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Camps offered at LCC’s Main Campus and in Livingston County.

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For additional learning opportunities for youth K-12, go to lcc.edu/k12.

Community and Continuing Education

lcc.edu

Chiefs’ Offense, Defense Share Championship Success

BY DAVID HARNS

10 JULY 2011

Okemos junior Nikki Baron was asked by a fellow Okemos High student to explain how her sport of water polo is played: “Do you all ride seahorses while you’re in the water or what?”

Not quite. But when you realize what water polo athletes actually do, the seahorse idea might be just as believable.

“I haven’t played or coached all of the sports out there. But I have to believe wholeheartedly that we are in contention for the most physically fit individuals of any sport,” said fourth-year Okemos head coach Gregg Jenkins.

“Water polo is extremely demanding from a physical and mental standpoint. You’re balancing a fast-paced, aggressive, physical sport with the fact that you are in an element you’re not used to being in. You’re in 8 feet of water, and you have no breaks where you’re touching the ground or touching the side or hanging on the lane line. You’re going full speed for four quarters. It’s incredible as far as cardiovascular fitness. I push them to their limit, and they don’t break.”

The “them” he’s referring to in this case is the two-time defending Michigan Water Polo Association State Champions, who went undefeated in 2010 while earning Okemos’ first state championship in the sport. The 2011 team was able to repeat after losing four of seven starters – including their top four scorers and the two-time Michigan High School Player of the Year, Lauren Dudley, now at the University of Michigan.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, water polo is similar to soccer in defending a goal and taking penalty shots. It’s similar to hockey with up-and-down action, physical contact and power plays. It’s similar to basketball with ball control, fouls and post play. And it’s similar to swimming for the – well, swimming.

It definitely requires a lot of swimming. In fact, senior co-captain Saskia Moyer estimates that she and her teammates swim over 500 miles per year in practice and games.

“Water polo has so many elements, every muscle you have is involved,” Moyer said, adding that there’s definitely a mental aspect.

At 5-foot-1, Moyer is asked to be the primary

defender of the other team’s top player, someone who is often nearly a foot taller. But she makes up for it with mental acuity, communication, positioning and superb anticipation.

Water polo teams consist of six players and a goalie. The key position on offense is the center, also known as the hole set. Setting

School Of Chieftains Okemos coach Gregg Jenkins provides leadership for the two-time state water polo champs.

up 2 meters in front of the other team’s goal, she tries to establish position against the hole defender – similar to a post-player in basketball. She can turn and shoot or pass out to an open teammate for an outside look.

The Chieftains’ main hole set this season just happened to be a freshman. Katie Dudley ably replaced her older sister as the team’s go-to player. Katie is faster than Lauren and JULY 2011

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still has three years to play. Having played since fifth grade, Dudley uses a 6-foot frame and speed to beat opponents down the pool for fast-break opportunities.

Jenkins said that the physics behind water polo is incredible. Players use resistance of the water to create kinetic energy. With explosive leg movement, they propel themselves up and establish a tread, while staying out of the water for as long as possible. While hovering on top, a player must catch the ball with one hand, pump fake and shoot.

The goalie also has a difficult job, bursting out of the water and staying there to stop shots.

Rising out of the water without pushing off a hard surface requires extreme coordination of the legs and the off-hand that’s used for balance. Once a pass is caught, the player must set her legs so she doesn’t sink when she comes back down with the ball. Keeping the ball above the water reduces drag when passing or shooting.

Similar to dribbling a basketball, treading – or “egg-beatering” as it is commonly called – must become second nature to a water polo athlete. It involves an intertwining motion of the legs with half a breaststroke kick on each side. That motion must be mastered before a player can learn the strategy portion of the game.

The fact that the game is played in 8 feet of water makes the athleticism involved even more incredible. Players aren’t allowed to touch the bottom or the sides of the pool. And there is no time to rest in four 7-minute quarters.

Think that’s hard enough? Don’t forget about the shot clock. A team has 30 seconds to retrieve the ball on the defensive end, swim the length of the pool (25 meters), run plays and get a shot off. Then, they turn around and swim back to play defense.

The day before district playoffs, 19 junior-varsity and varsity girls were relieved when they didn’t have to wear t-shirts over their swimsuits during warm-ups and conditioning. Like a football player running with a parachute or a baseball player taking practice swings with a weighted donut, they usually wear a t-shirt during the first part of practice.

When the shirt gets wet, it adds a lot of weight and resistance and makes it that much harder to move. Coach Jenkins requires a short-sleeved t-shirt. But many girls wear a long-sleeved shirt

to increase stamina, then shed it for the skill portion of practice.

Besides conditioning, part of the reason that this year’s team was able to maintain its level of success was a risky, off-season coaching move that paid off. Senior Monique Pentecost was an All-America goalie as a junior in 2010.

But losing his top 4 scorers, Jenkins knew that the offense would need a boost if it was going to continue to be successful. He happened to have a juniorvarsity goalie in Baron with talent but no experience.

“It was kind of a gamble because we knew Nikki was talented, but Monique was proven,” Jenkins said. “How would she fill Monique’s shoes? Both girls impressed me with their maturity and selflessness.

It has paid off in spades.”

While Pentecost helped the Chieftains maintain their scoring this season with versatility on offense, Baron stepped up to the challenge in goal, using all of her 5-11 frame and 74-inch wingspan to cover the 152-inch floating goal.

But she is quick to credit the defensive intensity of her teammates. As is her coach.

“I’m very appreciative that they believe in me so much that they believed we could be the same team with me in goal,” Baron said.

“Our success is built around defense,” Jenkins said. “A lot of schools play defense almost begrudgingly. My girls relish getting steals and play it with zeal. They’re really after the ball. One of our trademarks is that we allowed less than three goals per game for two seasons. It’s a tribute to Monique last year and to Nikki who stepped up and played wonderfully this year.”

Prior to coaching at Okemos, Jenkins was the coach at the Spartan Water Polo Club, midMichigan’s team for athletes as young as fifth grade. It was there that he began coaching

Photography ALAN HOLBEN PHOTOGRAPHY

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Heads-Up Play Okemos senior Monique Pentecost looks to pass or shoot and gives her team another scoring chance in the state tournament. ® ®

many of the girls he would eventually coach in high school.

Jenkins took over for Brian Fickies, his former college coach at Michigan State, in 2008. His first Okemos High team failed to make the state tournament, finishing sixth in its region. In his second year, the Chieftains finished second in their region and fourth at the state tournament. But in 2010 and ’11, Jenkins’ teams were first in the region and won back-to-back state championships.

The Okemos players unanimously agree that the longevity they have had with each other – and with Jenkins – is a big part of why they have been successful.

“I’ve never been coached by anyone else,”

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said senior co-captain Andrea Dantus. “Coach Jenkins is really fun and really funny. There is never a bad water polo practice.”

Dantus fractured her finger while blocking a shot and had to miss four games with the injury.

But because the players are friends outside of the pool and have been playing together for so long, she said that has built tremendous depth.

Besides continuing to win state titles at Okemos, Jenkins has a long-term goal to have the entire community establish itself as a water polo powerhouse in the state.

With participation in the Spartan Water Polo Club at an all-time high and with Okemos’ high-caliber play, he’s getting closer and closer to making that dream a reality. H

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Short & Sweet Mason’s Sean Wren Stands Tall In Two Sports

Sean Wren looks up to other athletes – until he’s atop the winners stand.

There, no one can say the Mason High senior is short on talent and heart.

“I’m vertically challenged,” said Wren, a 5-foot-7, 155-pound bundle of energy and enthusiasm, whose lack of height suggests – incorrectly – that he can’t be a football star or one of the best hurdlers and pole vaulters in the state.

Wren is all of that and a lot more. He was a star slot receiver for the Bulldogs in football and was a four-time winner in a Division 2 Regional track and field meet.

That day, he set a school record in the 300 intermediate hurdles (39.63 seconds) and had personal bests in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.65 seconds) and pole vault (13 feet, 9 inches).

To make the meet complete, Wren ran a gutty anchor leg on the 1,600 relay, which set a school record of 3 minutes, 27.36 seconds.

“The thing about Sean is that he’s just a 14 JULY 2011

competitor,” Mason track and field coach Eric Haynie said. “He has an amazing will to win, and he really doesn’t see there being any real barriers. It’s like, ‘That’s what it is, and this is what I have to do.’

“He takes it as a challenge, and he really thrives on that.”

The high hurdles come up to Wren’s waist. And when he backs into the starting blocks, he doesn’t look like the one to beat.

But heading into the state meet, he was unbeaten in the highs and had just one loss in the intermediates.

In the Division 2 State Meet, won by East Lansing, Wren led Mason to a seventh-place finish. He finished second in the highs at 14.49 seconds, edging Chaz Bradshaw of Alma and avenging a loss in the Honor Roll Meet of Champions. Later, he took sixth in the lows at 39.46, ahead turning heads.

“I always get that look if someone doesn’t know me,” Wren said. “I’ll be warming up, and they’ll ask me if I’m here for the 100. I’ll say, ‘I’m not. I’m here for the hurdles,’ and I’ll get a weird look.”

The same goes for football. And that was never more evident than his recent orientation at Saginaw Valley State, where he’ll compete as a freshman.

“I got a lot of weird looks,” he said. “A lot of people go there for sports, and they’d ask what I was coming for. I’d say, ‘criminal justice.’ Then, they’d ask if any sports, and I’d say, ‘football.’ They’d think I was joking. They’d look at me like, ‘There’s no way.’

“Even when all of the football guys got to talking, I was out of the loop. I can’t wait to prove myself.”

Therein lies the reason behind Wren’s ability

Photography MIKE MAJOR

BY CHIP MUNDY

Show Of Strength Mason High senior Sean Wren shows the power that stunned much taller hurdlers.

JULY 2011

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short & sweet

to soar above his perceived shortcoming.

“It’s time to step up in a situation like that,” he said. “In a way, I think it has made me work harder.”

Track and field runs in Wren’s family. His grandfather, Carl Wren, competed in the hurdles at Kansas State, and his father, Steve Wren, was a two-time state champion in the pole vault while attending Haslett High.

It’s obvious that something in the family genes had a huge impact on Wren’s decision to try the hurdles and pole vault.

“I’m not going to say it’s boring running around the track, but I always sort of wanted an obstacle or something to be in my way or to get over,” he said. “Hurdles have always been a challenge for me because I’m not as tall as most hurdlers.

“I’ve always liked jumping over stuff and doing that kind of stuff, so when I tried hurdling in middle school, I caught on quickly.”

While in middle school, Wren caught Haynie’s eye. But there was no way to project him being a multiple-event champion.

“When he was running the hurdles in middle school, the hurdles were so much lower, and he was able to motor through those,” Haynie said. “I always saw him being a really good 300 hurdler. But with the highs, I was like, ‘OK, you’ll be good.’ Never in a

Wren’s resume shows his versatility. He played slot receiver, returned punts and kickoffs and was a safety on defense, as Mason went 8-1 in the regular season and shared the CAAC Red title. The Bulldogs won one game in the playoffs before losing to DeWitt in the Regional Semifinals.

“I’ve known Sean since he was a little boy, and I always thought he’d be able to help us as a punt returner or slot receiver. You could see it in youth football,” Mason football coach Jerry VanHavel said. “Size is not a factor with him because he’s so elusive.”

He’s also a big-game performer. When the football game or the track meet gets bigger, Wren gets better.

“The thing about Sean is that he makes so many big plays in crunch time,” VanHavel said. “We used to have a saying about Sean when the coaches watched the game film and he would make a big play: ‘There’s only one Sean Wren.’”

The National Scouting Report had this to say about Wren: “Sean is a ruddy, tough, smart, gifted athlete. Without question, he has been one of the leading football players in the state of Michigan.”

It made no mention of his size, other than in the part where it listed his statistics.

It also made no mention of Wren’s passion

“Football has always been my love, but track snuck up on me in a way.”

SEAN WREN

hundred years did I imagine he would be as successful as he has been.

“I think it will be a long time before you find somebody of his stature with his athletic ability. What he has done in both hurdles is just a testament to that ability. He just has sheer will and drive.”

However, track wasn’t – and still isn’t – Wren’s favorite sport.

“Football has always been my love, but track snuck up on me in a way,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d ever be as good as I’ve become in track. I think the hard work that I put into football kind of rubbed off.”

for making movies, as he did this year for an independent study class at Mason. The topic? It might be best to hear how Wren explains it.

“It kind of has an inappropriate title,” he said. “It’s called ‘Sperminator Fertilization.’ In the future it’s going to be used for a class we have, an adult living class that teaches about the reproductive system. It’s a story from the sperm cell’s perspective. It’s kind of like a war movie, like sperm cells going against birth control and stuff like that.

“It’s informative but light at the same time.”

Not to mention enjoyable for someone like

Sean Wins Whether hurdling, vaulting or anchoring a relay, Wren brought a football mentality to the Bulldogs, Division 2 Regional champs.

Wren, who has a bit of Quentin Tarantino in his makeup.

“I like to film. I like to get cool angles. And I like to edit the movies,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, and it consumed quite a bit of my last trimester in school.”

During his senior year, Wren found time to play football, compete in track and field, make a movie and carry a 3.0 grade-point average. And he has the respect of his classmates and teammates.

“Everybody likes Sean,” Haynie said. “He’s a tremendous leader. He’s a vocal leader. And he leads by example. He’s a very positive kid with his teammates.”

Although Wren wasn’t an instant sensation when he first tried his hand at track, he certainly showed promise and continually improved. In the eighth grade, he broke the school record in the pole vault. And he said he “caught on quickly” when he tried the hurdles in middle school.

Steve Wren remembers that his son was “real quick and real agile” at a young age. But it wasn’t until the Regional meet two years ago that he realized his son was capable of special things.

“As a sophomore, he won the hurdles at the Regional against juniors and seniors,” Wren’s

dad said. “The kid that was the most talked about was there, and Sean beat him. That’s when I saw that there was something pretty special about him – that he feared nothing.”

Yet, Wren wasn’t invincible, and a sports hernia forced him to miss his entire season of track as a junior.

What started out as physical pain eventually hurt him in every way.

“I couldn’t go to some of the meets because it was tough to just sit there and watch,” he said. “Even though it wasn’t one incident that caused the sports hernia, I learned that one incident can take everything away, so you have to cherish what you have.”

The comeback from surgery impressed Haynie.

“It is amazing how he has been able to come back from all of that the way he has and be such a force,” Haynie said. “It’s just a testament to his drive and work ethic. This kid has one gear, and it’s high gear – he’s moving at a million miles an hour.”

Wren came back better than ever after missing his junior year, and having the sports hernia did nothing to diminish his enthusiasm for sports.

“It was just another hurdle…I think that’s a good way of saying it,” he said with a smile. H

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Spartan Speedway Home To The Stars For 55 Years

BY CHIP MUNDY

With all the young guns in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, it seems the days of watching the “Good Ol’ Boys” of auto racing might be over.

They don’t have to be – not if familiar names like Fedewa and Parish can take the place of Jarrett and Petty.

Spartan Speedway, a quarter-mile track at the corner of Cedar and College streets in Mason, doesn’t have the enormity of a twomile oval like Michigan International Speedway, but it does have a feel and tradition that has had a hold on fans for more than a half-century.

18 JULY 2011

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SPARTAN SPEEDWAY

55TH ANNIVERSARY MASON, MICHIGAN

“This is where the grass roots of racing starts,” driver Tommy Fedewa of Leslie said.

The lure of racing is four-pronged: Obviously, the competition on the track is a huge attraction; the drivers and their personalities are another important ingredient; the tradition, including legendary families, make it unique among American sports; and the overall atmosphere of being at a track complete the racing experience for a fan.

Spartan Speedway excels in all four areas.

THE ATMOSPHERE

The newly remodeled grandstand on the east side of the track offers a great view, and it is not unusual for fans to sit in the same part of the grandstand week in and week out.

“It’s a family track,” race director Bill Lackey said. “It just seems like a lot of people come out because it’s a friendly place to be.”

Spartan Speedway has a family section where alcohol is prohibited, and smoking is not allowed in any part of the grandstand.

“We’ve had a lot of the same people come for 20 or more years now,” Lackey said. “And that’s great, but we need to do a better job of cultivating the young fan. We try to do that by doing some crazy stuff like skid-plate races, school bus races and flagpole races.

“In our trailer Figure 8s, you hook a trailer onto your car. And if you knock the trailer off, the other guy is out of the race. They’re real popular.”

Jim Leasure, the owner of Spartan Speedway, said 60,000 fans attended races in 2010, and

an average crowd can be anywhere from 400 fans on a normal night to 4,000 on one of the popular gimmick nights.

“The most important thing we do is make people enjoy themselves,” Leasure said. “The total racing experience comes from hot dogs, burgers, the combo meals and, of course, the racing.”

Spartan Speedway also gives back to the community, and Leasure said $20,000 was generated for local charities last year.

“It’s almost two different businesses here,” he said. “You pass that fence, and it’s an entirely different world. There is the general admission, and there is the pit side.

“These people (the drivers and crew), they think they’re so bad. But they’re easy. That side (the fans) came in here and used their JULY 2011 19

Tommy Fedewa, Gary’s son, is still a star at Spartan Speedway. And racing has been in his blood for more than four decades.

“I’ve wanted to race for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I used to get mad as a boy if my mom and dad didn’t take me to the race track.

I mean, I would throw a temper tantrum if I didn’t get to go to the race track to watch my daddy.”

When it was time for Tommy to start racing, Gary was ready to offer his first driving lesson.

And it happened at Spartan Speedway.

“The first time was here, and my dad was still racing,” Tommy said. “I’ll never forget it. We came out early that day. My dad stepped out in a corner of the track and basically instructed me not to step off the gas until I got to him. He started off at one spot and kept moving closer and closer to the corner.”

It was quite a test for a young driver.

“He moved all the way to the middle, and I went spinning,” Tommy said. “At the time, there

Figure 8s and school buses at Spartan Speedway.

“The Figure 8 is just like any other race,” said Parish, who retired after 30 years in a GM plant. “You have to judge your speed and judge your distance. If you can do that, you’ll miss everybody in Figure 8.

“If you don’t judge it right, then it’s going to hurt.”

One racing fan did a study of Parish’s career and calculated that Parish had more than 17,000 laps at Spartan Speedway alone.

Although he doesn’t compete as often because of his age, he still gets behind the wheel and knows the rigors of racing.

“You’d better be in shape when you get into one of these cars,” he said. “You go 50 laps around a quarter-mile track, when you get out of the car, your arms will be hanging down to your knees.”

Parish is a former drag-racer and now is involved in racing motorcycles on ice. But he has one thing left to do.

“The races here are exciting, and it’s good, close racing… they don’t get spread out, and it’s wheel-to-wheel racing.”

GARY FEDEWA

Family Passion Tommy Fedewa, left, and his father, Gary, have both won big with the 42 sprint car.

disposable income. They chose to come here.

And it’s my responsibility to make sure they made a good choice.”

Racing starts at 7:30 Friday nights, with admission $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 60-andover and $5 for children ages 6-to-12. For more information, go to www.spartanspeedway.com.

FAMILIES AND TRADITION

It’s not unusual for sons – and now daughters – to follow in their father’s place behind the wheel and race at short tracks. And at Spartan Speedway, the Fedewas could be likened to the legendary Petty family of NASCAR. The Fedewa racing tradition started with Willie Fedewa, whose sons Gary and Butch have joined him as members of the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.

“My dad raced motorcycles right after the war, and then he got into racing cars,” said Gary Fedewa, who began racing at the Owosso track in 1959 and raced at Spartan for years. “My brothers got into it, my brother-in-law, and then down to me and down to Tom.” 20 JULY 2011

was no wall along the backstretch, and the race track was a lot more open. He tells me he did that so I would find my limit, then just back up.”

Gary competed in six races on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1986-87. And he feels his son learned those lessons well.

“I don’t have a problem watching my son because he’s very good at what he does and doesn’t take stupid chances,” Gary said. “He’s like I was, a very methodical driver.”

At age 43, Tommy has been racing since 1984. He also knows when it will be time to get out from behind the wheel.

“I have four daughters,” he said. “I told all of them if they would like to do it or try it, I’m all for it. And if they don’t want to, they don’t have to.”

He said 8-year-old Tommi has shown the most interest.

“I’m going to wait until she’s ready, and then I’m going to step right out and she can have right at it,” Tommy said.

It looks like it’s full-speed ahead for the Fedewa racing tradition at Spartan Speedway.

THE DRIVERS

At age 64, Ron Parish still has the need for speed. And he has developed a great following at Spartan Speedway. He said he has raced just about everything there is to race, including the popular

“My biggest ambition in racing is to go to one of the big tracks like Talladega or Daytona and get in a car with no instructor – nobody riding with me – and I want to put it on the floor just as hard as regular NASCAR,” Parish said. “I want to go just as fast as they go. I want to go 220. I’ve always liked speed.”

At the other end of the driving spectrum is

Photography CHRIS BOYLAN

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License To Win 15-year-old Taylor Ferns is fueling her dreams of big-time racing stardom with short-track triumphs.

15-year-old Taylor Ferns, a student at Macomb Lutheran North High School. She is driving a Sprint car at Spartan Speedway and already has more than 150 wins in races across America.

“We get so many fans out here, and we don’t get as many fans in places like Indiana.

They just pack it in here, so that’s what makes Spartan Speedway unique,” she said.

For Ferns, racing isn’t a hobby, it’s hopefully a career.

“We just purchased a fender car last week, so I’m going to start getting into the stock car stuff,” Ferns said. “Eventually where I want to be is with the NASCAR guys.”

And perhaps with one woman. When asked if she’s the next Danica Patrick, Ferns made a face that made it clear she plans to be much better than that.

THE COMPETITION

It might be said that Spartan Speedway is a racer’s race track. It’s demanding but fair and makes for great competition.

“The races here are exciting, and it’s good, close racing,” Gary Fedewa said. “They don’t get spread out, and it’s wheel-to-wheel racing. At a lot of the bigger tracks, they get strung out, and it’s not real exciting.”

The track at Spartan Speedway is not a traditional oval; it actually somewhat resembles an elongated letter “D”, a mirror image of MIS. “Turns one and two are a nice round shape, and turn 3 is a nice wide turn. But when you get to turn four, it’s almost a hard left. It’s a unique track,” Lackey said. “It’s difficult. You have to have some laps here in order to be good at it.”

Tommy Fedewa agreed.

“This is probably one of the tougher quartermiles that you go to because each end of the race track is different,” he said. “You might get around turns one and two real good. Then, you go into turns three and four, and the car might not be the same because it’s shaped different.

It’s fairly flat.”

To be certain, Spartan Speedway has its own identity and its own characteristics.

“It’s a real tight track and a hard track to master,” Gary Fedewa said. “If you can run good here, you can run good pretty much anywhere.”

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An Amazing S Vance DeCamp Shows The Difference Between Seeing And Believing

BY ANDREA NELSON

“One thing that I can do now,” Vance DeCamp explained, “I can walk out of my house to the end of the drive and find the mailbox. How about that…does that seem like a big accomplishment, to walk out to the mailbox? Well, for me, today, it is.”

Love Story Vance and Barbara DeCamp are more than husband and wife. They’re soulmates.

22 JULY 2011

Vance was an avid runner for years. On a January evening in 2002, he set out for a routine jog near his home. He was supposed to meet his wife at the hospital to visit a friend when he finished.

Barbara DeCamp never thought she would end the night at her husband’s bedside in Sparrow Hospital.

While running, Vance had been hit head-on by a 19-year-old drunk driver.

He woke up six weeks later in the dark.

A voice in Vance’s hospital room identified himself as a doctor. Vance asked if it was nighttime. It was dark. That’s when he found out he would never be able to see again.

“My reaction was, ‘You’re kidding? This is just temporary, right? How soon before I can see again?’ And he said, ‘I’m sorry you’re not going to be able to.’ It took a long time for that to sink in,” Vance said. “I was very discouraged and very depressed. It was a very serious thing to deal with.”

Most people would have given up. Most people would have felt sorry for themselves.

Most people would have lost themselves if they had lost their eyesight.

Vance DeCamp isn’t like most people.

With his family and friends by his side and unwavering faith in his heart, Vance chose to maintain the positive attitude he has had his entire life.

No one is saying it was easy. But Vance refused to let anything bring him down. His support system didn’t allow that, either.

The day after the accident, one of his closest friends, Don Call, vowed that their running days were far from over. So what if Vance had a broken back, leg and arm?

Six months later, he stepped out on the track next to Call. Their goal was to run one lap sideby-side using a tether system.

Vance hasn’t stopped running since.

“The fact that I could start running again, that was a real positive influence on my attitude,”

Photography TERRI SHAVER

It didn’t used to be. A teacher and cross country coach at Fowlerville High for 34 years, Vance never used to have trouble doing tasks he did without a second thought. But his life was changed forever almost a decade ago.

Sight!

The Long Road Back Vance DeCamp and running partner Paul Nilsson, a longtime coaching friend and Williamston legend, are closer than ever, as evidenced by the tether that makes a training run possible.

Vance said. “Instead of feeling sorry for myself so much and thinking I can’t do this, here was something I didn’t think I could…though there was no reason to even think about trying it. But we did try it, and I could do it.”

Barbara said she never thought it would be possible for her husband to run again. Many people supported Vance during his recovery, but Barbara knows she has Call to thank for helping her husband reignite his passion for running.

“It was totally because of Don that he’s able to do that,” Barbara said. “Who would’ve thought that he even could? But he came up with this tether idea and started out gradually.

Now, Vance can run six miles when he goes out and has friends who run marathons with him since his accident. It’s all because of Don.” Helping the man he has known since sixth grade was a no-brainer for Call.

“It was the right thing to do,” Call said.

“Vance and I were running partners, and that’s what I knew Vance as…as a runner. Seeing him

lying there, I just knew that if it were me, he would do the same thing. He would encourage me to get back to doing what we loved best.”

Vance said the commitment Call made to drive to Williamston and run with him said wonders about their friendship. It was clear that Call felt the same way towards his lifelong friend.

“I don’t think there are words that can describe a friendship like that,” Call said. “Irreplaceable.

That’s why you have to live your life more, as you never know when it could be your last.”

Because of Call and a few other close friends, Vance was given years of running he never thought he’d have. Jerard Wilbrink runs with Vance weekly and never ceases to be amazed by his friend’s attitude.

“I love it,” Wilbrink said. “His attitude is infectious. If I’m having a bad day and I go running with him, it shows me that my problems are miniscule compared to what he’s going through.”

Vance receives just as much pleasure from running as he gives. He said the constant exercise

boosts his confidence and self-esteem. Vance is thankful he has such loyal friends who allow him to continue participating in the sport he loves.

“When he’s feeling a little bit down and goes out and runs, he’s just so much better,” Barbara said. “It’s great that he can do that. I try to close my eyes and walk 10 steps and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, and he’s running?’ I can’t believe how he does it, but he does.”

Vance said the most difficult adjustment he had to make to his injury was not being self-sufficient.

He could no longer do the simplest of tasks on his own, but his bride never strayed from his side.

“I’m so blessed to have the world’s most awesome wife,” Vance said. “She took care of me then, and she still takes care of me today.

She’s helped me a lot, and you try to adapt to your circumstances. You try to make the best of it that you can and try to stay positive.”

Vance needed that positive attitude five years after his accident. Just when life was as normal as it could be, the DeCamps were hit with another JULY 2011

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an amazing sight!

tragedy. A tornado ripped through Williamston in October of 2007, destroying their home.

After receiving an all-clear signal after the first tornado warning that night, Vance went back to bed. Barbara woke him up an hour later and said they needed to get back into the basement. They only made it 10 steps down the hallway before the tornado hit.

“It was like, I can’t believe this is happening,” Vance said of the destruction. “But it did. We survived, and we didn’t get hurt. That’s just part of life. It’s just something that happened.

And by the grace of God, we survived it.”

Vance DeCamp has faced more adversity in a few years than some people experience in a lifetime. But the way he has faced and responded to the challenges has touched the lives of countless people. He’s an inspiration to those in Lansing and beyond – to those he may never meet and those he’s known for years.

Bitterness? What’s that?

“Why me?” Why bother?

“It’s amazing that he has such an amazingly positive attitude,” Wilbrink said. “A lot of people should take hints from him and change their attitudes, because their problems are probably nothing compared to what he’s been through.”

An incredibly humble person doesn’t know if he’d consider himself an inspiration to others.

He’s just being Vance. But if he is inspiring, he hopes that what people take from his story is the importance of a positive attitude and the ability to make the best out of the most dire of circumstances.

“It’s tremendous for anybody to look at and see his positive attitude,” Call said. “All you have to do is be around him. If you were down, he’d bring you up just because of his positive attitude.

That’s what’s really brought him back to doing the things that he loves to do – his positive attitude.”

Waking up to a life of darkness would be a difficult challenge for any person to handle. But Vance chose to adapt to his new lifestyle and continue living a life full of love and happiness.

It’s his outlook on life and the way he responded to adversity that influences every person he encounters and those he has known for decades.

“When I’m feeling down or something, I think, ‘Well, gee, I certainly don’t have it as bad as he does,’” Barbara said. “He’s great.

He’s always positive and very appreciative of everything. Anything people do for him, he’s just very appreciative of that.”

In 2007, Vance was recognized for his achievements when he was awarded the Charles T. Kuntzleman Award. The award is given to athletes who have overcome challenges and continue to include exercise in their daily routine.

Vance said he was extremely honored to receive

Mettle And Medals DeCamp shows some of the awards he has won, including recognition from marathons.

the award, not because of the recognition he received but by the company he kept.

“I think there were 10 of us, and the other people, the things that they had gone through, it was just amazing,” Vance said. “I thought, ‘Wow, I don’t even consider I’m in the same league with these people.’ The things they’d overcome…it was an honor just to be included in such a group.”

Vance’s humbleness makes him an even more inspiring person. He continues to run multiple times a week and has done several marathons and other races since losing his vision. He works as a greeter during Playmakers Sidewalk Sales.

And he stays positive because that’s the only attitude he knows. He doesn’t give up because he doesn’t know how.

Every person will face adversity in life sooner or later. His advice? Simple.

“Stay positive,” Vance said. “Try to look on the bright side of the situation and maybe try to learn from the bad things that you’ve gone through or at least grow as a result of the adversity you go through. That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Strength comes in many forms. But very few things are stronger than the human spirit. Vance proves that every day. He carries the weight of the world and doesn’t even know it’s heavy.

“Adapt to the situation and realize that life changes all the time,” Vance said. “There’s no guarantee about anything. Just stay positive, and don’t give up. Keep working, and keep trying.”

Vance knows adversity well. And though he lives in a world of darkness, he brings light into the life of everyone he meets.

He doesn’t have to see to believe. H

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Vic Saier Was National League’s Best Player

Photography mike major

BY ANDY FLANAGAN

26 JULY 2011

Vic Saier is not a well-known name to baseball fans. His career ended at age 28. Too young to become a household name and with too short of a career to rewrite the record book, he quickly faded from the limelight when he called it quits in 1919.

Ask a fan who Vic Saier was and you’ll probably get a quizzical look. But if you asked people in 1915, especially in his hometown of Lansing, you’d have received an earful. By the time he was just 24, Saier was considered not only the best first baseman in the National League, but one of the top players in baseball.

Say Great Lansing’s Vic Saier was arguably the National League’s best player a century ago.

“There is no argument about the best all-round player in the American League. That title is held by Ty Cobb, by almost universal consent,” a newspaper article from 1915 said. “But, there may be room for argument concerning the title holder in the National League. Honus Wagner, Jake Daubert, Rabbit Maranville, Johnny Evers and others are strong contenders, but someone has figured out that Vic Saier, of the Chicago Cubs, is the man entitled to the crown.”

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Vic Saier was born on May 4, 1891, in Lansing. After playing ball around town as a youth, he continued playing at St. Mary’s High School and graduated in 1908. He entered St. Mary’s Business College upon graduation. In the summer of 1909, he took his first step toward professional baseball when he played for the Oldsmobile Nine – sponsored by the car company of the same name. The players didn’t draw a salary but split the gate with Oldsmobile.

While with the Oldsmobile Nine, Saier attracted the interest of John Morrissey, the first person from Lansing to play pro baseball (Cincinnati Reds 1902-03). Morrissey managed the Lansing minor league team in the Southern Michigan League and signed Saier for the 1910 season.

Just 19 years old, Saier hit .339 and stole 42 bases, which caught the attention of the Chicago Cubs, who paid $1,500 to acquire him.

The Cubs needed a new first baseman to replace Frank Chance, who was feeling the strains of both playing and managing. Saier got his opportunity in 1911. After 29 games Chance was hit by a pitch, essentially ending his playing career. When two veterans failed to replace Chance, the 20-year-old Saier took over at first for the defending National League champions.

Saier adjusted well, hitting .259 in 86 games that season. He did even better in 1912, batting .288 with 25 doubles and 14 triples while playing 122 games. But the best was yet to come.

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Saier’s breakout season came in 1913. Just 22, he led the National League with 21 triples – still a Cubs record – and added 14 home runs, good for third in the league during the deadball era. He also drove in a career-high 92 runs, stole 26 bases and finished sixth in the MVP voting.

The Chicago newspapers jumped on his bandwagon.

“Vic Saier Destined to be Greatest First Sacker,” one headline said. The first paragraph of the article read: “Dogged JULY 2011

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daring to dream

persistence, bulldog tenacity and daredevil determination, some combination, and it is just these qualities that are going to make Vic Saier the greatest first sacker in either of the big leagues and probably the greatest guardian of the first sack the game has ever known.”

Saier continued to shine in 1914, hitting 18 homers to finish second in the National League. Four of his homers came against the great Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants, who said Saier hit some of the hardest balls he ever allowed.

He rounded out his game even more in 1915, collecting 11 homers, 11 triples, 35 doubles, 64 RBIs and 29 steals. Grantland Rice, the renowned sportswriter, wrote an article praising Saier’s abilities. The headline read: “He Has Won Place In Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Another famed baseball writer, Ring Lardner, also praised Saier’s modesty.

Saier was named to the Sporting News AllStar team following the 1915 season. The team included future Hall of Famers Grover Cleveland Alexander, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker.

Hitting wasn’t all Saier could do. He finished his career with a .986 fielding percentage, which

again caught the newspapers’ attention. “He makes wild throws from the infielders and sharply batted ground balls look easy,” one article said.

Saier suffered a leg injury during the 1915 season that sidelined him for three weeks.

It was a precursor to what would befall him in 1917 and ultimately end his career prematurely. The 1916 season got off to a good start when his sacrifice fly drove in the winning run in the Cubs’ first game at Wrigley Field. But his production fell off that season to seven homers and 50 RBIs. Whether that drop-off was an aberration, we’ll never know. Six games into the 1917 season Saier broke his leg trying to score from second on a single, ending his season.

He didn’t play in 1918. Instead, he worked at a defense plant to help the war effort as World War I drew to a close. The Cubs sold his rights to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he attempted a comeback with them in 1919 but lasted just 58 games, hitting .223 before being released.

Saier also took time in 1918 to get married to Chicago native Felicitas Dorney. They met at Wrigley Field and moved to Lansing

No. 1 Before Numbers Saier was the first all-time great athlete from Mid-Michigan and the oldest member of our Top 150 performers from Mid-Michigan.

28 JULY 2011

when Saier was released by the Pirates. Saier continued to live in Lansing until his death in 1967 at age 76.

Part of the reason Saier isn’t well-known is that he kept a low profile during and after his career. “Vic says nothing during the game, and lots of it,” a Chicago newspaper article said in 1913. “Quiet he is, as silent as the night, but in that dome of his there is always something doing.”

“He was a very quiet man and humble, too,” recalled his daughter, Felicitas White. “He never talked about himself. He was not one to boast about anything.” She said Saier was not prone to recounting his career while his children were growing up. “We never quizzed him (about baseball) when I was a youngster.

That didn’t mean diddly to me.”

Mary Sue McLaughlin, Vic Saier’s granddaughter, agreed. “The only thing he said (about playing baseball) was he learned card tricks in the dugout. He was very quiet, just a presence.”

Saier’s mother put together an extensive scrapbook during his playing career, which McLaughlin now keeps. In one article from the State Journal, Saier said one of the best players he ever saw was a black man from Lansing, Bill Wright. Saier played with Wright at the turn of the century at the fairgrounds fields, property that later became part of the Oldsmobile plant.

“Bill…was with the Lansing Colored Giants,” Saier said in 1959. “He could play anywhere, and he had the speed and grace to make him great. He was born 50 years too soon. He would have made the majors today. A fine man, too.

“Guess I was a charter member of the integration club—Bill and the boys took me in and let me play with their team. I was the only exception. I learned a lot of baseball from them, too, especially Bill.”

Regarding that quote from her grandfather, McLaughlin said, “That is just the type of guy grandpa was.”

Life wasn’t easy for Saier after he retired.

His daughter said he invested in real estate, but during the Depression “he lost parcel after parcel.” He coached youth baseball and later became the manager of the old City Club at the Hotel Olds for 10 years.

Despite the premature end to his career, Saier said he was at peace with how it ended.

“Part of the game is the chance you take of getting hurt,” he said in that 1959 interview.

“There is no bitterness. Baseball gave me a great deal. Nowadays I have a lot of time to think about how much fun I had.” H

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spartans will

Chip Off The Ol’ Charlie LB Kaleb Thornhill Learns, Now Teaches NFL Players

Kaleb Thornhill’s father and older brother both played football at Michigan State University. Despite the family ties, Thornhill said he did have a choice in where he attended college.

Turnaround Time Whether as an MSU player or an NFL support staff member, Thornhill has helped teams and individuals win.

His dream school was Tennessee, but we’ll forget he said that. He made a choice as a high school junior that made a lot of Spartans happy. And Thornhill knows he’s a better person because of his experience as a student-athlete at MSU. “I can’t begin to name the things it taught me throughout the years,” Thornhill said. “Time management, how to deal with people, how to put equal time into your academics and your athletics. It provided me with endless knowledge that you can’t learn in a classroom setting.”

30 JULY 2011

Thornhill started at middle linebacker for the Spartans for three years and appeared in all 12 games his freshman season. As a senior in 2007, he helped Mark Dantonio reach his first bowl game as MSU’s head coach, beginning a bowl appearance streak that still stands.

But the end of his career as a Spartan was also difficult. Thornhill’s father, Charlie, died of heart failure at the end of his junior season. To honor his role model and best friend, Thornhill wore No. 41 his senior year, the number his dad had made famous four decades earlier.

“It was probably the best feeling walking on the field my senior year for the first time wearing his jersey number,” Thornhill said.

“Just to know that he was inside of me and looking down on me and looking after me…

What he did for me for 21 years, no other dad could. He shaped me into who I am today.”

When Charlie looks down on his son, he’ll see an extremely successful man any father would be proud to call his son. Thornhill had many athletic accolades. But what mattered to him more than anything was education. He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and made the Dean’s list all eight semesters at MSU. After graduating with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Resources, Thornhill decided to continue his education at MSU. Thornhill was a graduate assistant under Mark Hollis as he completed a Master of Science in Kinesiology. As a graduate student, he began a player development program to help student-athletes establish plans for their postathletic careers.

“I felt from an early time in my playing career that so many of these football players are so focused on football that they lost track of what was important long-term,” Thornhill said. “Only 2 percent of all college football players actually get a shot to play in the NFL. A lot of these guys don’t know what they want to do after football.”

Thornhill’s goal is to make sure athletes succeed after they finish playing sports. After earning his

Master’s degree, Thornhill furthered his knowledge in this field as an intern for the Detroit Lions Player Development Football Operations.

A few months later, Thornhill was offered his first job as the Director of Player Development for the Miami Dolphins. He assists players off the field in areas such as transitioning into and out of the NFL, continuing education, finances, family and counseling.

Through the services he provides, Thornhill hopes to change statistics concerning former NFL players.

“Seventy percent of players within two years of leaving the NFL are divorced, bankrupt or unemployed,” Thornhill said. “That’s a statistic that bothers me. Many guys struggle when they’re done because they don’t have a plan in place before leaving college. Then, they become a little lost.”

Thornhill may be working 1,500 miles away, but he continues to give back to the Lansing community. His most recent project is a Fourth-and-1 football camp. The camp is for local high school student-athletes, focusing 70 percent of its time on life skills and professional development and 30 percent on football.

“I saw at an early age how much of a difference it can make if you get to the guys early and make them understand why it’s so important,” Thornhill said. “It fills me up inside to help people out. I’m blessed to have been given the chance to help out so many people and change lives.”

In addition to his current position, Thornhill is earning an MBA at Nova Southeastern University. He believes the more education he has, the more successful he will be. Thornhill has had a lot of success in a few short years, but has his sights set on being an athletic director at a major conference university.

“That’s my ultimate goal,” Thornhill said. “I know I’m a long way from there but at the end of the day I love the role I’m in right now. I don’t know where the next opportunity will present itself, but I’m very happy in Miami.

And I love what I’m doing right now.”

At the rate he’s going, Thornhill will reach his goal sooner than most. Watch out Mark Hollis, a protege has his mind set and isn’t slowing down anytime soon. H

Photography MATTHEW MITCHELL/MSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

BY andrea nelson

Being a Spartan, iS Being aBle

TO COACH HOOPS WITHOUT HAVING TO

JUMP THROUGH THEM! April 30, 2007 marked an important day of transition for Suzy Merchant.

That’s when she was hired as head coach for the MSU women’s basketball program — the day she began her career as a Spartan.

It wasn’t easy, but four years later, she still loves her job.

“Basketball has taken me all over the country, but my heart has always been here,” Merchant said.

No matter where they’re destined to go, there’s sure to be a network of Spartans ready to cheer them on to victory and help with the transition.

“At some point, our players will graduate and face the realities and challenges of life after college,” Merchant said. “Sure, they have the skills to dribble the ball down the court and score points, but will they succeed after graduation when it’s time to hoof the pavement, put their degree to work and find a job or place to live? There’s a real power in our worldwide network of alumni and friends. They’re doctors, nurses, lawyers, bankers, teachers, parents ... friends. On the court, they make a deafening noise and go stark raving mad to distract our opponent at the free-throw line. Off the court, they give us job leads, provide a helping hand and recommend places to go and places to live.

In the game of basketball, just as in the game of life, we all dream of winning. The MSU network of alumni and friends gives us the advantage we need to win. Shouldn’t you be a part of it?”

“My name is Suzy Merchant, and the MSU Alumni Association is my personal network ... for life!”

— Suzy Merchant • MSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Join the MSU Alumni Association — your personal network...for life.

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Expires 12/31/2011

finish line

United States MSU Baseball Teams Forever Tied By Titles

Saturday, May 19, 1979…Friday, May 20, 2011 – two points on the calendar separated by 32 years. A span of time perhaps better measured by 384 months, 1,664 weeks or 11,687 days. Or to add a bit of absurdity, two spring days, 280,488 hours or 16,829,280 minutes apart.

Regardless of the measure of time one chooses to apply, in the laurels of Spartan baseball history, these two days will forever represent Big Ten Championships.

The 1979 team was led by a seasoned baseball pioneer near the end of his collegiate career, Danny Litwhiler. The 2011 club was under the direction of a young man and his father – the Boss boys, Jake Jr. and Jake Sr. In the end, two generations of Michigan State athletes were forever linked by magical seasons.

In ’79, the previous year’s team had sent future Major League Baseball legend Kirk Gibson to the Detroit Tigers. The Spartans lacked a bona fide star but made up for that shortfall with team chemistry that at times appeared to will them to victory.

They were viewed by many as underdogs to a team from Ann Arbor with a minimum of a half-dozen professional prospects. In the end, it was that same rival that fell on the penultimate day of the season to assure the Spartans of only their third conference baseball title and their first since 1971.

That feat occurred on the hallowed grounds of Old College Field, surrounded by rusty green bleachers and tarped outfield fences. The championship secured what many referred to as the Magical Triple Crown Season, when football, basketball, and baseball titles were achieved in the same academic year.

Fast forward to 2011 and an MSU club that had a hero per day, as many championship teams do. Hitting streaks, stellar plays in the field and home runs into the trees by the 32 JULY 2011

Still Throwing Strikes MSU Director of Admissions Jim Cotter is a link to another era of Spartan baseball success.

Red Cedar River filled the pages of student newspaper, The State News.

Again, it was a group of athletes who refused to let each other down, consistently rallying when the odds were against them.

One couldn’t help but sense that the players had looked each other in the eye and committed themselves to the idea that 2011 was indeed their time.

Like the Spartans of ’79, the current champions clinched the title on the next-to-last

day of the season, this time in the beautiful confines of the conference’s newest and most picturesque stadium.

In mirror fashion, both teams lost their final regular-season league games with a championship already assured. Maybe it was the distraction of already envisioning an oversized ring on their right hands or merely the baseball gods reminding us that all fame is fleeting.

Two groups of Spartan athletes divided by 32 years – aging men and young boys approaching their prime, frozen in one moment as brothers in victory.

Like their ’79 counterparts, the 2011 team was part of a special season for MSU athletics, one that produced five Big Ten titles (football, women’s cross country, women’s basketball, women’s golf and baseball).

Perhaps the magical nature of this special season was conceived on a warm fall evening in Spartan Stadium when “Little Giants” suddenly appeared to shock and defeat a devastated Notre Dame football team.

Life may indeed be driven by fate.

Generations of MSU athletes will forever be joined by common experiences and, in the years to come, by the accomplishments of both Spartan baseball teams. What matters most will occur in quiet moments when members of both teams look to their ring fingers and remember the power, durability and magic of teamwork.

In the day of high-tech stadiums, scientifically designed equipment and everimproving training regimens, it remains team chemistry that defines success. In his work, Shoeless Joe Comes to Iowa, author J. P. Kinsella reminded us, “If you build it, they will come.” With no disrespect to beautiful Kobs Field at McLane Stadium, the “it” that Kinsella referred to, at least in the case of MSU baseball, is “The Program.”

Spartan Baseball is back! H

Photography MSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

BY JIM Cotter, MSU Director Of Admissions And Former Spartan Pitcher

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