Spunq Sports Magazine Sept/Oct 2019

Sept./Oct. 2019 Vol. 2 Issue 6 FREE

YADIRA ALSTON

She’s Been In This Game For Years

Where Jesus Christ is Lord And The People Are Loved

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Do You Have Spunq?

CONTENTS JULY 2019

10

Darius Graves Still On A Mission

14

Elijah Petty Super Charged

16

Cheena Headen-Wright A Love For Fitness

20

Daron Sellars NBPAF

Yadari Alston She has been in this game for years.

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Spunq Sports Magazine is published bimonthly and is distributed in the Triad areas of North Carolina. We are not responsible for the comments made by our advertisers or the individuals that are featured. Please send all feedback and comments to spunqsports@gmail.com. This publication can’t be reproduced or republished without the written consent of the publisher.

2019 All Rights Reserved - Mykel Media Company, LLC

Coco Gauff Should Inspire You Editor’s Note - Terry L. Watson It’s that time of the year again. The warmer months have arrived and we must prepare ourselves for the summer. With the summer also comes sporting events and games, and the dangers.

One of the most important things we must do while enjoying the outdoors, is to practice good playing habits, and preparing and taking care of our bodies along the way. We must hydrate with the correct fluids...put the soft drinks away. Now is the time for some old fashioned water. Sport Drinks are good, but we must not consume too much of them. We must also eat properly, before we play and after.

Do You Have SPUNQ? PUBLISHER

Terry L. Watson EDITOR

Terry L. Watson CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Terry L. Watson WRITERS

Terry L. Watson Juniuos Smith III

In conclusion, please remember to get plenty of rest. Our bodies require a proper reset period in order to function from day to day. Drink well, eat properly, and get plenty of rest. These are key tools that we must utilize in order for us to have a pleasant and wonderful summer sporting season.

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BASKETBALL

YADIRA ALSTON

She’s Been In This Game For Years 6

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By Junious Smith, III Photos by JLG Photography

The true test of a champion is how one recovers at a low point.

Yadira Alston suffered an ACL and meniscus injury during her freshman year at Ragsdale High School. As she worked on getting back to full strength, Alston had thoughts about leaving a game she’s cherished for years before finding selfmotivation.

“I wanted to quit,” Alston said. “I didn’t want to play the game anymore and was about to give up, but I realized this was something I wanted to do in the future. I have a motto: ‘the grind never stops’ and I kept remembering that.”

During the time of recovery, Johnny Alston, Yadira’s father, said she got tired of watching from the sidelines and was determined to get back.

“I remember how down she was and one day she said ‘why am I sitting on my talent,’” Alston said. “She got back to dribbling, watching her teammates and just learning on the sidelines.

When she got better, I got her a personal trainer to work on drills, including agility, and getting her back into the fundamentals of the game. She also went to the Chris Paul D1 Sports Training facility in Winston-Salem, which helped get her in tip-top shape.”

Sam Warren became Yadira Alston’s personal trainer during her recovery process, helping her become a better all-around basketball player.

“He helped me build my strength and I’ve been practicing hard with the team,” Alston said. “I would get up at 6 a.m. for practice at 7, building up some of that chemistry.”

Alston also made sure to keep her grades up during the recovery process. As an honor roll student, she said it’s important to have time management skills to ensure she can do everything she loves.

“I definitely want to stay on the team, and you have to maintain a certain GPA to play,” Alston said.

“I’m able to balance everything very well, making sure I pay attention on and off the court while tuning distractions out.”

Continued on the next page

“I definitely want to stay on the team, and you have to maintain a certain GPA to play,” Alston said.

“I’m able to balance everything very well, making sure I pay attention on and off the court while tuning distractions out.”

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Alston also had a good grip of the basics at an early age, as she said her cousins played a big role in her development. “Paris Alston played at South Carolina State, and she taught me the fundamentals,” Alston said. “She helped me fall in love with the sport and it’s the only one I love to play. Then, I have another cousin, Mychal Kearse, who played professional basketball overseas and he helped me a lot.”

Alston, a 5-foot-4 combo guard, said she has several strengths which allow her to make an impact on the court. “I think my biggest strength is my shooting ability,” Alston said. “I can also use my dribble skill set to go against taller people and make space. Their size won’t intimidate me at all.”

Alston certainly wasn’t intimidated during her junior varsity campaign last season, as Ragsdale finished undefeated in a convincing matter. The Tigers’ closest contest was a 42-27 road win over West Forsyth on Dec. 18, 2018, and 10 of the team’s 17 victories were by 40 points or more.

Alston will look to make her mark next season on one of the state’s best teams in 2018-19. The Tigers will be replacing seven seniors after a 24-4 campaign and fourth round appearance in the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs. According to Maxpreps, Ragsdale was ranked eighth in the state in the final poll.

Johnny Alston said his daughter will take advantage of the chance. “When she gets into a game, she’s going to bring a spark to the team,” Alston said. “I’m expecting big things for her during her junior season — she has to remember to put God first and play with the right image.”

Yadira Alston said she’s ready for the opportunity.

“I’m very excited to experience a new level of basketball next year,” Alston said. “I’ll have the chance to play in the HAECO Invitational, but the most important thing is being out there with my teammates and building a bond.”

“When she gets into a game, she’s going to bring a spark to the team. I’m expecting big things for her during her junior season — she has to remember to put God first and play with the right image.”

Johnny Alston - Yadira’s father

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FOOTBALL

DARIUS GRAVES The Mission Continues 10

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And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. -Genesis Who is Darius Graves?

Darius Graves is someone who is strong and prevails at what he does. He is a fighter and he is constantly going through life with a chip on his shoulder. Darius is a man of Christ and is always willing to give his all to others.

What do you love most about the sport of football?

My love and passion for the game is from the moon and back, been playing at the age of 5 yrs old I fell in love with the game and I did not want to do anything else. I have been through everything bad pertaining to the game from politics and injuries I still wake up with the fire in my heart to win and run the ball.

Continued on the next page

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What has your journey been like?

My journey has been full of heart aches but full of good times, from flag football all the way high school I had the time of my life. Winning championships is the best feeling ever, but when I had the rock in my hands contributing is feeling that puts you on another level. However, not everything that glitters is gold. I’ve dealt with my size not being good enough for coaches and going out proving my worth every gameday letting them know you slept on the wrong one. Still to this day this journey is about me doing amazing things others did not think I was overcome.

What have you learned?

Throughout my whole experience I’ve learned I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. Being strong is more than the physical aspect, it is all about knowing your faith and knowing your worth as a person. Football has taught me that it is more about the x’s and o’s it taught me how to not be the type of leaders the game has today. It is a lot of coaches and players put in roles that they are not allowed nor should be in. This game rewards those who are not faithful but punishes those who are faithful to do right by others and puts the game first. But in actuality God rewards the ones who are faithful with other blessings. Coaches who wrong others suffer in the end, believe me that is a lesson I’ve seen happen.

What do you love most about being an athlete?

I love the good health, and the opportunity to do things others can’t. Especially in the weight room, it is a great feeling being able to move all the weight knowing that’s the strength God and I created.

What challenges have you faced?

The challenges I’ve faced every since I played was overcoming what coaches thought of me and my height. I have dealt with people who were rooting for me and the next thing people saying I’m done. I have missed opportunities to be with family because of football being my whole life obligation. Injuries has been the biggest, I have played with a grade 2 sprain ankle, broken hand, pulled hamstrings, and torn ACL just to show my loyalty to the game. I never cared about the clout and fame football brought me, I cared about the idea of taking care of my family with lavish vacations and my mother and father seeing their son’s dream come true.

What inspires you the most?

Jesus dying on the cross, my mother and father waking up everyday to provide, and Ray Rice waking up everyday in this world to continue to keep going when the world labeled him as something negative.

What advice would you give to someone else that may follow in your footsteps?

Ignore the people, follow your heart, obey parents and those who supported you when you had nothing. Main thing keep God first in everything you do!

What are your plans moving forward?

To enjoy what life has to offer, what my God has to offer. Stay tuned

Also.....

Do not let the sport make you, you make the sport. Know your worth and go with the first school that wants you for you, not for what you do on the field, court etc. Treat people right in the beginning. In the end they do things for you that you would have never thought.

Love God because He definitely Loves You!

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FOOTBALL

ELIJAH PETTY He is Super Charged 14

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Who is Elijah Petty?

I am a 15 year old student athlete who attends Eastern Guilford and plays both basketball and football.

Please describe your love and passion for the sport of football.

The reason I strongly love football is because I love change and this game has a tendency to change often. The momentum can be shifted from one team to another within one great play or one great drive and that’s what I love about it so much. No single game is predictable and no game is exactly the same as another.

What has your journey been like?

It’s been a long journey to get where I am now but the faith I had in myself is what drive it all. I started out as an O-lineman in little league and didn’t know a lick of football but my father and brother told me I had what it took it’ll come eventually. If I didn’t buy in to that advice and quit when I wanted to I wouldn’t have ever gotten this far. It’s been a long, kind of stressful and tiring journey but I feel like the goal I’m working toward is worth it.

When and how did you begin?

I began at the age of about 9 or 10 and I was interested because my brother had been a really great athlete and I wanted to be just like him. It was a choice between Boy Scouts or Football and I chose football.

I’m glad I did.

Through all of your experiences, what have you learned?

I’ve learned that this game can only be played by one type of person with one type of mentality and that’s somebody who desires to be a straight dog every time they step on the field. I learned you can’t play this game with fear of the other team or fear of not performing the way you want to you have to play because you want to win. I learned that the mental aspect plays a huge part in performing greatly in the game of football.

What challenges have you faced?

Well I wasn’t always a player of interest when it can to coaches. A huge challenge I’ve faced was debating on if I should give up or not. In about the 5th grade my little league team went undefeated and I was the fullback . I was a lead block for our best player and I wanted to get the ball too but since I was such a good blocker I never really touched it. Also, my freshman year of high school I didn’t get as much play time as I thought I would but I overcame those challenges by just knowing eventually everything will come together and I’ll get my chance to use my abilities.

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FITNESS

CHEENA HEADEN-WRIGHT She has a love for Body Building

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Who is Cheena?

Cheena is a Philadelphia native, mother of two beautiful daughters; Bionca Wright a 2017 Business Degree Graduate From WSSU, a State Licensed Cosmetologist and Owner of Bstyled Hair Salon And BstyledTheWrightWayHair in Charlotte. Brandi Wright a Junior currently At NCCU studying Psychology with a focus on Child Psychology while serving as Captain of NCCU Champagne Cheerleaders I’m also an Entrepreneur, owner of BreakoutMindset Coaching, a Certified Life Coach, a Public Speaker, a Serial Author and an Investor of FOREX/Cryptocurrency.

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Describe your love for body building.

WOWOW, prior to my recent competition, I didn’t know I had a love and passion for bodybuilding. I always thought people that love and have a passion for fitness only did bodybuilding. Like this degree of fitness was never something that I saw myself doing.

But during my six months of training I found a different level of who God created me to be. After conquering Breast Cancer back in 2007, physical health and fitness became my passion.

But again I never saw myself in this arena called Figure Bodybuilding.

When and how did you begin?

Well every year my church DestinyGSO, has a women’s annual fitness event and back in 2015, I met Marcy Welch who shared with us that she was a competitor. I was in awe of her testimony how she started training. But It was until November 2018 when I was at a WSW ACHI Meet and Greet luncheon where I was introduced Coach Donna Nealy. She took a picture in one of her poses and I was star struck because here is another person I’ve met that was a bodybuilding competitor.

January 2019, I decided to make it one of my goals. I created a GOAL Card and wrote the goal in the card with a completion date, the obstacles I would face, two people I would involve in my success of accomplishing the goal and what I would do after the goal was accomplished to help the next person.

So, in January 2019, we had our Annual Women’s fitness event and Marcy Welch returns every year to be one of our class fitness leaders. After the class was over I consulted her and told her what my goal was. She lit up like a high beam light on a midnight day. She got excited, I got excited and I remember her saying “If your seriously considering doing this I will help you.” I told her yes, the goal was written and her name was on my goal card to enlist in me accomplishing my goal. Well the following week I got a call from Marcy and she told me due to her schedule being booked with other clients, she couldn’t fit me in However she gave me Karen Roberts Information and highly recommended.

I told Marcy no problem, I had already set my GOAL Card up with two names and after I make contact with the second person, if she couldn’t get me in then I would reach out to Karen.

So weeks went by and I had to go for my annual physical with my Gynecologist Dr Sheronette Cousins, who I must give a big THANK YOU to! Dr Cousins told me back in 2018 before my next visit I’d better start exercising to get 20lbs off my body! LOL! She was serious and that’s what I did. She asked me what was I doing to drop 25lbs, so I mentioned working out 30mins everyday in the gym and walking 10,000 steps a day. She asked if I had someone helping me, I told her “No”. Dr Cousins went to her drawer pulled out a Red Business Card it was Coach Donna Neely’s Card! I hollered in my head because she was who I had as my second person on my GOAL Card. This was confirmation! On February 8th, I made the call that started my journey to bodybuilding with Coach Donna Neely as my Coach. I officially stated my 6 month training February 18, 2019

How has the experience been for you?

This has been an amazing journey, because I have Never had a Coach for anything in life! So I had to drop some walls of trust and allow myself to be vulnerable. I had to be open to allow Coach to see ME, the ME that not everyone is allowed to see because of past hurts I don’t trust people but so far into my sacred space! I knew it was going to stretch me in ways I was to afraid to do by myself. When I went to Coach I was broken spiritually, mentally, and emotionally while working on my physical health. But I realized during this journey if the 4 things were out of alignment this was going to be hard for me. I had a BreakoutMindset moment and whatever Coach told me to do I did it! I had to TRUST her and the process. I had to release this mindset of being in control. I learned that I was keeping myself in bondage by the thoughts that I was domesticated with. So I knew making this commitment to this 6 month journey I would come out different, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Throuhg all of your experiences, what have you learned?

DESIRE, DISCIPLINE and DETERMINATION!

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What challenges have you faced with body building?

Keeping my mind off the words “I Can’t and “I Quit”. I constantly reminded myself Cheena, if you say you can’t you won’t and that just an excuse because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! If you quit your only quitting on yourself! Coach never came to you, remember you went to her. Also, staying dedicated to myself and getting out the bed at 4:00am to be at the gym by 5:30. Additionally, changing the things I eat; I love popcorn and nuts, but after learning why it was necessary for my lifestyle change I had to cut out eating popcorn. I can still do nuts just not as much as as salty as I was before. But again if Coach said I couldn’t have any then I followed her lead.

A huge challenge was wanting to share with family and friends what I was doing but because I didn’t want any negative vibes I chose not to tell anyone until the day of or after the competition. Going to work and not cussing people out. I had to practice being impeccable with my words. When people don’t know what to say instead of just saying “You loom great” they say mindless things like “you need to eat s burger” which I’m turn I respond with “Um, You need to STOP eating so many burgers!” Then I become the mean, upset what’s wrong with Cheena person!

What inspires you the most?

My Daughters inspires me. Growing up I didn’t have a roll model that showed me or even told me “You Can Do Anything You Put Your Mind Too”. I enjoy seeing them evolve into beautiful women with their own opinions.

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SPORTS

DARON SELLARS National Black

Professional Athletes Foundation 20

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By Junious Smith, III Photos by JLG Photography Daron Sellars is a man on a mission in Greensboro.

Sellars, a graduate of Ben L. Smith, has looked to create a way for AfricanAmericans in the city. Sellars has sat on numerous boards, including the Board of Trustees of United Way in Greensboro, along with the city’s Planning Committee and being the founding president of 100 Black Men of the Triads.

Sellars has also worked as an entrepreneur for nearly two decades after working with companies such as General Electric and Volvo. Sellars started a travel agency in 2001, and later bought a WingStop franchise and has worked as a private church consultant.

Sellars, who has been the Chairman at Sweet Gum Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Mebane, said it felt like a good transition.

“I knew this was for me when I got laid off in corporate America,” Sellars said. “I had to do something because I had a family, so this was my way to get out and make it happen. I’ve been on my own since 2001 and done a lot of consulting and mentorship over the years. I meet with the mayor of Greensboro once a month and try to figure out methods to get more business for minorities.”

Now, Sellars is the chief executive officer of the National Black Professional Athletes Foundation, an organization focusing on honoring the history, legacy and accomplishments of black athletes through a global platform, empowering them to change lives through advocacy in the community.

“With the foundation, we want to focus on the athletes and then segway toward more community things and initiatives,” Sellars said. “We have three areas where we want to focus on: health and mental wellness, social responsibility and black athlete excellence.”

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Currently, Sellars’ biggest project is the “Home For Legends” campaign, as the organization looks to raise $10 million for a state of the art building in Charlotte, N.C. to showcase the history of black professional athletes in all sports.

“There are so many great black athletes from the beginning, who did work on and off the court, so the purpose is to show how they changed sports forever. People like Arthur Ashe, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were instrumental and we want to also showcase unity while bringing in awareness — whether it’s basketball, football, hockey, track or any sport, we want to put them on display.”

“This is really being done as a way to give a platform to athletes, especially the ones of color,” Sellars said. “We want to educate the masses when it comes to black history, and not just talk about the usual players like Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook, Russell Wilson and Tiger Woods. There are so many great black athletes from the beginning, who did work on and off the court, so the purpose is to show how they changed sports forever. People like Arthur Ashe, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were instrumental and we want to also showcase unity while bringing in awareness — whether it’s basketball, football, hockey, track or any sport, we want to put them on display.”

Sellars said he really wants to see the endeavor successful for next year because of a monumental milestone in the NFL. “One of the things happening is that the NFL is celebrating 100 years since the integration of the league, with Fritz Pollard and Bobby Marshall playing,” Sellars said. “We want to commemorate their history across the country with current and former athletes. Also, the NBA integrated in the 1950 season, so it would also be 70 years since that happened, which is exciting. We’ve met with the NBA and NFL Moms, and they’re also excited in getting the message out.”

If you would like to donate, go to nbpaf. org/home-for-legends-2020.

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Elijah Petty continued Who or what inspires you the most?

My entire family is what inspires me. They are all just great people and great athletes. They inspire me to be a better student and to be a better player. They are excellent role models for me to look up to.

What do you love most about being an athlete?

I love being an athlete because I feel like this is my purpose. This is why I’m here. Though sometimes being held to a higher standard by adults and teachers can ruin being a kid, it doesn’t ruin my love for the game.

What advice would you give to someone else that may follow in your footsteps?

Be humble, and stay humble. Accept constructive criticism because being coachable can really put your name higher up on the depth chart. Lastly, I learned preparation is key. Mentally visualizing yourself making plays and doing your job carries right over to the field.

Focusing up before a game and locking in improves your game by 150%.

What are your plans moving forward?

I plan to continue to offensively make plays and step up on defense when our defensive coordinator needs me to. I also plan on maintaining a gpa of 3.5 or higher and attending a university in the category of D1, D2, or an hbcu of any kind.

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