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Top 5 Bad Training Habits Dr. Pro of OrthoKansas provides the top five bad training habits to help you train smarter.
10 Supermoms Behind every great team there is a great
mom. MVP showcases one team mom from each high school.
Janna Barry, Hayden Karen Darting, Highland Park Lori Rea, Seaman Brenda Dicus, Topeka West Connie Hall, Shawnee Heights Shayla Boyd, Silver Lake Karen Dick, Rossville Sue Badsky, Washburn Rural Tammy Alexander, Topeka High
18 Fortitude Seaman High School Senior Josh Rouff’s
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Rising Above
Highland Park High School Senior Jamon Fulton’s fight to overcome the odds.
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Athletes in Action: Basketball
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Coach Talk with Mark Elliott
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Made in Shawnee County
Mark Elliott talks with the SIlver Lake Lady Eagles’ head basketball coach Tyler Stewart.
JB Bauersfeld talks with Ted Evans, former Topeka High basketball standout and professional basketball star in Europe.
journey to overcome the life challenges that make him an inspirational athlete.
Highland Park and Washburn University graduate and San Fransisco 49er’s special teams captain Michael Wilhoite poses with Highland Park football players (L-R Eddie Hunt, Kameron Clark, Shawn Knox, Anthony Roberts, Shaffee Carr, and Miguel Roberts) in a recent visit to celebrate Pro Day at the Park.
On the Cover:
CONTRIBUTORS
Addie Barry, SO, Hayden Jana Barry, mother Brogan Barry, SR, Hayden
Publishers Braden and Tara Dimick Editor-in-Chief Tara Dimick
Cover mom and each high school supermom was selected by the
Photographer Rachel Lock
MVP Junior Advisory Board
Designer David Vincent Contributing Writers J.B. Bauersfeld Melissa Brunner Mark Elliott Stephan L. Prô, M.D. Karen Ridder Adam Vlach
Like us - MVP Sports Magazine
Account Executive Tara Dimick 785.217.4836
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Check out this issue online at www.MVPSportsMagazine.com
MVP Junior Advisory Board Lindsay Dunekack Byron Lewis Topeka High School
Athletes n in acget2io 5 Pa
Subscriptions 785.217.4836 or taradimick@gmail.com MVP Sports Magazine PO Box 67272 Topeka, KS 66667
Jeremy Hurla Trenton Miller Seaman High School MVP Sports Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc. Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
Kirah Lohse Hayden High School Jonathan Mariani Topeka West High School Allison Vlach Washburn Rural High School Madison Wegner Silver Lake High School Alisha White Highland Park High School
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Delaney Hiegert, Junior, Seaman
Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information in the publication as of press time. The publisher assumes no responsibility of any part for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions there in. E2 Communications, Inc. makes no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisers are provided by the subject companies. E2 Communications, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable innaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s right therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.
Junior Advisory Board Do you consider yourself an academic rockstar? Are you going into your junior or senior year in high school and wished your generation knew more about finance? Then we want you! Teaching peers financial literacy Informing ECU on potential marketing opportunities Helping ECU understand what young adults value in a financial institution Planning MVP Tailgate Parties Apply today to be part of ECU’s Junior Advisory Board. More information and application can be found at www.EducationalCU.org.
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Bad Training Habits
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Forgetting To Stretch
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Ignoring Pain
Stretching helps prevent injuries and often times,
promotes faster recovery. The more flexible a person is, the less the likelihood of a torn or strained muscle. Stretching may help you improve your flexibility, which in turn may improve your athletic performance and decrease your risk of injury. Understand why stretching can help— and how to stretch correctly.
The majority of sports-related injuries are due to overuse, strength and flexibility imbalances, and poor training habits. Dr. Prô provides the top five bad training habits to help you train smarter.
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Overuse Overuse injuries are caused by excessive wear and tear to the body, particularly on the ankle, knee, shoulder and elbow joints. Overuse or training too hard is just as likely to cause injury as it is poor technique.
Determining if you are overusing a joint requires listening to your body. When you feel pain or discomfort during or after exercise or every day activities— don’t ignore it. If the pain does not go away, it’s time to see your healthcare provider.
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Pushing Your Limits
If you don’t have the time or physical energy to run for an hour, then don’t try to force it. Remember that every little bit counts and making yourself do too much can be the quickest way to get injured—or make you give up altogether. Doing too much, too soon, too fast can be the primary cause of an injury. Muscles and joints need recovery time so they can recover and handle more training demands. If you rush that process, you could break down rather than build up.
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Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Ignoring this message and pushing on is the fastest way to get a serious or chronic injury.
Doing Too Much Too Soon Remember to be realistic when assessing your ability and skill level. Gradually increasing both the time and intensity of exercise is the ideal way to allow the body to adapt, grow stronger and become more fit, especially if you recovering from an injury.
The worst thing you can do post-injury is too much too soon—particularly, increasing distance and speed simultaneously. Learn to be conservative, opting for less rather than more.
Dr. Pro of OrthoKansas Stephan L. Prô, M.D. is a Kansas native and 2004 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He has worked with professional soccer teams (LA Galaxy and Chivas USA) as well as the US Men’s World Cup team. Dr. Prô’s specialties include the evaluation and treatment of the young patient with hip/groin pain including hip arthroscopy and proximal hamstring repairs as well as knee and shoulder conditions.
MVP
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By Adam Vlach
For every tackle made, goal scored, time broken or match won, screaming moms show their support. Take that support up a notch and you find “team moms� whose contributions behind the scenes often go unnoticed. Being a team mom takes a lot of time, dedication and heart. So much of what they do happens behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed. It is imperative that we recognize not only the moms featured here, but also all of the parents who volunteer their time and resources.
THANKS MOM!
Connie Hall, Shawnee Heights High School
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Addie, Jana and Brogan Barry
UNDYING SPIRIT: JANA BARRY Hayden High School For Jana Barry sports is a lifestyle. With her son Brogan Barry, senior, playing football, basketball and track, and her
KEEPING THE MEMORIES: KAREN DARTING Highland Park High School
daughter, Addie Barry, sophomore, playing volleyball and soccer, Jana’s Hayden school spirit is undying. She also enjoys watching sports and groups that her kids aren’t involved in, such as: cheerleading, dance team, drum line, and band. Her school spirit encompasses everyone. Attending all of her children’s sports, as well as other activities is her biggest way of letting her school pride show. Jana enjoys the community as a whole and loves home games. “I am a big believer in home field advantage,” says Jana. There are many life lessons to be learned from sports. “Taking responsibility for your own actions and accepting your own mistakes is taught,” said Jana. “Learning to work with others and figuring out how to communicate with all the different personalities and different motivations is a valuable life lesson. Patience and humbleness are a natural outcome of athletic involvement. Learning to overcome negativity, and remain positive.” “The most rewarding experience,” she says, “is watching the students take the skills and life lessons with them as they grow up and go out and apply them in the real world.” Seeing her students graduate, take on new jobs, get married, and so on gives her the most gratification, and that is the perfect example of putting the “mom” in “team mom.”
One doesn’t have to have a child currently playing to be a “mom” for the team. The school psychologist and the wife of basketball coach Ken Darting, Karen Darting is very involved with student life at Highland Park High School. Basketball being her favorite, of course, she helps out and supports the team in a multitude of ways. Taking pictures and making slideshows is one unique project that Karen does on her own volition solely to exuberate school spirit. She also makes bulletin boards and even scrapbooks so that as new generations come through they can look back and see past accomplishments of the Scots. This is her creative way to immortalize Karen Darting with the Highland Park basketball team the team year after year.
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Butch and Lori Rea
Brenda and Laura Dicus
VIKING FOR LIFE: LORI REA Seaman High School
LOYAL FAN: BRENDA DICUS Topeka West High School
In North Topeka, home of the Vikings, Lori Rea has been exhibiting her Seaman school spirit since her own high school days as a Viking. With three children: Robbie (Class of 2009), Victoria (Class of 2007) and the youngest, Butch Rea, who will be graduating this year, Lori is involved in sports year-round with football, basketball and baseball. Lori helps coordinate team dinners for the football team each Friday, prepares sack lunches for the basketball players and helps organize workers for concessions during the baseball season. Add to that her attendance at the hundreds of games throughout the years and you might conclude that supporting high school athletics is almost a full-time job for Lori. Lori believes that sports build character, self-respect, self-esteem and respect for others, as well teaching kids to take criticism and learn from it. “High school athletes need to be aware that they are being looked up to by the younger generation, and they need to present themselves as respectful and hard-working individuals,” Lori said.
With three daughters, Emily (Class of 2011), Ellen (Class of 2008), and Laura (sophomore), who have made it to State in all of their sports, it’s impossible for Brenda Dicus to be anything but a full-fledged supporter of the Topeka West Chargers. Besides being the most loyal of fans, Brenda goes beyond cheering in the stands. She helps provide dinners and food for the athletes, as well as transportation. As is the case with most high schools, the athletics budget is limited, so she fills in where money cannot, as do so many other parents. “It is a very united community,” Brenda said. Brenda says she develops a connection with her daughters’ teammates, watching them grow and compete together, and is sad to see them leave as they grow up into young adults and graduate. She hopes to see not only her own children, but also the Charger teams as a whole, grow, develop and succeed—or taste bitter defeat, in which more life lessons are learned—together.
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Connie Hall
SINGING TO VICTORY: CONNIE HALL Shawnee Heights High School Connie Hall is as active as one can be with school athletics. She loves watching her sophomore, Carter, and senior, Marshal, compete in football, wrestling and track at Shawnee Heights. Connie belongs to the Touchdown Club that raises funds to pay for camps and meals for the players as well as acquiring “wish list” items that the coaches ask for the team. She and other supportive wrestling parents also provide nutritious foods and encouragement to the wrestlers before, during and after every tournament. Connie also works the ticket booth and concession stands, and even sings the National Anthem! Connie plans to continue helping support Shawnee Heights after her kids graduate. She loves the community, adults and students alike. “We are a family. I know them all, not just by name, but their hearts,” Connie said.
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SCHOOL SPIRIT: SHAYLA BOYD Silver Lake High School Silver Lake’s Shayla Boyd epitomizes school spirit as she heads the booster club. A supporter of all athletics, she admits football is her favorite sport to watch. Shayla has four boys, Trenton Hanni (Class of 2001), Jeremy Boyd (Class of 2011), Zach Boyd (sophomore), and Josh Boyd (seventh grade), so her school spirit has been growing for years. Shayla believes that sports teach all young men invaluable lessons. “It doesn’t just build character, it reveals it,” she said.
Those lessons come at a cost however; sports programs are expensive to maintain. Shayla works tirelessly to raise money for the Eagles. She organizes numerous fundraisers and helps design and sell spirit wear. She also coordinates team meals before football games—it takes a lot of energy and coordination to feed an entire football team. Shayla knows that by helping the school in Silver Lake, she is improving the entire Eagle community. Watching her own kids grow up playing sports creates a special spot in her heart for her sons’ teammates. “When they smile, we smile, and when they hurt, we hurt,” Shayla said. “They feel like part of your family.”
Silver Lake L-R: Dena Kruger, Lynette Renfro, Cori Wegner, Heather Montgomery, Shayla Boyd Rossville L-R: Karen Dick, Tammy Dankenbring, Cheri Reesor, Cindy Kelley, Kelly Brown
FIGHTING DAWG: KAREN DICK Rossville High School It’s not the size of the dawg in the fight but the size of the fight in the dawg. As the mother of Hailey Dick, a junior, Karen Dick fights hard for Rossville athletics as president of the booster club. She views sports as a bridge that connects her with her daughter and her daughter’s teammates. Karen enjoys watching Hailey play basketball and soft-
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ball, but also attends the boys’ basketball and football games, where she proves again how involved she is with the school’s athletics. “All sports are a very healthy activity and help with academics,” Karen said. The booster club works year-round, thus so does Karen. Seeing her daughter and her daughter’s teammates play and grow together is what keeps her always ready to help with anything the students might need.
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Nick and Sue Badsky
SWIM MOM: SUE BADSKY Washburn Rural High School Sue Badsky is as dedicated to Washburn Rural’s boys’ swimming team as she is to her son Nick Badsky, a junior.
Tammy Alexander with the Topeka High Football Team
GRIDIRON MOM: TAMMY ALEXANDER Topeka High School
Tammy Alexander likes to spend her time on the gridiron. As the wife of the Topeka High head football coach, Walt Alexander, and mother of junior football player and weight lifter, Tyler Matthias, supporting Topeka High football comes naturally. Tammy’s energy exceeds the bounds of her own
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While not a coach, she is definitely a coach’s best friend. Sue often acts as a liaison between the coach and the parents, streamlining the flow of information, allowing the coach to focus on the boys. Apart from day-to-day assisting, Sue also coordinates the boys’ sports gear, manages their swimwear orders and works with parents to coordinate team dinners. Sue apprecates the benefits that go along with high school sports. “Playing sports promotes disc ipline, self-confidence and a sense of belonging to a team,” she said. In swimming, one learns the value of hard work because there are no cheats or shortcuts—it’s a race against the clock and one’s own time. The energy, camaraderie and excitement fuel Sue’s drive to be so involved with the team. A witness to the bonds swimming builds among the young men, she loves to be around the team and watch those friendships form.
family and encompasses all of Topeka High. Preparing a football team for a game takes a lot of work, and Tammy takes the challenge head on. She serves pre-game meals to the athletes, coordinates decorations and other spirited activities, provides food and drinks for the seven-onseven matches played during the summer, and attends all of the team meetings. “Seeing the other students and parents put in 100 percent effort is what drives me to do the same,” Tammy said. Nothing pulls back the curtain on a community’s character like suffering a loss. Even though the Trojans did not win in their post-season game against Hutchinson, they didn’t lose either. To see the young men play their hearts out and the intense rallying of the fans that stood behind them is one of Tammy’s dearest memories in her time at Topeka High. “Sports help teach kids to believe in something, to work together, to be accountable, to support others on the team, to learn how to win and lose gracefully, and to support one another like a family,” Tammy said. “These are things all kids will need throughout their lives to be successful.” MVP
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or Josh Ruoff, watching a University of Missouri charter bus pull-up to a wheelchair basketball tournament was like an “Ah-Ha” moment. The Seaman senior was just 12 years old at the time. He had been playing wheelchair basketball for a couple of years, but had no idea where it might take him, and he certainly didn’t know there were collegiate teams in the sport. “It just kind of gave me hope for my future. I was still young, and I was still really struggling with my disability, why I had it and what was I supposed to do. It gave me hope that there was something out there,” says Josh. Over the course of the day, Josh had the chance to talk with each collegiate player, who took the time to explain where they were from and what they had been doing. He met coach, Ron Lykens, the current head coach of the USA Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, who also leads up the MU program.
Now, six years later, Josh has signed with the University of Missouri to play wheelchair basketball and has his eyes set on the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Josh was born with spina bifida, a paralyzing condition that requires him to use a wheelchair. He had always loved sports, but for many years did not have a way to participate. When a Capper Foundation program offered track and soccer, Josh’s parents saw it as a great opportunity. “The motivation for us was to allow him to participate in something, because he had a love for sports,” says Josh’s dad, Tim Ruoff. While the Capper team disbanded, Josh was able to continue as an individual in tournament competition. He became the discus national champion at the National Junior Disability Championships. He also competes at a national level in the javelin and shot-put, as well as the speed events of the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m. Josh
took third place in the 100m, which is quite an accomplishment considering he was only 17 years old competing with athletes up to six years older than him. While he excels at track, basketball is the sport that really holds his love. Josh was first exposed to the Kansas Wheelhawks when his parents saw an ad in the paper that Lawrence Recreational Center was having a demonstration of wheelchair basketball. “We didn’t know what that was, but we thought it was pretty cool,” says Tim. They went to see it. Josh was only 10 years old, but was hooked. Josh got started with the Wheelhawks in Topeka. There was no junior team at the time. So, he played with the men’s team. When college started getting closer, he also started playing with the juniors team for the Kansas City Pioneers. He’s been playing with them for two years, but still practices with the Wheelhawks every Wednesday night in Topeka.
Being a part of the Wheelhawks and the Pioneers is not all about sports, it has allowed Josh to interact with other athletes, and much more. Wheelchair basketball has allowed him to get to know adults who also use wheelchairs and are able to lead successful lives. The other basketball players are husbands, fathers and productive citizens. It provides Josh the encouragement and inspiration to helps him get through life in a good direction. “It has given me people to look up to and go to. They’ve been through the experiences I’ve been through. If I have struggles, they have dealt with it, and they’ll be there to help me,” says Josh. Playing collegiate sports, or even vying for international competition was no-where near what Josh or his parents envisioned when he started playing for the Wheelhawks. “Never in our wildest dreams did we
envision something like this. When you have a child with a disability, you are hoping they can just find a way to fit in, and find a way to be productive,” says Tim. Josh has courage, fortitude and an ability to overcome life challenges that makes him an inspiration. He has had obstacles, but never allows them to keep him for reaching for his dreams. He has a strong faith life, and believes his successes are the answers to the prayers. “We feel like prayers have been answered in ways that we never could have imagined,” says Tim. “He’s a young man who has the same struggles as any teenager, but just a different set of circumstances.” Josh acknowledges that having a disability is hard, but also recognizes the tremendous amount of support he has received from others. “I’ve had people my whole life that have supported me and pushed me in the right direction, and encouraged me when I fall and when I struggle,” says Josh. Getting to live the dream planted when he saw that MU charter bus six years ago feels amazing to Josh. He says, “If you would have told me five or six years ago that I’d be doing this, I would not have believed you. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. I didn’t even know if I would make it into college. So, it’s just awesome, because now I can be somebody, and I can have a place in this world.” At the University of Missouri, Josh plans to major in broadcast journalism and, after he achieves his Paralympic dreams, hopes to become a sports broadcaster. MVP
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Jamon Fulton // Sr. // Highland Park High School
Rising above /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// By Melissa Brunner To pick Jamon Fulton out of a crowd, look for the guy with the easy smile, ready to joke with whomever is willing. Laughter is important in his life. “A sense of humor sometimes can help cover up the hurt you’ve been through,” he said.
Behind the Smile It didn’t take Jamon long to figure out what was going on. He figures he was in fourth grade when he made the connection. He’d be in the car with his dad. They’d stop somewhere; someone would pull up alongside; his dad would get out for a few minutes and return. Other times, they would stop outside someone’s house; his dad would run in and “do what he had to do.” Jamon’s father, James, was dealing drugs. He wouldn’t do it right in front of Jamon and his brother, Jamon says, but he knew it was there. He saw it in those visits and he saw it in the new shoes and clothes he’d find at home as rewards for good grades. “Selling drugs was his biggest mistake,” Jamon says.
Overcoming the Odds Jamon was always a smart kid. As a senior at Highland Park, he’s made the honor roll every semester of his high school career. Anything less, he says, wouldn’t be good enough. He credits both his mother, Kim Cushinberry, and his father for his attitude toward education. “(My dad) always wanted me to be good in everything I did,” Jamon said.
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“He stressed good grades, go to college, be a good role model, never be a follower—be a leader.” The push to demand excellence of himself also drew Jamon to athletics. He quarterbacked Highland Park High School’s football team and is part of the contingent continuing the school’s winning basketball tradition. He loves sports, and thrives on the competition. “They’ve alJamon Fulton, Highland Park senior with mom, ways been the only thing that motivated me to do anything,” says his dad asked if he wanted to give Jamon says. “It is pretty easy to get into it a try, too. Jamon said, “Sure,” and trouble, but knowing you have sports, his dad became his biggest fan. which is a privilege, keeps me out of Jamon’s dad hasn’t been to a game trouble. since seventh grade. It’s not because he Jamon says basketball is his favordoesn’t care. It’s because he’s serving ite sport, partly because of the success 10 years in federal prison for cocaine his teams have enjoyed. But it’s football possession and distribution. through which he feels connected to “It hurt,” Jamon says of his reachis father. Jamon says a cousin stayed tion when told of his dad’s arrest. “Myovernight with them and needed to be dad not being here—not being there to taken to football practice the next day. watch me.” As his cousin got out of the car, Jamon
Kim C
“A sense of humor sometimes can help cover up the hurt you’ve been through.” - Jamon Fulton
Cushinberry
Providing the Right Path The stable center in Jamon’s life is his mother. So much so, he has her name tattooed on his forearm. “It’s been hard as a lady to raise boys and keep them on the straight path,” Kim says of Jamon and his brother, Jamon’te. “It could have easily gone the different direction.” Kim’s tried to ensure the boys have had positive role models in their lives. Jamon mentions his mom’s cousin, Tony Barksdale, whose own sons are basketball standouts at Shawnee Heights. He also points to Highland Park basketball coach Ken Darting.
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“There’s been times he’s made me so mad I’ve wanted to quit life and stop playing basketball,” Jamon laughs. “But it just showed me he cared and saw potential. Listen to what he’s saying and not how he’s saying it and you’ll get it.”
Losing Loved Ones The smile goes away and he gets serious again in speaking of two other role models. One of them is his grandmother, his dad’s mother.
“Selling drugs was his biggest mistake” - Jamon Fulton
“She’d get loud at the games.” I’d tell her, ‘Grandma, calm down!’” Jamon recalls and shakes his head. Two years ago, she returned to her native Philippines to care for her ailing mother. Due to what they describe as various paperwork mixups, she hasn’t yet been allowed to return to the United States. “I miss looking up in the stands and seeing her there,” Jamon said. Around that same time, tragedy hit the family. His mother’s boyfriend, the father of Jamon’s half-sister, Ja’niya, died in his sleep. “It was early morning and (my mom) came screaming in my room and I had to see him like that,” Jamon says. “It was real hard, I’m not gonna lie. “He knew he wasn’t my dad. He never tried to play that role, never tried to force it,” Jamon says. “I could talk to him and he talked to me, tried to keep me on the right path.” Jamon feels a deep responsibility for his mother. “I feel like I’m the only one that’s really there for her all the time to protect her,” he says. “I’m the man of the house.”
Lessons from a Father It’s partly why she hasn’t forced Jamon to break contact with his father. She feels he can learn from the mistakes his father has made. She also hasn’t hidden the mistakes of Jamon’s uncle, his father’s brother, who was convicted of a murder. “To see all that and to see how they’ve been in trouble—Jamon didn’t take that same path,” Kim says. Jamon doesn’t hold a grudge against his father. “He wasn’t a bad person,” he says. But he also doesn’t make excuses for him. He believes his father has learned that, no matter how great the rewards seemed, the costs have been immeasurable.
“He feels he’s let all of us down,” Jamon says. “He hasn’t been able to see me grow and play.” When the band is playing and the crowd cheering, that, Jamon says, is when it hurts the most. “All these people get to have a mom and dad come to the games. Some people take it for granted,” he said. “There’s days I wish I could call him and go hang out, but I can’t.” In those moments before tipoff, Jamon takes a moment to reach into his heart and put faith in better days ahead, for himself—and for his father. “I send him a prayer before every game. I’m pretty sure God gets it to him,” Jamon says.
Rising Above Jamon is headed to college next year. He plans to study physical therapy or athletic training and hopes he’ll be playing basketball, too. He jokes with Kim that he just might starve being away from her cooking. Her smile is a little sadder, thinking of seeing her oldest son leave the nest. “I’m confident he’s going to excel,” Kim said. “But to have him away from home when I’m used to having him here is kind of heart wrenching.” Jamon knows he’s not the only one to whom life has dealt a less-thanperfect hand. Rather than dwell on it and use it as an excuse to falter, he’s determined to make it his motivation to succeed. “I think about him all the time. It makes me want to do everything better,” he said. “I want to try to make it to the next level so maybe he can see me (play) then.” And when his father does return, Jamon doesn’t plan to cut him any slack—the same way his mother, his coaches and the others who’ve surrounded him these past several years have done for him. MVP
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Athletes in action 4 1. Jahmal McMurray, Highland Park, JR 2. Shaffee Carr, Highland Park, JR Sean Higley, Seaman, SR 3. Tatyana Legette, Seaman, SO 4. O’Shai Clark, Highland Park, SR Sean Higley, Seaman, SR 5. Rachel Heald, Seaman, SO Shavon Ray, Highland Park, JR
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6. Butch Rea, Seaman, SR March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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Coach Talk With Mark Elliott
Mark Elliott WIBW 580 AM SportsTalk Silver Lake High School Graduate ELLIOTT: Tyler, give us a little rundown of how you got here. STEWART: I was at Burlington High School for four years, and played on the state championship team my senior year. From there, I was able to go play basketball at McPherson College for four years. I kind of lucked out that I was able to land a job right off the bat and get into as great of a community and school district as Silver Lake. ELLIOTT: Talk about going to McPherson. STEWART: Well, when you’re a kid you dream of going to play for the Hawks or Wildcats, but once I was a junior or senior I kind of realized where my talent level was and that I would have the most success at the NAIA level or Division II. After talking to some of the Division II coaches, and learning where I was going to be if I went that route, I decided the NAIA was a great level for me and where I was going to have the most success, which I did. ELLIOTT: So after McPherson, you came to Silver Lake as an assistant coach under Loren Ziegler who has four state championships in his
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Mark Elliott talks with the Lady Eagles’ head basketball coach Tyler Stewart about his journey to Silver Lake High School, the 2012 3A State Championship and this year’s team.
time as the head girls’ coach. You stepped in, and it’s kind of weird. You’re an assistant to Loren Ziegler and the next year you’re the head coach and he’s your assistant. How was that? STEWART: It was an interesting dynamic. I was lucky to be able to learn from Zig. He stepped down, and was actually going to step away for a while. After I took the job, we were looking for assistants, but there weren’t really a whole lot of people that were in the school system that wanted to take on an assistant job. So after talking to Zig a little bit, he was willing to come back. He decided that he wasn’t quite ready to give it up. We had a few conversations about what that would look like, and from there he became my assistant. When you have an assistant that has four state titles, that’s a great thing.
much the entire time. They knew how I wanted them to play, and they really had a lot of heart and perseverance. They had that goal at the beginning of the year, and you can call it destiny, but I think it was just their will to win.
ELLIOTT: So talk about the sub-state championship game to get to Hutch. STEWART: We played Riley County for the third time. The first time we played them we struggled against them some and ended up getting beat by 15. The second time we thought we could
ELLIOTT: And now you have your first state title, so let’s go back to that. Last year’s team; was that just a team of destiny? STEWART: I think it had a lot to do with the character of the players. Those were a bunch of seniors that had been through the program and been with me pretty
MVPSportsMagazine.com March 2013
Head Coach Tyler Stewart Silver Lake Lady Eagles Basketball
March 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com
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Tyler Stewart instructs his players during a recent practice
win, but it ended up being about a five-point game. In the Mid-East league it’s hard to beat a team three times and so that’s what we were trying to get through our girls’ heads. We just gained confidence from the beginning, and it really sprouted from there. We got that win and the girls were pumped, but we needed to make sure that even though this was a great win for us, that wasn’t our main goal. Our main goal was to win it all. ELLIOTT: The state championship game, your dad is a long-time coach at Burlington; your sister is on his team. So, you’re going to play a championship game against your dad that has one state title and your sister. There had to be some interesting dynamics in that. STEWART: Yeah there really was. And at the begin-
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ning of the year we always kind of joked about how “we’ll see you at state,” but some things had to line up for us to both get there. It was an exciting time for us, but a little bittersweet, because after the game, one is super excited and the other is down. ELLIOTT: A little Harbaugh feeling of the Super Bowl? What John Harbaugh said when he went spoke of his feelings was that he was “totally devastated” for his brother, Jim. STEWART: Yeah, that’s exactly how it felt. Right as the buzzer went off, I was really excited, being able to win it in that kind of fashion; an overtime, comeback victory. But at the same time, I could see the emotions of my sister and my dad. So, it was just a bittersweet game for me.
MVPSportsMagazine.com March 2013
ELLIOTT: So Christmas time, how did your dad and sister feel when you gave them those Lady Eagle State Championship t-shirts?
the thing we keep trying to work on, is being consistent throughout a full game. So once we get that we’re going to be really tough.
STEWART: (laughs) I didn’t quite do that. I didn’t go that low.
ELLIOTT: You’re in your fifth year at Silver Lake, would you be interested in going to another level, or possibly the college level. Any thoughts for you, are you good here? Are you going to be the next CJ Hamilton or Loren Ziegler of Silver Lake?
ELLIOTT: Alright, let’s talk about the team you’re coaching right now. STEWART: We definitely have a different dynamic than we did last year. Last year we had six seniors that really carried us, where this year we have two. They’ve done a great job of leading us, but we’ve had a lot of young players step into those roles that the graduated players had. I think overall we’ve done a great job of meshing young and old talent, but at the same time we’re constantly trying to keep consistent. That’s
STEWART: I don’t know if I can answer that question. Right now I’m really excited where I’m at. I’m in a great community and great school district. I don’t see myself making a move anytime soon. MVP
Made in Shawnee County JB Bauersfeld WIBW-TV Sports Anchor Highland Park Graduate Ted Evans attended Topeka High before playing basketball at Oklahoma. He graduated from OU in 1974 and was drafted by the Suns in the ninth round of the NBA draft. Rather than playing in America though, Evans went overseas and enjoyed a fruitful career in France (eight years) and Switzerland (three years) winning titles in the top leagues in both countries. His highest scoring game in Europe was 42 points. Evans currently lives in Oklahoma City and associates himself with athletics through the insurance business by covering high
JB BAUERSFELD TALKS WITH FORMER TOPEKA HIGH BASKETBALL STANDOUT, NINTH ROUND NBA DRAFT PICK & PROFESSIONAL EUROPEAN BASKETBALL STAR, TED EVANS. schools for injuries. Evans has two daughters Jenny and Brooke and a son-inlaw Kevin Lewis (married to Brooke); and two granddaughters Brynn (age five) and Chloe (age three). JB Bauersfeld (JB): Looking back on your high school career, what are your fondest memories from your days at Topeka High? Ted Evans (TE): There were a lot. I just enjoyed the camaraderie that I had with the fellow players on the team. They were a good group, we had a lot of fun. I was also fortunate to have two good coaches in Coach (Willie) Nicklin and Coach Jack Dean and each one brought something a little different to the coaching environment, which helps. It was just a good experience to be involved with individuals who had a lot of athletic talent, more so than I did at that point in time in my career, and be able to improve based on their abilities.
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MVPSportsMagazine.com March 2013
JB: How did you end up at Oklahoma? TE: I’d been recruited by them my senior year of high school. Coach John MacLeod had contacted me and wanted to know if I was interested. When I came down, I liked it. I particularly liked Coach MacLeod and his coaching philosophy. He was a very straightforward coach and they were playing an up-tempo game that was more in line with what I was playing at Topeka High. JB: Was it hard to pass over Kansas? TE: It was. It would have been closer to home. But, at that point in time, based on the decisions and the options, I just felt like Oklahoma may have been a better match for me. JB: What was that life experience like (playing in Europe) for a guy in his 20’s and early 30’s? TE: I really enjoyed it. My family was raised there. My daughters grew up speaking French; English was sort of their second language. But I had an opportunity to travel to a lot of different countries that I probably wouldn’t have been able to had I not been involved in sports. I enjoyed it immensely.
I think you reach a point where you realize that you can’t keep playing the rest of your life and then you’ve got other priorities like your family. At some point you reach that decision that it’s time to come back and get into a real life; but I felt fortunate that I was able to have that opportunity and, you know, I kind of went over there with the aspect that I might not get rich, but I’ll get enriched. JB: What is a lesson you learned growing up in Topeka that you were able to take with you though not only basketball, but for life? TE: Most importantly, I think there was a certain work ethic that was developed when I was younger whether I was playing at Boswell Junior High and then moving on to Topeka High. The coaches really stressed “when you walk on that floor, you do your best.” You know, you play hard and you practice hard. The three main things that come through when I played my career: as long as you play hard, play smart and play as a team then you can be successful; and you try not to let small things get in the way. MVP
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