NEW NEW JERSEY JERSEY EDITION EDITION FALL FALL VOL. VOL. II 2011 2011
Editor Letter From The Editor
Ultimate Athlete Magazine
Dear readers, Thanks for joining us as we begin our coverage of Northern New Jersey fall athletics. The beaches are closing, the bleachers are opening and the competitive juices built up over the summer are overflowing onto the fields and courts all over the Garden State. It’s time for the tireless training done by the athletes during the summer months to finally pay off. Choosing to punish their bodies to prepare for a successful season rather than hit the beach is a choice that defines athletes from their high school peers and makes being a student-athlete a distinguished title.
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Now, join UA as we take you inside the action that’s been a long time coming. Just imagine: Dulled pain pulses through your body as you stick your fingers into the field turf and peer through the facemask of the opponent lined up across from you. You know you have a multitude of minor injuries, but you can feel your adrenaline deferring on the real pain until the game is over. You know your opponent is also hurt, but his face is almost a reflection of your own; profoundly focused, with an ambiguous expression somewhere between fear, hatred, and excitement about what will ensue on the next play. The ball is snapped and a flash of colors illuminate your peripheral, but you remain focused on the movement of the football. You noticed that the tackle has a tendency to take too large of a first step to the gap he is protecting to negate the advantage you have in quickness. Sensing him overcompensate too far to one side, your subconscious takes over. After your fist step, you cut back to the outside without thinking, catching him leaning all the way inside. You are behind the line of scrimmage all by yourself, where you know the quarterback has been waiting for a deep route to open up. There he is. A flash of color. The quarterback is down and you are on top of him. Euphoria. Add another sack to your stats and a 10-yard loss to theirs. You run back toward a jubilant grand stand to your sideline, which has erupted in excitement. That’s right, folks; UA really does take you inside the action. come join us as we look at all the most compelling stories developing in college athletics in the Tri-State area. Whether you are a fan of football, soccer, or field hockey, the joy of competition is once again pulsing through our veins as we watch our favorite college athletes take to the field. Best wishes,
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FALL 2011 Volume I
Conten
S T CONTEN
nts Featur Features
12 Don Bosco The Bell Toals
16 James Caldwell Team to Reset
18 Don Bosco
The National Standard
22 James Caldwell A in Chemistry
28 Mountain Lakes A Legacy of Success
32 SETON HALL PREP The Path of Success
38 Bergen Catholic
Emerging from the Shadows
42 SETON HALL PREP Bouncing Back
48 Pro Corner
More Than a Game
52 Sports Psychology
The Problem with Perfectionism
54 UA Training
A Whole Different Ball Game
SHUTTER
SPEED
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A pull in the action
Mountain Lakes始 Peter Breslauer yanks the ball carrier to the ground just in sight of the goal line .
Photo by George Leroy Hunter
SHUTTER
SPEED
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A shot, skip and a jump
Seton Hall Prep始s Jon Azzinnari transitions into his goal celebration while hopping over a sliding keeper after depositing a goal.
Photo by Richard Morris
Paying the Toal
Legendary coach is a mainstay at national power Don Bosco
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By : Matt Sugam | Photos By : Matt Sugam
welve years ago, football was an afterthought at Don Bosco Prep. The small catholic school hadn’t beaten St. Joe’s of Montvalle in 17 years and wins against archrival Bergen Catholic were a seldom occurrence.
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But when head coach Greg Toal arrived in Ramsey, the football team went from an afterthought to a household name. After stints as a head coach at Saddle Brook, River Dell and Hackensack high schools and as an assistant at Ramapo College, Toal has cemented his legacy ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
as the godfather of the Don Bosco football program. Like everywhere else he coached, it didn’t take long for him to rebuild the program into the powerhouse it is today.
unbeaten seasons in 1985 and 1987. After taking the Hackensack job in 1990, Toal coached the Group IV School to five straight state championships between 1992 and 1996.
Wherever Toal went, success was not far behind. After taking over at Saddle Brook High School in 1982, he had the unknown program in the state championship game the next year. During his five-year stint at River Dell from 1984-89, he guided his team to four division titles and two state championships, along with
Following the 1996 season, Toal resigned from Hackensack to become an assistant at Ramapo College, where his middle son Greg was playing. But in 1999, Toal headed back to the high school ranks looking for a challenge. He found Don Bosco.
“[Don Bosco was] down at the time,” Toal said. “[The program] was on a downslide, but thank god we were able to get it turned around and things are going pretty good here right now.” “Pretty good” is an understatement. The program has won fivestraight Non-Public Group IV state championships. In 2009, the Ironmen finished atop the USA Today poll, which crowned them the national champions. The team enters this season riding a 35-game winning streak and ranked first in the country by the USA Today. Those feats are not only new heights for Don Bosco, but for all of New Jersey high school football. Don Bosco brings the national high school football cred to New Jersey that is usually reserved for states such as Texas, Ohio, Florida and California. No team from New Jersey had ever won a national title. Don Bosco is now the favorite to win their second in three years. While it’s been over a decade long process, it didn’t take long for Toal to get the program on the right track. The coach already had a reputation of being the best high school football coach in the state before he started patrolling the sidelines at Don Bosco. “Obviously you’re not going to make it where we were to where we are today overnight,” Toal said. “We just stayed with what we believed in - working hard every day and helping our kids get better and better every day. That’s really what it’s about.” By 2001-02, kids wanted to come to Don Bosco to play football under the tutelage of Toal. Now, football defines Don Bosco; there are 100 kids on the team in a school of just 900. As the program grew, so did the strength of schedule. Toal’s team now plays a national schedule. Once that started, the coaching staff began taping and reviewing practices— which have a college-like feel.
“It’s been an honor,” senior wide receiver and Rutgers bound Leonte Carroo said about playing for Toal. “Coach Toal—he teaches you something in life. He teaches you how to be a man. He’s not just a great football coach but a great father figure. He teaches you that one day you’re going to wake up into the real world and you’re going to have to provide for a family. That’s what I think Bosco football does for you. It teaches you how to be a man.” A lot of those men become great football players. In just over a decade, Toal sent nearly 50 studentathletes off with Division I scholarships, four of which are currently on NFL rosters. Carroo and at least three other seniors will be heading to Division I schools to play football next fall. Resurrecting the program has many viewing Toal as a football deity. Not only did he give life to the football program, but his success helped the school in other ways. Bosco’s other athletic programs have fed off his success, and the football team’s national visibility as given the school a great reputation as a destination for student athletes. While catholic schools across the Garden State have been forced to close down in recent years, Don Bosco’s enrollment has nearly doubled since Toal took over. After doing just about everything he could at the high school level before the age of 60, Toal seems content where he is. He’s had offers to coach at the college level—including from Terry Shea at Rutgers—but hasn’t bit and probably never will. “No, I’m pretty good right now,” Toal said when asked if he’d ever move up to the college ranks. “I think I’m pretty much set as a high school coach.” And Don Bosco is set to stay as a national power.
Despite his tough, demanding style, playing for Toal is something high school players seek out. And while looking to improve as a football player, that’s far from the only thing they get from Toal. WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
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A Net Gain ’
D o n C o o p er s t e a m w i ll use p as t l e s s o ns f o r f u t u r e s u c c ess.
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ames Caldwell high school’s volleyball team entered their state sectionals game as the top seed and the favorite to advance in the state tournament. In the third set of their match against Pascack Hills, something unexpected happened; the Chiefs, which hardly had an off day since the season began, were defeated. “The team was obviously down after the loss because we were favored to win,” Caldwell Head Coach Don Cooper admitted. Perhaps no one was more disappointed with the loss than Cooper, who in his first year at the helm, was looking to make a grand gesture.
Though Cooper is new to the Caldwell program, he is not lacking in coaching experience. He started coaching volleyball in 1979 at North Arlington High School, where he coached the team to 28 winning seasons, numerous league championships and three appearances in the state finals, including a state title in 2004. He moved to Caldwell before the 2010 season, excited to 16 enter a program with a legacy of success. ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
Story By : Cecilie Pickus | Photos By : Rachel McCarthy “The team was pretty well established when I got there, and the parents and administrators were very warm and welcoming,” Cooper remembered. Along with the help of assistant coach Rachel McCarthy, Cooper helped the team grow and mature in 2010. Undoubtedly, 2011 will prove to be a challenging year for the Chiefs, but Cooper and his returning players are looking at 2011 in a realistic, yet ambitious light. “Two of our goals for next season are to win league and county titles,” Cooper said. “But we have to get through some tough teams such as Livingston, Newark East Side, Science Park, and Bloomfield first. We play in a difficult league, which makes things very interesting.” Despite losing in the state sectionals, there is much to be taken from Caldwell’s 2010 season, which Cooper hopes to exploit in 2011. They wound up finishing the year ranked No. 8 in the state of New Jersey and captured the county championship in a memorable match against Newark East Side. Ultimately, the team came in second place behind Ramapo in Group 2, one of the most challenging groups in the state.
This year’s team will look to build on the success of their predecessors to win the state title that eluded them last year. Cooper believes that the key to coaching at a successful volleyball program is to promote team cohesion and unity. He feels that when his players feel comfortable with one another and don’t think twice about trusting their teammates, they are in the best position to succeed. The other facet of Cooper’s preparationoriented approach is practice. He understands that his team’s attitude towards practice each and every day will dictate their performance on game day. Just like the goal of each game is to win, his team must also achieve goals in practice. “My practices are very goal-oriented,” Cooper stated. “If the goals aren’t met, there is usually some sort of price that has to be paid. A good coach needs to put players in situations they will face in actual games.” In addition to rebounding from a tough end to last season, Caldwell will enter the 2011 season missing some key components of last year’s team. Kelly McCaddin, who graduated in 2010 and will play at American University, was a dominant force at the net and was considered one of the premier middle hitters in the state. The team also graduated two other players who were over 6-feet-tall.
ily for her power,” Cooper said. In addition to Wolf, Caldwell will look towards their five-foot-eleven senior setter Jesse Sengstacke, senior opposite hitter Laura Steifbolt, junior middle/outside hitter Melissa Steifbolt, junior middle hitter Jackie Finnigan, and junior outside hitter Albana Haziri to get the kills and blocks the Chiefs will need to take state. Defensively, the Chiefs are lucky to bring back All-County senior Libero Aly Papasidero, who will be the rock in the back row. Senior defensive specialist Samantha Kazoun will also provide experience and savvy in the back row, which should be one of the Chief’s strengths this season. With Caldwell losing some height in the front row, it is essential that their defense is consistent and reliable.
per said. “I want them to appreciate winning through teamwork, not through fear.” The fact that his team works just as hard forging unity and special relationships as they improving their on-court skills will make their volleyball experience invaluable and only add to their potency. “I think our biggest strength is that everyone on the team likes each other,” explained Cooper. “There are no major egos to deal with.” Though they have a tiring road ahead, which includes facing off against Pascack Hills once again in a championship rematch, Coach Cooper and the rest of the Caldwell girls volleyball team are looking like a team ready to exceed expectations and take what is theirs—a state championship.
Though Cooper clearly cares about the success of his team, sharing genuine passion and love for the game with his players is extremely important to him. “I want my team to love the game,” Coo-
“Needless to say,” Cooper explained, “blocking and hitting will be two areas we need to work on.” Despite the losses, the 2011 Caldwell lineup will feature returners who look to improve and gain valuable experience and more playing time. Senior outside hitter Brittany Wolf, who received All-County, Conference, and Group awards last season, will “be counted on heav-
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Garden Stakes By : Matt Sugam | Photos By : Matt Sugam
I
t wasn’t all that long ago that Don Bosco Prep was all but a defunct program. Merely an afterthought on campus, the program was plodding along in mediocrity, indistinguishable from any other New Jersey high school team. But right before the turn of the millennium, New Jersey legend Greg Toal took over the head coaching position after seeing a promising program that he could mold into a championship contender; the rest is history. Now, Don Bosco is doing something even Toal had never done with any of his teams before taking over: become a national power. In 2009, USA Today crowned the catholic school in Ramsey the national champion. Last season, in what was supposed to be a down year, the Ironmen went undefeated and won their 5th straight Non-Public Group IV state championship. With a bulk of their talent coming back and riding a 35-game winning streak, expectations are justifiably high for 2011. Not only are the Ironmen tabbed to be the best team in New Jersey, they’re also the favorite to repeat as national champions, being voted to the top spot in the USA Today preseason poll. Offensively, Don Bosco loses quarterback Gary Nova and running back Paul Canaveri to graduation. Mike Yankovich will replace Nova, whom Toal compares to former star quarterback Brett Knief because of his ability to thrown on the run.
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lived with him the last four years, so our chemistry is excellent. I know he’s got my back and he knows I got his back. “
reason he came to Don Bosco, foregoing his sophomore football season.
While the offense is replacing six players, the defense is only replacing two and is expected to be the unit that carries the team.
“The coaches pretty much told me come back out and play because I was doing so good my freshman year,” Wright said. “So I came back out my junior year and killed it.”
But an individual football player’s plans will never trump those of Toal and his staff. If you are enrolled at Don Bosco and you can play, you will play; it didn’t take long for Wright to get back onto the gridiron.
Now, Wright is exclusively a football player, but he has not left his basketball skills on the hardwood. The 6-2 175 pound corner credits his ball skills and ability to lock down on Up front, Dar- guys one on one to his time spent on the court. ius Hamilton will “That’s why I think I’m so good in man to anchor the defenman,” Wright said. sive line. Last season, Hamilton was Peppers played varsity his freshman year and has picked up a lot from Wright from a scheme and technique standpoint. He’s also had the luxury of going against one of the top receivers in the country in Carroo. “Going against him everyday in practice, to games is a piece of cake,” Peppers said. “You go against the best everyday, you’re going to play like one of the best.” Don Bosco is undertaking the toughest schedule a team from New Jersey has ever had. They’ll host No. 11 Mission (Viejo, CA) before traveling to Bradenton, FL to take on Manatee High school. They’ll also face Ohio’s Division I Champion, No. 4 St. Edward.
“Yankovich gives you a lot of things,” Toal said. “He runs well, he throws well…He can throw on the run well.” Based on Toal’s assessment, figure the Ironmen to use play action to get Yankovich outside the tackles to hit open receivers on the run. If senior tailback Elijah Shumate, a converted safety, can run the ball effectively, play named a U.S. Air Force Junior All-American action will be a large part of their offensive at- after a 63 tackles and 13.5 sacks season. The tack. six-foot-four 245 pound defensive end enters Dynamo wide receiver Leonte Carroo and the season as one of the most feared pass rushhis 49 catches, 1,110 yards and 18 touchdowns ers in the entire country. from last season will return as the main weapHamilton should have plenty of time to on, and possibly a crutch at first, for Yankov- get to the quarterback, as the receivers will be ich. Rivals.com rates the six-foot-two 205 stuck with by the Ironmen cornerbacks, which pound senior the top receiver in the state. have been tabbed as the best pair in the counHe and Yankovich have built a chemistry over the past four years on the field and even more so off the field. Carroo, who is from Edison, needed a place to live that was closer to Ramsey.
The week prior to the St. Edward game—the toughest game on the schedule—Don Bosco takes on instate rival Bergen Catholic. They’ll end the regular season against another rival in St. Joes of Montvale. With a 35 game win streak and a preseason No. 1 ranking, the team knows they’ll be wearing a neon bull’s eye all season. “I feel like we have a big target on our back and that’s why we work so hard because we actually know we have a big target on our back,” Carroo said. “So if we work hard, we know that in the long run it will pay off.”
“There’s no pressure. A lot of it is just gettry. On one side will be the senior Yuri Wright, ting after it and working hard everyday. Just while sophomore Jabril Peppers will anchor trying to keep it up,” Shumate said. “Basically, the other side. the way we work, there’s nobody out there that Wright, whose talent in coverage projects can beat us. So that’s how we feel and that’s years of experience, actually came to Don how we continue to win.”
“He was my quarterback when we were Bosco to play on the basketball team. Despite freshman and we had a very good connection a successful freshman season on the football then.” Carroo said. “And that’s my brother. I field, Wright decided to focus on the main
Chemistry Set ’
Caldwell s dynamic senior connection will direct them toward state title.
Story By Cecilie Pickus | Photos By Rachel McCarthy
C
hemistry is the most important component of any successful team. In volleyball, the chemistry between a setter and her hitters is vital and will distinguish a good team from a great one. Luckily for James Caldwell High School, setter Jesse Sengstacke and hitter Brittany Wolf have a dynamic connection and efficient communication system that have made them unstoppable. The special relationship the girls have worked hard to cultivate has clearly paid off. Last season, Caldwell volleyball finished with a 27-3 record, which culminated in a County Championship title. The game, a white-knuckle three-set affair against Newark East Side High School, put Sengstacke and Wolf’s synergy on display for the entire county.
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“Brittany and I have good chemistry, but it was something we had to work at,” admitted ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
Sengstacke, who is entering her senior year. “I think it’s rare for a team to have instant chemistry,” Wolf agreed. “The signals that Jesse and I use throughout each match have worked very well and gained us much success.” Wolfe and Sengstacke used this communication to direct their team around East Side’s touted height. In their stout defense, the girls aimed their team’s attack to the exploitable soft spots. The girls’ communication bordered on telepathy. Unbeknownst to the people watching Wolf and Sengstacke direct traffic like an officer in Times Square, the dynamic union coming to fruition was a long time coming. For Sengstacke, volleyball was somewhat of a shot in the dark. “No one in my family ever played volleyball, but people kept tell-
ing me I should play volleyball or basketball because I am so tall,” the 5’11” senior explained. “As soon as I started playing volleyball, I knew it was the sport for me, she said.” Since she began playing in seventh grade, Sengstacke’s career has taken off. She has already set her sights on continuing her volleyball successes into college. As a setter, Sengstacke serves as the main director of communication on the court. She is in charge of sending out the play calls to each of her three hitters, in addition to blocking and playing defense. As the setter, she is constantly moving and adjusting her position to block, set, play defense, or even take a swing at the ball on occasion. Sengstacke has proven to be extremely calm and composed under even the toughest of circumstances. “My biggest strength as a player is probably
that I don’t get worked up on the court,” she said. “If I make a mistake I can forget it and just focus on the next point.” Just like Sengstacke, senior Brittany Wolf was the first in her family to try volleyball. The decision to devote her life to the sport, however, was not an easy one. “I was really big on playing lacrosse when I was younger, so I put volleyball aside and wasn’t very interested,” Wolf admitted after she received a letter from her town in seventh grade asking to play for a town volleyball team. “Once I started playing, I learned so much from my first coach and continued to play into eighth grade, and I’ve been playing ever since.” Wolf still faced some tough decisions ahead. During her sophomore year in high school, Wolf was selected to play on a National Club team for volleyball and had to fully commit herself to the sport. This meant quitting lacrosse, which Wolf had been playing since the fourth grade. While the decision was not easy, she had developed into one of the premier outside hitters in the state of New Jersey and knew a promising career awaited her. Last season, she was selected to the 1st team All-Conference, 2nd team AllCounty, and 2nd team All-Group. Wolf’s career is unfolding as expected, so she is looking forward to continuing her volleyball career in college next season. In the process of narrowing down her list, Wolf
determined that she would love a school with a strong volleyball program as well as a renowned Biology or Pre-Med program, as she is looking to graduate from college and go on to Medical school to become a doctor. She has already received recruiting letters from Division I, II, and III schools. The relationship between Sengstacke and Wolf will be especially important in the upcoming 2011 season. Having lost some of their top players in the front row, the team will rely on Sengstacke and Wolf’s leadership on the court. The Caldwell Chiefs will also attempt to rebound from a tough loss in the state tournament, which ended their 2010 season in heartbreak.
is a fresh start, and we will do our best to keep the winning tradition going.” For these two seniors, the 2011 season will prove to be one of challenges and obstacles as Caldwell faces of against some of the best high schools in New Jersey. Sengstacke and Wolf, along with the rest of their team, will look to bump, set, and spike their way to another county and a possible state championship in 2011.
“I knew that we had it in us to win, but in the third game, there was something missing,” Sengstacke admits. “I know we won’t make the same old mistakes again next season. This year
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fidently. “This year is a fresh start, and we will do our best to keep the winning tradition going,” Wolf added. Unlike more popular sports such as soccer and basketball, volleyball flew under the radar for many years. Only recently has it become a worldwide pastime and passion for many young girls and even boys growing up. Nowadays, many high school girls and boys are looking to improve their volleyball skill sets. Wolf stressed the importance of being a coachable player during her interview. “Anyone who is coachable, no matter how much of a natural athlete they are, can become a great volleyball player because it is a game of technique.” She also added that conditioning and staying in shape is crucial to be a quick and powerful volleyball player. Sengstacke, on the other hand, pushed the sometime monotonous but nonetheless important task of getting as many touches on the volleyball as you can from a young age. “Have a ball at home and set or bump to yourself as often as you can,” she suggested. The mere repetition of setting and bumping to yourself will improve your technique, just as Wolf discussed. For these two seniors, the 2011 season will prove to be one of challenges and obstacles as Caldwell faces of against some of the best high schools in New Jersey. Sengstacke and Wolf, along with the rest of their team, will look to bump, set, and spike their way to another county and a possible state championship in 2011.
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MOUNTAIN LAKES FOOTBALL 28
Herding Championships Trophies
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hat a sight to behold: bodies, breathing heavily, are drenched in sweat on a hot August morning. A squad of young men are spending their Saturday armored from head to toe in protective padding and helmets, listening to an instructor shout out orders. The battlefield is filled with up-and-comers eager to learn and experienced veterans, hungry to prove themselves. This particular day is the culmination of two weeks of grueling work outs, mental challenges, and selfdiscovery. Soon, they will face opponents whose sole purpose is to brutally defeat them. No, this is not a theater of war, but rather the turf of Mountain Lakes High School, home of “The Herd” football team. The squad is the varsity team and the instructor is Head Coach Darrell Fusco, who is about to begin his second season at the helm. Fusco began as an assistant coach at Mountain Lakes in 1997. During his long tenure, he helped shape the school’s football program, which has produced one of the greatest high school sports dynasties in New Jersey history. Over a span of 44 years the Herd won eight state championships under the guidance of retired Head
ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
Coach Doug Wilkins. The legendary coach, who retired in early 2010, is fourth on the New Jersey all-time win list with 328. Under Wilkins, the Herd began what would eventually become the record for the longest winning streak in New Jersey sports history with 35-straight victories. Fusco was proud to continue the epic record, until the streak was halted by the Wallington High School Panthers when they defeated Mountain Lakes 23-21 in the North 1, Group 1 title game at MetLife Stadium in December 2010, which represented Fusco’s first loss as head coach. Despite the difficult loss, the Herd’s regular season was one for the record books. Although an undefeated regular season is an impressive feat for a first-year coach, the one loss stuck with Fusco and the Herd, which will undoubtedly use it as motivation for 2011. “I think our boys showed the character we expect from our football program,” he said. “They took the loss in stride. We did not play well and, in the state finals, you got to make plays and when push came to shove, we got stopped on the fourth down. They (Wallington) had a long run for a big gain and a huge pass play for a touchdown. “I think our boys left that game more disappointed because we had not lost a game for such a long time before then,” Fusco
explained. “During the off season, and at this point, the loss is not something we talked about much and we just want to move on.” Instead of wallowing in the loss, the team continued to work throughout August to prepare for the new season. While their school mates were enjoying the lazy crazy days of summer, the boys were getting ready for the 2011 football season.
The defense will return only two starters and play in a base 4-3 formation. Outside linebacker Dyan Walsh and strong safety Danny Badolato are the two returners who will look to lead the defense.
“Our team is just focused on going out and being the best team they can be,” Fusco said. “Last year there were so many distractions, not necessarily all bad distractions, and with players getting injured, expectations of extending the winning streak, and Coach Wilkins retiring there was just too much going on and I think they (distractions) took away some attention on the field.” Mountains Lakes’ biggest test in 2011 will be the Butler Bulldogs, one of the Herds’ key rivals. “Butler has been, by far, one of the best teams around the past few seasons,” Fusco said. “Butler’s football program is similar to ours and we feel we compete at the same level.” Mountain Lakes has not had a losing record since it went 4-5 in 1984 and the last season it missed the playoffs was 1992, despite having a 7-2 record. This year, they have a roster full of experienced seniors, poised to be a part of yet another legendary season. The team won back-to-back North I Group I State championships in 2008 and 2009. In 2008 the Herd beat Glen Rock 35-21. In 2009, Mountain Lakes defeated Butler 48-7. The Herd finished each season with a perfect 12-0 record. Quarterback Peter Breslauer runs the Herd’s Wing-T offense with precision. He will hand the ball off to returning halfback Dylan Muti as well as seniors Alec Fernandez and Dylan Walsh. Sebuir Tyler Batesko will pave the way for the backs and get some carries himself. 29 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
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Photo by Matt Sugam
Don Bosco始s Mike Yankovich will be under center for the top-ranked Ironmen this season.
Big arm on campus
SPEED
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SETON HALL PREP By: Cecelie Pikus | Photos By: Richard Morris
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Jon Azzinna
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Jon Azzinnari was anything but anxious heading into the 2009 semifinals of the New Jersey state soccer tournament. His underdog Seton Hall Prep Pirates were about to face off against Don Bosco, the third-ranked team in the nation in the biggest game of his life, but his approach was to go along for the ride and only contribute when he could; the game wouldn’t hinge on his performance. Azzinnari, a freshman, was called up to varsity midway through the season and was just beginning to see substantial playing time. Being the youngest player on the field and an unforeseen starter, he felt little pressure from his teammates and coaches to be the most impactful player. As long as he performed his limited role, his performance would be considered successful. Little did the Pirates know that a couple hours later, they would be falling to the ground in astonishment and thrill,
celebrating a 2-1 win and berth in the state finals—largely due to Azzinnari’s efforts. “We went down 1-0 early and they were dominating us. I had never played against such a big, fast, and skillful team as they were, Azzinari recalled. “But we kept fighting.” Azzinari made his propensity for big gams known right away. He was the first of his teammates to break through the barrier and shatter Don Bosco’s confidence. With about five minutes left in the first half, Azzinnari ran out a long ball from one of his own defenders and scored right through the legs of the Don Bosco keeper to tie it, making the score 1-1. “It gave us hope,” Azzinnari said. The same hope that may have carried the team into the finals. Hayden Har scored the game-winning with less than 10 minutes to play.
SET0N HALL PREP
Goal-oriented Jon Azzinnari taps his Italian roots and wild ambition to forge successful career
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Seton Hall Prep would go on to beat Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, NJ) in the finals and end their season as the No. 1 team in all of New Jersey and the No. 8 team in the nation. Azzinnari, who will begin his junior year at Seton Hall Prep this fall, has been playing soccer for as long as he can remember. Much of his early exposure to soccer occurred with the help of his father, Sal Azzinnari. Sal, who was born and raised in Acri, Italy, was also a dedicated and talented soccer player. “Everyone watches, plays, and loves soccer in Italy, so he was heavily influenced by his culture from the start,” Azzinnari explains. While Azzinnari was born in the United States, he believes that his Italian roots have greatly affected his life and soccer career. “The culture instilled such passion in my dad that passed straight down to me,” Azzinnari, who has traveled to Italy to explore his roots, explained. 34 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
“My dad always put me on teams with older kids when I was younger to push myself,” Azzinnari recalls. Sal served as his coach for his earlier years and has undoubtedly been a role model to Azzinnari as he grew and matured in his soccer career. “He can be my biggest fan and my biggest critic,” Azzinnari explains, “and it really helps me fix my mistakes and become a better player. He is the best mentor and role model I could ever ask for.” After working his way up the ranks during his freshman season in 2009, Azzinnari finished with four goals and four assists and All-Area honors. His early successes continued straight through to his sophomore year in 2010, when he finished with 10 goals, 13 assists, and the title of “Sophomore of the Year” from the New Jersey Star Ledger. Additionally, Azzinnari was selected to the 2nd team All-Essex County, 2nd team All-SEC Conference, 3rd team All-State Non-Public A, and Honorable Mention AllState by the New Jersey Soccer Coaches Association. Seton Hall Prep finished their 2010 season ranked third in
SETON HALL PREP
Jon Azzinnari
state of New Jersey with a tough loss in penalty kicks to Pingry (Martinsville, NJ). When asked about Azzinnari, ability to perform well in tense situations, Marty Berman lauded his level demeanor and mental toughness. “Jon has an incredible ability to come up with huge goals in our biggest games over his first two years of play,” he said. “No situation or opponent seems to intimidate him in any way. We will be counting on his offensive abilities heavily this coming year.” With his junior year rapidly approaching, college is on Azzinnari’s mind. Much like his father, who played Division I soccer at Rider University, Azzinnari aspires to take his career to the next level. Even though schools cannot officially begin recruiting Azzinnari until September 1st, he has already put thought into the process. “My plan is to use soccer and my grades to get into the best academic school possible,” he stated. “I have been contacted by schools from the Big East, Big Ten, Ivy League and ACC.
Even during his “offseason” from Seton Hall Prep soccer, Azzinnari consistently pushes himself to achieve higher goals. He was recently selected by the Philadelphia Union, an MLS Pro Team, to compete for a spot in their youth academy, which is an extremely prestigious honor. He competed with the top players born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 who reside in the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas, traveling back and forth to Philadelphia for three weeks straight. As Azzinnari continues to make the right moves both in the classroom and on the field, his father will continue to serve as a mentor and role model. Despite the incredible guidance given to him by his father, coaches and teachers, in the end, only Azzinnari can determine exactly just how far he can go.
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The NFL Youth Football Fund and USA Football salute the players of the 2011 Empire Challenge High School Football All-Star Game. Football teaches its players, coaches and participants valuable life lessons that can be applied both on and off the field. Your participation today is not only a celebration of your all-star season, but also a testament to the perseverance of Empire Challenge Inc. and the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Their tireless efforts in the fight against cystic fibrosis bring those with the disease closer to a cure, and help them live healthier lives.
L L A B T O O F IC L O H T N CAT BERGEEN L L A B T O O F IC L O H BERG CA HOME OF THE CRUSADERS By Dan Cappello
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S
weat pours from the player’s brow as the Bergen Catholic football team gathers together in the end zone. A clear blue sky revealed a blistering August sun as it assaulted the early morning practice. Red and white jerseys surround two padded markers that lay out on the ground. Coach Nunzio Campanile stands in the center, wearing his signature gray hoodie despite the hot and humid air that weighed down on the practice field. Two players walk out of the pack. They stare at each other through their facemasks then bend into position, digging one hand into the turf. At the sound of the whistle, they collided like two dueling rams—their muscles flexing and churning as they try to gain leverage on each other and drive the other back. The rest of the team cheers with intense excitement. Football season has officially begun. “This year everyone is really rallying together,” said senior Ryan Finkel, who is one of several players battling for the quarterback position. “We are more of a family; we’re doing stuff together and everyone is on the same page.” The Crusader’s finished 10-2 last season with a heart-breaking loss to Don Bosco Prep in the state championship game at
MetLife Stadium. With a shot to take the lead and pull off one of the biggest upsets of last season, the Crusaders put all their chips on the table on a risky down-field pass that was ultimately intercepted. That play, along with the game’s outcome, has been sitting with the team all off-season. This year, they enter the season without their star quarterback, Tanner McEvoy, who graduated last spring. The quarterback position is wide open this season, leaving coach Campanile with a difficult decision to make. “We have actually had a lot of injuries at quarterback this summer,” said Campanile. “We’ve played seven quarterbacks in practice. But honestly, I think we have some talented kids, we have some good players.” Bergen Catholic is ranked fourth in the state by MaxPreps and is always a force in the local football scene. With the arrival of Campanile last season, the Berge team has seen revitalization and a new found energy. The team will play their first two games of the season out of state, first against LaSalle Preparatory in Malvern, Pennsylvania followed by Plant High School in Tampa, Florida.
Photos by Greg Gillen
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“Everybody wants to get on that plane,” said senior cornerback Jagger Brady. “All the sophomores are fighting for spots. We love the competition. It motivates us because we have to get better because we’re playing better competition.”
Bosco, has changed the intensity at Bergen Catholic, putting the Crusaders in a position where one big upset could change the entire landscape of New Jersey football; this team does not fear the power of Don Bosco.
Don Bosco Prep holds the reigns as kings of New Jersey football, but the Bergen Catholic football program is certainly on the rise. Campanile, who spent a decade as the offensive coaching genius at Don
“We don’t back down,” Brady said. “We’re not scared. We’re ready to go to war with them.”
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SETON HALL PREP Pirates set sail on hardship 42 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
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Renowned author F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” Seton Hall Prep soccer coach Marty Berman will channel Fitzgerald’s message during the 2011 season. 2010 ended bitterly for the Pirates, who, at one point in the season, were ranked first in the nation – a dream come true for Berman and his team. The team continued to roll to an undefeated regular season, but lost to Pingry (Martinsville, NJ) in the North State Semi-Finals, a blow that the perfect, top-ranked Pirates did not see coming. Not only was the loss heart-wrenching, but the frayed nerves resulting from three overtime periods and penalty kicks may take a lifetime to mend. “Any penalty kick loss is devastating,” Berman admitted. “After the game it was difficult to say anything that would ease the pain.”
Yet through the heartbreak and shock immediately following the game, Berman did the only thing one can do with such a devastating loss—use it as a teaching tool. He made sure his team knew how well they had performed not only in that game, but also throughout the entire season. “I commended the players on being part of one of the best high school games ever played in the state,” Berman said. The Pirates’ roster will have large voids to fill as they adjust to playing without four of 2010’s greatest assets – Brandon Adler (Providence), Hayden Harr (Villanova), Matty Berman (Rutgers), and Devin Perlee (US Military Academy, West Point), who are all continuing their soccer careers at elite Division I programs. Adler, a defenseman, was named the New Jersey state player of the year as well as an All-American at the conclusion to the 2010 season.
SET0N HALL PREP
Seton Hall Prep to retool and put difficult loss By: Cecelie Pikus Photos By: Richard Morris behind them
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Harr, Berman, and Perlee combined for 27 goals and 41 assists last season alone. Despite the challenge of losing his core players from the championship season that wasn’t, Berman is excited about the clean slate the 2011 season represents. “It’s a new team facing new challenges in a new season,” Berman emphasized. Berman, who is entering his 31st season coaching at Seton Hall and his 25th season as their head coach, has faced the loss of elite players before. Having played semi-pro soccer himself, he has seen it all both as a coach and a player. To question his preparedness and resolve to face these upcoming challenges would be remiss. The Seton Hall Prep Pirates will look towards some of last season’s key players – now their three captains – to lead the team back to the state finals to finish what they started. Senior Casey DeFluri has started in goal for the Pirates since his freshman year – unprecedented in the Prep program – and is widely
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regarded as one of the best goaltenders in New Jersey. He was awarded 2nd team All-State Non Public, 1st team All-Essex County, and 2nd team All-Conference at the end of the 2010 season. Senior Mike LaRose, a defender, will be counted on as the anchor in the Pirates backfield. “He is a rock for us in the back,” Berman stated. LaRose earned 2nd team All-Conference and the 2nd team AllEssex County honors in 2010. Perhaps the centerpiece of the 2011 championship run and the player responsible for closing the gap in the void left by the graduates will be senior Brandon Salvino, who finished with seven goals and three assists in 2010. Berman described Salvino as incredibly quick, tenacious, and a tireless workhorse in the midfield who has “wreaked havoc on opposing teams.” Salvino was awarded 2nd team All-State Non-Public, 1st team All-Essex County, and 1st team All-Conference at the close of 2010. These three captains will be largely responsible for rallying the team back to a position to do what the 2010 team could not - win a state title.
In addition to its captains, Seton Hall will return other key players from last season. Sniper junior Jon Azzinnari will again be a force to be reckoned with at the attack position. Azzinnari finished last season with 10 goals and 13 assists, as well as the title “sophomore of the year” from the New Jersey Star Ledger. “Jon has an innate ability to find the goal,” Berman commented. “He has great technical ability, very quick feet, and a creative flair with the ball.” Another returning junior, Erik Sa, will be a probable offensive producer for the Pirates. “Sa is the kind of player who leaves fans breathless with his skill on the ball,” Berman noted. Berman has undoubtedly engineered a program capable of bouncing back from almost any setback. Rather than reeling from their morale-crushing loss, they are retooling and prepared to make another run at the state title. It is to be expected that powerful teams will graduate powerful players – the school must rely on the coaches to craft programs, which will produce talent visible as early as freshman year. Berman believes that one of the main keys in forming a talented, consistent, and effective program is to genuinely care about the well being of your players. Berman modestly stated, “I think that to be a successful coach, you have to have great players. The coach does need to motivate them, but he also has to be open to their ideas--it’s important for the players to know that their coach cares about them as not only players, but young men.”
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P R O9-11C Pro Corner
MORE THAN A GAME BY : JOE PIETARO
I
n the decade since the tragedies that occurred on September 11, 2001, the sports world has been a place people have turned to as a way of enjoying the simple things in life. That was the plan set out back then and it certainly felt that way again as the ten-year mark approached.
GIANTS, JETS FELT 9-11 48
OPENING DAY EXTRA SPECIAL
ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
“The feelings you get on the sideline and during the national anthem will be even greater this year because it will be the 10th anniversary on 9/11,” said Giants head coach Tom Coughlin before the game. “You can feel how the league is going to recognize the tragedy that took place to this great country. Recognizing the terrible loss of life and the people who have lost loved ones, and recog-
O RNER nizing the heroes, the firemen, the president who was in office during emergency people, the policemen, the terrorist attacks. the people who immediately sacriA stirring 27-24 comeback win ficed their lives to save others.” for Gang Green may have been The Washington Redskins hosted enough, but because it was done on the Giants in the opener for both that day in the Tri-state area made teams and two cities who shared in it epic. “I think we all felt it,” Rex loss and sorrow had an afternoon to- Ryan said. “It affected everybody in gether to reflect on the past and look that locker room. You can see where towards the future. The final score the Towers were from our stadium. had the Redskins finish on top, 28- There was a lot of pressure, but also 14, but that was not the most im- a lot of excitement. portant aspect. Even to Washington “We wanted to show our fans and head coach Mike Shanahan, who everybody else, ‘Hey, look. We’re called the day “amazing” and “quite you’re team’ and all that,” the Jets emotional.” head coach said. “It brought tears to your eyes,” Third-year quarterback Mark he added. Sanchez received the biggest ovaThe Jets’ home contest against tion during the pre-game introducthe Dallas Cowboys took place in tions and called it an “emotional atprime time and the pre-game activi- mosphere.” ties included an appearance by none “It was a good win for this comother than George Bush, the former
munity and this city after a big memorial game like this,” he reflected. Part of the pre-game had the players along with a number of first responders from the various police, fire and military agencies standing shoulder to shoulder holding an American flag that covered the entire field. This was a special moment and something not lost on LaDanian Tomlinson. “I felt honored; I really did,” the Jets running back said. “Those were the guys that did the ground work. The recovery. The guys (who) got in and did the dirty work. I felt honored to be standing next to them.” Sports superstars and blue collar workers were all equal on a very special day in our country. And of course sports being the backdrop made it happen.
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Sports Ps Sport Psychology By: Dr. Tom Ferraro
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The Problem with Perfectionism
ver all the years of seeing athletes I can honestly say that the most common problem that athletes suffer with is perfectionism. And what makes this
ment… as best you can with clear eyes and love in your heart… with joy in your heart? If you can do that gentleman, then you’re perfect.”
scared because you are probably expecting more disappointment. A quarterback may throw three touchdowns and win the game but go home feeling upset and even angry because he threw two interceptions as well. The
The perfectionist is always unhappy no matter how he plays. problem so difficult to treat is that nearly every athlete considers their perfectionism to be a helpful trait. “Hey Doc what’s wrong with trying to be perfect? It gets me to stay real focused and strive to be my very best!” Now just add in the typical coaches own perfectionism and you really have a problem on your hands. You may recall the football film Friday Night Lights where Coach Gaines, played by Bill Bob Thorton, tried to teach his team how to be perfect. He sealed the deal for real during that famous pep talk he gave at halftime of the State Championships. This may be the most well-known pep talk ever given. He said this: “Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It’s about you and your relationship to your family and your friends. Being perfect is about being able to look your friend in the eye and know that you didn’t let him down because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything that you could. There wasn’t one more thing you could have done. Can you live in that mo52 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
Coaches often reinforce perfectionism if they are too harsh and do not give praise. But of course you will note that this is a redefinition of what we all know perfectionism to be. We usually define perfectionism as: “The tendency to set very high standards and to be dissatisfied with anything that does not meet those high standards. These high standards are often unrealistic.” And even that definition sounds harmless enough until you actually break it down and see it in action. Because what that often means is that the athlete sets increasingly high standards which can never be reached. This leads to an increasing sense of frustration and a feeling of defeat. When it goes on unchecked it leads to anger and even depression because the athlete feels no longer like a success but like a failure. Perfectionism means that you can never or very rarely feel satisfied and usually go home feeling sad and empty. Perfectionism means that you play tight and
reality is that football players make mistakes all game long because they are human. The worst case I have ever seen of perfectionism was when I was working with a young golfer who was a national champion but was having lots of emotional trouble. As we played golf one day he hit a great drive and a two iron to about three inches on a very tough par five. As he tapped his eagle putt in, he was grumbling of how disappointed he was for not making a double eagle. That is what you call perfectionism. Bill Parcels would always worry about game quitters but what he failed to realize is that a source of game quitting is the feeling that you are losing all game long. This comes about when perfectionism is in play and as a result the player is feeling that he is playing lousy all game. He is set up to quit.
sychology Why are so many athletes perfectionistic?
The perfectionist will eventually feel down and depressed. Alfred Adler was the first psychologist to focus on perfectionism and felt that our natural feeling of inferiority in childhood produced a need to compensate for it by becoming perfectionistic. And when you then enter the world of sports it only reinforces this tendency. Sports demands much from the athlete. To win you must be excellent. Competition is very fierce and gets fiercer the higher you go. To win you must focus hard and try hard. Only the very best get to the top and get that golden ring, be that a scholarship or a pro contract. The rest go home empty handed. The media reinforces this at every turn. Only the star gets face time. That’s the way it is. And all this fierce competition breeds perfectionism into us. But that also leads to the problem we are talking about; constant frustration, bitterness, overwork and exhaustion. Almost every time I have worked with perfectionists that get to the top they come in, lie down on my couch and look totally, fully and completely exhausted.
There has to be a better way but what is it? The first thing to do is to try to determine if you are perfectionistic. Are you always unhappy with your performance? Are you in a slump? Are you always angry with the way you play? Do you always see yourself as failing though everyone around you sees you as a very good player? If you feel this is true, you may be a perfectionist. And here is what to do. Begin to judge yourself in a more lenient, reasonable or flexible manner. Chances are you are not now and never will be Peyton or Eli Manning. That’s okay. Try to see and to appreciate your wins and your victories. Try to develop patience and a real sense of forgiveness. When you get compliments, take a moment to take them in. Say thank you. Try to start to enjoy your game whatever it is. Chances are there is much to enjoy in the game, the camaraderie, the movement of it, and the travel. It is not just about winning and losing. It is much more about playing the game for all of its fun and pleasure. I always ask every player I work with what is their philosophy about why they play the game. When given a chance to talk about it they will usually tell me they play because of the pleasure of the game, its beauty, that the game is their sanctuary, that they like the friendships and the travel too. And then they will tell me they like to win too. But winning is usually said at the end. It is just like what Coach Gaines said about being perfect. It is not about the scoreboard but more about playing with effort and with love in their hearts. And for me sports are all about fun and joy and pleasure and friendships. And not so much about win, win, win. Of course you need to enjoy winning and try your very best but there is room in sport for you to take some time to slow down, and live in the moment of joy as Coach Gaines said. And, there is time in that moment for some forgiveness as well. And if you can find some joy and some forgiveness along with the drive to excel this will take you a whole lot further than just the lonely sad path of the perfectionist.
Learn to have fun and to enjoy your game for what it is and this will help get you out of perfectionism.
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UA TRAININ UA Training
A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME
New ways to build strength for the Grid Iron
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Story By Mike Meija CSCS/ / Photos By Morgan Harrison When it comes to strength training for football, certain lifts immediately come to mind. In fact, it’s hard to even imagine a football training program that isn’t built almost exclusively around squats, bench presses, deadlifts and power cleans. And while there’s no arguing the efficacy of these lifts in terms of building big, powerful p owerful muscles, I can’t help but wonder if they really represent the best way to build functional strength ffor or the sport; or, if their inclusion is merely part of some time-honored approach that athletes and coaches alike are afraid to deviate from. So I decided to take a closer look at some common football strengthening exercises and offer up what I feel to be some more effective alternatives.
A TRUE “BENCH” MARK? For as long as I can remember, the bench press has been the undisputed king of upper body lifts. The only question is... why? Sure, it allows for a reliable way to gauge an athlete’s upper body pushing strength, making it a real favorite amongst coaches. I for one, however, feel that its transfer to football is minimal at best. First off, because you’re not engaging your legs and core the same way as you would in an upright position, the push you’re generating is nowhere near the same. In other words, just because you might be able to bench press a small automobile, doesn’t ensure that you’ll be able to shed a block, or drive an opposing player backward. Making matters worse is the fact that the symmetrical load provided by the barbell won’t prepare you for the unbalanced type of push you’ll often need when engaging an opponent. That’s why I prefer a much more functional exercise called the band thrust out. For this drill, you’ll need access to a moderately heavy rubber resistance band, as well as something sturdy to anchor it to. Once you’ve anchored your band to something close to floor level, begin by grasping the handles and facing away from the anchoring point. Next, set up in a split stance with one leg in front of the other and a slight bend in both knees. With your hands starting just a few inches in front of your shoulders, brace your core as you press up and out, while simultaneously driving your back leg past your front one. In the finish position, you’ll be balancing on one leg with both arms extended out, above your head. Pause for a split second and then control the weight back down and repeat for 6-8 reps. Remember to switch the order of your legs when you do the next set. Besides absolutely blasting your core, this drill also better simulates the unique combination of balance and strength you’ll need out on the field. In terms of power development, try the kneeling jump to medicine ball throw. For these, begin by kneeling down facing a wall that’s several feet in front of you. Holding a heavy medicine ball at chest height, start by sitting your hips back towards your heels and then “explode” up into a jump, as you land on the balls of your feet and then immediately use the momentum you’ve generated to throw the ball towards the wall. You then simply retrieve the ball and repeat for 5-6 total reps. What I like about this drill is the way it integrates the hips, core and upper body into one explosive movement. In doing so, it does a great job of training the triple extension (simultaneous extension of the hips, knees and ankles) necessary to execute the Olympic lifts without requiring teens to get into the awkward “catch” position- which often presents problems due to limitations in upper body flexibility.
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When it comes to upper body pulling strength, instead of all the lat pulldowns and rows, (where you’re traditionally in a seated position) why not try a drill called the “lumberjack” row. In addition to being a great upper back, arm and grip strengthener, the rotational movement it incorporates will really emphasize your core. You also get the added benefit of incorporating the lower body to help develop systemic strength. It’s also the perfect drill for defensive players who need to grab backs and receivers to toss them to the ground! For these, you’ll need to attach a rope handle to a low pulley. Begin by standing sideways to the pulley, in a quarter squat position and grabbing the rope with one hand about a foot in front of the other (as pictured). Once you’ve selected your weight, start by pushing into the ground with your legs and pulling the rope with both arms, as you simultaneously rotate your torso. In the finish position your legs will be almost completely straight, with your back elbow well past your torso and your other hand near your front hip. Carefully return the weight to the starting position and repeat for 8-10 reps per side. ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
NG YOU DON’T KNOW SQUAT! As effective as squats and deadlifts can be, I find that players often sacrifice form in an effort to put up as much weight as possible. Besides the obvious injury concerns associated with training this way, it also increases the likelihood of developing strength imbalances throughout the lower body. Chief among these is a propensity to overdevelop the quadriceps and hip flexors at the expense of the hamstrings and gluteals- the latter of which play a key role in developing the strength needed for sprinting and jumping. Rather than completely abandon squats and deadlifts, though, the use of a mini band can help by re-directing the focus on to the muscles that players need to work most, while simultaneously easing the workload on the lower back. Try placing these small colored bands (which are available through www.performbetter.com), just above the knees during both squats and deadlifts, and focus on “firing out” against the added resistance they offer. Not only will you experience one of the most complete lower body strengthening exercises you’ve ever attempted, but you’ll find you don’t need to us anywhere near as much weight. Trust me, your joints will thank you for it years from now. Another important training consideration from a lower body stand standpoint is the fact that most of what happens on the field will occur when your weight is primarily supported by just one leg. Obviously, this creates a need for at least some unilateral strengthening. Among my top choices here are the Bulgarian Split Squat and the Unilateral Stability Ball Leg Curl. I like the split squat because it requires both balance and flexibility, and the leg curl is great for developing the hip extension strength necessary for pushing the ground away from you during sprints. Despite the fact that both drills may look a bit unconventional, I assure you they’re among the best you can do to improve performance on the field. Hold a pair of dumbbells and stand a couple of feet in front of an exercise bench, or high step with your back to it. Place the top of one foot behind you on the bench and as you balance on the other, maintain an upright torso as you descend into a parallel squat. Pause at the bottom and then fire back up. Lie on the ground with your lower legs resting on a stability ball. Begin by lifting one
CONCLUSION Strength training for football has come a long way from the ol’ “Go Heavy, or Go Home” days. Keep focusing your training efforts on squats, bench presses and power cleans and you might present a pretty imposing image on the field, but you’ll have a hard time keeping up with guys whose training has evolved with the times. Remember, it’s what you can do on the field, and not necessarily in the weight room that counts. So forget about tradition, and start doing the kind of stuff that’s going to help take your game to the next level!
For more great strength and training information from Mike Mejia, visit his website at www.basesportsconditioning.com.
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500 SOUTH MAIN STREET FREEPORT, NY 11520
(516) 546-8880 FAX: (516) 378-1505
www.algroversmarine.com
The time to prevent sports related
hair loss is now...
before it starts! Did you know? One in three young athletes (both male & female) will experience hair loss before the age of 25. Hair loss in younger athletes is common due to physical demands placed upon the body. These demands elevate testosterone levels, leading to a higher production of DHT, which is the leading cause of hair damage in sports figures.
What is DHT? When testosterone mixes with 5-alpha reductase (a natural body function) it results in DHT production. DHT is shown to damage hair follicles, therefore beginning the balding process.
Thymuskin Prevent® Thymuskin Prevent® is an all natural product, gluten free and clinically proven to protect the hair follicles from high DHT levels and stop hair loss in both men and women, without side effects. Protects against enhancement supplements that boost DHT levels, ie: creatine, steroids, etc.
Biotechne Complex, Inc. • 670-B East Kytle St. Cleveland, GA. 30528 Toll Free: 800-214-8631 • www.biotechne.com • sales@biotechne.com 15% discount to your initial order when you mention this ad
See our Full Line of Hair Care Products at www.thymuskin.com
• Save for All Ages • Made in Germany
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