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GAME DAY upstate
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spartanburg • greenville • greer • gaffney • polk county, nc
How we spent our summer From Cooperstown to Motown to U.S. Women’s Am, local athletes stay busy
>> MIKENZIE MULLINS: TRACK STAR ON THE MOVE >> KATY FUNK: LOCAL GOLFER WIINS BIG
>> CAROLINA A’S: DREAM TRIP A HIT
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Leading Off >7
Football organizations come together in YFAC
>8
Mikenzie Mullins heads to Motown for AAU track meet
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Carolina A’s 12U team visits Cooperstown Top area teams headline Border Showcase Katy Funk to tee it up for U.S. Women’s Amateur
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NEWS & NOTES FROM THE LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS SCENE
The Upward Stars 161 volleyball team celebrates their third place finish in Orlando at the AAU Nationals in June.
Upward Stars finish strong at AAU Nationals Stars 16 National team finishes third Upward STARS volleyball was well represented by seven teams at AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla., in late June. The Stars 161 team, above, finished third overall out of over 100 teams. Coached by Corey Helle and Stephanie Palmer, this year marked the second consecutive season a Club South/Upward 161 team brought home a third-place finish. Tara Farmer, a former Wofford assistant, led the team into the semifinals last year. In 2013, the 181 team, also coached by Helle, finished second, marking high finishes three of the last four years. “Our coaches and teams did a wonderful job of competing at their highest levels at AAUs,” said Helle. “We had fun, played well, respected the game and won most of our matches! I am already looking forward to next year.”
AAU ALL-AMERICANS
Payton Duncan, left, and Mallory Taylor, pictured with Coaches Corey Helle and Stephanie Palmer, were named to the AAU All-American team for their play during the AAU National tournament in June. GAME DAY u JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 7
Gilmer book on prep football set for August release By JOHN CLAYTON On Twitter @JCTweetsOn “Where Champions Play: Spartanburg County Prep Football,” the first book by local sportswriter Jason Gilmer is set for release just before the start of the high school football season. The book, published by Hub City press and edited by Lynn Riddle, is to be released on Aug. 15 and is available for pre-order at hubcity.org for $19.95. It will be also be available at the Hub City Bookstore at the Hub City website and through Amazon.com. “I’m happy to see it come out and about getting it into people’s hands who I hope will be excited about reading it,” Gilmer said. “I hope it’s something they can’t put down. . . . Interest is so high in football throughout the county, and there have been so many great teams, I think it will be interesting for people.” Gilmer said much of the 180-page work, which includes more than 100 rare photos from several eras, is about the dynastic runs of programs such as Woodruff, Byrnes and Spartanburg High School, but includes information on other programs within county lines. “There have been region championships and each of them have had pockets of success,” Gilmer said. “I spend several pages writing about those pockets and I think people will enjoy reading about that. There may be something you might not remember, especially if you’re the fan of one particular team.” A release party is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Hub City Books. Gilmer will also be at Hub City Books from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 31 for a book signing. For information on “Where Champions Play: Spartanburg County Prep Football,” visit hubcity.org/press.
6 JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 u GAME DAY
YOUTH FOOTBALL
Football organizations come together in YFAC By JOHN CLAYTON On Twitter @JCTweetsOn A movement to make youth football safer grew so far and so fast that by the time local groups got together in downtown Spartanburg to officially join the Youth Football Alliance of the Carolinas, they had doubled in number. Inman Youth Association President Jimmy Staton initially expected a half-dozen or so local youth organizations in Spartanburg County to join what was initially known as the Foothills Alliance, but word spread about the group’s intentions of making the game safer for youth while upping coaching and equipment standards. A few weeks later, representatives from some 11 youth associations from Spartanburg and Cherokee counties in South Carolina and Rutherford County, North Carolina converged on the Marriott Hotel in Spartanburg to join YFAC, vowing to follow its guidelines for coach selection and teaching USA Football’s “Head’s Up” methods
in an effort to improve player safety. “When you see Byrnes and Gaffney sitting in the same room and agreeing on something -- that just shows you how important this is,” said Cherokee County Recreation District Athletic Director Marcus Bradley, a former Gaffney High standout who went on to play football at Western Carolina and in the Canadian Football League. “It’s all about the kids. This shows that.” In addition to Cherokee County (Gaffney) and Spartanburg District 5 (Byrnes), representatives from Blacksburg, Pacolet, Boiling Springs, Chesnee, Inman, Cowpens, Landrum, Rutherford-Spindale, N.C. (R-S Central High) and Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in Rutherford County, N.C., USA Football Regional Director Ed Passinoled, who made a presentation at the early July meeting, said he was impressed with the turnout. “I know we all want to try to win and things like that, but at the end of the day, we want the kids in our com-
Representatives from 11 youth football organizations from the Upstate and North Carolina Piedmont recently came together to form the Youth Football Alliance of the Carolinas.
munities to be well,” Passinoled said. “That’s what USA Football is about.” According to Passinoled, YFAC has become one of more than 3,000 youth-football associations across the country to embrace the safety conscious “Head’s Up” program implemented by USA Football. Passinoled said player safety is the biggest concern of his organization, but so is the overall health of the game. Statistics presented by Passinoled indicated that while overall participation in high school sports has continued to increase, numbers in high school football declined significantly
for the first time in 21 years in 2012. Worries about the physical nature of the sport and injuries, including concussions, have played a role in the declining numbers, Passinoled said, adding that it is not a trend USA Football wants to see continue. The group is banking on its Head’s Up program to help make the game safer and ease the minds of worries parents. “We want to make sure we do things the right way,” Passinoled said. “The game has changed, we know that. Participation has dropped. Parents are worried. We have to do something. So, when do we, if we don’t do it now?” n
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ABOUT MIKENZIE MULLINS Sports: Track and Field, Volleyball Grade: 8th at D.R. Hill Middle School Teams: Greer All-Stars AAU Track and Field, Upward Stars AAU Volleyball, Byrnes Varsity Track, Byrnes JV Volleyball Favorite College: Penn State Favorite Musical Artist: Diggy Simmons Favorite TV Show: SpongeBob SquarePants She likes to ...: Hang out with friends from her volleyball team.
Mikenzie Mullins poses with medals won in AAU track competition. The D.R. Hill 8th grader will have competed in the AAU Volleyball Nationals and in the AAU Junior Olympics by summer’s end.
8 8JULY JUNE 15-AUG. 2013 u 14,GAME 2013DAY u GAME DAY
COVER STORY
Staying on track Mikenzie Mullins heads to Motown for AAU nationals By JOHN CLAYTON On Twitter @JCTweetsOn
A
s a 4-yearold, Mikenzie Mullins sped around area tracks as fast as her churning little legs could carry her. She was competing against older girls as a beginner with the Greer All-Stars Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) track team, so that usually wasn’t fast enough. Nonetheless, she would hear the cheers from the crowd and would ask mother Tonette Young if she had won. The answer was always, “Yes ... you beat everybody your age.” And that is usually still the answer, but now Mullins, a rising 8th-grader at D.R. Hill Middle School, is competing at the national level and is ranked in the top four in the country in her four events -- the triplejump, pentathlon, high jump and long jump. The track-andfield penthathlon features five events -- the 200- and 800-meter runs, the long jump and the discus and javelin throws. Mullins was to head to the AAU Junior Olympics July 29Aug. 3 on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. The event was expected to attract more than 18,000 of the country’s top junior athletes and coaches. And track-and-field isn’t even Mullins’ favorite sport. That passion is reserved for
volleyball. Her Under-14 Upward Stars AAU team also competed at nationals earlier this year in Florida. “I like volleyball better,” Mullins shrugged. “It’s more of a team sport, so all of the pressure isn’t on just you.” The pressure has seemingly yet to get to Mullins in track and field, though. She has enough gold and silver medals to weigh anchor on a small boat and was a favorite to earn more at the AAU Junior Olympics. She helped the Greer All-Stars to their 10th-straight AAU state title earlier this year. Still, the 8th-grader’s dream is to play volleyball at Penn State University, but knows she will need to be taller to be an outside hitter in the Big 10. She said she expects to be around six-feet tall by the time she stops growing. Track and field is for now a fall-back option and a great way to cross-train for volleyball. “When I do track it helps me because I do a lot of jumping events, so it helps my legs for volleyball,” Mullins said. In addition to AAU competitions, Mullins already has a year of varsity competition in track and field at Byrnes High School, where she also competes in low hurdles and is part of a 4x200 relay team, and is set to play her second season of junior-varsity volleyball as an outside hitter there this fall. Mullins, the youngest of
Mikenzie Mullins practices the low hurdles.
three sisters, said support comes from her family and AAU coaches, especially from her mother. “She helps me and pushes me to be the best and to do the best I can at all my sports,” Mullins said. “She takes me everywhere. She’s really supportive of me.” So far this summer, Young and Mullins have traveled around South Carolina, to Florida and Georgia and now to Michigan for competitions. “It’s fun and tiring,” Mullins said. This is her third trip to the
AAU Junior Olympics. The others were held in Florida and New Orleans. “It’s more intense,” she said of national-level competition. While many teens now choose one sport in which to specialize in the hopes of college scholarships, Young said she has urged her daughter to remain in both sports as long as she enjoys them. And that’s OK with Mullins. “This kind of describes my life,” she said. “It makes me want to do more with my life.” n
GAME DAY u JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 9
COVER STORY
Cooperstown JOURNAL
The Carolina A’s 12-under team traveled this summer to baseball’s holiest city for a national tournament at Dreams Park in Cooperstown, N.Y., home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The A’s were among 104 teams to travel to Coopertown for an unforgettable weeklong experience. Here is a journal of their experiences from A’s head coach Josh Cash:
CAROLINA A’S (12u Major) / Cooperstown Trip, June 14-20, 2013
TRIP OF DREAMS Day 1 (Saturday, June 14)
W
e chose to take part in “early check-in” which ran from 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm tonight (we arrived around 6:30pm). First of all, after travelling over 13 hours to get here....it was well worth the trip to pull up and see this place. Wow...is all i can say. The first sight lives up to everything ive heard from those who have been here before us has said. It is unbelievable. These boys have no idea what they are in for. They have the check-in thing down to a science...especially with so many folks here (104 teams) from over 25 different states. We have been assigned to Club House #53A (the Ernie Lombardi House). Our room has 20 beds total (10 bunks) and the boys had a ball pickin’ out which one they’d be sleeping in for the week. After check-in, and a couple mandatory meetings for us coaches, we didn’t have time for much more. The parents dropped off their boys to us, and after a visit to the comcession stand for din-
Bryce Webber prepares to deliver a pitch.
10 JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 u GAME DAY
ner and some serious pin trading, it was time for showers then bed. As you can imagine, we were a lil’ late getting our “lights out” this first night because of the excitement. Looking forward to tomorrow when we have team pictures early, followed by opening ceremonies & the skills competitions.....then we start pool games on Sunday. Its gonna be a great week. We are so fortunate to be here. Go A’s!!!
Day 2 (saturday, June 15)
W
ell, day 2 started off early with breakfast @ 8:00 a.m. After breakfast we had a little time to kill before out individual & team pictures @ 11:00 a.m. So after bfast we spent some time going over how the skills contest would go later in the day and practicing them a little more to make sure we were ready. The boys loved that. They have a huge
“practice area” to do such. The practice area includes 3 fields, 22 nice batting cages, and soft toss stations....all very nice. After pictures we had a couple hours to kill before out mandatory team meeting where all teams gather under one roof to get the welcome speech and some rules information. It was amazing to see 104 teams gathered under one roof. During the free time before the meeting we spent some time getting some cuts in their cages. It was cool to be amongst several other teams doing the same and wondering how good the team(s) next to you were. After our 2:00 pm meeting we had our early lunch/dinner @ 3:00 p.m. before we started lining up with teams for the parade which led into opening ceremonies in the stadium. What a memorable experience that was for the boys to see the stands packed as we walked around the field to our designated team space. After the opening remarks and festivities, we were instructed on where to go for the skills competitions. The skills competitions consisted of the “Road Runner” (a timed inside the park HR), the “Golden Arm”(you got 3 throws from CF to a target where points were awarded for hitting certain spots), “king of swat”(HR Derby), and “Around the Horn”(where 9 of our players got to work together getting the ball from starting - finishing point in the fastest time). I was proud of our efforts as we made the finals in 2 of the 4 events. That meant we were top 6 in both going into finals where we finished 2nd in one and I think 4th in the other. Not bad out of 104 teams. After opening ceremonies ended it was time for showers while I had to attend another meeting which went over some last minute rules before pool games start tomorrow morning at 8:30. We play our first game @ 1:45 (vs. The Utah Ripp-UT) & our 2nd game @ 7:00 (vs Chester Co. Golden Spikes-PA).
Daniel Whetmore is congratulated by Coach Gookie Dawkins.
Zach Cecil slides into third.
Day 3 (SUNDAY, June 16)
W
ell, Sunday at Cooperstown is in the books and what a Father’s Day it has been. The day started off with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. “Pool Play” games started at 8:30 a.m. Each team will play 6 “pool play” games between Sunday morning and Tuesday evening before being seeded for the single elimination tournament bracket which will start Wednesday morning. Our first game was scheduled for 1:45 p.m., so after breakfast we spent some time watching a few of our “pool play” opponents play. It was fun to finally see some baseball being played. We watched some games until around 10:30 a.m. and then went back to our clubhouse to get dressed for our first game. Like all teams, we have to schedule our meals around our games so that we have plenty of energy when we hit the field. After grabbing an early lunch today, we headed to the practice area to warm up, hit in the cages and take some fungo before heading to the game field. We played our first pool game (of 6) @ 1:45 (vs. The Utah Ripp-UT). Our boys were fired up and proved they were ready to play by opening things up with a 33-0 victory. We had 8 homeruns and really got things off to a good start. After some family time we went back to our clubhouse to rest a little before eating dinner at 5:00 p.m. and going through the same pre-game routine for our next game. Our 2nd game was @ 7:00 p.m. (vs. Chester Co. Golden Spikes-PA). We had another strong showing, winning 15-1 (with 3 more home runs). Overall today was a great day and we are
hoping to take our momentum into tomorrow’s two “pool play” games. I’ll be back with another update tomorrow, but for now laundry duties are calling.....and “lights out” is quickly approaching.
Day 4 (MONDAY, June 17)
W
ow, what a long day. Pretty much same routine as Sunday for us because we had the same game times. Our first game was @ 1:45 vs. The Mooresville Legends Blue-NC. We won 14-2. After a rain storm tournament officials moved games back a little. We resumed play about 8:30 and were able to win 20-7 over the West Boca Panthers-FL. Tomorrow is the last day of “pool games” and we play @ 11:00 a.m. vs. the Alabama Rays. Then our last game of the day is @ 7:00 p.m. vs. the East Cobb Yankees.
Day 5 (TUESDAY, June 18)
D
ay 5 was another busy one. Got to sleep in a little. Then after breakfast had to start getting ready for game 1 vs. the Alabama Rays. We beat them 19-1. After lunch just hung out before we took us a long nap. When we got up it was time to get ready for our final pool game and our biggest challenge yet. Coming into this game, we were the #5 seed taking on the #3 seed (remember, thats out of 104 teams). It was a battle until the 5th when we had a big inning and ended up winning 24-12. Through our 6 pool games I think we have scored 101 runs and have hit 41 home runs. After the game we were able to go and
GAME DAY u JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 11
spend a little time downtown before I had to be back for the bracket seeding meeting. At the meeting i found out that we are the #9 seed going into tomorrow. Our only game tomorrow is at 6:30 p.m. It’s win or go home from here on out. Keep rootin’ us on as we try to make SC proud!!!
Day 6
(WEDNESDAY, June 19) Wednesday was another great day. Because we played well enough in pool games to get the #9 seed, we didn’t have to play but one game today and that was at 6 p.m. vs. the #24 seed W. Florida Young Guns. We continued to roll, beating them 15-2 in 4 innings. After the game we had to hustle back to the dining hall to make dinner just in time. After dinner the boys had enough time to get showers, ice for their arms, and hit the concession stand for a little late night snack before “lights out” at 10:30 p.m. Tomorrow we start off in the
“Sweet 16” at 8:30 a.m. vs. #8 seed, Windermere Rebels-FL. All games from this point on are streamed live online, which is cool for all of our fans back home who are following us. It will be a tough road from here because all the remaining teams are really good. But no matter what, I’m proud of our boys for their play and for representing Spartanburg & our state in such an awesome way!! Hopefully we can make a run of it and make our goal of playing in the big stadium for the championship which takes place under the lights tomorrow night after closing ceremonies. Only 2 teams get to play there all week and that is for the championship in front of 5,000+ people.
Day 7
(THURSDAY, June 20) Before I talk about our final day, I just want to say that anybody that has a chance to come to Cooperstown, must do so. It is the most magical baseball place I
Teammates relax between games.
have ever seen and/or been to..... Coach Lou and the guys do everything first class and really treat all the 12 year olds like they are big leaguers for a week. From the living quarters, to the uniforms, to the security, to the practice area, and onto the unbelievably plush fields...everything is first class. Now onto our final day. As I told you in my last post, going into the day we were in the “Sweet 16”. We played our first game at 8:30 a.m. against the Windermere Rebels out of Florida. We were able to jump on them early and pretty much cruise to a 14-0 victory, which sent us to the “Elite 8”. Remember, that’s top 8 out of 104 teams.... When our game was over, rather than gathering our team equipment like all other teams have to and from fields until this point, we had a golf cart waiting on us by the dugout to handle all of that for us. I guess you could say we felt “big time” when we saw that. After the first game of the day, we had about 90 minutes to kill before we had to get ready for our next game against the #1 seed, Kings Baseball (TX). After another good warmup period we took the field with the largest crowd we had seen since opening ceremonies watching us.....it was exciting. It was a pitchers’ duel that went into the bottom of the 6th tied, 4-4. Then it all came crumbling down before our eyes with one out and one swing from their 3-hole hitter.....it was a walk-off homerun that ended our run. It was a tough sight to see our boys so upset and disappointed at the realization that after such a long ride and with our goal within reach....it was over. However, it was also a time for us to spend a
few minutes alone, just us, on that beautiful field to think about all of the fun we had during the week as well as an opportunity for us to tell our boys once again how proud of them we are and how much we love each of them. No doubt, they left it all on the field and that’s all you can ask for as a coach. It was a somber time when we returned to the cabin, as half our team had places they needed to be which meant that they wouldn’t be staying the night again in Clubhouse 53A. However, as we reinforced to each of them again, we have so much to be proud of. The Carolina A’s from Spartanburg, SC showed up and and went 8-1, scoring over 100 runs, hitting over 50 homeruns, finishing in the top 8 (out of 104 teams), and making memories that will last a lifetime. One last note.....At closing ceremonies, they announced that after all 104 teams had voted on who they would like to see win it all as the week went on.....these votes being based specifically on sportsmanship & character...the Carolina A’s received the most votes. This was refreshing to us coaches, mainly because since day 1, anybody who has ever played for us before will tell you that we spend a lot of time not only talking about and working on fundamentals, the mental part of the game, competing at the highest level, etc.....we also talk about doing what’s right, and always doing all we can to use the talents/skills that God has blessed our team with to glorify HIM and to leave an “imprint” on all whom we play against as well as those who watch us play. By hearing the announcement on how the 104 teams voted, I think we did a pretty good job of that and I am very proud of that. I hope we made SC proud!!!
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Spartanburg and polk county, seen last year, will play in a 7 p.m. matchup.
PRELUDE to
KICKOFF
TOP AREA TEAMS HEADLINE SHOWCASE By JOHN CLAYTON On Twitter @JCTweetsOn The goal was pretty simple when Polk County head football coach Bruce Ollis began the Border Showcase preseason football jamboree a decade ago. “I wanted to put on one of the best jamborees in the Southeast,” Ollis said. “I made some phone calls and said this is what we want to do, and we got it together.” One of the first calls he made was to Byrnes head coach Bobby Bentley. The Rebels joined up along with Polk County and other teams from the Carolinas for the annual event at GardnerWebb University.. OLLIS Polk County and Byrnes have been stalwarts ever since and are preparing along with host and defending Class 4A Division I state champion Gaffney, Erwin, Woodruff and
BORDER SHOWCASE CLASSIC IX Where: Gaffney High School, The Reservation When: Friday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m. Who’s Playing: >> 7 p.m. Polk County VS Spartanburg. >> 8 p.m. Erwin VS Byrnes >> 9 p.m. Gaffney VS. Woodruff Each segment will last two quarters or approximately 45 minutes. Tickets: $10 GAME DAY u JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 15
KICKOFF: 7 P.M.
16 JUNE 2013 u GAME DAY
/
THE RESER
ERVATION, GAFFNEY HIGH SCHOOL
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BORDER SHOWCASE IX Aug. 16, 2013 The Reservation, Gaffney High School 7 p.m. - Polk Co. vs. Spartanburg 8 p.m. - Erwin vs. Byrnes 9 p.m. - Woodruff vs. Gaffney BYRNES Last year: 12-2 Head coach: Bobby Bentley Players to watch: QB Shuler Bentley (Old Dominion commit), WR Tavin Richardson, WR Shaedon Maedors, CB Tareik Lyles, OLB Avery James. ERWIN Last year: 8-4 Head coach: Mike Sexton Players to watch: : QB Austin Brown, WR Jonathan Allen, RB Kelman Simpson, OG Aaron Marquez, OT Colby Tochterman, OG Chase Robertson, WR Tyler Sullins, DL Tristan Jones. SPARTANBURG Last year: 5-8 Head coach: Chris Miller Players to watch: DB Doug Jeter, RB Tavien Feaster. POLK COUNTY Last year: 9-4 Head coach: Bruce Ollis Players to watch: WR Anthony Carson, QB Jamal Tanner, FB/DE Jordan Smith.
BORDER SHOWCASE / from page 15 Spartanburg for Border Showcase IX on Aug. 16 at The Reservation in Gaffney. “When you throw those types of programs in there, it creates a lot of excitement,” Ollis said. “Fans get to see a lot of matchups they wouldn’t normally get to see. They get to see teams play against each other that don’t normally occur on a regular Friday night.” The Showcase is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. with Polk County facing Spartanburg. Erwin and Byrnes will follow at 8 p.m. Gaffney will face Woodruff in the nightcap at 9 p.m. Each segment will last two quarters or approximately 45 minutes. “This starts the season off with a lot of excitement for the local teams,” said Gaffney head coach Dan Jones. “I know our kids are all excited. We expect it to be a pretty good evening.” Gaffney will be without senior quarterback Shaq Davidson, who recently committed to South Carolina, due to injury. This year’s Showcase will also feature Bentley’s return to the head-coaching position at Byrnes, and the full-squad debut of former Byrnes head coach Chris Miller in the same position at Spartanburg High School. Bentley was most recently offensive coordinator and associate head coach at Byrnes. Former Byrnes player and assistant Brian Lane also leads his Woodruff team into the Showcase for the first time. “We’re excited to strap it up against one of the best teams in South Carolina,” Lane said. “We want to get out there and compete and see where we stand.” Erwin head coach Mike Sexton will
Woodruff senior WR Blake Bone (8), who has a bevy of NCAA Division I offers, is among the players to watch at this year’s event.
bring a senior-laden squad into the Showcase to face Byrnes. He said his players are well aware of the Rebels’ reputation. “Offensively, we know that Byrnes is as well coached as anyone,” Sexton said. “For us, we will see where our kids measure up and what kind of talent they can match up against.” The Byrnes-Erwin matchup will feature a pair of prolific quarterbacks in Erwin senior Aaron Brown, who passed for 2,819 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior, and Byrnes’ Shuler Bentley. Bentley threw for 3,495 yards with 47 touchdowns in 2012 and committed to Old Dominion earlier this year. “It’s almost a playoff atmosphere,” said Ollis. “It’s always helped us, I know that, and it kind of ties the two states together, being on the border.” n
WOODRUFF Last year:6-5 Head coach: Brian Lane Players to watch: WR Blake Bone, DB Kenny Drummond, LB Chris Leamon, OL/DL Ray Butler, QB Keevon Gist, WR/DB Demajiay Rooks. GAFFNEY Last year:12-3 Head coach: Dan Jones Players to watch: QB Shaq Davidson (South Carolina commit/ out with injury), FS Jalen Sims, TB Hyleck Foster (Marshall commit), OL T.J. Haney, RB JoJo McGill. Byrnes and Gaffney, seen here from the 2012 season, face other opponents at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively. The Rebels play Erwin; the Indians meet Woodruff. 18 JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 u GAME DAY
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“I don’t think I even understand the pressure yet. I don’t normally get nervous, but this may change that. . . . I think I’m going to get there and be a little overwhelmed at first, but hopefully after the first tee shot, I’ll settle in.”
20 2013 u GAME DAYu GAME DAY 20 JUNE JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013
COVER STORY
TEED OFF Katy Funk finds her motivation, makes U.S. Women’s Amateur field with win game that had admittedly eluded her in summer competition before, including a previous attempt to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur. “I was not expecting to qualify at all. I was on aty Funk wasn’t the biggest the putting green telling myself to just try and name in Dalton, Ga., a town shoot in the 70s,” she said. “And I did -- I shot 70. more famous for its carpets But that was definitely not what I was expecting than its fairways. or what my goal was. It went beyond my expectations.” But at the Dalton Golf and Country Club in Especially after a practice round before the early July, Funk proved that she was nobody’s qualifier, during which her swing confounded her. doormat, shooting a 2-under-par 70 to tie for first “During the practice round, I hit some chunks place in the regional qualifier for the U.S. Wombecause my swing timing was off,” she said. “The en’s Amateur Championship. The championship is night before I was getting nervous. I started thinkto be contested at the Country Club of Charleston ing that I needed to have my pace correct because Aug. 5-11. when my pace is off, then my Over 18 holes at Dalton, head just goes everywhere, Funk turned in what was inarand then I can hit it then, fat, guably the finest competitive left or right, and that would round in her young career. mess up everything. So, I It was perhaps also the needed to make sure my timmost karmic. ing got corrected and it did.” Playing in a field that She found her timing included the bulk of Clemon the practice range before son’s inaugural recruiting teeing off and now has a class for women’s golf as well chance to win a trophy lofted as NCAA Division I players by such greats as Patty Berg, from Kentucky, TennesseeBabe Didrikson Zaharias, Juli Chattanooga and Furman, Inkster and Beth Daniel. the former Spartanburg High August 5-11 “I don’t think I even standout and Wofford signee understand the pressure yet,” found motivation from slights offered by some of Funk said. “I don’t normally get nervous, but her competitors. this may change that. . . . “I think I’m going to “For guys, they sort of hit their own ball, and get there and be a little overwhelmed at first, but that’s it. But girls, they try to mess each other up,” hopefully after the first tee shot, I’ll settle in.” Funk said. “There were some comments, and it But she knows it will be another step into was like, ‘I’m going to beat you for sure now.’ It more serious competition when she steps through was motivation as opposed to intimidation. It was the ropes that will separate her from the galleries the reverse effect of what they wanted.” and her family -- except for brother Ronnie, who If they expected Funk, who was ranked No. will be her caddie and, hopefully, a calming force. 189 among high school seniors by juniorgolfRonnie Funk is a rising junior at Erskine and a scoreboard.com at the time of her signing, to fold, member of the Flying Fleet golf team. they were sorely disappointed. Despite exceeding her expectations at the Instead, Funk steeled herself and found the qualifier, Funk was keeping herself grounded as > By JOHN CLAYTON On Twitter @JCTweetsOn
K
GAME DAY u JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 21
Q&A w/ Katy Funk
incoming freshman, wofford college
What makes you such a good golfer? I think consistency is main part. Short game most important part. You’re not going to hit every green, but if you can get up and down and save your putts, it will make your score a lot better.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE FRUSTRATION ON THE COURSE? Normally I just flush it out of my head, although some days I have to talk to my putter a little bit.
22 JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 u GAME DAY
TOURNAMENT PREPARATION? I go in and try to clear my mind of any expectations I might have for myself and take it one shot at a time. Generally, when I don’t do that I play bad.
WHY GOOD DAYS & BAD DAYS IN GOLF? Think all mental. Once you miss one 3-foot putt, chances of you making the next one go down so much. All mental. You can do it -- it’s just thinking whether or not you can.
Be ready to Compete
Katy Funk practices putting to prepare for the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
she prepared for Charleston. “I just want to play my best and not mind anyone else’s game and not let anyone else’s game bother me,” she said. “If I do that and take it one shot or not, whether I qualify or not or whether I make it to the next round or not, then I know I’ve played the best that I can. Then, I know that someone has has to play better than me, and they deserve to beat me as opposed to me letting them beat me.” Funk will join future Wofford teammate Anne Marie Covar, of
Edgefield, in the U.S. Women’s Amateur field. If she had any doubts about her future at Wofford and in Division I golf, Funk said they were quelled by her performance among the bentgrass and barbs at Dalton. “Doing that right before college kind of paved the way to make college a little easier because I’ve already proven myself against a college field. It shows that I can handle the competition, and I can be beneficial to the team.” n
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Athletes in Action SPARTANBURG CITY SWIM MEET
26 JULY MAY15-AUG. 2013 u 14, GAME DAYu GAME DAY 24 2013
THE BLADE JR. GOLF TOURNEY
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usssa WORLD SERIES
ATHLETES IN ACTION (POLK COUNTY, NC)
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LATE HITTING NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE AREA
Announcements
BARRACUDAS WIN CITY SWIM CHAMPIONSHIP >> The Boiling Springs Barracudas, pictured above, were winners of the Ed Miller Summer Swim League Championship at the Middle Tyger YMCA in July. The first-time champions outdistanced the Westside Club for the title in its first year competing in the “A” division. Hillbrook was third, followed by Lantern Ridge and Fernwood rounding out the top five.
u The Carolina A’s (will be 13U Major, starting August 1, 2013), based out of Spartanburg, are holding tryouts to help complete our roster moving into the fall season. Tryouts will be held on Sunday, August 4(2:00pm) and Wednesday, August 7 (6 pm) in Spartanburg. Prospective players need to have extensive travel ball experience, and the desire to take their game to the next level. As always, in addition to having the opportunity to play for former major-leaguer Gookie Dawkins, we will play in tournaments that offer the highest level of competition, in a positive Christian environment. Interested players cannot turn 14 before May 1, 2014. Please email us at carolinaas@bellsouth.net for more details and to let us know you plan to attend. All contact will be kept confidential. u The Byrnes High School Cheer Camp will be held Thursday, Aug. 8 from 8 am -12 noon. It is open for children from 5 years to 6th grade. Onsite registration is $40.
CHAPMAN’S CAROLINE HILL, SAVANNAH FERRELL TO PLAY SOFTBALL AT SMC By JOHN CLAYTON On Twitter @JCTweetsOn Spartanburg Methodist completed its potential softball battery for next season by adding Chapman High School’s. Catcher Caroline Hill joined pitcher Savannah Farrell in this year’s SMC recruiting class when Hill signed with the Pioneers earlier this month. Farrell had signed her letter of intent with SMC in February. Hill and Farrell have played together at Chapman and have been teamates on travel teams since elementary school. “I hope to improve on what I have and become a great player for them,” Hill said. Farrell and Hill helped the Panthers to fourstraight region titles and join an SMC team that won the Region X championship this past season. The Pioneers finished with a 41-15 record. Hill said she is excited about joining a team that has become a powerhouse under head coach Thad Fox for the next two years. “I watched them play games and the girls are really nice and Coach Fox is a great coach to be with,” she said. Even though she first signed with SMC, Farrell said knowing Hill would be there factored heavily into her decision. “It’s been a heck of a road,” Farrell said. 28 JULY 15-AUG. 14, 2013 u GAME DAY
Chapman catcher Caroline Hill, seated, signs a National Letter of Intent with Spartanburg Methodist while best friend and pitcher Savannah Farrell looks on with SMC softball coach Thad Fox.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but (Caroline) has always been there by my side. I can honestly say that she is my best friend.” Fox said building a winning program starts up the middle -- with pitchers and catchers. And recruiting a catcher who can call a good game with her best pal on the rubber and hit for
power from the left side was a no-brainer. “These two (Farrell and Hill) can take over a game with Caroline behind the plate,” Fox said. “You see the size and the left-handed bat and the power she can provide. . . .she’ll provide a lot of pop and take control of the running game. It’ll be tough to run against us.”
CHAPMAN POLE VAULTER JUSTIN STEWART ON WAY TO NORTH GREENVILLE By JOHN CLAYTON On Twitter @JCTweetsOn Chapman pole-vaulter Justin Stewart was on the phone with the coaching staff at North Greenville looking for a chance to compete next year in college. Before that conversation ended, Stewart STEWART had his chance and a scholarship offer. “I’d called the coach to ask if I needed to fill out some paperwork and stuff about walking on,” Stewart recalled. “I didn’t even intend to get a scholarship, but when I got off the phone, I had a track scholarship.”
Getting an education at NGU had ben in Stewart’s plans -- he wants to be a career missionary after graduating -- but late success in the pole vault spurred an interest in continuing his athletic career in college. “This is something I hadn’t planned on before this year,” Stewart said. “This year, I started to think I could take this and maybe do something with it.” Stewart’s personal best at Chapman is 11 feet, 6 inches, but he said a few technical tweaks could result in a 12-6 vault, tying the school record, as he ended his high-school career at the Class 3A state meet. Then, on to more serious endeavors at NGU and his debut with the Crusaders’ young track program. “I’m really excited about being a part of that next year and helping that program grow,” Stewart said.
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youth fitness
‘THE DUEL’ summer training motivation Normally in my column I or. The points of honor that we write about keys to developing are settling is are we going to be speed, agility and the person we said we greater athleticism would be. Are you gofor young athletes. ing to work so that your However today I teammates can count want to add some on you when you’re motivation for your called upon in battle? summer training to Will we complete the encourage you to workouts we need to finish your summer do? How hard will we workouts strong. work when no one is Much like a car that watching? Or will you constantly requires give in to the self that refueling, we all is lazy and filled with KEN need to have some self-doubt that you can motivation on a become the person you FINLEY regular basis. were created to be. As athletes, every one of us struggles with our inner self. Simply put, there is a duel going on inside each one of us. A duel is defined as a brandishing of weapons to settle a point of hon-
First we have to Decide will I be a man/woman of honor. Will I compete for my teammates putting others above my own self interests? You see the great moments in life are not the
snippets we see on Sports Center but rather the times in the locker room. The games we win when no one thought we could. Completing a workout with our teammates when we didn’t think we could do it. Those are the moments that matter. Next, we have to Understand our weaknesses and what is expected of us by others. Once you understand your weakness then you can deal with it. For me I would rather sit on the couch than get out and do the work. Will you say no to the things that detract from your athletic goals? You have to take responsibility for yourself because no one else will. The E in Duel stands for Execute. This is often the hardest part. Most athletes get stuck here. Go out and do what you said you would do. Become the teammate you said you would be. In football a good offense just keeps moving the chains toward the end zone. In life keep working a little each day toward your goals. If we are honest with ourselves, we realize our athletic opportunities only are before for us for a brief period of time
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and then they are gone. Take advantage of every moment to get better and be the person you are meant to be. Finally, Love who you do it for. All the sacrifice and discipline required is not for ourselves but for those around us so that they can get what they need. Often times we are afraid or nervous when it comes to competition but love overcomes fear. Do it for your teammates so they will say ‘Hey, I’m with you’! That’s when the great moments happen. You see you can change the world by winning the battle of your heart. A man or woman of honor will have a great influence on those around them. Remember, the scoreboard will never determine your sense of victory. You can only be a champion in a moment but your honor lasts for a lifetime. So go out there and put in the work today. Ken Finley is a physical therapist and certified youth speed and agility specialist. To learn more about his youth athletic development programs you can contact him at kfinley@finleypt.com.
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