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March 2012
SOUTH BOUND
Dorman’s Lexi Cathcart, 8, fights for position in a recent match against Clinton. The Lady Cavs won, 15-6.
LACROSSE FINDING A NEW HOME DOWN HOME ATHLETES IN ACTION >> CLIPBOARD >> FCA SPOTLIGHT >> GOLF TIPS >> YOUTH FITNESS
ED OVERSTREET PHOTO
Get back in motion When moving around gets difficult due to an injury or bone and joint problems, every day can be a struggle. At Village Orthopaedic Surgery, we have the experience and technology to help you get back your mobility and lifestyle. With diagnosis, treatment and recovery all under one roof, patients can rest assured knowing they are getting the best care in one easily accessible location. Our physicians at Village Orthopaedic Surgery have practiced for many years in the fields of sports medicine, joint and hip replacement, spine surgery and general orthopaedic surgery. For more information about Village Orthopaedic Surgery, please call 864-530-BONE (2663) or visit villageorthopaedics.com.
Our physicians Frank M. Armocida, M.D. Thomas B. Eison, M.D. Sanjitpal “Sonny� Gill, M.D. Steven B. Singleton, M.D. Charles B. Thomas, Jr., M.D.
2755 S. Highway 14 Greer, SC 29650 villageorthopaedics.com SPRPG32A
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The sport of Lacrosse finding a new home in South
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Guide to Summer Sports Camps in the Upstate
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Tyger River Park complex a home run for area, players
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Boiling Springs grads Horton, Dickson excel at Next Level
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Magazin Youth Sports
GAME DAY
FREE
March 2012
Youth Sports Magazine
SOUTH ND BOU SPOTLIGHT IES 101 >> FCA
E
SS >> YOUTH FITNE >> GOLF TIPS
INJUR N >> SPORTS
ATHLETES IN ACTIO
CONTACT GAME DAY 864-804-0068
E DOWN HOM
ING A NEW HOM
LACROSSE FIND
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Les Timms III les.timms@upstategameday.com
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Les Timms III les.timms@upstategameday 864-804-0068
ASSOCIATE EDITOR / SENIOR WRITER John Clayton john.clayton@upstategameday.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Karen L. Puckett Mary Caldwell Ed Overstreet Tim Lambka Pamela Dunlap Kyle Owings Ken Finley To Advertise Contact les.timms@upstategameday.com 864-804-0068 WEBSITE www.upstategameday.com
Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine is not responsible for the return of submitted photography, artwork, or manuscripts and will not be responsible for holding fees or similar charges. Š Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine 2012 Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine is published 12 times a year. All contents are copyrighted by Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine, including publisher-designed advertisements, may be copied, scanned, or reproduced in any manner without prior consent from the publisher. Unauthorized user will be billed appropriately for such use.
Relax.
Keep reaching for the sky.
1-800-845-1614 www.foundersfcu.com Federally insured by NCUA. 4 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
NEW
ION! T A C LO
Easter Egg
e l b m a r c S 10 a.m. - Noon
saturday, april 7, 2012 Concessions Available!
• Egg Hunt and Prizes • Pictures with the Easter Bunny
• Entertainment for all ages • Visit us on Facebook
$2 admission for everyone TICKET INFO: 864-595-5356 or log onto www.spartanburgparks.org Upcoming Tournaments at TYGER RIVER PARK March 10 March 10-16 March 17-18 March 24-25 March 30-April 1 April 13-15
GRAND OPENING Spartanburg County Pre-season Championships USSSA Tyger River Spring Kickoff Spring State Championships ASA Girls Fastpitch Softball Season Opener USSSA UnderArmour East Coast Global Championships
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Game Day Q&A
Oakbrook: national CHAMPS
Game Day caught up with some of Spartanburg’s young athletes at a recent high school cross country and asked them to list their FAVORITES. Here are their responses.
Caitlin Cheek Soph., Chapman High
Karsyn Stewart Fr., Chapman High
Sport-Pos.: SoftballCF/P Favorite sport: Softball Favorite athlete: Jenny Finch Favorite entertainer: Elvis Presley
Sport-Pos.: Softball-OF Favorite sport: Cheerleading Favorite athlete: Jenny Finch Favorite entertainer: Li’l Wayne
Oakbrook Prep defeated Greater Atlanta 79-73 to win the National Association of Christian Athletes Division II championship in Dayton, Tenn. on March 3. Oakbrook, the SCISA Region III-2A champion, defeated defending NACA D-II national champion Lancaster (Tenn.) 85-84 in overtime to advance to the finals. Oakbrook senior Larry Wideman, who has already committed to Furman, earned tournament MVP honors.
UPSTATE EAGLES CELEBRATE STATE HOMESCHOOLED TITLE
Tori Edwards Sr., Chapman High Sport-Pos: Softball-2B Favorite sport: Softball Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter Favorite entertainer: Clint Eastwood
6 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
Courtney Williamson Fr., Chesnee High Sport-Pos: Softball-3B/P Favorite sport: Softball Favorite athlete: Jenny Finch Favorite entertainer: Jason Aldean
The Upstate Lady Eagles basketball team won its second straight S.C. State Homeschooled Championship with a 44-32 win over the Easley Gladiators at Bob Jones University.
ED OVERSTREET PHOTO
CAVS, CARDS FALL IN STATE SEMIFINALS Three local basketball teams made it to the Upper State finals before bowing out of the state playoffs, including both the Dorman boys and girls basketball teams in Class 4A and the Landrum boys in Class A. Landrum fell to Great Falls 49-44 at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville. The Lady Cavaliers fell to Dutch
Fork 53-46. The Dorman boys team fell to eventual state champion and rival Gaffney 55-47. Gaffney went on to defeat Lexington 58-55 in overtime in the Class 4A state finals in Columbia. Spartanburg Christian also made it to the SCISA 2A state finals, falling to First Baptist of Charleston 75-66 in the title game.
LOREN BROWNING PHOTO
INTRODUCING
Mild Tenderloin Filets Conveniently located in the Upstate area
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CLIPBOARD FIRST OF A SERIES
So You Want to be....
an UMPIRE
First Tee of Spartanburg to host ‘Feet First’ Family Fun Run/Walk The First Tee of Spartanburg will host a “Feet First” Family Fun Run/Walk on Sunday, March 25 at Wofford College. The event is a fundraiser for the First Tee. It includes a 5K race and 1-mile walk, which begin at 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration pricing is $15 for adults, $10 youth, $40 family of four, age 4 and under free. Register online at www.thefirstteespartanburg.org. For more information, call (864) 583-7084, ext. 7.
Nautilus Fitness Center
Zumba Classes
Get in shape in time for summer
60 South Church Street Spartanburg, SC 29306-3242 (864) 583-6427 8 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
Q&A w/ DAVE BROWN EDITOR’S NOTE: Spartanburg’s Dave Brown has been an umpire since the age of 14. Now 50, he calls SEC, ACC, and other major conference college baseball games. He shares knowledge about the profession here. Q: How did you get your start? It all started when I was age 14 and my next door neighbor wanted someone to umpire some Little League ball. I didn’t know anything about it, and I agreed to help him. They paid about $3 to $6 a game, so at 14 you’re making $18 bucks a day. It wasn’t a bad gig. Q: How can someone break into umpiring, that is, if they want to make that a career? First, you need to decide what you want to do. Do you want to go the pro route or do you want to become a high school or college umpire. If you want to become a pro umpire, early on you need a mentor who can guide you in the right direction, and you need to go to pro school.
2 lines of Nautilus machines Free weights
Dave Brown calls a USC player “SAFEEE” in an SEC game.
Q: What makes a good umpire? Well, you have to have an A personality. You have to like people. Have to feel good about what you’re doing and who you are because the confidence level you can’t buy that. You either got it or you don’t. Good ones have it. You have to study, have to stay in shape, have to understand what you’re doing. With all that said, if you’re a B or C personality who doesn’t like to offend people you’re not going to be very successful. People are going to yell at you. The old adage of 50 percent of people are going to like you and 50 percent won’t is true. But the quicker you understand that, the better off you’ll be. And the quicker you get to where you really don’t care. Q. Additional advice? Number 1, get a mentor, somebody who is where you want to be. It’s not hard to find an umpire doing the level of ball you aspire to. Number 2, listen to him and set goals. It’s always a series of goals. There’s no reason why anyone who wants to be an umpire cannot do it. Make a commitment.
CLIPBOARD
Best of friends ... Worst of foes Hillcrest, Dorman players clash on court, but team up to compete for CLUB SOUTH By JOHN CLAYTON
D
orman’s Tarryn Angermeier and Hillcrest’s Kylie Haun turned out to be the best of rivals.
And the best of friends. The two seniors led their respective highschool volleyball teams to state titles — Angermeier winning one with the Cavaliers as a sophomore and Haun as a senior — while also excelling together on their Club South travel teams. “Me and Tarryn have been playing together since eighth grade,” Haun said. “So, we were friends before there was ever a rivalry.” Both have excelled as outside hitters. Haun was named the Class 4A Player of the Year this past season and Angermeier earned Player of the Year honors from the
Hillcrest and Dorman players are fierce rivals on the court, but share friendships off. Hillcrest defeated the Lady Cavs in the 4A state semifinals last season and went on to capture the state title. They were paced by SC Player of Year Kylie Haun, photo inset, in playoff match against Dorman. From left, above, are Club South teammates Ashton Lowder , Sam Del Toro, and Kylie Haun of Hillcrest, and Tarryn Angermeier and Hannah Cabiness of Dorman.
Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Both will be playing at NCAA Division II colleges in the fall. Angermeier said she and Haun, who both admit to a bit of friendly trash talk during their high-school matches, have and will remain close despite the rivalry that had Dorman and Hillcrest vying for the same region and state titles. “If we weren’t going
to win state, I was happy that they did,” she said. Angermeier also would have liked to have played on the same frontline as Haun in high school to see what the pair could have accomplished together at the Class 4A level. “Oh, that would have been great,” she said. “I think we could’ve won more (championships).” The pair will continue to play together with Club South through June and then be off to college in August. Haun has committed to accept a full scholarship
toDivision II Metropolitan State of Denver (Colo.), while Angermeier was to take an official visit to Lander — where she was expected to commit — in early March. “I loved it out there,” said Haun, who first caught Metro coaches’ attention at a tournament in Colorado. “My parents wanted to make sure that was what I wanted, and they’re letting me go.” Angermeier said the Greenwood campus is just far enough away for her. “It’s far enough away, but not too far,” she said. “I can still come home when I want.”
Dorman’s Cabiness signs volleyball letter of intent with Coker Coker College head women’s volleyball coach Todd Caughlin recently announced that Dorman High School’s Hannah Cabaniss has agreed to play volleyball for the Cobras in the fall of 2012. The 5-6 defensive specialist and libero will join the Cobra women’s team after three very successful seasons with the Cavaliers of Dorman. While at Dorman,
Cabaniss was a three-time letter winner and a member of the 2009 South Carolina 4A State Champion volleyball team. During her senior season she had a team leading 201 digs with a 94 percent serve accuracy rating and a 90 percent servereceive efficiency rating. In addition to being a standout player for Dorman, Cabaniss has been a
member of Club South’s National Team as a defensive specialist and libero for eight years. An exceptionally gifted student, as well as an athlete, Cabaniss is a member of the Beta Club, the National Honor Society and the Medical Society. While at Coker she plans on majoring in Physical Education with a focus on Exercise Science. GAME DAY u MARCH 2012 9
Athletes in Action
WE WANT YOUR SPORTS PICS please email to: photos@upstategameday.com
photos by: John Clayton • Ed Overstreet • Les Timms III • Lorin Browning
Nobody who ever gave their best regretted it.
10 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
Winners never quit; quitters never win
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CAMPS / Pt. 2 COMING IN APRIL
SUMMER
TO LIST OR ADVERTISE YOUR CAMP, EMAIL LES.TIMMS@UPSTATEGAMEDAY.COM
SPORTS
CAMPS
Session 3: June 25-29 Session 4: July 9-13 For more information, visit http:// www.gamecocksonline.com/camps/ scar-camps.html.
Compiled By MARY CALDWELL
B
reaks from school offer kids the perfect chance to attend one of the area’s many sports camps. Many schools offer a variety of camps for kids of varying ages, giving them the chance to sharpen their skills under the tutelage of experienced coaches and instructors.
10 12 MARCH MARCH 2012 2012 u u GAME GAME DAY DAY
BASEBALL:
University of South CarolinaUpstate Baseball Camp June 18 - 21 at Cleveland Harley Baseball Park, USC Upstate Campus. For more information, contact Matt Fincher at 864-503-5135 or mfincher@uscupstate.edu. Ron Smith Baseball Camp - Furman University Emphasis is for every camper to be taught with individual drills from Coach Smith’s specialized team concept teaching. Call 864-294-2146 for information. University of South Carolina Youth Day Baseball Camps Session 1: June 11-15 Session 2: June 18-22
BASKETBALL:
Elite Men’s Basketball Camp Aug. 4, Hodge Gym, USC Upstate Campus. For information, contact Kente Hart at 864-503-5297 or khart@ uscupstate.edu. Team Basketball Camp (Kente Hart) June 11-14, Hodge Gym, USC Upstate Campus. For information, contact Kente Hart at 864-503-5297 or khart@ uscupstate.edu.
FCA Girls Basketball Camp June 18-20, USC Upstate Campus. For more information, contact Stacey Turner at 864-578-5464. Date(s): June 18 - 20, 2012 Location: USC Upstate Campus Basketball Camp (Kente Hart) June 21-24 and June 25-28, USC Upstate Campus. For information, contact Kente Hart at 864-503-5297 or khart@uscupstate.edu. Girls Basketball Camps at Furman University Conducted by Coach Jackie Carson. Individual Camp: June 4-7, age 4 through grade 12 Team Camp: June 15-17, middle school, high school and AAU Teams Elite Camp: June 8-10, grades 9-12 For more information, contact LaCheryl Smith at 864-294-3429 or lacheryl.smith@furman.edu.
Jeff Jackson Basketball Camp Various camps available, for kids in 1st grade through high school. Designed to give kids a fun and exciting experience with the fundamentals of basketball, including: ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, 3 on 3 games, 5 on 5 games, basketball drills through contests, etc. For more information, contact Jennifer Arends at 864-294-2170. Brad Brownell Boys Basketball Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Brad Brownell. Individual Camp: June 17-20. Team Camp: June 22-24. Boarding Camper - $440; Commuter Camper: $300; Day Camper: $200. For more information, e-mail sruark@clemson.edu.
Lady Tiger Basketball Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Itoro Coleman June 15-17. Middle school, junior varsity, varsity and AAU level teams. Each team will compete in five on five games, special game situation stations and team building exercises. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of six games during this three-day camp. Minimum of eight players required to register one team. Schools bringing more than one team must have seven or more per team. E-mail ladytigerbbcamp@yahoo. com or call the camp hotline at 864656-1964 to request your Team Camp Packet, which includes all the necessary forms and paperwork.
FOOTBALL: The Mike Ayers Football Camp at Wofford College For more information, contact camp director Shiel Wood at woodds2@wofford.edu or 864-597-4148. All Offensive Camps are designed for athletes entering the 9th-12th grades. The deadline for registration is one week prior to the start of camp. Any individual who registers after the deadline will be charged a $30 late registration fee. All Top Prospect One Day Senior Camps are designed for rising 12th graders. The price of the camp will be announced in the future. Option Offense : Sunday, June 17 to Tuesday, June 19 Offense/Defense Team and Indi-
vidual: Sunday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 27 Resident camper: to be announced Day camper: to be announced Top Prospect One Day Senior Camps Camp 1- Thursday, June 14 Camp 2- Saturday, June 23 fee to be announced Nate Woody Youth Football Camp at Wofford College June 4-7. Learn fundamentals through team competition, group instruction and individual attention. This is non-contact day camp open to children ages 6-12. Cost: $140 if pre-registered and $150 on the first day of camp. Included in the camp tuition is five sessions of individual instruction, at least two games each day and a camp T-shirt.
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Bobby Bentley QB-WR Camp June 28-July 1 and July 19-21 at the USC Upstate Campus. For information, call Bobby Bentley at 864-809-1316. FCA Football Camp July 5-7 and July 16-18, USC Upstate Campus. For information, call Stacey Turner at 864-878-5464. Bruce Fowler Football Camps at Furman University Quarterback and Wide Receiver Camp Session I: June 10-13; Session II: June 17-20 An intensive, four day residential camp for rising 8th-12th graders focused on improving the fundamentals of each player. Offensive Line Camp Session I: June 10-13; Session II: June 17-20 An intensive, four day residential camp for rising 8th-12th graders focused on improving the fundamentals of each player. Future Stars Youth Camps June 4-7 A half-day camp running from Monday through Thursday for ages
14 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
8-13 focused on exposing young football players to the fundamentals of the game. For more information on Furman’s football camps, contact Jordan Sorrells, Football Operations Director, at 864-294-2772 or jordan.sorrells@ furman.edu. Dabo Swinney Football Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Dabo Swinney. Youth Camp I: June 2-3, 2012 (Grades 2-7 for the fall of 2012) Youth Camp II: June 9-10, 2012 (Grades 2-7 for the fall of 2012) High School Camp I: June 12-14, 2012 (Grades 8-12 for the fall of 2012) High School Camp II: June 15-17, 2012 (Grades 8-12 for the fall of 2012) For more information, visit http:// www.daboswinneyfootballcamp.com/ or e-mail jennifi@clemson.edu.
GENERAL:
2012 Strength and Conditioning Camp at Wofford College June 18-July 26. Monday through Thursday 9-10 a.m. $80 a week or $20.00 a session.
USC Upstate Youth Fitness Program June 4-8. 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. HEC Gym at USC Upstate. Ages 6-14. Activities such as swimming, soccer, flag football, team handball, basketball, cooperative games, floor hockey and health education class. Cost: $175.00 For more information, contact Jim Kamla at 864-503-5851 or jkamla@ uscupstate.edu.
GOLF:
Champions Junior Golf at Wofford College June 11-14 (Day Camp, boys and girls age 5-17, 9 a.m.-noon). June 3-7 (Resident Camp, boys and girls age 10-18). JT Golf Camps at Furman University Day Camp - Session 1: June 1115 for ages 8-17, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 11-15 for ages 5-7, 9 a.m. - noon. Residential Camp June 16-20 for ages 10-17 Day Camp - Session 2 July 23-27 for ages 8-17, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
July 23-27 for ages 5-7, 9 a.m.noon. For more information, call Jen Hanna or Todd Satterfield at 864-2946283. Clemson Tiger Golf Academy: Week 1: June 9-13. Week 2: June 16-20. Ages: 10-17. For more information, call Larry Penley at 864-654-5718.
LACROSSE:
Lacrosse - Girls - GameBreaker June 11-14 Developed for ages 8-18, this camp will provide young athletes the opportunity to learn from some of the best coaches in lacrosse today. Over 50,000 campers have attended GameBreaker camps. Individual and team registrations are available. For more information, call 1-800944-7112. Lacrosse - Boys - Empire July 10-13 Residential/commuter camp open to rising 6th through rising 12th grade boys, Empire Lacrosse Camp offers a comprehensive lacrosse experience on and off the field of play.
July 10-13 Residential/commuter middle school camp.
RUGBY:
Furman Rugby Camp July 11-15. Mission is to foster youth rugby development, good sportsmanship and camaraderie.
SOFTBALL:
Upstate Fastpitch Softball Camp June 25-28, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Cyrill Stadium at USC Upstate. Girls ages 8-18. Extensive fastpitch softball instruction for players of all skill levels. Cost: $300 Resident, $190 Commuter. For more information, contact Chris Hawkins at 864-503-5171 or at chawkins@uscupstate.edu. Dana Jenkins Softball Camp For all ages and skill levels. Instructed by the Furman University softball coaches and players along with other college coaches and players from around the southeast. For all players interested in developing their softball skills. It is designed to teach the total game of fastpitch softball. The camp offers many options from being a commuter to staying in
dorms overnight. For more information, contact Dana Jenkins, Head Coach of the Furman Paladins softball team, at 864-3567649 or dana.jenkins@furman.edu.
TENNIS:
Rod Ray Tennis Camp 2012 at Wofford College: May 28 -31: Day Camp June 1-3: Adult Camp. Commute or stay on campus. June 4-7: Day Camp June 10-14 Junior Overnight Camp June 17 -21 Junior Overnight Camp June 24-June 28 Junior Overnight Camp July 25-27: Junior Professional Camp USC Upstate Tennis Camp June 4-July 6 at the tennis courts at USC Upstate. For more information, contact Oliver Trittenwein at 864-503-5131 or otrittenwein@uscupstate.edu . Furman University Tennis Camp Boys and girls of all levels ages 9-16. 4 indoor and 14 outdoor tennis courts. Extensive individual insstruction. Full-day and half-day camp sessions are available. For more information, call 864-294-3428.
SOCCER:
Ralph Lundy Soccer Academy at Wofford College June 17-21 (Ages 9-13, Boys and Girls - Regular only) June 24-28 (Ages 14-18, Boys and Girls - Regular and Elite) Greg Hooks’ Soccer Camp at USC Upstate Day Camp: June 11-14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Ages 5-18 (boys and girls). Day camp at the soccer fields. Offering comprehensive soccer instruction. Cost: $190 Late-Stay, $180 Full-Day, $120 Half-Day, $95 Mini-Camp. Resident Camp: June 15-17 at the soccer fields. For boys in grades 7-12. Offers comprehensive soccer instruction. Cost: $240 resident, $195 commuters. For more information, contact Greg Hooks at 864-503-5117 or at ghooks@ uscupstate.edu. Doug Allison’s Soccer Academy at Furman University Boys & Girls Team Academy : June 21 - June 25 Boys & Girls Senior Elite Academy:
June 28 - July 1 Boys & Girls Residential Academy: June 28 - July 2 Boys & Girls Full Day Academy: July 16 - 20 Boys & Girls Half Day Academy: July 16 - 20
VOLLEYBALL:
FCA Volleyball Camp July 19-21, USC Upstate Campus. For more information, contact Stacey Turner at 864-878-5464. Clemson Tiger Volleyball Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Jolene Hoover. Training Camp: July 12-15. Team Camp: July 18-21. For more information, contact Kelsey Murphy at 864-656-1932. Corey Helle Wofford Volleyball Camp: Directed by Wofford Head Coach Corey Helle. July 6-9, July 11-14, July 16-18, July 20-22, July 23-25. For more information, contact Corey Helle at 864-597-4152 or send email to coreyhelleVBcamp@att.net.
COREY HELLE VOLLEYBALL CAMP July 6-9
JV Team / Young Ones Camp July 11-14
Varsity Team Camp July 16-18
Individual Camp II July 20-22
COREY HELLE Head Volleyball Coach WOFFORD COLLEGE
Individual Camp III July 23-25
Individual Camp IV Camps are open to any and all participants
for more information send email to coreyhelleVBcamp@att.net or call (864) 597-4152
DOWNLOAD Camp Brochure at www.wofford.edu/athletics GAME DAY u MARCH 2012 15
lacrosse story starts here
SOUTH BOUND Upstate becoming hotbed for ‘fastest-growing sport in America’ By JOHN CLAYTON
D
espite the fact that lacrosse as a game is older than Shakespeare’s checker board, it has only found its way to the Upstate at the high school level over the past decade. But the sport’s passionate supporters say it’s here to stay.
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“Lacrosse is growing so much,” said Andrew Daniel, a former Limestone College player who is helping coach Spartanburg District 7 area’s first-year youth program. “It’s the fastest-growing sport in America and I think this is going to be a hotbed. I think the South will be the hotbed in the next 10 years because of the athletes and the weather.” Daniel is a native of Chesapeake, Md., which has been something of a lacrosse hotbed along the MidAtlantic coast for decades, and he was on some of the Limestone teams that first introduced the sport to
PLAYERS GO THROUGH DRILLS AT SPARTANBURG HIGH SCHOOL RECENTLY. YOUTH LACROSSE PROGRAMS ARE BEING OFFERED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS 5, 6, AND 7.
the Upstate. The Saints took on the sport at the NCAA Division II men’s varsity level in 1990 and boast a pair of national titles (2000, 2002) among its accolades. Over the last decade, other colleges and universities, including Presbyterian College, and high schools have added men’s and women’s programs. High schools have followed suit, starting with around 15 schools offering the sport in the early 2000s -- a number that has grown to 30 schools this season. The thing that has been missing so far in the Upstate has been the type of youth feeder programs that fuel local powerhouse football, basketball and baseball programs. That is also changing this year with youth lacrosse programs being offered in Spartanburg School Districts 5, 6 and 7. In District 7 (Spartanburg High) and District 6 (Dorman) more than 100 youth -- about 50 in each district -- signed up for youth lacrosse. Volunteer coach Tim Fields said he saw the need during a summer camp attended by his son at Spartanburg High School.
“When you look at teams like Greenville, Greenvile has had programs for four years or more,” Fields said. “Schools around Fort Mill, Rock Hill and the Charlotte area have had youth programs for years. If you look around and see where the best lacrosse is, it’s in those areas with youth programs operating for a number of years. It does pay off, it really does. So, Fields and other dads/volunteers got together to form a youth league, which started with basic skills drills with elementary- and middle-school aged boys and girls on a Sunday afternoon in February at Spartanburg High School. Daniel and a couple of former college players are helping out, but Fields admittedly had to educate himself by reading and watching Internet footage. “I didn’t even know how many people were on the field back in August,” Fields said. “But I’ve been learning, watching and reading about it. “I knew my son liked coming to the camp this summer. A lot of kids had sticks and were always throwing around, but there was no opportunity
JOHN CLAYTON PHOTOS
“If you look around and see where the best lacrosse is, it’s in those areas with youth programs operating for a number of years. It does pay off, it really does.” TIM FIELDS
Volunteer Youth League Lacrosse Coach
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until the ninth grade to play organized lacrosse here in Spartanburg, and I said, ‘there has to be something we can do about it.’” Dorman coach Matt Lindner said the beginning of youth programs is just what the area’s lacrosse scene needed. If lacrosse sticks find young hands, half the battle is won. “If a kid falls in love with the game, it’s not hard to teach them because they’ll have that stick in their hands from morning until night,” Lindner said.
Another goal
The final seconds had just wound down on an impressive victory over a visiting Hilton Head squad at Cavalier Field in late February. Dorman’s four-year-old program was testing itself against one of the Seahawks, which was among the first high schools in the state to offer lacrosse as a varsity sport. If preseason rankings are to be believed -- and Lindner said he puts little stock in them -- the Seahawks and Cavaliers, both ranked in the top-four in the state, could meet again in the state finals. The sheer number of athletes at the populous Dorman campus has helped the Cavaliers neophyte program rise quickly as has the school’s first-rate athletic facilities “South Carolina has great athletes and they want to play things that are new,” Lindner said. “This is a great sport to showcase the athleticism in South Carolina.” Dorman had athletes, but it just didn’t always have lacrosse players. “The first year we played, nobody knew what was going on,” said senior midfielder Eric McKinney. “Now, every game, every team we play can win a state championship, and that’s 18 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
what we want to do. From where I started, I had just heard about lacrosse and said, ‘hey, I’ll go try it.’ “Now, we’re just going out, giving our best and playing the best competition in the state.” Senior defenseman Andre Monitto had tried the other stick-and-ball sports, but finally found a home on the lacrosse field. “In ninth grade, I was intrigued and needed something to do, and I kept sticking with it and getting better and better,” Monitto said. “I watched college teams and the better high school teams. “The thing about lacrosse, is you have to play all day every day for years to get good at it. You have to love it to be out there almost every day playing the game.” That fact that the number of teams playing in the area -Byrnes, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Greenville, Riverside to name a few -- has helped all the players raise their game. “Better competition makes everybody better,” said Dorman senior attacker Ethan Jarrett. “First and foremost this season, we want to win a state championship. Then, we want to go on to college and keep winning there.” The story is much the same across town at Spartanburg High School, where Vikings Robert Grier, William Valainis and Beck Leonard were helping out with youth drills on a Sunday. Leonard broke down what he and other players see in the sport. “It’s fun to hit people and shoot,” he said. “Stuff like that.”
Net gains
The roots of lacrosse are traced back centuries to American and Canadian Indians who played the sport
JOHN CLAYTON PHOTO
Senior defenseman Andre Monitto (19) and Jay Lester team up for Dorman in a recent match.
-- sometimes for days over fields that stretched for miles -- as both sport and training for warriors. Lindner said those roots are now taking hold in South Carolina. “It’s growing. We’re very patient,” Lindner said. “We’ve been patient for a real long time. We are just going to keep working.” Lindner said he believes that work will result in not only more children joining youth leagues such as the ones just formed in Spartanburg, but also with more fan
support among people who discover the game. “I’ve seen South Carolina grow in the right direction from the coast to the mountains,” he said. “What’s needed is education and exposure. The more exposure, the more people will come out and watch it. “It’s very similar to other sports, so people can relate to it. It’s very easy to learn. It’s not as daunting as some may think. All the coaches in South Carolina are there to help people and to educate people and so are the officials. The more the merrier. “ GD
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After months of preparation at Tyger River Park, it’s now time to ...
Play Ball!
Complex to be recognized as a ‘crown jewel’ in youth sports along East Coast By JOHN CLAYTON
REIDVILLE – A quartet of Byrnes High School softball players – Malibu Gaston, Carley Brummett, Casey Owen and Brooke Beidler -- took a wide-eyed look around the newly unveiled Tyger River Park for the first time. “We weren’t expecting to see something 18 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
like this,” Brummett said. “This is really, really nice.” None of the four, who travel frequently to tournaments with their club teams, said they have played in a facility that compares in size and scope with Tyger River Park. The $17 million facility, which features 12 ball fields and a championship stadium, a 1.92-mile walking trail around the
“Spartanburg has become a major player (in the recreation sports) industry. And it’s going to be more so with the NSA event coming to Tyger River.” CHRIS JENNINGS
Executive Director, Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
LES TIMMS III PHOTOS
Flanked by softball players from Byrnes, Jonathan Evatt, director of the Westside Athletic Booster Association, relates how much the positive impact the complex will have for local teams.
Spartanburg CVB director Chris Jennings, left, and his counterpart from Greenville, Chris Stone, attend a press conference at Tyger River Park in February.
perimeter of the park, a picnic pavilion, four picnic shelters, an observation tower, shaded bleachers, a playground and a community meeting room, was introduced as a crown jewel in Upstate South Carolina recreation at a late-February press conference. Tyger River Park was to officially open March 10 with countywide youth baseball and softball championship tournaments. It will host some 65 events over the final 40 weeks of 2012 and Spartanburg County Parks Department officials expect millions of dollars in local economic impact this year alone. The largest event scheduled this year – the National Softball Association’s Class A and Class B Eastern Girls Fast Pitch World Series – is expected to bring more than 7,000 visitors to the area with an estimated economic impact of $2.5 million. “Spartanburg has become a major player in (the recreation sports) industry,” said Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Chris Jennings. “And it’s going to be more so with (the NSA) event coming to Tyger River.” Spartanburg officials and residents are hoping the investment in Tyger River Park, which was initially scheduled
to open this past fall but did not due to concerns over safety during ongoing construction, will pay off in the same way as the investments neighboring Greenville County has made in its recreation facilities in recent years. “Tyger River Park was built with hospitality tax dollars, just like Greenville’s sports tourism venues,” said Gene Smith, executive director of Greenville Parks and Recreation, noting an estimated $16 million economic impact to the county since 2006. “Over the next five years, Greenville projects an impact of another $33 million, essentially paying back the community $40 million in investments through the hospitality tax.’ Spartanburg and Greenville recreation departments are partnering together to put on the NSA event, and Smith said he is hopeful of other such partnerships in the future. So far, the arrival of Tyger River Park has been a win-win for local hoteliers, despite the fact that the first pitch has yet to be thrown. “For 2012, the impact of Tyger River Park on hoteliers is that there are 19 events booked between February and December that did not exist before,” said Patti Wetherford, general manager of Hampton In
at Summit Pointe and chair of the Spartanburg CVB advisory board for hoteliers. “These events have already started impacting the hotel industry and will also impact local restaurants, retailers and attractions as well.” Local residents and sports organizations, including District 5 Schools and the Westside Booster Association will feel an impact that goes beyond dollars. The Westside Booster Association will finally have a home for its baseball and
softball programs after a long wait and it will serve the growing community in its home school district. “We are very excited about the opening of Tyger River Park,” said District 5 Athletics Director Bobby Bentley. “The impact of the new complex will last for generations and ignite unprecedented success for local athletic programs. Spartanburg County will have one of the crown jewels in youth sports along the East Coast and District 5 will be proud to call it home.” GD GAME DAY u MARCH 2012 21
COMMENTARY
As the sun goes down, baseball action at Tyger River Park heats up.
LES TIMMS III PHOTO
Tyger River Park gives Upstate a new shining star
T
ake that, Epcot. In your face, Pluto. The National Softball Association is bringing its Class A and Class B Eastern Girls Fast Pitch World Series to the brand new Tyger River Park and with the tournament some 300 teams and 7,000 visitors. That tournament is the linchpin in a busy 2012 schedule for the park, which was set to open March 10 with JOHN a county youth CLAYTON championship tournament. “Normally, we go to destination cities for these events,” said NSA Eastern Zone Vice President David Butler. “We go to places like Orlando and help sell more tickets to see Mickey Mouse. . . . When we decided to come here, we said let’s make the event the destination. It will be all about the event.” Tyger River Park is a $17 million proj-
22 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
ect that local leaders are convinced will pay dividends soon enough by filling hotel rooms and restaurants. Chattanooga, Tenn., which hosted the event in 2011, estimated the tournament’s economic impact at $2.5 million. The Tyger River complex lives up to its price tag with a dozen ball fields and a stadium diamond. It’s a shining star on the way to Sugar Tit if not Orlando. So what if Mickey Mouse is hours away in Neverland. We built it, and they’re coming. According to Greenville County officials, their recent investments in their recreation complexes are expected to result in about $40 million in economic impact over the span of 10 years. The fact is, youth sports is big business and the Upstate, which is still struggling to reinvent itself from its textile-dominated past, anted up with Tyger River Park to get in the game. Strangely, that past is also connected to recreational sports of decades past. In every mill town in Spartanburg there was at least one ballfield. “Travel ball” for me meant heading from Holly Springs to Arcadia, Inman or Startex. After he retired from Lyman Mills, my grandfather would drive my best childhood friend and cohort, Mike Sellars, and I to
games. On the trips to Arcadia, we could earn a trip to Holmes Lunch for the best hot dogs in the world (sorry, Chicago) if we played well enough. Somehow, we always played well enough, though the fields were often too dusty or too muddy, and at home, in Holly Springs, the right fielder had to jump a barbed-wire fence to chase down a home run while hoping the bull was on the other side of the pasture. There were no bright lights, but the folks here were friendly and kind. The people who come to Tyger River Park will find that even now. Southern hospitality is still alive and well. It is our most prized invention. For the NSA, the Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau is planning a downtown festival to showcase the city. Westgate and Haywood malls should consider extended Christmas hours with so many teenagers potentially invading. If they’re lucky, they will find The Beacon and learn of the ambrosia that is sweet tea. Hopefully, they will take a look around at the Upstate’s newest crown jewel in Tyger River Park and realize how cool it is to be the event and it’s OK to be Disney free. And Lord willing, they will play just well enough to earn a trip to Holmes Lunch for the best hot dog ever. GD
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FCA spotlight
UPWARD TOURNEY PICS OR FCA COLUMN
‘Anagkaios’ By Ryan Gloer “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…” [1 Corinthians 12:17-22]
Upon moving to Charlotte, I have had the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people. Among the most recent is the encounter I had with the TV repair man, Bryan. After spending nearly an hour on the phone with about five different people (you know the routine), they offered to send one of their contractors to our home to repair the malfunctioning unit free of charge. When he showed up at our door a few days later, I could tell that there was something different about this man. I invited him in and he humbly and diligently went to work on our busted television. It wasn’t long into the conversation that Bryan began to talk to me about the Lord. In the above passage, Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body. The parts of the human body are different for a purpose in the same way that the people who make up the body of Christ are different for a purpose. Each part has a specific function that is necessary to the working of the body as a whole. As Bryan was working in our living room, I was reminded that no matter where we are or how insignificant a task may seem to us in our limited thinking, we have been
given the opportunity to bring glory to the Father. Fixing a television may seem like a minor job; however, Bryan sought it as an opportunity to carry the name of Jesus. Paul tells us that the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. The word, “indispensable” derives from the Greek word, “anagkaios.” Anagkaios means that something is necessary; it is something that cannot be done without. Whether you are a TV repair man or the pastor of a mega church, you are anagkaios. Whether you are a professional athlete or a stay at home parent, you are anagkaios. Whether you are shattering school records or you have never played a single play, you are anagkaios. The book of Romans tells us that we have all different gifts; some prophesy, some serve, some teach, some encourage, some contribute to the needs of others, some have the gift of leadership, and some show mercy. Whatever your gifting, realize that God has arranged you just how He wanted you to be. Avoid thinking that you have nothing to offer to the body of believers and ask Him to reveal to you how you can use your gifts to build up His kingdom. I am thankful for people like Bryan who live out Colossians 3:23, which says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” As members of the body of Jesus Christ, we may have different interests and gifts, but we do have the common goal of spreading the Good News of salvation. I pray that as you read this you recognize that you are anagkaios. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” [Ecclesiastes 4:12]
GAME DAY u MARCH 2012 25
For anyone with the desire to play sports at the college or professional level, the road is long and hard. This regular feature is about local athletes, living their dream, competing at ...
Boiling Springs grads HORTON, dICKSON make dreams come true with Spartans By JOHN CLAYTON Brian Horton’s path to NCAA Division I collegiate golf was anything but typical. The Boiling Springs High School graduate — now a junior at USC Upstate — played neither the AJGA or the S.C. Junior Golf Association circuits. There were no swing coaches or country clubs. Horton simply found his way to a game that quickly became a passion. He taught himself the swing and picked up the nuances of course management and other things as he went. “My junior and senior years of high school, I played pretty well,” Horton said. “I didn’t have any idea about scouting or anything like that, and I was pretty much limited to local tournaments around the Upper State. “I started to take it seriously, but on a limited-resource basis.” In 2007, Horton won the Spartanburg County Junior Amateur and started to get attention from colleges. By the end of his senior year, Division II Newberry College had offered him a scholarship, but he still had a dream of playing at a Division I university. Gardner-Webb called with an offer that he jumped at, but a severe case of mononucleosis sidelined him as a freshman and he never quite found the fairways at GWU. USC Upstate was in the process of transitioning from Division II to Division I status and joining the Atlantic Sun Conference. Horton decided to return to Spartanburg County and join Todd Lawton’s young Division I program. This time, it fit and it’s been mostly fairways and greens for Horton ever since. In February, Horton was named A-Sun Golfer of the Week after leading the Spartans to a surprising second-place finish at The Match Play at Reunion in Florida. Horton went a perfect 4-0 in the match26 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
Nelson Dickson Dickson, a Presbyterian College transfer, was one of the team leaders until a request for an extra year of eligibility due to his transfer was denied by the NCAA. A former baseball and basketball player at Boiling Springs, Dickson arrived at the game competitively a little late, finally taking up the game after he graduated from high school. Dickson said he had dreamed of playing colUSC Upstate’s Brian Horton has excelled legiate golf, and worked in college golf despite not being active on toward that goal to prove the junior golf circuit. naysayers he knew wrong. “He’s just a freakish athlete — he can do play event, notching wins over Notre Dame’s anything,” Horton said Trey Wingo and South Florida’s Tommy of Dickson. “And he’s a natural leader. He’s Riehle. been one of the leaders of our team.” That tournament announced the arrival Upstate is a team, Horton believes, that of USC Upstate in the pantheon of Division is ready to challenge for the A-Sun chamI golf, but also has given Horton, who has pionship in its first year of eligibility for the shaved a half-stroke off his collegiate scoring title and NCAA postseason play. average to 75.3 this season, reason for pause. “We’re going for it,” he said. The business major is considering And so has Horton, despite not always graduate school for a master’s of business having the easiest of lies in the game he administration (MBA) degree, but is now loves, and he urges younger athletes to do also considering taking a swing at life as a the same. professional golfer. “If you have a gift or a talent that sets “That’s one think I’ve talked about with you apart, then you chase it,” he said. “Give Coach,” Horton said. “We’ve talked about it a 100-percent chance.” my goals but I’ve always, from the very Dickson, who is due to graduate from beginning, had to manage my time, and it’s Upstate in May with plans to pursue profesa struggle. I’d love to play professional golf, sional business and amateur golf careers, but Coach has asked me, ‘What are you offered up similar advice. willing to give up?’ To do that, I will have to “Don’t worry about what other people concentrate only on golf for the first time.” think,” Dickson said. “Find a dream and go Horton was one of two Boiling Springs after it with everything you’ve got. GD alumni playing for the Spartans. Nelson
youth fitness
How to improve speed, agility, and reduce ACL injuries
K
nee injuries, and doing SMR as an afterthought. in particular ACL Don’t neglect this important area injuries, are on the of training and injury prevenrise despite greater tion. access to strength and conditioning 2. Warm-up and programs. First, let’s cool down the right answer why these way. Most pre-pracinjuries occur? tice/training routines The ACL is a involve jogging and ligament between stretching. This doesn’t the bones of the begin to do a proper knee. Its job is to job of preparing an prevent these bones athlete for training and from moving too competition, and yes, far apart. When a even big-time college ligament is pushed sports get this wrong. KEN beyond its conYour warm-up needs straints by enough to be active, dynamic FINLEY force then the ligaand include the whole ment may tear eibody. Prolonged ther partially or completely often stretching before training has requiring surgery to repair or at been shown to dampen the least time away from a sport for muscle response leading to recovery. decrease in performance. This When they think of an ACL type of stretching is best suited injury most people believe it for after competition and aids in occurs as a result of someone the recovery process. running into an athlete’s leg bending it in an awkward way. 3. Improve general Surprisingly though, about 70 strength, hip and ankle mobilpercent of ACL tears occur in ity and coordination. a non-contact situation durKnees will basically go ing routine cutting, pivoting or where the ankles and hips landing from a jump. direct them. Exercises that In a non-contact situation improve hip and ankle mobilthese injuries should be prevent- ity are crucial for an athlete able. Current research supports to improve their efficiency of that the proper training methmovement. Improvement in ods can significantly reduce the total body strength leads to the likelihood of these injuries. ability to withstand the forces There are several compothat the body absorbs when nents that make a successcutting, pivoting and landings. ful program both in terms of Improved strength also leads improving speed and agility and to faster running and higher preventing injury: jumping as well. Oh and single leg training such as lunges, 1. Treat the soft tissues step-ups and single leg squatbefore and after training. ting techniques with proper A pre-workout program training are much better than should do the job of preparmachines because you improve ing the athlete for the coming your balance and muscle coortraining and to some extent dination much more when an helping them recover from their athlete is allowed to move and prior training or practices. Foam not constrained by a machine. rolling or other form of selfmyofascial release (SMR) should 4. Get good technical be included and should be man- feedback. This is often an overdatory prior to beginning that looked component of training. day’s session. Many high school Being able to efficiently absorb programs and other coaches are forces when landing from a
jump and cutting can lower your ACL injury risk substantially. Don’t’ make the mistake of trying drill after drill hoping for improvement. Proper coaching of technique is needed because most athletes aren’t going to just figure out how to move well. In fact without proper training, athletes tend to get sloppy with their technique especially when they are tired. Using this framework for how you approach the programming of your high school (and
even younger) athletes will help you get them more invested and excited to be a part of your program, and make them better. I’ll finish with my favorite quote from legendary coach John Wooden. “When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made.” Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. See the small improvements one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens– and when it happens, it lasts. GD 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.
GAME DAY u MARCH 2012 27
youth fitness
Importance of stretching in young athletes
S
tretching for the young athlete is very important and will help them to have many years of injury-free training for all sports. Since physical growth is incomplete in young athletes, an injury at this time could result in long lasting or even permanent problems. A young athlete is at greatest risk of injury during a growth spurt when large increases in weight and height take place. It is during JOHN this time that tight low LANKFORD back muscles and weak abdominal muscles can produce a sway back posture. How many times growing up did you hear an adult say to you “stand up straight” or “keep those shoulders back! Don’t
slouch!” Flexibility becomes imperative during this critical developmental period. Stretching may seem to be a very simple and small thing to do but sometimes small things can make a big difference. Two stretches that are a must are the double knees to chest for the low back and the hamstring stretch for the muscles in the back of the leg.
Low back stretch/Knees to the chest stretch:
1. Lie on your back with your body extended 2. Flex your knees and slide your feet toward your buttocks 3. Grasp knees and thighs 4. Exhale and pull your knees toward your chest 5. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds then relax
6. Repeat twice
Hamstring stretch:
1. Lie flat on your back with legs extended 2. Raise one leg and grasp your thigh with both hands 3. With leg extended and opposite leg flat slowly pull leg toward chest(keep back flat) 4. Hold this position 10 seconds the slowly release and repeat with opposite leg 5. Repeat each leg twice. John Lankford is the owner of Nautilus Fitness Center in Spartanburg. He has over 30 years experience as a trainer, bodybuilder and fitness expert.
Congratulations to all those volunteers, coaches, players, and other supporters of our great Spartanburg County and Upward Sports athletic programs.
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864-699-6353 (Direct) 864-316-5929 (cell) 864-208-8275 (EFax)
GOLF ACADEMY
E
Steps to gain yardage and alleviate your slice
ver watch a PGA Tour If you’re swinging over the telecast and wonder how top, your impact is more like a these relatively small swipe. That’s because you’re not guys hit 8-irons 180 rotating your forearms toward yards? The biggest reason is their the target, a key to creating speed swing path. and hitting the ball crisply. They simply hit the ball from A simple way to work on this in to out. All of the scientific test- is to aim to the target squarely. ing has proven that if Then simply your downswing doesn’t adjust your shoulcome from inside the ders, hips, and feet target line -- like nearly to where you are all touring professionals aimed slightly right -- you’re giving up a lot of target. of yards. Taylor White I’ll show you how from Byrnes High to simply adjust your School is demonsetup to create a more strating the proper natural move from the set-up to hit a slight KYLE inside. Many of you draw.(PicA) are so afraid of hitting This address OWINGS it right that you swing position is ideal for way to the left. You’re hitting a draw. All trying to steer the ball, instead of you need to do from this point swinging through it. is swing the line of your feet and This creates a locked release, release the club head. (Pic B) So which seriously limits power and essentially to get rid of a slice, will only spin your ball more to you need to release the club to the right, giving a weak slice as the right. your shot pattern. You know that Try this, and I am sure you great sound you hear when a tour will gain yardage and alleviate pro hits an iron compared to the your slice. GD swiping sounds you hear when you play with your amateur playReach the Kyle Owings Golf ing partners? Academy at (864)205-4221
A Byrnes High School golfer Taylor White demonstrates the proper set-up to hit a slight draw.
B Taylor White releases the club to the right to alleviate a slice.
GAME DAY u MARCH 2012 29
HIGH5 celebrating athletes Send your team pics to photos@upstategameday.com PEACHTREE CONFERENCE CHAMPS Dawkins Middle School defeated Gable Middle School for the girls basketball conference championship in early February.
Club South 18-1, coached by Wofford’s Corey Helle, was victorious in the Southern Classic, played in early March.
Dorman coach Dave Gutshall discusses players Parks Wallington, left, and Raymond Smith during a signing event in February. Wallington will play for North Greenville, Smith for Wofford. 30 MARCH 2012 u GAME DAY
Club South 16-1, coached by Wofford assistant Tara Brooks, won the 16-year-old division of the Southern Classic, played in Easley.
The Hub City Heat won the Gameday Classic baseball tourney at Lakeside Park in Greenville in early March.
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