>> SPORTS INJURIES >>
STAYING ‘TRANSPLANT TOUGH’
GAME DAY
SPARTANBURG COUNTY EDITION
UPSTATE
Youth Sports Magazine
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November 2011
>> WORLD SERIES
TYGER RIVER PARK TO HOST NSA GIRLS FAST PITCH EVENT
>> LET’S
CHEER!
SPORT HAS come a long way from DAYS OF pom-poms
RIDING HIGH > BMX event brings friends together
ATHLETES IN ACTION >> FANS IN THE STANDS >> FCA SPOTLIGHT >> GOLF TIPS >> YOUTH FITNESS
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Top L to R: Dr. Gerald Rollins, Dr. Stephen Harley, Dr. David Mitchell, Dr. Michael Funderburk Bottom L to R: Dr. Michael Henderson, Dr. Michael Hoenig, Dr. Mary Joan Black, Dr. James Behr
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Leading Off
Large Groups Welcome
LET’S CHEER
18
CHEERLEADING has come along way since the days of girls waving pom-poms w hile they smile and cheer. The sport has evolved.
RIDING HIGH HUNDREDS OF RIDERS competed at the ABA BMX Red Line Cup East Coast Championships at Supercross BMW in Boiling Springs.
14
SPIKED
23
johna robbins suffered a shocking injury, but now she’s on the road to recovery. Read about that as well our stories on youth sports injuries.
Plus: > tyger river park to host fast pitch world series > staying ‘transplant tough’ and more
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Game Day magazine is a free, monthly publication that highlights youth sports and encourages active, healthy lifestyles in Spartanburg County. Game Day magazine gives advertisers an unrivaled opportunity to reach Spartanburg County’s passionate sports and outdoor fans.
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EDITOR & PUBLISHER Les Timms III les.timms@upstategameday.com 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 Kathy Nicholls kathy.nicholls@upstategameday.com WEBSITE www.upstategameday.com CONTACT GAME DAY 864-804-0068 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.
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.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR / PUBLISHER
O
Youth Sports and its amazing appeal
ne recent Saturday, we awoke to what has been become a fall ritual. Up early, we were out the door by 8:30 for a youth soccer game, then onto other sporting activities, and hopefully home in time to watch Carolina and Clemson play their respective games on TV. However, this Saturday in October was busier than usual. In addition to all the usual youth football and soccer games, the Spartanburg County cross country meet was being held at Milliken, the Peachtree Conference was holding its end-of-theseason volleyball tournament for middle school teams, a major softball tournament was in the area, and Dorman’s arena and campus were filled to capacity all day with screaming fans (and, of course, cheerleaders) participating in the Dorman Cavalier Cheer Classic. Having never attended a cheer competition, I would soon be shocked to see how these teams and fans transformed Dorman’s arena into an atmosphere more befitting a rock concert. As I arrived, the arena was at near capacity, the parking lot was filled with
what appeared to be thousands of vehicles, and the morning wave was transitioning to the PM competition. As I watched into the afternoon, what struck me the most, however, was the sheer skill and athleticism these young ladies possessed as they performed their dance routines. Who said cheer was not a sport? Not me, at LES TIMMS III least not anymore. You can read about this competition in an article by Mary Caldwell on page 18 in this issue. I’ll have to say, I came away with greater appreciation of this sport after witnessing it firsthand. As featured on the cover and inside, be sure to read about a major BMX event that was held in Boiling Springs. These kids are amazing athletes and demonstrate some incredible feats of skill on a bike. In another section, we begin a multipart series that explores sports injuries
Relax.
involving young athletes. Our first installment features the latest treatments, plus the story of a young lady fighting back from major injury. However, this being the month of Thanksgiving, what can be more fitting than a story by John Clayton about a young lady who was given the gift of life by her father 11 years ago. Read the heartwarming, amazing story of Dr. Todd and Elizabeth Walter on the following page. We at GameDay wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for reading GameDay. We express our continued appreciation to all who make this magazine possible, especially our loyal readers and advertisers who see the benefit of supporting a positive magazine for young athletes. GD
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Staying ‘transplant tough’ Dr. Todd Walter and daughter Elizabeth share bond for life: He donated portion of his liver to her11 years ago. “Transplant tough.” It’s a little joke between Elizabeth Walter, a Landrum cross-country and track distance runner, and her father, Todd. Before a big meet, they’ll look at one another and Todd will say something like, “You’ve got to be transplant tough today.” And they’ll share a nod and a little laugh at the inside joke. But 11 years ago, no one was laughing. Dr. Todd Walter’s baby girl was dying before she had started to really live. She was 5 years old, and her liver was failing. The usual treatments for the usual ailments proved worthless. Elizabeth would be whisked away to the Medical University of South Carolina in a helicopter, leaving Dr. Walter, a dedicated physician and a loving father who had married his college sweetheart, Lori, from Wofford, helpless amidst the roar of the rotors. “Time sort of JOHN stopped in our world, right there,” Dr. CLAYTON Walter said. “It was sort of a total mind meltdown. Everything just kind of stopped for us. You want to help all your patients -of course, you can’t treat your family -- but you want to do all you can for them. For it to be our daughter, there was just this feeling of helplessness.” That was early November. In the days to follow, Dr. Walter learned that there was one thing he could do -- give half his liver to Elizabeth. It was an easy decision. Elizabeth said she recalls very little of the whole ordeal. It’s all lost in a cloud of post-surgery drugs and the hazy wonder of childhood. The fear and the anxiety were left to the grownups. The jaundice and the pain and even the helicopter ride are all but forgotten, but Elizabeth remembers the day she started to feel better; the day she would take a tiny step toward a pretty normal life and running shoes and all things teen. “It was Thanksgiving and my cousins
Dr. Todd Walter, above, with daughter Elizabeth after an award-winning cross country performance. Below, the Walters at Elizabeth’s hospital bedside 11 years ago when she was just 5.
came down to see me,” she said. “We played a game where I was the base and if they got to me, they would touch me and have to whisper and tell me a secret. “They said it was the first time I had smiled in a month.” The scars are the clearest reminders now. She has one from the transplant surgery and so does her father. She said she’s not self-conscious about hers. It’s just part of her and her story. They both are distance runners. He’s a regular in local 5Ks. He helps coach the cross-country teams at Landrum. Just last year, she brought home gold medals from the National Transplant Games with her father right there beside her. And, of course, they have their inside jokes. “A lot of kids can’t talk to their fathers, but me and my dad are stupid close,” Elizabeth said. Todd watches her run now, sometimes coaching, sometimes cheering.
If he was watching prior to the Spartanburg County Championship meet at Milliken this past month, he would have seen her laughing and posing for photos with her teammates, being wonderfully silly on a perfect autumn morning. “These have all been special memories for me -- just watching her run when 11 years ago, we didn’t know if she was even going to live,” he said. Now, we have a secret, so play along with us, and lean in close so you can hear ... They say Thanksgiving comes only once a year. They’re wrong. GD
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NEWS & NOTES FROM THE LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS SCENE SEND YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS TO LES.TIMMS@UPSTATEGAMEDAY.COM
Game Day Q&A
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.
In only its first year, Tyger River Park will host “one of the biggest youth sports events in the nation,” according to John Luton, Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation operations director, below.
Tyger River Park to host NSA Girls Fast Pitch World Series in July 2012 By JOHN CLAYTON
The newly minted Tyger River Park already has an important date for 2012. Tyger River Park along with North Spartanburg Park and the Highway 295 Complex will play host to the 2012 National Softball Association Girls Class “A” Eastern Fast Pitch World Series. in July. The event is scheduled for July 23-27 and feature as many as 300 teams for players ages 8-18. Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation Parks Operations Director John Luton said he believes it to be the first event of such magnitude to be contested in Spartanburg County. “It was a very difficult event to get — one of the biggest youth sports events in the nation,” Luton said. “And for us to get it in our first year with Tyger River is fantastic. We’re very excited.” The 2011 event was held in Chattanooga, Tenn., and featured 290 teams in competition. Chattanooga was among several cities Spartanburg competed with to land the event, including Orlando and Panama City, Fla. Luton said he expects the tournament to bring with it 6,000-
7,000 visitors and fill up 2,300 local hotel rooms for an average of 4.5 nights per stay. “We could fill up every hotel room in Spartanburg and spill over into Greenville County,” Luton said. “I know Spartanburg is going to put its best foot forward and make this a very successful event. Hopefully, it will be here for years to come.” The NSA, based in Lexington, Ky., provides divisions and levels of play for youth and adult. The 2012 NSA World Series joins the Big League World Series in Easley and AAU East Coast Nationals in Greenville as nationallevel youth sports events contested in the Upstate. GD
McKenlee Randolph Nathan Harris Age: 17 Age: 16 Class: Jr., Chesnee High Class: Jr., Chesnee High Team: Chesnee Cross Country Team: Chesnee Cross Country Favorite Food: Chicken Favorite Food: Animal Favorite TV Show: How I Crackers Met Your Mother Favorite TV Show: Survivor Favorite Movie: Saving Favorite Movie: Toy Story Private Ryan Favorite Video Game: Favorite Video Game: NCAA Pokemon 12 Football Favorite Athlete/Team: Favorite Athlete/Team: USC Dallas Cowboys Gamecocks
Robert Kane Age: 17 Class: Jr., Chesnee High Team: Chesnee Cross Country Favorite Food: Steak Favorite TV Show: Dr. Who Favorite Movie: The Night Before Christmas Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Favorite Athlete/Team: Ussein Bolt
Ashley Hrubala Age: 15 Class: Soph., Dorman Team: Dorman Cross Country Favorite Food: Quiche and sushi Favorite TV Show: House Favorite Movie: Secretariat Factoid: “I’m a vegetarian.” Favorite Athlete/Team: Kim Goucher
GAME DAY u NOVEMBER 2011 7
CLIPBOARD
Q&A w/ Katie Funk Spartanburg high golfer A junior, Funk finished ninth individually and was named All-State in the 4A state golf tourney last month with scores of 73-78--151. 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. COLLEGE ASPIRATIONS? I would love to play golf in college, especially at Furman, Wofford or UNC.
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. HIGHLIGHT OF CAREER Last year we played in a match at Rock Hill and I shot a 32 in 9 holes. That was a fun round to play. 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.
TIGERS ON HAND FOR UPWARD DAY AT CUDD MEMORIAL BAPTIST
SCA wins SCISA 2A volleyball title
>> Four Clemson Tigers visited Cudd Memorial Baptist Church Oct. 23 during its annual Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading recognition service and awards day. Clemson linebacker Daniel Andrews delivered a powerful message to all in attendance and brought along teammates Tahj Boyd, Sammy Watkins and Xavier Brewer who shook hands, signed autographs and even took time to play catch with the Upward participants.
Spartanburg Christian Academy captured its fourth SCISA 2A volleyball title in eight years recently with a 3-0 victory over First Baptist Charleston. Middle hitter Allison Gaminde, a junior, and senior Kelsey Crowe led the way for the Lady Warriors, who also have captured seven conference titles. SCA players credited a “businesslike” approach with helping them close out the season with another championship.
PROVIDED PHOTO
SCA’s Allison Gaminde spikes the ball over a First Baptist Charleston player.
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PROVIDED PHOTO
Oakbrook Prep’s boys soccer team captured a second-straight SCISA title.
Knights shine in another title run The Oakbrook Prep boys’ soccer team won its second-straight S.C. Independent Schools Association (SCISA) Class 2A fall season state championship Oct. 6 in Sumter. And it will probably be the last one as the Knights make a move to SCISA’s spring season this year. Oakbrook defeated the Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach 6-0 to capture its second consecutive fall title and its third in four years. The Knights were 12-2 this past season. “Our biggest strength was our offense,” said Oakbrook Prep coach Jonathan Burnett, who also serves as the school’s athletic director. “We were able to push the ball and score from the midfield. The move to the spring season will be a step up in competition for the Knights, who have no seniors on this year’s squad but lost six seniors from the 2010 state championship team. “We had a good crop of juniors that came around and filled the holes. (The state championship) was definitely our
Do the Right Thing... >> Students at Riverside High School showed their collective heart when they elected this year’s Homecoming Queen in October. Natalie Dopp, a 20-year-old senior in the school’s special needs program, was chosen by the student body with 82 percent
aim this year. I’m proud of the guys being able to get that done.” Members of the team are: Matthew Baghdady, Zack Boyles, Connor Bruns, Evan Bruns, Matt Cooley, Jackson Evans, Coleman Force, Andrew Harrelson, Brady Jackson, Tobias Krussig, Phillip Macdonald, Michael McGetrick, Johannes Nitzsche, Adam Reinhardt, Andrew Reinhardt, Adam Rollins, Matthew Welborn, Jake Woodard, Will Woodard and Will (Arliss) Hollenbach. Oakbrook to add football program Oakbrook Prep plans on adding football to its growing athletic department. Athletic Director Jonathan Burnett said the time frame for the addition has yet to be set in stone, but he expects it to occur at either the middle school or upper school level within the next couple of years. “It’s definitely going to happen,” he said. “It’s just a question of logistics.” Burnett said the next big announcement to come from the school will be the naming of the school’s first football coach. Oakbrook added baseball and competitive cheerleading to its roster of sports offerings this year, joining basketball, volleyball, cross country, swimming and soccer.
of the vote. Natalie has an infectious smile, and she also has Downs Syndrome. “They did this without prompting. . . . It speaks volumes to the character of the school and how well the kids have been brought up,” mom Gail Dopp told FOX TV-21 news. “It means a lot.” Just in case you think Riverside students represent an anomaly, Dorman’s student
Logan Morris captured her third straight individual championship.
SCA girls add to consecutive titles Spartanburg Christian Academy won its seventh straight SCISA state cross country title recently as the Lady Warriors defeated Trinity Collegiate 1876 and Logan Morris earned her third straight individual championship at Heathwood Hall in Columbia. Hall ran the course in a time of 18:20 while teammate Madison Seay, with a time of 19:38, also finished as runner-up for the second straight year. Six runners from SCA finished in the top seven.
body elected Chase Lollis, a student manager for the Cavaliers football team who also has Downs Syndrome, as Homecoming King. Chase was crowned at a school dance in late September. Check out the videos of Natalie’s and Chase’s big nights on Upstate Game Day’s Facebook page.
Athletes in Action For considered inclusion on this page, submit photos to les.timms@upstategameday.com
photos by: John Clayton * Tim Lambka * Ed Overstreet * Les Timms III * Lorin Browning * Pam Dunlap
Play like you’re in first, but train like you’re in second.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
It doesn’t take talent to hustle.
FCA spotlight ‘Thanksgiving’
“S
By Ryan Gloer
hout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give Thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” [Psalm 100:1-5] With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, I am reminded of a passage from the book of Psalm that emphasizes the importance of God’s people to exalt, bless, praise, and worship Him with joy. This time of year usually brings two things to mind – turkey and football. Although feasting and tossing pigskin will quickly raise the adrenaline level, I pray we also take time to realize the abundance of what we have in Jesus Christ and in return share that with others. In the beginning of Psalm 100, we are commanded to shout joyfully to the Lord as the psalmist calls for all of the earth to give Him praise. As the people of God, the church has been commissioned to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. It was Israel’s responsibility to introduce the Gentiles to the God of heaven; the charge to make His name known is also extended to each of us. Beyond our joyful shouting, we are instructed to serve Him with gladness. When we learn to take pleasure in obeying the Father, we will begin to serve Him with delight and sincerity rather than out of obligation. In verse three, it says that we are to ‘know that the Lord is God.’ The word “know” literally means to “know
by experience”. That in itself is something to be thankful for. We can know and experience the God of the universe in an individual and unique way. The same Lord who made the heavens, all of the starry host, the earth and all that is on it, and the seas and all that is in them wants to know us intimately. My friends, if you have an authentic relationship with Jesus then you have an incredible story to tell. What we have experienced in our lives through the supremacy of Jesus should overflow in praise and declaration! By the time we reach verses four and five, the worshipers erupt into songs of praise and thanksgiving because of the faithfulness, compassion, and goodness of the Lord Most High. If we are truly controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the living and active Word of God, it will become clear to others by the way we worship Him in our lives. Our thankfulness should be a byproduct of His goodness. When we personally ‘taste and see that the Lord is good,’ as it says in Psalm 34:8, we discover how infinitely blessed we are. Experiencing the transformational power of Jesus in our lives should compel us to testify to the world that Jesus lives. An attitude of praise and thanksgiving will develop as we meditate on the glorious work that the Lord has done with us. Do the people around you hear you talk about what Jesus is doing in your life? Have you taken time lately to stop and thank the Lord for what He has done and for what He is going to do? A spirit that is thankful is one that will be victorious. A spirit of thanksgiving will empower us to conquer attitudes of ingratitude. “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving…” [Psalm 147:7].
RIDING HIGH BMX event brings hundreds of riders to Boiling Springs
for the love of it
KAVIN BRADNER
“My goal is to make it to the Olympics and win.”
JOHN CLAYTON PHOTOS
Hundreds of riders competed last month at the ABA BMX Red Line Cup East Coast Championships at Supercross BMX at North Spartanburg Park. By JOHN CLAYTON
T
he voice on the loud speaker is as constant and as frenetic as the pedaling.“He’s riding the gravy train on biscuit wheels,” the voice says as a young rider dashes toward the finish line.
Hundreds of riders were competing in early October at the ABA BMX Red Line Cup East Coast Championships at Supercross BMX at North Spartanburg Park in Boiling Springs. They could only hope for “biscuit wheels.” Kavin Bradner, a 15-year-old hometown competitor from Boiling Springs, is hoping for even more. “My goal is to make it to the Olympics and win it,” said Bradner, who splits time practicing at the Supercross facility and working on it with his father, Ben, the track director.
Bradner, a former motocross racer, made the shift to bicycles when he discovered the BMX facility accidentally while nursing a broken collar bone. He showed up at the park looking for a tennis match and left with a new passion. “I got on the bike right after that and never looked back,” he said. The transition from motorcycles made picking up BMX easier for Bradner, who has progressed quickly from the novice to the expert ranks. Bradner said he usually travels to a competition once a month or so, but can be found practicing at the local track just about any night alongside a few other BMX riders. Among them, Kyle Frix, 11, also of Boiling Springs, who said he started riding BMX bikes at the age of 3. “It’s a lot of fun,” Frix said. “You get to hang out with your friends and stuff.”
Social Circles
Duncan’s Shane Stoudt, 16, started competing in BMX when he was 11. The homeschooled student said
SHANE STOUDT
“I get to hang out with my friends.”
ASHLEY CONWELL “It’s one of those sports that’s fun to do.”
BMX RECOGNIZED FOR SOCIAL CIRCLES / FROM 15 the activity fills a void for him, giving him a social circle and allowing him to compete regularly despite not having the opportunity to compete in team sports. The sport, he said was passed down through the family – his father was a former BMX racer. Like Bradner, the younger Stoudt is racing at the expert level. “I get to hang out with my friends,” Stoudt said. “I can customize my bike and work on it.” The fact that it is an individual sport – filled with electric colors that identify riders as well as the sport’s sponsored power teams – that encourages individualism was appealing to Inman’s Ashley Conwell, too. “It’s one of those sports that’s fun to do,” said Conwell, 15, who races in the cruiser division. “If you’re sick and don’t feel like practicing one day, then you don’t and you’re not penalized.” Cruisers are heavier bikes with larger wheels, compared to the often high-flying 20-inch cycles ridden in that division.
Conwell said she started riding when she came to the track with her younger brother, nodding to the family atmosphere that she likes. Even though the sport has gotten more exposure nationally with televised events such as the X-Games, created and broadcast by ESPN, its grassroots levels are more familiar. “It’s very family oriented,” she said. “I love doing it. We’re just on big, happy family out here.”
Getting Serious
Christopher White, a Canadian transplant who landed with his family in Greer, took his father’s advice several years ago and began racing. White was an orange-and-blue blur occasionally catching air to take two moguls at a time to the admiration of onlookers. “Who is that guy?” one spectator asked as White, 14, whizzed by. White, 14, began racing as a 4-year-old and has pedaled his way into the National
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Age Group rankings alongside his younger brother, Anthony. “I like competition a lot,” Christopher said. “And in this sport, I get to meet a lot of new friends.” Christopher, a Riverside High School freshman, is rated NAG-2 in his age group and well on his way to NAG-1 in the points system. The more points earned, the higher up the NAG ranking he goes. Anthony, 12, is a seventh-grader at Riverside Middle School, said he has enjoyed his BMX experience as he family travels to competitions across the country and in Canada. “We’ve traveled a lot,” he said. Just as in any other sport, the White brothers said they push themselves to get better with each competition. So is Bradner. “I don’t know if I feel myself getting better when I’m practicing,” Bradner said. “I can tell it more when I race. A lot depends on the competition. “But I definitely think I’ve improved.” GD
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‘Not your mom’s pep squad’
Competitive cheer a tough, year-round sport By MARY CALDWELL
C
heerleading has come a long way since the days of girls waving pompoms while they smile and cheer. Sure, they still do that, but cheerleading has evolved into a competitive sport that requires conditioning, athletic ability and year-round commitment.
KAYLA DALTON, A BOILING SPRINGS HS CHEERLEADER, SAYS HER SQUAD FOCUSES ON “HARD CONDITIONING” LIKE FOOTBALL PLAYERS
“It’s not your mother’s pep squad any more. It’s a competitive squad, and these girls are not only competing on
Saturday, they’re also out there on Friday nights supporting the football team,” says Dorman High School Athletic Director Flynn Harrell. “They’re very athletic. They work extremely hard,” he adds. Cheerleaders also have to be tough, since they might suffer an injury during practice or on Friday night but still participate in a competition on Saturday, he points out. When asked if cheerleading is a sport, Harrell was emphatic. “It’s absolutely a sport, and it has been for some time,” he says. As with other sports, cheerleading
LES TIMMS IIII PHOTOS
competitions attract large crowds and can rival and sometimes even surpass football games as money-makers. In fact, a recent competition held at Dorman will be the the athletic department›s second-highest moneymaking event this year, trailing only the Dorman-Gaffney High School football game, according to Harrell. It was by far the largest cheer competition held at a high school in the state. “Folks like to come to this competition because they know many of the top teams in the state are going to be there. Also, several of the judges are going to be at the state competitions,” Harrell says. The Dorman Cavalier Cheer Classic showcased 67 junior varsity and varsity squads from across the state and CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Cheer squads from Riverside HS, Lexington HS and Boiling Springs HS compete, while top right, 12 & under champs Travelers Rest Devildogs hoist a trophy, and Dorman supporters cheer on their squad from the floor.
CHEER: MANY SQUADS TRAIN YEAR-ROUND / FROM 19 packed the stands and parking lots with enthusiastic crowds. The two-and-a-half-minute routines were high-energy and filled with amazing athletic flips and tricks that wowed the spectators. After watching the routines, t’s easy to see why cheerleaders train rigorously throughout the year. Kayla Dalton, a Boiling Springs High School cheerleader, says her squad practices three to four days a week for about two-and-a-half hours each time. Additional practices can also be held on Saturdays and before competitions. “We have to condition a lot. We have workout stations where we cheer at the same time. We also run the stadium steps,” she explains. “We do hard conditioning like the football team does.” Endurance and strength training are an important part of preparation, says Tanya Ruff, a Spartanburg High School cheerleading coach. And the hard work doesn’t stop once the school year ends. Squads continue their practices and workouts and get only a week or two off during the summer. “If you want to be competitive, especially in 4A, you have to work year round,” says Ruff.
Want to see more?
The South Carolina High School League State Cheerleading Finals will be held on at the BI-LO Center in Greenville on Nov. 19 starting at 11 a.m., with doors opening at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10. Many cheerleaders also compete with area cheer clubs, so their schedules are even busier. That’s the case for Haley Patrick of Spartanburg High School. She’s traveled to Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, Florida and Dallas for competitions, and one year even competed with four cheer teams. Hayleigh Ksor of Dorman competes with the Carolina All Stars in addition to her school squad, says her mom, Alicia Allen. The schedule is a busy one. She has about 20 competitions a year and gets only a week off in the summer and one at Christmas. “She’s definitely at it year-round,” Allen says. The foundation for cheerleading success can start at an early age. Hayleigh
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has been cheering since the second grade, and Kayla started cheering for Little League games when she was about five, which isn›t uncommon. Many cheerleaders have been involved with the sport or gymnastics since they were quite young. “Conditioning starts at an early age,” says Ruff. With the heavy emphasis on gymnastic tricks, many girls start with gymnastics in kindergarten or first or second grade, she adds. With their busy schedules, cheerleaders must learn to manage their time well. Many fit in extra study time while traveling to competitions. And if school dismisses at 3:15 and practice starts at 4, they can utilize the time in between. Spartanburg High’s cheerleaders help each other study, according to their coaches, carrying their teamwork over from sports to academics. If one girl is good at math and another is good in English, they can help each other study. It’s certainly worked for Haley Patrick, who manages to make straight As in spite of her busy schedule. She’s a firm believer in studying in the car, describing how she utilized her time on the way to a recent practice for a cheerleading club. GD
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first in a series YOUTH SPORTS INJURIES
SIDELINED
MEDICAL ADVANCES HAVE AIDED IN RECOVERY, BUT EXPERTS SAY MANY INJURIES CAN BE PREVENTED By LES TIMMS III
Y
OU SEE IT ALL THE TIME. Young athletes with potential all of a sudden go down with an injury, never to return to the greatness they were destined to
achieve.
A soccer kick gone awry, a broken shin or torn knee. Just one more pitch to an apposing batter, a torn rotator cuff or elbow. Planting a knee, it gives way, and all of sudden there’s surgery and months of rehab. DR. HOENIG Many injuries are brought on by sport specialization in male and female athletes, say local experts, but females are more susceptible than their male counterparts when it comes to knee injuries DR. SINGLETON due much in part to anatomical differences. “ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears have become more prevalent in the last 1015 years, particularly among young high school and college female athletes,” said Dr.
Steven Singleton of Village Orthopaedic Surgery. “It’s reached an epidemic, so much more prevalent than 20 years ago,” because more females are competing in sports due to Title IX, Singleton said. Dr. Michael Hoenig with Orthopaedic Associates says female athletes have a “three to six times increased risk (of this injury) because their bodies are different. They land differently, have different mechanics” due to wider hips and other differences. Advances in treatment and rehab have made the possibility of athletes returning to pre-injury standards greater now than ever, although not guaranteed. Following ACL surgery, which is performed through creating small holes in the skin, athletes can expect to return to the playing field, though not at full strength, in as little as four to six months if they follow an aggressive rehabilitation plan. Years ago, that process from the operating room to playing field would have taken a full year or more due to much more invasive surgery. Despite the advances, experts say that many injuries could be prevented. “Thirty years ago when athletes played more sports, the body didn’t get used to doing just thing,” said Dr. Singleton. “Now
kids are isolating body parts early on and they don’t develop more normally and throughout.” Baseball is a “big problem,” said Dr. Hoenig. “By the time I see some of these athletes, their arms are shot” through overuse. Volleyball also has its risks due to the overhead motion which wears on joints. Soccer is more noted for its concussions and knee injuries. “At the college level,” said Hoenig, “at least one female athlete on every team may have had ACL surgery.” Medical experts elsewhere point to a series of factors that might be driving up the number of injuries on the athletic field. They cite the level of competition, the pressure to perform, and the drive to specialize in an individual sport at an early age, rather than building overall strength through a diversity of sports. Compounding the tendency to specialize are the multiple opportunities to play, regardless of the season. A young player can hopscotch from her club team to her high school team and back again, booking up her entire calendar year with practices, games, and tournaments. Unless she gets injured. GD
NEXT MONTH: CONCUSSIONS
‘SPIKED’
RISING STAR JOHNA ROBBINS’ VOLLEYBALL CAREER WAS PUT ON HOLD BY A FREAK INJURY. MONTHS LATER, SHE’S ON HER WAY BACK. By KAREN L. PUCKETT
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or Johna Robbins, the real pain didn’t begin until the physician told her she couldn’t play volleyball for six months.
It was April 3, the day Club South competed at regional competition in Charlotte. During warm-ups, Johna practiced her serves, particularly her signature jump-serve. As the whistle sounded to stop the warm-up and begin the match, Johna jumped to complete her last practice serve. “When I landed, my knee went one
Johna Robbins, right, is nearly recovered from a severe knee injury she suffered last spring in a volleyball tourney. Below, teammates help Johna following the freak accident.
way, and I went the other,” says the bubbly 15-year-old sophomore at Dorman High School. “It was a freak accident, like I fell in the air.” Lying on the court unable to move, Johna was “trying to keep myself together” while her teammates initially were thinking she was joking around, “being goofy and silly.” A few moments passed, and the unthinkable came to light as Johna tried to walk. “My left leg just gave out,” she recalls. “I was so determined to play.” The team trainer told her she could not play and encouraged her to get to the hospital to get checked out because at the time, no one knew the seriousness of her injury. Instead, the teen insisted that she stay during the match while she sat on the bench. After all, it was a big match, Club South was playing its arch rival Magnum from Columbia. “I didn’t cry. I just wanted to cheer my team on,” she says, adding that the pain at the time was minimal. “She never once complained about
LES TIMMS III
pain. She did not want to go to the hospital,” says her mother, Cynthia, a former Union High School volleyball standout. However, mom rules, and Cynthia decided that Johna should be treated at a hospital in her hometown, rather than Charlotte, in the event it was a longlasting injury. Which it was. Johna had two tears in her left ACL and meniscus, which led to her doctor’s first assumption that Johna may never play sports again. Because of the elasticity of her muscles used to repair her left knee, Johna awakened from surgery with the prospect of playing volleyball again in a mere six months. For someone with dreams of playing in the Olympics and Division I collegiate volleyball, that was simply too long. “For Johna, that was a big pill to swallow, that she couldn’t play for six months,” Cynthia says, adding that she’s thankful her daughter’s injury was not career-ending. What did lay ahead for Johna during
SPIKED: JOHNA ROBBINS ON COMEBACK / FROM 23 GETTING TO KNOW: JOHNA ROBBINS PARENTS: Johnny and Cynthia Robbins IN THE GENES: Johnny, a Lockhart High School baseball star, was drafted by the Dodgers and played 8 minor league seasons; Cynthia excelled at volleyball, basketball and softball at Union High School PET: Beagle named Thunder PET PEEVE: “People who sing a song but don’t know the right words to it.” WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOU: Outgoing HOBBIES: Singing, dancing, writing, playing piano and clarinet FAVORITE FOOD: McDonald’s French fries BEACH OR MOUNTAINS? BEACH RITUAL BEFORE EVERY VOLLEYBALL MATCH: “I look at the crowd and find Daddy, and we point at each other.” FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Math LAST BOOK READ: “Blood on My Hands” by Todd Strasser FAVORITE TV SHOW: “Law & Order SVU” AFTER COLLEGE: Wants to be a pharmacist IF YOU COULD TAKE ANYONE TO DINNER, WHO WOULD YOU TAKE AND WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE HIM/HER? : “I’d take Grandpa Doug to Blue Bay because he loved fish.” IF YOU FOUND A TREASURE CHEST, WHAT THREE THINGS WOULD LIKE IT TO CONTAIN? 1. A million dollars, 2. A cure for cancer and 3. A horse ranch WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT JOHNA: She’s a member of Pure-N-Heart, which was nominated for a Stella Award in 2009 for Best Children’s Performance
the summer months were endless therapy sessions and exercises to rehabilitate and strengthen her leg so that she could be court-ready by October. Which she was. Not that the Robbins family ever took a six-month break from volleyball. “We’d get home from work, and there was Johna, dressed in sweats and wanting us to take her to practice,” Cynthia says, explaining how Johna, though unable to play, was there for her team just as the team was there for her while she recovered from her injury. For example, at a tournament in Baltimore immediately after her surgery, one that Johna was unable to attend, her teammates brought her Club South jersey #6 and placed it on the bench alongside the players and put her number on special ribbons in her honor. “Not being able to play took a toll on her,” Cynthia continues. “She really wanted to play, and six months was a lifetime for her.” Johna supported her team from the sidelines by helping out the coaching staff, such as serving as a ball-tosser during practices.
Despite her strong desire to hit the court, Johna listened to her parents, doctors and therapists and was finally able to return to the game she loves on October 4, a Junior Varsity match against Hillcrest. “I was a nervous wreck the whole game,” Cynthia says. “She did excellent.” So excellent, Johna’s first hit was a kill, and her first serve was an ace. (Although she didn’t implement her booming jumpserve, she served it flat, much to Cynthia’s relief.) She later received All Tournament Player recognitions before the season ended. Johna’s future looks bright again, thanks in part to the support of her volleyball team and the skill of her medical team. Johna’s own perseverance and determination, along with her parents’ encouragement, also contributed to this success story. Off-season play with Club South begins soon, and then prep volleyball starts back up with Johna eagerly anticipating getting off the bench and back on the court with her teammates. Taking it one step at a time, Johna hopes one day to play for Auburn University and possibly in the Olympics. GD
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SPORTS INJURIES: WHAT SHOULD I KNOW?
W
ith an estimated 2.3 million sport and recreation injuries occurring each year among adults, it is important to take steps toward prevention, and to know when to seek medical attention should you become injured.
– 2-3 times daily for 20 minutes, compression and elevation) to relieve pain and inflammation. However, if the injury worsens, you should seek medical attention.
Which injuries are most common? Sprains and strains are most common among the casual athlete.. Signs of a sprain may include tenderness or pain, bruising, inflammation or swelling. A strain, either moderate or severe may include pain, muscle spasm and loss of strength. Knee injuries are the most common type of joint injuries, due to the knee’s structure and weight-bearing capacity
the increased swelling or instability occurs along with an ache from an old injury, you should seek medical attention. For minor injuries, you can most likely be treated by your primary physician. If your injury is severe, you should seek the attention of an emergency care facility.
What should I do if I become injured? If you become injured, you should immediately stop the physical activity. No matter the severity of the injury, continuing the activity will further the injury.
If you need further treatment for your injury, your physician may refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in treating the musculoskeletal system, or a physical therapist who will help you recover from your injury and work to prevent further injury through rehabilitation.
When should I seek medical attention for my injury? If your injury causes severe pain, swelling or numbness, you are unable to tolerate the pain caused by the injury, or
Can I treat my injury at home? If you do not have the symptoms listed above, you can initially treat your injury at home. Remember the RICE method (rest, ice
What can I do to prevent a sport injury? Do warm-up exercises before participating in any sporting activity. Do not overdo it. If you are just beginning an exercise program, start slow and gradually progress to more vigorous activities. When jumping, land with your knees bent. Wear properly fitting shoes that provide shock absorption and stability. Avoid twisting knees by keeping your feet as flat as possible during stretches. Use a softer exercise surface when available, avoiding hard surfaces if possible Cool down after any vigorous activity. PROVIDED BY DR. STEVEN B. SINGLETON, M.D., FACS. Dr. Singleton is a sports medicine specialist with Village Orthopaedic Surgery. He has expertise in shoulder, elbow, knee and foot/ ankle reconstructive surgery.
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The Next Level
‘TOP DAWG’
Terriers’ Ty Gregory overcame humble start, now he dominates By JOHN CLAYTON
W
offord sophomore Tymeco “Ty” Gregory is already an anchor on an offensive line that could pave the way for the Terriers to bring home a second-straight Southern Conference championship. But getting to this point wasn’t a given for the former Greer High School standout who played football sporadically until his freshman year of high school and then flunked his conditioning test when he arrived for his first training camp at Wofford a year ago. “When I failed the conditioning test, I didn’t know if I wanted to do football at first,” said Gregory. “As time went on, I was really motivated to get a spot on the team, and it’s been a great feeling. All I can do is give glory to God for giving me the strength to be here right now.” Gregory, now listed at 6-foot-2, 293 pounds, grew up as one of the bigger, stronger kids around, but football was not always a priority. He grew up in Greenville before moving to the Greer area before high school. “I didn’t put myself out there to be on the football team at first,” he said. “I had a lot of troubles growing up, so I just never really tried to pursue it. “There were family problems and financial problems. My mom (Tosha), being a single mom, didn’t have time to take me to practice every day.” As a freshman at Greer, he made the
TY GREGORY IS AN ANCHOR ON WOFFORD’S OFFENSIVE LINE.
decision to pursue the sport and soon thereafter, the Yellow Jackets new they had something special. He was called up to varsity during his freshman year and Gregory then, too, felt that he could be something special and things started to fall into place. “When my coaches put that trust and support in me, I realized that I could have a really good career in this and could do really well,” Gregory said. “I could keep doing this forever.” Gregory led the Terriers in knockdown blocks his season with 85 through eight games at the point of Wofford’s run-firstask-questions-later offense. “I love this offense. . . . I really feel that coming from Greer, where we ran the ball all the time, this was perfect for me,” he said. “It fits exactly into what I can do. I just love running around hitting people.” Though he had plenty of college options, Gregory chose Wofford early on in the recruiting process. He said the close-knit campus and his football experiences have been everything he wanted. “It has been -- and a little bit more,” he
said. “I love the campus and love the people.” Halfway through his college career, Gregory, an accounting major, says he still has dreams of playing in the NFL or even in the Canadian Football League, but knows that is rarified air for a Wofford player -- since the days when current Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson played for the Baltimore Colts. He was a Southern Conference AllAcademic team selection as a freshman. “I don’t want to give up on my dream, but I also have a backup plan,” he said. “I don’t want to be one of those guys who hangs around for five or 10 years just trying to make it.” But he won’t give up before he tries. And that was his advice to younger players who dream of someday playing on Saturdays or Sundays. “Never give up and just keep working hard because hard work really does pay off,” Gregory said. “Even if you think you can’t make it, you can make it no matter what your financial status is, what color you are or anything, you can make it to a prestigious institution even bigger than Wofford. You just have to keep up with it.” GD
YOUTH FITNESS
Achieving high performance success
H
to run a certain time in the 40 aving been given the yard dash. Aim high with what privilege of working you expect to happen but make with a number of sure it is reachable and that it is our area’s finest and most successful athletes over the measurable. past 10 years I have noticed a 2. Execute a plan - Nothing number of consistent principles happens without a plan- fail that have helped lead to their to plan and you plan to fail. success in their Think of your plan respective sports. as a step ladder with each rung bringing I think you’ll you closer to your appreciate some level of achievement. of these principles Without a guide, then and will realize it becomes easy to skip how they carry steps or not even take over into all action to reach your phases of your life performance goal. from parenting Write out the details of to business and your plan and follow including your KEN them to a tee. relationships. FINLEY 3. Be consistent – 1. Define your One of the principles expectations – that Hall of Fame basketball Have clear expectation of what coach John Wooden espoused is you want to happen in your that big changes take time over chosen sport. Maybe it’s to a long period of time and that obtain a .300 batting average or
Defining expectations and executing a plan are among several steps that ensure reaching your goals. to make that happen work a little toward your goal every day. Small improvements done every day lead to radical changes over weeks, months and years. 4. Seek out experts – No one is reinventing the wheel despite what you read on the Internet or see on You Tube. The principles for athletic success are already well-defined. Learn from those who have gone before you. A qualified expert can give you the guidance and the plan to reach your athletic success. 5. Avoid negative thoughts – Negative thoughts make you feel anxious and keep you from your achievements. Instead of being overwhelmed by these feelings, you can learn to use them as a cue for action. Turn your mind back toward your previous successes and get stick to your plan to make your success happen. 6. Success requires sacrifice -Decide what you are willing to give up in order to achieve your success. It might be getting up early to do a workout or going to bed early when your friends are all going out. Success doesn’t happen without consistent effort. 7. Keep away from negative people – Surprising but I have
found that as you begin to excel at something others often become jealous and would rather bring you down rather than work hard to get where you are. Don’t let them bring you down. Choose to find positive people in your life, share your dreams and let them become part of your journey to high performance achievement. 8. See the Future - Visualize what it will be like when you achieve your success. See the winning shot going in or picture the ball flying over the fence. How will it sound to hear your name called out in the starting line-up? 9. Celebrate the moment When you achieve your success step back and reflect on what you have accomplished. So many forget the sacrifice and dedication that was necessary to get where you are but rather stand around and wonder what next? You will have worked hard so enjoy the moment before moving on to your next achievements. 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.
GOLF TIPS
Juniors: Stay back and swing up for longer drives
I
Greene, an young aspiring golfer give many lessons to young demonstrates the proper set-up aspiring golfers and one and finish with her driver. problem that all experience at one time in their short In PicA, you can see that golfing career is power. Gracie is tilted back so she can swing up. A good drill to help This is of no fault of their a junior feel the sensation of own, they simply are not strong swinging up is to put them on an enough to swing the club with upslope and have them enough club head swing with the hill. I speed. The driver is have found that this is the club where you the most effective and want the most length quick way to teach this and it is also the only move. club for the most part that you get to In PicB, you can see tee as high as you that Gracie is holding want on each hole. her finish. This is very important for juniors Many juniors to learn as well. If you swing at a driver KYLE can’t hold your finish, like an iron. This is you are probably simply because they OWINGS swinging too hard. have not learned the difference in Also, learning sweeping the driver versus to hold your finish is good at driving an iron. Over my years helping develop a stronger core. of teaching, I have found that So when working with your kids, drastically adjusting a golfers set- teach the feeling of hoisting the up and allowing them to get the ball and holding your finish. GD feeling of hoisting the ball allows for higher and most often longer Reach the Kyle Owings Golf drives. Academy at (864)205-4221 In this article, Gracie
Gracie is holding her finish, a good drill for juniors. If you can’t hold your finish, you may swinging too hard.
B
Gracie Greene is tilted back so she can swing up.
A
HIGHLIGHTS Send your team photos to les.timms@upstategameday.com
PEACHTREE CONFERENCE CHAMPS Dawkins Middle School, right was recognized for winning the volleyball title over Gable MS.
PEACHTREE CONFERENCE RUNNER-UP Gable Middle School, left, defeated Dawkins once in the regular season but lost in the conference tourney.
4A ALL-STATE GOLF TEAM From left, Dorman’s Morgan, Spartanburg High’s Katie Funk, Riley Lovorn - TL Hanna, Kaitlin Matheson and Cayla Smith (Wren), Taylor Ann Dobson - South Aiken, Kelly Murphy - Lugoff Elgin, Nicole Chin - Dutch Fork, Lauren Stephenson - Lexington, Maegan Higgins - Wren
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