Upstate Game Day

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>> INSIDE: SRHS special pullout section

Lattimore making most of new life

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Whether you are on the field or cheering on the sidelines, sports can mean a visit to the doctor. The Sports Medicine Institute at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg is here to help your athlete get back in the game.

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Progressive programs combined with experts from orthopaedic surgery, physical therapy and sports medicine help your athlete achieve optimal results.

The Sports Medicine Institute is headed up by John Lucas IV, M.D. Dr. Lucas, a sports medicine specialist, is part of the Medical Group of the Carolinas, a group of 275 physicians in 20 specialties.

SPECIAL EDITION: BEST OF 2014

The Institute offers two clinics:

Sports Concussion Clinic – for concussion or post-concussion symptoms Ultrasound-Guided Injection Clinic – provides precise delivery of medication in musculoskeletal injections

For an appointment or to learn more about the Sports Medicine Institute, call 864-641-7400.

9768 Warren H. Abernathy Hwy., Suite B, Spartanburg, SC 29301 • 864-641-7400 • SpartanburgRegional.com

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Leading Off > 8-14

STATE CHAMPS: Hillcrest, Spartanburg, Christ Church

> 16

Marcus Lattimore making most of new life

> 19

BIG DAY: Seniors sign to play at the next level

> 24

ATHLETES IN ACTION photo galleries

> 28

Finley: Are you willing?

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> 30 Rogers: Making a difference > 32

Buckley: Special moments

Looking for an extra copy?

Upstate Game Day is located in more than 200 high-traffic locations. Copies can be picked up inside many restaurants, including Bojangles, Fuddruckers, Pizza Inn, The Clock, Chick-Fil-A (eastside & Hwy 290), bookstores such as Barnes & Noble, Academy Sports, medical offices, gyms/fitness centers, schools, hair salons, and many more locations.

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GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 3

WELCOME TO UPSTATE GAME DAY Welcome to the new edition of Upstate Game Day. We are in the fourth year of publication and well on the way to truly becoming a publication for the entire South Carolina Upstate.

In the past, we have focused on stories in our backyard, Spartanburg County. Now, we are broadening that base to include Greenville and Cherokee counties with the hopes of bringing the same great storytelling through words and photographs that we have gained a reputation for in Spartanburg.

Readers and marketing partners have called us a “Sports Illustrated” for the local sports scene, and we couldn’t be more proud of that comparison.

We want to tell stories that go beyond the games and the box scores.

We want to inform, entertain and inspire.

So, with a new year in 2015, comes a new regional Upstate Game Day that will contain more stories, photos and information from an expanded market and for an expanded audience.

Over the past three years, our cover stories have included state championships won and lost, the courageous story of former South Carolina and Byrnes star Marcus Lattimore, the ecoNEXT STEP nomic and social FREE upstate impact of sports in the area as well as the hopes and dreams of some of the Upstate’s best athletes.

WE ARE TH E Publisher/ CHAMPIO NS Upstate winners Senior Editor highlight memorable year Les Timms III and Associate Editor/Senior Writer John Clayton together have nearly a half-century of experience in sports pages around the country.

And they work with some of the most talented photographers in the region to produce Upstate Game Day each month.

who we are

Les Timms III

les.timms@upstategameday.com Upstate Game Day Publisher / Senior Editor and founder Les Timms III is a former sports writer, copy editor and editor with more than 20 years experience at daily newspapers in the Carolinas and Georgia. Most recently he was Night City Editor at the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. From 2005-10,Timms served as Special Publications Editor at the Herald-Journal and oversaw five speciality news products. One, Pulse, captured first place in the 2009 S.C. Press Association contest for lifestyle publications. He is the father of three daughters who all play, or have played youth sports. His oldest, Sarah, plays golf for Anderson University. The middle daughter, Emily, plays volleyball for North Greenville, and the youngest, Leslie, is a freshman and volleyball player at one our local high schools. Timms launched the magazine in August 2011.

John Clayton john.clayton@upstategameday.com Upstate Game Day Associate Editor and Senior Writer John Clayton is the winner of more than 25 writing and photography awards from various press associations including the Georgia AP Award for Sports Features, spent the bulk of his career in press boxes across the country as a sports writer and columnist. He has worked as a sports writer for The Beaufort (S.C.)/Island Packet, Savannah (Ga.) Morning News and National Speed Sport News. He was also the Indianapolis-based columnist for Thomson/CNHI Newspapers, covering the NFL’s Colts, NBA’s Pacers as well as Purdue, Indiana, Butler and Notre Dame universities as well as motorsports at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

From the Dixie Boys World Series to the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, NBA Finals and NCAA Final Four, Clayton has written with authority, clarity and conscience. He is known among editors and peers for his unique voice as a writer and his instincts as a reporter.

Despite his extensive travels, Clayton is a Spartanburg County native and calls the Holly Springs community home. He is a Chapman High graduate and majored in English at Wofford College.

4 DECEMBER 2014 u GAME DAY

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Lattimore making most of new life

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COUNTIES

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vol. 4, no. 2

BEST OF 2014

PHOTO

We are proud of what we’ve done so far, and we will contiue to offer the same great content to our Spartanburg readers and advertisers, but we’re looking forward to becoming even better with added coverage of a bustling sports scene in the Greenville area.

We are blessed to have had some great advertising partners since our launch in 2011. This month, we are joined by Spartanburg Regional’s Sports Medicine Institute.

We are locally owned and operated, not a corporate-owned entity, and supported solely by local advertisers. Please show your support for these local businesses, and even tell them you saw their ad in Upstate Game Day. As we broaden our base, we will keep Spartanburg in the forefront of our storytelling, but we plan to also expand our editorial and advertising focus to make Upstate Game Day even better.

Thanks for reading. We’re excited to be here.

Les Timms III John Clayton

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GAME DAY Youth Sports Magazine

EDITOR & PUBLISHER / LAYOUT/DESIGN EDITOR

LES TIMMS III les.timms @upstategameday.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR / SENIOR WRITER

JOHN CLAYTON john.clayton@upstategameday.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ken Finley • Tim Lambka Seth Buckley • Stephen Moore Bucky Rogers • Ed Overstreet Gwinn Davis • Pete Cochran Tere Poplin • Steve Hinds

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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 2014 Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine is published by Timms Communications. 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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NEWS & NOTES FROM THE LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS SCENE

2014 GATORADE OF PLAYER OF YEAR

Dorman standout Arcega-Whiteside wins top honor

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is the first Dorman player to win the Gatorade honor. He will play at Stanford next year.

Dorman standout wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside became the first Dorman player chosen as the South Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year when the award was announced in early December.

The award is given to players from each state and the District of Columbia and become finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year, and it recognizes athletic and academic achievement as well as character on and off the playing field.

Arcega-Whiteside, a Stanford commit, was also a finalist for the S.C. Mr. Football Award.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior wide receiver caught 108 passes for 1,824 yards and 20 touchdowns this past season, leading the Cavaliers (10-3) to the Class 4A-Division I quarterfinals. A 2015 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas selection and also a standout in basketball as well as track and field, Arcega-Whiteside set school

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sustains a

Ian Metts against vicious hit a 2011 Gaffney in game.

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ED OVERSTREE PHOTO

IONSreness SS NCUdang CO ers, raising awa schools tackling SPECIAL REPORT

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, REESE HANNON

>> DYLAN THOMPSON

EYES DELIVER >> LANDRUM

STATE CROSS COUNTRY

page

6

- Number of SCISA Class 2A individual cross country championship won by Spartanburg Christian Academy senior Logan Morris. Morris won her latest title with a time of 18 minutes, 10 seconds and was named SCISA Runner of the Year for a fifth straight time.

TIM LAMBKA / FILE

career records with 207 catches, 3,779 receiving yards and 38 touchdowns, averaging 18.2 yards per reception as a threeyear varsity starter.

Arecega-Whiteside has maintained a 3.68 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally as a peer tutor, as a youth football and basketball coach,

and on behalf of his school’s Student Athletes Think Reading is Special program.

“J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is the best wide receiver we faced all season,” said Brian Strickland, head coach at J.L. Mann High.

“He always carried himself with class and poise.” u

FOR GREENVILLE, SPARTANBURG, AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES

September 2012

Youth Sports Magazine

Logan Morris.

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IN ACTION TITLE >> ATHLETES

UPSTATE GAME DAY is hiring advertising sales representatives, distribution partners, and providing the opportunity for businesses to reach a growing, vibrant audience of parents, grandparents, student-athletes and sports fans all over.

INTERESTED? Contact publisher Les Timms III -- les.timms@upstategameday.com

10

- Number of consecutive SCISA state cross country championships won by the Spartanburg Christian Academy girls team. SCA topped crosstown rival Spartanbur Day for the title, 39-70.

2

- Swim titles won by Riverside High School as the Warriors swept the boys and girls Class 4A state meet in October. Riverside’s girls 200-meter medley relay (Madeline Reilly, Jessica Horomanski, Maegan Rudolph, and Bay Prewett) started the meet in dramatic fashion with a .20 victory over Fort Mill. Riverside’s girls finished with 419 total points and Fort Mill was second with 351.50. The Riverside boys team finished with 363 total points -- more than 100 points ahead of runner-up Fort Mill.

Riverside’s Nathan Delahunty captured a pair of individual titles with wins in the 200m individual medley and 100m breaststroke.

GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 5

BEST of 2014

> MOMENTS

2014 was memorable for a number of Upstate sports teams and organizations .

UPWARD SPORTS: The global sports ministry headquartered in Spartanburg opened its $19 million Upward Star Center to great fanfare in September. The complex hosts youth sports events every weekend.

STEVE BYARS / SPECIAL

GAFFNEY INDIANS: The Shanna Hughes-led volleyball squad made it to the state semifinals after narrowly defeating perennial power Dorman in a quarterfinal match at home. The Indians traveled to Hillcrest but lost in 5 sets.

6 SPECIAL EDITION u GAME DAY

REBELS ROAR: Byrnes won the state 4A

softball championship in May with a victory over Bluffton in a best of 3-game series.

BULLDOGS ON THE MOVE: Boiling Springs, paced by

a group of seventh- and eighth-graders, captured the 4A State Golf title in May.

relax...

SM

we’re on your team.

OAKBROOK CHEER: The Knights won their fourth-

straight SCISA 2A competitive cheer state championship in November.

Visit a location near you in Spartanburg County Duncan Office 716 East Main Street Lyman Office 315 Spartanburg Highway North Grove Office 1307 Boiling Springs Road South Church Street Office 550 South Church Street

CATE AMBROSE: The

Riverside cross country runner, a former swimmer, captured the overall girls 4A state championship in November with a time of 18:07.23 at Columbia’s Sandhills Research Center.

Spartanburg East Office 875 East Main Street

foundersfcu.com • 1-800-845-1614 NOT A FOUNDERS MEMBER? Visit RelaxJoinFounders.com to see if you qualify for membership.

Federally insured by NCUA. GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 7

>> 2014 S.C. GRIDIRON CHAMPS

SPARTANBURG HIGH SCHOOL • HILLCR

Upstate teams crowned in Columbia

O

>> STORIES BY JOHN CLAYTON

n I-77, south of Columbia close to where the that interstate joins with I-26, you can see South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium rise out of the midlands and accent the state capital’s skyline.

That’s where this year’s state football champions were crowned, near those busy highways. It just had more than a little flavor of I-85.

Spartanburg, Hillcrest and Christ Church each won state championships in their respective classifications, adding to history in some cases and making it in others.

8 DECEMBER 2014 u GAME DAY

REST HIGH SCHOOL • CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

BEST of 2014

Spartanburg QB Austin Scott (12) and RB Tavien Feaster hold the Class 4A Division II State Championship trophy.

STATE CLASS 4A-II

Spartanburg players and coaches celebrate the Vikings first state title under head coach Chris Miller, center (with ball).

PETE COCHRAN PHOTOS sportsplusphotos.com

VIKINGS RETURN TO ELITE UNDER MILLER

S

partanburg High School and District 6 officials were counting on head coach Chris Miller to return the Vikings football program to championship form when they hired Miller away from Byrnes two years ago.

No one thought it would take only two seasons to win Spartanburg’s sixth state championship, but the Vikings’ 49-28 win over York for the Class 4AII title emphatically announced that the Vikings (12-3), who won five Big 16 championships between 1991 and 2001, were back.

It also said something about Miller, who won four state championships as head coach at Byrnes, but seemingly did so in the shadow of former coach Bobby Bentley. This turnaround and

this championship helps seal Miller’s legacy and returns the Vikings to theirs.

“He retooled the program and got them back,” said Jason Gilmer, veteran high school sports reporter and author of “Where Champions Play: Spartanburg County Prep Football.”It’d been 13 years since they’d won a state championship and they’d been down in Spartanburg terms. Here he is, getting them back to the state title game and I think that brings up his legacy of what he did at Byrnes. It’s not just what he did with Bobby Bentley at Byrnes. Now, here he is -- he’s won his own title. . . . Chris has shown that he just didn’t win (at Byrnes), he’s gone elsewhere and won a >> CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 9

BEST of 2014

STANDING

TALL

STATE CLASS 4A

RAMS STUN DUTCH FORK

S

ince a Class 4A state championship in 1985, Hillcrest football fans have had little to cheer

Head coach Greg Porter lifts the Rams’ state championship trophy with team captains Seth Nichols (5) and Jamarion McBride (71).

10 DECEMBER 2014 u GAME DAY

about.

But head coach Greg Porter arrived prior to the 2012 season, and his mission was to put an end to the Rams’ futility.

Mission accomplished.

The exclamation point chiseled onto that statement came with the Rams’ 47-17 win over defending Big 16 state champion Dutch Fork.

After defeating Dorman and Byrnes en route to the state finals, Dutch Fork was a presumed heavy favorite over Hillcrest, champion of lightly regarded Region I-4A. That proved to be just another mountain to climb for Hillcrest and head coach Greg

QB Collin Sneed (12)

STEPHEN MOORE PHOTOS smooregems@smugmug.com

Porter, who delivered Hillcrest its second state championship.

The Rams first state championship came 39 years ago in 1985. Other than Greer’s three state championships, no other Greenville County schools in classes 3A and 4A have won state championships.

“My first assignment was to make it a competitive football program -- and some said it couldn’t be done,” Porter said before the 2014 season began in August. “I took that as a personal challenge. . . . It looked sometimes like what they said was true.

“It was going to take the right coaching personality, the right staff and the right players to make it happen. I think we’re getting there, but I’m not satisfied. We have more room

Team Captain Seth Nichols leads the Rams onto the field to face Dutch Fork.

to improve as long as we keep committed to the hard work and not get complacent about what happened last year.”

After going 14-1 this past season, the Rams are 25-3 over the past two seasons and have won back-to-back Region I-4A championships. The 2013 region championship was the first region football title in school history. The 11 victories in 2013 surpassed the total number of wins from the previous six seasons combined.

“I think they proved a lot of people wrong,” Gilmer said of Hillcrest’s upset of Dutch Fork.

“A lot of people thought after Dutch Fork beat Dorman and Byrnes in the playoffs, they’d just coast through the finals -- and I think Dutch Fork probably thought the same thing.” u

Bruising 250-pound RB Thomas Sullivan (44) gains yardage against the Dutch Fork defense.

“My first assignment was to make it a competitive football program -- and some said it couldn’t be done.” >> Hillcrest coach GREG PORTER GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 11

BEST of 2014

STATE CLASS 1A

HISTORIC

FOURTH

TERE POPLIN PHOTOS teresapoplin.com

CHRIST CHURCH PLAYERS AND COACHES CELEBRATE THEIR 23-14 VICTORY OVER BAMBERG-EHRHARDT. 12 APRIL 15 - MAY 14, 2014 u GAME DAY

Senior Will Wynkoop (31) celebrates.

Christ Church head coach Don Frost accepts the ceremonial game ball.

CHRIST CHURCH EXTENDS WIN STREAK TO 54

C

hrist Church continues to chase state championships -- and history. A 23-14 win over Bamberg-Ehrhardt gave the Cavaliers their fourth-straight state title while extending their state-record 54-game winning streak one more game.

Now, every win is one more line in the record books for CCES, but the last one added one more trophy to the trophy case.

This year’s senior class will leave not knowing what it is to lose on the football field and with state championship rings to decorate each finger of one hand.

Christ Church head coach Don Frost said each championship has been different over the past four years. “(The team has) a different persona for the kids and it’s another year,” Frost said after the finals win. “With these seniors, it’s been unbelievable. They’ve risen to every challenge.

Hopefully, they’ve left a legacy for these kids to get to.”

Will Wynkoop had a pair of interceptions against Bamberg-Ehrhardt and senior quarterback Andrew Slade threw for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the title game.

Christ Church became the only South Carolina High School League team to win four straight state titles other than Woodruff, which won four consecutive Class 2A championships from 1975-78.

Frost, who went immediately from the state finals to coach in the North-South AllStar game said he probably wouldn’t be able to reflect on his team’s accomplishments until slowing down over the Christmas holidays.

But he said he knows how tenuous any winning streak, even one that has grown past 50

games and four seasons, can be.

“It could end the first game next year. Who knows?” Frost said of his team’s historic run.

“It’s going to take on its own life and do what it’s going to do.”

But what has been done already is an impressive chapter in the history of high school football in South Carolina, Gilmer said.

“As a body of work, what they’ve done is incredible,” Gilmer said. “It’s a pretty powerful statement that Don Frost is doing it the right way in terms of what he’s doing offensively and defensively and the coaches he has. . ... It’s a credit to the coaching staff for the job they do in preparing the kids week-in and week-out.” u

Seniors Rudy Johnstone (18) and Bobby Hudson (8) lift the Class A championship trophy for the fourth time in as many years.

Senior Dorien Dickey (17) after a catch.

Senior WR Rudy Johnstone (18) lunges for extra yardage.

GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 13

VIKINGS / from page 9

championship.”

Miller has also had excellent timing, arriving at Byrnes with star running back Marcus Lattimore and at Spartanburg with another star running back in Tavien Feaster.

Feaster battled through injuries for part of the season, but was at full speed as part of a talented Vikings roster that took York’s best punch in the first half and still came away with a 28-21 halftime lead.

Before game’s end, Feaster would have more than 230 yards in total offense and scored three touchdowns.

Quarterback Austin Scott threw for 320 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown pass that Cedarius Rookard tripped twice to himself before hauling it in and sprinting to the end zone. That play ended up on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10

QB Austin Scott (12) gets a hug from Vikings assistant coach and father Richard Scott.

Plays of the Day. “I love it for everybody that’s worked so hard to get to

this point. It’s just unbelievable,” Miller told reporters after the game. “You go through

a lifetime to try to get to this place. I’ve been blessed to be here.” u

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profile in courage

COMMENTARY

SON, BROTHER, FRIEND Lattimore making the most of new life

S

omewhere along the line Marcus Lattimore became all of ours.

He no longer only belonged to the Byrnes family or to Gamecock Nation. Even mother Yolanda Smith, who implored San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh to “take care of her baby” after the team drafted Lattimore in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, has shared custody with people across the Upstate and beyond -- Clemson fans, Carolina fans, even those with just a passing interest in sports -- all of whom have adopted Latimore into their hearts.

He’s our son. Our brother.

Our friend.

As the second anniversary of Lattimore’s second catastrophic knee injury in as many years came and went on Oct. 27, his foundation was giving back to JOHN kids here, donating helmets with head-injury warning systems that CLAYTON could help keep young players safe from severe head injuries.

And the 49ers were preparing to remove Lattimore from the injured list and place him on their 53-man active roster. There was hope that all the rehab, all the hours just to rebuild his knees and Lattimore’s confidence in them would pay off with the NFL glory that once seemed a given.

But a few days later, his two-year journey back to the >>

Marcus Lattimore made his mark as one of the best prep running backs in the nation at Byrnes High School. At USC, Lattimore made All-SEC and was projected to be an NFL first round draft choice before his disastrous knee injury on Oct. 27, 2012.

PAMELA DUNLAP / file photos MATT ARNOLD /

special to Upstate Game Day

GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 17

MARCUS / from page 17 football would end. Just days after his 23rd birthday, Lattimore said, “enough.”

“After prayer and careful consideration, I have decided it’s time to end my professional football career,” he said in a statement. “I have given my heart and soul to the game that I love, and it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life and help others. I have given every ounce of my energy toward making a full recovery from my knee injury, and I have made a lot of progress.

Unfortunately, getting my knee fully back to the level the NFL demands has proven to be insurmountable.”

And with that Lattimore’s inspirational drive to reclaim the NFL career the injuries threatened to deny him was over. But Lattimore’s ability and desire to inspire moves forward, just away from the crowds and cheers.

We were there at the beginning when Lattimore was the top recruit and Mr. Football in South Carolina.

We were there when he helped put South Carolina football on the map by his mere commitment.

We were watching when the first knee injury occurred in 2011 against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.

It was bad break for a nice guy, we said.

Modern surgical techniques and rehab programs had come so far, the types of injuries that sidelined the likes of Gale Sayers and countless others could not stop Lattimore.

But when the horrific injury against Tennessee happened a year later, our hearts sank. We saw a football career with so much potential possibly ending before our misting eyes.

It was more than a bad break.

This was an injustice.

Dreams of being a first-round draft pick were done. His college career would be viewed in the record books with a whisper of “what might have been.”

In the NFL world, running backs were being devalued in pass-happy offenses, so who would give Lattimore a chance? Who would be willing to give him the time he needed to get back on the field?

Enter, San Francisco and Harbaugh, who kept his promise to Smith.

Lattimore spent the 2013 season 18 DECEMBER 2014 u GAME DAY

on the 49ers’ non-football injury list and appeared headed for a debut during the 2014 preseason, but head trainer Jeff Ferguson determined more time was needed for the running back, both physically and mentally.

“I felt good, but I felt when Ferg and I talked, it was the best plan,” said Lattimore. “I just needed more time. There was no reason to rush it. It was a huge injury. It takes time. It’s still a process, and I’m still going through the process. But I feel great.”

That was before the pain in his knee returned after two days of practice, compelling Lattimore to reconsider his NFL quest -- and return home.

He said then he would return to South Carolina to finish his degree and the university quickly put out the welcome mat. Football coach Steve Spurrier immediately made a public job offer of sorts to Lattimore in November. Just before Christmas, the school and Lattimore announced that he would be an “ambassador” for the school.

“There’s been some back-andforth,” Lattimore told The State newspaper. “I’ll most likely work with the university, coach (Ray) Tanner, president (Harris) Pastides, coach (Steve) Spurrier, whatever they need me to do. No official title that we have talked about yet, but we’re trying to get something nailed down.”

There is much Lattimore can do, and now there is certainly time.

His foundation is already giving back here in the Upstate. Soon after Lattimore’s retirement announcement, an old high school friend of mine, Dean Bridges, posted a photo on Facebook of him and Lattimore working together on a park beautification project. Lattimore’s foundation not only helped, but he grabbed a shovel.

We wish Lattimore’s NFL dreams had become reality. We wish the San Francisco 49ers were gaining a cadre of fans right here in the Upstate as Lattimore churned through NFL defenses.

But fate sometimes has a nasty side. Sometimes it does confounding, career-killing damage to knees.

It’s up to us to decide then what to make of it, and Lattimore has pledged that his fate, his pain, his

Marcus Lattimore is attended to following what turned out to be the injury that ended his playing career in October 2013 against Tennessee.

Lattimore, left, and Bruce Ellington, right, enjoyed spending time with former USC teammate Alshon Jeffery of the Chicago Bears early in the season.

Lattimore’s foundation has built playgrounds, such as this one in Spartanburg.

bad breaks won’t define him.

He will be more than a football player cursed by injury. He will be a man, a friend, a brother who works

to make the world a better place.

And he already has picked up a shovel. u

Sports Medicine Institute Injuries Can Happen Whether you are on the field or cheering on the sidelines, sports can mean a visit to the doctor. The Sports Medicine Institute at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg is here to help your athlete get back in the game.

Progressive programs combined with experts from orthopaedic surgery, physical therapy and sports medicine help your athlete achieve optimal results.

The Sports Medicine Institute is headed up by John Lucas IV, M.D. Dr. Lucas, a sports medicine specialist, is part of the Medical Group of the Carolinas, a group of 275 physicians in 20 specialties.

The Institute offers two clinics: Sports Concussion Clinic – for concussion or post-concussion symptoms Ultrasound-Guided Injection Clinic – provides precise delivery of medication in musculoskeletal injections

For an appointment or to learn more about the Sports Medicine Institute, call 864-641-7400.

9768 Warren H. Abernathy Hwy., Suite B, Spartanburg, SC 29301 • 864-641-7400 • SpartanburgRegional.com

THE OVERHEAD ATHLETE

O

verhead athletes pose a unique problem to medical professionals because of the complex biomechanics involved.

Moreover, young athletes are becoming single sport athletes at an earlier age.

Recent research suggests that early specialization of sport – particularly overhead sports put the athlete at an increased risk of injury. Arm and shoulder pain are a common complaint for coaches and parents alike. While sometimes benign, complaints of arm and shoulder pain in a young athlete should warrant evaluation if symptoms persist or are affecting his or her play.

Here are some basic recommendations for the overhead athlete:

sports (gymnastics, figure skating, swimming/diving), there is little evidence to suggest that early specialization is advantageous.

4. Diversify your child’s sports routines. A UCLA sports specialization study surveying 296 NCAA Division I male and female athletes found that 88 percent participated in an average of two to three sports as children, and 70 percent did not specialize in one sport until after the age of 12.

In a similar study of Olympians in Germany, results found that on average, the Olympians had participated in two other sports JOHN LUCAS, MD during childhood before or parallel SRHS Sports Medicine to their main sport. Both studies support the concept of sports diversification in adolescence -- not specialization.

5. Watch the mechanics! Regardless of pitch counts, if you notice a pitcher is becoming fatigued – take them out. Injuries are most likely to occur when the mechanics break down and the kinetic chain breaks down. “Falling off the mound” is a common indicator that the thrower may be starting to fatigue.

1. Arm and shoulder pain in a thrower should be taken seriously. If symptoms persist for more than a few days, are recurrent, or cause the athlete to modify or miss activity then a medical professional should evaluate them.

2. Adhere to pitch counts. Pitch counts are widely available for review and should be followed strictly. Littleleague.org and the American Sports Medicine Institute have clear guidelines available to the public.

3. Be cautious regarding early sport specialization. Many parents and athletes feel they are gaining a competitive edge when they play a single sport year round.

While there are certainly circumstances where this is appropriate, recent research shows these athletes are at a higher risk of burnout and injury. Outside of a few specialty

6. Prepare. There is evidence that suggests that a pre-season training program may reduce injuries. Proper neuro-muscular training before an intensive season should be considered.

There are sports performance and sports injury programs available through Spartanburg Regional’s Sports Medicine program.

If you are concerned about an athlete or child, then please have them seen by a medical professional with expertise in sports medicine. Appointments at the Sports Medicine Institute with Dr. Lucas are available by calling 864-641-7400.

SRHS Sports Medicine opens office at Upward Star Center The Spartanburg Regional Sports Medicine Institute recently opened an office at The Upward Star Center, located at 9768 Warren Abernathy Hwy, Spartanburg. The center is staffed with board-certified doctors who specialize in sports medicine, pulmonary medicine, cardiopulmonary exercise and orthopaedic surgery – including spine surgery and joint replacement. Staff physical therapists are experts in sports medicine and rehabilitation.

John Lucas IV, M.D. heads up the Sports Medicine Institute. He is part of the Medical Group of the Carolinas, a group of 275 physicians in 20 specialties, serving 11 counties. Dr. Lucas specializes in non-operative sports medicine.

Blackburn and Scarecrow - Improving Your Shoulder Stability Blackburn and Scarecrow: Improving your shoulder stability Whether playing an overhead sport (such as baseball, volleyball, swimming, or tennis) or just an active person heading out to garden, washing your car, or doing the laundry, there is nothing more debilitating than an unstable/painful shoulder. We use our shoulders for everything from throwing a ball to running and jumping. As young children we are blessed with very elastic muscles, ligaments, and joints allowing us copious amounts of mobility. As we develop it is critical that our stability increases along with the everyday demands placed on our shoulders.

Many people believe that as we increase the amount of stability, we decrease the amount of mobility.

However, most research shows that with increased stability and strength, there is an increase in mobility. With this being said, solid shoulder strength can lead to many years of pain-free shoulder function.

So how could this be? Well to start, the shoulder IS a ball and socket joint. However this ball and socket closely resembles a golf ball sitting atop a tee. Most of us know a stiff breeze can knock the ball off the tee, and Lord help us if there is any defect to our tee. With this type of structure, it is very clear that the functional tissues (muscles and tendons) around the joint must pick up the load in order to keep the shoulder stable and working properly. The most important of these tissues that we train in the shoulder are the rotator cuff- 4 small muscles that all have one thing in common‌they hold that golf ball on top of the tee.

There are several exercises we utilize to train the rotator cuff and obviously we cannot forget all the other prime movers of the shoulder. For this article, we want to highlight a few very effective shoulder exercises we use with our STACK Velocity Sports Performance training program here in Spartanburg.

First, the Scarecrow, focuses on rotator cuff strength as well as scapular stabilization. It is a 5 stage move and technique is very important.

Typically most athletes we train start this with NO weight. We encourage a neutral spine position with head and trunk in-line. And last, we always teach tight abs and glutes throughout the movement to add core stability to the exercise.

Second, Blackburns, focuses on stabilization of the entire shoulder girdle. Once again these are performed with NO weight and the technique is critical. Head and trunk are aligned in a neutral spine position. Controlled breaths in and out are cued as each of the three motions are held. We start with 20 second holds and move up as tolerated.

Done properly, these exercises in conjunction with good overall strength can lead to a lifetime of shoulder health. For any questions regarding shoulder strength or any other training need, please contact a STACK Velocity Sports Performance coach at 864-641-7400.

Matt Lyden and Gary Hazelwood - SRHS STACK Velocity Sports Performance

SCARECROWS

BLACKBURNS

Exercise Scarecrows

Sets/Reps 2x10

How to: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Use 1 to 8 lb. dumbbells in each hand as tolerated.

Lower into a squat until the dumbbells are hanging beside your knees. Hold each position shown for 2 seconds, which makes 1 rep. Be sure to reverse the motion back to the start position.

Exercise Blackburns

Sets/Reps 2x20 sec. each

How to: Lie on your stomach and keep your spine neutral by looking down at all times. In each position, raise your chest and arms while pulling your shoulder blades together.

Together, We Keep Your Athlete Running Spartanburg Regional Rehabilitation Services has teamed up with STACK Velocity Sports Performance to keep your star athlete or weekend warrior free from athletic injuries, and help them mend when injuries happen.

Our services are offered in several convenient locations across the Spartanburg area, including:

At STACK, our expert coaches help athletes of all levels become faster and stronger. Learning the proper mechanics of training, developing core strength, agility skills, flexibility and balance are all part of proper training for injury prevention.

Thomas E. Hannah YMCA 151 Ribault St, Suite 200 Spartanburg

STACK’s Winter Break Camp gives your student athlete the opportunity to learn, in just a few days, skills that will allow for safe and enjoyable play.

Upward – Sports Medicine Institute 9768 Warren H. Abernathy Hwy, Suite C Spartanburg

When injuries do happen, the Spartanburg Regional Rehabilitation Services team of physical, occupational and hand therapists are there to return you or your athlete to your former level of fitness.

Pelham Medical Center 2755 South Hwy 14, Greer

For more information, call 864-641-7400.

Rehabilitation Services – Skylyn 1702 Skylyn Dr, Spartanburg

Rehabilitation Services – East 480 Floyd Rd, Spartanburg

STACK Winter Break Camp: Dec. 21-23 and 28-30 For students ages 8 to 18 Marsha Gibbs Field - Converse College Sun. 2-4 p.m., Mon. and Tues. 9-11 a.m • Camp focuses on flexibility, injury prevention, core strength, explosive strength and acceleration, and lateral movement mechanics.

• Call 864-641-7400 to sign up for our three or six-day training program.

SpartanburgRegional.com CHR_1214

EARLY SIGNING DAY 2014 The month of November brought with it the annual period when high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent to take their games to the Next Level...

Two SHS golfers graduating to D1 programs The Spartanburg High girls golf team will send two more alumni to the ranks of NCAA Division I next year.

Viking teammates Anne Taylor Hough and Page Morehead signed with Virginia Tech and Wofford, respectively, during the NCAA’s early signing period in November.

Hough and Morehead -- both six-time letter winners -- were key components of a Spartanburg program that has placed second in the Class 4A state tournament in each of the past four years.

Three Lady Viking golfers have signed Division I scholarship offers over the past two years. Katy Funk also signed with Wofford last year.

“We did something right,” said Spartanburg Golf Coach Bill Dees. “We’ve given them the opportunity to reach the next step in their dreams. That’s all you hope to do -- whether it’s as a teach or as a coach. We want to give them the tools to get to that next step.”

Hough’s next step will be one made by few others as she joins Virginia Tech’s new women’s golf program, which is to begin play and be eligible of the ACC champion-

5 Cavs head to next level

Spartanburg High School golf teammates Page Morehead, left, and Anne Taylor Hough, with Coach Bill Dees. Morehead signed with Wofford, Hough with Virginia Tech.

ship in 2015-16.

“It’s an inaugural team, so I’ll be one of the first ones to play, so that really turned me on,” said Hough, whose final college visit was to the Blacksburg, Va., campus.

While Hough said she wanted to attend college out of state, Morehead couldn’t have

stayed any closer to home at Wofford.

“In the end, I just thought Wofford was the best place for me,” said Morehead. “I love the campus, and I really love the coach (Angie Ridgeway). That was one of the main factors.” u

Dorman High School had five student-athletes sign with colleges and universities in four sports on Nov. 12:From left (seated): Taylor Perry (Presbyterian/basketball), , Courtney Burgess (Limestone/lacrosse), Pamela Davis (Columbia College/lacrosse), Haley Houchens (Morehead State/softball) and Katie Lloyd (Anderson/volleyball). Standing, from left: Dorman Girls Basketball Coach Valorie Whiteside, Girls Lacrosse Coach Corinne Lamas, Softball Coach Kim Hames and Volleyball Coach Paula Kirkland.

GAME DAY u upstategameday.com 23

EARLY SIGNING DAY 2014

> BYRNES: 4 Rebels sign for next level Chapman’s Abbey Cheek signs a National Letter of Intent to play softball at the University of Kentucky.

National spotlight to be on Kentucky signee Cheek The national spotlight will be on Abbey Cheek as she continues her softball career at the University of Kentucky.

The Chapman senior infielder signed with the Wildcats during the early signing period in November.

“I’m really excited,” Cheek said.

“I’ve worked really hard for this, and it’s paid off.”

Cheek has been an all-state performer in volleyball and softball at Chapman. She committed to Kentucky as sophomore and held true to that commitment in November.

In softball, Cheek hit .591 with 12 home runs and 32 RBI as a junior.

She visited Kentucky a week after a visit to South Carolina as a sopho-

more and made the commitment soon thereafter.

“When I went to Kentucky, I fell in love,” she said.

The Wildcats have won 40 games or more in two of the past three seasons while playing in the tough Southeastern Conference. Current SEC teams have made it to the NCAA World Series finals in seven of the past eight years, winning two national titles (Alabama 2012, Florida 2014).

The advent of the SEC Network will shed more light on the growing sport.

“I’m ready to play on TV so everyone who can see me who has coached me and helped me get to this point,” Cheek said.

> BOILING SPRINGS: Dills, Reed sign

Boiling Springs’ Myranda Dills signed to play softball at Newberry, while Collin Reed will play football at Appalachian State.

20 SPECIAL EDITION u GAME DAY

Four Byrnes High School athletes signed Nov. 12 with different colleges and universities to continue their academic and athletic careers. From left: Regan Messenger (Drexel/softball), Hunter Crandall (North Greenville/lacrosse), Jonathan Costello (Erskine/golf) and Blake Hodges (Anderson/golf).

> MAULDIN: 4 Mavs ink

Four Mauldin High School athletes signed with different colleges and universities to continue their academic and athletic careers. From left: Grant Fuller (Lenior Rhynel/ baseball), Grace Magera (Converse/golf), Austin Searight (Erskine/baseball) and Kaitlyn Wagers (Coll of Charleston /softball).

> RIVERSIDE: Seven Warriors sign

From left, front row: Ryan Cerino (Bryant / lacrosse), Caroline Bertling (Converse/ tennis), Will Strickland (Presbyterian/golf). Back row: Tony Consolo (Belmont Abbey/ lacrosse), Austin Riggins (Penn State/baseball), Eric Mullinax (Limestone/baseball), and Andrew Friedhom (UNC-Asheville/baseball).

Camera Corner

Photography Tips from ...

Shooting Sports and Action Provided by Spartan Photo Center Shooting sports and action situations requires a real camera. A pocket or point and shoot camera with a built-in (not removable) lens or an iPhone or Smart phone is not going to get you any good shots. These are designed for most medium to bright situations that happen at walking speed. We all know that even little kids are quick and will be nothing but blurs when they are running. Having the latest technology does not mean the best camera. Even the most expensive camera is not the best for sports in some cases. It will boil down to features, lenses, and the camera’s sensitivity and ability.

FEATURES: a decent camera for sports is going to have at the VERY minimum, a sports setting or action mode. The ability to set the camera is the

best feature of all. Setting the camera allows you to program the camera for the situation that you recognize you are in.

Even now, no camera is smart enough to know that you are taking pictures in low light with intermediate action, and know which child is your subject. You still have to be able to set the camera and control it.

A camera with interchangeable lenses will tend to have more features that you can control; and by getting stronger lenses, allow you to reach out into the playing field and get the action you want.

No amount of cropping or zooming in on the computer will fix a bad shot from too far away.

Camera sensitivity settings are a must. Shooting action in low light or dim interiors is hard. Having a camera that allows you to set it above the average setting will allow you better low light shots. A camera that can shoot above ISO 1600 is a must. ISO is a measure of how sensitive the camera can be. Many older cameras can shoot up to ISO 1600 but once you have a camera can move be-

yond that you open up a whole world of low light possibilities. Most cell phones and smart phones don’t go above ISO 1600, because getting above that number can cause lower quality results and graininess. Also the better sensors are larger, more expensive, and won’t fit into a compact camera or phone yet.

Your ability as a photographer to know the situation and set the camera accordingly is the most crucial part of sports photography. If it was just ‘buy a $200 camera and point it and press the button’, then everybody would be a Sports Illustrated photographer. Even if you don’t have these skills and talents, knowing the limits of your camera will allow you to get better shots because you know what your camera can and cannot do. This, in and of itself, is most of the battle toward getting good shots.

The next series of articles to come in future editions of Upstate Game Day will explain some of the tools and techniques you will need.

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Athletes in Action photos by: Steve Hinds • Ed Overstreet • Pete Cochran • Gwinn Davis • Les Timms III • Mike Powell

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SCA WARRIORS capture 4th straight title

Members of Spartanburg Christian’s senior volleyball class finished with a perfect 4-0 record in state finals during their high school careers, winning their fourth straight SCISA Class 2-A state championship.

The Lady Warriors defeated Florence Christian 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-19) Oct. 21 at Heathwood Hall in Columbia to win their seventh state title in the program’s history and fourth in as many years.

Freshman Peyton Thompson led SCA with 18 kills, while senior setter Tinsley Fain added seven kills, two aces and 35 assists. Addison Belcher chipped in a pair of aces along with nine digs, and Mckenzie Elmore and Sarah Boler recorded two blocks each.

Seniors on this year’s SCA championship team included Fain, Logan Schuff, Madi Lambert and Lauren Cato. The rest of the roster includes: Thompson, Megan Reeves, Boler, Marisa Cook, Elmore, Belcher, Hannah Houge and Heather Edney.

Monica Fain has coached the Lady Warriors to all four state championships.

ST. JOSEPH’S KNIGHTS complete 4-peat

St. Joseph’s scored a 3-0 (25-3, 25-13, 25-6) victory over Charleston Charter Math in the Class A state finals as the Knights won their fourth straight championship.

The Knights fell behind 1-0 after the opening point of the match and but never trailed again. St. Joseph’s finished the season with a 41-3 record.

u photo submitted by Mike Whitten GAME GAME DAY DAY u u upstategameday.com upstategameday.com 21 15

BEST of 2014

STATE CHEER CHAMPIONSHIP Teams competed in THE STATE COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIP at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in November. photography by GWINN DAVIS

/

gwinndavis@gmail.com

EAGLES SOAR TO STATE TITLE Chesnee won its second straight 2A state competitive cheer championship, topping Liberty 299-288. Woodruff finished a school-best in third place with 273 points.

For full results, go to www.schsl.org .

12 JULY u DAY 30 15 - MAY 14, 2014 10 JUNE 2012 u GAME DAY 10 APRIL JUNE2012 2012 uGAME GAME DAY u GAME DAY

Westside D6 Cavs teams compete under the light of the setting sun as the end of the season nears.

LES TIMMS III PHOTO

SUPER SATURDAY The D6 Cavs Superbowl was held in November at Dorman High School.

Victorious teams were - 8U Sturgill, 10U Black, and 12U Williams. / More info, Like D6Cavs on Facebook. /

GAME GAME DAY u u JUNE JUNE 2012 2012 11 11 GAME DAY u DAY upstategameday.com 31

PERFORMANCE

S

KEN FINLEY

Are you willing to work?

o you want to earn a college scholarship. Pushing past your perceived limits and getting out of your comfort zone is necessary to help you achieve your athletic goals. However, reaching past your possible and pushing out of your comfort zone is the easy part. Seriously!

Getting in the weight room consistently is a definite key to achieving your goals. Holding that lunge for an extra 10 seconds, putting in 5 extra down and back runs, getting up 100 extra makes before you leave the gym...That’s the easy part. It really is.

Playing college sports requires sacrifices far beyond just getting in a workout. The truth is, all college players put in hard work to some extent. Do some athletes work harder than others? Of course they

do. Are some athletes just more naturally gifted than others? Well yes. Life is not fair.

My guess is that if you are reading this then you probably don’t have college coaches from all over the country knocking on your door…yet. Don’t let that stop you from achieving your athletic goals.

So, you are working hard and putting in the hours but is it enough?

When it comes down to it are you TRULY willing to make the necessary sacrifices it may take for you to make your dreams a reality?

Would you be willing to skip out on a homecoming dance because you need to get the right amount of rest to be at your best for a showcase event the next day?

Would you be willing to pack your own lunch every day to ensure that you are getting the right amount of healthy food necessary for you to

excel? How about getting up at 5:00AM instead of 7:00 AM because it’s the only time you can get to the gym?

How about skipping a weekend event so that you don’t miss a scheduled workout with your trainer? How about scheduling your entire week to make sure that you maximize your efforts each day to reach your full potential?

What am I asking? That you shouldn’t have friends or life outside of sports. Of course not. Sports are something that you do; it is not who you are. Those things are important and should be enjoyed and celebrated. All I am asking is are you willing to do what it takes to succeed.

It may take saying no to something that is not wrong of bad. Great players are dedicated just as much to the little things as they are the big ones.

You know how many high school athletes “worked hard” this past summer? A lot of them put in some major time and effort.

You know how many high school athletes had their weeks, meals and workouts preplanned to TRULY

maximize their time and efforts to achieving their goals? Less than 1% You know how much high school athletes go on to play Division 1? Go ahead and check the statistics. They are not in your favor especially if you aren’t willing to not only do the big things but the little things that separate you from everyone else.

Now, I have no doubt you’re in the gym putting in the work. Ask yourself are you truly maximizing your days and your time? Well, only you can answer that question. My guess is, though, you can become even more disciplined taking your game to a new level. u Ken Finley is a physical therapist and certified youth speed and agility specialist. To learn more about his youth athletic development programs please contact Finley at kfinley@finleypt.com.

BEST of 2014

OAKBROOK CELEBRATES SOCCER TITLE

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”

www.sportsplusphotos.com 28 DECEMBER 2014 u GAME DAY

STEVE HINDS / FILE

Coach Elizabeth Myers shares a special moment with her players after the Knights captured the SCISA 2A state soccer championship in May.

Many parents are concerned about injuries in youth sports.

This is a legitimate concern with the injury rates on the rise.

All-Sports Performance Training Finley Physical Therapy & Sports Training offers programs both individual and group to reduce the risk of injury.

Athletes are taught sport-specific skills that will help increase vertical leap, improve speed and core strength while reducing the risk of injury.

Contact us today to see how we can help your young athlete.

864.342.0180 1420 Skylyn Drive / Spartanburg, SC facebook.com/FinleySports

Fortunately, in addition to reducing injury risk, the total athleticism of an athlete will be enhanced. Improvement in vertical leap, total speed and lateral quickness will change profoundly given the proper dedication to our training principles.

Call today to learn more about how Finley Physical Therapy and Sports Training will change the way your athlete performs.

We offer programs for adults as well recovering from or trying to prevent orthopedic surgeries including back injuries, tendinitis and other degenerative conditions.

FAITH in SPORTS

Rev. BUCKY ROGERS

Giving can make a difference

I

s Money Really the Root of All Evil? Well, I suppose I set you up with that one.

Technically, Scripture says that the “love” of money is the root of all evil. But, what does that mean? Are we supposed to give everything away and go live in a cave and eat bugs and beetles?

Not quite.

In fact, nowhere in Scripture is there a prohibition against having a nice home, a nice car, taking a vacation, or retiring well. However, there are dozens of places in Scripture to remind us that we are merely stewards of what has been entrusted to us, and that people are more important than things.

We are given one life, and one opportunity to make a difference through how we use the money that has been entrusted

to us. So, how do you practically show that people are more important than things?

1-Spend more on others than you do on things for yourself. I’m not talking about your mortgage and car payments, and stuff, but if you added up all the fast food, trinkets, cell bills, cable and internet bills, etc., are you giving at least that much away each month too? If not, it may be time for a checkbook revival. What can you scale back or eliminate in order to show that people matter to you?

2-Realize that death is the great equalizer. At some point, you’re going to die. So, don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today to bless someone.

Determine that you’ll use the

resources God has given you NOW to be a part of someone’s journey. Maybe it’s helping a college student make a tuition payment, or helping a young couple with rent. Maybe it’s a random act of giving an envelope of money to a garbage collector, a janitor, or a waiter/ waitress. Whatever it is, determine in your heart what you will give, and do it now. You aren’t promised tomorrow.

3-Support a ministry that blesses those who have no voice of their own. One that my wife and I are huge supporters of is the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

Our 18-year-old son who we adopted from Ukraine actually received one of these shoeboxes when he was at the orphanage.

Someone chose to bless my son before I ever met him.

My wife and I send hundreds of shoeboxes each year instead of heaping junky gifts on friends and family who don’t need it anyway.

If you’d like to partner with us in that and you live in the upstate, feel free to email me at bucky@amrbc.org.

Donated items, money to purchase items, or just packing some shoeboxes as a family then dropping them off at the Mill

would be a great way to use your finances to bless someone else.

4-Finally, hold the things of this world loosely, and hold the people God brings in your path tightly.

In the end, that’s all that’s going to matter anyway. Imagine what our world would look like if we became more concerned with others than we were ourselves. Gives me chills. u

Bucky Rogers is the Pastor of Students and Worship Arts at theMill in Spartanburg SC where he and his wife Julie have served for the past 7 years. They have 4 children and plan to adopt many more. Bucky leads IgniteSpartanburg, is on the advisory board for the International Center for Youth Ministry, has written curriculum for Student Life and Nav Press, speaks at various camps and retreats, is the author of ‘Rooted in the Ancient Words’, and blogs at www.buckyrogers.net

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FAITH in SPORTS

Rev. SETH BUCKLEY

‘Special moments’

“I

t was so awesome to put on the Dorman jersey tonight!”

My son Micah had just played in his first game as a Dorman Cavalier on the ninth grade team and what meant most was the realization of a dream when he slid the game jersey on for the first time. I grinned from ear to ear as I listened to him recount the evening from his perspective and my mind went back in time.

I shared Micah’s statement with one of my good friends that coaches at Dorman, Jeremy Parris, who said, “I think that sometimes we forget just how special those feelings are to these young players. We get so caught up in the X’s and O’s of the game that it is easy for us to forget just how special the

moment is when the players step onto the game field each night.

As I reflected on Micah’s words and the words of Coach Parris, I couldn’t help but to think of the thousands of boys and girls who were preparing for their sport with great anticipation. While there are definitely moments that are special that revolve around the wins and championships, it is so important to remember that to most that play the game, the victory is already won when the game jerseys slide on. It is the accomplishment of a goal set many years before and is the culmination of hours and hours of preparation, practice, and sacrifice.

It is so easy for us to make life so complicated that it takes the focus completely off of

some things that are so simple.

In the game of sports, it is the job of the coaches to embrace the emotion of the team and to nurture those “special moments” like the game day jerseys and the first time to take the field or court.

When coaches begin to understand that it is those simple moments that are treasured by the players and parents, then they will focus less on winning and more on encouraging each player to give 100 percent and together enjoy the competition while they strive for excellence.

At the end of the day, it is never really important how many wins or losses a team has, but what is treasured most, is the relationships that are established along the way.

In the book of Luke, there is a story of Jesus when he came with the disciples to eat at the house of Mary and Martha.

Martha was scrambling around fixing a huge meal while Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to get to work to help out but Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen wisely but sitting at his feet and focusing on what matters most. This story is a brief but strong reminder that while doing tasks, working on the X’s and O’s, etc., is very important, there is no substitute for valuing the

relationships along the way.

Don’t forget the simple things, like the smell of fresh cut grass, the cheers of the home stands, and the moment when teammates stand hand in hand with jerseys on united together for a season in time. It’s why we still love the game, because it takes us back!! u The Rev. Seth Buckley is Minister to Youth at First Baptist Church of Spartanburg. He is a former football player at the University of Alabama, where he played for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Micah Buckley practices punting.

ED OVERSTREET / FILE

THE CAGE ..... “Where players DO Work” “The CAGE has been my ‘home away from home’ for several years.... I am blessed beyond measure to have The CAGE at my convenience.” u CAROLINE CASH (Recent USC Gamecocks Softball Signee)

www.hitatthecage.com

THE CAGE is Upstate SC’s premier year-round indoor training facility, committed to providing quality individual and team instruction & practice to develop the skills necessary to take your game to the next level.

NEW LOCATION 160 Tradd St., Spartanburg

• Batting Cages / Tunnels • Pitching Mounds / Bullpen Area • Infield / Outfield / Speed & Agility Training Areas - Video Analysis • Professional Individual Instruction / Lessons (By appointment) • Individual & Team Rental Specials ....

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864-978-2599 Email us at: hitatthecage@gmail.com

HIGH5

BEST of 2014

celebrating athletes, teams & accomplishments Please submit your team pics to

photos@upstategameday.com

The Dawkins Middle School Lady Bearcats captured the Peachtree Conference recently with a victory over Gable Middle School, below. Dawkins finished the season undefeated. u Submitted by Melanie Hall The Upstate Titans 5/6 year olds won the Mid-Atlantic Carolinas Conference Super Bowl in Cherryville, NC recently. The Titans, 10-1, defeated West Gastonia 13-6 to avenge their only loss of the year. The team outscored opponents 248-57 during the season. For more information about the Titans, go to www.upstatetitans.org. u Submitted by Brian Nodine

Gable Middle School finished second in the Peachtree Conference recently, losing only to Dawkins. u Submitted by Melanie Hall

Spartanburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only indoor tennis courts Group fitness classes for every level Family friendly atmosphere Personal training

Fitness for everyone in every stage. Just try it!

YOUR FAMILY FITNESS CENTER

HOURS

We provide a variety of activities for everyone from young to young at heart. From fitness to tennis to swimming to massage, we have what you are looking for in a fun and safe place!

Mon-Thurs Friday Saturday Sunday

The Westside Club 501 Willis Road Spartanburg, SC 29301

Phone: 864- 587-7106 www.WestsideClub.com tharrison@thewestsideclub.com

5:30 am - 10:00 pm 5:30 am - 9:00 pm 8:00 am - 7:00 pm 10:00 am- 7:00 pm

FREE WEEK TRIAL /thewestsideclub501

The Carolina Homeschool girls cross country team wrapped up the season with a first place finish at the National Association of Christian Athletics (NACA) meet in November in Dayton, OH. The Cougars are coached by Ken Roach (foregound). u Submitted by Sonya Timmons

get plugged in >> point your browser to

pointpo

spartanburgparks.org Find out about fun offerings, classes and activities to be had all over Spartanburg County.

GAME DAY u JUNE 2012 9