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Jake Ballew goes to bat in a recent game. JOHN CLAYTON PHOTO
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Eagles flying high
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Area high schools going fishing Club volleyball building success on court, in life
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March 2012
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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
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March 10 GRAND OPENING March 10-16 Spartanburg County Join the fun on our Pre-season Championships new playground! March 17-18 USSSA Tyger River Spring Kickoff March 24-25 Spring State ChamAPRIL pionships TOURNAMENTS AT TYGER RIVER PARK April 13-15 Armour EastGirls Coast Global March Under 30-April 1 ASA Fastpitch Championships Softball Season Opener April 21-22 Youth Baseball: Is This Heaven April 13-15 USSSA UnderArmour Girls FP Softball: State/World Series Qualifer East Coast April 27-29 GirlsGlobal FP Softball: Spring Swing April 28-29 Youth baseball:Championships Worth Spring Homerun Challenge
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Stump Jump XC Mountain Bike Race Sunday, April 22 Croft State Park
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The 15th Annual Stump Jump XC Mountain Bike Race returns on April 22! Held in Spartanburg, the event takes place at Croft State Natural Area’s Southside trails. The 7.5 mile race course consists of classic Piedmont terrain including undulating singletrack, roots, fast flats, and -of course- a few stumps! Racers ranging from beginner to pro compete for over $7,500 in cash and prizes.
Saturday, April 14 Recreational Float starts at 10AM Downriver Race starts at 11AM Registration fee is $30 per person (after April 6)
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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 sporting event and asked them to list their FAVORITES. Here are their responses.
Jamie Hrobak retired 53 straight batters.
Stephanie Spalding Soph., Chesnee High
Presley Swofford Jr., Chesnee High
Sport-Pos Softball-LF Sport-Pos..:: Softball-CF Favorite sports: Favorite sport: Softball Softball/Volleyball Favorite athlete: Kat Favorite athleteLisa Osterman Fernandez Favorite entertainer: Favorite entertainer: Carrie Underwood Luke Bryan
Sport-Pos.: Softball-1B Favorite sport: Softball Favorite athlete: Alex Rodriguez Favorite entertainer: Jason Aldean
Caitlin Fine Sr., Chesnee High
Hrobak pitches 3 perfect games Polk County (NC) senior pitcher Jamie Hrobak has pitched three perfect games this season, including back-to-back gems to start the season. During that season-opening stretch, she retired 53 straight batters, until issuing a walk to interrupt the streak in the third game of the season. The consecutive perfect games tied a N.C. High School Athletic Association record. The two-time all-state selection eclipsed the 50-win plateau for her career and has committed to play next year at Brevard College.
Chapman’s Waters announces retirement from coaching Ellie Stacey Soph., Chesnee High
Ashley Popour Jr., Chesnee High
Sport-Pos.: Softball-1B Favorite sport: Volleyball Favorite athlete: Monica Abbott Favorite entertainer: Sleeping with Sirens
Sport-Pos.: Softball-U Favorite sport: Softball Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter Favorite entertainer: Blink 182
6 APRIL 2012 u GAME DAY
Allston Burnett Age: 14 McCracken Middle School Favorite sports: Lacrosse/baseball Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter
Veteran coach Jerry Waters said so long to basketball, announcing his retirement at a news conference at Chapman High School on March 27. Waters spent 47 years as a coach at the college and high school levels, winning four state championships in Georgia and a NAIA National Championship at then USC-Spartanburg. His most recent stop was at Chapman, Waters where he was 57-57 in five seasons. All together, Waters’ record was 859-299 in 25 years at the high school level and 22 on the college bench.
FIRST OF A SERIES
THE CLUB
Scene
EDITOR’S NOTE: Upstate GameDay begins an occasional series to educate readers on lccal youth sports clubs. This month, we feature Carolina FC youth soccer club and interview Executive Director & Coach Justin Collett.
Q: When did Carolina FC start? COLLETT: The Spartanburg Youth Soccer Club (SYSC) has been around for 30 years. We underwent a name change in 2007 to Carolina FC. Q: How/why did Carolina FC start? COLLETT: Carolina FC was formed to cater to the serious, more competitive soccer athlete. There was a demand for player development above that of recreational and Carolina FC filled the niche with a qualified, professional coaching staff. Q: How much has the club grown over the years? COLLETT: We have enjoyed significant growth over the past five years; we attribute this growth to the development and location of our new facility, the quality of our coaching staff and the continued success of our players and teams. Q: How many players train at CFC? COLLETT: At present we have close to 400 players registered within our Academy and Select Programs. We will be expanding into the recreational field in the fall of 2012 and we anticipate a tremendous response from within the local community. Q: What sets CFC apart from other soccer clubs? COLLETT: CFC is unique in that we have been able to balance a family friendly environment with the successful development of individuals and teams in a competitive environment. CFC is the feeder system that develops the players that make the successful high school programs in the County. Q: How many CFC athletes have gone on to play in college? COLLETT: We don’t keep score, but we have had numerous individuals go and play soccer collegiately. CFC players have gone on to play at schools such as USC, Charleston Southern, App State, Wofford, PC, USC Aiken, USC Upstate, Converse, etc. MORE INFO: www.carolinafc.net / 864-576-6325 / email: excellenceinsoccer@carolinafc.net
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GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 7
COMMENTARY
Young athletes should emulate Tebow sportsmanship
A
s of late March, Tim Tebow was a freshly minted New York Jet. It makes you wonder if very soon green wristbands will begin appearing imprinted with the the letters “WWTTD?” (What Would Tim Tebow Do?). Most of us know the answer to that. He may not ever pass for 4,000 yards in the NFL, but he will do the right thing. And that just doesn’t appear as easy as it once was. Take the video that went viral on the Internet at about the same time Tebow was joining the Jets: Chester and Lewisville were involved in a regular-season girls soccer game when Lewisville’s Annette McCullough was tripped from behind by an unnamed Chester player. It happens a half-dozen times per game at just about every level of soccer and just about every time the fouled player
bounces up and everyone lines up for an indirect kick. Not this time. McCullough, 18, grabbed the Chester player by her long hair and began to JOHN pummel her, CLAYTON turning a non-descript high school soccer game into some perverse WWE anything-goes match. The disturbing thing wasn’t the fact that a fight broke out during a game -- it happens -- it was the level of violence with which McCullough retaliated. McCullough is facing assault charges as an adult. The parents of the attacked player are reportedly intent on seeing McCullough punished by the
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justice system. McCullough’s actions were such that you had to believe all the talks and lectures on sportsmanship would not have derailed them. But that doesn’t mean those talks and lectures should not be given -- ad nauseum. Every player on every team or in any sport should ask, “WWTTD?” Or at least look down at their green Tebow bracelet and think about it. Tebow would take a hit, even a foul, and move on to the next play. He would fight like heck between the lines, but be the first in line to shake hands afterward. He would forgive a simple trip without mayhem. The common expressions in the NFL for the Peyton Mannings and Larry Fitzgeralds of
the league are “difference makers” and “game changers.” The jury is out on whether Tebow will consistently rise to that level. Even so, he is more importantly a life changer because he is true to a set of convictions and values that make him unlike just about any other current athlete. Those convictions make Tebow both immensely popular and equally as polarizing. Most people these days believe that too good is too good to be true, but, truth is, Tebow is perhaps a much better person than he ever will be an NFL player. Quarterbacks may not want to emulate his throwing motion, but there are more important things to emulate when it comes to Tebow -- for quarterbacks, fencers, cyclists, boxers and female soccer players, too. GD
Athletes in Action
WE WANT YOUR SPORTS PICS please email to: photos@upstategameday.com photos by: John Clayton • Ed Overstreet • Les Timms III • Lorin Browning • Carmella Parker
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just the extra.
10 APRIL 2012 u GAME DAY
It is how you show up at the showdown that counts.
GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 11
Fans in the Stands
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The Pine Street YMCA will start a Kids in Motion boot camp and other programs in their new facility.
Healthy kids “Weight training and cardio are basically building a good toolbox to sharpen those sports skills.” SIMONE MACK
Wellness Director, Spartanburg YMCA
The new Spartanburg YMCA will open on April 16, have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 19 and host a Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 28. 14 APRIL 2012 u GAME DAY
YMCA offers fun-filled day and ongoing programs for youth By MARY CALDWELL
W
hen people think about kids and the YMCA, they probably remember learning how to swim or taking their own kids or grandkids to the Y for swimming lessons. But the YMCA of Greater Spartanburg offers a lot more than that for today’s youth. In fact, one of the first big events in their new facility will be a Healthy Kids Day. The 80,000-square-foot center, which is located behind the current YMCA on Pine Street, will open on April 16, have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 19 and host Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 28. All events at the fun-filled day are free. From 9 a.m.-noon, kids will be
able to participate in relay races, a Kids In Motion bootcamp and more. They can also make edible arts and crafts. Kids ages 3-12 will be invited to participate in a triathlon from 9-10 a.m. Participants will run, bike and swim distances determined by their age group. Registration is required, and pre-registration is encouraged. Helmets and bicycles will be inspected. Unlike a grueling Ironman-style triathlon, the emphasis will be on fun. “There’s no winners or losers,” explains Simone Mack, wellness director of the YMCA of Greater Spartanburg. “It’s just a fun-filled day.” Parents will be able to get information about keeping kids healthy from booths at the event. The idea is to to reach parents as well as kids. In addition, the Y will start a program called Kids In Motion, which consists of 30 minutes of fun fitness activities including cardio drills, strength exercises and games. Zumba classes for kids will also be added to the calendar. The Y will continue to host >>
Flying high Chesnee’s Eagles have bright future in 7th-grader Abby Harris By JOHN CLAYTON CHESNEE — Abby Harris steps onto the rubber at practice — all 5-foot-3 of her — and head coach Louis Story gets a glimpse of a future with the kind of success the Eagles haven’t enjoyed lately. “There’s going to be a lot written about her before its over,” Story said of his 7thgrade pitcher/infielder prior to his team’s first-round game in March’s Gene Lee Tournament at North Spartanburg Park. Through 14 games this season, Harris had notched three of the Eagles’ four victories on the mound, while leading the team with a .500 batting average. “They play a little different (at the highschool level),” Harris said. “It’s a little harder than it has been before. The girls are older and they know more than I do.” Harris, 13, began playing softball at the age of 7 and plays with the Palmetto Thunder 14-under travel team along with 8thgrade shortstop Ashley Westbrook. Westbrook, Harris and battery-mate Rachel Edge, also an 8th-grader, give the Eagles the core and beginning of what coaches believe could be a bright future. Edge (.487) and Westbrook (.452) are second and third, respectively, in batting average for Chesnee this season. “I like it,” Edge said of playing at the varsity level. “It gives us a head start and I think we’ll improve a lot.” Westbrook said she is looking forward to the future — and actually getting to high school next year. “I want to play for five years,” she said. “I think we’ll be the leaders of the team and it’s going to be really good.” But Harris said she has to keep improving to help the Eagles find more fortunate times over the next five seasons.
“I’ve got to be more exact with my pitches,” Harris said. But her coaches at Chesnee say Harris has the perfect mental and emotional makeup for a pitcher. “It doesn’t matter what happens — she can strike somebody out or someone can line one to the fence off of her — and her demeanor never changes,” said Chesnee Assistant Coach Ashley Warlick.
Harris said she enjoys pitching the most because she gets to “touch the ball on every play.” She also said she enjoys the pressure and hopes to play someday in college. Of course, that’s nearly six years away. There are more pressing matters. “I enjoy being able to go out there and do well,” she said. GD
>> Footsteps to Fitness runs meets for area elementary school clubs and have an after-school program that includes swimming and other forms of moderate exercise. And kids who are homeschooled have programs on Thursday mornings where they play a game of their choice. “Basically you have to do exercise in disguise for kids,” Mack explains. While traditional sports may be intimidating to some kids, these fun activities that may not be as competitive
can often catch their interest, she adds. It’s especially crucial to get today’s kids moving, she says, because it’s tempting for them to sit in front of a TV or video game instead of playing outside. Technology is often used as a babysitter, and activities need to be entertaining enough to lure kids off of the couch. This lack of activiity has contributed to 34.4 percent of elementary school kids in Spartanburg County being overweight or obese, according statistics from the
Spartanburg Childhood Obesity Task Force. The numbers for children ages 10-17 are similar. Although the Y’s activities are important to kids who aren’t yet very active, even kids who are already athletes can benefit from general fitness activities, Mack points out. “Weight training and cardio are basically building a good toolbox to sharpen those sports skills,” she says. GD
Thirteen-year-old Abby Harris fires a pitch in a recent contest. She began playing softball at the age of 7.
GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 15
Heading
home Volunteers are lifeblood of area youth associations By JOHN CLAYTON Ricky Smith is a volunteer coach, a job that only begins with the title as far as area youth sports are concerned. The Holly Springs Youth Association nestled in a rural community in northern Spartanburg County
16 APRIL 2012 u GAME DAY
Area Youth Associations North Spartanburg Athletic Associaiton www.nsaasports.org Cowpens Youth Sports (864) 237-3196 (daytime) Clifdale Sports www.clifdalesports.com Hillbrook Baseball www.eteamz.com/hillbrookbaseball trentlancaster@yahoo.com Boiling Springs Youth Athletic Association www.BSYAA.org District 5 Baseball/Softball Association www.d5rebels.com d5rebels@gmail.com
plays softball and baseball on the fields formerly owned by community’s First Baptist church. A pasture sits beyond right field on the larger field, which has been in use for more than 40 years itself. “I got in this and figured I’d just help out a little,” Smith said. “But the truth is, it’s done more to help me.” Smith, who has a teen-aged daughter, is the vice-president of the association and coaches softball and, along with a cadre of other volunteers, helps the HSYA go. There are hot dog lunches, fish fries, spaghetti dinners and raffles all over Spartanburg County that help small athletic associations running and the lights on at parks such
as Campobello’s “Field of Dreams.” It’s no easy task for volunteers, who might give as many as 30 hours per week to coach teams and/or staff events. “Volunteers is what makes it run,” said Inman Youth Sports President Jeff Cox. “It’s as simple as that. The only ones getting paid are the officials.” Inman Youth Sports sponsors teams in baseball, softball, cheerleading, football and boys and girls basketball. As many as 300 local youth participate in any given year. Within just a few miles of Inman, youth associations operate in Holly Springs, Boiling Springs, Campobello and Landrum. And all of them operate almost exclu-
Inman Youth Sports Holly Springs Youth Association hsya.info/Home_Page.html Landrum Youth Sports Association tcox15@windstream.net Pacolet Youth Sports kjroper55@gmail.com Westside Athletic Booster Association www.wabasc.org Information Hotline: 864-574-9645 Baseball contact: Johnathan Evatt: johnathan.evatt@ wabasc.org Softball contact: Chris Chance: cchance8@bellsouth. net (Source: Spartanburg Parks & Recreation)
sively with help of volunteer forces that do everything from collect tickets to coaching and maintaining the fields. The Landrum Youth Association has received some funds from the City of Landrum, but not nearly enough to operate it fully. “We want to support them,” said Landrum City Manager Steve Wolochowicz. “We aren’t big enough to have our own recreation department, so they help fill a need in the community.” Cox pointed to the District 5 Athletic Association in the Duncan-Lyman-Wellford area as a model of what he would like the Inman association to become. “We want to see this as more of a partnership and a true feeder program for the high school,” he said. “We really want to see the athletic directors involved in what we’re doing down the road.” While the cost associated with local athletic associations is minimal when compared to travel or “pay-to-play” teams, Cox said he would like to see fees brought down or a scholarship program put in place so every child who wants to play will be able to. It currently cost about $90 per season for each sport offered by IYS. “We don’t turn any kids away now, that’s our policy,” he said. “But some people are proud and they don’t want to ask for help. We’d like to make it easier for some of those children to play. “I’d like to see us become a fundraising machine, so we can do something to make it easier.” And fundraising is the key as volunteers keep the associations afloat, even in the midst of a recession. Even though several associations — with their own volunteer forces, coaches and players — operate within a stone’s throw of one another in the northern part of the county, Cox said the divisions bring with them a sense of community for each. GD GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 17
Go fish!
From left: Jacob Bulman, Anthony Shealy, Ian Campbell, Giovanni Nappi, and Nathan Tyson.
Dorman, area high schools adopt pastime as a sport
By JOHN CLAYTON
A
s a sport, it just seems a little, well, fishy. But several local Upstate high schools, including Dorman, have followed the lead of Bassmasters and newly created Major League Fishing and are testing the waters in the hopes of becoming a sport sanctioned by the S.C. High School League. “Right now, we’re the 14th school to have a team,” said Dorman’s Joel Taylor, the club team’s sponsor and coach. “We need at least 16
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schools with active teams before we can petition the SCHSL for consideration.” Really? Fishing? A high school sport? Consider that more than 60 Dorman students attended the informational meeting about the fishing team. When it came time to sign up, 17 students – 16 boys and one girl – committed to joining. “I was very excited when I heard about it,” said senior Jacob Bulman. “I’m glad Dorman is giving students the opportunity to fish in tournaments.” Bulman said he has always fished, spending relaxing times with his
grandfather, but quickly learned that competitive tournaments are fishes of a different color. “It’s more of a mental game than anything else,” he said. “If you’re not catching anything, you can get frustrated out there really easy.” Learning that sort of mental discipline is only part of what Taylor said is an educational experience for the members of his team that includes conservation, boater safety and other related topics that are routinely broached by Taylor and experts from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. “It is a complete educational opportunity, especially for anyone
Other state schools participating in the sport include T.L. Hannah, Dixie, Greenwood and Ninety-Six. All competing schools and anglers are prerequisite members of The Bass Federation, an organization supporting youth fishing.
Hunter Green and Cameron Gilliam show off their tournament winning catch.
interested in the outdoors,” Taylor said. “A lot of what we’re teaching has to do with stewardship – teaching students that if they want their children to enjoy the sport and then their children to enjoy it, then we have to be good stewards.” Other state schools participating in the sport include T.L. Hannah, Dixie, Greenwood and Ninety-Six. All competing schools and anglers are prerequisite members of The Bass Federation, an organization supporting youth fishing. Dorman competed in a tournament on Lake Hartwell featuring several of those schools in March. Taylor compared that tournament and others like it to football jamborees that feature several
different schools playing at once. Two-man boats are launched at first safe light, just like major professional bass tournaments. The team can also host its own tournament, which becomes sort of an intramural event, Taylor said. Either way, the sport is inclusive. “Some kids may not have the size or the abilities to play football or another sport like that,” Taylor said. “This is an opportunity to be outdoors, be active and to be part of a team.” So far, Dorman sponsors the only high school fishing team in Spartanburg County, but Taylor believes it could catch on with others soon. “I think the only thing keeping other schools from doing it is a lack of
knowledge,” he said. Of course, finding home waters at Lake Bowen or other area waterways might be tough, but Taylor believes any obstacle is small in comparison to what is gained by the students involved. “It gives you a chance to learn about the abilities of your teammates and about your own strengths and weaknesses,” Bulman said of the sport. Bulman, who will be a freshman at Presbyterian College next year, said he wishes he could be around to compete on the varsity level, but won’t be hanging up his fishing pole anytime soon. “Lake Greenwood is only 30 minutes (from PC), so I’ll be out there a lot,” he said. GD
GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 19
Club Point
VOLLEYBALL STORY HERE
Club volleyball builds success in many areas, including life By Les Timms III
J
ust weeks after state high school champions are crowned in volleyball, the process begins anew once again.
Thousands of girls, some as young as 9 years old, and others up to 18-year-old high school school athletes, gather in gyms around the Upstate during the month of November to see who can leap the highest, hit the ball hardest and pass and dig with the best. The Westside Club in Spartanburg, home of Club South, and the gym at Oakbrook Prep, home of Upstate Volleyball, are abuzz with activity as coaches evaluate talent for yet another season, which officially gets under way in January. Peden It culminates in June with a trip to the AAU national tourney in Orlando, Fla. The cream of the crop, those players with the higher scores, based on height, jumping ability, serving, hitting, defense and other facets of the game, are often asked to join the top teams. At the end of two or three tryout sessions, all girls are placed on their respec-
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tive teams based on their abilities. Welcome to yet another year of club volleyball. Such is the controlled but chaotic life of club volleyball directors Jimmy Peden and Greg Mosely. Peden is the co-founder and director of Club South, one of the largest clubs in South Carolina with nearly 1,000 members, while Mosely, who also serves as head volleyball coach at North Greenville University, guides the smaller Upstate Volleyball club. Both clubs are based in Spartanburg. As the club season gets under way relentlessly in January, trips to Atlanta, Columbia, Charlotte, Sevierville, Richmond and Baltimore, among other locales, become the norm for caravans of kids and parents who take to the interstates and backroads to eventually join hundreds of other parents to watch their kids compete against kids from other club teams. It’s also big business for cities with a convention centers, pumping millions into local economies. For Peden, it’s business as usual. Sixteen- to 20-hour days are the norm for Peden this time of year. After the Southern Classic tournament in March, in which Club South hosted 370 teams over two weekends, Peden turned much of his attention to his other, equally demanding job, commissioner of the Palmetto Volleyball Association. The Palmetto region holds its seasonending tournament the final week of March
in Charlotte during which it rents the downstairs of the Charlotte Convention Center and every club team is given the opportunity to compete for the championship. Thousands of volleyball visitors invade the Queen City and stay in downtown hotels that have to be booked months in advance. Downtown restaurants are full, and shopping venues are packed with visitors enjoying the springtime weather, netting millions of dollars for the Charlotte economy.
Growth of sport
Volleyball, a sport mostly played by females, continues to grow in popularity in South Carolina where successful club teams usually breed highly successful high school teams. Paula Kirkland, head volleyball coach at Dorman High School, credits club volleyball with helping the Lady Cavs field competitive teams year after year. “I often tell people that the first three championships at Dorman I take credit for. The ones after that are in part due to contributions of the various club programs,” Kirkland said. “There is no way to replace the number of touches (a player can get), and that among other things is what club participation can offer a player. The competitive edge and and increased opportunities to play are the biggest contributors to this maturing. The players get better.” Angie Thompson, coach at Dawkins Mid-
GREG MOSELY: WORDS OF WISDOM Greg Mosely, head volleyball coach at North Greenville University, offers valuable advice for families who may have a daughter with college potential:
See Coach
Q&A’s www.upstategameday.com
l Allow your daughter to walk through difficult times and do not run in front of her to smooth the way l Require her to work out any conflicts with any coach or teacher. Support her, walk beside her but let her learn conflict resolution skills. l If she has questions about why she is not playing, encourage her to ask this question; what do I need to do to improve? The coach should provide direction to answer that question. l Have a realistic idea of what level your child can play. l Coaches don’t cut players; Players cut players! In other words if you want to get on the court, work! l High School is fun; college is a job but can have great reward. l Be the best student you can be, you increase your options when you can qualify for academic as well as athletic financial aid. l Narrow down the college choice by major, geographic location and level of play. Provide video, academic info, physical statistics in an initial email. l Follow up regularly with the college favorites until the coach states that they are not interested or the athlete determines a more specific direction.
COREY HELLE: WORDS OF WISDOM
Corey Helle, head volleyball coach at Wofford College and co-founder of Club South, offers advice to those with college volleyball aspirations: l If your daughter has college aspirations, hold her accountable for that dream. l She needs to practice hard and often, she needs to be competitive, she needs
to be a good teammate. l She needs to sacrifice certain things to get the number of reps, competitions under her belt to separate her from the other thousands of players out there. l There are absolutely no short cuts. l It literally takes thousands of hours to prepare for college. l Figure out what your daughter is doing today to get better. And in my opinion, it is never too early.
dle School, has won the Peachbelt Conference title year after year with Dawkins. “We have players who play club volleyball who normally wouldn’t be able to get a lot of playing time on a school team,” Thompson said. “They get a chance to play and improve.” She also coaches a club team of 12-yearolds, some of whom could be playing for her Dawkins team in the near future. Mosely started the Upstate Volleyball club in 2007 with 16 players. This season he has “90 athletes who train and play at our club.” Upstate is unique in that it offers an environment of Biblical values and high level of training. This year, the club is competing on a national level with its 16-year-old team. “The decision (to field this team) was made so as to provide exposure to a higher level of competition and game speed for athletes who may desire to play in college,” Mosely said.
College potential
Corey Helle, head coach at Wofford, has coached a Club South team since the club’s inception. The vast majority of the players on
the top 18 year old team usually are awarded college scholarships. “It’s virtually 100 percent the past several years,” he said. “The few that do not play in college do so by choice.” However, Helle notes that it is “very difficult to get a scholarship on any level. It takes years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication with some luck thrown in.” Club South for years has achieved success on the national stage with some of its top teams finishing among the top 10 in the country at the AAU competition in Florida. Upstate will take its 16 National team to Orlando this year for the first time after having come off a strong fourth-place finish in the Palmetto Region tournament and the much stronger Big South in Atlanta, where it captured the Silver division title and 13th place out of 72 teams. Club South’s top 16-year-old team, coached by Wofford assistant Tara Brooks, is coming off impressive victories in both the Big South and Palmetto Region tournament. Club South will be taking all of its national teams, including a team of 12 year olds
to compete in June in Orlando. Although the majority of girls who play club volleyball may never compete for a college team, it doesn’t matter. The sport teaches more important lessons. “Team sports ... teaches you how to get along with people, work together as a team, which you can carry into the workplace,” said Peden. “It’s also a sport you can play a lifetime.” Peden is looking to hand the club reins over to someone else in the future as he winds down a career, which began 20 years ago as a Dad helping his daughter Amber find an outlet for her athletic abilities. It didn’t hurt that she was a 6-foot-tall, sixth-grader at the time. “Never had I intended for this to another full-time career, but I wouldn’t stop it for the benefit of the kids,” he said. Peden says that although he will eventually retire from the 20-hour days of Club South, he will continue to serve as commissioner of the Palmetto Volleyball Association. As Helle says, “it’s a great time to be a volleyball player in the U.S.” Many others might agree. GD GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 21
GUIDE TO RECRUITING PROCESSS
So, you want to play Sports in College?
P
laying sports in college, whether it is football, soccer, golf, or any of the other approximately 20 sports, is a very rewarding experience. When it comes to playing in college, there are many different types of schools to look at. In this article I will be discussing the different types of schools and the steps you need to take during high school to help turn your dream into reality. There are many different rules for each type of college concerning recruiting, so it is important for both the prospective student athlete and the parents to know the basics. The NCAA is divided into Division I, Division II, and Division III. Division I is comprised of most of the bigger state universities, whereas Division II is made up of mostly smaller private colleges and universities. Division III includes mostly smaller colleges and universities, including some of the Ivy League schools. In addition to the NCAA programs, there are also NAIA schools and Junior colleges, which have even more different rules. The NCAA website (ncaa.org) is a good resource for learning all the different rules for the different divisions and the NAIA website
will give you similar information about their programs. In addition, the NJCA will explain all the details of playing a sport at the junior college level. So you have now decided that you are committed to playing at the college level. What do you do? First of all, you can never start too early researching school choices. Your high school guidance department can be of assistance in this area, but it is very easy to start the search SARA ANNE on your own. There MCGETRICK are several important questions you should ask yourself when starting this process. 1. 2. 3.
What size school do I think I would feel comfortable at? What part of the country do I want to be in? What do I want to study in college
and do the schools I am interested in offer those majors? 4. What is the cost of the school? After you consider these questions it will be easier to narrow down your choices. Now it is time to really get to work! One of the common mistakes that prospective student-athletes make is assuming that the coaches will find them. College coaches receive numerous resumes and emails daily depending on the size of the school, and although it is true that they will certainly know who all the top athletes are in their respective sport, they cannot keep up with everyone. This is where you can make their job easier. The following steps will help you get noticed and give you a better chance at playing sports at the college level. Freshman year (High School): Compile a list of schools you think you may be interested in. Do not limit yourself, but be realistic. It is never too early to start visiting college campuses and taking a college tour. At this stage it is beneficial to visit universities of all sizes in order to determine what size campus makes you feel the most comfortable. Compile
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22 APRIL 2012 u GAME DAY
a resume of your accomplishments in your respective sport to send to college coaches. At this point in the recruiting process you may email or call coaches as much as you wish, but the coaches are not allowed to respond. Recruiting websites are very helpful, but keep in mind they can also be expensive. There are plenty to choose from and they vary from sport to sport so looking them up online is a good way to find out which ones are best. Sophomore year: Now it’s time to get a little more serious about the recruiting process! Recruiting websites are more important now as are resumes for your particular sport. The most important thing at this stage, though, are your grades! Don’t assume that just because you are a good athlete that grades are not important. No matter where you want to play you have to make the grades to get accepted so it is very important to work hard. Start visiting campuses even more and keeping in touch with coaches via email. Send them as much information as you can, schedules, results, and personal emails. Keep in mind though, that at this point the coaches are still not able to respond depending on the type school you are considering. Junior year: Now it’s crunch time! Junior year is known to be the most difficult
academically and it is also the most crucial for most high school sports. Take your standardized tests as early as possible (SAT and ACT) and get extra tutoring if possible. Make sure that you have your scores sent to the schools you are interested in as well as to the NCAA. At this point you will also want to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Communication with coaches is key now, and it’s definitely time to get serious about unofficial visits to college campuses. Coaches are now allowed to email you, and of course you can call them as much as you like. Keep the coaches updated often with results and scores and consider using recruiting services. Be realistic about the level where you are capable of playing. Consider all your options and always respond to emails from coaches in a timely fashion. Players are committing to colleges earlier and earlier so it is to your advantage to be proactive in the recruiting process. Your accomplishments will speak loudly for you, but only if the coaches are aware of them. It is your job to make sure the coaches know everything about you! Senior Year: Hopefully you have followed most of these steps, and if so, you will be able to relax a little and enjoy your senior year! Keep in constant contact with your high school guidance counselor for information on college applications and for all the details
that details that need to be taken care of. Take your ACT and SAT again to try to improve your scores if needed. Coaches are allowed to call you now and of course you can call and email as much as you want. Continue working hard in school and try to avoid “senioritis”! If most of these steps are taken, you will have a good chance of signing a letter of intent to continue playing the sport that you love at the next level while also getting the quality education that will help get you to the next level in life.
Spartanburg native Sara Anne McGetrick is a former professional golfer and is golf coach at Converse College, which starts play in the fall. She has participated in college recruiting seminars.
If You Aren’t at Your Last Job, Why Is Your 401(k)? Leaving a 401(k) with a previous employer could mean leaving it alone with no one to watch over it. At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k) and help you select the one that’s best for you. If you’d like to roll it over to an Edward Jones Individual Retirement Account (IRA), we can help you do it without paying taxes or penalties. And you can feel confident that someone is looking out for you and your 401(k).
To find out why it makes sense to talk with Edward Jones about your 401(k) options, call or visit your local financial advisor today. www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC
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GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 23
All-Sports Performance Training at the
Speed Academy of Finley Physical Therapy & Sport Training
M
iddle and High School coaches are looking for young athletes with foot speed, agility and explosive quickness. Many young athletes are not prepared physically for middle school and high school sports. At The Speed Academy of Finley Physical Therapy and Sport Training, young athletes receive a structured training program to help them gain a competitive edge.
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Contact us today to see how we can help your young athlete. 24 APRIL 2012 u GAME DAY
For anyone with the desire to play sports at the college or professional level, the road is long and hard. This regular feature is about local athletes, living their dream, competing at ...
Byrnes graduate CHEYENNE GRIFFIN hitting more than high expectations for Spartans
Freshman Cheyenne Griffin has had a hot bat and played better-thansolid defense to pace the USC Upstate Spartans.
By JOHN CLAYTON
Cheyenne Griffin’s first year of college softball came with the requisite doubts and guarded expectations. But they were met by a hot bat and better-than-solid defense by the USC Upstate freshman, who has started all 30 games for the Spartans as a freshman. “Of course, it’s gone a lot better than I thought it would,” Griffin said. “I was nervous at first, but my teammates really embraced me and helped me get comfortable from the beginning.” Griffin repaid them by batting .419 (second on the team and third in the Atlantic Sun Conference), going 39 of 93 at the plate through 30 games. She has added one home run, 17 RBI (fourth on the team) and six doubles (second on the team). Her .481 on-base percentage is also second among the Spartans. Those are not numbers usually accumulated by a player one year removed from Byrnes High School, but Griffin is one of three unusually productive freshman starting at USC Upstate along with Shellie Robinson (.457, 12 HR) and Hayley Reinfeld (.403). The frosh trio has led the Spartans to a 26-4 record and a No. 11 ranking in a recognized mid-major poll. All of it is the result of an added workload that Griffin, a corner infielder with a .993 fielding average and one error through 30 games, said has improved her game. “In high school, we might work out with weights a couple of times a week, but here we have daily workout schedules and do a lot more work to make us better.” Griffin said she has noticed a change in her game and her body since arriving at
USC Upstate after a all-star career at Byrnes as a four-year starter. She also played for the Carolina Curve and Carolina Elite Gold travel teams. “I can tell I’m a lot stronger, and I’ve even gotten faster,” she said. “We do a lot of agility drills. It’s a lot of work, but it’s helping the team win.” Griffin is far removed from the little girl who began hitting wiffle balls in her grandmother’s backyard as grandmother Elithe Turner threw batting practice. That led to a short-lived baseball career in pee-wee leagues. She said she played baseball until she was “9 or 10,” when she was not allowed to play baseball anymore. “They used to hit me (with pitches) every time I came up to bat,” Griffin said with a little chuckle. Soon afterward, she discovered softball and never looked back and that path delivered her to USC Upstate, where she is considering a major in criminal justice. “I’d like to do something like that with a concentration on animals — like Animal Cops,” she said, referring to the Animal Planet reality series. Griffin owns two dogs now — Nova
and Lucy and fits them in with school, softball and college life. “It’s a lot to balance,” she said. But it is also the fulfillment of a childhood dream, and Griffin offered a bit of advice for other players coming behind her. “Keep going after it,” she said. “Dont give up and don’t quit even when you feel like you can’t do it. You’re not a failure as long as you keep getting up and keep on trying. Do it until you don’t love it anymore.” GD GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 25
CLUB SPORTS
The competitive world of youth sports
T
he world of youth sports is constantly changing with the times and, sadly, the days of backyard games and the unstructured ‘playground’ development of our young athletes are rapidly disappearing. Businesses are popping up all over to cater to individual, personalized training and development. Young athletes are being steered to more competitive environments at a much earlier age. Youth organizations are implementing professional coaching and training environments to cater to the masses. For many, these trends may be perceived as negative, but if done properly, competitive sports can be extremely positive and
beneficial! in a positive learning environment. Keep For parents in mind that in most of talented or clubs, coaches may highly motivated change and players athletes becoming may change, but the educated is a must. underlying philosophy After all, the world of the club should of competitive remain the same from sports is coach to coach and competitive! This team to team. is when doing your JUSTIN homework matters COLLETT as there are always Developmental a number of Pyramid options available. Some things At the younger ages (age to consider in choosing a club 12 and below) individual for your child: development must be the priority; team success is not Philosophy: Club, Team and a precursor, nor a necessity, to individual growth. Does Coach the organization provide With the appropriate appropriate opportunities as philosophy and structure, player’s age and develop to players can grow and develop ensure they remain challenged?
Coaching What are the qualifications (Playing experience, coaching experience, personality, education, etc.) of the coach?
CALL US TO HOST
YOUR TEAM BANQUET!
Playing Environment Does the club training provide a challenging environment? Do the players
around your child challenge him or her to become better? If you are in doubt as to which Club is best for your child, ask around. For most kids, their goal is to represent their High School on its varsity team, so don’t be afraid to use your High School coach as a resource. Find out from him or her, what steps your child should take in order for to achieve their athletic goals. Speak to as many different organizations as possible. At the end of the day, we should all keep youth sports in perspective. Remember, they are a valuable learning experience for our youth, but first and foremost participation in sports helps our kids be happy and healthy! GD
Justin Collett is the Executive Director of Coaching and Administration at Carolina FC. Carolina FC is a Youth Soccer Club in Spartanburg, SC. Carolina FC is a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization. Justin can be reached at Justin@ CarolinaFC.net
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The Hub City Heat won the 9U division at the USSSA Tyger River Spring Kickoff the weekend of March 17-18. The team is coached by Rick Lee, Kevin Horres, Chuck Turner and Ja Bagwell.
youth fitness
I
Building a better athlete
used to hear my Dad say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” in reference to a lot of different things. I think he used it to keep me from being upset about a bad practice or game. He meant it to encourage me and keep me focused on the big picture. As usual, the older I get the more I realize how much he knew.
played and most often played more than one sport. Playing more than one sport ensures that they remain fresh and develop their bodies more completely. The kids who have too much thrown at them too fast are the ones who are most likely not to make it. They lose their love for the game and the desire to get better on their own. It takes a tremendous work Really, when KEN ethic to make it far but you think about no one can give their FINLEY it, accomplishing child that desire to anything practice. It has to grow worthwhile takes a certain from a love for the sport and a amount of hard work and want to succeed. We as parents patience. There is a process can certainly be an example of involved in completing almost hard work and dedication but every task we are faced with can’t force that on our child. and trying to do too much Call it burnout if you or looking for shortcuts to like. For a kid to make it to speed up that process generally the big time, the dream has doesn’t help very much. I talk to a lot of parents who to be his or her own. It can’t be someone else’s dream, or think that their kids are the the passion and desire that at next superstar athlete. I’m not some point separates the good talking about parents of 15 or players from the great ones will 16 year-olds. I’m talking about parents of 8, 9, and 10 year olds. never surface. We must always remember that kids mature These particular parents have at different rates physically, their kids playing on multiple emotionally and in terms of travel teams and attending every camp possible in hopes of their physical skills. If we both have 8-yearensuring that they one day will olds and mine is a little bit make it to the big leagues. (Yes I have been guilty of this one as behind yours on the ball field or court, it’s not going to help well). jumpstart him if I force him Well, for these parents (and to practice more. At that age me) I have one bit of advice: it is important that the time “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” spent on the field or court is It is important for players, enjoyable. If he develops a true parents and coaches to not love and passion for the game, lose sight of the particulars and at some point his body – the process – that leads and physical skills catch up up to someone becoming a (which usually happens), then professional athlete. Nobody we might have the formula for is born to be a professional success. athlete. Every player who has If your child or a player on made it to the professional your team has an off day at ranks has followed a similar practice or doesn’t perform well progression. They enjoyed and in one single game, big deal. grew to love the game they
Forget about the negatives. Pick out one or two positive things, even if they The process are just little things, of building and really get excited great athletes starts about them. Make at an early the player feel good age. about himself and try to get him excited my child grows up and coaches to go back on the field and try again. The greatest their children one day and passes on a fun environment compliment I can receive from for sports. And, like Rome, a young athlete is ‘Hey Coach, great athletes aren’t built in a I can’t wait until the next time day. GD (practice or game).’ If that kid can continue Ken Finley is a physical therato improve at doing a lot of pist and certified youth speed and the little things, one day it all agility specialist. To learn more might add up to him being a about his youth athletic develophigh school, college or even ment programs you can contact professional athlete. Being a him at kfinley@finleypt.com. father what I really hope is that
GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 27
youth fitness
Training legs builds proper foundation
U
sing free weights properly requires careful instruction and safety. There are some barbell exercises that have a high of risk for injury, therefore it is important to have a training partner. Every athlete should train their entire body so as not to have any weak links that could hinder performance or cause injury. It is very popular, especially for young boys, to train only their upper body. This is a critical mistake. JOHN If you ask a young LANKFORD man how much they can bench press, they can give you an immediate answer. On the other hand they would probably not be able to tell you how much weight they can use to do 12 repetitions on a leg extension machine.
With that in mind, let’s begin with an exercise that is excellent for the muscles in the front upper leg, the quadriceps. The leg extension machine is a great way to begin your leg workout! 1) Sit on the seat and place the legs behind the movement pad 2) Align the knees with the axis of movement of the machine 3) Push the seat adjustment lever to bring the seat against back and hips 4) Grip handles lightly and lift movement pad until quadriceps are fully extended 5) Return weight stack slowly to starting position and repeat For beginners one set of 12 repetitions will be enough. After 2 weeks add and additional set. Then in 4 weeks begin doing 3 sets of 12 repetitions. Legs are a large muscle group and
should be worked no more that 2 times per week. Also as legs get stronger, gradually increase the amount of weight used. A good rule of thumb is that if the last 4 repetitions begin to feel easy, increase weight. Remember, in any sport your legs are your foundation, so be sure to keep them strong! GD John Lankford is the owner of Nautilus Fitness Center in Spartanburg. He has over 30 years experience as a trainer, bodybuilder and fitness expert.
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Congratulations to all those volunteers, coaches, players, and other supporters of our great Spartanburg County and Upward Sports athletic programs.
GOLF ACADEMY
Score your best through pre-shot visualization
I
n any sport, and especially in ing a swing. golf, it is imperative that the A clear goal eliminates a player has a pre-shot routine. wandering mind. It is important In this routine, the golfer to literally see yourself hitting the should always “visualize� the shot with the proper ball flight or perfect shot that they ultimately pace of putt before striking the want to hit. This includes ball shot. flight, spin, and result. Not Narrowing your attention to integrating visualizaa clear goal focuses tion into your pre-shot your mind. After this routine will lead to a visualization takes mind that is not focused place, it is imporand open to negative tant to feel the shot thoughts. with proper practice How do we add swings that will visualization to our produce the shot that pre-shot routine? was just visualized. Visualization is done at (PicB). the beginning of your There are nuKYLE pre-shot routine. Nearly merous studies that all professional and top say a proper pre-shot OWINGS amateurs start their routine and visuprocess with some form alization helps you of visualization. stay focused mentally and helps a The best place to integrate player focus to positive results. visualization is when a player Try this and see if you can is directly behind the ball and produce more of the shots you the beginning of the pre-shot visualize. GD routine. (PicA) It is important to be clear in your mind of the Reach the Kyle Owings Golf outcome before physically makAcademy at (864)205-4221
A It is important to be clear in your mind of the outcome before phyically making a swing.
B it is important to feel the shot with proper practice swings that will produce the shot that was just visualized.
GAME DAY u APRIL 2012 29
SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS Compiled By
June 11-14, Hodge Gym, USC Upstate Campus. For information, contact Kente Hart at 864-503-5297 or khart@ uscupstate.edu.
MARY CALDWELL
B
reaks from school offer kids the perfect chance to attend one of the area’s many sports camps. Many schools offer a variety of camps for kids of varying ages, giving them the chance to sharpen their skills under the tutelage of experienced coaches and instructors.
BASEBALL:
University of South CarolinaUpstate Baseball Camp June 18 - 21 at Cleveland Harley Baseball Park, USC Upstate Campus. For more information, contact Matt Fincher at 864-503-5135 or mfincher@uscupstate.edu. Ron Smith Baseball Camp - Furman University Emphasis is for every camper to be taught with individual drills from Coach Smith’s specialized team concept teaching. Call 864-294-2146 for information. University of South Carolina Youth Day Baseball Camps Session 1: June 11-15 Session 2: June 18-22 Session 3: June 25-29 Session 4: July 9-13
FCA Girls Basketball Camp June 18-20, USC Upstate Campus. For more information, contact Stacey Turner at 864-578-5464. Date(s): June 18 - 20, 2012 Location: USC Upstate Campus Basketball Camp (Kente Hart) June 21-24 and June 25-28, USC Upstate Campus. For information, contact Kente Hart at 864-503-5297 or khart@uscupstate.edu. Girls Basketball Camps at Furman University Conducted by Coach Jackie Carson. Individual Camp: June 4-7, age 4 through grade 12 Team Camp: June 15-17, middle school, high school and AAU Teams Elite Camp: June 8-10, grades 9-12 For more information, contact LaCheryl Smith at 864-294-3429 or lacheryl.smith@furman.edu. Jeff Jackson Basketball Camp Various camps available, for kids in 1st grade through high school. Designed to give kids a fun and exciting experience with the fundamentals of basketball, including: ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, 3 on 3 games, 5 on 5 games, basketball drills through contests, etc. For more information, contact Jennifer Arends at 864-294-2170.
BASKETBALL:
Brad Brownell Boys Basketball Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Brad Brownell. Individual Camp: June 17-20. Team Camp: June 22-24. Boarding Camper - $440; Commuter Camper: $300; Day Camper: $200. For more information, e-mail sruark@clemson.edu.
Team Basketball Camp (Kente Hart)
Lady Tiger Basketball Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Itoro Coleman June 15-17. Middle school, junior varsity, varsity and AAU level teams. Each team will compete in five on five games, special game situation stations
For more information, visit http:// www.gamecocksonline.com/camps/ scar-camps.html.
Elite Men’s Basketball Camp Aug. 4, Hodge Gym, USC Upstate Campus. For information, contact Kente Hart at 864-503-5297 or khart@ uscupstate.edu.
30 APRIL 2012 u GAME DAY
and team building exercises. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of six games during this three-day camp. Minimum of eight players required to register one team. Schools bringing more than one team must have seven or more per team. E-mail ladytigerbbcamp@yahoo. com or call the camp hotline at 864656-1964 to request your Team Camp Packet, which includes all the necessary forms and paperwork.
FOOTBALL: The Mike Ayers Football Camp at Wofford College For more information, contact camp director Shiel Wood at woodds2@wofford.edu or 864-597-4148. All Offensive Camps are designed for athletes entering the 9th-12th grades. The deadline for registration is one week prior to the start of camp. Any individual who registers after the deadline will be charged a $30 late registration fee. All Top Prospect One Day Senior Camps are designed for rising 12th graders. The price of the camp will be announced in the future. Option Offense : Sunday, June 17 to Tuesday, June 19 Offense/Defense Team and Individual: Sunday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 27 Resident camper: to be announced Day camper: to be announced Top Prospect One Day Senior Camps Camp 1- Thursday, June 14 Camp 2- Saturday, June 23 fee to be announced Nate Woody Youth Football Camp at Wofford College June 4-7. Learn fundamentals through team competition, group instruction and individual attention. This is non-contact day camp open to children ages 6-12. Cost: $140 if pre-registered and $150 on the first day of camp. Included in the camp tuition is five sessions of individual instruction, at least two games each day and a camp T-shirt. Bobby Bentley QB-WR Camp June 28-July 1 and July 19-21 at the USC Upstate Campus. For information, call Bobby Bentley at 864-809-1316. FCA Football Camp July 5-7 and July 16-18, USC
Upstate Campus. For information, call Stacey Turner at 864-878-5464. Bruce Fowler Football Camps at Furman University Quarterback and Wide Receiver Camp Session I: June 10-13; Session II: June 17-20 An intensive, four day residential camp for rising 8th-12th graders focused on improving the fundamentals of each player. Offensive Line Camp Session I: June 10-13; Session II: June 17-20 An intensive, four day residential camp for rising 8th-12th graders focused on improving the fundamentals of each player. Future Stars Youth Camps June 4-7 A half-day camp running from Monday through Thursday for ages 8-13 focused on exposing young football players to the fundamentals of the game. For more information on Furman’s football camps, contact Jordan Sorrells, Football Operations Director, at 864-294-2772 or jordan.sorrells@ furman.edu. Dabo Swinney Football Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Dabo Swinney. Youth Camp I: June 2-3, 2012 (Grades 2-7 for the fall of 2012) Youth Camp II: June 9-10, 2012 (Grades 2-7 for the fall of 2012) High School Camp I: June 12-14, 2012 (Grades 8-12 for the fall of 2012) High School Camp II: June 15-17, 2012 (Grades 8-12 for the fall of 2012) For more information, visit http:// www.daboswinneyfootballcamp.com/ or e-mail jennifi@clemson.edu.
GENERAL:
2012 Strength and Conditioning Camp at Wofford College June 18-July 26. Monday through Thursday 9-10 a.m. $80 a week or $20.00 a session.
USC Upstate Youth Fitness Program June 4-8. 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. HEC Gym at USC Upstate. Ages 6-14. Activities such as swimming, soccer, flag football, team handball, basketball, cooperative games, floor hockey and health education class. Cost: $175.00 For more information, contact Jim Kamla at 864-503-5851 or jkamla@ uscupstate.edu.
GOLF:
Champions Junior Golf at Wofford College June 11-14 (Day Camp, boys and girls age 5-17, 9 a.m.-noon). June 3-7 (Resident Camp, boys and girls age 10-18). JT Golf Camps at Furman University Day Camp - Session 1: June 11-15 for ages 8-17, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 11-15 for ages 5-7, 9 a.m. - noon. Residential Camp June 16-20 for ages 10-17 Day Camp - Session 2 July 23-27 for ages 8-17, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 23-27 for ages 5-7, 9 a.m.noon. For more information, call Jen Hanna or Todd Satterfield at 864-2946283.
Clemson Tiger Golf Academy: Week 1: June 9-13. Week 2: June 16-20. Ages: 10-17. For more information, call Larry Penley at 864-654-5718.
SOFTBALL:
Upstate Fastpitch Softball Camp June 25-28, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Cyrill Stadium at USC Upstate. Girls ages 8-18. Extensive fastpitch softball instruction for players of all skill levels. Cost: $300 Resident, $190 Commuter. For more information, contact Chris Hawkins at 864-503-5171 or at chawkins@uscupstate.edu. Dana Jenkins Softball Camp For all ages and skill levels. Instructed by the Furman University softball coaches and players along with other college coaches and players from around the southeast. For all players interested in developing their softball skills. It is designed to teach the total game of fastpitch softball. The camp offers many options from being a commuter to staying in dorms overnight. For more information, contact Dana Jenkins, Head Coach of the Furman Paladins softball team, at 864356-7649 or dana.jenkins@furman. edu.
TENNIS:
Rod Ray Tennis Camp 2012 at Wofford College: May 28 -31: Day Camp June 1-3: Adult Camp. Commute or stay on campus. June 4-7: Day Camp June 10-14 Junior Overnight Camp June 17 -21 Junior Overnight Camp June 24-June 28 Junior Overnight Camp July 25-27: Junior Professional Camp USC Upstate Tennis Camp June 4-July 6 at the tennis courts at USC Upstate. For more information, contact Oliver Trittenwein at 864-503-5131 or otrittenwein@uscupstate.edu .
SOCCER:
Ralph Lundy Soccer Academy at Wofford College June 17-21 (Ages 9-13, Boys and Girls - Regular only) June 24-28 (Ages 14-18, Boys and Girls - Regular and Elite) Greg Hooks’ Soccer Camp at USC Upstate Day Camp: June 11-14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Ages 5-18 (boys and girls). Day camp at the soccer fields. Offering comprehensive soccer instruction.
Cost: $190 Late-Stay, $180 Full-Day, $120 Half-Day, $95 Mini-Camp. Resident Camp: June 15-17 at the soccer fields. For boys in grades 7-12. Offers comprehensive soccer instruction. Cost: $240 resident, $195 commuters. For more information, contact Greg Hooks at 864-503-5117 or at ghooks@uscupstate.edu.
VOLLEYBALL:
FCA Volleyball Camp July 19-21, USC Upstate Campus. For more information, contact Stacey Turner at 864-878-5464. Clemson Tiger Volleyball Camp: Directed by Clemson University Head Coach Jolene Hoover. Training Camp: July 12-15. Team Camp: July 18-21. For more information, contact Kelsey Murphy at 864-656-1932. Corey Helle Wofford Volleyball Camp: Directed by Wofford Head Coach Corey Helle. July 6-9, July 11-14, July 16-18, July 20-22, July 23-25. For more information, contact Corey Helle at 864-597-4152 or send email to coreyhelleVBcamp@att.net.
COREY HELLE VOLLEYBALL CAMP July 6-9
JV Team / Young Ones Camp July 11-14
Varsity Team Camp July 16-18
Individual Camp II July 20-22
COREY HELLE Head Volleyball Coach WOFFORD COLLEGE
Individual Camp III July 23-25
Individual Camp IV Camps are open to any and all participants
for more information send email to coreyhelleVBcamp@att.net or call (864) 597-4152
DOWNLOAD Camp Brochure at www.wofford.edu/athletics
Fuddruckers in Spartanburg has expanded!
W
e now offer an additional private party room, perfect
for your parties with friends, family or company!
Book your next gathering with us, just call and ask to book the Yellow Room!
864.576.8329 Did you know Fuddruckers caters, too?
Visit myfuddruckers.com to see all catering opportunities!
FUDDRUCKERS OF SPARTANBURG
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 10 PM 1509 John B. White Sr. Blvd / Spartanburg / 884.576.8329