FORMER DEACON HOOPS STAR SKIP BROWN SUCCEEDS IN FINANCIAL WORLD
Inside force 6-9 freshman Devin Thomas provides presence in the paint for young Deacons
february/march 2013
FROM SOFTBALL TO BASKETBALL 6-3 sophomore Dearica Hamby learns to appreciate her “new” sport after growth spurt led her to hoops
wakeforestsports.com
you
us
If you’re suffering from foot or ankle pain, we can help. Wake Forest Baptist Health offers a comprehensive range of foot and ankle care for patients of all ages. Our orthopaedic surgeons and podiatrists are experts in ankle replacement, athletic injuries, trauma, hammertoes, bunions, plantar fasciitis and many other types of foot and ankle problems. For an appointment with a Wake Forest Baptist foot and ankle specialist at one of our many Triad locations, call 716-WAKE or visit WakeHealth.edu/Feet.
For an appointment, call 888-716-WAKE or visit WakeHealth.edu Proud to be the official health care provider for the Demon Deacons
contents
// f e b r u a r y/ m a r c h 2 0 1 3
VOL. 22 // ISSUE 5 (USPS 014-373) EDITOR
Jim Buice PHOTOGRAPHER
Donnie Roberts WRITERS
Jay Reddick, Sam Walker, Stephanie Hudson Design & Layout
Summit Athletic Media www.summitathletics.com Advertising
IMG College Jeff Salisbury, Trey Copeland, Tim Herr, Page Hall For information on advertising, please call (336) 758-7230
Gold Rush is published eight times a year in August/ September, October, November/ December, January, February/ March, April, May/June and July by IMG College in conjunction with Wake Forest Athletics. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, NC 27102 and at additional mailing offices. The price of an annual subscription is $20. Members of the Deacon Club receive a one-year subscription as part of their membership. Persons wishing to subscribe to Gold Rush should send a check or money order (credit cards not accepted) to: IMG College 540 N. Trade St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 All material produced in this publication is the property of Wake Forest University and IMG and hall not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. POSTMASTER: Please send all address changes to the attention of Stephanie Hudson, Wake Forest Athletics, 519 Deacon Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27105. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser and/or the advertiser’s product or service by Wake Forest or IMG. The use of the name of the University or any of its identifying marks in advertisements must be approved by WFU and IMG.
Wake Forest supporter Ashby Cook hugs former Deacon great Charlie Davis and his wife Linda during the N.C. State game. “C.D.” was a three-time first-team selection to the All-ACC team in 1969, 1970 and 1971, and was named ACC Player of the Year in his senior year. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)
4 14 20
from the ad 100% cotten inside the deacon club
28 27 30
where are they now? calendar compliance corner
// 6 RISING STAR Playing with energy and intensity, 6-9 Devin Thomas is one of the promising Wake Forest rookies to make an immediate impact.
// 10 HE BANKED ON THE FUTURE Skip Brown was a standout point guard in the 1970s who made a successful transition to the financial world.
// 16 MAKING THE SWITCH Dearica Hamby has made the most of her opportunity in basketball after a growth spurt turned a 5-7 softball aficionado in high school to a 6-3 starting forward for the WFU women’s basketball team.
ON THE COVER Devin Thomas had the game of his young career against N.C. State on Jan 22, scoring 25 points and pulling down 14 rebounds in an 86-84 upset victory over then 18th-ranked N.C. State. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)
february/march 2013
3
from the a.d.
// r o n w e ll m a n
Athletes performing well in the classroom, too
ron W E L L MAN D I RECTOR OF ATH L ET I CS
4
As we begin the second semester, it is a good time to review the achievements of the fall semester. Our teams’ competitive records are known by the majority of Demon Deacon fans. Another metric of our program is the academic performance of our student-athletes, and their classroom performance the first semester was very good. The following are some of their notable achievements: • 39 percent of all student-athletes earned a 3.0+ GPA. • Three teams had a team GPA of 3.0 or better: women’s golf (3.212), women’s soccer (3.164) and volleyball (3.111). • Seven teams have a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or better: women’s golf (3.349), women’s soccer (3.150), men’s tennis (3.091), volleyball (3.072), men’s soccer (3.025), women’s tennis (3.008), men’s cross country/track and field (3.00). • The men’s team with the most improved semester GPA from the spring 2012 semester to the fall 2012 semester is the men’s tennis team (2.509 to 2.991). • Twelve programs had a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 100 percent: baseball, men’s basketball, men’s golf, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s cross country/track and field, field hockey, women’s golf, women’s soccer, women’s tennis and volleyball. • Every Demon Deacon team had a much higher GSR than the national average for their sport. • The Student-Athlete GSR was 95 percent, which will rank as one of the highest rates in the country.
gold rush magazine
Obviously, our student-athletes are very serious about excelling academically. They deserve accolades for their performance in the classroom while also pursuing athletic excellence. The time commitment to achieve athletic and academic excellence is immense, yet they are determined to succeed in both areas. I marvel at their commitment to both of these phases of their lives. Others play an important role in their success as well. Jane Caldwell and her Student-Athlete Services staff do a superb job of monitoring the academic performance of all student-athletes and making sure that their academic priorities are always honored. The Deacon Club Annual Fund pays for the scholarships that allow deserving student-athletes to earn a degree from one of the nation’s outstanding academic institutions while competing at the highest level athletically. It is indeed a rare combination, and I am pleased that this group is taking full advantage of the opportunity YOU have given them. I look forward to seeing you at our games!
Go Deacs! Ron Wellman
When was the last time you got a financial check-up? Allegacy Investment Group, available through CFS* is dedicated to providing you with personalized financial planning with products and services for every stage of life to help keep your portfolio healthy. Our experienced CFS Financial Advisors offer complimentary plans and educational workshops.
Investment Planning | Personal Financial Planning | 401k Consultation & Rollovers Retirement & Retirement Income Planning | Life & Long Term Care Insurances Estate Planning & Wealth Transfer | College Education Planning
To schedule a meeting with an advisor, visit your nearest Financial Center, AllegacyInvestmentGroup.org or call 336.774.3400. *Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (“CFS”), a registered broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Products offered through CFS: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union and may involve investment risk including possible loss of principal. Investment Representatives are registered through CFS. Allegacy Federal Credit Union has contracted with CFS to make non-deposit investment products and services available to credit union members. For specific tax advice, please consult a professional tax advisor. ©2013 Allegacy Federal Credit Union
february/march 2013
5
6
gold rush magazine
// d e vi n t h o m a s
Photo by Donnie Roberts
b a s k e t b a ll
presence in the paint 6-9 freshman Devin Thomas emerging in middle for young Deacons
By Sam Walker
R
Right now he is the intangible factor. Devin Thomas is a freshman who plays where the pounding in the paint is commonplace, shots are always contested, contact is certain, and points are hard to come by. He is always working the paint, banging into players at least a year or two his senior, but he is quick, active and learning on the fly. Thomas, a 6-9, 245-pound center from Harrisburg, Pa., wants to provide some toughness and post presence to a Wake Forest team looking for one. He has started every game this season (as of late January), and although his statistics aren’t yet eye-popping, he has been consistent and working to get better with a youthful enthusiasm. He isn’t always in the perfect position to score or defend, but there’s always effort. The potential to be good is there, but for now Thomas is paying his dues. Plus there’s talent — genetically speaking. Thomas’ sister, Alyssa, is a junior on the Maryland women’s basketball team and was named the ACC 2012 Player of the Year (2012) and Freshman of the Year in 2010. “Coach doesn’t really hold us accountable for being young,” Thomas said. “He’s gets tough on us, but still he knows we are freshmen, so he knows we are going to make mistakes. He doesn’t count us as freshman but more like sophomores.” Walt Corbean, an assistant coach for the Deacons, notes the energy and intensity Thomas brings every day to practices, but there’s more. “That’s a little bit of leadership, too,” Corbean said. “There are times in drills where we aren’t performing to the level we need to be, and I’ll look at him and say, ‘You need to bring more energy for us because that’s what you can do. You aren’t going to have a perfect night, but you can play at a high intensity level for 30 games.’ Along the way, we are working with him on making adjustments from the high school game to the college game. We’re constantly working on things like angles and getting the ball inside, or going up and getting rebounds and finishing off with a basket after the rebound. “Hopefully one day we will be able to use him in a variety of ways.
We think he can be a multi-dimensional player, and he’ll be able to go inside and use his strength and size against smaller guys and take a bigger guy out on the perimeter. He has a nice shot, but just needs to be more consistent with his form on his shot. He is progressing wonderfully, and he has a good perspective on where he is and that will hopefully help him progress quicker because he keeps it real with himself.” When teammate Tyler Cavanaugh gets knocked to the floor hustling for a rebound, Thomas is the guy who runs over to help him up. As the ball gets batted around inside after a missed shot, Thomas is the one bouncing repeatedly to try and either corral the rebound or knock it over to a better positioned teammate. Thomas works to knock away passes, gets on the floor for loose balls and helps his team in ways that don’t always show up on a stat sheet. Thomas has become more comfortable in his role and learned from his youthful mistakes as Wake Forest is now in the middle of he ACC season. He pulled down 11 rebounds in a 75-72 victory over Boston College and turned in 12 points and eight rebounds at Virginia Tech in a heartbreaking 66-65 loss. However, he provided his best game in his rookie season against 18th-ranked N.C. State on Jan. 22. Thomas kept the Deacons in the game in the first half with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and then helped lead a Wake Forest comeback in a signature 86-84 upset victory for the young Deacons, finishing with a career-high 25 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. “Devin Thomas – what an effort,” head coach Jeff Bzdelik said. “You look at his line and good gracious, what can you say. Out of all due respect to these scouting services, I might have seen every one of his summer league games. I saw him get 44 points and 23 rebounds in a high school game. He just plays with unbelievable passion and energy and fearlessness, and so I’m not surprised by it. As a young player, he just had to get his confidence as they all do.” “We knew we could play with them when the game started if we february/march 2013
7
b a s k e t b a ll
// d e vi n t h o m a s
Photo by Donnie Roberts
executed, and we executed in the second half,” Thomas said. “I think I had a lot of success by getting (N.C. State’s) C.J. Leslie in foul trouble because he likes coming from the weak side. (N.C. State’s) Richard Howell is a good player, one of the best post men in the league, but I was just confident each time I kept getting the ball. The fans got behind us, and that gave us a lot of energy. My teammates and coaches kept giving me the green light every time I got the ball. I was just playing hard, and that got me rebounds.” Thomas looks for deficits in his own game and areas where the team isn’t performing well and tries to shift to make a contribution and continue to improve. He’s relatively soft-spoken off the court, but on it he’s one of the most energetic and active players on the team and simply emphatic in big moments on the court. “I think we’re buying into the system,” Thomas said. “We are coming together as a team. Coach gets on us for our defense, and sometimes we feel like a track team on defense out there, but the scout team – if they don’t get the rebound we’re on the line (running). All of us can do a better job working on our weaknesses, and it’s a team effort. But I just like to win. I’m going to do what it takes to win, so if we’re not doing something well, I’m going to do what I can to make it better. That’s just how I’ve always been as a player.” Offensively, Thomas is working to provide a post presence and take advantage of opportunities for second-chance shots. Before the N.C. State game, he was averaging just 6.5 points per game, but he is shooting 46 percent from the floor and ranks second on the team in rebounding behind junior Travis McKie. “I’ve just got to use my quickness and speed to front the post and trust my teammates for backside help,” Thomas said. “I played center in high school, so it’s not like it’s a new position to me, but it’s a lot bigger and stronger guys and I have to accept that role – that’s my role and I’m a team player. These guys can shoot over you, they have great length, but I’ve just got to get better at it, front the post and trust my teammates. Those things didn’t happen to me or us (freshmen) in high school. I don’t think any of us had to play a lot of defense in high school, so it’s a whole new concept. Ball pressure, weak-side help, it’s something new all the time. “I’m not comfortable with the way I’m playing offense and defense right now, but I try to focus on rebounding because that’s one of our struggles. If all five guys rebound and hold them to one shot, we’re pretty successful on defense. That’s when we get runs going, and that’s what we have to do. It’s just effort and wanting the ball more. We’re learning how to play 40 minutes, and all of us are coming together and getting better.”
8
gold rush magazine
Devin Thomas Year: Freshman Height: 6-9 Weight: 245 pounds Position: Center Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa. Major: Undeclared On why he chose Wake Forest: “I was looking at schools back home like Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple, and I was considering Virginia Tech, but Wake Forest was the best opportunity for me being a great academic school and giving me the opportunity to play right away. Coach Bzdelik and Coach Battle clicked right away. My mom wanted me to come here, and I thought I’d like it too, and I do.” Top athletic accomplishments: Led Central Dauphin High School to a 29-3 record, winning the regular season and conference tournament championship. The 29-3 record ranks as the best in school history. Averaged 23.8 points and 13.9 rebounds per game as a senior.
MoRe thaN FiNe wiNe CoMes FRoM a baRReL Visit Childress Vineyards today to view the full selection of furniture and accessories handcrafted of oak staves from previously used wine barrels. Each collection is branded with the Childress Vineyards mark. Items may be purchased in the Tasting Room or drop shipped directly to your home or business.
For more information call:
Cindy Craver at 336.236.9463
Color variation, distressing and wood character are distinct features of this collection.
1000 Childress Vineyards Road Lexington, NC 27295 | 336-236-9463 www.childressvineyards.com
a heritage of compassion, a lifetime of care. As we celebrate 40 years of providing dignified living for older adults, we honor the vision shared by our founders. As that vision and our community have grown through the decades, we continue to uphold the same basic values today of respect, integrity, and caring. If you would like to learn more about becoming a part of the Salemtowne legacy, please contact us today for more information.
336.767.8130 | www.salemtowne.org
Roma Welch
Salemtowne is a non-profit Continuing Care Retirement Community built on a heritage dating back more than a century reflecting the Moravian values of respect, integrity and caring.
february/march 2013
9
b a s k e t b a ll
// s k ip b r o w n
He Called
‘Bank’
Skip Brown takes a shot in the financial world By Jay Reddick
W
Wake Forest Hall of Fame basketball player Skip Brown graduated from WFU in 1977 with a specific ambition in mind, but it wasn’t what you might think. It wasn’t professional basketball – the AllAmerican shooting guard tried out for a couple of teams, but when he didn’t make it, he said that was “fine.” He already had his life’s work planned out: Since before he ever came to Wake Forest, he wanted a career in the banking business and eventually wanted to start his own bank. That might seem an odd ambition for someone so young, but Brown had a mentor – Bill Greene, a Wake Forest alumnus and the co-founder of the Bank of Tennessee in Brown’s hometown of Kingsport. “When I was little, I knew what he did and how he did it,” Brown said of Greene, now the namesake of a classroom building on the WFU campus. “That became an interest, which migrated into a goal, then became a career path.” And unlike so many other young people whose ambitions change with the wind, Brown followed through, opening TriStone Community Bank in Winston-Salem in 2004. It became a local success, then merged with First Community Bank in 2009. Today, Brown is a regional president at First Community. “Things are good with me at First Community,” Brown says now. “It’s a strong, solid bank. The industry as a whole is not doing as well as we’d like, but that’s pretty
10
gold rush magazine
much economy-driven, and you should see that turn around soon.” It might be easy for Brown, who works and lives in Winston-Salem, to earn special treatment based on his status as a local basketball legend, but the 58-year-old hasn’t taken that approach. “I divorced basketball 25 years ago,” Brown said. “I don’t play, and unless Wake Forest is on, I don’t watch. When I played, it was great. It created opportunities I never thought I’d have. But when I was done, I swore I’d never be a hanger-on. It was time to move on.” Instead, he advanced through the financial world, where his accomplishments are now as lauded and impressive as anything he ever did on the basketball court. He said he built his young career on doing jobs, largely at Bank of America, that would help him with his dream. Finally, in 2004, it was time. He had built a network of people who were willing to invest in his new venture to the tune of $17 million — then the second-largest stock offering for a N.C. bank. But, he said, that wasn’t his toughest task. “The biggest challenge was getting through the regulatory process,” Brown said. “You’ve got to get your approvals, get your insurance, come up with compelling stories of growth plans, lay out how you will make money for shareholders. The application is daunting; that entire package was probably six inches thick. It took a law firm and an entire management team to put it all together. It was a long process, and rightly so, with $17 million at stake.”
SKIP BROWN Birthdate: Jan. 21, 1955 Hometown: Winston-Salem Family: Wife Minda; daughters Maya, a junior at Wake Forest; and Samantha, a freshman at Vanderbilt. “She loved Wake Forest, but she wanted to get out of town, and Vanderbilt has such a similar tradition,” Skip Brown said. Favorite WFU memory: “The biggest thing was the camaraderie with teammates, but some of the big wins – Chapel Hill as a senior; three straight Big Four championships – just help me remember how well we played together.”
Brown was eager to get started. He devoted himself full time to the process in March 2004, and the first TriStone Community Bank branch opened the following January — the regulatory process, which Brown said typically lasts about 18 months, was completed in 10. “I like a good challenge, and I don’t mind working hard,” Brown said. “This was a really fun and interesting thing.” The mid-2000s were not always kind to the banking industry. After about four years,
february/march 2013
11
b a s k e t b a ll
// s k ip b r o w n
Brown and his investors voted to merge with First Community Bank in the hopes that size would help with stability. And, Brown said, it has. Brown’s desire to push himself has translated to sports as well. Even though he “divorced” basketball, he has found new ways to stay fit and test his limits. He became a runner and eventually finished three marathons, though he believes his long-distance days are behind him. “On the last one, I was hurting so bad,” Brown said. “It’s one of those challenges, when you get it behind you, you’re glad it’s over.” But, of course, Brown wasn’t done. Now he has moved on to cycling, where he keeps increasing his distance. Ask him his next athletic mountain to conquer, and it sounds lofty — but with Brown’s work ethic, still somehow attainable. “I don’t know…maybe something like riding across the country to raise money for a cause,” Brown said. “My wife would like to know the answer to that one.” But that’s for the future. In the present, Brown is finding time to be happy. “I’m living the American dream,” Brown said. “Things are good, I have a lot to be thankful for, and the overwhelming majority of it is because I made the decision to come to Wake Forest.
12
gold rush magazine
HOTEL, SPA AND WELLNESS CENTER Over 10,000 sq. feet of banquet facilities equipped to do wedding receptions, birthdays, meetings and conventions! THE DAY SPA & SALON AT SUNDANCE
Pleasing our clients with the finest personal care in a preional environment is guaranteed. Facials, body wraps, maages, pedicures, manicures, hair styling and makeovers. Bare Minerals makeup and many her brands available.
For reservations, please contact: (336) 714-4588 for spa (336) 723-2911 Option 4 for banquets (336) 723-29211 Option 2 for room reservations or (877) 499-7829 Toll free pmiwalter@aol.com
3050 University Parkway Winston-Salem, NC Phone: (336) 723-2911 Fax: (336) 714-4578 www.staysundance.com
february/march 2013
13
100% cotten
// s ta n c o t t e n
Looking at Wake media guide can be addicting If you’re a Wake Forest fan and ever have the occasion to pick up a copy of a media guide for either basketball or football — do it. You won’t be sorry. What you will be is glued. Stuck reading through hundreds and hundreds of pages of history of your favorite team. It’s all there. Updated year after year and as current as this year’s team. Every stat one can think of is in there, and each time I go through looking for something specific I find something for the first time.
S ta n Cotten Voice of the Demon Deacons
For those of you who have never had the chance, I thought I might peruse through this season’s basketball media guide and pick out a few factoids to whet your appetite. My challenge was to find a way just to narrow my search — so I stopped on a few of the highlighted areas on select pages to come up with a few items that may make you the hit of the next gathering of Deacon faithful. Here’s a start… Did you know that Wake Forest participated in the first college basketball game played in North Carolina — but the Deacs’ opponent is open for debate? Some accounts have Wake losing to Guilford in early February 1906, but the coach of that first Wake team, Richard Crozier, says the first game was against Trinity College (now Duke) apparently in March. The actual rundown of games for that year has Wake winning twice over Duke before losing the game to Guilford. Who knows? Wake Forest’s modern history begins on the original campus in Wake Forest, N.C., at Gore Gym which opened its doors in 1935. Only about 600 tickets per game were available to the general public since most of the 2,200 seats were taken up by Wake Forest students and faculty. Now that was a home court advantage! How about milestone wins? Well, you know about the first one — sort of. The 100th win came in late January 1919, a 25-15 win over Durham YMCA. No. 500 was a five-point victory over North Carolina in 1956, and the 1,000th Wake Forest victory was a blowout of Cornell in Winston-Salem in early December 1989. The 1,500th all-time victory is still a few seasons away. Will you be there? Ever wonder how the Deacons fared against current members of the ACC — before there was an ACC? Honestly I hadn’t thought that much about it until I stumbled upon the breakdown in the media guide. The Deacs had their most wins prior to the formation of the ACC over N.C. State (35) and Duke (25) while at the same time they were winless over Virginia (0-6) and Boston College (0-3). Of course, the Deacons have a rich history of head coaches, and it’s all laid out in the pages of the media guide. It’s no surprise that Murray Greason’s 288 wins are the most ever by a Wake Forest coach. Greason did, after all, coach the Deacs almost twice as long as anyone else — 23 seasons. In just over half the time, Dave Odom’s teams won nearly as many games, 240, in 12 seasons. Odom led the Deacs to more NCAA Tournaments — 8 — than any other coach, more NCAA Tournament games — 18 — and wins — 10. Wake’s first ACC Coach of the Year? Murray Greason, 1956. Multiple winners? Bones McKinney, 1960 and 1961, and Dave Odom, 1991, 1994 and 1995. Most recent? Skip Prosser, 2003.
14
gold rush magazine
Here’s a trivia question for you. Can you name the two current head coaches who played at Wake Forest? Media guide, page 88. Iowa’s Fran McCaffery played at Wake Forest in 1978. USC Upstate’s Eddie Payne was a Deacon from 197173. Let’s see, where to now? I’m literally scanning a list of 20 different items of which I have only used four and my space is quickly diminishing. How about another trivia question? This answer can be found on page 49. Can you name the three conferences (current teams) that the Deacons have never competed against in basketball? I could not have answered that question until today. The answer is Big Sky, Great West and Summit. One highlighted area that demanded my attention and kept it was a section named NOTABLE DEACON CAREER DEBUTS in which 19 Deacons’ first game stats were laid out. I moved right to two of the planet’s current best players, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul. Neither was off the charts in his first game, rather each was pretty freshman-like. Duncan debuted on Nov. 11, 1993, against AlaskaAnchorage in the Great Alaska Shootout. Duncan started but played only 10 minutes. He did not take a shot or attempt a free throw. He pulled down seven rebounds and blocked one shot. Who knew what Wake had in him? Chris Paul’s first game was at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11, 2003. Wake Forest played Memphis in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. He started and played 37 minutes. He didn’t shoot the ball very well that night, hitting just one of his seven attempts from the field. He was 8-for-8 at the free throw line, though, had four steals, four rebounds and one assist. Page 85 if you’re interested. Well, I have to wrap, and I haven’t even begun to begin to scratch the surface. Make sense? The basketball guide has 144 pages — each one full of information, photos, lists, you name it of everything that is Wake Forest basketball. And you’re in luck! You can access the whole thing online. Just check out www.wakeforestsports.com. Do this at your own peril. Trust me, it can be addicting. But you will enjoy every moment as you walk through Wake Forest basketball history.
wfu.edu/alumni Demon Deacon
Friends
Search
Be a part of a social network where having hundreds of friends still means something. When you get behind Wake Forest, we stay ahead of the competition. To find out more about how you can stay involved with Wake Forest and connected to your fellow alumni, visit wfu.edu/alumni.
b a s k e t b a ll
// d e a r i c a h a m b y
Sudden Impact 6-3 sophomore Dearica Hamby made the most of her opportunity By Jay Reddick
S
Sometimes, it just takes a few minutes to change your life. In the winter of 2009, Dearica Hamby was a sophomore at Marietta High School. She was athletic — softball was her game. She had always been a shortstop, but she didn’t look much like a shortstop. During the previous year, you see, Hamby had hit a growth spurt, and a taller-than-average 5-foot-7 girl suddenly grew to 6 feet. This opened the eyes of a lot of coaches at Marietta High. When she first joined the JV basketball team as a freshman, Hamby says now, she couldn’t make a layup. She improved a bit that first year, and her athletic ability was obvious, but her heart wasn’t really in it (it was stuck on the diamond, out between second and third). Then the growth spurt came. Suddenly, her size and athletic ability made her a project worth moving to the varsity roster and nurturing there. She wasn’t yet good enough to start that sophomore year, but she got some playing time here and there, and Marietta made it all the way to the state championship game.
16
gold rush magazine
That game, that day, was a milestone for Hamby. A passel of college coaches were in attendance to scout a few of her teammates. Marietta fell behind early, and the team plucked Hamby from the end of the bench to try and light an offensive spark. The next few minutes were such a blur that Hamby isn’t certain on the specifics, but in her memory, she scored eight points in the next three minutes. “It was three or four baskets right in a row, I know that,” Hamby said. “UGA was at that game, Georgia Tech, a couple of other schools. I started to get noticed then.” A good summer of AAU ball impressed the right people even more, and the recruiting letters started to pour in. And that’s why today, the 5-foot7 softball aficionado has grown into a 6-foot-3 starting forward for an ACC basketball team. Even now, Hamby will freely admit that softball is her first love, but she has learned to appreciate hoops. “It came naturally to me,” Hamby said. “I didn’t even work hard at it at first. I didn’t dislike it. It just wasn’t something I was into. I don’t think I really started to like basketball until I got to college.” She puts in plenty of extra work these days, both in the weight room and in the gym, and it shows. As the ACC season started to heat up in January, Hamby led the Deacons in shooting percentage, rebounds, blocks and steals. Wake Forest’s first-year coach, Jen Hoover, didn’t see Hamby’s freshman year (or, for that matter, her high school games) except on film, but when she first saw Hamby work out before this season, Hoover knew she might have something special. “She could excel in any sport — she could easily have been a football player if she wanted to,” Hoover said. “She runs like a deer and can run all day, she’s so versatile, and she works out hard every day. It’s been good to see her grow and develop.” Hamby’s motivation this season has been helped by a bit of praise early on — she was named a starter, a position she didn’t expect as a sophomore. “I knew the coaches said to be ready to play a lot of minutes, so I needed to step up, but I was a little shocked before the first game when they told me I’d be starting,” Hamby said. Hamby’s best attributes have always been her agility from end-to-end and her jump shot, but she’s also becoming more confident in the post. That has led to a massive jump in her shooting percentage, from less than 40 percent as a freshman to 50-plus as a sophomore.
“There’s a lot of things about her length that she can use,” Hoover said. “She’s got a great mid-range jumper, but if she can get to the rim, now she’ll get to the rim. She’s understanding she can have success when she gets there.” Just as Hamby can pinpoint the moment basketball became her life, she can peg the biggest
DEARICA HAMBY Class: Sophomore Position: Forward Hometown: Marietta, Ga. Planned major: Psychology Favorite WFU moment: “Beating Miami in the ACC Tournament last year. I didn’t contribute much, but it was great to win when nobody thought we could.” Favorite food: “I eat so much but you’d never know it. My favorite foods are hot wings and lasagna, but my actual favorite place to eat is McDonald’s. If I’m hungry, I’m going to eat.” Favorite class: “Intro to Psychology got me started in psychology, and I love it. I like the human experience.” Favorite sports movie: “More than a Game,” a documentary portraying LeBron James’ highschool team If you could have dinner with one person, living or dead, who would it be? “Can I have a three-way tie? LeBron, Usher and Andruw Jones. That would be interesting and weird.”
february/march 2013
17
b a s k e t b a ll
// d e a r i c a h a m b y
reason for her added confidence. “It’s about being strong,” Hamby said. “Being stronger helps everything. The weight room helps everything.” After a 20-win season last year, Wake Forest had a lot to live up to for 2012-13. Most of last year’s roster returned, plus a new freshman class, but all had to adjust to Hoover’s style. “That helped us bond with the freshmen,” Hamby said. “They were learning as we were learning, so we all went through that change at the same time.” Hamby didn’t go through the freshman adjustment all that long ago, so she’s trying to get first-year players Kelila Atkinson, Kandice Ball and Christelle Shembo ready to contribute now but also to develop in the future, as she has. “As a freshman, I didn’t want the spotlight much,” Hamby said. “I knew I had the talent, but I stepped back a little.” As she has gotten more comfortable, though, Hamby hasn’t been shy about speaking her mind, whether it’s to motivate, direct or counsel. Even with a team full of juniors and seniors, Hoover said she welcomed that kind of initiative from Hamby. “She’ll speak up, and the upperclassmen listen,” Hoover said. “She’s really in tune with a lot of things going on with this team. She’s as good at talking on the court, understanding what’s going on on the court as almost anybody.” As her development continues, Hamby figures to be called on more and more, but she doesn’t mind that at all. “I enjoy it,” Hamby said. “It takes a lot more responsibility, but I’m up to the challenge.”
ATLANTA AUGUSTA CHARLOTTE DENVER DUBAI NEW YORK RALEIGH SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE SHANGHAI SILICON VALLEY STOCKHOLM TAIPEI TOKYO
Teamwork Wins Whether on the court or in the courtroom, in the classroom or the boardroom, on the field or in the field of law, we understand the vision, dedication and teamwork that it takes to win.
WALNUT CREEK WASHINGTON WINSTON-SALEM
www.kilpatricktownsend.com
18
gold rush magazine
Kilpatrick Townsend is proud to support the Wake Forest University athletic program. Go Deacons!
wake forest university
YOUR TIME, YOUR GIFTS AND YOUR ENERGY MAKE WAKE FOREST A PLACE UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
As we approach the time of year when friends and family come together, we are thankful for those who continue to make our University an important part of their lives.
Thank you for the many ways in which you support Wake Forest. giving.wfu.edu
i n s id e t h e d e a c o n c l u b
Winning the right way — the Wake Forest Way On Feb. 13, 2003 the Demon Deacons beat Duke in a double-overtime game that sparked quite a run for the Wake Forest men’s basketball program. That night, the Joel transformed into a production with music that had people dancing in the aisles and introduced the Demon Deacon on his motorcycle for starting lineups that Coach K still complains about. It culminated in the students storming the court and Trent Strickland being carried off in the heat of a legendary celebration. It was a night that Wake Forest “Woke the Neighbors” and Wake Forest reemerged on the national stage.
ba r ry fa i r c l o t h A s s o c i at e At h l e t i c Director, Development & Sales
The 10 years between that 2003 Duke game and the game on Jan. 22, 2013 have been marked with incredible highs — NCAA Tournament runs, No. 1 rankings — and some definite lows — the terrible tragedy involving the passing of Skip Prosser and some recent tough rebuilding years in an effort to return to national prominence. The new tipping point for the basketball program and the Joel was reached on Jan. 22 for head coach Jeff Bzdelik as the Deacs defeated the No. 18-ranked N.C. State Wolfpack. You could certainly feel it coming with the progress of the team. We were getting better in all phases of the game with home wins against Boston College and Virginia, in addition to heartbreaking losses such as the game at Virginia Tech. You could feel that we were on the right path, and we just needed a signature win to validate the effort and progress. One key to the victory started the night before when our basketball team divided into teams of two and visited various student groups, including many sororities and fraternities. The personal invitation from a fellow student and basketball player was the difference that resulted in the biggest student turnout in many years. As I sat near the students during one segment of the game, it was clear that fraternity and sorority letters littered the seats. It was a great sight to see such a wonderful student section that again became the heartbeat of the Joel. It was again the cool thing to do in turning out to support the team and create a true homecourt advantage. Shiny gold pom-poms draped every seat in the lower bowl and were ready to help facilitate an atmosphere capable of pulling off an upset of this magnitude. New marketing additions such as the “Minute of Mahem” (where parachuting cows invade the arena and cannons shoot shirts and balls into the stands) added an element that intensified
20
gold rush magazine
the atmosphere. With students at the core, our fans rallied around the Deacs and created gold pom-pom frenzy that stoked a fire of enthusiasm. The hustle, teamwork and development of this team from earlier in the year was obvious as we outplayed the Wolfpack that night. At the end of the game, the students stormed the court in a celebration that brought smiles to everyone’s face. It was one of those moments that you cherish every second. C.J. Harris was hoisted off the court much the same way Trent Strickland was in 2003. At the end, it represented one of the most memorable nights in the Joel’s history – a night that will hopefully change the Joel again for the positive. Later that night, the Quad was blanketed with the customary roll of celebration. As I walked on campus the next day and observed the toilet paper adorning the trees on the Quad, smiles abounded. Phones had lit up with texts, emails and phone calls of support in how Wake Forest was represented on a national stage. ESPN was littered with highlights that showcased our team and reflected positively on our University. It was certainly a long time coming, which made the victory that much more sweet. It was a day to be happy for our students to experience the feeling of spirit and celebration for their team and our attending fans to enjoy the thrill of victory once again in a momentous fashion. Our team obviously outplayed our opponent in every facet of the game, most impressively in effort and hustle, and showcased the work of our coaches who have dedicated long hours and great effort to develop this team in both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game. At the end of the day, I was most happy for Jeff Bzdelik and Ron Wellman, who have both endured so much but remained steadfast in their efforts to return the Wake Forest program back to where we want it to be. Winning the right way — the Wake Forest Way. Go Deacs!
Chris Paul Day Presented by Lowe’s Home Improvement March 2
Wake Forest Athletics is pleased to announce that the jersey retirement ceremony for former Demon Deacon Chris Paul will be held on March 2. The event will take place during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Maryland at noon. In just two seasons at Wake Forest — 2004 and 2005 — Paul led the Demon Deacons to new heights and established himself as one of college basketball’s top players. Paul, who grew up 10 miles from the Wake Forest campus in Lewisville, was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2004 after leading the Deacons to a 21-10 mark and a spot in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2005, Paul and the Demon Deacons won a school record 27 games and rose to No. 1 in the national polls for the first time in school history. Paul’s career free throw percentage (.838) ranks fifth in Wake Forest history. His career three-point percentage (.469) is the secondhighest in Wake history. Paul also ranks seventh in school history with 395 career assists and seventh in career steals with 160. Paul declared for the NBA Draft after his sophomore season — the first Deacon to do so since Rodney Rogers in 1993 — and was the No. 4 overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets. Paul has been an NBA Rookie of the Year (2006), a five-time All-Star, and a multiple All-NBA and AllDefensive team honoree. He led the Hornets to the second round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs and has also won two Olympic gold medals with the United States national basketball team. He has been with the Los Angeles Clippers since 2011 and serves as the head of the CP3 Foundation to benefit programs in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and charities in Winston-Salem. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322 or visit WakeForestSports.com/tickets.
deacon club photos
Deacon Club members are encouraged to submit photos for publication in the Gold Rush. Send your photos in digital format to deacclub@wfu.edu. Submission of a photo does not guarantee that it will be published. Thanks for showing off your Demon Deacon pride!
1
1 Two year old Claire, daughter of Kyle (’01) and Suzanne (’01, MD ‘05) Covington, makes an adorable “Little Deacon” at the WFU-BC game.
2
2 Devyn Martinek, grandson of Deacon Club member Richard Cairo, poses with the Deacon at BB&T Field.
3
3 Spencer and Sydney Treadaway enjoy the tradition of rolling the quad after the Deacs upset NC State.
4
4 Jordan Burney and her dad Joe (’00) show off their Deacon pride before cheering on the Deacs in Atlanta.
february/march 2013
21
d o n o r p r o f il e
// c a r l t u c k e r
I
It was fate the day Carl Tucker’s father decided to take a drive through the Wake Forest campus during a trip to Winston-Salem for a football game. The contest was against in-state rival UNC during the fall of Carl’s senior year of high school, and despite strong family ties to Chapel Hill, the next time Carl set foot on the Wake Forest campus was as an undergraduate student.
Carl fondly recalls his days as an undergrad and remembers especially enjoying the athletic events during his time at Wake Forest. Over the summer while a student, Carl met his future wife, Linda, while working at Acadia National Park. Linda was a student at Ohio State, and after a year of dating long-distance, she made the decision to transfer to UNC-Greensboro to be closer to Carl while he finished at Wake Forest.
After graduation, Carl was accepted to, and enrolled in, a three-year graduate program in economics at Ohio State. Linda had transferred back to finish her senior year, so Carl soon joined her there. After his first two years in the program, he decided to take a leave of absence from his fellowship to teach economics at Wingate University in North Carolina. It was there that he decided to leave the economics program, transferring his coursework and graduating with an MBA, and head back to the family business in Pageland, S.C. Carl’s grandfather started C.M. Tucker Lumber in 1920, and he had steadily grown the business with an expansion into specialty products by the time Carl’s father joined him in 1935. When Carl joined the business in 1970 after graduate school, “national brands such as The Home Depot weren’t really in existence. They were just
22
gold rush magazine
starting, and that really contributed to the business’ growth.” Another major contribution to the growth of the business was Carl’s implementation of a seven-year expansion plan, which included the decision to sell the retail portion of the business, and ultimately resulted in today’s business model — one that includes a vertically integrated manufacturing system, employs close to 300 people, ships out over 100 loads each day during the busy season and has customers as far away as Maine and Alaska. Carl’s four sons, the fourth generation of Tucker men to carry on the family tradition, joined Carl in the business starting in 1995. First David, then Mark joined the workforce, followed by Paul in 2003 and Andrew in 2006. Throughout it all, Carl has remained a steadfast supporter of the Demon Deacons, including 37 years as a Deacon Club member. “I have four boys who could spell W-A-K-E F-O-R-E-S-T before they could spell their names,” says Carl. Carl started bringing the boys to games “at a very early age,” and over the years Wake Forest events have provided a backdrop for countless fond memories and family gatherings. The boys also attended summer camps at Wake Forest growing up, and ultimately three of his four sons graduated from the University — David in 1995, Mark in 1997 and Andrew in 2004. Carl says the strong Wake Forest tradition carries on with his six grandchildren, who all attend games and events with the family. Carl credits much of the success of the business and close-knit nature of their family to his wife, Linda, also an ardent supporter of the Deacs. Every day, Linda prepares a large lunch at home for the family, where they can gather together and enjoy a midday meal. Says Carl, “It’s just like when I was a little boy growing up — the ‘middle of the day’ meal was the large meal and everyone went home to eat [lunch] in small towns. It is a great occasion for us. Our only rule is that we don’t talk business. And whoever is in town at the time comes home with us.” In terms of why he chooses to support Wake Forest athletics and contribute to
the Deacon Club, Carl says he truly views his involvement with the department as a family affair. “I’ve been a fan ever since I went to school here, and it just developed from there,” he says. Wake Forest games, he says “are one of the things we do together [as a family].” In January 2002, the Carl and Linda Tucker Family Athletic Scholarship was created to provide a scholarship for men’s and women’s golf, further cementing his dedication to the program, and in 2012, Carl “jumped at the opportunity” to serve as the president of the Deacon Club Board of Directors. Most recently, the Tucker family provided a $500,000 gift toward the Bridger Field House renovation phase of the Football Project. This gift, along with their annual contributions as Locker Room Club members, provide steadfast support to each focus area for the Athletic Department — annual support, endowed scholarship and capital support. At the next football game along the pine trees in the Gold Lot you will find the Tuckers’ tailgate with three generations of Tuckers. The fifth generation of Tuckers has already learned the fight song, and they are preparing themselves to carry on a family tradition deeply rooted in Wake Forest and the forest products business.
i n s id e t h e d e a c o n c l u b
Deacon Club Appreciation Day – March 10 We invite you to join fellow Deacon Club members, Wake Forest coaches and staff in celebrating your generous support of Wake Forest Athletics on Sunday, March 10, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. (prior to the men’s basketball game against Virginia Tech at 2 p.m.). This year’s event will include a pre-game reception with light brunch items and free beer and wine, and will be held in Deacon Tower at BB&T Field on the Flow Lexus Club Level (4th floor). Deacon Club members may purchase Virginia Tech game tickets for $25 each while supplies last. To order tickets at this special rate, call (336) 758-3322 or visit www.WakeForestSports.com/promo and enter the promo code: DCDAY. Please RSVP by March 4 at https://godeacs.inviteright.com/2013dcday or by calling the Deacon Club at (336) 758-5626. We look forward to seeing you there.
Keep up with the Deacon Club on Facebook & Twitter For the latest news and information from the Deacon Club and to connect with other members, be sure to find us on Facebook and Twitter. Facebook.com/WFUDeaconClub @WFUDeaconClub or @DeacOnTheRun
Every Gift Counts! Renew your membership by the 2013 pledge deadline on March 15. When you make a pledge by the 2013 Pledge Deadline, it allows the athletic department to better plan for the upcoming year and ensure that we are able to continue offering the best athletic and educational opportunities for our talented student-athletes. If you haven’t already, please consider making your gift or pledge today. Gifts and pledges can be made online at DeaconClub.com or by calling (336) 758-5626.
Football Spring Game and Reunion Weekend The football spring game will be held on April 20 at BB&T Field. We also invite all football alumni to reconnect with friends and former teammates and stay engaged with Wake Forest Athletics by attending the reunion April 20-21. For details, please visit DeaconClub.com.
Deacon Club Launches New Monthly Newsletter Format The Deacon Club is pleased to introduce a new monthly e-newsletter format for 2013. The newsletter includes updates on upcoming events, interviews with coaches, articles from athletic administration and updates on capital campaigns. If you have inadvertently unsubscribed from the list, or are not receiving the newsletter for some other reason, please contact the Deacon Club at deacclub@wfu.edu or call (336) 758-5626 to confirm your information is up to date.
Baseball First Pitch Dinner Featuring Cal Ripken, Jr. – February 28 Hall of Famer and 19-time MLB All-Star Cal Ripken, Jr. will headline the 2013 Wake Forest Baseball First Pitch Dinner presented by David Couch and the Blue Ridge Companies, Inc. on Thursday, Feb. 28, at Bridger Field House. To purchase tickets, please visit: https://godeacs.inviteright.com/firstpitch2013 february/march 2013
23
wa k e f o r e s t at h l e t i c s
Wake Forest offers a wide variety of summer camps Summer will be here before we know it, and many parents may already be trying to make summer plans for their children. Don’t forget that Wake Forest offers a wide array of Sports Camps for children of all ages. For information on Summer 2013 Sports Camps at Wake Forest University, visit www. wakeforestsports.com/camps/ . Enrollment in all camps is limited, so register today. The Ethan Reeve Speed and Athletic Development Class This camp is designed for local athletes within driving distance of campus. There will be four oneweek sessions. Athletes who want to be able to run faster, jump higher, be more flexible, attain body awareness, balance, strength, speed, power and sport performance in his/her particular sport should attend. For more information, email reeveec@wfu.edu or call (336) 758-6406.
instruction covering everything from short game to the rules of golf. Campers take home a personal swing analysis on DVD and a written evaluation, along with handouts to help them continue to work on their game at home. For more information, call (336) 758-6000 or email Laura Statham at stathals@wfu.edu.
Golf – Female All Sports Camp Now in its 54th year, this camp continues to offer a vast array of sporting activities for boys and girls ages 6-12. From box hockey to volleyball, from archery to the climbing wall, the All Sports Camp truly does provide something for every child. As guided by an experienced and enthusiastic staff of instructors and counselors, this camp is a must for every Piedmont youngster. The camp continues in its popularity not only due to the quality staff and top-notch facilities but the sporting and social fun that the camp format provides. Spots are limited. For more information, contact Max Floyd at floyd@wfu.edu or call (336) 758-7178.
Baseball Camp The Tom Walter Baseball Camps are dedicated to providing a baseball camp that is both instructional and informational along with creating a great atmosphere to learn. The coaching staff prides itself on teaching the game of baseball to players of all ages and ability levels. All camps are taught by our coaching staff and players. The mechanics and drills that are taught at the camps are used with the Wake Forest college players. The coaching staff is determined to provide the best possible learning experience for their campers. For more information, contact Bill Cilento at (336) 758-5645 or email cilentwt@wfu.edu.
Basketball Camp – Male The objective at The Wake Forest Hoops Academy is simple: we want to teach you as much as possible while everyone has fun playing the game we all love. With four great camp sessions to choose from, the Hoops Academy has something to offer for campers of all ages. Day camps are available to boys in grades 1-8 while residential camps are available to boys in grades 4-12. We are also offering an Elite Skills Camp on June 8 and a Father/Son Camp on June 14-15. For more information on these camps, visit www.wfhoopsacademy.com.
The Dianne Dailey Ladies Golf Camp is for ladies ages 18 and older. Sessions are limited to 18 participants, which allow top-line instructors to spend more time with each player on a one-on-one basis. The camp employs up-to-date techniques, which include videotaping of all swings, teaching aids and hitting bays for inclement weather. The session is highlighted by a 9-hole playing lesson at Bermuda Run. For more information on the Ladies Camp, contact Coach Dailey at (336) 758-5858 or Betty Shronts at (336) 758-5751.
Soccer – Male The goal of the Jay Vidovich Soccer Camp is to share the love of the game with younger players. We will focus on individual ball skills and technique; players will have the opportunity to use what they learn in fun, competitive games. With quality coaching, the campers will leave with a solid soccer foundation. Residential and day camps are available. For more information, please visit www. WakeForestSoccerCamp.com .
Soccer – Female
The Jennifer Hoover Basketball Camps for Girls focus on the development of individual skills and team concepts. For more information, call (336) 758-5763 to request a camp brochure.
The Wake Forest Girls Soccer Camp is committed to each individual player’s development from the ground up. We believe that soccer should be played with style, creativity and teamwork. Our priority in teaching is to master the ball first, then move on to competitive play and team tactics. Our staff will create an intense, passionate soccer environment, inspiring your daughters to reach new levels in their game. Residential and day camps are available. For more information, visit www. WakeForestGirlsSoccerCamp.com.
Field Hockey Camp
Tennis Camps
Basketball Camp – Female
The mission of the Field Hockey Camp is to ensure that all participants receive a premier camp experience based on a creative curriculum and an energetic and knowledgeable staff, while playing on a world-class artificial playing surface. Campers will be exposed to the most recent coaching styles and strategies. We have an outstanding staff that includes the Wake Forest University hockey coaches, as well as other college coaches and elite players. Elite Camp is for individuals in grade 7 through college freshmen. Team camp is for participants in grade 5 through college freshmen. For more information, visit http://www.wakeforestfieldhockeycamp.com/index.html.
The newly redesigned Tennis Camps at Wake Forest University offer tennis players of all abilities, ages 6-18, the opportunity to work on their games. The program emphasizes a game-oriented, fun learning environment while giving the technical instruction and repetition required for tennis improvement in the morning sessions with a match-play focus in the afternoons. Full-day resident and commuter programs are offered to campers ages 8-18, and half-day opportunities are available to campers ages 6 and 7. For more information, call Coach Jeff Wyshner at (336) 758-5752 or email wftenniscamps@gmail.com .
The Jim Grobe Football Camp
The Black & Gold Volleyball Camp
Boys and young men receive professional instruction from our Wake Forest football coaching staff. Instruction includes drills and technique work in all areas of football to help develop techniques for individual and team play. For more information, call (336) 758-5633.
Golf – Male Instructors at the Jerry Haas Summer Golf Camp take great pride in giving individual attention to every participant. Offering day camp for ages 7-14 and overnight camp for ages 11-18, campers are divided into instructional groups by age and golf ability. Coach Haas and a staff of college coaches serve as camp counselors and golf instructors during each session. Campers receive personal
24
The Dianne Dailey Girls Golf Camp is offering both overnight, non-boarder and day camp options during which participants will receive professional instruction from a qualified staff of collegiate coaches and LPGA teaching professionals. Campers are grouped by age and skill and receive intensive instruction each day in full swing, short game and putting. Other topics include course management, rules and etiquette. Each camper will receive a personal lesson DVD to take home from the camp. For more information on the Junior Girls golf camp, contact Coach Dailey at (336) 758-5858 or Laura Statham at (336) 758-6000.
gold rush magazine
These camps are designed and offered for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. Campers work on various aspects of their games led by some of the top coaches in the country. For more information call (336) 758-6993 or email info@blackandgoldvolleyballcamps.com.
b a s e b a ll
Deacs in the Dominican: Sharpening Perspectives The Wake Forest baseball team spent seven days in the Dominican Republic By Steven Wright
A
A utopia is a place that can be described as perfection — a state or society that is ideal. For Americans, what does that utopia look like? Most assuredly, we all have different ideas of how we might construct perfection. However, the likelihood is minimal that our vision includes one-room homes, sporadic electricity and running water, and the chance of malnourishment. Despite those undesirable conditions, the Dominican people are able to experience their utopia at nearly any time. Their place of perfection can often times be found a short walk down the street or around the corner. Simply put, the baseball diamond is their utopia. The Wake Forest baseball team was able to spend a week in the Dominican Republic from Dec. 16-22 in a small beach town called Boca Chica, just a short ride from the nation’s capital of Santo Domingo. Before the Demon Deacons could leave the airport, the Dominicans’ thirst for baseball made itself known. By uttering the words, “I play baseball,” or “This is baseball equipment,” the players, coaches and staff members were able to breeze by customs agents quicker than anyone could have expected. How could the agents delay, for even a moment, the entrance of people to their country who seemed to share their national passion? When the more than 40 travelers and approximately 100 bags of equipment were loaded on the charter bus, one more stop was made before unloading everything at the week-long home in Boca Chica. The bus driver, guiding his vessel through narrow streets and low-hanging branches all while avoiding a multitude of mopeds, dropped the team off at a neighborhood ballpark with the locals waiting for their arrival. “It was unbelievable. There were people just waiting for our bus, signaling us in. They couldn’t wait for us to get here. We must have had 150 people here watching practice,” said Deacon head baseball coach Tom Walter. “They were playing music. It was a party. You could tell this country has a lot of passion for baseball.” The arrival into the Dominican Republic and the initial practice at the local field were just the beginning of a rewarding week. During their stay in the country, the Demon Deacons played seven games against local competition, donated nearly 50 bags of baseball gear, performed several hours of community service and interacted with hundreds of people they would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet. On the first full day in the Dominican Republic, the team was able to play against Los Leones
del Escogido at el Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo. “You walk around outside and it’s a lot different. You see a lot of poverty areas,” said junior second baseman Conor Keniry. “Then you walk into this absolutely amazing stadium, and I was speechless. The field was absolutely beautiful.” Los Leones, which defeated the Demon Deacons 2-0 on that day, were recently crowned champions of La Liga de Beisbol Profesional de la Republica Dominicana — the Dominican equivalent to the Major Leagues. Wake Forest finished the trip with a 3-3-1 record against competition that included the Dominican affiliate of the Kansas City Royals as well as several branches of the military. During the games, the players were forced to communicate to the best of their abilities despite the language barrier. “We did our best (to communicate) through baseball,” said junior infielder and catcher Charlie Morgan. “Baseball was a common thread between us, and we’d also have to do a lot of stuff with our hands.” Sophomore pitcher Connor Kaden was able to recall developing a friendship with a local baseball player from the moment they met. “I call one of our teammates, Joey Rodriguez, my amigo mejor,” mentioned Kaden. “So I said, “amigo mejor,” (to one of the locals), and he came up and started doing a handshake with me. It was kind of cool to share a moment like that with someone who you wouldn’t expect.” Along with playing against professional Dominican baseball players, the Deacs were also able to experience a professional game, featuring Escogido and Las Estrellas Orientales in San Pedro de Macorís. “It was a pretty intense atmosphere and a lot louder than any of the baseball games I’ve been to,” offered freshman catcher Garrett Kelly. “It was kind of like a soccer game with vuvuzelas and drums and people going crazy. Everyone got pumped after every out.” Beyond the baseball, Wake Forest was also able to give back by participating in several community service activities. One day after playing against La Marina de Guerra, or the Navy, the Deacs drove off the beaten path and into a sugar cane village. The majority of the team helped paint a small house after trekking through part of the village. A small group of players and staff then went into the heart of the village to deliver hygiene kits to every house while trying to avoid barbed wire and a variety of animals. Perhaps the most rewarding experience for the group as a whole came on a visit to Josiah’s House
in San Pedro de Macorís. Josiah’s House is not considered an orphanage; rather it is a home that provides a Christian upbringing for young, destitute Dominican boys. The hope for the organization is to help these young boys grow up to be positive leaders in their home country. The Deacs did not stay long at Josiah’s house, but the players hoped to have the same impact that the boys had on them. “We were just meeting them, hanging around with them and having fun,” said freshman infielder Jimmy Redovian. “We played soccer, played football and pushed them on swings, just hoping they had a good time.” On the day of departure back to the United States, the Wake Forest baseball team was able to perform one final act of service by conducting a youth baseball clinic at the first field in which they practiced. The children were suited up and ready to go before the Deacs even arrived at the field, and for the final few hours, the game continued to provide a means of cross-cultural fellowship. Since returning home, the players, coaches and support staff members have undoubtedly been asked about their week-long trip to foreign soil. Although everyone’s experiences may be conveyed in different ways, one truth remains. If your mental preparation before the trip had you expecting firstclass amenities and American luxuries, then you were most likely disappointed. But if you allowed yourself to leap outside the bubble of comfort that we are afforded in the United States, there was a great chance that you not only appreciated, but embraced, the Dominican people, their passions and their love of our national pastime. “For me, it’s pretty cool that even though they’re in a third-world country, they are still excited every day to come out and play baseball,” said senior shortstop Pat Blair. Here’s to that same excitement permeating the Diamond Deacs in the 2013 season and for all seasons yet to come. february/march 2013
25
wa k e f o r e s t at h l e t i c s
Skip Prosser Literacy Program Continues to Encourage Students to Read For the fourth year in a row, Wake Forest Athletics teamed up with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools to celebrate the late head coach Skip Prosser’s love of reading through the Skip Prosser Literacy Program. Fourth-grade students who achieved the “Deacon Champion” level by reading a minimum of 25 books during a specified time period received a ticket to see the Wake Forest men’s basketball game against Boston College and were honored at halftime. This year, 35 schools and more than 2,000 fourth graders participated in the program.
capitalbank-us.com 800.639.5111
26
gold rush magazine
where are they now?
// g r a n t a c h ill e s
I
n each issue, Where Are They Now showcases a former Wake Forest student-athlete. This issue highlights former baseball player Grant Achilles. A four-year letterwinner at Wake Forest from 2002-06, Achilles played a variety of positions for the Demon Deacons, including time at first base, second base, right field and catcher. He appeared in 56 games during his collegiate career, including 19 starting appearances.
Grant Achilles When did you graduate from Wake Forest?
What does being a Demon Deacon mean to you?
May 2006
Being a Demon Deacon means proudly supporting the athletes and teams no matter what the odds may be and never buying into the “little old Wake Forest” mentality.
What was your major and/or minor? I majored in Communication with a minor in Sociology.
Why are you still involved in Wake Forest Athletics? I can’t imagine my life without the experiences and relationships from my years in Winston-Salem, both as a player and coach. The friendships that have continued through the years are impossible without the black and gold, and I will always love those colors.
Why do you feel it is important to give back to the University? When you invest so much time and energy into a college experience, you hope to see the dividends continue to mount over time. I am indebted to Wake Forest for so many things, and whatever parts of my life that I can give back to hopefully help future Demon Deacons cherish Wake as I do is extremely gratifying.
What is your current occupation? I am an assistant baseball coach at Brown University.
What is your favorite memory of your time at Wake Forest? That’s a tough one because my overall favorite memory of my time at Wake was as a 9-year-old standing in the student section with my brother Chad when Rodney Rogers played his last home game
28
gold rush magazine
at the Joel. As a student, it was my first hit as a Demon Deacon.
What makes you most proud of Wake Forest? I am most proud of how the Wake Forest motto, Pro Humanitate, is lived out by alumni and those associated with the University. This can be typified by the selfless response by current head baseball coach Tom Walter when he donated his kidney to Kevin Jordan — not for notoriety or recognition but for the difference it would make in the life of a fellow human being.
When you come back to Wake Forest, you always… Stop by the equipment room to catch up with Roxann.
I was there when… Gene Hooks Stadium was still on campus without lights.
Who is your favorite coach at Wake Forest, current or past? Dennis Healy
deacons in the pros BASEBALL
Mike MacDougal MLB Los Angeles Dodgers
Coaches/Scouts Neil Avent Adam Bourassa John Hendricks Michael Holmes Kevin Jarvis Bill Masse Matt Price Mike Rikard Eric Schmitt Ross Atkins Danny Borrell
MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB
Adam Wogan Tommy Gregg George Greer
MLB AAA A
Oakland A’s Area Scout San Diego Padres Area Scout Toronto Blue Jays Area Scout Oakland A’s Assistant Scouting Director San Diego Padres Pro Scout Seattle Mariners Area Scout Kansas City Royals Pro Scout Boston Red Sox National Cross Checker New York Yankees International Scouting Cleveland Indians Director of Player Development New York Yankees Minor League Pitching Rehab Coordinator New York Mets Director of Minor League Operations Kansas City Omaha Storm Chasers Hitting Coach New York Mets St. Lucie Mets Hitting Coach
Minor League Ranks Matt Antonelli Garrett Bullock Dave Bush Tim Cooney Michael Dimock Allan Dykstra Josh Ellis Brian Holmes Carlos Lopez Mike Murray Mac Williamson
Washington Nationals Houston Astros Philadelphia Phillies St. Louis Cardinals Houston Astros New York Mets Arizona Diamondbacks Houston Astros Washington Nationals San Francisco Giants San Francisco Giants
WOMEN’S GOLF Laura (Philo) Diaz Nannette Hill Laura Crawford Jean Chua Natalie Sheary Michelle Shin Dolores White Cheyenne Woods
LPGA Earned her LPGA card through Q-School this past December. Symetra Will play predominantly on the Symetra Tour this season Symetra Played in 15 events and made eight cuts last year Symetra Had 5 top-10s in 16 events and finished 15th on the money list last season Symetra Tied for 5th at the Island Resort Champ; made 10 cuts in 16 starts last season. Symetra Finished T7 at the Vidalia Championship in one of four cuts made last year Symetra Finished T23 at the Tate & Lyle Players Champ; Made seven cuts in 15 events last year European Qualified for the Ladies European Tour this season.
MEN’S GOLF Lee Bedford Bill Haas Jay Haas Gary Hallberg Scott Hoch Len Mattiace Kyle Reifers Jay Sigel Curtis Strange Webb Simpson Lanny Wadkins Ron Whittaker
Web.com Will be playing on the Web.com Tour this season PGA Has notched a pair of top-25s in three starts this season Champions Finished T9 after three under-par rounds in the season-opening event Champions Has yet to start his season Champions Missed the 2012 season with an injury Web.com Has status on the Web.com Tour this season Web.com Has yet to start his season on the Web.com Tour Champions Played in 7 events last season. Has yet to make a start this season Champions Played in seven events with a best finish of T34th last season PGA Has finished in the top-20 in 2 of his 3 starts this season Champions Played three events and finished T33 at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf last season Web.com Has status on the Web.com Tour this season
MEN’S SOCCER Corben Bone Brian Carroll Sam Cronin Austin da Luz Brian Edwards Akira Fitzgerald John Hackworth Will Hesmer Stephen Keel Michael Lahoud Amir Lowery Ike Opara Michael Parkhurst James Riley Scott Sealy Zack Schilawski Wells Thompson Marcus Tracy
Chicago Fire Philadelphia Union San Jose Earthquakes Carolina RailHawks (NASL) Degerfors IF (Sweden) Carolina RailHawks (NASL) Philadelphia Union (Head Coach) Los Angeles Galaxy FC Dallas Philadelphia Union Carolina RailHawks (NASL) Sporting Kansas City FC Augsburg (German Bundesliga) Chivas USA FC Dallas Carolina RailHawks (NASL) Chicago Fire San Jose Earthquakes
WOMEN’S SOCCER Jackie Logue Kirsten Meier
Western New York Flash Seattle Reign FC
MEN’S BASKETBALL Al-Farouq Aminu Tim Duncan Josh Howard James Johnson Chris Paul Ishmael Smith Jeff Teague Taron Downey Justin Gray Jamal Levy Nikita Mescheriakov Antwan Scott Darius Songaila Kyle Visser Ty Walker David Weaver L.D. Williams
NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA Cyprus France Argentina Italy Japan Ukraine Serbia Poland Ukriane France
New Orleans Hornets San Antonio Spurs Injured Sacramento Kings L.A. Clippers Orlando Magic Atlanta Hawks Etha Poitiers Olimpico LB Acegas Aps Saitama Broncos BC Donetsk Radnicki KG Kotwica DniproAzot Bourg
WOMEN’S PRO BASKETBALL Secily Ray Alex Tchangoue
Finland FoA France Nice
FOOTBALL Josh Bush Tyson Clabo Aaron Curry Chris DeGeare Brandon Ghee Chris Givens Joe Looney Ovie Mughelli Calvin Pace Cyhl Quarles Steve Vallos Kyle Wilber Joe Zelenka
NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL
S OL LB OL CB WR OL FB LB S OG LB LS
NY Jets Atlanta Free Agent NY Giants Cincinnati St. Louis San Francisco Free Agent NY Jets Chicago Bears Jacksonville Dallas Free Agent
Carolina NY Giants Carolina Carolina Minnesota San Diego
Vice President Offensive Line Coach Strength Coach Wide Receivers Coach Defensive Assistant Director of College Scouting
Coaches/Staff Charlie Dayton Pat Flaherty Joe Kenn Ricky Proehl Diron Reynolds John Spanos
NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL
february/march 2013
29
c o m pli a n c e c o r n e r
// t o dd h a i r s t o n
Can student-athletes be invited for a home-cooked meal? With the holidays behind us, many students are longing for a home-cooked meal. For many studentathletes, however, home may be several hours away, and the opportunities for more than fast food may be few and far between. In fact, there are a number of international student-athletes who can only travel home once a year, if at all. So with this being the case, is it permissible to invite these students into our homes and provide them with a free meal? Yes, NCAA rules do allow this to occur under the following specific circumstances:
t o dd hairston A s s o c i at e At h l e t i c Director, C o m pli a n c e
1) Student-athletes can only be given a free meal on an occasional basis, which is defined as four times per semester.
2) The meal must take place either at the home of the representative (provided the representative lives within 30 miles of campus) or at a facility regularly used by the institution for competition (e.g. Deacon Tower). Such a meal should not take place at a restaurant or at any other location.
Because the NCAA limits the number of occasional meals that may be provided to student-athletes, it is extremely important that the Athletics Compliance Office be notified PRIOR to each meal so as to ensure that the limit is not exceeded. Further, it is important to remember that no additional benefits may be provided in conjunction with the meal. For questions regarding occasional meals or any other compliance related matter, please feel free to contact Todd Hairston at hairstct@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4243.
Local seasonal ingredients. Fresh from scratch. Extensive wine list.
411 South Marshall Street | Winston-Salem, NC 27107 336-722-8889 | www.meridianws.com
30
gold rush magazine
EXCELLENT IS AMERICAN–MADE
New Balance® is the only athletic shoe company still making shoes in the USA. In fact, one out of every four shoes New Balance sells in the United States is proudly made here. Come in to New Balance Winston-Salem and get fitted with the widest selection of the footwear that keeps us running. New Balance calls a shoe “American-made” only if the domestic content is at 70% or more. ©2012 New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
NEW BALANCE WINSTON-SALEM THRUWAY CENTER WINSTON SALEM (336) 722-9559 www.newbalancewinstonsalem.com
“We've worn New Balance for years now. When you team up with New Balance Winston-Salem, comfort, style and dependability is what you get. What else do you need?" - Stan Cotten, Voice of the Demon Deacons