august 2012_upstate game day

GAME DAY

>> ANNA GREER: YOUNG TENNIS PLAYER MAKING ACES >> AREA TEAMS BACK ON THE GRIDIRON >> UPWARD ACQUIRES CLUB SOUTH

Youth Sports Magazine

UPSTATE

MARCUSLATTIMORE

August 2012FREE

>> >>PREP PULLOUT SCHEDULES VIKINGS’ JACKSON ON THE MEND

/ page 19

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PAMELA DUNLAP PHOTO

Duncan native Marcus Lattimore

has recovered from knee surgery and is expected to lead the Gamecocks’ rushing

attack.

HIGH SCHOOL COMMAND

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Hear Every Minute of every Game South Carolina gamecock

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Leading OffRENAISSANCE SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES FOR

WOODRUFF

Upward purchases Club South volleyball

Prep football schedulesfor Upstate

Region’s teamsreturn to gridiron

Vikings’ Jackson overcomes near-fatal injury

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GAME DAY Youth Sports Magazine

EDITOR & PUBLISHERLes Timms III

[email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITOR / SENIOR WRITER

John [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Karen PuckettEd Overstreet

Pamela DunlapKyle OwingsKen Finley

TO ADVERTISE [email protected]

864-804-0068

WEBSITEwww.upstategameday.com

CONTACT GAME DAY864-804-0068

Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Maga-zine is not responsible for the return

of submitted photography, artwork, or manuscripts and will not be responsible

for holding fees or similar charges.

© Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine 2012

Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Maga-zine is published 12 times a year. All con-tents are copyrighted by Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine, including publisher-designed advertise-

ments, may be copied, scanned, or repro-duced in any manner without prior consent from the publisher. Unauthorized user will

be billed appropriately for such use.

4 AUGUST 2012 u GAME DAY

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>> Lunch, dinner & dessert served

Full Breakfast All Day

JOIN THE FAMILYA short drive for an authentic taste of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.Gift shop. Crafts. Catering. Parties.

864-468-45846 am - 9 pm Mon-SatHwy 176, Campobello

576-8273465 E. Blackstock Rd.

Spartanburg, SC

www.smakarate.com

Give us 45 minutes, and we'll give you the best

workout of your life!

1st week free!Also offering

Self Defense and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

classes

Discounts for Military, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and College

students

smakarate.com

WORKOUT

Pamela Dunlap Photography

Sports Photography

• Senior Pictures • Families

Call 864-735-3311

Orders and reservations, call

Offering the most and highest level of competition in the sport!

Additional Information and Online Registration found onclubsouthvolleyball.comor 864-949-5849

NEW THIS YEAR: › Club South Camps and Clinics

› College Recruiting Service

› Strength and Conditioning Program

Coaching for all levels Boys and Girls Ages 10–18

ClubSouthAdBuild.indd 1 8/14/12 11:48 AM


ClipboardNEWS & NOTES FROM THE LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS SCENE

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS TO [email protected]

Better. Stronger. Faster.

Top L to R: Dr. Gerald Rollins, Dr. Stephen Harley, Dr. David Mitchell, Dr. Michael FunderburkBottom L to R: Dr. Michael Henderson, Dr. Michael Hoenig, Dr. Mary Joan Black, Dr. James Behr

Upward Sportswww.upward.org

Boiling Springs Youth Athletic Associationwww.BSYAA.org

North Spartanburg Athletic Associationwww.nsasports.org

District 5 Youth Athleticswww.d5rebels.com

Westside Athletic Booster Associationwww.wabasc.org

Clifdale Sportswww.clifdalesports.com

Hillbrook Baseballwww.eteamz.com/hillbrookbaseball

AYSO Region 132/723www.AYSO132.org

AYSO Region 722www.AYSO722.org

Carolina FCwww.carolinafc.net

Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA)www.carolinaelitesc.com

Greer Recreationwww.cityofgreer.org

Upstate Titans footballwww.upstatetitans.org

Upstate Mavericks baseballUpstateMavericks.com

facebook.com/Upstate-Mavericks

Spartanburg Elite AAU Track Clubwww.spartanburgelitetrack.com

Club South Volleyball Powered by Upward Stars

www.clubsouthvolleyball.com

Upstate Volleyball Clubwww.volleyball.net

Axis Elite Volleyballwww.axiselite.com

Carolina OneCarolinaonevolleyball.com

United Performance Volleyballwww.upvb.com

NO. 1 AT THE BEACHFront Row: Jake Little, Benjamin Fowler, Corey Jolley, Austin Horres, Chase TurnerMiddle Row: Nathan Godfrey, Garrett Williams, Hudson Lee, Hayden Lee, Lawson BagwellBack Row: Rick Lee, Chuck Turner (Head Coach), Kevin Horres, Jay Bagwell (Manager)

Special to Game Day

The Hub City Heat 9U baseball team made the most of a trip to Myrtle Beach in July, winning the USSSA Global World Series White Division on July 15.

After a tough loss to begin the tournament, the Heat won four of its next five games and came through as a third seed to win the championship with a 5-2 record for the tournament.

The Heat defeated the Cincy Flames 10-1 in the White Division finals.

On the way to the finals, the Heat captured a 5-4 victory over the Carolina Rays and a 9-1 win over the Surfside Sharks. In pool play, the Heat beat the Stars 9U 16-4 and the North Wake Knights 10-9.

After qualifying for the USSSA Global World Series earlier in July, the team participated in fundraising efforts including a car wash and yard sale, Chic-Fil-A night, Zaxby’s night and a

Yogurt King day. All the while practicing two nights per week and playing in tournaments on weekends.

The Heat was among 16 teams nationally to qualify for the event.

Of the 10 boys on the team, eight of them are students at Pauline Glenn Springs Elementary School, including Austin Horres, Benjamin Fowler, Chase Turner, Hayden Lee, Hudson Lee, Lawson Bagwell, and Nathan Godfrey. Corey Jolley attends Boiling Springs Intermediate School, Garrett Williams attends Roebuck Elementary, and Jake Little attends Jesse Boyd.

They were all in the 2nd-4th grades this past year in school ranging in age from 7-9 years old.

The Heat will remain intact with all 10 players going into the 2012-2013 year as a 10U travel team.

For information or to become involved with Hub City Heat Baseball, email [email protected]. GD

Hub City Heat 9U squadbrings home USSSA Global title

YOUTH SPORTS DIRECTORY

GAME DAY u JULY 2012 7

Better. Stronger. Faster.

Top L to R: Dr. Gerald Rollins, Dr. Stephen Harley, Dr. David Mitchell, Dr. Michael FunderburkBottom L to R: Dr. Michael Henderson, Dr. Michael Hoenig, Dr. Mary Joan Black, Dr. James Behr


Upward purchases Club South VolleyballClub South Volleyball, established in 1996

and formerly owned and operated by Jimmy Peden, was sold to Upward Unlimited in July.

Since its inception, Club South has ex-perienced significant team growth as well as developed a strong reputation for being one of the top volleyball clubs in South Carolina as well as in the southeastern part of the United States. Club South has earned this reputation by providing a training program as well as coaches that can help each athlete accelerate their individual athletic ability into the next level of competition.

Upward Unlimited, parent organization of Upward Sports, established in 1995 has grown to be the world’s largest Christian sports league for children. Beginning only with basketball, Upward Sports has added flag football, cheer-leading and soccer to their program offer-ing. With over 2,500 church partners across the country conducting over 5,000 leagues or camps, over 500,000 children have participated in Upward Sports for each of the past three years.

This purchase combines the training, coaching and high level competition found in Club South with the first-class, organized and detailed administration exhibited by Upward Sports leagues across the nation. Upward Sports

offers children (typically in K5-6th grade) to have a positive, introductory sports experience in which sport fundamentals are taught and life lessons learned. Upward Stars (a new division of Upward Unlimited) will provide an opportu-nity for athletes (ages 10-18) who are ready to take their skill and understanding of the game to the next level of competition a chance to do so with the support of a national sports orga-nization founded on Christian principles and values.

Club South Volleyball powered by Upward Stars is committed to developing athletes to reach their highest potential and to compete at the highest level. By doing this Upward Un-limited will expand its offering to parents and families from an introductory sports experience (Upward Sports) to a new program committed to developing the young athlete to their fullest potential (Upward Stars).

More information on Club South Volleyball and Upward Stars may be found on the follow-ing web sites: ClubSouthVolleyball.com or UpwardStars.org.

>> Look for an exclusive story about the Club South powered by Upward Stars in the

September edition of Upstate Game Day.

One-Day Bath Remodeling

www.bathfitter.com

GAME DAY u JUNE 2012 9

get plugged inpointpo>> point your browser to

spartanburgparks.orgFind out about fun offerings, classes and activities

to be had all over Spartanburg County.

10 JUNE 2012 u GAME DAY10 JUNE 2012 u GAME DAY

WE WANT YOUR SPORTS PICS!please email to: les.timms @upstategameday.com

Athletes in Actionphotos by: John Clayton • Les Timms III

• Susan Palmer • Pam Dunlap • Sharon Moyer • Emily Ledford

GAME DAY u JUNE 2012 11GAME DAY u JUNE 2012 11

Pain is temporary.

Quitting lasts forever.

-Lance Armstrong

PERFECT

10-YEAR-OLD ANNA GREER MAKING WAVES ON 12U TENNIS CIRCUIT

10

12 JULY 2012 u GAME DAY

PROVIDED PHOTOS

By KAREN L. PUCKETT

Anna Greer may be small in stature, but she towers over her opponents on the tennis court.

Ranked 27th in the 12s in South Carolina, 10-year-old Anna is already talking about earning a college scholarship and achieving her long-term goal of becoming a professional tennis player.

“Her goal is to be a pro. My goal is to try to provide the resources to get her there, but it’s all up to her,” said her mother, Natasha.

Anna’s coach, Stephen Broom agreed.

“The sky’s the limit for her,” said Broom, the director of tennis at Spartanburg Athletic Club. “It depends on how much she wants to work. Stroke-wise, she’s pretty advanced for her age. I don’t see many players at 10 who don’t have to worry about their strokes. In lessons we focus more on positioning and setups.”

And, because she is 10 years old, she can be bribed with ice cream, Broom said.

“That always seems to make her work harder,” he added.

A natural athlete just shy of four-and-a-half feet, Anna received her first racquet from her tennis-playing parents when she was a toddler and participated in her first tennis clinic at The Westside Club when she was four.

“I liked it. It was fun,” Anna said of her first experience on the court. “I remember when I was little watching my mom and dad play tennis matches.”

In fact, fun is a word the homeschooled sixth grader uses often when discussing tennis. After all, she is just 10 years old.

“Tennis is fun, and what I like about it is what everyone likes—winning!” she said.

Anna enjoys the doing the things it takes in order to win—training in lessons and clinics, playing in practice matches (she

regularly asks adults at SAC to play a set or two with her), running and conditioning.

“Anna loves doing pushups and clap pushups,” said Natasha, who plays USTA league tennis. “At Bible Camp she found ways to work out, like doing pull-ups on the bunk beds.”

Anna has been playing tournaments for two years,

deciding to play up in the 12s when the format

for the 10s changed to a Quick Start program, which involves lower compression balls, smaller racquets and shorter courts. She hopes to be

in the top five in the state in the

12s by the time she turns 12 in 2014. A

reachable goal, according to her coach.

Competing in the 12s, she won the SAC tournament in July and was runner-up in May, won the Sportsclub tournament, and placed fifth in the Greenville Country Club tournament in August. Her plans include competing in Southern events next year.

“She’s a fierce competitor, that’s for sure. She doesn’t like losing,” Broom said. “She’s quick on the court, picks up the ball quick, and has good timing and good strokes. She’s very athletic.”

More important to her parents, Anna has a good attitude, especially on the court.

“People (at the tournaments) comment on her attitude and how they love it,” Natasha said. “Anna claps for her opponent for a good shot, and you don’t always see that at that age.”

Anna doesn’t see anything unusual about complimenting an opponent.

“It’s a polite sport,” she said. “I like playing it, and it’s fun to hit with other people. Tennis is probably one of the most interactive sports because you can play singles against someone and then doubles with that person. You can’t do that in soccer.” GD

TAKING ON A 10-YEAR-OLD ON THE COURT

By KAREN L. PUCKETT

How difficult would it be to play against a 10-year-old in a friendly set of tennis? I mean, I’m a seasoned 4.0-rated USTA league player, and Anna

Greer is a 4-foot-five-inch tall, 56-pound sixth-grader.My age and weight are not important here. And I

was in sixth grade…but that was in the last century.Anyway, we decide we’d only play a set because

Anna had a clinic scheduled right after, and I don’t want to wear her out. Besides, it is really hot outside.

She is cool with that. As we’re getting out our equipment on the sidelines

at Spartanburg Athletic Club, I notice she and I have Babolat racquets. She tells me her favorite player, Kim Clijsters, uses a Babolat. I tell her I use it because it’s a pretty blue.

We don’t bother to warm up, because, like I said, it is really hot outside. So, Anna serves first, and I immedi-ately realize that I’m playing against a future pro. Or at least someone who’s going to wipe me off the court.

But she will do it politely.However, I am a competitor myself, having been

a captain this spring on a team that went 8-0 in the regular season before going to the State Championships. So, if I’m going to lose to a 10-year-old, I’m going to go down fighting.

She wins her first service game, and I answer, win-ning my serve and we’re on serve at one-all.

It’s my experience playing middle-aged women on the tennis court that there are two main types of players: those who are backboards and those who hit winners. Anna is both. She runs down shots that otherwise should have been winners on my part. At other times, she pulls me side to side and out of position to set up topspin winners of her own. Down, 1-4, I decide to pull out my signature shot.

The lob.Most middle-aged tennis players are not fans of

the lob. Mainly because a lot of middle-aged women don’t like to run. So, I like to do a drop shot, bring my opponent to the net, and then pop a deep topspin lob to land at the baseline.

It didn’t faze Anna a bit. She scooped up the drop shot, anticipated my lob, ran it down, and answered with a winner.

Annoying.I hit a few more lobs during those last two games,

and once Anna has the nerve to call one of them out.I respond with a look of astonishment and my

mouth wide open for effect so that she knows I can’t believe she called it out…Even though I know it was out, I just wanted to see what she’d say.

“You look like Larry!” Anna responds.I really don’t know who Larry is, except maybe

some tennis pro I’ve never heard of. Probably from the Netherlands. So I ask her who he is.

“He’s the cucumber on Veggie Tales,” she says.And that was my reminder that I just got whooped

by a 10-year-old.

“Her goal is to be a pro. My goal is to try to provide the resources to get her there, but it’s all up to her.”

NATASHA GREER,mother of Anna Greer

Writer Karen Puckett shakes hands after being trounced on the court by sixth-grader Anna Greer.

GETTING TO KNOW

ANNA GREER

HOMETOWN: Boiling Springs

PARENTS: Travis, job development and research

at Milliken and co-owner of Liberty Tax; Natasha,

homeschooling mother of three who works part-time at

Spartanburg Athletic Club

SIBLINGS: Andrew, 11, and Elizabeth, 4

PETS: Reece, the dog; Dash and Winkie, the cats

HOBBIES: Playing sports, working puzzles, arts and crafts

MOST INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR LIFE: God

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: History

FAVORITE FOOD: Fried okra

EAT BEFORE A MATCH: Banana

ALWAYS WEARS DURING A MATCH: Green

Hairband

IF YOU DIDN’T PLAY TENNIS,

YOU’D PLAY: Soccer

It’s been a long, hot summer.Honestly, it feels like it started

sometime around Valentine’s Day. It’s been the kind of season that makes you thank the good Lord for sweet, summer rain and air conditioning.

So, I welcome fall. I enjoy the leaves changing and the crisp mornings. I like sweatshirts.

And I like football.

We’re beginning our second year at Upstate Game Day and it all started in August of 2011 with this same sort of anticipation – with football, volleyball, cross country, tennis and golf right around the corner as schools started their academic years.

Last year produced a Big 16 state champion in Byrnes and a Class AA Upper State Champion in Woodruff. Along the way, there were a ton of surprises and some sterling moments.

We’re expecting more of the same this fall.

Unlike last year when the Rebels were underdogs, Byrnes is a favorite to repeat as state champions, but Dorman, Gaffney, Boiling Springs and Spartanburg are part of a Region II gauntlet the Rebels must negotiate.

And Woodruff will move to Class AAA, but face some familiar foes in Chapman, Clinton and Broome.

Speaking of Broome, Jet Turner takes over as head coach, while Mark Hodge takes over at Chapman and Lynn Fleming at Chesnee on the gridiron.

Dorman made it to the Class AAAA Upper State title match in volleyball before falling to rival Hillcrest, but the Cavaliers are a perennial title contender .

On the golf course, Spartanburg County Amateur Champion Anne Taylor Hough, a

freshman at Spartanburg High, and senior Katy Funk, a Wofford

verbal commitment, return to the course for the Vikings as does Spartanburg Junior Amateur Champion Anna Chanthaphaeng at Boiling Springs.

Landrum cross-country has been a force at the Class A level for the past few years and this year head coach Jeremy Darby is getting his due.

Darby has been nominated by Brooks Running Shoes as one of the sport’s 25 (vote through Brooks Running on Facebook) most inspirational coaches. If he wins an online vote, he will get a well-deserved $10,000 as the Cardinals move up to Class AA.

Greer is staying in Class AAA, but moves to an eight-team region composed primarily of Greenville County Schools, including Blue Ridge, Carolina, Greenville and Berea.

And at the time of this writing, no one has played a meaningful game and the temperatures are expected to reach 90 or so.

Fall can’t get here soon enough.

It should be fun, so please come along for the ride with us each month at Upstate Game Day. GD

With sports on horizon, fall can’t get here soon enough

JOHNCLAYTON

THE SPORTS OF FALL

From football - youth leagues to high school; volleyball, cross country, golf, cheer, soccer to band, and other sports, activities heat up in the fall. GAME DAY will offer coverage of many of these events in future edi-tions.


GAME DAY FILE PHOTOS

GAME DAY u AUGUST 2012 15

SPECIAL PULL-OUT PAGEGREENVILLE COUNTY

WOODMONTAug. 24 – at WrenAug. 31 – at MauldinSept. 7 – at RiversideSept. 14 – WADE HAMPTONSept. 21 – WESTSIDE*Sept. 28 – at Laurens*Oct. 5 – GREENWOOD*Oct. 12 – at Easley*Oct. 19 – J.L. MANN*Oct. 26 – T.L. HANNA*Nov. 2 – at Hillcrest*

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLICAug. 17 – BARNWELLAug. 24 – BLACKSBURGAug. 31 – at Cardinal NewmanSept. 14 – CALHOUN FALLS*Sept. 21 – at McCormick*Sept. 28 – DIXIE*Oct. 5 – at Ware Shoals*Oct. 12 – WHITMIRE*Oct. 19 – at Christ Church*Oct. 26 – at SouthsideChristian*

WADE HAMPTONAug. 24 – BLUE RIDGEAug. 31 – at HillcrestSept. 7 – EASTSIDESept. 14 – at WoodmontSept. 21 – at Mauldin*Sept. 28 – GAFFNEY*Oct. 5 – at Boiling Springs*Oct. 12 – DORMAN*Oct. 19 – at Spartanburg*Oct. 26 – RIVERSIDE*Nov. 2 – at Byrnes

TRAVELERS RESTAug. 17 – WEST OAKAug. 24 – at LibertyAug. 31 – at ChapmanSept. 14 – PICKENS*Sept. 21 – at Greer*Sept. 28 – SOUTHSIDE*Oct. 5 – at Blue Ridge*Oct. 12 – at Greenville*Oct. 19 – EASTSIDE*Oct. 26 – BEREA*

SOUTHSIDEAug. 24 – J.L. MANNAug. 31 – CAROLINASept. 7 – at PowdersvilleSept. 14 – at Berea*Sept. 21 – GREENVILLE*Sept. 28 – at Travelers Rest*Oct. 5 – EASTSIDE*Oct. 12 – at Blue Ridge*Oct. 19 – GREER*Oct. 26 – at Pickens*

MAULDINAug. 24 – at HillcrestAug. 31 – WOODMONTSept. 7 – T.L. HANNASept. 14 – at J.L. MannSept. 21 – WADE HAMPTON*Sept. 28 – at Dorman*Oct. 5 – at Gaffney*Oct. 12 – RIVERSIDE*Oct. 19 – at Byrnes*Oct. 26 – SPARTANBURG*Nov. 2 – BOILING SPRINGS*

RIVERSIDEAug. 24 – at EastsideAug. 31 – GREERSept. 7 – WOODMONTSept. 14 – at HillcrestSept. 21 – SPARTANBURG*Sept. 28 – BOILINGSPRINGS*Oct. 5 – at Byrnes*Oct. 12 – at Mauldin*Oct. 19 – GAFFNEY*Oct. 26 – at Wade Hampton*Nov. 2 – DORMAN*

ED OVERSTREET / FILE

BOILING SPRINGSAug. 23 – at Nation FordAug 31 – at YorkSept. 7 – CLOVERSept. 14 – ROCK HILLSept. 21 – at Byrnes*Sept. 28 – at Riverside*Oct. 5 – WADE HAMPTON*Oct. 19 – DORMAN*Oct. 26 – GAFFNEY*Nov. 2 – at Mauldin*

BYRNESAug. 31 – at WoodruffSept. 7 – NORTHWESTERNSept. 14 – CLINTONSept. 21 – BOILING SPRINGS*Sept. 28 – at Spartanburg*Oct. 5 – RIVERSIDE*Oct. 12 – at Gaffney*Oct. 29 – MAULDIN*Oct. 26 – at Dorman*Nov. 2 – WADE HAMPTON*

BROOMEAug. 17 – CHESNEEAug. 24 – LANDRUMAug. 31 – at Ninety SixSept. 7 – at BlacksburgSept. 14 – FORT MILLSept. 28 – at Clinton*Oct. 5 – at Union Co.*Oct. 12 – CHESTER*Oct. 19 – at Woodruff*Oct. 26 – CHAPMAN*

DORMANAug. 24 – at Rock HillAug. 31 – GREENWOODSept. 7 – HILLCRESTSept. 14 – DUTCH FORKSept. 21 – at Gaffney*Sept. 28 – MAULDIN*Oct. 5 – SPARTANBURG*Oct. 12 – at Wade Hampton*Oct. 19 – at Boiling Springs*Oct. 26 – BYRNESNov. 2 – at Riverside

GREERAug. 24 – SENECAAug. 31 – at RiversideSept. 7 – at Union Co.Sept. 14 – at Greenville*Sept. 21 – TRAVELERS REST*Sept. 28 – at Eastside*Oct. 5 – BEREA*Oct. 12 – PICKENS*Oct. 19 – at Southside*Oct. 26 – BLUE RIDGE

GAFFNEYAug. 17 – NORTHWESTERNAug. 24 – CLINTONAug. 31 – at Union Co.Sept. 7 – YORKSept. 21 – DORMAN*Sept. 28 – at Wade Hampton*Oct. 5 – MAULDIN*Oct. 12 – BYRNES*Oct. 19 – at Riverside*Oct. 26 – at Boiling Springs*Nov. 2 – SPARTANBURG*

CHESNEEAug. 17 – at BroomeAug. 24 – at ChapmanSept. 7 – WOODRUFFSept. 14 – at Pendleton*Sept. 21 – CAROLINA*Sept. 28 – LIBERTY*Oct. 5 – LANDRUM*Oct. 19 – at Blacksburg*Oct. 26 – CRESCENT*

LANDRUMAug. 24 – at BroomeAug. 31 – WALHALLASept. 7 – at Polk Co. (N.C.)Sept. 14 – at Carolina*Sept. 21 – LIBERTY*Sept. 28 – POWDERSVILLE*Oct. 5 – at Chesnee*Oct. 12 – BLACKSBURG*Oct. 19 – at Crescent*Oct. 26 – PENDLETON*

HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULES

SPARTANBURG COUNTYSPECIAL PULL-OUT PAGE


JOHN CLAYTON / staff


SCSDBAug. 30 – at Tenn. School/DeafSept. 6 – at Hendersonville ChristianSept. 13 – FOUNTAIN INN CHRISTIANSept. 20 – at N.C. School for DeafSept. 27 – TENN. SCHOOL/DEAFOct. 4 – OAK LEVEL BAPTISTOct. 13 – at La. School/DeafOct. 20 – N.C. SCHOOL/DEAFOct. 24 – HENDERSONVILLE CHRISTIAN

OAKBROOK PREPAug. 17 – LAURENS ACADEMYAug. 24 – at Dorchester AcademyAug. 31 – HOLLY HILL ACAD-EMYSept. 14 – FLORENCE CHRIS-TIAN*Sept. 21 – BYRNES ACADEMYSept. 28 - at King’s Academy*Oct. 5 – at Lee Academy*Oct. 12 – at Pee Dee AcademyOct. 19 – THOMAS SUMTER*Oct. 26 – at Calhoun Academy*

WOODRUFFAug. 24 – at AbbevilleAug. 31 – BYRNESSept. 7 – at ChesneeSept. 14 – at LaurensSept. 21 – NINETY SIXSept. 28 – UNION CO.*Oct. 5 – at Chester*Oct. 12 – at Chapman*Oct. 19 – BROOME*Oct. 26 – CLINTON*

SPARTANBURGAug. 24 – UNION CO.Aug. 31 – at LaurensSept. 7 – SOUTH POINTESept. 14 – at GreenwoodSept. 21 – at Riverside*Sept. 28 – BYRNES*Oct. 5 – at Dorman*Oct. 12 – BOILING SPRINGS*Oct. 19 – WADE HAMPTON*Oct. 26 – at Mauldin*Nov. 2 – at Gaffney*

WestGate Mall SPARTANBURG

WELCOME BACKED OVERSTREET / FILE


HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULES

GREENVILLE COUNTYSPECIAL PULL-OUT PAGE

BEREAAug. 24 – at CarolinaAug. 31 – POWDERSVILLESept. 7 – NEWBERRYSept. 14 – SOUTHSIDE*Sept. 21 – at Blue Ridge*Sept. 28 – at Greer *Oct. 12 – at Eastside*Oct. 19 – Greenville*Oct. 26 – at Travelers Rest*

CAROLINAAug. 24 – BEREAAug. 31 – at SouthsideSept. 7 – CHRIST CHURCHSept. 14 – LANDRUM*Sept. 21 – at Chesnee*Sept. 28 – BLACKSBURG*Oct. 5 – at Crescent*Oct. 12 – PENDELTON*Oct. 19 – at Powdersville*Oct. 26 – at Liberty*

BLUE RIDGEAug. 24 – at Wade HamptonAug. 31- at J.L. MannSept. 7 – CHAPMANSept. 14 – at Eastside*Sept. 21 – BEREA*Sept. 28 – at Greenville*Oct. 5 – TRAVELERS REST*Oct. 12 – SOUTHSIDE*Oct. 19 – PICKENS*Oct. 26 – at Greer*

HILLCRESTAug. 24 – MAULDINAug. 31 – WADE HAMPTONSept. 7 – at DormanSept. 14 – RIVERSIDESept. 21 – at Greenwood*Sept. 28 – WESTSIDE*Oct. 5 – at J.L.Mann*Oct. 12 – LAURENS*Oct. 19 – at T.L. Hanna*Oct. 26 – EASLEY*Nov. 2 – WOODMONT*

GREENVILLEAug. 17 – at AbbevilleAug. 31 – DANIELSept. 7 – at J.L. MannSept. 14 – GREER*Sept. 21 – at Southside*Sept. 28 – BLUE RIDGE*Oct. 5 – at Pickens*Oct. 12 – TRAVELERS REST*Oct. 19 – at Berea*Oct. 26 – EASTSIDE*

EASTSIDEAug. 24 – RIVERSIDEAug. 31 – CHRIST CHURCHSept. 7 – at Wade HamptonSept. 14 – BLUE RIDGE*Sept. 21 – at Pickens*Sept. 28 – at Greer*Oct. 12 – BEREA*Oct. 19 – at Travelers Rest*Oct. 26 – at Greenville

CHRIST CHURCHAug. 31 – at EastsideSept. 7 – at CarolinaSept. 14 – WARE SHOALSSept. 21 – at Calhoun FallsSept. 28 – MCCORMICKOct. 5 – at DixieOct. 12 – SOUTHSIDECHRISTIANOct. 19 – ST. JOSEPH’SOct. 26 – at Whitmire

J.L. MANNAug. 24 – at SouthsideAug. 31 – BLUE RIDGESept. 7 – GREENVILLESept. 14 – MAULDINSept. 21 – at T.L.Hanna*Sept. 28 –at Greenwood*Oct. 5 – HILLCREST*Oct. 12 – at Westside*Oct. 19 – at Woodmont*Oct. 26 – LAURENS*Nov. 2 – EASLEY*



By JOHN CLAYTON COLUMBIA – Everything changed

in Starkville:The meteoric career arc, the

constant static of Heisman hype; the SEC Saturdays spent in front of rabid, cheering fans.

Yes, everything changed except Marcus Lattimore.

The former Byrnes star and SEC Freshman of the Year now has the most talked about knee in the state as the Gamecocks ready for the 2012 season, but Lattimore has quietly been working his way back since undergoing knee surgery last fall.

Now, after more than 2,000 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns at South Carolina, Lattimore has declared the knee he injured last season against Mississippi State to be fit and himself ready to return to the Gamecocks lineup.

“Around mid-July, everything started feeling like I could do it again, and that was it, really,” he said. “It seemed like it happened yesterday. I’ll never forget it. It changed a lot, but we overcame it.”

Lattimore said the one thing the injury didn’t change was an unwavering faith in God and himself. He continued to speak to youth groups and at churches. He typically, went back to work on

rehabilitating the injured left knee as his teammates played on.

“Some days I didn’t know if (the knee) was going to hurt or swell up or not,” Lattimore said of his rehab. “You just have to put your trust in God and be optimistic, so that’s what I did. It made my mind stronger.

“I knew (the injury) was bad, but I just had to face that and go with it. It is what it is, and nine months later, I feel great.”

It was a trial unlike anything Lattimore, who gained 818 yards and scored 10 touchdowns as the Gamecocks’ workhorse back in eight games last season, and it gave him a new perspective on both

Byrnes product Marcus Lattimore says the knee he injured last season against Mississippi St. is ready to go.

GROUNDFORCE

USC’S LATTIMORE RETURNS FROM KNEE INJURY TO LEAD GAMECOCKS IN TOUGH SEC

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 ...

PAMELA DUNLAP

football and life that can only come from experience and the occasional hard knock.

“My approach on everything – football isn’t going to last forever,” he said. “It can be taken way – what you’ve been doing your whole life – and I realized that. It put a whole lot of things in perspective for me.”

Current USC and former Byrnes teammate Nick Jones knows Lattimore better than anyone else in Columbia, and he believes the preseason All-SEC back will return as good as ever – or better.

“I’d never seen Marcus seriously injured before, so when it happened, I didn’t know what to think,” said Jones, a wide receiver with the Gamecocks. “But I knew the kind of mindset Marcus has and how he’d work to get better. So, I’m pretty sure that knee is a lot stronger than when he got hurt.”

With Lattimore sidelined for the final five games of last season, the Gamecocks offense evolved behind surprise

starting quarterback Connor Shaw and running backs Shon Carson and Kenny Miles.

Along with top recruit Mike Davis, Lattimore said the Gamecocks now have four backs they can count on.

“Our goal is to be the best running back group in America,” he said. “We want to be sort of like LSU – with four backs who just keep coming at your and wearing down the defense.”

USC head coach Steve Spurrier said he witnessed proof that Lattimore is back to form at an early preseason practice.

“We think he’s going to be fine. In practice, there’s no thinking about it at all,” Spurrier said. “The other day at practice, the defense was trying to strip the ball, and there were two or three waiting on him. He lowered his pads and went right through them. We said, that’s how you eliminate guys from trying to cause a fumble. He’s not thinking about it. He’s just ready to go play ball right now.” GD

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Byrnes product Marcus Lattimore bursts through a hole against Kentucky last October.

PAMELA DUNLAP

PAMELA DUNLAP

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Which Team Are You Really Cheering For?Do you ever evaluate your purchases and think about who you are really supporting? Are you supporting people that support you? I urge every SPORTS FANATIC to look through this magazine and

find someone you can support. These are the people that continu-ally give to your organization and children. It is time we as Citizens

rally behind local businesses that are trying to give back to their community. I urge you to flip through this magazine right now and

find someone you can support. BILLY WEBBER

(O) 864-814-4755(C) 864-621-4761

Philippians 2:2-5

New King James Version (NKJV)2 Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of

one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

CONGRATULATIONS 2012 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERSPEYTON ALLEN AND XAVIER KILLINGS

By JOHN CLAYTON

Byrnes enters the 2012 football season in defense of a state championship that surprised some as the path to the Class AAAA “Big

16” state title ended in late December at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.

The Rebels, propelled by their upset of Gaffney in last year’s championship game and a 13-2 overall record, are ranked in the top 10 nationally in two polls – No. 5 by USA Today and No. 7 by Rivals.com.

“We have to prepare each week because we know we will get everyone’s best shot,” said Byrnes head coach Chris Miller.

Byrnes returns junior quarterback Shuler Bentley among its 13 returning starters, including seven on offense and six on defense.

The list of top returnees also includes wide receiver Akia Booker, linebacker Alex Garrett, defensive lineman Melvin Armstrong and defensive backs Shane Samules and KeKe Ashmore.

Miller said this season will come with the burden of expectations levied on a state champion, but that is nothing new for the Rebels.

He will just have to wait and see how this year’s team reacts.

“Every year, each team has to find their identity and their personality,” Miller said.

BOILING SPRINGSLast year, the Bulldogs began the season

with two straight shut-out losses before righting the ship and finishing 10-4, making it to the third round of the state playoffs. QB/WR Tyrecous Garrett, WR Reggie Geter, DL Jake Dills, DL Anthony Hunter, DL Denton Powe and LB Preston Gregory return to the Bulldogs for their senior seasons.

BROOMEJohn E. “Jet” Turner takes over a

Centurions program, hoping to return it to a title contender. Turner won a state championship as head coach at Chester and

will bring his hard-running Wing-T offense to Broome.

CHAPMANA 2-8 season last year led to the

beginning of the Mark Hodge era at Chapman. Hodge takes over a team hungry to win behind returning RB Tyashawn Samuel and LB Michael Ashe.

CHESNEELynn Fleming takes over as head coach

at Chesnee. The Eagles return 10 starters from last year’s playoff team. Chesnee made it to the third round of the Class AA playoffs despite a 4-8 overall record. All-Region selections WR/DB Markell Hill, K Panayoitis Kargiatlis and OL/DL Jake Sperling lead this year’s squad.

DORMANThe Cavaliers are a perennial title

contender in not only Region 2-AAAA, but also the state. The Cavaliers will once

again find themselves in a battle with Byrnes, Gaffney and Spartanburg for both as they look to improve upon last year’s disappointing 7-6 record.

GREERThe Yellow Jackets won the Peach

Blossom AAA region title with a win at Blue Ridge the final week of the regular season last year, finishing the season at 9-2. QB Emmanuel Kelly made a splash by accounting for six touchdowns in the team’s spring game. WR/DB D’anta Fleming and OL Alex Waters are among the team’s top returnees from last year’s 9-2 squad. Greer heads to a newly formed eight-team region composed primarily of Greenville County schools this season.

LANDRUMThe Cardinals make their first run in

Class AA this season, moving into Region I-AA. Head coach Russell Mahaffey’s team turned in its best record under his watch,

UPSTATE PRIDEREGION’S TEAMS RETURN TO GRIDIRON

Byrnes QB Shuler Bentley (19) helped the Rebels to a Big 16 state title last year and returns for his junior season.


By JOHN CLAYTON

Ten months ago, Jaquan Jackson lay prone in his room wondering if he would ever play football

again, his surgically repaired heart healing, his body still bearing the scars of a motorcycle accident that left him bruised and battered two months earlier on W.O. Ezell Boulevard.

Five push-ups -- just five -- that would begin his long road to recovery and back to his senior season with the Spartanburg High School football team.

Jackson holds out his wrist where one of the scars still remains.

“I had a bruised hip and some road rash,” he said. “The paramedics said they found me 20 feet from where the wreck happened. . . . I had blacked out just before it happened. I don’t remember anything after that.”

A van hit Jackson and sent him flying.

The helmet he was wearing, which sits in his bedroom as a reminder, very possibly saved his life.

There was no head trauma, but his chest hit the motorcycle’s gas tank and the severe impact caused an aortal tear that was later found by an echo-cardiogram.

A few days later, Jackson and his family were in Charleston at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Vikings defensive back, with dreams of playing college football, was on the operating table for open-heart surgery to repair the torn aorta.

Football seemed so far away, but Jackson said he soon decided he would return to the gridiron, even as the Vikings played 2011 without him.

It started with five push-ups after six weeks of bed rest. From there, he was cleared for athletics by doctors and back in the weightroom, pushing himself and amazingly qualifying for the state meet in March. Then, he

played soccer for the first time in his life to “get his wind back.”

“It all went good, so I knew I could get back here,” Jackson said. “I wanted to play football again. I want to play in college, and I wanted to be an inspiration to my little brother (13-year-old Kevin Cartledge).”

“To tell you the truth, I look at this like it’s my NFL Draft -- like

if I can do this, I’ll make it to the NFL and my dreams will come true,” Jackson said with a little laugh. “I know that’s not going to happen, but this is big for me.”

The college scouts that might have seen him play

last year will get a chance to watch him this year. He would love to play at Alabama or maybe Clemson.

But this year is as crucial to that end as those five push-ups were to getting this far.

“I’d been on bed rest and I was losing weight, but after those first five push-ups, things started going up and they’ve been going up ever since.”

It’s the first step -- and maybe the most important one.

“I feel like the Lord gave me a second chance to come out here,” Jackson said. “So, I don’t complain about anything. If the coaches ask me to do something, I do it, and I’m not complaining about the heat or the work.

“And I’m trying to be encouraging to my teammates when it comes to that. . . . It hurt me in my heart, no being able to play last year.”GD

going 9-3 last season and making it to the second round of the state playoffs. Senior LB Ryan Herbst is among the returning leaders for the Cardinals. SPARTANBURGHead coach Freddy Brown enters his fifth season

as head coach of the Vikings, who were 8-4 last season. Spartanburg returns OT Jamarkus Means, LB Simeon Byrd, K Cameron Brown and S Branch Wilson as key contributors from last year’s squad. “I expect our players to compete hard every Friday with great pride and outstanding character,” Brown said of his expectations for this season.

SCSDBThe Hornets are coming off a winless season, but

return four seniors at key positions as they prepare for their 2012 eight-man football season. Seniors Fernandez Johnson (QB/RB/S), Chris Mcleod (QB/S), Rhonte Levine (LB/FB) and Zaid Cruz (C/NG) return to the team hungry for victories along with sophomore Elijah Griffin (QB/RB/CB) and newcomer Kia Smith (TE/WR). Head coach Tony Lee is hoping his team avoids injuries because depth is an issue for the Hornets. GD

Vikings’ Jackson shows heart in return

“I feel like the Lord gave me a second chance... ”

JAQUAN JACKSON

after nearly losing his life...


PAMELA DUNLAP


By JOHN CLAYTON

WOODRUFF - Sometimes, you really can wake up the echos. During a magical 13-1 football season last year, Woodruff did exactly that while conjuring up some local ghosts of their own. An Upper State Championship and run to the Class AA state finals just seemed like old times in Woodruff.

The Wolverines were winning - big time, returning to the state finals for the first time since 1993. “A lot of our kids understood, but they didn’t really understand what it meant to the community,” said Woodruff head coach Brian Lane.

“They always hear their dads and their uncles talking about it, but they finally got to be a part of it and it was great. The community was behind us 100 percent.” “A part of it” means a part of a legacy started by long-time Hall-of-Fame coach Willie Varner, who led the Wolverines to 10 state championships, the last of which came in 1984.

In a small football-crazy town, going generations without a state title or even a state-championship appearance was unheard of, but that had become the Wolverines’ lot.

There was success, but the state titles that had once been a matter of course in the 1960s, 70s and 80s under Varner had

become the Holy Grail. “When I took this job, I knew exactly what Woodruff was about,” said Lane, who is 24-5 in his three seasons at Woodruff.

“I knew the tradition Coach Varner had established.” Sophomore Demajiay Rooks said he is one of the current Wolverines with a father, uncles and other family members who played for the Wolverines and who remind him of the program’s glory days.

“They came out to support us and helped us get there again,” Rooks said. “That’s Woodruff - it’s all about football and coming together on Friday nights.” Despite making it back to the title game for the first time in nearly two

SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMESWOLVERINES’ 13-1 SEASON BUILDING BLOCK FOR SEASON

Woodruff QB Ben Beck (15) drops back to pass during last season’s Class AA state title game.

QB Ben Beck (15) and WR Brandon Bone (8) during last year’s Class AA state championship game.


decades, Rooks said the team wasn’t happy with a runner-up finish.

“We didn’t get the ring, but we’re going to try hard this year to get back and get it this time,” he said. Getting back will be no easy task. Woodruff moves up to Class AAA this season and will be without star running back Shun Tribble (Georgia Southern) and two other NCAA Division I signees.

But receiver Brandon Bone, who recently received an offer from Clemson, defensive back. D.J. Jones, who was offered by Georgia Southern, and quarterback Ben Beck return for their senior seasons along with players who now more fully understand what winning means in Woodruff.

“Now, (our fans) don’t just want the dressing, they want the turkey and the whole thing,” Lane said. “They don’t just want the sides. They want it all and I understand that, and I want it for the kids.” GD

Woodruff enters the field last season. The Wolverines captured the Upper State title in 2012.

RON NORMAN PHOTOS / SPECIAL

By JOHN CLAYTON Oakbrook Prep and

Spartanburg Christian Academy are taking different routes to the gridiron, but will be getting there just the same.

SCA is continuing its second-year program with another season of junior varsity competition in the S.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association. Meanwhile, Oakbrook is jumping into SCISA’s varsity fire after beginning the JV and middle-school programs a year ago. The Knights won their opener against Laurens Academy.

Oakbrook head coach Matt Graves said his team is focused on the fundamentals for its first season of varsity competition.

“We’re not focusing on wins and loses so much as we are on building the fundamentals to be a good football team,” Graves said. “This season, we want to be an opportunity for progression as football players, not regression.”

Graves said he has been very pleased with the way his players have retained what they’ve learned since playing their first season in his system a year ago.

“That’s the biggest thing I’ve been impressed by – their retention of knowledge,” he said. “Things have gone very well.”

The Knights have also developed leaders who are helping with the learning curve with younger, more inexperienced players.

SCA head coach Chad Turner said he expects another year at the junior varsity level will help the Warriors.

“We went to the FCA 7-on-7 camp and saw a lot of good teams there,” Turner said. “We were very impressed with what we saw, so we’re excited a year from now to finally get this thing going.”

Both teams will be competing in SCISA 2A – Oakbrook this year and SCA in 2013 – and their respective arrivals have the makings of a private-school rivalry in Spartanburg.

“We’re looking forward in a year to be able to compete against them,” Turner said. “We’re really excited.” GD

Thousands of softball players and hundreds of teams invaded Tyger River Park for the NSA East Coast Fast Pitch World Series in late July.

The Carolina Attitude, of Lexington, N.C., used a local connection to defeat the Metamora Flames (East Peoria, Ill.) 5-4 in the 18-under finals. USC Upstate player Kara Lohr knocked in the game-tying and what proved to be the game winning run in the finals for her club team, the Attitude.

Other champions included the Louisiana Patriots (12U), Orion Hunter, Va. (10U), Indiana Stealth (16U) and Galaxy Black (14U) of Carrollton, Va.

Knights, Warriors continuerivalry on gridiron

Winning‘ATTITUDE’

PROVIDED PHOTOSpartanburg Christian Academy enters its second season on the gridiron


ED MILLER CITY CHAMPIONSHIP MEET

HIllbrook repeated as champions at the Ed Miller City Cham-pionship Meet, held July 14 at the Middle Tyger YMCA in Duncan. Lantern Ridge was second, followed by the Westside Club in third.

Athletes in Action

Les Timms III photos


I get this question a lot, ‘Hey Coach, how do I run faster?’ You should see the funny looks I get

when my reply is ‘I don’t know?’ ‘But Coach, how come you don’t know? I thought you were a speed coach.’

The truth is I really do know, but it is not a sim-ple answer to say do this exercise or that one and you will get faster. You see the key to run-ning faster is not a simple answer but I will try to shed some light on the subject.

The first key to running faster is to help athletes become more efficient. Most young athletes are very inefficient

(even the really good ones) so sharpening their technique is critical. Here’s an example of what I mean.

Let’s say an athlete is capable of putting 200 lbs. of force in the ground with every stride but with every stride they waste en-ergy and produce force inefficiently. Because of technical flaws they are only able to use 75% of that force. Now plot this out over the course of the entire race/distance being run and think about how much potential

‘speed’ is wasted simply due to lack of efficiency or technical running skill.

The Bottom Line is simply that if the athlete had better running form, a better under-

standing of how it should feel when running, and better coaching feedback, that athlete would be more efficient with each step and, based on simple physics, would run faster.

Here’s how you can make athletes (in any sport) faster just by making them more efficient.

1. Regularly practice speed drills (with perfect technique) so athletes understand what good running form FEELS like. This is often referred to as muscle memory.

2. Give technical feedback. If you, the coach, know what the athlete should be doing, you can help them clean up their form. But if you don’t tell them what to do (and give them correct information) they’re not going to figure it out on their own. So if you don’t teach them what to do they will continue to make the same mistakes over and over and they won’t get faster.

3. Improve the gen-eral strength of an athlete, improve their hip and ankle mobility, and develop better rhythm and coordination of the athlete. Core work, strength training and body weight training will improve the muscular coordination required to maximize force application and increase speed.

Now, let’s say you im-prove average efficiency of our above athlete (by using the above methods) from 75% to 85%. Average force applied per stride goes from 150 lbs. to 170lbs. per stride.

Simple physics tells us they have to be faster. But now let’s take the same athlete and give them a great strength program that increases their ability to put force into the ground from 200 lbs. to 250 lbs. per stride while improving their efficiency to 85% (which is completely within reason). Now you have an athlete who puts 212 lbs. of force in the ground.

This is where the argument that speed can’t be coached breaks down. Sure you can’t turn kids into Usain Bolt. But most (yes I said most) athletes are generally so weak and inef-ficient (even the ‘good’ ones) that they can make ‘night and day’ improvements by becom-ing more well-rounded athletes. You see you can get incred-ible results with your athletes when you focus on improving strength and efficiency.

All you have to do is put a plan into place that focuses on long term development of specific bio-motor skills: speed, strength, mobility, coordination and endurance. Do this and watch your athletes run faster.

Ken Finley is a physical thera-pist and certified youth speed and agility specialist. To learn more about his youth athletic develop-ment programs you can contact him at [email protected].

The best exercises to help improve speed

KENFINLEY

YOUTH FITNESS


Swinging on plane to hit better shots

Swinging the club in the most efficient way is important to being consistent and long. It is important to turn and

not lift the club in the backswing. I always tell my students to imagine they are starting a lawnmower.

You get much more power if you turn around your spine instead of lifting. Hunter Nichols, a standout at Clinton H.S. and currently ranked 48th in the SC State Junior Golf Rankings has been working on this.

Hunter was taking the club too far on the outside This was causing the ball to spin too much and he was losing a lot of distance on every shot. His ball flight was too high. This was caused by a poor

takeaway. In order to hit the ball from the inside,

he had to re-route the club. This causes inefficiency in the golf swing and wasted energy.

Since working on getting the club more around his body and more on plane (SEE PHOTO). Hunter has fixed his ball flight and gotten all of his distance back.

If you are a slicer, or you hit high shots that feel good with no power, you most likely are lifting the club on your backswing. Try to swing in to out more on a parallel line. Imagine it like this.

If your target is at 12 o’clock, try swinging back to 7 o’clock and releasing out to 1 o’clock. This should give you more accuracy and distance.

Happy Golfing.! GD

Reach the Kyle Owings Golf Academy at (864) 205-4221

KYLEOWINGS

GOLF ACADEMY

Since working on getting the club more around his body and more on plane, golfer Hunter Nichols has fixed his ball flight and gotten all of his distance back.

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENTTO KEEP YOUR FUTURE

ON TRACK.

A portfolio review will help ensure your invest-ments are keeping pace with your goals. Callyour local financial advisor today.

Lots of times, changes in life also affect your investments. That’s why there’s never been a bettertime to schedule your free portfolio review. We’lltalk about the changes in your life, and help youdecide whether it makes sense to revise your investments because of them.

Thomas E McCarver, AAMS®Financial Advisor.

104 D Franklin AvenueSpartanburg, SC 29301864-576-0165

UPWARD TOURNEY PICSOR FCA COL-

UMN

Faith in Sports

Beginning of a New Day

“This is the beginning of a New Day…” is the thought of

the fall as football teams, swim teams, cross country teams, cheerleading teams, marching bands, volleyball teams, and other sports teams swing into full practice and game schedules.

As each group began their practice sessions, you could hear

the talk; phrases like “this is the year,” or “we’ve put a lot of work into this summer,” and the one filled with the greatest ambition, “All the way to State!”

As each player goes through the practices and training sessions, there is a clear goal that is established form the very beginning.

This goal becomes the focal point that drive students to push themselves beyond

what they would normally do in an effort to achieve something that they have never achieved. After a summer-filled with the Olympic games and the stories behind those athletes, coaches and athletes approach this fall with a spirit of hope as they have fixed their eyes on “the goal.”

Goals are an important part of the achievement process because they become measuring points to assess your progress. If there are no goals, then you will never experience the joy of achievement. The challenge is to make sure that the goal is a realistically attainable.

Several years ago, the writer Jeffrey Marx wrote a book entitled Season of Life. In this book, he chronicled the story of a successful high school football program in Maryland, and was shocked when he heard the head coach in the locker just prior to the game. Just before the team took to the field, the coach asked the players, “What is my job?” to which the players responded, “To love us.” The head coach then asked, “What is your job?” and the players responded, “To love each other.” The fact

that this team won three state championships in a row is great but to me, the coach set a much higher goal for the students than simply winning football games.

We must be careful to not become entangled as parents and coaches to think that the most important things in life are rings and championships.

If that is the goal that we present to students, we have set a low standard. We must challenge them, through the activity of sports, to cherish the relationships that they are experiencing and to live their life for a cause that is greater than themselves.

In Hebrews 12:1-2 “ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

by REV. SETH BUCKLEY

Rev. Seth Buckley is Minister to Students at First Baptist Spartanburg.

Goal-setting before season an important process

Have a story idea?contact editor and publisher LES TIMMS III

[email protected]

864.804.0068

24 MAY 2012 u GAME DAY

All-Sports Performance Training

SPEED ACADEMYof Finley Physical Therapy & Sport Training

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august 2012_upstate game day

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