nov 2012 upstate game day

Youth Sports Magazine

UPSTATE

November 2012FREE

>> AYSO 132 GOING STRONG AT 35

page 21

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ED OVERSTREET PHOTO

Boiling Sprngs cheerleaders

compete during the

Dorman Cheer Classic.

Bringing it

GAME DAY

>> STEPHANIE PALMER >> LATTIMORE INJURY >> SETH BUCKLEY >> ATHLETES IN ACTION >> and more

/ page 16

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AKIA BOOKER, LOCAL PLAYERS PREPARE FOR SHRINE BOWL

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FUN IS THE NAME OF THE GAME AS LOCAL AYSO

GOING STRONG AT 35

Upward Stars unveil new Volleyball Center

Upstate Volleyball Club in expansion mode

Cavs’ Martin Morrow celebrates personal win

Booker headlines local players in Shrine Bowl

> 20

> 21

Leading Off

GAME DAY Youth Sports Magazine

EDITOR & PUBLISHERLes Timms III

[email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITOR / SENIOR WRITER

John Claytonjohn.clayton@upstategameday.

com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Seth BuckleyKyle OwingsKen Finley

Dr. Stephen M. KanaEd Overstreet

Pamela Dunlap

TO ADVERTISE CONTACTles.timms

@upstategameday.com864-804-0068

WEBSITEwww.upstategameday.com

CONTACT GAME DAY864-804-0068

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© Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine 2012

Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Maga-zine is published 12 times a year. All contents are copyrighted by Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of

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4 OCT-NOV 2012 u GAME DAY

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ClipboardNEWS & NOTES FROM THE LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS SCENE

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS TO [email protected]

Game DayQ&A

Game Day caught up with some of Spartanburg’s young athletes at a recent sporting event and asked them to list

their FAVORITES. Here are their responses.

LILLI PLExICOIYA Minors Cheerleading

Inman Elementary2nd Grade

Favorite TV Show: Wiz-ards of Waverly Place

ALExIS RAMSEYIYA Minors CheerleadingCampobello-Gramling

Elementary6th Grade

Favorite subject: Science

IVORY CABRERAIYA Minors Cheerleading

Inman Intermediate4th Grade

Favorite movie: Victorious

CAITLYN OWENSIYA Minors Cheerleading

New Prospect Elementary4th Grade

Favorite subject: Science

RILEY HORTONIYA Minors Cheerleading

New Prospect Elementary4th Grade

Favorite movie: Finding Nemo

Spartanburg Christian Academy volleyball players and coaches celebrate the Warriors’ victory over Holly Hill Academy.

Spartanburg Christian Academy captured its second-straight SCISA 2A state volleyball title in late October with a 3-1 win over Holly Hill Academy in Columbia.

The Warriors, who finished the season with a 35-5 record, had to battle back after dropping the second game to tie the match at 1-1. They won the next two games and came back from a 21-16 deficit to capture the match and title.

Logan Morris won her fourth straight SCISA 2A state championship and SCA ran to its eighth straight cross country championship last month in Columbia

The Warriors overpowered Spartanburg Day School for the team title, while Morris, a freshman, crossed the finish line at 18:35.

“Logan is a very hard-working, disciplined and determined young lady. She strives to honor the Lord in her running and all she does,” said her father, Dwayne Morris.

Madison Seay was the runner-up for the fourth straight year with a time of 20.18. Teammates Hannah Ward, fourth; Madison Burgess, sixth; Taylor Morris, eighth; and Courtney Trammel, 10th; earned all-state honors.

SDS was paced by Nora Duesterhaus, third; Ashley Oakes, fifth; Hammond Scott, seventh; and Elizabeth Holcomb, ninth.

SPECIAL

SCA captures consecutive titles

Warriors run to 8th SCISA state win

SPECIALLogan Morris prepares to cross the finish line en route to her fourth consecutive indi-vidual title in the SCISA 2A state champion-ship.

GAME DAY u JULY 2012 7

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By JOHN CLAYTON

The Upstate’s newest volleyball facility made its debut in October by playing host to the 2012 Peachtree Conference

Tournament. Eleven middle school teams invaded the

Upward Stars Volleyball Center for their one-day championship tournament. “It’s gone really well,” said Club South Powered by Upward Stars Volleyball Project Manager Chad Odom.

“Everyone is really enthusiastic -- the facility is great and everyone is having a great time.” The former Waccamaw Pottery outlet is housing what will grow to be a 50,000 square-foot volleyball facility, which has

seven courts, other training facilities and will also be the home to offices for Upward Stars, a training facility and retail store.

Turning the building into a competitive volleyball facility was the first step.

Bringing it alive with hundreds of volleyball players was the second.

“The past several weeks, we’ve only had eight-to-10 people in here at a time,” Odom said. “Now, to have 300 or 400 in here all at once -- it’s wonderful to look around and see how happy everyone is. It’s getting a good use.”

The new facility also got good reviews from some players and coaches seeing it for the first time. “It’s nice,” said Carver Middle

School’s Trushonda Miller. “I like the idea of the nets (separating the

courts) that keep the balls from going over into somebody else’s game.”

Miller and teammate Keyonna Brannon said they enjoyed the 2012 edition of the Peachtree ConferenceTournament at the new facility.

So did Sims Middle School head coach Tracy Duncan, who said she would like to see her players from Union County become more involved in club volleyball to hone their skills.

“I think it’s great,” she said of the volleyball center. “There’s a lot of space and a great volleyball area. . . . And there’s a lot of parking.”

Oakbrook Prep 6-7 forward DeVarte Watson became the school’s second player to advance to the collegiate level when he committed to Delaware during a press conference last month.

He unofficially visited Delaware in mid-September.

Prior to making his decision public, Watson previously stated that he was deciding between Wofford, USC Upstate, Citadel, Winthrop, Presbyterian, Gardner-Webb and Appalachian State. Besides Delaware, USC Upstate and Appalachian State were his other top three choices.

HAPPY 500TH: Dawkins Middle School volleyball coach Angie Thompson, center, celebrates her 500th career victory following a match against McCracken in October. Thompson, who began her coaching career in 1994, recorded a 229-13 record as basketball coach at Dawkins and has a 271-5 regular season middle school record in volleyball. Her Dawkins team recently won the Peachtree Conference championship by defeating Gable in the title game.

SCOTT DEMPSEY / Special

The Upward Stars Volleyball Center opened in October by playing host to the 2012 Peachtree Conference Tournament. The facility has seven regulation size courts, climate control, a performance area, plenty of seating for spectators, and is located one mile off the I-26/I-85 corridor.

DeVarte Watson averaged 16 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks per game for the Knights last season.

Upward Stars Volleyball Center opens to rave reviews

Oakbrook Prep’sDeVarte Watson commits to Delaware

By JOHN CLAYTON

The U.S. Tennis Association is bringing its successful team-tennis model for youth into Spartanburg County with renewed vigor and a new coordinator. Rachel Rodriguez, who has been a volunteer with Greenville Junior Team Tennis, is the new area coordinator for Spartanburg County Junior Team Tennis, which hosted its first Play Day in October in Duncan.

“Play Day is all about getting the kids out here and doing drills on the modified courts with different age levels,” Rodriguez said.

“We can introduce them to tennis that way and, hopefully, they’ll catch the bug that way -- by getting a tennis racket in their hands.

Junior Team Tennis has had a presence in Spartanburg in the past, but Rodriguez and Greenville Area Coordinator Ashlyn Cousins want to see it reach new heights in the county.

Greenville Junior Team Tennis

is in its fifth year and has more than doubled in size, starting with about 300 players and having grown to around 800, according to Cousins.

“We’ve given them the team opportunity and it’s taken off like wildfire and we haven’t really gotten to everywhere we want to go,” Cousins said. “We feel like Spartanburg is going to have the same experience. . . . Once it gets going, it’s kind of hard to control. It becomes very popular.

“ USTA Junior Team Tennis offers beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of play for youth ages 6-18. Younger players will start on smaller courts and use larger nerf-type balls and kid-sized rackets.

“We’re making tennis more accessible with these kinds of rackets and balls,” Cousins said.

“That’s a new initiative with (USTA-sponsored) 10-and-Under Tennis with the smaller courts and larger tennis balls. It’s allowing kids of all ages to play from the very start.

“ Advanced players will also

have the chance to compete for state and regional championships. Plans are for spring and summer seasons. “(My job) is just beginning,” Rodriguez said.

“We hope to have the kids come back out for the spring and sign up. Then, we can start some teams and get them back out there on the courts.”

Area high school players from Greer, Riverside and Byrnes high schools helped with the on-court drills and coaching at the Beech

Springs Intermediate School courts during Play Day.

“We hope to have them all come back out for the spring and sign up,” Rodriguez said. “Then, we can start some teams and get them back out here on the courts.”

Rodriguez said the Spartanburg group will be looking for adult volunteer captains for each team in the spring.

For more information on Junior Team Tennis, contact Rodriguez at [email protected].

Area youth got to learn while enjoying tennis during a USTA Play Day at the Beech Springs Elementary courts in Duncan.

USTA bringing team tennis for youth to Spartanburg

GAME DAY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE MONTH

BOILING SPRINGSMADISON BURKHOLDER, Boiling Springs Cross Country, was named to the All Region team.

BYRNESAKIA BOOKER. By mid-October, the Shrine Bowl pick had compiled statistics of 52 receptions and 1,058 yards, with 12 touchdowns.

DORMANTORI ANGERMEIERTori once again dominated in Swimming this year. In the Region meet she won the 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, was part of the winning 200 Medley Relay team and the 200 Freestyle Relay team. At the State Championship meet Tori won the 100 yard Freestyle (her 3rd title in the last 3 years at State), 2nd in the

200 yard Freestyle and her 200 yard Medley Relay team placed 3rd.

SPARTANBURG DAY SCHOOLMATTHEW OVERTON played in the SCISA state championship soccer game on a Friday night, then won the events that he did in swimming the State meet on Saturday.

SPARTANBURG HSGIRLS SWIMMING: SARAH BABROWICz- (after this season) A six-year member of the varsity swim team and 2 year team captain, Sarah holds records in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay and 400 free relay. Accomplishments include: Team MVP award 2011, 5 time varsity letter winner, all state swimmer 2008-2011 and all region swimmer 2008-2012, and

all-academic team 2010-2011. 2012 Region Cham-pion in the 500 yard freestyle and 100 yard butterfly. Sarah was ranked 2nd in both the 500 free and 100 fly. Sarah is an outstanding leader both in and out of the water. She leads by example and is an extremely hard worker. BOYS SWIMMING: BRAD OBERG- Junior- In 2011, Region III AAAA Champion in the following events: 200 yard IM and 400 Freestyle Relay. In 2012, Region II AAAA Champion in the 100 fly, 200 im, 200 freestyle relay, and 200 medley relay. 4 time varsity letter winner. Brad is a motivated swimmer who has a bright future in swimming. All area swimmer 2010-2011. All region swimmer 2010-2012. Mem-ber of 200 freestyle relay that broke school record in September 2012.

Editor’s Note: Welcome to a new section and a taste of things to come inside Game Day. The following athletes were voted to be recognized as ATHLETES OF THE MONTH by their respective schools. Emails were sent to all Spartanburg County high schools and private schools requesting nominations. SO THAT WE MAY RECOGNIZE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES FROM ALL AREA SCHOOLS,

COACHES, ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, PLEASE EMAIL NOMINATIONS AND PHOTOS BY NOV. 20

TO ASSOCIATE EDITOR JOHN CLAYTON: [email protected]

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

Introducing Corey Helle as the New Director of Club Volleyball

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

NEW THIS SEASON: › The new Upward Stars

Volleyball Center

› Strength and Conditioning Program

› Mentoring Program

› Recruiting Services

› Coaching for all levels Guys and Girls Ages 10–18

ClubSouthAdBuild.indd 1 10/22/12 4:16 PM

GAME DAY u JUNE 2012 1112 JULY 2012 u GAME DAY10 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 • Pam Dunlap • Robert Hall• Lorin Browning • Camella Parker • Steve Darwin • Scott Dempsey

12 JULY 2012 u GAME DAY10 JUNE 2012 u GAME DAY10 JUNE 2012 u GAME DAY

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

Nobody who ever gave their best

regretted it.


By LES TIMMS III

Family and faith are keywords in the lives of Greg Mosely, his daughter Amber Wiles and her husband Clay.

This is also the philosophy Upstate Volleyball Club brings to the court as it seeks ambitiously to go to the next level.

Since its conception in 2001, the family-owned club has offered volleyball training at only one facility. This season, Mosely and the Wiles are expanding their club and are now offering training at three facilities, while adding a number of extras that are being implemented for the first time.

“Everything here is about ownership, and when you have ownership you want to provide a quality product. That’s what we want to do,” said Mosely, head coach and chief executive officer.

Mosely, whose other job is the head volleyball coach at North Greenville University, puts in the long hours during the college season, which runs from August to November.

For the past several weeks, Mosely has been enduring 18-hour days preparing for the club season, all the while balancing a successful college season.

From coaching a college match, to then commuting from Tigerville to Spartanburg to the Westside Club, Upstate Volleyball’s largest new home, Mosely is in his element.

“The Lord has just opened some doors... It’s not been a strain,’ he said, while preparing the newly installed volleyball courts with Clay and Amber for an upcoming tryout session as young grandkids scooted by.

In addition to the Westside Club, Upstate Volleyball is offering training options in Boiling Springs at a facility off Old Furnace Road, as well as the gym at Oakbrook Prep, where the club has trained for years.

“The expansion of facilities, plus the addition of staff, will enable us to do more and allow for better quality of traing,” Mosely said.

With seven courts, Upstate has space to field 14 to 18 teams, more than double the number from previous years.

Mosely said the club is adding a recruiting coordinator, speed, agility and strength coaches, and a nutritionist to its staff to better meet the needs of parents and athletes who are hungry for improvement.

Haleigh Gilbert, a former player of Mosely’s at North Greenville, will oversee the recruiting component of Upstate, while Andre Bernardi, strength coach and a former All-American football player at North Greenville will oversee the strength and conditioning part of the program with Eron Benjamin, the strength coach at Spartanburg Christian Academy and a personal trainer at the Westside Club.

Kaitlyn Pierce will serve as a nutritionist for the club, according to Amber.

Although Amber Wiles serves as the Oakbrook Prep volleyball coach, it’s the family aspect of coaching with Upstate Volleyball beside her dad and husband she

Club expands to 3 facilities, including Westside Club

MORE TRAINING OPTIONS

Upstate Volleyball on the move this season

LES TIMMS III PHOTO

From left, Upstate Volleyball’s Amber Wiles, Greg Mosely and Clay Wiles have ambitious plans to take their club to the next level this season. Upstate Volleyball will train at three facilities on seven courts.

Greg Mosely offers coach-ing advice to

his club team during a timeout

at a match last season.

GAME DAY u OCT-NOV 2012 15

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) 864-814-4744(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

AYSO Region 132 35th Anniversary

1977 -‐ 2012

Everyone Plays Balanced Teams Open Registration Positive Coaching

Good Sportsmanship Player Development

www.ayso132.org

864 574-‐1720

most enjoys. “It’s neat. I love to coach

and help Dad. I assisted him at Southside Christian one year, then helped him at North Greenville. I hope to be able to help him more in the future when my kids get a little older,” she said.

A former volleyball standout at North Greenville, Amber will coach one of Upstate’s top teams this year.

Clay Wiles, who came on board to oversee the marketing of the club two years ago, is a strong believer in the Upstate philosophy of his father-in-law.

“You look at great coaches and you look at guys like (Alabama football coach) Nick Saban. They plug into a single philosophy. Same with Upstate, we all plug into a single philosophy. It doesn’t matter who’s coaching a team,” he said.

“We do things right, believe in hard work and believe in training,” Wiles added.

Mosely believes in using the game as a tool to teach about life.

“It’s important when trying to impact kids not only from an athletic standpoint, but also trying

to impact their lives. Using the game to teach beyond their skills is an important philosophy of Upstate.”

The club volleyball season gets under way in January and continues through early April for most teams.

However, like other local volleyball clubs, Upstate will offer the opportunity for its top teams to compete in June in the AAU National tournament in Orlando.

This past June, in its first year of fielding a National team, the Upstate 16U squad finished among the top 30 nationally out of 192 teams.

Scan QR code into smartphone or go to upstatevolleyball.net

WANT MORE INFO?


Players from preschool to age 18 have been playing AYSO soccer in Spartanburg for 35 years.

By JOHN CLAYTON

The soccer fields at Canaan Road teem with action on Saturdays.

Uniforms of every bright color in the da-glo spectrum, hundreds of children of all ages, skill levels and skin tones make -- at least for a little while -- the World’s Game look like Spartanburg’s Game.

All of it is because the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) staked

its flag here in 1977 and is celebrating its 35th year of existence as AYSO Region 132.

“We’ve been around for 35 years,” said Aaron Dame, Region 132 referee administrator. “Other leagues have come and gone, but we’ve stayed strong and I think we do it because we keep a positive approach. We’re not ultra-competitive, but we do teach good skills. More important than that, we teach a love for the game.”

Like everyone who keeps AYSO running from field to

field and game to game, Dame is a volunteer as are all the referees and coaches.

“We’re all volunteer -- coaches, referees, all the administration is all volunteer,” said Region 132 Commissioner Jay Barbee. “We provide free training and the coaches and referees are required to go through the training.”

Some volunteer referees change jerseys between games, moving from the sidlines coaching in one game to officiating another.

Among them is Jon Fowler, a former AYSO player who is now an official with the organization and the father of young AYSO players.

“I love the sport,” Fowler said. “I most definitely will continue to do this. . . . It’s a great organization.”

Fowler, now the father of two pre-teens, began playing soccer just prior to his sixth birthday and continued to play in the organization’s 19-under team.

“It’s how you develop your skills and interest in the game

STILL KICKING‘FUN’ IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

AS AYSO REGION 132 GOING STRONG AT 35


and your teamwork,” Fowler said.

J.R. Griffin returned to the AYSO fields when his daughter began playing.

“I played AYSO soccer 30-some-odd years ago,” said Griffin, now a volunteer coach and referee. “My daughter got me back into it five years ago and I’ve been coaching and refereeing for the past three years. It’s a blast.”

Dame said Fowler’s and Griffin’s are fairly typical stories: Players come back to referee or coach, parents bring their children but end up staying on as a volunteer official or coach long after their children leave the game behind.

“It’s a cycle and it renews itself,” Dame said.

Raylene Stephenson and her husband, Terry, have been around since the initial cycle that began in 1977.

“I was a parent -- I didn’t do any of this other than making banners and being a team mom,” Stephenson said. “Soccer was not an American sport back in 1977. So, you had no one who had played soccer, so all the parents and the kids were being taught how to play soccer.

“Now, we’re seeing players coming back who used to play (AYSO) and in high school and maybe in college. So, that’s been a difference.”

The Stephensons have stayed on in the organization they helped bring to Spartanburg, even though their daughter aged out of the organization in 1994. Raylene is the Region 132 registrar and can be found along with Terry

at the Canaan Road complex each Saturday.

But it’s a different game now, Stephenson said.

When AYSO began in Spartanburg, all ages played 11-on-11 games on full-sized fields.

Now, the youngest players (4 years old) play four-on-four on small fields with small goals.

“There were times when the younger kids wouldn’t get to touch the ball because they

were playing on the full-sized field and there were so many of them out there,” Stephenson said.

Nonetheless, AYSO Region 132 grew to more than 2,000 players from the initial 175 players from the inaugural season. The sheer numbers caused the creation of Boiling Springs Region 722, which now plays its games at USC Upstate.

Much of the growth has centered around girls soccer,

Stephenson said.“There were very few girls

who played,” Stephenson said, recalling the beginning of the girls’ program in the early 1990s. “We didn’t have a lot of girls, but over the years we have increased the numbers to where at least half our players are girls.”

More than 800 players are currently involved in Region 132 and Barbee said the popularity of the U.S. Women’s National Team has been a key to getting girls involved in the

sport.“I think it’s the up-and-

coming sport for girls,” Barbee said.

Region 132 opened its doors to girls from the beginning and has remained inclusive with business partners sponsoring teams to help keep costs low for parents.

“You have players involved in a lot of other things, but they love the sport and want to play and want the athletic activity. . . . It offers them the opportunity to participate without a big commitment,” Barbee said. “On the other hand, it offers kids who may not have the means to play for a club team a chance to participate.”

Region 132 is also starting a program for more competitive players called the Hub City Strikers that plays against travel teams, but is still cost-friendly to parents.

While the Strikers will be a little more serious, the rest of AYSO will continue its long tradition of teaching fundamentals and having a good time.

“Nobody is out here trying to win the World Cup,” Griffin said. “Everybody is out here for fun.”


By JOHN CLAYTON

The stands at Dorman’s High School’s basketball arena are filled with sign-waving

fans there to cheer on their cheerleaders.

On the main floor, the buzz vibrates through the room as if caused by giant bags of Skittles chased down by Red Bull Big Gulps.

“It’s like an adrenaline rush every time you step out on the floor,” said Boiling Springs High School junior cheerleader Michaela Mills.

More than 40 teams – from junior teams in the morning to

some of the top varsity Class 4A teams in the state – have competed from early morning to late evening to the sounds of blasted dance remixes and adoring supporters.

These aren’t the “Go, Team!” girls with saddle shoes and pom-poms on Friday nights. These are the in-your-face, high-flying, well-choreographed “Bring It On” cheerleaders of a new age for a new sport.

“(Competitive cheerleading) has come a tremendous distance from where it started,” said Mauldin High head coach Beth Ward, who is in her 22nd year as

Teams await results at the Dorman Cheer Classic.

PHOTOS BY ED OVERSTREET

‘Adrenaline RUSH’Athleticism, dedication take

Competitive Cheer to new heights

Host Dorman celebrates its win at the Dorman Cheer Classic.


head coach at the school. “It became a sport in ’96, and the athletic ability has increased tremendously. I think it will continue to increase every year.”

The Mavericks have won the past two Class 4A state championships and came to the annual Dorman competition to continue their tune-up for a run at a third straight title Nov. 17 at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville.

Dorman head coach Kami Appleton said the electric atmosphere in Dorman’s arena in October is similar to the one her Cavaliers and other teams see at competitions throughout the fall.

That atmosphere and the athletes help the sport continue to grow, she said.

“I think the sport is growing because of the athleticism behind it,” Appleton said.

“It’s extremely competitive and the girls are extremely athletic.”

Growing painsBut with growth has come

growing pains. Literally.According to a Time.com

article, two-thirds of catastrophic injuries among female high school athletes occur in competitive cheerleading over the past 25 years. Direct catastrophic injuries are classified as closed-head injuries, skull fractures, and cervical spine injuries that

could result in permanent brain injuries, paralysis or even death.

Findings presented by the American Academy of Pediatrics say some 26,000 cheerleading injuries have been treated by doctors since 2007, about 53 percent of which are sprains and strained muscles.

That isn’t news to Mills and Boiling Springs teammates Cassidy Carter and Caroline Svenson, who easily reel off a list of injuries suffered during cheerleading.

Svenson, who transitioned to cheerleading from gymnastics, needed seven staples to close a head wound. Carter, a former flyer who is now a main base on the varsity squad, sustained a concussion. Strained muscles and assorted sprains are par for the course, they said.

“We make sure we always have spot groups, especially when we’re trying something new or feel like something just may not work out,” Carter said. “We always pay attention to our technique. Technique is always the biggest thing when it comes to cheerleading.”

Ward said her girls realize the dangers of their chosen sport, but do everthing necessary to minimize risks.

“That’s why the conditioning you do is important. We focus a lot on safety when we’re learning

skills,” Ward said. “We spend a lot of time in the offseason and in the summer on training for endurance and strengthening what needs to be strengthened to be able to do the elite stunts and keep their bodies in shape so they won’t have the injuries that can so easily occur.”

Like many of their counterparts on the football field, the interviewed cheerleaders said any dangers the sport presents are easily outweighed by their love for it.

“I liked cheering on Friday nights, but I didn’t know what it was to compete, but once I comepeted, I fell in love with is,” said Dorman sophomore Courtney Burgess. “That’s my drive, the love for it. I started when I was 8 and fell in love with it.”

Year-round dedicationIt is that type of drive that

Ward said is necessary to build a championship program.

“It takes a lot of year-round dedication,” Ward said. “We work even through the summer conditioning the girls, working on skills all seasons. A lot of them are involved in tumbling classes; they’re involved in all-star programs. To have a championship program, they have to be dedicated 12 months a year, perfecting and increasing

their skills.”Some cheer for all-star or

club teams at studios such as Rockstar Cheer or Starmakers to hone their skills. Some teams work out as units at those studios to give themselves an edge in high school competitions.

“Some programs are extremely demanding to the point where it’s almost a year-round sport,” said Appleton. “At Dorman, it’s not quite so demanding that it’s all year, but there’s still a very high level of commitment.”

Sterlin Choice, a junior at Mauldin, and senior teammate Kaitlyn Styles followed the footsteps of older sisters into the sport, but have remained in it because of their passion for it in spite of the demands on their time and bodies.

“It’s sort of like you get out of it what you put into it,” Choice said. “So, when you put your heart into it, it’s a lot of fun.”

High-flying stunts have led to increasedexcitement and injuries in competitive cheerleading.


on a clEar pathCavs’ cross country runner MARTIN MORROW

achieves goal of winning County titleBy JOHN CLAYTON

Dorman junior cross country runner Martin Morrow set a couple of goals for himself

prior to the season, and he met one of them in late October.

Morrow won the Spartanburg County boys championship at Milliken while leading the Cavaliers to the boys team title.

“I feel pretty good,” Morrow said. “I’m glad I won but we did great as a team, too, and that’s the main thing.

“I wanted to win either region or the county.”

Morrow was the first of four Cavaliers in the top 10 of the County Meet and was met at the finish line by embraces from family, who couldn’t resist giving the straight arrow a hard time about potential blood testing.

Morrow refuses to take Ibuprofen or an anti-inflammatory drug before a race because, in his mind, it is cheating.

“I just drink water,” he said. “It’s all in your mind -- all mental.”

He also said he may break down and pop a pre-race aspirin in college.

“I think I want to (run in college),” Morrow said. “Hopefully, this will help a little bit. I’d like to get an offer, at least a little (scholarship) money.”

College scouts won’t be able to question Morrow’s dedication to the sport. He began running in third grade with the Anderson Mills Elementary Running Club and has been doing it ever since.

“I spend all my time running,” he said. “I play Frisbee a little bit and doing school work, but that’s pretty much it.”

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Dorman’s Martin Morrow on his way to the Spartanburg County Championship at Milliken.


Rebels’ AKIA BOOKER, 5 others among local contingent in gameBy JOHN CLAYTON

As Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas rosters were released in October, they were met with surprise by some of the selectees.

Not Byrnes wide receiver Akia Booker, who flashed a broad smile when asked about playing in the 76th edition of the all-star game.

“I think I’m the best receiver in the country,” Booker said. “I hope (playing in the Shrine Bowl) shows the top colleges that I’m ready to play. I ain’t going to sugarcoat it one bit.”

Booker was among a half-dozen players from across the Upstate named to the Sandlap-pers roster, including Byrnes teammate Isaiah Pinson on the offensive line.

Other area players making the South Carolina roster for the game scheduled for Dec. 15 at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford College are: Gaffney defensive lineman Jaylen Miller,

Blue Ridge defensive back Corey Dogan, Dorman defensive back Brandon Pinckney and Union County quarterback Keiston Smith.

“I’m very excited,” Pinson said. “I actually wasn’t expecting it. I just kind of play my game and whatever happens, happens.

Pinson said he wants to work on his technique during the week of practices and take in what he can from the coaching staff, which is led by Stratford’s Ray Stackley.

While the Byrnes duo and Pinckney will represent Spartan-burg County, Dogan is the only representative from Greenville County on the Sandlappers roster.

“I just want to go with the experience and meet all the guys who are going to the top col-leges and see how it is to play with those players and my future teammates,” said Dogan, who ran a 4.39-second 40-yard-dash dur-ing this past spring’s Shrine Bowl

Combine. “I want to go represent the state of South Carolina and Blue Ridge.”

Dogan will have a few famil-iar faces waiting in Spartanburg. Blue Ridge head coach Wade Cooper is an assistant on Stack-ley’s staff and Tigers’ offensive coordinator Shane Clark is the adult trainer for the Sandlappers.

The players from both teams will also make their annual visits to the Shriners Hospital for Chil-

dren in Greenville. All proceeds from the game go to benefit Shriners Hospitals.

Pinson said that is one of the things he is looking forward to as a Shrine Bowl player.

“I know around here, a lot of the kids look up to us as players,” Pinson said. “We open doors for little kids (at their schools) on Fridays and to just see the smiles on their faces, is just amazing, so it’ll be great.”

76TH SHRINE BOWL / Dec 15 / Gibbs Stadium

Byrnes WR Akia Booker will end his high school career at the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.


By JOHN CLAYTON

Success in NCAA Division I volleyball for Stephanie Palmer has not come without some traumatic changes and plenty of early mornings and

late nights with all hours in between dedicated to her sport.

Palmer, an all-Big South Conference setter for Winthrop and former three-time all-region selection at Dorman, has led the Eagles this season as a junior, recording six triple-doubles (double-digit kills, assists and digs) through mid-October.

But it all started with a dream soon after Palmer began playing volleyball as a 13-year-old at Dawkins Middle School and with Club South.

“For me to (play in college) has been a dream,” Palmer said. “There have been rough patches, especially freshman year, getting overwhelmed with things, but after getting through that, I cannot see myself having not played in college. I’m so glad I’ve gotten the opportunity.”

Palmer helped Dorman to a Class 4A state championship in 2009 and chose Winthrop from among several Division I schools vying for her talents.

Winthrop, she said, was a fit from the very first visit.

“I compared every other school with Winthrop,” Palmer said. “It all didn’t add up anywhere else -- whether it was the coaches, the campus, the team or the

majors I was interested in. I just loved every part of it.”

Palmer had played for Dorman’s powerful Class 4A program as well as most of the year for Club South. Her Club South 18-under team finished second nationally.

“I had a lot of different coaches and they helped me as a player, physically with my skills or mentally,” she said.

But despite playing at the highest levels in the area, Palmer, who is majoring in exercise science, said she only had an inkling of the dedication it would take to succeed on the collegiate level.

“Physically it’s demanding, going through all of the practices, and mentally, too, because you have to get more mentally tough than you are in high school,” she said. “It’s like a job in college because you spend so much time in the gym and in the weightroom. You just have to mentally prepare yourself.”

Palmer and the Eagles also underwent a head-coaching change prior to this season when former UNC Asheville head coach Julie Torbett took over for Sally Polhamus, the coach who recruited Palmer. Palhamus resigned to take an assistant’s post at Florida.

But Palmer has soldiered on, embracing a new “old-school” head coach to lead the team through a balanced Big South schedule.

Another life-lesson learned -- one of many Palmer said she has taken in as a student and athlete at Winthrop.

“I feel like as a person, I have grown because you make your own decisions in college. You learn to prioritize your time and take what you’ve learned from your family and apply it to your life in college.”

While many high school athletes dream, as Palmer did, of playing collegiate sports, Palmer urged prospects to seriously consider the commitment it will take for the next four years of their lives.

“I’d just say really think about the type of commitment you’re willing to make, and

if you’re willing to make the commitment, then go out and contact coaches and be willing to take tours,” she said. “If you do make it to Division I, know you’re priorities and keep your priorities in line.

“I’ve seen other cases that get caught up in the sports and that lifestyle, but it’s four years of what you love and then you have to realize that life goes on after. You have four years of the sport you love, and you have to prepare for the after with academics.”

Courtesy WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

Stephanie Palmer, an All Big South selection at Winthrop, learned the game competing with Club South and at Dorman.

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 ...

TRIPLE SET(TER)FORMER DORMAN STANDOUT

STEPHANIE PALMER MAKING NAME IN BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE AT WINTHROP

PALMER

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Faith in Sports

‘Stepping up’“Somebody’s gotta step up

and make a play!” The coach cried out in the

locker room. It was half-time and the team

walked in to the locker room trailing by two touchdowns. They knew that they were better than they had played, but for some reason they were lulled into a trance. As the team exited the locker room, you could see the players saying things to each other, smacking helmets, and

bumping fists. They came out on to the field and you could already see the difference in their attitude.

As they settled in to the first defensive series of the second half, one of the line-backers broke through on a blitz and nailed the quarterback which also caused a fumble. The crowd went crazy and so did the team. Someone had stepped up and “made a play”…and Big Mo shifted to the other side of the field.

One of the great things about team sports is that it allows many team members to contribute to make a difference. So many times, games are decided by just a few plays where someone steps up and does something extraordinarily impacting in the situation. It called a “Game Changer.” You can see it from the pros all the way down to little league play. Game Changers excited one half of the crowd and infuriate the other half, depending on whose team you are cheering for.

Just like there are game changer moments in games, there are also game changing moments in our lives. Ultimately, there is a game changing moment when we choose to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ.

That Game Changing moment changed everything for New York Jets QB Tim Tebow. Throughout the last three years of his pro career, many have questioned whether or not he should even be playing the game with such an unorthodox delivery of the football as a Quarterback.

In one interview, a reporter asked the question that many people wanted to hear the answer to. “Tim, what will you do if things don’t work out for you in professional football? You have played all your life for a moment

like this and I know that it must be tough to think of anything else.” Tebow quickly replied, “Football is not my life. I enjoy playing the game of football and the opportunity to compete but if football ended today, I would be on the mission field doing what I love to do most. And that is using the platform that God has given me to speak into the lives of others.”

Game changing moments usually bring the crowd to their feet…either in ecstasy or exasperation. We all have life moments like that but my prayer for you is that you would examine to see if there has been a true “Game Changing Moment” where you surrendered everything to Jesus Christ.

This will impact the way you coach, the way you play, the way you parent, and the way you see others. We will no longer operate from a selfish, “me-centered” approach but we will shift to the approach of building up others and being simply a tool to bring about life change in every opportunity we have.

by REV. SETH BUCKLEY

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

Whether on the field or off, it requires character, faith

WANTED: SALES REPSUpstate Game Day seeks motivated inviduals with

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Since the days of leather helmets and noses being used as facemasks, football has been a violent game.

But on some days it can be exceptionally cruel. Saturday was one of those days.

Marcus Lattimore went down for the second time in a year with a horrific knee injury.

I caught the play at real speed out of the corner of my eye as I half-paid attention to South Carolina’s game against Tennessee Saturday afternoon, but I’ve seen enough of those plays to know immediately that the injury was bad.

It was the unnatural angle of the injured right leg as Lattimore fell to the ground.

My heart sank.By Sunday morning, the initial

medical reports were zooming across the internet and they were as bad or even worse than I feared: four torn ligaments and a broken femur. Later, team doctors called it a knee dislocation with

ligament damage.None of it was good.Just a few weeks ago, I was

at South Carolina’s media day, talking with Lattimore about his

return to the team after suffering an injury to his left knee last year at Mississippi State.

He was as strong as ever, he said.

He had learned to appreciate the game, his teammates, everything more, he said.

And he meant it.

Everyone who knows Lattimore well and even those of us who have known him in passing or professionally since his high school days at Byrnes have quietly pulled for him in the press box because he used to be a good kid who has grown in to an outstanding young man.

Even Clemson fans who would like to see Williams-Brice fall into a sinkhole hope Lattimore does well for 10 weeks

out of the year as they boo the rest of the Gamecocks with vigor.

As he lay on the turf Saturday, his teammates and his opponents, including former Byrnes teammates Nick Jones (South Carolina) and Corey Miller (Tennessee) gathered around him in an awesome and unusual show of support. Jones was one of the last to leave Lattimore’s side as he was carted off the field.

Lattimore has done everything the right way on and off the field and that has earned him the respect of everyone he has touched.

Tweets came in from the world of college and professional football, entertainment and from fans sending him prayers for a speedy recovery.

Everyone who knows football just hopes for a recovery as thoughts of Gale Sayers, Marcus Dupree and Ki-Jana Carter ripple through our memories.

“Guy needs some serious

prayer,” Tweeted Missouri wide receiver

T.J. Moe. “That injury affects the rest of his walking life. Forget football.”

Yeah. And Lattimore just didn’t deserve what happened to him under cloudy Columbia skies. He doesn’t deserve for the fate of a once certain rich NFL future to hang on two rebuilt knees and prayers.

Some days are so much more cruel than we could ever suspect.

Lattimore injury brings forth outpouring of respect

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LATTIMORE

from the sidelines

Still can’t get over what happened to Lattimore. Great player my heart goes out to his family. Much Respect. – Florida DB Cody Riggs, @CodyRiggs31

Everyone please keep Marcus Latti-more in your prayers! Hate hearing that hap-pen to anybody. Keep your head up big man! – Notre Dame LB Manti T’eo, @MTeo_5

Praying for Marcus Lattimore ... There are things ALOT bigger then football #Godspeed – Florida RB Trey Burton, @TreyBurton8

Feel awful for Marcus lattimore. Guy needs some serious prayer. That injury affects the rest of his walking life, forget football. – Missouri WR T.J. Moe, @TJMoe28

Thoughts are with Marcus Lattimore. Have heard nothing but great things about him, so tough to see that happen. Wishing him the best. – Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt, @JJWatt

Prayers up to Marcus Latimore and his family. – Georgia RB Todd Gurley II, @TG3II

Best wishes to South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore for a quick recovery. This setback is just a setup for a comeback. Stay strong, 21. – ESPN Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas, @JayBilas

Marcus Lattimore. U r a class act my friend. Get well u r in my prayers. MuchMuchLove. #Gamecocknation. – Singer Darius Rucker, @dariusrucker

My thoughts and prayers go out to Mar-cus Lattimore. I pray hard that you recover well!! Wish nothing but the best for you man! – New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram, @Mark_Ingram28

My prayers go to Marcus Lattimore...

God b with him...one of the best to do it...RESPECT!!! – Arkansas RB Knile Davis, @BoobieKnile_Era

LAT GetTWEETS & Prayers

Following the knee injury, athletes and celebrities from everywhere offered Marcus Lattimore their...

The vast majority of injuries seen in young athletes today are overuse injuries that are

completely preventable with a little common sense on the part of parents and coaches. 3.5 million children under the age of 14 are treated annually for sports related injuries half of which are overuse injuries.

The rise in overuse type injuries in youth sports has been directly attributed to early sport specialization. Children are commonly playing one sport year round with little time off to recover from the repetitive microtrauma that is the hallmark of overuse injuries.

Sport specialization usually stems from high expectations of young athletes from coaches, parents and the athletes themselves who have grown up in a culture that glorifies high-level professional athletes.

What we often do not hear about is the 70 plus percent of kids who drop out of youth sports by the age of 13 due to pressure from adults, parents and coaches.

This often deprives young people of the true benefits of sports, including a healthy lifestyle, sportsmanship and the camaraderie learned in team competition. As adults we must realize that the child that specializes in a sport early in life and goes on to a career in that sport is a 1 in a million shot, not the norm. We should set realistic expectations and goals for our young athletes, let them learn the benefits of playing multiple different sports and enjoy the true benefit of a healthy active lifestyle.

Injuries specific to the young female athlete

The young female athlete presents a different set of challenges than their male

counterparts for a number of reasons. Some of the sports women compete in are dramatically different than men and often put a premium on small body size and weight.

Sports such as gymnastics, figure skating, ballet, cheerleading and long distance running often stress the developing female athletes in unique ways.

Females tend to mature both physically and mentally at

an earlier age. Their bodies are changing at a time when in many sports it can profoundly affect their ability to cope with injuries.

They are often encouraged or required to maintain a minimum weight to compete in their sports. The combination of low calorie intake and

strenuous exercise can lead to serious health consequences that can affect women for the rest of their lives.

the Female athlete triad The female athlete triad is

an interrelationship between menstrual cycle changes, inadequate calorie intake and low bone density. One or more of the components of the triad can affect athletes.

Menstrual cycle changesIt is not uncommon for a

young female athlete with low body fat to have late onset of their periods, irregular periods (oligomenorrhea), or complete absence of their periods (amenorrhea). All of which can decrease estrogen levels, which can adversely affect muscle function and recovery, cholesterol levels and reproduction.

Inadequate calorie intakeWe hear so much about

anorexia and bulimia in young

women but in sports it is often an unintended consequence of increased activity levels and inadequate calorie intake that causes the problem.

We should think of an athlete’s calorie intake in terms of “energy available”. Which is the amount of energy consumed in the diet minus the amount of energy used during exercise.

The amount of energy left over, “the energy available” is what is left over to carry out normal daily body functions such as growth and development, recovery from injury and in the female athlete the reproductive cycle.

Many young athletes just do not understand the level of calories they need to consume to stay healthy during this period of development.

low Bone Density The combination of low

calorie intake and menstrual cycle changes can lead to bone densities that would be considered low or in some cases osteoporotic for their age level. The immediate consequence of this is stress fractures, which commonly occur in this group of athletes.

The long-term affects can be even more devastating. During the period of development when our bones are growing these athletes may not build enough bone (total bone mass) and suffer fractures later in life.

Who as at risk to develop the Female athlete triad

I most commonly see this condition in the adolescent, who is an endurance athlete or participates in gymnastics or related activity such as cheerleading. They are often 15 or 16, have not had their periods yet or have very irregular periods and are very driven to excel in their given sport. They often eat appropriately for their age and size but have inadequate energy intake because of the demands of

their sport.

treatment of the Female athlete triad

The first step is to realize that it exists. As an Orthopaedic sports medicine specialist I usually see it when the athlete presents with a stress fracture in the pelvis, femur or tibia. They complain of pain in these areas that increases with sports participation and decreases with rest. Often a bone scan is ordered to confirm this diagnosis but an in-depth history of the athlete’s menstrual cycle, laboratories studies to look at hormone levels and function and bone density studies as indicated.

The mainstay of treatment is simply to increase the calorie intake to an adequate level to restore normal body functions, such as bone development and menstrual cycles. Usually, this results in an increase in bone density, thus fewer stress fractures but the long-term affects on total bone mass are harder to correct and life long monitoring may be indicated. The use of oral contraceptives can restore normal menstrual cycles but may not improve bone density.

A dietician may be helpful in determining what is an adequate calorie intake for the athlete and if the need for vitamin and nutrition supplementation.

Our role as parents and

coaches should be to help young athletes obtain their goals in sports and in life in a safe and fun environment. There is nothing wrong with sports specialization but it puts an added burden on both the athletes body and the coaches and parents to ensure that overuse type injuries do not occur and when the occur are appropriately treated.

Dr. Stephen M. Kana is a surgeon with Orthopedic Specialties

in Spartanburg.

doc time

STEPHEN M.KANA, MD

Injury prevention in female athletes


GAME DAY u AUGUST 2012 2524 MAY 2012 u GAME DAY

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At each session, athletes are taught sport-specific skills that will help increase

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In my previous article I outlined the importance of strength

training to the development of athletic success in a high school athlete.

The foundational exercises for most strength programs are the squat, power clean and bench press. However, most young athletes are not prepared to perform these exercises safely and effectively. In this article I will suggest the second of three exercises that will help prepare an aspiring

young athlete for the ‘Big 3’.

plaNks (also known as pillars) – It would be easy to suggest push-ups here to prepare a young athlete to perform the bench press exercise. Quite frankly I see very few young athletes who perform push-ups well. The push-up and the bench press for that matter are more than just arm exercises. They require core stability

to give the arms a solid base to push. Trying to place an athlete in positions that require strength before they have stability will only produce strength on top of dysfunction.

Core stability simply stated is the ability of the trunk muscles to maintain a neutral alignment of the spine while the legs and/or arms produce a movement.

If you lack core stability then you can develop strong arms or strong legs (mostly by using machines) but when needed on the field you will have a weak link from the trunk and your arms or legs will fail to produce the strong movements because the trunk will give, thereby reducing the strong base needed to produce power.

That’s why I encourage athletes to stay away from machines because the machines provide a lot of stability for you rather than teaching you how to use your ‘core’ muscles when developing your arms and legs.

The goal of a plank

exercise is to help an athlete find stability through the entire body.

Have the athlete press the shoulders low while contracting the glutes and the quads. The core will be locked in without many cues at this point. A straight body alignment is the goal at this point (see picture).

Start by holding the position for 3-5 seconds initially for 6 to 10 repetitions daily. You can increase the time held for up to 10 seconds. If that becomes easy then I would progress by lifting one arm or one leg rather than increasing beyond 10 seconds.

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].

Part 2: Building strength for the ‘Big 3’

KENFINLEY

youth fitness

Ken Finley demonstrates a Plank exercise, which helps an athlete find stabil-ity through the entire body.

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

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PLANK ExERCISE BUILDS CORE STABILITY


Correct putting, correct set-up The goal of putting is pretty simple, get

the ball in the hole. There are different ways to do this and

you can see on the PGA Tour that players get pretty creative in finding new ways to putt, but the majority of the players still use a conventional set-up and stroke. The key to good putting is to have proper fundamentals in your set-up.

If you can achieve this, your putting stroke can flow much more naturally in relationship to your body. To achieve the proper set-up, you must have certain things happen:

1) You must keep your shaft and forearms in a straight line. This helps the putter simply be an extension of your arms.

2) Your head should be directly over the

ball. This simply helps you see the intended line of the putt from the proper perspective.

3) Your hands should be directly under your shoulders. To do this properly, you must bend from the hips so that your chest is facing down.

4) Your feet must be balanced in the middle of your feet. Once you line up properly, all you need to do is stroke the putter in a pendulum motion on your intended line.

Elford Morgan shows you how to have a proper set-up in the photo at right. Elford is balanced and his arms are naturally hanging with no visible signs of strain. From this set up, he tries to stroke and not hit the ball and follow through straight to his target based on the break.

If you don’t own a putting trainer, it is fine to simple lay two clubs down and make a path to put on inside of the clubs.

This gives you immediate feedback on the lines of your stroke. Try this set-up and stroke to start making all of those crucial putts. Happy Golfing!

KYLEOWINGS

GoLf AcAdemy

Elford Morgan shows how to have a proper set-up using a putting trainer. He is balanced and his arms are naturally hanging with no visible signs of strain.

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Better. Stronger. Faster.

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- submitted by Scott Dempsey

HIGH5 celebrating athletes & their accomplishments

PEACHTREE CONFERENCE RUNNERS-UPMembers of the GABLE MIDDLE SCHOOL volleyball team celebrate their second place finish to Dawkins in the Peachtree Conference championship, held at the Upward Stars Volleyball Center.

- submitted by Scott Dempsey

Better. Stronger. Faster.

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large cookie tray

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cookie tray andwell