sports sprout, issue #6

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout

H.S. Sports Magazine

ISSUE 6

August 2015

Sports Sprout H.S. Sports Interviews’ Magazine

Interviews with the top high

school athletes in the USA!

www.sportssprout.com

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout


The West

Arizona

Colorado

Idaho

Montana

Nevada

New Mexico

Utah

Wyoming

Alaska

California

Hawaii

Oregon

Washington

The Midwest

Illinois

Indiana

Michigan

Ohio

Wisconsin

Iowa

Kansas

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

North Dakota

South Dakota

The South

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Maryland

North Carolina

South Carolina

Virginia

Washington D.C.

West Virginia

Alabama

Kentucky

Mississippi

Tennessee

Arkansas

Louisiana

Oklahoma

Texas

The Northeast

Connecticut

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

Vermont

New Jersey

New York

Pennsylvania

We interview prominent and accomplished H.S. athletes playing in the most participated sports

in the nation from four different geographical regions identified by the U.S. Census Bureau Re-

gions and Divisions, including the West, the Midwest, the South and the Northeast. A pool of

selected H.S. athletes representing each sport and each geographical region go through an inter-

viewing process to be published in the future “Sports Sprout” sports magazine’s editions. Please,

refer to the U.S. map above identifying the States that make each region.

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout


MONTHLY LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear reader,

The Sports Sprout team is pleased to

present you with another issue chroni-

cling the success of the top high school

athletes in the na-

tion. Please know

that as the new

academic year gets

underway, our

team will be dedi-

cated to finding

the best athletes

at each sport and

giving them a chance to tell their story.

Please read and learn from the success

of these athletes. We want you to be

inspired throughout the month with our

uplifting interviews . Don’t let the hard

work of these students go unrecognized

and share this and all of our previous

and future issues with your friends and

family through facebook and twitter.

Our team would like to wish all the ath-

letes and coaches throughout the coun-

try good luck and we hope that all the

athletes can stay healthy and continue

working hard.

If you know of any athletes that you

think would be a good candidate for

Sports Sprout, please contact us with

their information. We will see if they

have what it takes to be in Sports

Sprout: The only magazine dedicated to

high school athletes and coaches across

the nation.

Thanks,

Spencer Eicher

Sports Sprout is the owner of all the magazine’s interviews, graphics and photos. The

magazine’s contents may be used for personal use only, provided that no modifications

are made and it is not published in any media. Any use other than set forth above, without

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout


Claire McCarthy

Nominated Athlete

Sienna Salvaggio

Northeast

Katherine Carlson

Midwest

Courtney Quinn

South

Maddy Schoenberger

West

6 10 14 18

Bailey Byrd

Nominated Athlete

Lizahya Morgan

Northeast

Abby Nakfoor

Midwest

Michelle Berry

South

Sydney Raggio

West

28 34 38 42 46

Sean Romero

Nominated Athlete

Michael Lewis

Midwest

Joe Santo Salvo

South

Zachary Smalley

West

58 62 66

Madison Lewis

Nominated Athlete

Mara Cosentino

Northeast

Olivia Meyers

Midwest

Katie Hall

South

Maggie Moulton

West

70 74 80 84 88

Volleyball

Girl’s B

asketb

all

Boy’s

Basketb

all

Girl’s S

occer

Matt Bullock

Northeast

TABLE OF CONTENTS

24

50 54

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout


Boy’s

Soccer

Girl’s

Tra

ck / X

C

Boy’s

Footb

all

Alex

Proper

Nominated Athlete

Zach Reichard

Northeast

Joe Cummings

Midwest

Ethan Wells

South

Porter Milner

West

92 96 100 104 108

Kamaria Webster

Nominated Athlete

Hannah Greene

Northeast

Haley Vinson

West

112 116 126 130

Frankie Garrett

Nominated Athlete

Adrian Robinson

Midwest

Spencer Dodds

West

134 140 148 152

Joe Pittis

Nominated Athlete

Trent Story

Northeast

Myles Brennan

South

Devin Willard

West

156 164 170 176

Gillian Walter

Midwest

Bailey Sweatman

South

Armstrong Noonan

Northeast

Ryan Camp

South

Ben LeRoy

Midwest

122

144

160

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout


Siena Salvaggio

Parkland HS

Allentown, PA

Coach Mike Krause

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Sports Sprout


Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: How did you first get interested

in playing volleyball?

Siena: I began playing volleyball in a

CYO league at my elementary school.

Editor: What would your ultimate

achievement be in volleyball? Why?

Siena: My high school team won the

PIAA AAA State Championship this fall. I

play club volleyball with four of my high

school team members, and a state cham-

pionship was something we had spoken

about and dreamed of winning.

Editor: Have you taken any risks while

playing in a tournament? What was it,

and was it worth taking?

Siena: My coach encourages our team

to try to different skills and run new plays

during each tournament. The first time we

execute new combination hitting plays

successfully is always exciting.

Editor: Who is your favorite athlete and

what is it that you admire most about

that person? Why?

Siena: I admire swimmer Missy Frank-

lin a great deal. Her ability to achieve at a

high level while maintaining a somewhat

“normal” existence in high school was

admirable.

Editor: If, you select 1-2 things that you

believe differentiates you from other

high school volleyball players, what

would they be, and why?

Siena: In addition to playing high

school volleyball, I am a competitive

swimmer. Balancing the demands of these

two sports is something that differenti-

ates me as

an athlete.

There are

days I

leave the

court and

head im-

mediately

to the

pool. My

schedule is

very busy

and I must

always

plan in ad-

vance my

time to study and work out.

Editor: Do you have a routine that you

go by while playing the game, or do

you simply go by instincts, hoping for

the best?

Siena: I primarily play by instinct. I am not

very superstitious and vary my warm

up routine.

Siena Salvaggio—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Editor: What are one or two things

you currently do in your training that

are keys to your success, and why?

Siena: For me, cross training is the key

to my success. The jumping in volley-

ball enhances my swimming walls.

The stretching required for swimming

helps my mobility on the volleyball

court.

Editor: You probably felt great after your

best game ever. What is this feeling

like and what can you compare it to?

Siena: The most exciting game I have

played was in the state semi-finals

this year. Our team was down 0-2

and losing in the third set, very close

to elimination. Our team was able to

rally and win 3 – 2 and move on to

the state finals. It was a fabulous feel-

ing to win that match. One I will nev-

er forget.

Editor: What was the best advice you

were ever given, and why?

Siena: The best advice I was ever given

was to have no memory of the last

play. Good or bad that moment is

gone. Play in the moment; be pre-

pared for the next ball.

Editor: Do you recall a difficult situation

or an obstacle you overcame? What

was it, and how did you do it?

Siena: The state semi-final match against

Exeter was an obstacle that my team

was able to overcome. Losing the first

two games and being down YY – YYY

in the

third

and

being

able

to

pull

off a

win

was

an

amazing accomplishment. Our team

stepped up their motivation and ener-

gy level in order to win.

Volleyball—Parkland, PA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout


Insert Two Page Picture Here

NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Katherine Carlson

Notre Dame Prep

Pontiac, MI

Coach Betty Wrubel

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Katherine: I first got interested in play-

ing volleyball when I was very little. Growing

up, my mom was an assistant coach at the

high school I now go to (and her alma ma-

ter). I lived in the gym and was there all the

time surrounded by volleyball. My mom

started to coach me at a young age and I

started playing competitively in 5th grade.



Katherine: I think the ultimate achieve-

ment in volleyball would be to win the

NCAA tournament. This would be an

amazing and incredible achievement that

requires lots of hard work and dedication.

It would be an honor to be National

Champions.




Katherine: I took risks during the AAU

tournament at the end of the club sea-

son. My team was in 16 open at AAUs in

2013. We took the risk of setting our goal

high for this tournament. We took the

risk of not achieving our goal and failing.

However, we all agreed to take this risk

together – and we overcame it! This risk

was definitely worth taking because we

surpassed our goal and were AAU Na-

tional Champions in 2013.



that person? Why?

Katherine: My favorite athlete is Kerri

Walsh. I admire her a lot and hope to be

like her one day. She played volleyball in

college and then tran-

sitioned into beach

volleyball and went to

the Olympics! She is

always super compet-

itive and yet so nice,

which I really admire

about her. She can be

the best in her sport

yet still plays with

passion every time

she steps on the

court. She can still have this amazing life

while having a family and doing what she

loves!

Editor: If you select 1-2 things that you




Katherine: I believe something that is

different from other volleyball players is

that I was a multi-sport athlete from a

young age (I also played basketball, soc-

cer and softball). I developed many skills

Katherine Carlson—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

from other sports that helped me to

be the athlete I am today. It helped my

muscles develop different strengths and

helped me learn different strategies on

the court or field. Something else that

may be different is that people say I have

a true passion for volleyball. I love this

sport and the person it has made me.

Editor: What are one or two things you

currently do in your training that are

keys to your success? Why?

Katherine: I think a key to my success

during my training is that I have fun

when I am at training. I go into my

training with a desire to get better

each day. However, it is very im-

portant to have fun doing what I love

with my friends and teammates. I

think that if you enjoy it, it will lead to

your success.


best game. What is this feeling like

and what can you compare it to?

Katherine: I think that you cannot com-

pare this feeling to anything. It is a

feeling that you always hope to have

and want to have again. Whether it is

winning a national championship or a

state championship (both I have

achieved) – it is a feeling no one can

describe. The best part about it is

accomplishing it with my team, the

girls I have worked so hard with!


were ever given? Why?

Katherine: The best advice I was ever giv-

en sounds simple but it has had a

great impact on

me. My mom al-

ways told to have

fun and truly love

what you are do-

ing. I was told to

choose the things

that make me

happy and those

around you hap-

py. Good things

happen when you

are happy!

Editor: Do you enjoy positive rivalries

with your opponents? Give one ex-

ample why?

Katherine: Yes I absolutely enjoy positive

rivalries with my opponents. I think

that it makes you better and gives you

something to strive for. It makes you

want to become better and motivates

me each day in practice. The best

example is the team we beat from the

state quarterfinals. We are both real-

ly good teams, have great fans that

cheer for us and that creates such a

fun environment to play in!

Volleyball—Notre Dame Prep, MI

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Courtney Quinn

The Woodlands HS

The Woodlands, TX

Coach Terri Wade

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Courtney: When I was 7 years old I

walked by a gym where some girls were

playing volleyball and I told my mom, “That’s

what I want to do”. At that age I had always

been switching sports, but once I tried vol-

leyball it stuck. I joined a club team and have

been playing ever since.



Courtney: Winning back-to-back state

championships have been my ultimate

achievements for volleyball. Our school

had never won state before last year, and

then our class won twice in a row. Our

first championship, we had a perfect sea-

son of 45-0. It was unheard of that a

team had a perfect season in a state with

such high-level volleyball competing

against the biggest schools. The second

year everyone thought we would have a

rebuilding year since we lost so many

seniors, but it was incredible to prove

everyone wrong and win back-to-back.

What made these so special for me was

that I got to play each state championship

with one of my two sisters. When I was a

junior, my older sister was a senior, and

when I was a senior, my younger sister

was a junior. We all play volleyball, and I

will forever cherish winning with both of

them.




Courtney: I’ve had injuries before that

I would keep to myself so I would not be

taken out of the

game. During our

playoff run I had

torn some liga-

ments in my foot

but if I went to

the doctor and

they told me I

couldn’t play, I

would be letting

my team down. It

was definitely

worth taking be-

cause we ended up winning state.



that person? Why?

Courtney: My favorite athlete is Logan

Tom, who is a volleyball player on the

Olympic Team. I had always looked up to

her growing up because she plays my po-

sition and is an incredible athlete.

Courtney Quinn—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Editor: If you select 1-2 things that you




Courtney: I think what separates me

from other athletes is my volleyball IQ. I

am undersized for my position so I have

to be smart and creative about where to

place the ball in order to be effective. I

also think my communication skills as a

leader separates me from the crowd. I

have learned that everyone responds dif-

ferently to different types of encourage-

ment and I learn what is most effective to

each individual person in order to have

the greatest success from my team as a

whole.




the best?

Courtney: I usually rely on my instincts

during the game because volleyball is

such a fast sport; there is no time to

stop and think.




Courtney: Working on the muscles that

help you jump is the most beneficial

thing you can do. Your size will not

matter if you can jump out of the gym.

Also working on having a good rela-

tionship with your teammates helps to

form solid team chemistry. If you can

trust them outside off the court, you

can trust them

during a game.

Editor: Do you recall

a difficult situation

or an obstacle

you overcame?

What was it, and

how did you do

it?

Courtney: A difficult situation for be was

being the only freshman on varsity my

first year at the high school. Everyone

else on the team already knew each

other and I was the only new face. It

was a very foreign experience for me.

I overcame it by breaking out of my

shell and trying to form relationships

with the other girls. I’m happy I did

because I learned so much, and grew

up so much during that year because

of them.

Volleyball—The Woodlands, TX

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Maddy Schoenberger

Branson HS

Ross, CA

Coach Michelle Brazil

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player Maddy Schoenberger

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: How did you first get interested in playing

volleyball?

Maddy: I was first dragged around to

my sister’s volleyball tournaments when I

was around seven. Her teams participated at

an extremely high level and she seemed to

really enjoy her teammates and teamwork.

She was a direct role model for me through-

out my elementary school days. When I was

finally able to play on an organized team in

the 5th grade, I could not have been happier.

Editor: What would be your ultimate

achievement in volleyball? Why?

Maddy: I have an insatiable desire to

win a state championship while playing.

My Branson volleyball team won the

state title my freshman year, but I was on

the bench during the championship

match. While still incredibly exciting, I

hope to be able to better contribute to a

win on such a big stage during my senior

year.

Editor: What are your favorite kind of

drills that help increase your reaching

range? How much do you think these

drills have improved your overall

game?

Maddy: Last year, we began every day

of practice with a “tipping drill”. Due to

the repetitive nature of the drill, the en-

tire team acquired the muscle memory to

move low and quickly in order to pick up

really shallow tips. The whole team

showed an increased ability to pick up

these tips, and the benefits of this drill

were not lost on any of us.

Editor: Describe your best game ever.

How did it feel? What factors might

have contributed to it?

Maddy: I believe my best game ever

was the first game of the MCAL finals my

sophomore year. We were playing our

crosstown rivals and they were stacked

with seniors who were determined to

take us down. It was a rowdy crowd and I

felt a lot of pressure as a sophomore set-

ter. We began the game down 9-2. I felt

good about contributing a couple of good

plays, including

a couple

blocks, a few

digs, and some

assists, that

helped change

the momentum

of that game.

We ended up

winning not on-

ly that game

but also the

match.

Editor: If you

select 1-2

things that you believe differentiates

you from other high school volleyball

players, what would they be, and

why?

Maddy: My personality is definitely

unique. I feel that I’ve found a good bal-

ance to become an effective leader on

our team. While I believe that it is im-

portant to focus and give everything you

have every second you are playing, I also

adamantly believe in the power of humor.

Maddy Schoenberger—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Taking ourselves too seriously will only re-

sult in a stressful vibe, so I like to lighten

the mood however I can. While there are

certainly times that are not appropriate

for a joke, I like to find ways to keep eve-

ryone smiling during practice and games.

Editor: What helps you to focus when

preparing for a game? How are you

able to stay in your zone while play-

ing?

Maddy: In preparation for a game, I

like to eat well. It makes me feel like I

have set myself up to succeed. I also

set against a wall and stretch before

every match in order to loosen up.

Finally, I like to visualize myself suc-

ceeding. When I go into the match

with the mindset that I am going to

have a good game, it allows me to

ease any nerves or uneasiness I have

going into big matches. While playing,

I like to focus on the present. Dwell-

ing on past points, good or bad, or

pondering the outcome of the match

takes me out of my zone. Therefore, I

simply check in with my teammates

and focus on my technique for the

upcoming point during breaks be-

tween points.




Maddy: My strict workout regimen

puts me in the most favorable posi-

tion to do well throughout the entire

match and outwork the opponents

during the final points. I am strongly

motivated to keep in shape. While my

obsession with working out makes it

easier, I make sure I work out at least

once a day. Whether it is yoga before

school, going to the gym, or spinning

classes, I like to maintain a strict

workout regimen.

Editor: How do you prepare for an up-

coming tournament? Do you have a

special routine that you follow?

Maddy: While I don’t follow a special

routine, I make sure to eat a hefty yet

healthy meal the day before, drink a

lot, and get a lot of sleep. I believe

these practices are conducive to suc-

cess on the court the following days.

Editor: What kind of advice can you give

to younger athletes in your sport, and

why?

Volleyball—Branson, CA

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Maddy: I would encourage younger

athletes to prepare for long-term suc-

cess. As a young setter who was lean

and not particularly muscular, I want-

ed so badly to be able to push the

ball further. This desire caused me to

adopt bad techniques that I then had

to break when I got older. If I had

simply set the correct way, under-

standing that I would eventually be-

come stronger, it would have served

me well in my volleyball career. So, I

would encourage the focus to be not

on the immediate, but on the long-

term goal.




Maddy: I feel like every match con-

tains difficult situations and obstacles;

some more difficult than others. But

so does life. At the end of the day,

volleyball is only a sport. When I’ve

been treated unfairly (such as parents

influencing coaches for playing time)

or when I recognize that I have my

own shortcomings, I simply hold my

head up and do my best. How you

treat people and how you feel about

yourself are much more important

than winning and losing.

Editor: How do you think volleyball and

competition prepares you and your

teammates for life? Why?

Maddy: Sports in general emphasizes

different values than those encoun-

tered in our everyday lives, and I be-

lieve sports-related values set us up

to succeed. Leadership, selflessness,

and focus are all qualities that are fos-

tered by intense competition. These

qualities, while useful during our vol-

leyball career, transcend sports.

These qualities are life-long character

builders that I am incredibly grateful

to have generated as a result of vol-

leyball.



ample why?

Maddy: Posi-

tive rivalries

have been in-

credibly form-

ative in my

volleyball ca-

reer. The de-

sire to win

against rival

competition

has inspired

and motivated

me. Because I

have played

club volleyball

with, and as a result, become friends

with players on our most heated rival,

the competition has become a little

friendlier, but no less satisfying when

we come out on top. The truth is, we

are a much smaller school and in

many ways, the little engine that

could; David v. Goliath. So, it’s also

more fun when David wins! At the

end of the day, how hard you work

shows on the court, so I am always

trying to outwork my opponents when

I am in the gym.

Maddy Schoenberger—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Volleyball—Branson, CA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Claire McCarthy

Bellarmine Prep

Tacoma, WA

Coach Caroline Meines

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Claire McCarthy

Bellarmine Prep

Tacoma, WA

Coach Caroline Meines

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Claire: When I was eight years old,

my mom’s high school coach called her and

said she had an opening on her team for me,

thinking I had actually played before and was

a star athlete.



Claire: The third 4-A state champion-

ship for my school because it was the

first year I was a starter and I felt like I

was really contributing to the win.



that person? Why?

Claire: My favorite athlete is Reghan

Pukis, a former club teammate and two-

year high school teammate. She has al-

ways been there propelling my volleyball

career and has always been someone I

could look up to. She is a leader who is

determined to do whatever it takes to

win.




the best?

Claire: Always instincts and playing my

best. It is difficult to try and have a

routine since all teams and players are

different and play differently.




Claire: I have a

trainer who

has me do

gymnastics,

which really

help when

I’m diving

and sprawl-

ing on the

court. I will

run the off

days to keep

my endur-

ance up.


best game. What is this feeling like

and what can you compare it to?

Claire: You can’t compare a state champi-

onship victory to anything else. The

moment after the ball touches the

ground, your teammates and you have

a mutual understanding that we just

Claire McCarthy—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

did it, we won. And everyone cries,

not only for the satisfaction of victory

and the months of work, but for the

fact that you will never be so close

with another group of girls and that

you will never have the opportunity to

play with all of these girls again.




Claire: This past high school season was

my sophomore year and I had to com-

pete for my position with a senior.

This was my toughest challenge, but

one of my coaches had faith in me

and saw I had great potential, so with

hard work, months of pushing myself

and staying after practice for extra

reps, I snatched the position.

Editor: What’s your favorite movie and

book? Why?

Claire: Unbroken is my favorite movie by

far. It’s truly inspiring and helps you

realize how lucky and blessed you

really are. Siddhartha by Herman Hes-

se is intriguing and opens your eyes to

the idea that simplicity brings true

happiness.



ample why?

Claire: Rivalries, especially against friends,

adds tension to the game and increas-

es your team’s level of competition,

so both teams work harder and that

makes the game more fun and enter-

taining.

Volleyball—Bellarmine Prep, WA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Lizahya Morgan

Capital Prep

Hartford, CT

Coach Tammy Millsaps

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: What got you interested in play-

ing basketball?

Lizahya: I have always had a passion

for this sport. When I was younger I always

practiced in my driveway or up and down the

street. If I wasn't at a park playing with the

boys then I was in the middle of the road

somewhere. I love basketball it makes me

feel as if nothing else matters; like it puts me

in a whole other world. Basketball is my get-

away.

Editor: What is your biggest accomplish-

ment as a basketball player so far?

How would you like to improve on

that in the upcoming season?

Lizahya: My biggest accomplishment is

winning two class L state championships!

It was so exciting to be apart of some-

thing so big so young with such a positive

team, with players that you can actually

relate to and share things with. Capital

Prep girls basketball is like a sisterhood.

They're people you can trust when you

feel you dont have anyone else to turn

to. Losing three seniors (two that were

starting) will be an adjustment that needs

to be made, but the team will go on. I

believe that we are capable of winning

state championships for the next couple

of years! We have the potential, we just

need to come to practice ready to work

and ready to get better. Always have a

championship mentality.

Editor: What does it take to become the

very best basketball player in the

world? Why?

Lizahya: It takes a whole lot of confi-

dence and effort. In order to be great at

something you need to work for it. Sitting

around won't get you anywhere so how

are you getting better? To be a great play-

er, you don't have to be the leading scor-

er or the person who hits the game win-

ner. I feel that if

you are a catch and

shoot player then

do just that, be the

best catch and

shoot player. To be

great, you have to

believe in yourself

that you can be

great; it isn't cocki-

ness, it's confi-

dence. Working

hard means giving it

100% at all times during practice. You

aren't getting better at just practice. I feel

in order to be the best you need to work

outside of practice. Go to open gyms,

and practice. You don't have to be in a

gym for an hour to say you've worked

hard. You can get a good workout in for

30 minutes as long as you're going game

speed. For example, when you shoot the

ball, hustle to get the rebound; empha-

size on the ball not touching the floor.

It's consistency. You get what you work

for. Nothing shall be given to you.

Lizahya Morgan—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015


what do you admire most about that

person? Why?

Lizahya: My favorite athlete is LeBron

James. I admire LeBron's self esteem and

confidence. He knows he's a great player

and he proves himself. There are a lot of

people in this world that doubt him and

put him down, but they only say that be-

cause he is one of the best. They don't

have anything better to say. He never

gives up and always keeps his head high.

Besides Michael Jordan, this man is the

best to ever do it. He plays all positions

on the court and he helped the Cleveland

Cavaliers out so much last season, it was

ridiculous. I don't believe they would

have made it anywhere if it weren’t for

LeBron! LeBron James is better at some-

thing's than Michael Jordan is and vice

versa.

Editor: What are your favorite drills dur-

ing your workouts? In what ways have

they helped improve your game?

Lizahya: My favorite drills are the de-

fensive drills we do. These drills helped

improve my game. Sliding my feet the

right way, being aware of everything that

is happening, always having my hands up,

and staying low. It isn't always about

your man that has the ball. You need to

see everyone and pay close attention in

order to help your teammates out.

Editor: In what ways did your teammates

contribute to your success in the

sport, and why?

Lizahya: My teammates give me construc-

tive criticism. If they see I'm not doing

something right they tell me and make

sure that I fix it. This has helped me a

lot because there is no such thing as

being lazy in our practices. Everything

is done at game

speed, and if it

isn't we are going

to be on the line

running faster than

game speed! Eve-

rything should be

consistent. You

can't show up to

practice and work

hard one day and

then the next your

dragging through the drills. You are

only wasting your time and hurting

your team because you cannot be

successful that way. You always need

to be ready to work no matter what!

Do it right! This is what my team lives

off of and that's why we are so suc-

cessful. Not only does our coach em-

phasize basketball, but she teaches us

life lessons, like showing up on time,

being prepared or ready, and doing

things the correct way.




Basketball—Capital Prep, CT

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2




Lizahya: First off, I run a lot because it

keeps me in shape and prepared for

games. Secondly, I do a lot of shoot-

ing and dribbling drills. These drills

expand my role as a point guard.

Training gets me disciplined and of

course makes me a better player

overall. I always give it my all because

good things will come your way. I

never give up I always try to be better

than I was yesterday. That's my men-

tality, that's just who I am. I don't like

messing up, but I know when I do

mess up, I’m trying and I only improve

myself.

Editor: Please describe your best game

ever. How did it feel? What factors

might have contributed to the success

of your performance?

Lizahya: The best game I've ever played

in was last season’s playoff game

against the Farmington Indians. Not

only did the upcoming juniors prove

themselves, the rest of the team

showed that we all have talent, not

just our main players. Discipline is a

major factor that contributed to the

success of my performance. I had to

know when to slow down a play,

when to shoot the ball, when to pass

the ball, and when to draw the de-

fense towards me to get players open.

You need discipline, you have to lis-

ten and pay close attention in close

games like that, and that's what I had.

It led us to another title. You also

need team chemistry; you have to

trust your players. Know who you’re

passing the ball to. Our team will al-

ways be successful with a coach like

ours. She knows what to do and when

to do it.



Lizahya: The best advice I was ever given

was to always pursue your dreams,

even when you

feel it's getting

hard, things will

always get bet-

ter in the end.

This has helped

my mindset a

lot. It tells me

that everything

will always turn

out your way at

the end. It isn't

the end if it

doesn't. You

always have to

strive to reach your goal or live your

dream. No matter how hard things

get, you should never give up because

not everything is easy. You have to

work for what you want. Nothing will

ever be handed to you on a silver

platter. Sometimes you have to jump

through hoops of fire to get what

you've worked for. Nothing in life will

be easy, but as long as you try and

work hard things will come easier

than they may seem.

Editor: What would you say is the most

challenging aspects of basketball? The

most satisfying aspects? Why?

Lizahya Morgan—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Lizahya: The most challenging aspect

of basketball is discipline. You can't

teach discipline, you can't force

someone to do something if they

don't want to work hard. The most

satisfying aspect of basketball is em-

bracing the players I am on the team

with such as getting to know them

and creating a bond with them. This is

satisfying because it's good to spend

time with your teammates because it

creates chemistry. It is always good to

know what they like and dislike.

When you create a bond that can't be

broken between your teammates you

get along and work well with each

other on the court.

Basketball—Capital Prep, CT

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Abby Nakfoor

Dewitt HS

Dewitt, MI

Coach Bill McCullen

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: What got you interested in play-

ing the basketball?

Abby: When I was a little girl my dad

took me to watch our DeWitt girl’s varsity

high school team when I was about 7 and I

fell in love with the sport and watching the

girls work hard. I became one of the water

girls and always dreamed of playing on a big-

ger stage when I got older.


ment as a basketball player so far?

Why?

Abby: This season our team accom-

plished our goal of making it to the state

championship game. Although we came

up short as a runner- up, the experience

as a whole and the journey we went on

together was unforgettable, the best time

of my life. Topping off my high school

career with a run like that made all of the

hours spent training worth it.

Editor: What has been one of the best

teams you ever played against? Why?

Abby: Bloomfield Marian, the team

that beat us in the championship game.

They didn’t have many girls above 6 foot,

but across the board all of their girls

were between 5’8” and 6’0”, making it

tough on us offensively because of the

guards length and athleticism.



person? Why?

Abby: Kristin Haynie is my favorite

athlete. She is one of the main reasons I

started liking

basketball.

The first time

I saw her play

in college, I

counted the

number of

times she

dove on the

ground after

the ball and

admired how

hard she

worked- she

never took a

single play off.

Editor: Have you ever disagreed with a

referee during a game? How did you

handle yourself?

Abby: I have disagreed with some of

the calls made in a game multiple times

but they try their absolute best and they

may have seen something you haven’t so

Abby Nakfoor—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

it’s not worth making yourself look

like a fool to fight it. It’s not like they will

reverse the call because you yelled at

them.

Editor: When are you the most focused:

while you are playing in a game, or

during the workouts and practice?

Why?

Abby: I feel that I am focused both in

practice and during games. The mi-

nute you step on the court in either of

these situations, nothing else matters

besides what’s going on outside of

basketball. It’s like a whole new

world.




Abby: Repetition is key in training. When

ball handling, we do short intervals

but over and over, everyday. This is

the same with shooting. Muscle

memory builds when you practice

over and over again.

Editor: What inspires you to play as hard

as you do? Why?

Abby: I play as hard as I do for many rea-

sons, but mostly because you never

know when the last time you step on

the court will be. At any given mo-

ment, you could get an injury or

something could happen off the court

that could cause you to lose the game

you love, and that’s why it’s important

to never take a single play or drill for

granted and give it your all 110% of the

time.

Editor: If you had to

pick another high

school athlete

that you consider

to be the best,

who would it be,

and why?

Abby: If I had to pick

another high

school athlete to be the best, it

would be my teammate, Claudia Reid.

She is our point guard and averages

about 8 assists per game. While she

can score almost at will, her greatest

strength is getting teammates open

and making everyone around her bet-

ter. She is a true playmaker.

Basketball—Dewitt, MI

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Michelle Berry

Miami Country Day School

Miami, FL

Coach Ochiel Swaby

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Miami Country Day School

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: What got you interested in playing

basketball?

Michelle: I don’t really know, I just

thought it was cool.


ment as a basketball player so far? Why?

Michelle: Winning nationals in New

York, because it was on such a big stage.

Editor: What has been one of the

best teams you ever played

against? Why?

Michelle: The best team that

I’ve played against would have to

be Long Island Lutheran in New

York.

Editor: Who is your favorite athlete

and what do you admire most

about that person? Why?

Michelle: My favorite athlete

would have to be Michael Jordan.

He seems to be a nice person and

was good at more than one sport.

Editor: Have you ever disagreed with

a referee during a game? How did you

handle yourself?

Michelle: Yes, I handle myself as

an adult and ask to speak to them

about whatever it may be. No need to be

rude.

Editor: When are you the most focused: while

you are playing in a game, or during the

workouts and practice? Why?

Michelle: I’m focused during both, but I’m

more focused in practice, so I can learn

new things for the game.

Michelle Berry—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Editor: What are one or two things you cur-

rently do in your training that are keys to

your success? Why?

Michelle: I run a lot and I work on my han-

dles, finishing around the basket.

Editor: What inspires you to play as

hard as you do? Why?

Michelle: I play as hard as I can mainly

to make my parents proud. My fa-

ther would have loved to see me

play ball before he passed away, but

I was playing soccer instead.



Michelle: Always finish what you start; it

helps me to realize I can’t quit.


or an obstacle you overcame?

What was it, and how did you do it?

Michelle: Yes, there was the time I had

to stop playing soccer after 7 years

of hard work, just to play basketball.

It was hard for me and I’m still trying

to overcome the transition.

Editor: If you had to pick another high

school athlete that you consider to be

the best, who would it be? Why?

Michelle: I would give it to Ben Simmons. I

love the way he plays, he is an awesome

athlete.

Basketball—Miami Country Day, FL

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Addi Walters

St. Ignatius College Prep

San Francisco, CA

Coach Mike Mulkerrins

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: What got you interested in playing

basketball?

Addi: Playing basketball was almost inevi-

table. My dad was finishing up his career

in the NBA when I was born, and has

been coaching college basketball ever

since then. Growing up going to all my

dad's practices, and watching countless

basketball games, made it easy to fall in

love with basketball just as my dad had.

Editor: What is your biggest accomplishment

as a basketball player so far? Why?

Addi: My biggest accomplishment as a bas-

ketball player so far has been earning a

Division 1 scholarship. Having the op-

portunity to continue playing basketball

at a high level, and having my education

paid for, has been something I've

worked towards for my entire life.

Editor: What has been one of the best teams

you ever played against? Why?

Addi: One of the best teams I have played

against is Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.

Over the past four years, our team has

had many hard fought battles with our

in-city rival. They always have a tough

group of girls each year, and are under

a really respected coach. I'm hoping we

catch another game with them in

playoffs.

Editor: Who is your favorite athlete and what

do you admire most about that person?

Why?

Addi: I don't really have a "favorite" player.

I'm a big Kansas Jayhawk Fan, and al-

ways pick a new favorite to watch dur-

ing each NCAA tournament. The

heightened atmosphere of March Mad-

ness and the way players either step up

the challenge or crack from the pres-

sure really exposes players to how

mentally tough they are. Basketball is

such a mental game and I admire the

players who can rise to a challenge un-

der any circumstances.

Editor: Have you

ever disagreed

with a referee

during a game?

How did you

handle yourself?

Addi: I think

every player

and coach

has disa-

greed with a

referee at

one point

or another.

As a player,

I feel that there isn't anything I can do

to change a referee's mind during a

game, other than making it worse for

my team and I to get calls. I think its

best to let my coach deal with the refs

and focus on what can I control during

games.

Editor: When are you the most focused:

while you are playing in a game, or during the

workouts and practice? Why?

Addi Walters—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Addi: I am more focused during

workouts because the task is so much

less complicated. The goal is simple: to

get better with every rep. When I go

workout, it’s always an optional thing,

so I wouldn't be going to the gym un-

less I already had the mindset of what I

want to accomplish. Team Practices

and games have many more aspects

and goals that need to be taken care of,

which puts me at a different kind of

mindset where I can't only think of my-

self, but also of my team.


rently do in your training that are keys to

your success? Why?

Addi: I get a lot of shots up, and do

some kind of game-like dribbling. Sum-

mer workouts are a completely differ-

ent story, but during the season it’s all

about keeping up with the fundamentals

of my game that I can't work on during

team practices.

Editor: What inspires you to play as hard as

you do? Why?

Addi: In games, winning is the most im-

portant thing. You can't win every game

without playing hard. It’s that simple.

Editor: What was the best advice you were

ever given? Why?

Addi: The best advice I was given was

that you can achieve anything with hard

work. This advice has motivated me not

only with basketball, but also with my

schoolwork. There’s nothing more mo-

tivating to me than the idea that if you

want something bad enough, and are

willing to put in any amount of work to

accomplish it. This advice rules out all

the excuses and the laziness and can

really test anyone to see what they’re

made of.

Editor: Do you recall a difficult situation or

an obstacle you overcame? What was it, and

how did you do it?

Addi: I've been lucky not to have any

extremely difficult obstacles that I have

had to overcome so far. I have had a

couple injuries, mid season slumps, and

hard losses, but I think that every ath-

lete at some points goes through those

obstacles. Half the battle of overcom-

ing those obstacles is not dwelling on

the obstacle itself,

but focusing on how to solve the prob

lem, and how to get better.

Editor: If you could let another high school

athlete take your place as one of the most

accomplished girls basketball players, who

would it be, and why?

Addi: I would let my teammate

Janessa Manzanoe take my place as

one of the most accomplished girls

basketball players. She’s always been

the most unselfish teammate, a hard

worker, and overall great person.

Basketball—St. Ignatius, CA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Bailey Byrd

Canyon HS

Canyon, TX

Coach Joe Lombard

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


in playing basketball?

Bailey: By attending Lady Buff basket-

ball games with my dad.

Editor: Can you recall a game that you

felt you gave it all you had and even

more? What was the outcome of

your efforts?

Bailey: Yes, at West Coast Nationals

in Las Vegas. Our team won the West

Coast National Championship.

Editor: Do you have a saying or motto

that you like to share with others?

Bailey: Always give it your all and

work your hardest.



that person? Why?

Bailey: Emily Brister. She was my idol

when I was younger. She was really smart

on the court and it inspired me to play

like her.




Bailey: I played my sophomore year

with a torn labrum. We won the State

Championship and shortly after I had sur-

gery on it. I ended up tearing it again and

played with it all of my junior year with

the results of winning my second State

Championship. I am healing from my sec-

ond shoulder surgery and I am looking

forward to a great senior season with my

team. I couldn’t have done it without all

the uplifting words and encouragement

from my teammates, friends, and family.

Editor: Who were the people that have

given you support and encouragement

during this difficult situation? How

much do you think it helped you?

Bailey Byrd—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Bailey: My dad has always been there

for me whenever I needed it. He al-

ways had uplifting words and encour-

agement. He was my biggest fan and I

couldn’t have done it without him.

Editor: If you could change one rule

about girls’ basketball, what would it

be? Why?

Bailey: I wish Texas High School Girls

Basketball had a shot clock. It would

make the game more exciting.

Editor: How are you able to balance

playing sports with your school work?

Bailey: It requires time management. It is

a part of our program that if you don’t

make good grades then you don’t get

to play. You have to stay on top of

things, especially around playoff time.



Bailey: To never give up when times get

rough. I have learned to battle

through adversity on and off the

court.

Editor: What is the best compliment you

have ever received? Why?

Bailey: When a total stranger came up to

me and told me how much she en-

joyed watching me play and how she

appreciated the hard work ethic I had.

People you know always compliment

you, but when a complete stranger

compliments you it is more rewarding.


challenging, and satisfying aspects of

you coming back to play the basket-

ball again? Why?

Bailey: The most challenging part of com-

ing back to play basketball again is

missing two summers of basketball

because of shoulder surgery while all

my teammates are getting to play and

improve their game.

Basketball—Canyon, TX

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Matt Bullock

Roselle Catholic HS

Roselle, NJ

Coach Dave Boff

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: How did you start playing basketball?

Matt: I started playing basketball at a young

age, but never was that serious about it. I

was football lover, until they told me I

couldn't play one year because of my weight.

I switched to basketball, I figured you can be

any weight playing it.

Editor: What has been your ultimate achieve-

ment in basketball? Why?

Matt: My ultimate achievement would be

winning a state and T.O.C. in New Jersey

as a freshman. Never would I think that I

would be on the winning team, doing

such a thing.

Editor: What has been one of the best teams

you ever played against? Why?

Matt: One of the best I ever played against is

St. Anthony's. Every time we play them,

it’s always a high level game. Every pos-

session counts. They run stuff well. Plus

we have to play twice as much defense

as they do.

Editor: What was your biggest challenge last

season? How were you able to overcome

it?

Matt: My biggest challenge last season was

taking a lost to Linden. We were better,

stronger, and more athletic then them. I

overcame it when our coach explained to

us that you cant underestimate a team

and what they’re capable of, you just have

to play with the same intensity every

game.

Editor: Have you ever disagreed with a call

made by the referee during a game? How did

you handle yourself during that situation?

Matt: Yes, going back to a T.O.C. semi final

game against

Newark Eastside

the game was

tied up with 3.4

seconds left. I

reached in for a

steal, they called

it and he made

the two free

throws. Game

over. I handled

that situation

harsh after the

game. But then I

worked all sum-

mer on my de-

fense so that it

won’t happen again.

Editor: Who is a “hero” in your life and why?

Matt: I would have to say my brother be-

cause he is the one who encouraged

me to play basketball and how to be a

man. He played overseas for 12 years

and now he helps the family.

Matt Bullock—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015


rently do in your training that are keys

to your success? Why?

Matt: Two things in training that are keys to

my success would be work hard every

time you’re in the gym, and know that

all this training is for a good reason, it

will play off.

Editor: What inspires you to play as hard as

you do? Why?

Matt: What inspires me is that I can go to

college for free and not have my mom

worry about a thing. Plus seeing Ken-

neth Faried play hard and where he

came from.

Editor: What was the best advice you were

ever given? Why?

Matt: It’s not where you start, it’s where you

end. I thought about it and it finally hit

me. My hard work will pay off.

Editor: Is winning the most important thing

for you? If not then what is the most

important thing for you while playing?

Matt: Winning to me is not the most im-

portant thing. It’s about getting better

and playing your hardest on the court.

Knowing that you gave it your all.

Editor: What’s your favorite movie and book?

Why?

Matt: The best book I ever read was Unbro-

ken and my favorite movie is also Un-

broken. Louis Zamperini just never

gave up, he was a fighter and every-

thing he did he did it his best. I can

relate to him.

Basketball—Roselle Catholic, NJ

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Michael Lewis

Chaminade HS

St. Louis, MO

Coach Kelvin Lee

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: How did you start playing basket-

ball?

Michael: When I was 4 years old my

mom thought it would be a good idea to put

me in a sport. She said I would run around

the house using Nerf balls and trash cans for

goals, so she decided to sign me up for bas-

ketball at the YMCA. By the time I was in

second grade I was on the Competitive Bas-

ketball Team in Kingwood, Texas which was

a 45 minute commute for my mom outside of

Houston, Texas.

Editor: What has been your ultimate

achievement in basketball?

Michael: My ultimate achievement in

basketball is that I have gone from a kid

that wanted to play basketball for fun to

a basketball player that is now a major

part of my team’s success and will be

able to play in college.

Why? I work very hard and consist-

ently workout to reach the level of my

game. Being recognized as one of the bet-

ter shooters in my class in St. Louis is

also one of the reasons why I work so

hard.

Editor: What was your biggest challenge

last season? How were you able to

overcome it?

Michael: When I started the new sea-

son I had to learn a new position and be

our #1 point guard. I normally play shoot-

ing guard and at first it was hard to un-

derstand the role I was put in and to ac-

tually become the leader of the team. I

was able to overcome this with confi-

dence and relying on my teammates who

started to trust me early in the season.

When we beat one of the best teams,

Stevenson High School out of Illinois,

who had the #1 point guard in the class

of 2015 Jaylon

Brunson, that really

helped boost my

confidence even

more.

Editor: Have you ev-

er disagreed with

a call made by

the referee during

a game? How did

you handle your-

self during that

situation?

Michael: I have definitely disagreed

with a call, but I handled it by showing

some maturity and reminding myself that

my team needed me to be on the floor.

We had a very good team this year and a

number of calls may not have gone our

way. However, being in my new role as

point guard I was the leader and I had to

be on the floor to help us win. Keeping

my emotions in check was a must, even

though I wanted to lose it at times.

Michael Lewis—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015



that person? Why?

Michael: My favorite athlete is Stephen

Curry and the thing I admire about

him is his silent approach to the game

that is a killer. The reason why I like

his approach is because he lets his

game speak for itself. You don’t see

him boasting that he is the best player

or he wasn’t in the top 100 players

coming out of high school. He has

just come in to the league and silently

become a three point killer on the

court.




Michael: The two things I do in my train-

ing are ball handling drills and weight

lifting. I am in the gym four days a

week. Two is spent on weight lifting

and quickness and the other two is

spent on my shooting and ball hand-

ing with my trainer. The reason why I

work so hard is because the older I

have gotten the more physical the

game has become and the game has

become quicker. My school is now

playing a national schedule so we are

not just playing in town but we are

playing some of the most physical and

quicker high school teams and this is

how I can keep up with these ath-

letes.


as you do? Why?

Michael: My inspiration to play as hard as

I do comes from within. Proving

doubters wrong is one reason why I

work very hard. St.

Louis is a very small

city, and there seem to

be a number of people

who may not be as

happy about our team’s

success. So winning for

my teammates is im-

portant enough to me

that I work as hard as I

do to help us succeed.

Editor: What do you think it takes to be

successful in your sport? Why?

Michael: To be successful in my sport it

takes tremendous work effort and a

lot of confidence in your ability to

score. Everybody in basketball, well

competitive basketball, wants to be

successful at it and wants to win just

as much as you want to win. So work-

ing hard at your skills is a must to be

better than the next guy. You have to

be willing to put in the work to stand

out.

Basketball—Chaminade, MO

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Joe Santo Salvo

Seven Lakes HS

Katy, TX

Coach Shannon Heston

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


ball?

Joe: At the age of 5 I started playing

football and thought it would be the sport I

would play in high school and in college.

When I got to junior high, I made the schools

basketball team and fell in love with it. Going

into my freshman year, I stopped playing

football to focus entirely on basketball and

that’s how I started playing basketball.

Editor: What is your best achievement

so far in playing basketball? How do

you plan to improve on that this sea-

son?

Joe: My best achievement would be

starting on varsity as a junior in a 6A high

school and being selected honorable

mention, academic all district and will be

team captain my senior year.

Editor: What kind of training would you

recommend to younger athletes on

how to increase their vertical lift for

dunking and rebounding?

Joe: I believe younger athletes should

start on a vertical leap program and work

on getting a stronger base/core.



overcome it?

Joe: Losing in the 3rd round of the

playoffs last year was a big challenge. So

this offseason my team and I worked hard

to get better, so that we go farther in the

playoffs this coming season.

Editor: What is your favorite drill during

workouts? Why?

Joe: Tran-

sition drills

are a fun way

of getting up

and down the

court.

Editor: Who

is your fa-

vorite ath-

lete and

what is it

that you

admire

most about that person? Why?

Joe: Kobe Bryant. His mentality when he

steps out on the court is the best in

the game. He has success because his

confidence is always very high.




Joe Santo Salvo—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Joe: Shooting everyday is one of the

keys to my success. The more reps

you get up, the better you are going

to be as a shooter.


as you do? Why?

Joe: Trying to play and excel at the next

level. My goal has always been to play

at the college level and the only way

to get there is to play hard.

Editor: Have you ever had someone give

you good advice that had a positive

impact towards your success on the

field? What was their advice?

Joe: One of my coaches, Coach Jay, al-

ways keeps me positive and encour-

ages me when I am playing well and

when I’m not. He has definitely

helped me a lot since we started

working out together.

Editor: If you were to play basketball in

college, what would be the biggest

difficulty you would have to face to

change your game? Why do you think

this is so much more of a factor at the

next level?

Joe: Adapting to the faster pace of play.

It is more of a factor because the

game is flowing faster so I will have to

move faster as well. I will have to play

quicker and smarter to be successful.



Joe: To be successful in your sport you

have to work hard and be extremely

dedicated. Along with dedication you

have to be willing to learn, because

you will

never get

better if you

don’t listen

to other

people.

Editor: What

would you

say is the

most chal-

lenging as-

pects of

basketball?

The most

satisfying aspects? Why?

Joe: The most challenging aspect of bas-

ketball is having a short memory. Not

giving up when my shots are off. I just

have to keep shooting and keep prac-

ticing. The most satisfying would be

winning. Everyone works hard and

plays the game to win and feel that

sense of accomplishment, so when

you win it is very satisfying.

Basketball—Seven Lakes, TX

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Zachary Smalley

Maranatha HS

Pasadena, CA

Coach Tim Tucker

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


ball?

Zachary: My family says I was born

playing basketball. I started as a toddler with

my current high school coach, Coach Tuck's

Overtime basketball camp as the youngest

camper. My father said I was the first player

ever to need a sub for a diaper change.




son?

Zachary: Being a key part in winning

the CIF championship, and looking for-

ward to going back-to-back, and hopeful-

ly win state.





Zachary: Toe raises at night, strength

shoes, weight vest, and the vertimax

when they're old enough.



overcome it?

Zachary: Coming from starting as a

sophomore to being the 6th man as a jun-

ior was pretty tough. But you don't com-

plain, you have to ask yourself "how can I

contribute?" and I found the answer and

executed it, and we won the champion-

ship.

Editor: What is

your favorite

drill during

workouts?

Why?

Zachary: I

love all the fast

break drills like

3 on 2, 2 on 1.

The fast break

drills are my fa-

vorite because

that's when the

crowd is most

into the game. They’re anticipating a dunk

or a spectacular pass, and as a player it's

so much fun.



that person? Why?

Zachary: Kobe Bryant, by far. Growing up

a Laker fan, it's only right to name

him. His work ethic, his focus, and the

black mamba, killer instinct mentality

is what makes him one of the great-

est ever.

Zachary Smalley—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




Zachary: Giving my 100%, all of the time.

Leaving it all out there in your training

is going to make you a better player

come game-time. You can't go soft

and cry every time you're tired and

expect to be better against another

team.


as you do? Why?

Zachary: My parents because I know they

have loved me, and sacrificed so

much for me to play the game I love,

it's the least I can do to give it my all.





Zachary: An ex-Laker assistant coach, I

believe he's with the Knicks now, Jim

Cleamons told me "It's not where you

start, it's where you finish." This

helped me push through games, prac-

tices, workouts, late homework nights,

all the above. It was like there's a big-

ger reason as to why I'm doing what

I'm doing now.






next level?

Zachary: My shot selection would have

to change. At 5'8-5'9 I won't be able

to muscle up and take it in to that 7

footer waiting at the basket. I'm so

used to driving all the time, I must

develop a consistent mid-range. There

are trees at the next level.

Basketball—Maranatha, CA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Sean Romero

Maranatha HS

Pasadena, CA

Coach Tim Tucker

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


ball?

Sean: At a young age I started going to

basketball games with my mom. As I watched the

team come out the locker room and heard the energy of

the crowd, I knew then that I wanted basketball to be a

part of my life.




son?

Sean: Perfecting my jump shot and three point

shooting. I plan to improve all around with emphasis

on my basketball IQ and ball handling, so I can make

the game easier for my teammates and myself.





Sean: I would recommend athletes to stretch

and strengthen their core muscles. I would also say

eat healthy, improve their quickness, and work hard

on fundamentals.



overcome it?

Sean: My biggest challenge was maintaining self-

confidence. The only way to overcome it was to

prove to myself that no one could hold me back ex-

cept myself.

Editor: What is your favorite drill during

workouts? Why?

Sean: Ball handling drills with shot attempts at

the end because I like having control over the ball.



that person? Why?

Sean: Isaiah Thomas. I admire him because he is a

5’9” point guard playing in the NBA against 6 foot

and over point guards and he never backs down

Sean Romero—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




Sean: I wake up early in the morning before school.

I like be in the gym by 5:30am so I can work on

my ball handling and shooting drills to get better.


as you do? Why?

Sean: I love the game of basketball; I want to do the

best I can in every game.





Sean: Yes; regardless if you are on the court for 1

minute, 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or for the whole

game, always leave your imprint on the court!






next level?

Sean: Being a shorter guard, I would have to make

sure that I have no flaws in my ball handling and

become more athletic. In order to be a good

point guard a person has to have control over the

game, control of the ball, and to be able to finish

around the rim.



Sean: A person has to be willing to accept mistakes.

A mistake teaches a person what they could have

done better, makes them want to try again, and

makes them focus more.


challenging aspects of basketball? The

most satisfying aspects? Why?

Sean: Most challenging is staying calm during a

game. Staying calm makes it easier to stay fo-

cused on what you need to do as a player. Not

being calm, can make you an emotional player.

Most satisfying is winning on the road. A team’s

success on the road is a sign of their toughness.

Basketball—Maranatha, CA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Mara Cosentino

Glastonbury HS

Glastonbury, CT

Coach Joe Finocchiarro

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: How did you first get interested playing soc-

cer?

Mara: My dad played soccer in college so throughout my

entire childhood he would always be out in the backyard

playing with my brothers and me. I was always a competi-

tive kid so our games would be really intense. Also, in

kindergarten my teacher would hold soccer tournaments

at recess and I was the only girl who would play, but I

made sure my team won. Ever since then I’ve always

loved playing the game.

Editor: What would be your ultimate achievement in

soccer? Why?

Mara: I want to have a successful division 1 college soccer

career and to continue playing after graduating. My ulti-

mate goal would be to play professionally after col-

lege. I’ve been playing for so long and I’ve dedicated so

much time and energy into the sport so my dream would

be being able to play it for a living.

Editor: Have you taken any risk while playing in a

tournament? What was it, and was it worth tak-

ing?

Mara: The biggest risk I’ve ever taken in a game was step-

ping up to take a penalty kick in the regional finals. I had

never taken one in a game before so I was really nervous

for this one. I was scared I would let our team

down. However, taking the kick was completely worth it

because I ended up scoring it and helping our team have a

better chance of winning.

Editor: Who is your favorite athlete and what is it

that you admire most about that person? Why?

Mara: My favorite athlete is Leonel Messi. He’s my favor-

ite because of his creativeness and hard work on the

field. I admire his ability to see things during the game that

nobody else can see. I look up to Messi because I aspire

to be like him in terms of his technical abilities and ability

to be the playmaker of his team.

Editor: If, you select 1-2 things that you believe differ-

entiates you from other high school girls’ soccer

players, what would they be? Why?

Mara: My vision of the

field and unselfishness

set me apart from other

high school girls’ soccer

players. I can see the

field and have the ability

to slip through-balls in to

my teammates. I also

have a very team-

oriented mentality, mean-

ing I don’t care who

scores the big goal as

long as somebody does

and our team is success-

ful. I think this is im-

portant because it shows

that I always have the

team’s best interests in

mind.

Editor: What kind of goals do you have for the next

season? Why?

Mara: This upcoming season, I want my high school team

to defend our state championship and have a successful

season. We’re going to have a somewhat young team so I

hope the team can come together as a family and repre-

sent our town. My main goal is for everyone on the team

to work hard and improve throughout the season, so that

our team can be the best we can be.

Mara Cosentino—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Editor: What are one or two things you currently do

in your training that are keys to your success?

Why?

Mara: I think the most important thing you can do in train-

ing to be successful is to always play as if you’re in a

game situation. By doing this, you can improve your speed

of play so when you actually are in a game, you’ll be pre-

pared. Also, if you treat every practice like a game, it en-

sures that you’re always working as hard as you can be,

which will help you be successful in the future.

Editor: You probably felt great after your best game

ever. What is it like to have this feeling, and

what can you compare it to?

Mara: It’s hard to think of anything that can even compare

to the feeling of playing your best game ever. The best

comparison I can imagine would probably be winning a

prestigious award or winning a big tournament like the

world cup. The reason it feels so great is because you’ve

been practicing basically your entire life for this, and win-

ning makes it all worth it. Knowing you gave everything

you had and laid it all on the line for your team is the best

feeling in the world.

Editor: What was the best advice you were ever giv-

en? Why?

Mara: The best advice I’ve ever received is to play every

game as if it were your last. This was very meaningful

advice for me because it keeps you humble and keeps you

motivated to always work as hard as you can. Something

could happen to you at any time, so this motto makes

every second you get to spend playing the game so much

more precious. Thinking this way will make you love the

game even more and helps you always give 100%.

Editor: Do you recall a difficult situation or an obsta-

cle you overcame? What was it, and how did

you do it?

Mara: In the high school championship game of the

state tournament, I was starting as a freshmen. I

was incredibly nervous and in the first few

minutes I couldn’t handle the nerves and was

playing terribly. I overcame this by taking a mo-

ment to relax. I calmed down and told myself

that it was just a regular game. After that, I be-

came more comfortable and just played sim-

ple. The rest of the game, I played well and my

team ended up having a very successful game

Editor: Do you en-

joy positive

rivalries with

your oppo-

nents? Give

one example

why?

Mara: I love rivalries with

other schools and

teams. They give you

something to look for-

ward to during the sea-

son. The games against

these teams are always

way more intense than

regular games which

makes it so much more

fun and competitive. A

specific example is my high school team’s rivalry with

South Windsor. Every time we play them, our entire team

gets so pumped up and excited to play- even more so

than for other games. Our games against them are con-

sistently among the most intense and fun games of the

season.

Soccer—Glastonbury, CT

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Olivia Meyers

St. Thomas Aquinas HS

Overland Park, KS

Coach Carlos Giron

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: How did you first get interested playing soc-

cer?

Olivia: As a little girl I participated in

tons of sports, one being soccer. My mom

was my first coach, and I loved playing for

her and with all the other girls. From there it

just stuck. I started dropping other sports to

be more competitive in soccer and haven't

looked back since.


achievement in soccer? Why?

Olivia: My ultimate achievement has

been winning consecutive state titles. My

freshmen year I won my first high school

state championship, sophomore year I

won club and high school, and junior year

we won high school. It represents all the

hard work I have put into playing and

nothing is better then ending each season

with an accomplishment of being number

one. It makes playing that much more

worth it.

Editor: Have you taken any risk while



Olivia: I would say every tournament

is a risk. Every girl puts all effort, skill,

and their bodies on the line to win the

game. I personally have played with some

bad contusions, strains, and scratches,

but frankly once your playing the pain

goes away and you do what you have to

do to win. I play for the team. We all

hurt, but together push through the pain

for victory.



that person? Why?

Olivia: My favorite athlete has been

Mia Hamm. From when I was little I

picked the number nine jersey because I

idolized how good she was, and maybe

wearing the same number would reflect

my play. At least that is what I hoped!

She has always been a legend in women’s

soccer. I have al-

ways admired her

accomplishments

and how good she

was when she

played. I was young

when she was a

player, but nobody

can ever forget the

name Mia Hamm

and what she did.

Editor: If you se-

lect 1-2 things

that you believe

differentiates you from other high

school girls’ soccer players, what

would they be? Why?

Olivia: I am not a stand out player. I

never was, nor have been! I am perfectly

ok with that too. I believe in my own skill

set and like to be the playmaker in the

background of games. I keep the game

calm and make sure we play well. For

this reason, some of my teammates call

me the “soccer mom” of the team be-

cause on and off the field I lead and take

care of the team.

Olivia Meyers—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Editor: What kind of goals do you have for

the next season? Why?

Olivia: College is a big step up from high school and I

am super pumped for it. My goal is to start at

least one of the games. I want to be a hard work-

ing freshman and let the team know I am here to

continue what I love to do. I want to earn my

place on the team through hard work and dedica-

tion.

Editor: What are one or two things you currently do

in your training that are keys to your success?

Why?

Olivia: In my training, I tell myself that no matter what

I’m going to work hard today. Even if I know I'm

not feeling it because I am too tired, I am going

to put in as much effort as I can into the practice.

I also mentally think during practice of things I

can try to work on. Maybe one day I will try to

take more people on dribbling, making a certain

pass better, or trying out a new move to expand

my skill set and be a versatile player.


contribute to your success in the sport, and

why?

Olivia: I give so much credit to my teammates for my

success. Without them I might not love the sport

as much as I do today. The memories we have

made together, their own skill making mine bet-

ter, and pushing me in ways others couldn’t has

shaped me as a player and person. We all work

together and I can say confidently, and with lots

of love, we have been a family. Our chemistry is

so strong and everyone has similar feelings that it

made playing that much more worth it. Everyone I

have played with is a reason I’ve kept playing all

these years.

Editor: What was the best advice you were ever giv-

en? Why?

Olivia: The best advice I was given was don’t be

afraid. It could mean don’t be afraid of the ball,

taking that shot outside the box, or to go 1v1

against someone. It’s inspired me throughout high

school because there has always been older girls

I have to play against, so I had to tell myself

don’t be afraid of that. Play how I play and don’t

worry about those fears out on the field. For high

school we write bumpers on our hands to give us

an extra boost when we are playing. Every game I

write FYF which means face your fears. When I

look at

it, it

reminds

me to

keep

pushing

through.

Editor: Do

you re-

call a

difficult

situation

or an

obstacle

you

over-

came?

What

was it,

and how

did you do it?

Olivia: I am a team captain for our high school team

so I deal with some drama. Lots of girls have lots

of personalities on the team and being the

“soccer mom” that I am, I take the roll of making

sure things get resolved, so it doesn’t reflect our

play on the field. It’s not easy being the modera-

tor for the team and there are always obstacles

on and off the field, but I try to stay positive and

be the leader to resolve issues. I feel I have ac-

cepted the position well even when it has not

been the easiest to do.

Soccer—St. Thomas Aquinas, KS

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: Do you think playing sports is good prepara-

tion for life for you and your teammates? Why?

Olivia: I think it is great preparation for life ahead of

us. Being an athlete teaches you so much about

time management, working with others, and put-

ting effort towards a goal. I have always been a

strong student-athlete so my grades have been

very important to me. It was a lot of long nights

of practice then studying, so I had to manage

everything and its made me a very organized per-

son. What teachers can’t teach me in a class-

room, I learn a lot from my teammates and

coaches.

Editor: What were some of the highlights

of the last season? What made it so special

for you?

Olivia: Last season was a huge highlight in itself I

believe because of how good we did. It was our

best record of 20-1 and the team was unbelieva-

bly fun to play with for 3 months. We laughed all

the time at practice due to our strong team

chemistry, and on the field we were a power-

house. It made it fun to play because we were so

successful. I will never forget the state champion-

ship game. It was one of our hardest matches and

we had to go into overtime. Everyone was so hot

and tired, but we pushed through to make the

golden goal and I have never been so over-

whelmed with emotion from excitement to relief

that we did it once again. I have a special bond

with that team and will never forget that champi-

onship.

Olivia Meyers—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Soccer—St. Thomas Aquinas, KS

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Katie Hall

Fairview HS

Fairview, TN

Coach Kevin Sizemore

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


playing soccer?

Katie: I watched several of my older

siblings play, and I always wanted to play on

a real team myself. After asking my mom

over and over again if I could play on a real

team, she signed me up with Fairview Soccer

Association.



Katie: I think it would be to play suc-

cessfully at the college level. It would

make good use of my gifts and talents,

and it would challenge me even more as

a player.




Katie: Yes. In overtime of the Regional

Semi-finals, I chose to risk a left-footed

shot across the goal rather than cutting to

my dominate foot. The ball flew over the

goalie and into the back of the net, claim-

ing our spot in the Regional Finals.

Editor: Who is your favorite athelite and


that person? Why?

Katie: I think Abby Wambach would

have to be my favorite. She has had so

much experience as a player and as a

coach, and she is always willing to share

that wisdom with others.

Editor: If, you select 1-2

things that you be-

lieve differentiates

you from other high

school girls’ soccer

players, what would

they be? Why?

Katie: One thing that

might separate me is the

fact that I enjoy making a good assist just

as much or more than getting the actual

goal.

Editor: What kind of goals do you have

for the next season? Why?

Katie: We have many strong senior lead-

ers coming up this year, and I would

like to see them go out with a record

setting season. I also hope to improve

in the little details of my game, so

that I can continue to progress.




Katie Hall—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Katie: I have been playing with people

that are older, stronger, faster, and

more skilled than I am, and this has

forced me to play my best every

game, just to keep up.


best game ever. What is it like to

have this feeling, and what can you

compare it to?

Katie: The feeling is really almost inde-

scribable. It is like putting the sun in-

side yourself and trying not to ex-

plode from its energy. You feel like

there could not have been a happier

day.



Katie: Everyone makes mistakes—what

separates you is what you do about

them. This has taught me to never be

satisfied with just being “okay”, but to

work hard to fix my mistakes and

faults.




Katie: One large obstacle for me was se-

verely bruising my tailbone when I

was ten years old. This made it painful

to run for about a year. My desire to

keep playing soccer caused me to

reinjure it several times, but it eventu-

ally healed and I was an even more

determined

soccer player

because of it.

Editor: What’s

your favorite

movie and

book? Why?

Katie: Divergent

is probably

my favorite

movie. I real-

ly enjoy how the adventure, danger,

and romance are all intertwined. The

Bible is my favorite book because of

its timeless, inspiring, and encouraging

message.



ample why?

Katie: Yes! Rivalries add spice to the

game, and they help you stay confi-

dent and focused.

Soccer—Fairview, TN

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Maggie Moulton

Rocky Mountain HS

Meridian, ID

Coach Donal Kaehler

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


playing soccer?

Maggie: When I was younger I saw my

sister play it and I wanted to be just

like her. Unfortunately, she hated it. I,

on the other hand, instantly fell in

love.



Maggie: My ultimate achievement in soc-

cer is to be a starter on a college soc-

cer team. I have dreamed about this

goal for a long time and didn’t always

believe I would achieve it. But I have

worked so hard for it and my coaches

have provided me with so many op-

portunities. Finally attaining this ambi-

tion will be a dream come true.




Maggie: I remember once in a tournament

several years ago taking a risk in the

semi-finals. There were only a few

minutes left in the game and we were

tied 0-0. We had a corner kick, which

was probably going to be our last

scoring opportunity. As the ball was

crossed it was far ahead of me and I

didn’t think I could reach it. But last

second I dove forward, hitting the ball

with my head. It was nerve wracking

because cleats were flying in the air

everywhere and I could have easily

gotten injured, but I didn’t. The goal

went in and we won the semi-final

game. The risk was so worth taking.

Editor: If, you

select 1-2

things that

you be-

lieve dif-

ferentiates

you from

other high

school

girls’ soc-

cer play-

ers, what

would

they be?

Why?

Maggie: I don’t give up. I don’t care if

we are down by one goal, or if we are

down by ten – it doesn’t matter to

me. I will still fight for my team.



Maggie Moulton—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

.Maggie: Next season I plan to work as

hard as I can to be a contributor to

the team, whether that’s on the field

or off the field cheering. I think this is

so important because I am moving on

to the next level (college) where any-

thing can happen beyond my control.

However, I can always control my be-

havior, and I choose to have a positive

attitude.




Maggie: Something that is crucial to being

a successful athlete is fitness, espe-

cially in a game like soccer. It’s not

only about endurance but speed and

agility and strength as well. If other

girls are ahead of you in those aspects

it is very difficult to keep up. So I try

to always be working on my fitness.

Another key to my success is the

willingness to work on my own. If you

can’t evaluate yourself and find your

weaknesses you will always be at a

plateau.


best game ever. What is it like to

have this feeling, and what can you

compare it to?

Maggie: There are hardly any words that

can accurately describe the feeling

you get after your best game. When

you walk off the field there is abso-

lutely nothing that can stop you from

smiling ear to ear. People are con-

stantly congratulating you and the ela-

tion is evident in your countenance. It

is like eating a perfectly crafted lemon

bar. It is so sweet and so perfect, and

you never want it

to end.

Editor: Do you recall

a difficult situation

or an obstacle you

overcame? What

was it, and how

did you do it?

Maggie: When I was a

freshman I didn’t make the varsity

soccer team. I was devastated be-

cause a lot of my club teammates did,

and I felt inadequate. But if I hadn’t

gone through that experience I don’t

believe I would have worked as hard

as I did the following year. I woke up

early every day in the summer to run

on my own. Every time I stepped on

the field I gave it 110%. I am so proud

of myself for what I achieved. My

sophomore year I was finally able to

make the varsity team.

Soccer—Rocky Mountain, ID

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Madison Lewis

Zionsville HS

Zionsville, IN

Coach Ramon Aguillon

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


playing soccer?

Madison: I was first interested in soc-

cer when I realized I was very competitive

and I would love any sport that involved a

ball.

Editor: Can you recall a game or tourna-

ment that you felt you gave it all you

had and even more? What were the

outcomes of your effort?

Madison: I remember a game when I

was about 13 years old and it was a tie

game with about two minutes left, and I

scored a volley from almost half field to

win the game.

Editor: Have you experienced that you

were at your personal limit while

playing in a game or working out?

How does it feel and why was it so

hard to press on?

Madison: Many times while I’m work-

ing out I need to get fit, and also in a

game when you have to give it your all to

the very end because the outcome of

winning is worth it.



that person? Why?

Madison: My favorite athlete right now

is Peyton Manning. I admire how hard he

works to get better, and how everyone

has tremendous respect for him.



was it and how did you do it?

Madison: Last year I underwent a seri-

ous ankle injury

where I needed

surgery for it to

be fully healed.

It caused me to

miss my senior

soccer season,

but I stayed

positive and

supported my

team.

Editor: Who

were the

people that gave you support and en-

couragement during this difficult situa-

tion? How much do you think it

helped?

Madison: My friends and family were al-

ways reminding me that everything

happens for a reason, and that I was

going to come back better and strong-

er.

Madison Lewis—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Editor: What inspires you to play soccer

as hard as you do?

Madison: My love for the game. I some-

times think about what my life would

be like without soccer and I can’t

even imagine.

Editor: How are you able to balance play-

ing sports with your schoolwork?

Madison: It definitely gets hard some-

times and can become very

stressful, but I just try to manage

my time as much as possible. It

might cause me to miss out on a

social event, but soccer is worth

it.

Editor: What was the best advice

you were ever given? Why?

Madison: To never give up. Some-

times things might not be going

your way, but you just have to

push through and work harder.

Editor: What is the best compli-

ment you have ever received?

Madison: That I’m a hard worker be-

cause I work very hard so it is

nice to see someone notice that.


challenging and satisfying aspect of

you coming back to play soccer again?

Why?

Madison: The most challenging part was

getting back in shape; without playing

for a while you get really out of

shape. The most satisfying is just be-

ing back on the field with my friends

and teammates again.

Soccer—Zionsville, IN

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Zach Reichard

Saucon Valley HS

Hellertown, PA

Coach Mel Moyer

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: When and how did you start

playing soccer?

Zach: I started playing soccer ever

since I was a kid, probably about 6 years old

playing intramural soccer. I then tried out for

the Saucon Valley soccer travel team when I

was 9 and made the team. I played with that

team up until I was 14 and all the kids on the

team are all seniors this year too. We have

all been good friends ever since that age we

began playing soccer.

Editor: What is a unique aspect of soc-

cer that got you interested in playing?

Why?

Zach: I enjoyed how fast soccer was

and that you were always doing some-

thing which is why I gave up playing base-

ball at a young age, it was a little too

slow for me.

Editor: What skills do you think you still

need to develop to step up to the

next level in your performance? Why?

Zach: I think I would have to develop

my vision and my passing because I

would like to always see the open man

and be able to make the right decision

and play the perfect pass to them.



that person? Why?

Zach: My favorite athlete is Thierry

Henry who played for Arsenal. What I

admire most about him is his love for the

game and how hard he worked and his

determination.

Editor: How do

you prepare

for a game?

Zach: To prepare

for a game, I

like to focus

on what my

job is and

what I have to

do to help the

team succeed.

I like to listen

to music or just talk with the guys on

the bus ride there which helps relax

me. Stretch well and warm up hard

and I'm good to go.


for next season? Why?

Zach: My goals for next season are to

work hard and do my best to help the

team succeed.

Zach Reichard—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015


currently do in your training that you

feel are keys to your success? Why?

Zach: Having fun. If you’re not having fun

you're not going to perform well. I

would like to contribute my success

to just enjoying the game and having

fun with it.

Editor: What would you do if you were

told that you had been selected as

the best high school soccer player of

all time? Why?

Zach: I would be grateful to accept the

award, but I wouldn't forget that I

wouldn't be the player I am without

the help of my teammates, coaches,

and my family.



Zach: The best advice I was ever given

was to believe in myself, because if

you don't believe in yourself you

won't come close to fulfilling your

true potential.




Zach: The most difficult situation I had to

overcome was breaking my collarbone

my freshman year in the offseason. It

was tough not being able to play soc-

cer and practice

with the guys for

about 3 months.

What I did was

take this time to

work on my

touch, with my

arm in a sling I

had a ball at my

feet in the house

pretty much

constantly and

was juggling, and

juggling helps with your touch tre-

mendously and that really helped my

game for the upcoming years.


about soccer, what would it be? Why?

Zach: If I could change one rule about

soccer it would probably be the yel-

low card and that you have to sit out

for 5 minutes.

Soccer—Saucon Valley, PA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Joe Cummings

Guerin Catholic HS

Noblesville, IN

Coach John Cech

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


playing soccer?

Joe: I started playing soccer at age three

for the local youth recreational

league.



Why?

Joe: My parents encouraged me to try

baseball, basketball, and soccer. I

liked all three, but I especially liked

soccer. I don’t like standing still, so I

enjoyed soccer for all the movement

involved in the game.




Joe: I want to work on my on-field lead-

ership as captain of a young team with

lots of potential. I’ve been fortunate

to have great coaching and exception-

al role models over the years, and I

hope to carry on that tradition.



that person? Why?

Joe: My favorite athlete is Lionel Messi

because he lets his performance on

the field speak for him instead of

bragging or talking trash.

Editor: How do you prepare for a game?

Joe: I think we all work hard in practice

so that we’re ready to go on game

day. On a personal level, I listen to

music, try to focus on the game

ahead, and pray.



Joe: We want to build our team through-

out the year

and compete

at a high lev-

el against the

top teams in

the state.

Our focus is

to advance

as far as we

can when it

comes to

playoffs. We

are moving

up a class

size this year

because we won two state titles in

the lower division. Our new sectional

will be one of the hardest in the state,

and it would be amazing for us to win.




Joe: We work hard in practice, we listen

to the coaches, we share ideas, and

we make sure we are focused and

ready for game day.

Joe Cummings—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




all time? Why?

Joe: I would be honored, however, any

success I have is due to the strength

of the team working together. Also,

over the years, I have been privileged

to play with and against some really

great players in Indiana.

Editor: What was the best ad-

vice you were ever given?

Why?

Joe: If you work hard, you can

do anything because the

more you put into it, the

more you get out of it.

Editor: Do you recall a difficult

situation or an obstacle you

overcame? What was it,

and how did you do it?

Joe: I had surgery on my

shoulder and had to build

myself back into playing

shape to get back on the

field after the absence.

Editor: What’s your favorite

movie and book? Why?

Joe: My favorite movie is Rudy

because it’s a great story of

perseverance, and it takes

place in Indiana. My favorite

book is Mother Night by

Kurt Vonnegut because I enjoy his sa-

tirical writing.



Joe: I would not change any rules about

soccer. I love the sport the way it is.

Soccer—Guerin Catholic, IN

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Ethan Wells

Reagan HS

Pfafftown, NC

Coach Paul Hicks

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


playing soccer?

Ethan: I started playing soccer when I

was 4 years old and first became interested

in soccer when one of my friends had invited

me to play for his recreational team.



Why?

Ethan: The unique aspect of soccer

that I found most interesting was the

freedom that came while playing. This

was great because when you are out

there on the field all the worries go away

and it’s just two teams and a ball.




Ethan: The skills that I believe I need

to develop to elevate my game is the

strength side, both mentally and physical-

ly. The next level offers great opportuni-

ties, but you have to prepare yourself

mentally and physically and be strong on

both sides to be able to compete.



that person? Why?

Ethan: Ronaldinho is my favorite ath-

lete. Growing up I always watched him

play and dreamed of being even remotely

close to the skill level he was on. What I

admired most about him was his passion

for the game. No matter what was going

on during the game, he always seemed to

have a smile on his face, showing his en-

joyment for the great game.

Editor: How do you

prepare for a game?

Ethan: When I pre-

pare for a game I usual-

ly eat some type of pas-

ta before, then get

ready to head to the

field. The majority of

the time I get my ankles

taped, almost as a good

luck idea, and then I prepare for every

game the same in the warm-ups and be-

fore it starts. I always pass around for a

few minutes before doing dynamic warm-

up and go through the usual passing drills

and possession. Right before kick-off I

would tape my wrist and put on shin

guards and then get ready to play.



Ethan: Since I graduated high school ear-

ly, I plan on continuing my hard work

Ethan Wells—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

My primary goal is to be able to start

games as a freshman and compete

with the first team.




Ethan: One or two things that I continue

to do during training is to always push

myself, whether it is in weights, condi-

tioning, or field training. The other

thing that I do is I make sure to pre-

pare myself in the right ways because

I want to focus on becoming a better

athlete.




all time? Why?

Ethan: I would probably not believe it at

first, just because there is a lot of tal-

ent at all ages throughout the high

school level. But if it were true I

would thank God, my family, coaches,

teammates, friends, and all those that

have supported me on my journey.



Ethan: The best advice I was given is to

have a short-term memory when play-

ing soccer. This is crucial because you

need to be focusing one or two steps

ahead of the game, not thinking of

how great a goal you just scored, or

how bad of a pass that was. Celebrate

or hate yourself about it for a split

second, then get your mind focused

right back into the game.




Ethan: A difficult situation that I faced

was not being strong enough and

looked at as weak. I overcame this by

putting in hard work my freshman year

and continuing this all the way to my

senior year, which is when I came

back to play high school and cap-

tained my team to a State Champion-

ship


book? Why?

Ethan: My favorite movie would be Olym-

pus Has Fallen because it is just a

very action packed movie. My favorite

book would have to be I am Zlatan

because who doesn’t like to read

about one of the best footballers.

Soccer—Reagan, NC

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Porter Milner

Broomfield HS

Broomfield, CO

Coach Jim Davidson

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


playing soccer?

Porter: I started playing when I was

about three or four in a local league called

the “Small Frys”



Why?

Porter: Soccer always kept me enter-

tained because of its constant play and

motion. I played baseball competitively

and had to quit because it was too slow

for me.




Porter: There’s always room for im-

provement but I think the one thing I

could change that would be the most

beneficial to me is my defense. Though I

am an attacking-minded player, I’ve al-

ways been taught that good team defense

starts from the forwards back.



that person? Why?

Porter: My favorite athlete is Eden

Hazard who plays for the English club

Chelsea. Hazard is my favorite because I

have an admiration for his game and style

of play. It’s something that is always en-

tertaining to watch.



Porter: For my team, I would like to win

another state championship. We have

the players, the depth and the right

coaching staff

to do it. Per-

sonally I would

like to have All-

American hon-

ors as well as

win Gatorade

Player of the

Year. Last sea-

son I was in the

running for both

but came short.




Porter: With training I like to come into it

with the same mental state as I would

for a game. I want to work as hard as I

can and make sure I am being an ef-

fective leader for my team. That

means learning from my mistakes as

well as other’s.

Porter Milner—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015



Porter: My coach always tells us that

good things happen to those who

work hard. I think this has been a

deeply influential piece of advice in

my life because not only does it

translate to soccer, but it also trans-

lates to every other thing you do in

life.




Porter: Yes, there were two instances

during our season that were especially

hard on the entire team and the com-

munity. Both involved accidental

deaths of two different boys at our

school. Both these times were hard

on the team but what helped us get

out of it was the realization that our

community needed something to be

positive about and that we had the

opportunity to do that. Two days after

one of the boys’ memorials, we went

out and won a state championship for

Broomfield.


book? Why?

Porter: My favorite book is The Power of

One, by Bryce Courtenay. I found this

book to be very entertaining and I

thought it held a brilliant message

within it. My favorite movie has to be

Hot Rod. Just because of how stupid-

ly funny it is.



Porter: Nothing, I don’t have any com-

plaints. Maybe crack down a little

more on flopping at least in the pro-

fessional leagues. Some of those guys

make it seem a little ridiculous.

Soccer—Broomfield, CO

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Alex Proper

Beekmantown HS

Plattsburgh, NY

Coach Ryan Loucy

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Alex Proper

Beekmantown HS

Plattsburgh, NY

Coach Ryan Loucy

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2


playing soccer?

Alex: My first team was through the

YMCA when I was 3 years old.

Editor: What is a unique aspect of

soccer that got you interested in play-

ing? Why?

Alex: I love the choices in positions. I

could start a game on offense and end

the game playing defense.

Editor: What skills do you think you

still need to develop to step up to the


Alex: As competition increases, so

does the level of mental focus need-

ed to play the game well. I feel that I

need to improve on this.

Editor: Who is your favorite athlete

and what is it that you admire most

about that person? Why?

Alex: Hands down, Michael Jordan is

my favorite athlete. He works hard on

every little aspect of his game. His

mental focus on and off the court is

amazing.

Editor: How do you prepare for a

game?

Alex: I eat a good meal, meet the

dream early (go to sleep early) and

listen to music on my headphones.

While all of my teammates are getting

ready around me, I let the music take

over and focus on what I want from

myself in the game.



Alex: I first want to get to know my

team and coach both on and off the

field. I want to learn my role as a

teammate. A team needs to be a fami-

ly to succeed.

Editor: What are one or two things

you currently do in your training that

you feel are keys to your success?

Why?

Alex Proper—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Alex: Consistent exercise. I personal-

ly need to run. It helps me to breathe

better and to be more consistent.

Editor: What were some of the high-

lights of the last season? What made

it so special for you?

Alex: My last high school season was

very memorable. Our family (team)

made it to the New York Class B

State Finals Championship game. I

had the honor of being selected for

the CVAC All-Star Team. I was also

named one of our team’s co-captains.

Editor: Have you ever had someone

give you good advice that had a posi-

tive impact towards your success on

the field? What was their advice?

Alex: Coach Loucy always said, “Look

good. Feel good. Play good.” When

you show up to a game put together,

your confidence level rises.

Editor: Do you recall a difficult situa-

tion or an obstacle you overcame?

What was it, and how did you do it?

Alex: In one of the most important

games of my soccer career, I battled

leg cramps. A very dedicated assistant

coach stayed in the hotel through the

evening and night with me. He not

only provided medical care but kept

my spirits up.

Editor: Do you think playing sports is

good preparation for life for you and

your teammates? Why?

Alex: Absolutely! I have learned re-

sponsibility, dedication, hard work,

sacrifice and teamwork. Sports are my

stress reliever, organizer and confi-

dence builder.



Alex: I have thought for a while about

this question. Honestly, I love the

game in its entirety as it is.

Soccer—Beekmantown, NY

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Hannah Greene

Fort Cherry HS

McDonald, PA

Coach Ben Maxin

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

competing in track and field?

Hannah: As a freshman a lot of the

upper classmen really influenced me to try it

out, I wasn't for it at first I didn't know much

about it and I figured it was just all running

and I didn't like that much, but as basketball

season passed and track soon approached I

decided why not give it a try if I didn't like it

I could always not do it. That wasn't the

case!


ment as a track athlete so far? Why?

Hannah: My biggest accomplishment

definitely has to be making it to WPIALS

in 300 meter hurdles as a freshman, it

was a super cool experience and alt-

hough I didn't continue onto States it was

still very cool getting the experience as a

first year track athlete, it was already a

win just making it that far in my first year

of track


competing? What was it, and was it

worth taking?

Hannah: I haven't really taken many

risks I always try to play it safe and do

what's best for me and my race, eat right,

train hard, stay healthy!



that person? Why?

Hannah: Definitely have to go with

LoLo Jones as my favorite athlete, not

only is she absolutely gorgeous she's an

outstanding athlete, she never gives up

on anything and I truly look up to her for

that, she works hard for everything and

never fails to keep a positive attitude on

everything and she's a hurdler as am I!!

"I'm inspired by failure. The process of

defeat-picking yourself back up again is

the hardest thing in the world" -LoLo.

Editor: How do you get prepared for

your competition?

Hannah: I

always eat a

good meal

the night be-

fore a meet

mainly pasta

(best to load

up on

carbs), I

mentally

prepare my-

self and tell

myself that

I'm going to

run this race

even better

than I ran

the last one, if I have a bad race I train

and prepare to run it better the next time.

I always keep a positive attitude. I tell

myself that I'm going to put in the best

48-50 seconds of my time into my race!

Eat, pray, race!


for the next track season? Why?

Hannah: My goal is always to push

myself as hard as I can through the

season and see where it takes me.

Hannah Greene—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




Hannah: Key to success is a positive

attitude, hard workouts are tough yes

but it all pays off in the end and there

really is no better feeling than the one

you get after a tough workout. Never

cheat the workout never give up on

yourself. You are capable of doing an-

ything you put your mind too. Not

having a track at Fort Cherry is very

tough but again positive attitude is al-

ways key, we resort to a lot of other

things that help us all improve in what

we need to improve on, Always hav-

ing coaches that truly believe in me

and support me through the whole

season is a major key to my success

as well. Very blessed to have coaches

like Coach Maxin & Coach Center,

they never give up on me and that’s

very important to me. Like they al-

ways say "Practice how you would

perform".




Hannah: There are always skills I can

improve on. I’m never going to be

perfect at what I do. I’m always im-

proving, but I can definitely get better

with my form over the hurdles the

more things I fix the more my time

drops! Always looking to drop my PR

every race, that's my main goal before

I run and if don’t then I go for it next

race!



Hannah: To always keep a good atti-

tude. It's a lot better than a negative

one. When I’m working out and I hear

negative comments it effects my atti-

tude toward the workout and it

doesn't bring me up, only brings me

down. I make sure I’m always working

out with positive people. It already is

tough working through the pain, the

last thing I need is a negative attitude,

so I talk up my workout partners and

they do the same for me. It makes my

work out a lot

easier!

Editor: Do you re-

call a difficult

situation or an

obstacle you

overcame?

What was it,

and how did

you do it?

Hannah: I broke

my ankle in the

summer of 2014 while playing softball.

I was able to get better for basketball

season, but in the second round

playoff game I tweaked it a little bit

and I was worried I wasn't able to do

track. But I slowly eased into it with

the help of Trainer Beca, our school’s

trainer. She was a lot of help, and be-

fore I knew it I was jumping over hur-

dles and running on it again!

Track—Fort Cherry, PA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Gillian Walter

Saline HS

Saline, MI

Coach Brian Boze

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Gillian Walter

Saline HS

Saline, MI

Coach Brian Boze

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: What first interested you to com-

pete in track?

Gillian: When I was about 10 years

old my older sister, Lindsay, started to run

and naturally I wanted to do everything my

cool older sister did. In fifth grade I started

running Girls on the Run. Ever since then I’ve

been competing in both cross-country and

track. I mainly started with cross-country and

decided to do track to stay in shape for

cross-country, but I’ve grown to love track

just as much.

Editor: Can you recall a meet that you

felt you gave it all you had and even

more? What were the outcomes of

your efforts?

Gillian: My freshman year I was in the

freshman mile for the Golden Triangle

meet. I was scared out of my mind, there

were a ton of big names and competitors

there, but we started the race and I felt

so good, my legs felt so strong. I ended

up winning the race with a 5:17, a huge PR

that still stands. The next three times I

race a mile I ran a 5:17

Another one was my sophomore year.

I had raced the 4x800and had a pretty

decent split that helped our team win. I’m

not the fastest 800 runner or sprinter, so

when I get somewhere in the mid-high

2:20’s I get excited! I waited around for

the 2 mile and ended up doing really

well. I’m not sure of my time, but I’m

pretty sure I had a season PR. Once I fin-

ished the 2, I was so happy with how my

races had gone and I was so relieved to

be done. But then Coach Smith came up

to me and said one of the girls had pulled

a muscle warming up for the 4x400, so

he put me in that relay. At this point I

was dead and my legs were shot, we

took second and I ran the equivalent to

what my PR had been all season.

Editor: Do you

have a say-

ing or motto

that you like

to share

with others?

Gillian: Not

really. I’m not

too into strong

motivational

saying or

speeches. I’m

not very effected by them, but ever day

my mom will tell me “do your thing,” the

last time she sees me before I race.



that person? Why?

Gillian: Probably my sister. She really

is the reason I started running and I can’t

thank her enough for that. She wasn’t the

Gillian Walter—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

fastest runner, she was slower than

me, but that never bothered her, and I

really admire that. Running is more than

just a sport and she really showed that.

No matter whether she was the fastest or

slowest, having a great or a horrible day,

she enjoyed running. She got much more

out of it than just a healthy lifestyle. She

made friendships that she still holds to-

day; she learned discipline and self worth.

She realized that she could push herself

past her breaking point and be okay.

Watching her go through those things

with me made it seem like it would all be

okay. She was a captain and she’s taught

me traits that you need in order to be a

good leader. Thankfully, I’ve learned well

from her and I’m now one of the seven

captains of the team. I think I look up to

her mainly because she loved the sport

so much and it made me want to love it

too.




Gillian: It was very frustrating coming

back from basketball season and having

to get made into a certain physique that

most girls are already in. I would struggle

in workouts and Coach would make me

take more breaks, and it was frustrating

to think that Coach didn’t believe in me.

But after a few years I realized that Coach

was just looking out for me and trying to

get me back to running as soon as possi-

ble.

Editor: Who were the people that gave

you support and encouragement dur-

ing this difficult situation? How much

do you think it helped?

Gillian: Mostly Coach Smith. He kept re-

assuring me that everything would be

okay and I would be back in not time.

It really

helped to

know that

he still had

faith in me

and believed

I could re-

cover from

taking four

months off.

Editor: What

inspires you

to compete as hard as you do?

Gillian: The girls, I don’t get inspired very

easily, but just going to practice eve-

ryday and hanging out with friends

while getting a good workout in is

such a good feeling and it makes any

day I'm having ten times better.

Editor: How are you able to balance

track with your schoolwork?

Track—Saline, MI

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Gillian: I actually think playing a sport

helps with managing schoolwork, even

though it takes up more time. Ath-

letes know that they only have limited

time to get work done so they do

their work more quickly and efficient-

ly. Having practice after school helps

relieve some stress and gives your

mind a mental break, so when you go

home and work, your mind seems just

a little sharper than before practice.

Sports help create a schedule that

keeps you focused. You’re more

prone to getting your work done by a

certain time in order to get a good

night sleep. I also work as a hostess

at Outback Steak House. It was a lit-

tle stressful at first, but I enjoy the

feeling of being able to handle sports,

academics, and a job. It gives me a

sense of accomplishment and suc-

cess.



Gillian: Most people tell me to be aggres-

sive and don’t back down, but I’m not

that kind of runner and those words

don’t motivate me. Like I said earlier

my mom always tells me to “do my

thing,” and that just shows that she

has faith in me, in what I’ve done up

to this point, and that I’m prepared

enough for what’s to come.

Editor: What is the best compliment you

have ever received? Why?

Gillian: “You’ve got long legs. You’re so

tall.” I’m 5’11. I’m a tall girl with long

limbs, and when people say that I’m

tall or have long legs it makes me

smile. It’s not really a compliment, but

I say thanks anyways. It just makes me

feel like they truly look up

(figuratively and literally) to me and

respect me. It makes me feel as

though people see me as a role mod-

el and they admire me. Lots of people

have told me that I’m fast and “Wow,

I want to run like you.” But those

words are given out too easily. Not

many people are told they’re tall and

have strong legs. It’s like my own per-

sonal trait. It’s something they can’t

take away from me.


challenging, and satisfying aspects of

you coming back to compete again?

Why?

Gillian Walter—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Gillian: When I was a freshman and a

sophomore, I played on the JV basket-

ball team. Therefore, I didn’t train dur-

ing the winter season and quickly fell

behind when it came to track. When I

came back for track practices I had a

hard time keeping up with the girls

who had been training all winter. It

was definitely frustrating and made me

want to kick myself, but I soon got

back into running shape. One of the

most satisfying feelings is probably

making a name for myself. I’m not the

fastest person, obviously, but I’m defi-

nitely up there. And when girls see

me finish so early they wonder who I

am and lately different runners have

come up to me and asked me some

questions about my times and races.

It’s nice to know that people are

starting to pay attention to me be-

cause they see me as a threat.

Track—Saline, MI

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Bailey Sweatman

James Island HS

Charleston, SC

Coach David Lee

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



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about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Bailey: My middle school PE coach

wanted me to come out for the track team

and I thought “Why not?” It was something

new for me to try.



Bailey: Breaking the state record be-

cause not many people are able to

achieve that in their high school career.



that person? Why?

Bailey: Sandi Morris because she is

full of life and she always has a positive

outlook on every situation.


your competition?

Bailey: I do my warm up drills to get

hot and ready to fire. I also go and talk to

my coach for a game plan and what I have

to be focused on.


the next track season? Why?

Bailey: I want to break my current state

record and just improve as much as I

can to become a better athlete.




Bailey: I’ve worked a lot on driving my

knees to really get in that tuck posi-

tion,

and I’ve

been

trying to

improve

my row

phase.

Editor: What

skills do

you

think

you still

need to

develop

to step

up to the next level in your perfor-

mance? Why?

Bailey: The inversion phase to help me

get more vertical, and to be able to

clear higher heights.



Bailey Sweatman—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Bailey: “You just have to be dumb for

10 seconds,” because this is the event

where you can’t think about every-

thing your doing, or else you will psy-

che yourself out.




Bailey: Changing to a new and bigger pole

is very difficult and it plays mind

games with you. I just had to take lit-

tle steps to work my way back on the

pole.


successful in your sport, and why?

Bailey: To stay positive and keep going;

you just can’t give up.

Editor: Do you think competing in track is a

good way of preparing you and your


Bailey: I do because everyone comes to-

gether as a family. You learn how to

work with each other even if you

don’t necessary like them.

Track—James Island, SC

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Haley Vinson

Faith Lutheran Academy

Las Vegas, NV

Coach Dan Kober

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



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about

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Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Haley: I started doing track and field

when I was in middle school. I started be-

cause I missed the tryout day for soccer and

track sounded interesting.


ment as a track athlete so far? How

can you improve on that for the up-

coming season?

Haley: When I was an individual state

champion back to back years in the triple

jump. This was my biggest accomplish-

ment because track had never really been

my favorite sport, but it was fun for me to

hangout with my friends and discover that

I was actually pretty decent at something

I though I wasn’t.

Editor: What are your favorite drills?

How do you think these drills prepare

you for your specific event?

Haley: My favorite drill was when the

jumpers did a 4 by 100 meter relay for

our workout. It was different and it was

fun! Seeing all the jumpers who don’t re-

ally do hand offs for relays attempt to do

this drill was fun. Plus the fun competitive

spirit really made it interesting. This

helped me in a few ways, to build up

speed for going down the runway when I

jump. It also helped for my hand offs

when I was in relays.


your competition a day before and the

morning of a meet? How does this

help you to focus on your event?

Haley: The day before a meet I make

sure to drink lots of water and try to only

eat things that I think will benefit me. I

usually try and

eat pasta the

night before

and get to bed

extra early.

The morning of

the event I eat

a breakfast of

oatmeal, a ba-

nana with pea-

nut butter and

orange juice.

Eating healthy

helps me to

not worry

about if what I ate is going to effect me

negatively.



Haley: Though I will not be returning to

the track team, my main goal is for the

team to bring back two more state

championships.

Haley Vinson—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




Haley: My lifting and eating, those two

things are what helped me stay in

good shape and helped me to achieve

a lot of things this year. The healthy

eating and lifting I did in my weight

lifting class I believe is what helped

me to stay in good shape, so I didn’t

get tried while I was jumping or run-

ning my leg of the 4x400m.




Haley: Due to the fact that I will not be

competing in track and field anymore,

the one thing I would like to have de-

veloped more would’ve been my sec-

ond phase in the triple jump. I feel as

though I could’ve had a better second

phase.



Haley: “Just let go and have fun.” This

was the best advice someone gave me

because in the heat of competition

most athletes tend to forget why

they’re doing this. They get so caught

up in not winning or doing well be-

cause they aren’t having fun anymore.




Haley: The most difficult obstacle I had

to overcome in track would’ve had to

be when our 4x400m relay was at

Chandler and we were in a different

position than we were

used to. We were in

sixth by the third leg.

Our anchor leg and I

had a lot of ground to

make up. We ran the

best legs possible to

give our team a

chance and won the

race by a few sec-

onds.

Editor: How do you think competing in

track prepares you for life? Why?

Haley: Competing in track has lots of

hard times and obstacles that are hard

to overcome. When you look at life, it

has a lot of those qualities. Whether

it’s preparing for a race or preparing

for another chapter of your life, track

is like that. There is always something

to move forward to. Track and life

stop for no one, they take those who

can keep up and drop those who can-

not.

Track—Faith Lutheran, NV

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Kamaria Webster

Desoto HS

Desoto, TX

Coach June Villers

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



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about

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April 2015 Issue #2



Kamaria: My biggest accomplishment

is getting a chance to be on the varsity

team, it’s not an easy spot to gain. It

takes a lot of discipline, great work ethic,

the right mindset, but also a sense of

leadership. They all play a part in each

other somehow. It took me 3 years to

finally gain that spot. My freshman year I

thought it would be easy to get out there

and just join the team, but my coaches

proved that to be wrong. I wasn’t always

the stereotypical athlete, nor did I have

the physical appearance of an athlete, so

it was always a challenge for me. Sopho-

more year I had a bit more experience. I

started to beat my own records, reaching

the goals I’d set for myself, and almost

gaining my spot on varsity. Unfortunately,

I had two knee injuries that set me back.

Also, I wasn’t mentally or physically

ready to take on that challenge. My junior

year I was out for 4 months. I came back

and it was crunch time. I had to get back

in shape, do my time trial and be ready by

our first meet. I ran the time trial twice

not making it, becoming frustrated. One

day my coach came to the weight room

and said, “Kamaria you can either run it

now and be in the meet, or you can wait

until next week and not compete.” I

stood there contemplating but finally said,

“I’ll run it today coach.” As I went to go

run my heart was pounding . My first lap

was good, the second lap came around

and I started to die out right at the 200

mark. My teammates came and pushed

me saying, come on you got this, you

have to make it, we’re not letting you run

this again. I ran my heart out and finally

made it. I officially had my varsity spot

after 3 years.

Editor: What are your favorite drills?

How do you think these drills prepare

you for your specific event?

Kamaria: That’s a tricky question. I do

not like drills, but I do them because I

have to and I need to in order to get

where I need to be. They help me to get

across the ring quicker and correctly.

Drills help with footwork. My coach

makes us do them before

every practice for 10

minutes. Then we do them

after a workout in the

weight room. They help in

the long run because once

you get used to that one

position it automatically be-

comes natural.



Kamaria: My goals are to be an ex-

traordinary athlete, and to break the

record that has been held for shot put

at Desoto High School since 1985.

The same goes for the discus record

that has been held since 2008. I want

to show everyone who has ever put

me down or said that I wouldn’t make

it, that no matter what adversities are

thrown at me, I will overcome them.

Every setback I’ve had only made me

a stronger and better athlete/person. I

want to make it past area this year

and go to regionals then state. That is

my ultimate goal for my next track

season.

Kamaria Webster—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

.Editor: What are one or two things you



Kamaria: I train three times a week,

have a rest day , then an active rest

day. I do 50 shot put throws, 50 dis-

cus throws, 10 set of 100 yard sprints,

or jump rope. This helps me to move

across the ring faster. I stay on a

healthy diet to keep up my energy,

metabolism, and to gain the muscle

that I need. As a thrower people think

you have to be big, but, all it really

takes is athleticism, technique, hard

work and being in shape.




Kamaria: I honestly believe my coach-

es have given me all of the skills I

need to better myself in the next lev-

el. I just have to apply them and con-

tinue to do what I’m doing, which is

stay disciplined and working hard.




Kamaria: Yes, the day after I lost my

dad. It was track season and I really

didn’t have any motivation to do any-

thing. I would put a smile on just to

make my day go. One day my summer

track coach talked to me and said,

”Make your season count and do it

for him.” I worked hard, even when

no one else was practicing I was. I

used track as my escape and I did

everything with a purpose. I told my-

self I’m going to make him proud of

me, so ever since then my dad has

been my motivation.

Editor: What qualities would you need

to develop to become even better in

your event? Why?

Kamaria: I would need to have a

stronger mindset; and stop getting in

my head after I have one bad throw,

because track

is a very

mental sport.

A team al-

ways needs a

leader and

someone

who uplifts

them.

Editor: How do

you think

competing in

track pre-

pares you for

life? Why?

Kamaria: I strongly believe that it

helps you to become more disciplined

and gain a stronger work ethic; it pre-

pares you for life not only physically,

but mentally. It teaches us how to

strive and give it everything we’ve got

because you never know who’s

watching. Many things can be thrown

at you but it’s how you respond to

them that makes all the difference.

Track—Desoto, TX

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Armstrong Noonan

Darien HS

Darien, CT

Coach Tyson Kaczmarek

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Armstrong Noonan

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: When, and how did you start


Armstrong: As a freshman in high

school I started out playing soccer. Thinking

that I would not play a sport in the winter

and would inevitably tryout for our school’s

competitive lacrosse team, I focused all of

my attention on proving that I had what it

took to define myself as a major contributor

to our school’s soccer team. However, in

doing so I realized that I was gifted in areas

that I had never before considered. While my

ball handling skills were sub par at best, my

speed and stamina were what kept me agile

and capable on the field. During our school’s

soccer tryouts my freshman year I ran a time

of 11 minutes and 15 seconds, beating out

every other player by almost a minute. I re-

member one of my older teammates at the

time calling the track coach immediately after

I ran, telling him that he would love to meet

me and that he thought I would make a great

addition to the team. I finished out the soc-

cer season, and I promised him that I would

give indoor track a try in the winter. Although

I had no prior experience with competitive

running, I was hooked from the start of my

very first race. I competed in the mile at an

indoor Fieldhouse in Wilton where I ran a

time of 4:51, my first time ever breaking 5

minutes. From there, I became entirely de-

voted to decreasing my mile time as much as

possible. By the end of the season, I was still

on the fence about joining the lacrosse team

in the spring but in March, I had the race of

my life that convinced me that I was never

going to participate in any other organized

sport again. At the New Balance Nationals

meet at the armory in New York City, I ran a

personal best time of 4:31 in the mile, mark-

ing my continuous commitment to the sport

that has forever changed my life.

Editor: What is it that makes your event

in track and field so unique? Why?

Armstrong:

Distance run-

ners are a rare

breed of ath-

lete. It takes a

combination of

both natural

talent and

dedication to

success in dis-

tance events.

At the same

time, there are

no other

events in the

sport of track and field that require as

much mental determination and willpow-

er. What sets distance running apart from

sprinting and field events is the sheer

amount of passion that distance athletes

contain for the thrill of competition and

the excitement of training to reach a fu-

ture goal. What I love about running is

that no matter what skill level you are at

when you begin training, you will un-

doubtedly see improvement in your times

Armstrong Noonan—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

if you continue to train efficiently and

are willing to put in the effort. Distance

running demands a great deal from its

athletes, both physically and mentally. It

is by far one of the most difficult but

most rewarding events in the sport of

track and field.


ing the workouts? Why?

Armstrong: I really enjoy doing speed

work. As a distance runner, most of my

training exercises revolve around longer

intervals at a threshold pace so it is al-

ways nice to test the wheels in shorter,

more intense durations. I do most of my

faster workouts towards the end of the

season when focusing more on closing

speed will give you a competitive ad-

vantage against other runners who strug-

gle to finish quickly in the final laps of a

race. 400m repeats is my go-to workout,

although I also like doing 800 and 1000m

repetitions as well. Occasionally, I will do

a threshold workout at a slower speed

with more volume, then I follow up with

200m sprints on the track. This is just to

fine tune my form and ensure that I have

not lost any speed throughout the sea-

son.

Editor: How do you get prepared for a

track meet? Is there a specific routine

that you use a day before or morning

of the meet to get ready for it?

Armstrong: I am a firm believer in

mentally preparing for a meet the night

before and the day of a big race. Before I

go to bed the night before a race, I al-

ways try to visualize how I will look and

feel in the moment of action. I picture

myself pulling away from the pack at the

very end of the race and finishing strong

and in control. Confidence is key to a

good performance, and that is why men-

tal preparation is so important. If you go

into a meet knowing what to expect both

in terms of physical stress and emotion,

you will be more likely to stay cool and

relaxed when it is time to perform.

Editor: What goals would you like to

achieve next season? What would it

take to achieve them?

Armstrong: Like any serious athlete, I set

very ambitious goals for myself, and

work incredibly hard to achieve them.

I intend to be very competitive during

the championship cross country sea-

son and I hope to place in the top 3

for all of our state and regional cham-

pionship meets. I also hope to qualify

for nationals in San Diego with a top

10 finish at the Footlocker Northeast

Regional Championship meet. Last

year I finished in 12th place and just

barely missed qualifying. In San Diego,

my mind is set on achieving All-

American status with a top 15 finish. In

track, I want to get my mile time

down to 4:10 and I want to break 9

Track—Darien, CT

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

minutes in the 2 mile. Last season I

ran a personal best time of 9:05 at

Outdoor Nationals and I am hungry

for a shot to perform even better in

the future. To achieve these goals, I

will implement additional strength and

endurance exercises into my daily

routine that will fine tune certain as-

pects of my form and stride. I will de-

vote at least an hour a day to core

and lifting routines that, in addition to

my mileage, will improve my overall

strength and stamina.




Armstrong: One of the biggest keys to

my success has been taking my easy

days easy and my hard days hard.

Now this seems like common

knowledge to most people, but in re-

ality many runners tend to overwork

themselves simply because they lack

the capability to restrain themselves

from taking everyday like a mock-race

scenario. It is well known that staying

injury-free is a necessity for any ath-

lete, but this is especially true for run-

ners. A single injury, depending on

severity, can take a distance runner

out for a season or two and can com-

promise an entire year of training. I

have had a successful career because

I have managed to stay healthy and

injury-free for as long as I have been

running. This management has been

the result of my key training philoso-

phy that centers on building easy days

into my schedule. There is no doubt

that in order to improve in the sport

of track and field you must run chal-

lenging workouts that will push you to

your breaking point. However, take

those days as hard as you physically

can, and then take a recovery run the

next day. What many people forget is

that recovery is as vital as a compo-

nent as any other training exercise. At

the very least, recovery runs are al-

most as important as hard workouts

themselves because they prepare you

for the next day you decide to ham-

mer and ensure that you remain

healthy and in control of your body.

Editor: How are you able to stay focused

throughout the completion of your

event? Why is this important?

Armstrong: I am able to remain focused

while competing because of the confi-

dence I have in my training, and the

motivation provided by the goals I

have set for myself before each and

every race. No matter how difficult a

race may get, I always remind myself

that I have trained to be there, and

that I am ready to fulfill my goals in

the moment. This is important be-

cause it is what keeps me from back-

ing down from a challenge. Again,

Armstrong Noonan—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

confidence is key, and that is why

having faith in your training can both

calm your pre-race nerves, and ensure

that you are ready to compete when

the moment comes.



Armstrong: The best piece of advice I

was ever given came from a teammate

of mine who recently graduated. As a

more experienced runner, he always

told me and the other members of my

team to never drop out of a race. No

matter how painful or unpleasant a

moment may be during an event, he

told us never to quit because when

you drop out of a race for the first

time, it becomes a bad habit. The no-

tion that you can drop out of a race at

any time becomes engrained in your

mind and it only becomes easier to

quit after you have done it the first

time. This advice is especially im-

portant because it teaches the values

of determination and willpower that

are so crucial in track and field.




Armstrong: Last season, I competed in

the high school 3000m race at the

Penn Relays with one of my team-

mates. He was the favorite to win and

I was planning on running with the

pack and making moves later in the

race to finish with a new personal

best time. Right after the gun had

gone off, things started going bad im-

mediately. There were too many run-

ners fighting for positions in the dense

pack, and people were

pushing and jockeying left

and right. Two laps into the

race, I found myself in a

prime striking position,

tucked just behind the lead

pack of runners on the out-

side lane, when someone

clipped the back of my heel

and tore the shoe right off of my foot.

With 7 laps to go, I faced a tough de-

cision: either I would continue to run

with one shoe and risk injuring myself,

or I could take the easier option and

simply drop out of the race. However,

thinking back to the advice that my

teammate had given me about never

dropping out of a race, I decided to

hang tough and continue to run. 6

minutes later, I crossed the finish line

in a respectable time; it wasn’t the

time I had wanted, but with one shoe

on a hard track surface, I was happy

with my performance and was glad

that I contained enough willpower to

keep moving forward.

Track—Darien, CT

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Adrian Robinson

Pike HS

Pike, IN

Coach De Dee Nathan

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Adrian Robinson

Pike HS

Pike, IN

Coach De Dee Nathan

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Adrian: In 7th grade my brother con-

vinced me to run track, since we grew up

playing sports.



Adrian: The 400m is more of a mental

race than physical. Each lane creates a

difference too. The best athletes run the

400m



Adrian: I like drills that focus on form.

My form is the most important thing for

running.





Adrian: I just listen to my favorite mu-

sic. I like Jay-Z and Kanye. I always lead

the blocks the same way though.




Adrian: I’d like to run 47s. I am doing an-

ything necessary to do that.




Adrian: I don’t quit. I’ve never quit. Quit-

ting in track is so easy, but all you

need to do is persevere.

Editor: How are you able to stay focus

throughout the completion in your

event? Why this is important?

Adrian: Staying focused is easy. I hate do-

ing bad more than I like doing well.

Adrian Robinson—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015



Adrian: “There’s always somebody faster”

This is because it makes me want to

do better and never get comfortable.



overcame? What was it, and

how did you do it?

Adrian: I’ve been blessed to not

have any injuries. Still, I con-

tinue to work hard.

Editor: What qualities would you

need to develop to become

even better in your event?

Why?

Adrian: I need to work on my

breathing technique. The last

120m are hard enough. Breath-

ing is easy to control.

Editor: In your own words,

please describe how a coach

has helped you to achieve

your goals this past season?

Adrian: My coach has given me

harder workouts this year and

I feel faster. Every race was a

PR.

Track—Pike, IN

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Adrian Robinson

Pike HS

Pike, IN

Coach

Ryan Camp

Archer HS

Lawrenceville, GA

Coach John McCartney

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Adrian Robinson

Pike HS

Pike, IN

Coach Text

about

player

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April 2015 Issue #2



Ryan: I began competing my freshman

year. My dad is the throws coach at

my school and we had done some

throwing when I was younger. When I

was in eighth grade, the track team

had a middle school all comers meet

that I participated in.

Editor: What is something unique that

you find about your event in track and

field? Why?

Ryan: I think the technical aspect of

throwing is very unique. A lot of things

have to happen in the right sequence to

get a good throw. Trying to learn all of

those things at once can be overwhelm-

ing, but when you break down the full

technique into smaller parts, it becomes

easier to learn.

Editor: What is your favorite event on the

track? Why? Have you tried any other

events?

Ryan: I enjoy the discus throw the

most, and am having the most success

with it this year. My shot put is getting

stronger though. When I first went out

for track, I intended to do the long jump.

After picking up a discus I knew throws

would be it for me.



that person? Why?

Ryan: Al Oerter, he won a gold medal

in the discus at four consecutive Olympic

Games. Before the final of the 1964

Games he tore his rib cage very badly. He

won gold anyway, and was never favored

to win any of the Games.

Editor: How

do you

get pre-

pared for

a meet?

Ryan: I

try to joke

around with

my team-

mates to stay

loose and

keep my

mind clear

when throwing.


the next season? Why?

Ryan: My main goal is to fine tune my

technique and throw beyond 220 in

discus and above 65 feet in shot put.

A goal like that will push me to train

as hard as I can.

Ryan Camp—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




Ryan: I try to focus on hitting key posi-

tions in my technique instead of just

trying to throw far. My Coach said

that if I focused on my technique,

greater distance would come.


told that you were selected as

the best high school athlete of

all time? Why?

Ryan: I would not change anything;

I would just keep training hard

to stay on top.

Editor: What was the best advice

you were ever given? Why?

Ryan: “Don’t slow down, don’t

slack off and never give up.” It

takes patience and persistence

to become a good thrower.



overcame? What was it, and

how did you do it?

Ryan: At my first big meet this

year, I fouled my first two

throws in the discus. I just did

a stand throw nice and easy to get

into the finals.

Editor: Do you think competing in track is

a good way of preparing you and your


Ryan: Absolutely yes, track teaches you

that hard work and perseverance will

pay off in the future.

Track—Archer, GA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Spencer Dodds

Great Oaks HS

Temecula, CA

Coach Doug Soles

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Spencer: I started running track when

I was about eight. I played soccer and loved

to run so my mom signed me up for a youth

track club.

Editor: What is something unique that

you find about your event in track and

field? Why?

Spencer: The 3200 is a very strategic

race. With 8 laps, you have to think about

how you want to run it, and execute a

plan.

Editor: What is your favorite event on

the track? Why? Have you tried any

other events?

Spencer: I run both the 1600 and

3200, but I tend to like the 1600 the

best. It’s a fast race, not too long, just the

perfect distance for me.



that person? Why?

Spencer: Bernard Lagat. He is a very

gracious, dedicated athlete, who is still

competing at 40 years old. He has had an

amazing career.


meet?

Spencer:

Aside from my

daily training, I

try to get plenty

of sleep and I

always eat some

protein and

carbs the day of

the race. I also

visualize the

race the night

before, how I

want to run it.



Spencer: I would like a sub 4:10 in the

1600, and sub 9:00 in the 3200. Also,

break the national record in the

4x1600 as a team.

Spencer Dodds—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Spencer: Speed Workouts really help

with track. Also, mileage runs are im-

portant for the 3200. I also cross-

train which helps to minimize injury.

Editor: What would you do if, you were

told that you were selected as the

best high school athlete of all time?

Why?

Spencer: Obviously, that would be an

amazing accomplishment for anyone.

It could also mean I could go to any

college I wanted.



Spencer: To be a gracious competitor,

whether I win or not. No one likes a

sore loser or a cocky winner.




Spencer: When I was younger, I used to

get anxious before races, which ulti-

mately affected my performance. I

then learned to meditate and visualize,

which helps me in my races.


book? Why?

Spencer: One of my favorite movies is

“Remember the Titans”. The way they

come together as a team, despite their

differences, is really inspiring. One of

my favorite

books is

“Unbroken.”

Louis Zamperi-

ni’s story is

truly amazing

and inspira-

tional.

Editor: Do you

think compet-

ing in track is a

good way of preparing you and your


Spencer: Yes, my teammates and I set

goals, and work hard to achieve those

goals. It takes dedication to be a suc-

cessful athlete, just as it takes dedica-

tion and hard work to succeed in life.

Track—Great Oaks, CA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Frankie Garrett

Pike HS

Pike, IN

Coach De Dee Nathan

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2



Frankie: I started running track in the

6th grade, but I did not take it serious as a

sport until the end of 7th grade when I real-

ized I was pretty good.



Frankie: The thrill of the event is like

no other. Even if you’re just watching the

race you can feel the energy, emotion and

pain.



Frankie: A-skip & B-skip, it helps you

practice your form and form is everything.



that person? Why?

Frankie: Paul George, I admire his

drive. He doesn’t give up, he broke his

leg but he did not quit. He has potential

to be one of the greats.





Frankie: The way I get prepared for a

track meet is I’ll go to the training room

to roll and stretch. When I’m done with

that I’ll put on my beats and listen to

hype music up until it’s almost time for

me to compete.




Frankie: My goals for next season are to

qualify for a scholarship and compete

in nationals.

Frankie Garrett—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




Frankie: I have an elevation training mask

that I wear whenever I do any type of

work out. It makes everything twice as

hard. The end result is worth it.

Editor: How are you able to stay focused

throughout the completion of your

event? Why is this important?

Frankie: The way I stay focused through-

out the meet is silence. Whenever I

am about to run or jump I get dead

silent to get in my zone



Frankie: No matter what you’re going

through, no matter how hard things

are, when the gun fires you let it all

go and run your race.




Frankie: Regional’s I had scratched out in

long jump, so up until the 400m dash

I was just scared and nervous. I felt

like I could just throw up, but I held

myself together and focused on run-

ning my plan. I got to the start line

and when the gun fired I let go of all

my worries and decided that I will not

lose. I won the race with 48.89 sec.

Editor: What qualities would you need

to develop to become even better in

your event? Why?

Frankie: I need to become more discipline

and have an even harder work ethic.

Editor: In your own words, please de-

scribe how a coach has helped you to

achieve your goals this past season?

Frankie: My 400 coaches had seen what I

could do, so they wouldn’t give up on

me. They pushed me to a point I nev-

er thought I would go.

Track—Pike, IN

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Trent Story

Maine-Endwell HS

Endwell, NY

Coach Matt Gallagher

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: When did you start playing foot-

ball? What made you want to play?

Trent: I started playing in 2006, when

I was nine years old.

Editor: How would you describe a good

football team?

Trent: A team that plays together and

can keep mistakes to a minimum.



Trent: Hard work and dedication.

Someone is always working as hard as

you.



sport, and why?

Trent: They were my support and

helped me stay driven. We always kept

are goals in sight.


for the next football season? Why?

Trent: Next season I would like to con-

tinue playing at a high level and just

have fun.



keys to your success? How have they

made you a better player?

Trent: I train at least four times a week

and always with an athlete that can

really push me.




ing?

Trent Story—Northeast

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015




ing?

Trent: Every game has a person or system

that was a key for me. I would under-

stand the other team’s system and

work to limit the places they would

normally have success.


to younger athletes in your sport, and

why?

Trent: To never give up or stay down. I

broke my leg this last season, but you

just have to face adversity and attack

it.




Trent: My senior season was cut short

due to an injury. I worked hard to

beat it and never let it keep me from

my dream.

Editor: Do you think playing football pre-

pares you and your teammates for

life? Why?

Trent: It taught me how to come together

as a group; to operate and trust each

other for one common goal.

Editor: Were there any games last sea-

son that particularly stuck out in your

mind or are exciting to think about?

Why?

Trent: Our first game last season was

against a big rival. I played the exact

game I planned. We won it, and sen-

ior year so I will always remember. I

was also able to be a part of three

state titles.

Football—Maine-Endwell, NY

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Ben LeRoy

Loyola Academy

Wilmette, IL

Coach John Holecek

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: What has been your biggest ac-

complishment in football thus far?

What can you do to be even better?

Ben: Earning a scholarship to college

has been my biggest accomplishment. Playing

even faster and stronger than last season to

have my best high school season in football.

Editor: What is your main reason for

wanting to play football?

Ben: The love of the game. I play

football because I love the sport, I love

the hitting, I love making plays and win-

ning for my team.

Editor: What’s your favorite drill that you

go through in practice? How do you

think it benefits players at your posi-

tion?

Ben: Five man sled because it trains

you to get low, proper hand placement

and also O-line vs. D-line 1-on-1 helps

with pass rushing. There will be times

you need to beat your match up one on

one and it helps to work on your best

move.



person? Why?

Ben: JJ Watt because he plays with

everything he is worth on every play. He

is relentless and makes a point to domi-

nate his matchup every time he is out

there.



sport? Why?

Ben: They

have been

huge because

they are all

hard workers

and everyone

pushes each

other to get

better, and to

keep up eve-

ryone works

hard trying to

beat each

other.

Editor: How important is strength and

conditioning to you? Can you de-

scribe how it has changed your game?

Ben: It’s one of the most important parts

of football. This year I feel faster and

stronger than ever before and it

makes the game that much more fun.





Ben LeRoy—Midwest

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Ben: Work on explosion because for a

lineman you have to be violent and

explosive. Constantly working on that

makes you tougher to block and will

lead to a lot more fun during games

when you’re making plays.




ing?

Ben: Listening to music before a game is

what I do. During the game I stay in

my zone by just remembering what I

have to do to contribute and make

sure we win the game.


to younger athletes in your sport?

Why?

Ben: Get in the weight room; get stronger

and faster. Learn your playbook and

spend a lot of time watching film on

not only the other team, but also

yourself and others at your position.

Watch it to the point you know eve-

rything for your position and can help

your teammates who may now know

it.




Ben: Last year when I sprained my ankle

it lead me to take better care of my

body. I feel a lot better overall now

because I really learned how to take

proper care of myself.



life? Why?

Ben: Yes, because in

life, just like foot-

ball, you need to

attack and not give

up on anything you

want to accom-

plish. Nothing is

given to you and

you need to earn

everything you

want.




Why?

Ben: I look forward to every game be-

cause it is an opportunity to show

everyone how good you are at what

you do. Every game on the schedule

makes me excited to play against

them.

Football—Loyola Academy, IL

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Myles Brennan

St. Stanislaus HS

Bay St. Louis, MS

Coach Bill Conides

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Editor: When did you start playing foot-

ball? What made you want to play?

Myles: I started playing football when

I was 5. The thing that stuck out to me was

that my dad played football all through his

high school career and then played lineback-

er in college and got heavily recruited for the

pros until he broke his neck, ending his ca-

reer. My mom played volleyball, basketball,

and softball in college as well, and was an

outstanding athlete. It took me just a short

period of time to realize that football was my

thing and that I wanted to pursue my dreams.

Editor: How would you describe a good

football team?

Myles: A good football team is a bal-

anced team. With an explosive offense

and a strong, powerful defense. A good

team is one that works together to ac-

complish anything. A good team is one

that all players have confidence in each

other and believe in one another to do

their task 110%.




Myles: The skills that I still need to

develop and improve on to get to the

next level are: my footwork, being able to

feel the rush and not look at it and being

able to get over trash and avoid sacks

and tackles, then stepping back up in the

pocket and delivering a pass; also know-

ing the defense as much as I know the

offense.

Editor: Who is your

favorite athlete

and what do you

admire most about

that person? Why?

Myles: My favorite

athlete is my brother

Bo Brennan. Bo is a

man that I can barely

describe, that’s how incredible he is. He

is a man that will never give up on any-

thing until his goal is accomplished. Bo

played quarterback at St. Stanislaus as

well. Bo would play every game like it

was his last. He played with dislocated

shoulders, broken fingers, concussions,

nothing was holding Bo back from playing.

Unfortunately, the 4th game of his senior

year, he dislocated his hip. It was an inju-

ry that everyone but Bo thought would

end his career. Bo knew that this wasn’t

going to stop him from going to the next

level. Bo said it was hard watching all of

his offers go that quickly but he had to go

to Tennessee to get it fixed and after re-

hab and busting his butt he got a call

from a university asking him to come play

quarterback and Bo knew that his hard

work had finally paid off. Bo is my great-

est role model. When I’m down I think to

myself what would Bo do here? He

Myles Brennan—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

would persevere through anything to

get to his goal. Bo is the man with the

most character. A brother that has been

there for me through everything. He is

also helping me during the season, always

helping me become a better football

player. I am glad to call Bo my older

brother and role model.

Editor: Do you currently have a record

that you are extremely proud of? How

did you get it?

Myles: Yes, I currently have a few rec-

ords that I am extremely proud of. The

most passing yards in the state of Missis-

sippi at 5,709 yards and another [record]

is the most touchdown passes in

[Mississippi] at 64. Another record is the

most passing attempts in the state with

579 and most completions at 408. The

last record is finishing number 1 in the na-

tion and also being the only other sopho-

more to ever throw 5,000 yards. I gained

these records by setting goals and ful-

filling and accomplishing those goals and

going to work everyday and giving 110%

and having that thought that the person

that lines up against me will not have

worked as hard as I have.


for the next football season? Why?

Myles: The goals I have for next year is

to win the state championship. That

was one of my goals this year and we

fell short in the state championship

losing to Noxubee County. That feel-

ing is still stuck inside of me knowing

all the work we had put in, all the

sweat, blood and tears to get to that

last and final game and to fall short is

a feeling I’ll never lose, it also pushes

me and make me work harder now,

knowing what it is going to take to

win that title next year.





Myles: One or two things I do in my

training that are keys to my success

are, coming out every day, giving all I

got. Working the absolute hardest,

listening to my excellent coach and

taking everything he says in and really

comprehending it and not just blowing

him off. Another is coming out and

working harder than that other [guy]

that is trying to take my scholarship

away from me.

Football—St. Stanislaus, MS

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2




ing?

Myles: The thing that helps me focus

while preparing for a game is to go

over the game plan and run through

the concepts in my head and go over

different looks and things like that.

Also, just saying a few quick prayers

to God before heading out to play. I

am able to stay focused during games

because I feel as if it’s my job out

there. I can’t fool around or else I’ll

get fired. It’s something I’ve always

loved doing and something I have

never and will never lose focus in. It’s

a game that I love and that I take seri-

ously in my preparation and in my

performance.


were ever given, and why?

Myles: The best advice I was ever given

was to never give up. Always perse-

vere and always know you can ac-

complish anything you want to. There

might be obstacles that get in my way,

but I always overcome them and I am

always making sure that I’m giving

110%




Myles: Yes, my difficult situation, I recall,

was the fourth game of our season

last year. It was the 4th quarter and I

had dropped back and delivered a

pass and had gotten picked up and

slammed to the ground. As I was get-

ting the next play call I was wiping

what I thought was sweat off my arm

but was really blood. I had sustained

a 4-inch gash in my arm right in front

of my elbow, so I came out for two

plays and our trainer put tape over it

as tight as possible so it wouldn’t

bleed. I came back in and threw for

two touchdowns to win the game

with 30 seconds left. After the game I

immediately drove to the hospital and

had to get 17 stitches that night. I

played the next week’s game with

those stitches in

and won.

Editor: Were there any

games last season

that particularly

stuck out in your

mind or are exciting

to think about?

Why?

Myles Brennan—South

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Myles: Yes, our fourth game of the sea-

son where I had cut my arm open. It

was neck and neck all game. We kept

scoring and then they would score.

Finally the 4th quarter rolled around

and I had a gash in my arm, I came

back in to throw two touchdown

passes and win the game. Just the way

the whole team overcame adversity

and played until the final whistle was

awesome to be a part of.

Football—St. Stanislaus, MS

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME Devin Willard

Sedro-Woolley HS

Sedro-Woolley, WA

Coach Dave Ward

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Devin Willard

Sedro-Woolley HS

Sedro-Woolley, WA

Coach Dave Ward

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2




Devin: This past season, my team

won the 2A Sate Championship. This was an

accomplishment that will stick with me and

every one of my teammates for the rest of

our lives. This off-season I have been work-

ing on the little things like footwork and

strength training to make the small difference

in a substantial situation. I believe that this

could be a game changer when it is most

needed.



Devin: I don’t think that I could nar-

row that one down to one reason. There

are so many aspects of the game that

take root and become a part of you. Be-

ing on the field with your best friends 5

days a week is a blessing. Together with

them you get to compete, learn, and

grow. While doing that, you also have the

time of your life and create life long

memories.




tion?

Devin: My favorite drill has to be a

pocket presence drill that the quarter-

backs do together. This drill helps us be-

come more effective passers in the pock-

et while creating skills that transfer to

running the ball.



person? Why?

Devin: My favorite athlete is the New

England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

He has been my idol since I was 6 when I

fell in love with the team. I admire his

calming presence in the pocket. Tom

Brady brings a new meaning to the phrase

Devin Willard—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

“field general” with his sense of con-

trol over both his offense and the de-

fense.



sport? Why?

Devin: They contributed in every way

possible. From the linemen to our kicker,

every one of them put their whole heart

into the game. I could put my full faith in

them and know that each one would sell

out to keep me safe. That is a feeling that

raises your confidence level giving you

the ability to play at a higher level. We

compete well as a team unit, making us a

force to be reckoned with.

Editor: How important is strength and

conditioning to you? Can you de-

scribe how it has changed your game?

Devin: I believe that this is a key compo-

nent. What you are doing behind the

scenes is where you grow the most. It

prepares you mentally and physically

for the game better than anything.

This has improved my speed, strength,

stamina, and mental toughness multi-

ple notches, making me a better ath-

lete.





Devin: Going to college camps help me

significantly because it gives me multi-

ple tools that I can apply in my prac-

tices and games back home. Each

coach provides a new angle on a situ-

ation that is helpful when it comes

time to use them. As a direct result,

this has definitely made me a better

player.




ing?

Football—Sedro Woolley, WA

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2

Devin: Before each game Coach Ward

brings the team into the mat room

and mentally runs us through the

game and helps us mentally envision

our assignment. Then when we get

back into the locker room we do a

team prayer. Some of us listen to mu-

sic, some quietly sit, but I like to get

with a couple of guys and pray for the

game. This helps me stay focused and

gives me confidence before each

game. The focus on the field is kept

by all of my teammates. I block out

any outside distractions with my

adrenaline making that next play the

only thing on my mind.

Editor: What kind of advice can you

give to younger athletes in your

sport? Why?

Devin: I tell every kid on the youth

teams I coach to push themselves

to the best of their abilities every

day because every day something

will improve. If you improve every

day, the sky is the limit on what

you can achieve. Also, I couldn’t

stress enough the importance of

grades to them because not only

can it hinder their ability to be eli-

gible to play, but it can dictate

where you go to college.

Editor: Do you recall a difficult situa-

tion or an obstacle you overcame?

What was it and how did you do

it?

Devin: Coming into my freshman year of

high school, I didn’t know if I was go-

ing to play football. My last few years

I didn’t enjoy playing the game. I have

my coaches to thank for overcoming

it. The program that I walked into was

full of amazing, supportive coaches

that made me the athlete and person I

am today. They made the game not

only fun, but gave it a deeper mean-

ing, creating some of the best mo-

ments of our lives

Devin Willard—West

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Devin: Coming into my freshman year

of high school, I didn’t know if I was

going to play football. My last few

years I didn’t enjoy playing the game. I

have my coaches to thank for over-

coming it. The program that I walked

into was full of amazing, supportive

coaches that made me the athlete and

person I am today. They made the

game not only fun, but gave it a deep-

er meaning, creating some of the best

moments of our lives



life? Why?

Devin: It most definitely does. It teaches

us that when there is a rough time in

life that you can always push through

it. We learn morals and manners that

can be applied in

many areas of life,

and it gave us some

of our closest

friends.

Editor: Were there

any games last sea-

son that particularly

stuck out in your

mind or are exciting

to think about?

Why?

Devin: The semi-final

game against Tumwater. If you had

nails left by the end of the game, I

don’t think that you were watching.

That was the game that really showed

the capability of our team, and made

the idea of winning our schools first

state championship solidify. The feel-

ing that each and every one of us had

when the game winning field goal was

blocked is indescribable. It is a feeling

that I am hoping to relive again this

coming season.

Football—Sedro Wooley, WA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout



NAME

Issue #2 April 2015

Sports Sprout



Text

about

player

Joe Pittis

Sedro-Woolley HS

Sedro-Woolley, WA

Coach Dave Ward

Sports Sprout


April 2015 Issue #2




Joe: That would have to be winning

the State Championship my junior year. It

was definitely the highlight of my entire time

at high school so far. Our whole town got

into it! The only way to make that even bet-

ter would be to win this year as a senior.



Joe: I always want to get better as an

athlete. I like keeping in shape, and it’s

just fun!




tion?

Joe: My favorite drill is inside 7 on 7.

It helps me get better at reading the of-

fensive line and running backs, while play-

ing at game speed.



person? Why?

Joe: Clay Matthews! We both played

different positions originally, but moved

back to middle linebacker when our

teams needed us to. We both love to

rush and get after the quarterbacks!



sport? Why?

Joe: My teammates helped a ton this

off season in the weight room by pushing

me every day to lift more, and be there

every day. We also did some team build-

ing this summer by going swimming and

hanging out. That makes me want to do

my best for them and myself.

Editor: How im-

portant is

strength and

conditioning

to you? Can

you describe

how it has

changed your

game?

Joe: It is very im-

portant. I feel

that it defi-

nitely gives

you an edge in a game and also helps

you prepare mentally. I never missed

a work out unless I had to work. It

made all the difference from my fresh-

man year until now.





Joe Pittis—Nominated Athlete

Sports Sprout


Issue #2 April 2015

Joe: Two things I currently do is stay

late after practice and workouts and

put in an extra 30 minutes of work.

Another is eating right, staying away

from junk food and pop. They have

definitely made me stronger and a

better player.




ing?

Joe: Two things that help me stay fo-

cused before or during a game are lis-

tening to music before a game, while

stretching. During the game, I am al-

ways talking to my team and coaches

making sure we are all on the same

page. When I am on the sidelines my

mom says she always knows where I

am standing, right next to the coach.


to younger athletes in your sport?

Why?

Joe: Make sure you are working out in the

off season and putting the right nutri-

ents into your body. Also, it hurts less

if you hit the other guy harder.




Joe: An obstacle I overcame happened on

the last day of summer football camp

when I got a concussion. I had to stay

out of contact drills and heavy lifting

for two weeks but still train at the

same time.

Editor: Do you

think playing

football pre-

pares you and

your teammates

for life? Why?

Joe: Yes it does. It

helps you learn

to work with

other people

and if you rally

behind your friends and family you

can accomplish anything.




Why?

Joe: Our last game, when we won state.

The clock hit zero and hearing your

whole town erupt! It was unreal. It

was the first time our town had ever

won the state football championship!

More than half the stadium was wear-

ing blue and white, our school colors,

and everyone was screaming!

Football—Sedro Woolley, WA

April 2015 Issue #2

Sports Sprout


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Issue #2 April 2015

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