2012 BOYS LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Bettison than ever
(Union County Weekly, 6-22-12)

Mavs senior helped usher in new era of Marvin Ridge lax

by Aaron Garcia

Marvin Ridge's Walker Bettison

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Walker Bettison is a bit torn when thinking about his position as Marvin Ridge’s all-time leading scorer. It’s a bit too much of an individual honor for the senior attacker and captain’s taste. While he’s proud of what the milestone represents in terms of his own sweat equity over the past four years, he’s done his part to make sure it doesn’t stand for too long.
“I don’t want to downplay (it), but for me it’s not a huge deal, really,” he said. “I put my work in, but there will probably be kids that will come in after me that will break my record. I did what I could, and hopefully the younger guys will come up and beat it.”
It’s that team-first mind-set, coupled with game-changing abilities, which not only earned Bettison the title of Union County Weekly’s 2012 Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year but also led the Mavs to their best season in program history.
Marvin Ridge finished the season 15-4 and ranked eighth in the state, according to laxpower.com. Even better, the Mavs advanced to the state quarterfinals, the team’s best season in its five-year existence.
“My job as a captain, as a leader of the offense, was to make sure the offense was moving the ball and playing together,” said Bettison. “That was my goal.”
But Bettison’s contributions were far from simply motivational. He led the team in goals scored (32) and assists (34), and he added 46 ground balls. Thanks largely to his efforts, the Mavs were able to gain a program-building win over archrival Weddington for the first time in Marvin Ridge history, which Bettison hopes is a sign that his team will continue its tract to becoming Union County’s top program.
“To finally get over that hump and actually beat Weddington,” said Bettison, “That was a good moment.”
Bettison, who signed to join Georgia’s Berry College lacrosse team, said those are the things that will stick out more in his memory than his scoring record.
“I don’t know what (being the program’s all-time leading scorer) means to me,” Bettison said. “It’s a good thing, but personally I don’t look at it as, ‘I’m the all-time leading scorer in Marvin Ridge history.’ Maybe it just doesn’t register for me, or maybe our program hasn’t been built enough yet, I guess.”
Perhaps not. But thanks to Bettison, it’s well on its way.

2012 BOYS GOLFER OF THE YEAR: 
Mr. Consistency
(Union County Weekly, 6-15-12)

Mavs sophomore became county’s best with steady approach 

by Aaron Garcia

Marvin Ridge’s DK Kim: UCW’s 2012 Boys Golfer of the Year

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As Marvin Ridge sophomore DK Kim learned this year, the key to golf – and his successful season in the sport – is consistency. It’s easier spoken than achieved, especially in a game that thrives on precision in pressure-packed moments. This season, however, no one in Union County’s high school golfing ranks personified that all-important attribute quite like Kim.
This spring, Kim led all Union County golfers with a nine-hole stroke average of 37.1 and was named the Southern Carolina 3A/4A conference’s Player of the Year. In the postseason, Kim fired a 74 to place third in the 3A Midwestern Regional tournament. More important, Kim’s performance led the Mavs to a team win and a state playoff berth, where they finished second overall the following week. Kim carded two rounds of 74 to finish with a score of 148, which landed him on the all-tournament team, along with Mavs freshman Brandon Katsoudas, who was second at the state meet.
Now, thanks to a season that had its share of highs without ever dipping too low, Kim has been named Union County Weekly’s 2012 Boys Golfer of the Year.
Kim said he started the season slowly but rebounded to either win or tie for the lead at three consecutive tournaments during the regular season, which he said “gave me a boost, which also meant confidence.”
Kim, who also stars on the American Junior Golf Association circuit during the summers, added that he benefitted from an increased sense of course maturity, which allowed him to improve his approach to the game.
“I’m not as fiery on the course (as I used to be),” he said. “Scores come with patience. I used to think (about my final score) before I went out.”
Instead, said Kim, he began breaking his game down and concentrating not on his scorecard’s bottom line but on each individual shot.
“If you don’t hit bad shots, the scores come naturally,” Kim said.
For Kim, there was no better proof of his consistent approach this season than his scoring average.
“It shows I was grinding it out and I had a positive attitude,” said Kim. “Golf’s all about the mental side to me.”
Especially when you’re atop the leaderboard.
“When I’m at the top, usually I just tell myself, ‘The reason you’re at the top is because you’re good,’” said Kim. “I just let that confidence carry me all the way through the season.”
And it did. Consistently.

2012 BOYS TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Hats off to Hatala
(Union County Weekly, 6-15-12)

Marvin Ridge senior helped program reach new heights

Marvin Ridge's Joey Hatala

by Aaron Garcia

Ironically, it took a heartbreaking loss to let Marvin Ridge tennis player Joey Hatala know 2012 was going to be a special season.
Early in the year, the Mavs faced Charlotte Ardrey Kell in a non-conference match. The Mavs had never beaten the Knights, and this year was no different; Ardrey Kell downed Marvin Ridge 7-2. Even Hatala dropped his match, losing a tie-breaker to Mike Roberts.
This loss, however, was different from those of the past. Before, Hatala said, he would’ve run out of gas by the end of the match. Instead, Hatala could tell his dedication to offseason strength and conditioning work was starting to pay off.
“I was proud of my fitness, even though I lost,” Hatala, a senior, said.
As it turned out, the loss was just another example of strength-building, as Hatala, Union County Weekly’s 2012 Boys Tennis Player of the Year, wouldn’t lose another match during the regular season.
As the Mavs’ No. 1 player, Hatala helped push Marvin Ridge to a Southern Carolina 3A/4A regular-season title with an 8-1 singles record and a 7-1 doubles mark, earning league player of the year honors along the way. The Mavs’ magical season continued all the way to the Class 3A state championship, where they fell to Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons in the finals.
“It was definitely the best high school season I’ve ever had,” said Hatala. “It went above my expectations for the year. We played awesome, had some great matches. I had some of the best matches of my entire life.”
Hatala said he was pushed by his commitment to play college tennis next season at Army.
“I didn’t really mess around,” said Hatala. “And not only did that help my game, but it helped the rest of the team because we were so much more focused going into every match.”
Hatala’s personal highlight, he said, was getting past Charlotte Catholic in the state semifinals, which included a doubles win over four-time Class 3A champ Kyle Johnson. It was the Mavs’ first win over the Cougars in program history, which showed just how far Hatala and Marvin Ridge had come since the loss to Ardrey Kell.
“Beating Catholic is going to be an awesome memory,” said Hatala. “I was so, so happy to beat them. To get Marvin Ridge a check in the win column for the school in general is awesome.”

To Little, it's not too late

(Union County Weekly, 5/4/12)

Monroe senior Brandon Little

For Monroe sprinter, 10.42-second 100-meter dash is right on time

By Aaron Garcia

When Brandon Little was a freshman on Sun Valley’s track team, the time of 10.4 seconds had significant meaning. As a budding sprinter, Little was fast, and his 10.6 seconds in the 100-meter dash was more than respectable.
But cousin Andre McManus was faster.
“(McManus) always beat me in the (100),” said Little, “and he ran a 10.4.”
Which explains the sense of accomplishment Little, who now attends Monroe High, felt when he crossed the line at a Rocky River 1A/2A conference meet at Forest Hills in March with a time of 10.42.
“I ran that for real?” Little thought when he saw the time. “Seriously?”
Little’s time was, and still is, tops among sprinters statewide, which cemented the Monroe senior as a favorite to push for a gold medal at this year’s state meet.
When the Class 1A meet gets under way on May 12 at Greensboro’s N.C. A&T State University, Little will have a chance to bring home titles in the 100, 200 and the 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
“It would mean everything to me if I can get a ring right now,” said Little, who is receiving recruiting attention from UNC Pembroke, N.C. Central, Johnson C. Smith, Salisbury’s Livingstone College and Raleigh’s St. Augustine’s College. “That’s what I’m working for.”
And work he has. In his first year with the Redhawks, Little has been a solid addition to an already-impressive Monroe team that is small in numbers but has a serious chance to score points at the state meet. Aside from Little, Tre Shun Wynn, Jaylen Barbour, Tristan Thompson, Quayshawn Chambers, Jamarcus Glenn and Jeremy Hammond all have chances to win titles individually or as part of a relay, and in many instances, both.
Not an easy lineup to crack for a first-year teammate.
“(Little is) in position to get (a state title), too,” said Monroe track coach Johnny Sowell. “He’s in position to not only do it for himself, but he’s on two relay teams that have good opportunities.”
After his freshman year at Sun Valley, Little spent the next two seasons at Weddington, where he starred on the football and track teams.
For this school year, though, Little said he and his mother chose to move to Monroe from the western side of the county.
“It was more affordable for my mom (here in Monroe)” said Little. “We had to make a choice pretty much.”
With so many of his current track teammates doubling as football players during the fall, Little’s ability to fit in with his new classmates depended on how the former starting Weddington running back indoctrinated himself into his new setting, said Sowell.
“I think he came in the way you want him to come in,” said Sowell, who also is the team’s football coach. “He came in, first of all, trying to learn the system. He’s a smart kid – he picked it up pretty quick.”
Little said he knew about the Monroe track program from facing the Redhawks during past seasons. It wasn’t easy leaving his friends at Weddington, he said, but he became fast friends with fellow runner and football player Wynn.
“That made it easier because he helped me get friends and he helped people notice who I was (once school started),” said Little.
Though he received the majority of the backfield touches at Weddington, Little was just one-quarter of a four-headed monster that was the Monroe backfield.
“At first, it was hard because I was like, ‘OK, I’m not getting playing time,’” said Little. “But then I thought about it, and I had to learn their plays. I can’t come over here and expect to get a starting position. It was hard to get with, but it was (fine in the end).”
That willingness to adapt is also paying dividends on the track this spring.
As a sprinter, Little never ran a distance farther than 200 meters before arriving at Monroe. But to be a sprinter for Sowell, a runner has to be proficient in the 400. Period.
“That’s the toughest sprint,” said Sowell. “If you can learn to master that, your 100 and 200 is going to be fine.
“He had no problem doing that. He knows we work hard.”
The result, said Little, has been drastic.
“I couldn’t run a 400 full-out,” he said. “That’s how people would catch me. But now, I feel like I can run a 400 and leave people (behind) pretty much.”
Now he’s running stronger, Little said, which has made him more consistent.
“My 100 is good, but I feel like my 200 is better because I can catch people,” said Little.
Sowell is hesitant to take too much credit for Little’s development, however.
“A lot of his stuff, we didn’t have to do much with,” said Sowell. “He was already a legit 10.7, 10.8 guy.
“What we wanted to do was not change a lot – just work on some mechanic things: block starts, understanding how to stay focused and that kind of stuff. But there wasn’t a lot we had to do different.”
As minor as some of the tweaks were, they’ve worked, said Little, who said he feels more explosive out of the blocks and is getting better starts in his races. The coaches have seen it, too, which is why witnessing Little clock a time of 10.42 this season wasn’t all that surprising.
“We knew it was there,” Sowell said. “We watched him early. It was just a matter of tweaking a little bit of this and tweaking a little bit of that. We knew he could do it.
“He’s one of those kids we always say, ‘You have another gear,’” added Sowell. “For about 50 yards, it looks close but at the end, he does what he needs to do to get it done.”
Now, Little hopes he has one last gear in his high school career.
“This is my last couple of meets, and I want a (championship) ring,” Little said. “I tell (Sowell) that every time we go to a meet.
“He tells me if I run hard and work hard, I’ll get it.”

UNDETERRED

(Union County Weekly, 4/20/12)

Fueled by first-year coach Jon Golden (sitting), the Marvin Ridge tennis team
advanced to the N.C. Class 3A finals. Team members include
(from left) Cullen Kelleher, Michael Ruocco,
Brett Ward, Bobby Hatala, Woody Watson and Joey Hatala.

Despite third coach in four years, Mavs tennis team has high hopes for postseason

By Aaron Garcia

By all accounts, this was to be the year.

For the past three seasons, the Marvin Ridge boys tennis team had been building a solid reputation as a strong, up-and-coming program. It had been playoff tested with some lofty accolades to its credit, including a state doubles title. Now, with four seniors in the rotation, 2012 was slated to be special.
“We realized coming into this year that this is the culmination of all of our efforts,” said senior Brett Ward, who fills the second spot in the lineup.
And so far, the Mavs have pretty much lived up to their billing.
With an 11-2 overall record and 6-0 mark in the Southern Carolina 3A/4A conference, the Mavs are barreling toward earning the top seed in the league for the Class 3A dual-team playoffs.
Aside from their pair of losses – to Charlotte Ardrey Kell (by a score of 7-2) and Charlotte Country Day (a 6-3 defeat) – the Mavs have won each of their matches, and they’ve shut out every opponent, with the exception of Weddington, which they beat, 8-1.
While the on-court play has certainly been a huge factor in the Mavs’ success, their goals could’ve easily been derailed before the season even got off the ground.
Jon Golden coached the Lake Norman High School tennis team from 2002 to 2007 before leading Charlotte’s Mallard Creek High in 2008. The following year, he joined Marvin Ridge’s faculty as an English teacher while local tennis instructor Wade Liles led the Maverick program until 2011, when another local pro, Vijay Shankar, took over.
So when the school began looking for an in-house coach for the program before this season, Golden was a logical choice.
But the fact remained: Golden was the program’s third coach in four years. But he said that obstacle was mitigated a bit since he had taught a few of the players in class.
“It’s a lot easier for the coach to come in when there’s already a relationship established in the classroom,” said Golden.
But in this case, the coach’s comfort level came second to the players’, especially since they had been through the same drill before. But Joey Hatala, the team’s top starter and Union County Weekly’s reigning Boys Tennis Player of the Year, said the transition was cushioned by Golden’s outlook when he took the position.
“Coach Golden was up to the task,” said Hatala, who has an 11-2 singles record as the team’s No. 1. “He came in Day 1 saying we were going to win a state championship this year. That’s the goal.
“(Golden) actually improved our mind-sets instead of just (telling us to) go out there and do our best. He gave us a real goal this year.”
Ward added that going through the process of adapting to new coaches in the past made this year an easy adjustment.
“For us, we were pretty open-minded because we had dealt with it in the past, as far as having a different coach,” said Ward, who is 10-2 on the season. “We came into this new season ready to have a new point of view because every coach has their own thing that they bring to the table.
“Having that third perspective, if nothing else, is helping us grow as players because we have different input from each year. It’s been like a stepping stone.”
Ward and Hatala’s responses to Golden’s introduction highlight another attribute that should serve the team well down the stretch: They are unusually positive.
“I feel lucky with the fact that they are such a great group of kids,” said Golden. “I’ve been around really talented kids you wouldn’t want to share the court with, where you would’ve been embarrassed to coach them or be associated with.”
While displaying a certain amount of likeability doesn’t score points in a match, it has helped freshman Woody Watson (No. 4 with a 12-0 singles record) and junior Bobby Hatala (No. 5 and 9-3) ease into their roles as starters.
“They’re not an intimidating group of guys – I like them,” said Watson. “It helped me be able to play my game as well as I can and to go out there and not feel like if I mess up, they’ll be looking at me in a bad way. As long as we come out with a win, they’re good.”
The other two senior starters, Cullen Kelleher and Mike Ruocco, have had stellar seasons as well, with records of 8-2 and 11-1, respectively.
The Mavs travel to Weddington on Monday, April 23 before facing Fort Mill Nations Ford on Tuesday, April 24, which will be their final warmup before postseason play begins with the conference tournament on Thursday, April 26.
Golden thinks this year’s experience, as well as past success, could steer the Mavs to their ultimate goal: a Class 3A state title.
“They know what it’s like to win,” said Golden. “Now, they just have to put it all together.”

Reneazia’s Edge
(Union County Weekly, 6-8-12)

Monroe sophomore looks to continue tradition set by graduating teammates 

by Aaron Garcia

Monroe's (from left) Janieyah “Ladybug” Collins, Reneazia Collins and Jamie Glenn

When the Monroe High School girls track and field team took the top spoton the podium at this year’s Class 1A state championship meet in May, it marked the end of an impressive era for Redhawk stars Janieyah “Ladybug” Collins and Jamie Glenn. Together, the pair of seniors helped mold Monroe into a state power almost by themselves. Collins had the sprinting events covered, winning state titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and the 300 hurdles. Meanwhile, Glenn earned the team’s points in the field events such as the long jump, triple jump and shot put while also filling in on several relay teams.
At this year’s state meet alone, the duo compiled a combined 64 points, better than what second-place Hendersonville put together as a team (54), with Collins earning the meet’s Most Outstanding Performer honors. It was the third time in four years that Collins had won at least one title, and it was the third consecutive year with a championship for Glenn.
Collins and Glenn were the kind of tandem that only comes along every so often, said Monroe head track and field coach Johnny Sowell.
“When you start getting (championships) back-to-back-to-back, you’ve got something special,” Sowell said.
The Redhawks, however, are not facing the kind of dreaded rebuilding process that would be expected after the graduation of two standout athletes of Collins’ and Glenn’s caliber, not with Reneazia Collins still on the roster.
This season Renaziah Collins – no relation to Ladybug – emerged as a dangerous weapon in her own right. The sophomore sprinter won the 400-meter dash and the 100 hurdles, and placed second in the 200 behind only Ladybug. She also helped the 4×200 relay team to a state title. It was an impressive performance, to be sure. But perhaps more important, it showed the rest of the state that the program’s success was not destined to end with the departure of Ladybug and Glenn.
“Talent-wise, with her work ethic and confidence, she’s picking up right where these ladies are leaving off,” said Monroe girls track coach Nichole Jackson.
In many ways, Reneazia has found a natural fit with track and field. That was immediately evident to Jackson when the coach first saw her run as a freshman.
“I remember when she came out for (the first) indoor (practice), I called Coach Sowell and was like, ‘Come to the track!’” Jackson recalled. “You could just watch her. Younger athletes typically don’t have that talent, but you could see she had it, and if she would stick with it and was willing to do the work, there would be a lot of potential down the road.”
As a freshman, Reneazia took third in the 300 hurdles and added to two winning relays during the Class 1A/2A/3A indoor track state meet.
“I think (that performance) fed her confidence even more because in outdoor (track season in the spring), she was like, ‘Oh, I can actually run with some of these kids,’” said Jackson.
The thing that has helped set Reneazia apart, however, is the fact that she opted to take advantage of having Ladybug and Glenn around rather than simply wait for her time to shine. Jackson said it became a common sight to see Reneazia shadowing Ladybug during the upperclassman’s workouts.
If Ladybug was working on high-knee drills, so was Reneazia. If Ladybug was sprinting, so was Reneazia. It was a practical practice. Why would a young sprinter not try to mirror one of the state’s best? Reneazia said becoming close with Ladybug also helped her to overcome some physical obstacles.
“Both of us have asthma, and I know even when she’s tired she pushes through it,” said Reneazia. “That makes me want to work harder. If she can do it, I can do it, too. That’s one of the things I’ve learned from her.”
But on the flip side, she wasn’t exactly racking up the wins in practice while facing Ladybug. But Jackson said Reneazia never seemed deterred.
“When you have that hunger and that confidence to say, ‘Hey, I might get beat but I’m going to get beat running fast,’ then you have a good chance of improving,” Jackson said.
The sweat equity also helped prove her worth to the older athletes, and Glenn said she wasted little time in letting Reneazia know what was in store for her.
“She came out of nowhere!” said Glenn. “Ever since last year I’ve been telling her, ‘You’re the next leader when ’Bug and I leave.’”
Added Ladybug: “Her mind-set is already like that – she’s a go-getter, she’s a leader. When we leave, I know the team is going to look to her because she kind of reminds me of myself when I was that age.
“We have a lot of similarities, and I like that about her. She’s a team player, and she just goes out there and works hard.”
It’s not as if Reneazia will be all alone next season, however, as the Redhawks should return a strong nucleus of talent with underclassmen such as Kendall Cox, Julice Crowder, Shikima Gainey, Simone Gwehi and Zasha Barrett.
“(Reneazia’s) going to have her crew,” said Jackson. “That foundation has been laid. She does summer track to stay focused. If you have that work ethic and desire, she’s going to be all right.
“She’s going to have to motivate herself more (now that Glenn and Ladybug are gone). But the foundation is there. She’ll be good.”
Reneazia said she realizes the responsibilities she’s getting ready to shoulder.
“I love track, but I’m kind of a quiet person, and I’m not used to being in charge of other people and leading and stuff,” said Reneazia, who added that she has begun recruiting other athletes around campus to join the track team next school year.
“I know with (Ladybug and Glenn) leaving, I’m going to have to step up next year,” Reneazia said. “(This year’s success) makes me want to work harder. Without (Ladybug and Glenn) and those points, hopefully other people from the team will step up and we can do it again.”
After all, for Reneazia, this year was the beginning of a new era.

Warriors = Winners

(Union County Weekly, posted on June 8, 2012)

The Weddington Warriors: 2012 Class 3A champs

Weddington uses talent, attitude to win first 3A state championship

By Aaron Garcia

As his players rushed the mound and enveloped pitcher Sean Collins, who had just thrown the third and final strike of the Class 3A championship series on June 2, Weddington coach Travis Poole didn’t budge. Instead, he kept one foot on the dugout floor and the other on the top step leading to the field.
“I just watched it take place because I wanted to sit back and watch what they had accomplished,” said Poole. “It was an unbelievable sight. Words can’t really describe it.”
Collins’ strikeout capped a magical run for the Warriors, who claimed the Class 3A title by downing Pikeville Aycock, 4-2, to sweep the best-of-three series at Zebulon’s Five County Stadium.
It’s the first state baseball championship for a Union County team since Forest Hills’ 1997 title, and the first for any Weddington team since 2003.
In the first game of this year’s championship series, the Warriors jumped to a 5-0 lead behind a 3-for-3 effort at the plate from Chris Simpson, who Poole said “was a spark there for us in the lead-off spot all year.”
Weddington pitcher Alex Bostic held Aycock scoreless through six innings with a two-hit, eight-strikeout, eight-walk performance. Closer Daniel Pope ended a late Aycock rally and earned the save in the 5-2 win.
“I think once we got that win (and) the kids got that first game under their belts and some of the jitters and nervousness out of their system, they were able to just go out and play,” said Poole.
Poole, however, admitted he was a little nervous that his players were too relaxed as the team rested in its hotel after the Friday night opening game, especially with the second game of the series beginning at 11 a.m. the following morning.
“You would’ve thought we were at a spring break tournament,” Poole said. “Even Saturday, when we got to the ballpark, they were as loose as they could be.”
Fortunately for Poole, his team’s laid-back nature paid off, especially after the Warriors fell behind 2-0 after two innings. In the third inning, first baseman Jeremy Schellhorn knotted the game with a two-RBI single.
“Next thing you know, we’re right back in it,” said Poole.
Bostic then clubbed a solo shot in the fifth before Schellhorn added another RBI in the seventh to give the Warriors their final 4-2 lead.
Poole said he didn’t find his players’ attitude worrisome because it had been their outlook for years. Poole pointed out that players such as Pope, Nathan Borelli, Conor Newton, Andrew Knight and Payden Honeycutt had played together since they were freshmen and cut their varsity teeth against some of the state’s best competition while members of Charlotte’s ultra-tough Southwestern 4A conference. Throw in players such as juniors Schellhorn and Bostic, and sophomores Daniel Calabretta and Collins, and Poole said he had the perfect championship recipe.
“When you start putting those pieces together with the attitude those kids have, it was unbelievable,” said Poole.
Which, he added, only made the sight of his team celebrating on the pitcher’s mound even more unforgettable.
“When that final strikeout was made, just to be able to stand there and watch that take place was just … it’s ingrained in my mind,” Poole said. “That’ll be something I always see. When I look out, I’ll see that reaction of 17 kids as excited as they can be.
“To accomplish what they did, as a coach, is probably the most gratifying thing I can think of.”

Charlotte Catholic defends athletics, financial aid
 (South Charlotte Weekly, posted April 26, 2012)

Charlotte Catholic Principal Jerry Healy

By Aaron Garcia

A new wrinkle in the unfolding drama surrounding Charlotte Catholic High School’s athletic department emerged this week, as the school’s financial-aid practices came into question by the N.C. High School Athletic Association, the state’s governing body for public high school sports.
On April 12, six Rowan County schools requested an amendment to the NCHSAA’s constitution that would remove the state’s three non-boarding parochial schools – Charlotte Catholic, Raleigh’s Cardinal Gibbons and Kernersville’s Bishop McGuinness – from the organization because of their lack of territorial boundaries, which allows the schools to draw athletes from larger areas than their public-school counterparts.
Three-fourths of the NCHSAA’s 390 member schools would have to vote in favor of changing the constitution before the Catholic schools could be removed, and all votes were due by noon on April 24.
Charlotte Catholic is expected to learn the results of the voting on May 3, a day after the NCHSAA’s executive board meeting in Chapel Hill. However NCHSAA Executive Director Davis Whitfield said he couldn’t put a timetable on when the results of the financial-aid review would be revealed.
Charlotte Catholic principal Jerry Healy said that after the initial issue surrounding the schools’ participation in the NCHSAA came to light, questions regarding Charlotte Catholic’s financial-aid practices surfaced. Healy said he was notified by the NCHSAA on April 18 that it also would be reviewing the aid awarded to students and, more specific, student-athletes. The investigation would be separate from the April 24 vote.
Healy acknowledged that Charlotte Catholic does award need-based financial aid but added that the process does not originate at the school but rather with an independent, third-party financial evaluator located in Ohio. The results, which are only identified by a serial number specific to the family requesting the aid, are then sent to Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools’ downtown office. Healy said that MACS then notifies the family of financial assistance available.
The process, said Healy, ensures that the school does not give special consideration to student-athletes or any other students because of the confidential nature of the process.
“Once (MACS) gets all the information they need, then they send for us to meet with the families,” said Healy. “But prior to that, we don’t know (anything about the recipient). We don’t know who’s coming, we don’t know if people play sports.”
On its website, the NCHSAA states that “parochial non-boarding schools, in addition to subscribing to the general rules of the NCHSAA, must agree to adhere to the following regulations: (a) an all-male student body shall have its enrollment doubled for classification purposes; (b) a student must have been in attendance for the two most recent semesters before being eligible for athletics; and (c) athletes shall not be given scholarship aid or other financial consideration.”
While the rule might appear cut-and-dried, Healy said the distinction has always been in the fact that the funds awarded to the qualifying students are collected from the Mecklenburg-area Catholic parishes, not the school itself. The process, said Healy, gives the school and its administrators a needed level of separation to remain compliant with the NCHSAA.
“I think that makes a major difference,” said Healy. “That was (former NCHSAA Executive Director) Charlie Adams’ interpretation: As long as the money did not come directly from the school, it was OK. That protects the (NCHSAA) and keeps us from saying, ‘OK, we’re going to give you this because we need you as a football player.’
“I think (the NCHSAA wants) to interpret it as any help given is financial aid,” Healy continued. “We have never interpreted it that way; we’ve always interpreted it as you don’t give scholarships for athletics. That’s been the bottom line, and that’s the whole issue – we do not give scholarships for athletics. Never have, never will.”
Whitfield, the NCHSAA’s current executive director, said the organization is working to better understand Catholic’s situation in relation to how it awards the aid, which could make a big difference in how the NCHSAA rules.
“I don’t know that anything has changed, necessarily,” said Whitfield. “I think what we’re trying to make sure we understand is when we say ‘financial aid.’ exactly what does that mean to these non-boarding parochial schools and try to understand them a little bit better. We’ve asked the schools for some additional information to really dive into the process and provide us with a full accounting of how that’s done, what’s the process and how it’s awarded.
“Aid is aid,” added Whitfield. “Is it monetary aid? Is it some other form of aid that comes in? We’ve got to take a look at those (factors) and then evaluate whether that is just for students, or student-athletes. Is it for everyone? Does that change? How is that interpreted? So, again, we have a lot of facets to look through and understand before we can determine an outcome on this.”
While Whitfield said he anticipates the subject will be a topic of discussion at the NCHSAA’s executive board meeting on May 1, he declined to put a timetable on when a decision could come.
“One of the things we’re finding out is Catholic education and the way it works is really mirrored to even the collegiate setting. When we talk about athletes, I’m not certain we can pinpoint that (the ones affected are) just athletes,” said Whitfield in regard to how the aid is distributed. “We want to make sure we’re fair in this case, so I think that’s why we’re wanting to make sure that we take our time and make sure that we understand their point of view as it relates to this and how it applies to our by-laws to make sure we’re being fair to all parties.”
Several states across the nation allow parochial schools to compete within public-school leagues. Whitfield said the NCHSAA was aware of that and would take it into account in Charlotte Catholic’s case.
“But as we do in most cases, we have to look at what’s best for North Carolina,” Whitfield said. “In some instances, we do look at what other states do and in some situations try to mirror or emulate some of their processes because we think they’re the best for North Carolina. In other cases, we sometimes have that information, but we may go an entirely different route. I would say we do have that information and that will be one thing we discuss.”
Healy said the atmosphere has remained upbeat around the Charlotte Catholic campus and that the parents “have been very good.”
“I think they trust the system, and I think they trust that people will truly recognize who we are and how we conduct ourselves,” said Healy.
Healy, however, feared that roughly two weeks wasn’t enough time for the Catholic schools to adequately plead their case before the May 1 board meeting.
“(The process) has been a pain,” said Healy. “You start (with the boundary complaints), and then you’re defending yourself from something you didn’t do wrong. It’s almost like you’re guilty until proven innocent.”
The principal also is worried about the potential slippery slope that could accompany the school’s financial-aid review. For example, MACS awards a tuition break to families with multiple siblings within the system.
“In the past, the fourth child or more would’ve been free,” said Healy. “Now, how are (NCHSAA officials) going to interpret that? Are they going to start getting involved with how much tuition we can charge and how much we can give?”
Healy also added that while legal action is a possible recourse, depending on the outcome, he is confident Charlotte Catholic has followed the letter of the NCHSAA’s laws.
“I’ve always felt like we were in compliance,” said Healy. “We’ve done everything we’ve been asked to do, and we’ve been above board about everything.”

Behind the Mask
(Union County Weekly, 3/23/12)

Selfless Mangum continues making name for Cuthbertson – and himself

Cuthbertson High's John Mangum 

By Aaron Garcia

There’s a reason the catcher position is so often examined. Baseball, as a sport, has long been fodder for poets and press-box philosophers attempting to articulate exactly its attraction. It’s a finesse sport based on precision and impeccable timing, and when it’s done well, it causes ballparks to be compared with cathedrals.
And with good reason, since it seemingly takes divine intervention to hit a curveball.
But the catcher position is a bit of a contradiction to the artful nature of the game. In a sport with recognizable stars, catchers wear masks. In a sport that’s considered “non-contact.” catchers block runners from the plate and are the ones who most often collect bruises and bandages. They certainly don’t get the credit that’s afforded the guys with the cleaner uniforms at the end of a game.
That’s exactly how John Mangum likes it.
For the third consecutive season, Mangum is the ringleader of what has become one of the greatest shows in Union County. In just three seasons, the Cuthbertson baseball team has built a reputation as a pitching powerhouse that has featured current college players Peter Hendel (University of North Carolina) and Preston Morrison (Texas Christian University), and this year’s Cavs ace, Cameron Tekker (University of Virginia signee).
Last season the Cavs finished with a 24-3 record and won their second consecutive Rocky River 1A/2A conference tournament before advancing to the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs. On the mound, the Cavs recorded a 1.18 ERA and held opponents to just a .134 batting average.
This season the Cavs are off to a 6-1 start and again resemble a bona fide contender for the state crown. And with Hendel and Morrison off competing in college, there’s been one constant, one bridge between the program’s precocious beginnings and its current success – Mangum.
It’s no coincidence, said Cavs coach Travis Little. Back when Little was shopping Mangum to different college recruiters, he used a metaphor – though somewhat gruesome when taken out of baseball context – that he felt best epitomized what made Mangum such a valuable prospect.
“You could stick a screwdriver in his chest and he’d still go out there and play nine innings,” Little would tell them.
It probably only furthered his point that high school baseball games are only seven innings long. But Little’s message was that Mangum was uncommonly tough, driven and, most of all, competitive.
“I think he was definitely born (a leader),” said Little. “When he walks on the field, no other player has any issue with taking any type of criticism or any type of advice (from him) because they know, no matter how hard they work, (Mangum is) always working twice as hard.
“They realize how committed he is. He’s one of those guys that creates wins out of dust sometimes. When the other guys see him going the extra mile, it obviously motivates them.”
The recruiters didn’t need much convincing. Last season Mangum was listed as a pre-season All-American by Louisville Slugger, and he didn’t disappoint. He batted .458 with a team-leading eight home runs, including a walk-off homer over rival Piedmont in the semifinals of the conference tournament. As a result, he chose to sign a National Letter of Intent to continue his career with N.C. State University next season over programs such as Appalachian State, Western Carolina and the Charlotte 49ers.
But his toughness and fierce competitive streak aside, Tekker said Mangum offers a comforting, steady presence behind the plate.
“You definitely know any pitch you throw, he’s going to be back there blocking it for you,” Tekker said. “It’s a great deal for the team having him back there behind the plate. He’s always working hard and doing what he can for the team.”
Mangum said it never occurred to him to be intimidated by the big-name players serving pitches to him. He said after growing up with most of his teammates on baseball diamonds across the area, “When they’re on the mound and I’m behind the plate, it’s just another day. We’re on the same page and that works out a lot.”
If it seems as though Mangum took to the varsity game quickly once he joined the Cuthbertson program, it’s because he was practically a grizzled veteran when he joined the Cavs as a sophomore. The year before, Mangum cracked Weddington High’s starting lineup as a freshman, fielding pitches from standouts Anthony Boone and Danny Yelverton while also facing opposing pitchers from the state’s top conference, the Southwestern 4A, which then included Weddington.
“Back then, I definitely played and felt like I was ready, but looking back, I’m surprised I did it, being such a little kid,” Mangum said. “I was 14 years old – I wasn’t even shaving yet. To look back on it and look at all the things I did and the way I played — I guess you could say the swagger I had – a bunch of people thought I was cocky because I honestly felt like I was (6 foot 4), 225 pounds out there playing with the big dogs.”
In actuality, he was closer to 5-9, 150. But on that big a stage against those kinds of players, he couldn’t act like it.
“That’s how you have to roll with it because if you don’t, you’re going to be left behind,” he said.
That mind-set has proven useful this year as well, as Mangum has struggled at the plate. After posting a combined .418 batting average his first two years as a Cav, Mangum is currently hitting just .167.
“It’s something that just has to take care of itself,” Mangum said of his offensive struggles. “My swing’s not messed up. It’s mostly a mental battle for me.”
Doubt has a way of eroding a players’ footing in baseball, and stress will only make them sink further. Mangum has known this since his freshman year. He also knows the hits will come and his batting average will elevate. And true to form, Mangum isn’t hoping it happens for his sake.
“At any point I could just snap out of it,” Mangum said. “I have a feeling that’s going to happen pretty soon.
“You can’t sit there and dwell on it. I have to come out and produce for my team to help my team win.”
And when he does, people will notice.

Insert your favorite corny Rudy line here...

[Editor's Note: I revisited this the following June and added some notes, which are in red]

In about an hour, My wife and I will be leaving for Winston-Salem to watch Notre Dame/Wake Forest.

It's taken me 10 minutes to follow that last line. I've had the tickets for a full five days but the realization is just settling in. The funny thing is I got a flash of nervousness as I was thinking about it. But I guess it makes since. The Irish have a habit of making solid QBs look like Heisman hopefuls, and Tanner Price almost figures to be next [If he hadn't squandered two goal line possessions in the second half, he would have been]. This is the type of game that has customarily broken Notre Dame's season since, well, 1988.

It's going to be strange to cheer while at a football game [It was]. It's been a very long time since I've been allowed to do that. I'd estimate that I've been to 100 football games in the last four years (about 20 high school football games per year, which includes five rounds of public-school playoffs; two years of covering home Panthers games; and two Appalachian State (my alma mater ) football games.

It would've been natural to get whipped into a frenzy at the App games, especially last week when they toppled top-ranked Georgia Southern. Instead, I was back in work mode: which players were on the field, who wasn't, subs, what the last play was, offensive formation, defensive formation, down, yardage, trends emerging, blah, blah, blah. I tried to let it go, and it worked. A little. But there was still a small amount of detachment there. Really hoping that subsides a little bit. [I still think there's something to this, but I've come to realize that my fandom's intensity level is directly proportionate to the amount of time spent tailgating beforehand. My gut tells me there's a correlation.]

The solution , as it occurs to me, happens to have a fortuitous side effect which should help mitigate the cold that is scheduled to sweep in after dark: Maker's Mark. A responsible amount -- not enough to get weepy[check], sloppy [check] or confrontational [Pretty much]. Just enough to get happy and warm, and to cheer without thinking too much.

[All in all, amazing. The Irish tried their best but couldn't quite pull off the loss, winning 24-17. They did go into halftime down 10-17, however]

First Impression: Panthers' 2011 Preseason Debut

Revisiting my preseason Panthers HE said-He said prediction, and other thoughts from our first glimpse of Charlotte's new-look football team

I think it goes without saying: I liked what I saw from the Panthers Saturday night. My friends and I were at the game (Thanks to the great C.B. Williams) in lower-level, end-zone corner seats (amazing), one row behind the rain line caused by the upper deck. But like the Panthers' fortunes for the better, the winds shifted after the game's first few series, moving the line three rows behind us. I witnessed DeAngelo Williams' Barry Sanders impression from the concourse flat-screens while eating peanuts and not getting rained on. Then, as is tradition at Panthers games, we left for the bar somewhere towards the start of the 2nd.

So now, I'm watching it on my DVR. It's the best of all worlds. Thank God I have a wife who's a Panther fan.

As for the game, it was very encouraging for a team that was downright laborious to watch last season. In this week's paper, I wrote a He said-He said column with C. Jemal Horton debating the likelihood of the Panthers reaching 8-8 in 2011.  I took the negative, and cited Carolina's lack of an interior defensive line and secondary. But I must admit: those two units looked less like liabilities on Saturday. Sione Fua and Terrell McClain, the Panthers' pair of third-round picks at defensive tackle, looked disruptive in spurts. If Corvey Irvin (and Nick Hayden)  keeps developing, the Panthers could have a a solid rotation on the interior.

Along with a linebacking unit that lacked Jon Beason and Thomas Davis, the Panthers' front seven allowed just 81 yards on 25 attemps (3.2 yards per carry) and held the Giants scoreless.

The high-motor style of guys such as safety Sean Considine and corner R.J. Sanford was encouraging.  Full disclosure: I spent most of the time watching the line. But the secondary's stats aren't bad; though New York's Sage Roselfels was a solid 13/19 for 129 yards, starter Eli Manning was held to 4-for-9 for 36 yards (mostly in a steady rain). Neither connected for a score, and the Panthers corner backs made several athletic plays in coverage.

So, while I don't back off what I wrote this week, I will admit the weaknesses I cited do look a little less glaring after the first preseason game.

Some other thoughts:

• Speaking of DeAngelo Williams (23 very impressive yards on four carries), he looked every bit back to his 2009 form when he ran for over 1,100 yards. The guy simply is the toughest guy in the NFL to bring down. I'm just not sure how much of a load he's going to have to carry this season. Jonathan Stewart had 12 yards on two carries, but went out limping in the second. Mike Goodson (eight carries, 30 yards) has the talent to be another Pro Bowl back for the Panthers, but fumbling in game situations isn't going to earn any trust from a new coaching staff.
• OK App State fans,we're allowed to gloat a little bit. So many people felt the need to make us admit Armanti Edwards wasn't ready for the NFL last year. The naysayers took his preseason punt return fumble as an indictment on our hard-earned national titles. Have your well-deserved fun on Monday. Don't overdo it though -- wait until he does it in the regular season. Everyone has to agree though; he looks ready now.
• And, of course, the QBs. As a humble yet unapologetic Notre Dame fan, I understand the certain amount of ownership I have to take for Jimmy Clausen's performance here in Charlotte. Within my group of friends, there are well-defined lines of fandom: Ohio State, Miami, North Carolina, the Irish. (The only common bond is almost all of us hate the Buckeyes) And I agree that at times it looked as if Clausen held the ball too long, but without seeing what happened beyond the camera's view, it's hard to judge (I know, a little homerish). I did think he looked light years ahead of where he was last season. Even the pick six in the first quarter looked more like rust than poor decision making.
• I've heard Ron Rivera and others around the team use the word "Wow" in reference to Cam Newton on several occasions throughout the preseason. The rookie's  pass to Greg Olsen up the seam to the Giants' five-yard line in the second quarter actually brought the word out of my mouth. And my wife's, who I thought was asleep on the couch. I can't wait to see him run, which I'm assuming he's saving for the regular season. Kudos to Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski for drafting a script aimed at building Newton's confidence with some short passes and screens. Always seemed like the old staff was too stubborn to stray from their formula of dive, 7-yard pass, draw and punt.Which brings me to my next point...
• I love the new offense. Sure, there's no game planning in the preseason, but it was immediately evident that there is a new style of football in Bank of America Stadium. Whether the Panthers get to 8-8 or not, they're going to be more fun to watch.  I can't wait to see Steve Smith in an offense that makes opposing safeties  respect the middle of the field.