Yorktown's Prata Makes Name on the Mat

Original version of article printed in the Yorktown Town Square section of the Daily Press on March 30, 2012



Joey Prata collecting the hardware after winning
the Big Horn tournament

For a young man weighing only 93 pounds, Joey Prata packs a lot of weight.

The eighth grade wrestler, representing the Virginia Predators, has rightfully earned a name for himself on and off the mat. As a wrestler, Prata has compiled a record of 87-2 (with 30 pins) this season. His feats in the weight room have also drawn attention. In fact, a video of the 14-year old dead lifting 225 lbs. is currently making the rounds on YouTube and Facebook.
The sky looks to be the limit for the grappler from Yorktown.

With his middle school career reaching an end (his last tournament will be in Fargo, ND in July), Prata is looking ahead to the next step. Currently homeschooled, he will be attending York High next year. According to Joey, the family has already met Coach Todd Parrish and he is anxious to begin.

The start of high school competition should be a relief for the Prata family. Practicing with the Predators requires a 140 mile round trip to and from Chester, VA, a trek they make 4-5 times a week. But the effort has been worth it. According to his father Tony, “Coach (Mark) Strickland and his assistants have helped make Joey into a national champion.”

The first hurdle for his post-Predator career has already been set. Prata aims to be a multiple state champion. But the lightest competition weight at the high school level is 106 lbs. Even though 106 is the maximum weight, there is still a disadvantage to giving away as many as 12 pounds to an opponent in a sport as balanced as wrestling.

Two years ago, the family realized that Joey’s slight build might hinder his future wrestling career.

Enter D’Shawn Wright.

The trainer and owner of Body by D Gym in Yorktown has earned a reputation based on the pursuit of excellence mindset he instills in his students.  With many of his high school clients moving on to collegiate sports, the gym has become a focal point for young athletes looking to gain the extra edge needed to earn an athletic scholarship.

Father Tony, a Battalion Chief with the York County Fire Department, found Body by D two years ago while searching for his own workout spot.

Says mother Shannon, “We appreciated his (D’Shawn’s) intensity. The motto is “the harder, the better.”

Joey, who started his training regimen weighing about 75 pounds, didn’t take long to see the developing results.

“Everybody started noticing.” said Prata. “The difference was unbelievable and it was quick…within a month.”

Over the first year, Prata says that he gained “about 10 pounds.”

The improvement in strength and stamina has already paid dividends on the mat.

One of Prata’s trademarks with the Predators has been his ability to avenge a loss. Earlier in the season, he lost a 14-2 decision to a wrestler at the Super 32 match in North Carolina. Just six weeks later, at the Virginia Challenge Holiday Duals, Prata turned the tables and scored an 8-0 shutout over the same wrestler to win the championship.

The shutout was not unique to his performance at the Holiday Duals as Prata did not allow any of his ten opponents to score a point, a feat which is rare in a single match, but astronomically difficult to accomplish over the course of an entire tournament.

His intensity is not limited to the field of play. Prata is an honor student and currently takes advanced classes which will allow him to begin his academic work at York with four high school credits. A college career in wrestling awaits, possibly at Old Dominion or Virginia Tech, a school where he could showcase his “math whiz” skills.

Prata prefers the freestyle and Greco-Roman forms of wrestling. His favorite moves are the cradles, riding legs and sweep maneuvers. Now in his sixth year of wrestling, and second with the Predators, he enjoys the individual challenge of the sport. “I like that I get to compete against somebody my own size, an even matchup.” He also likes the team aspect of the sport, a by-product of his earlier athletic endeavors in soccer and lacrosse.

Is there anything else he enjoys about wrestling?

“After weigh-ins, we get to eat. I like the “food buzz.”

Learn more about Joey’s accomplishments with the Virginia Predators at www.vateampredator.com.

Wyllie's View of Friere's "Pedagogy of the Oppressed"

Paolo Friere, world renowned educator and
political activist of the mid 20th century

In 1968, Paolo Friere introduced political and educational scholars to his “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.” Friere, a Brazilian educator and political activist, published this work in Portugese, but it quickly found a worldwide audience and was translated into many languages.

Justin Wyllie, an essayist and blogger from England, has presented an in-depth critique to Friere’s most famous writing on his blog site at http://justinwyllie.net. His objective is show whether Friere’s beliefs are relevant in today’s society.

In its 19 pages, Wyllie breaks down Friere’s work into its four chapters. In short, they deal with 1) the oppressors and the oppressed, 2) the “banking” concept of education, 3) Friere’s theories as used in practice among the poor in South American schools, and 4) the contrast between the “antidialogical” and “dialogical” theories of cultural action.

Wyllie does a credible job of explaining Friere’s work. In his introduction, he notes the author’s model of dialectical materialism. In other words, this is the idea that human destiny is only resolved after a clash between two economic classes of owners and labo(u)rers, which are defined as people who sell their labor to capital.

This concept reminds me of a reading from freshman year in college entitled “Labor Capital and Monopoly: The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century,” by Harry Braverman. Braverman was an American and a Socialist who shared some of the same political and social views as Friere. This book, written in the early 1970’s, had a great influence on my views between labor and management.

While Braverman focused on the difference between the “oppressor” and the “oppressed” in business, Friere aimed to separate the two with regard to social and educational issues, but uses economic class warfare as an analogy. In his essay, Wyllie aims to critique the views of the latter author. In essence, this is a review of a book review.

As such, Wyllie sees no use for Friere’s discussion of the economic class struggle in this book, but identifies the book as useful for social and educational issues, particularly in its discussion of “banking” education. In this age of “teaching to the test,” I find Friere’s views on “banking” education to be poignant. Metaphorically, banking is building up information, much in the way a piggy bank fills up loose change. In the same sense, our brains collect information, then use it when needed.

Contrary to Wyllie’s argument, I see the usefulness of the economic class discussion in Friere’s work; therefore, I disagree with the assumption that its inclusion in “Pedagogy” is useless. When describing two disparate groups, it is worthwhile to draw the parallel comparison to a “rich” versus “poor” struggle.

Otherwise, Wyllie gives a thorough breakdown of Friere’s book, chapter by chapter. For those who have not read “Pedagogy,” Wyllie’s essay is the next best thing.

My Mike Wallace Moment

Mike Wallace, of CBS News, and
"60 Minutes" fame, passed away
at the age of 93.

This has been a sad week for many in the broadcast media community with the passing of legendary newsman Mike Wallace. Wallace, mainly known for his work on CBS News “60 Minutes,” probably did not invent the confrontational interview, but he was the first well known journalist to use it effectively. His interviewing approach became so synonymous with his name that it was said the worst four words a person could hear were “Mike Wallace is here.”

Years ago, 1986 to be exact, I had the opportunity to see Wallace in action. In a stranger twist, it was my question to him that set things in motion and enabled those in attendance to witness his fiery side.

The event was a daylong conference on “The Future of American Business.” College business and finance students from all over the tri-state region were invited to the symposium, which was held at New York University’s Tisch Hall.

This was a high powered event. Co-sponsored by NYU’s Business and Public Administration School, there was no shortage of heavy hitters. President Gerald Ford delivered the luncheon remarks, his topic being “The Future of International Trade.” I have mentioned his appearance on this space previously for two reasons. First, I got to shake his hand when he entered the room, so my day was already made. Second, my battle to avoid going to the bathroom that afternoon fell short. It happens when you drink six cups of coffee to offset the mere 45 minutes of sleep the morning before. Unfortunately, it happened during Ford’s remarks, and I was stunned to find three Secret Service agents follow me all the way to the men’s room and back.

Arthur Levitt Jr. was also there to deliver a speech on “The Future of Entrepreneurship.” At the time he was the chairman of the American Stock Exchange, but would eventually become the longest tenured chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The chairpersons of PaineWebber and Monet Jewelers were also presenters. And of course, Mike Wallace was on hand to speak on the subject of “Media and the Business Community.”

The Home Group was the other co-sponsor of the event. In that year, Marshall Manley, a high powered New York attorney had been selected as the new chairman of the group, as well as its failing subsidiary, Home Insurance Company. Within one year of taking over, Manley brought the company from the ashes, turning a loss of more than $280 million into a gain of $230 million. Six years later, Manley sold the company for $1 billion and set up a new business called M82 Group, LLC, a private investment banking and consulting service. Not a bad decades worth of work.

I bring this point up because Manley served as the moderator that day, keeping the traffic moving and the panels on point. He must have served early notice because I remember Jeff Delutis, our group leader, requesting that I “not ask any questions.” The point was that there were panels in place to ask the questions and I was really there in the capacity of a college newspaper reporter and not a participant. Fine.

Anyhow, at 2:00 PM, Mike Wallace gets up to address his panel of five as well as an audience of several hundred. Honestly, I don’t remember much about his talk, except that it ended and that each member of the panel followed with a question.

But to my utter delight, the next statement got my immediate attention.

“We will now take questions from the members of the audience.”

Sorry Jeff.

I immediately threw my hand in the air and only had to wait for a couple of other questions to be recognized. Just like it was yesterday, I remember my question. It had to do with trusting the media, especially after the Janet Cooke episode. Since it has been a long time, let me reiterate. Janet Cooke was a reporter with the Washington Post, and in the mid-1980’s she wrote a series of pieces about a 9-year old crack addict living in the slums of Southeast DC. The shocking coverage won her a Pulitzer Prize. Only later, did the public learn that Cooke’s story was completely fabricated.

Wallace’s answer was forthright and direct. No, he couldn’t blame the public for losing trust in the media, and it was going to take them a long time to earn it back, and yes, they would have to EARN it.

So, thank you very much Mr. Wallace. I sat down, again satisfied with the events of the day.

Next question.

“Um. Mr. Wallace, what advice would you recommend to a college student who is aspiring to be a journalist?”

I could see Manley getting hot under the collar. The topic had been diverted.

“Mr. Wallace, I have a question about 60 Minutes…”

By now, Manley was incensed. He stood off and broke the questioner off at mid-sentence.

“Excuse me,” he began. This is supposed to be a forum about media and business. If your question is not about business, please do not ask it. I’m sure you understand Mr. Wallace.”
But the newsman wasn’t quite ready to finish. “Well, with all due respect Mr. Manley, I can’t imagine why you would think to invite me here and assume that no one would be asking me a question about my job. 60 Minutes is what I do for a living,” (roar from audience)

“I understand that Mr. Wallace. However, that is not our subject today, so again, if the audience members could just keep their questions to those dealing with business,” continued Manley.
Wallace replied with a smirk, “Well, I guess you consider this to be...your show” (louder roar)

My heart started racing. Oh my God...I got Mike Wallace into an argument!
<><> <><> <><>

Wallace, shown in the 1950's,
also hosted a variety show
for CBS.

This went on for a couple more verbal jabs before calmer heads prevailed. The panel ended and I bolted for the door. After all, was the day going to possibly get any better??? As I turned, I saw Jeff looking at me.

“That was awesome! Way to go.” Whew! Guess I wasn’t in trouble.


I waited in the hallway for a couple of minutes, and sure enough encountered Mike Wallace en route to getting his coat. In a fit of nervousness, I walked up to him and stuck my program in front of him.
“Mr. Wallace... I have admired your work for a long time. Great job today... Could you sign this?” Something like that, but surely as dopey.


He took the program to sign, looked at me with a knowing glance, and said “Thanks a lot.”
As he walked out into a waiting car (not a limo, more like a four-door K-car), I only hoped that he was really thanking me for putting a bit of excitement into what could have been a boring afternoon for him.

Rest in peace Mike Wallace, and thank YOU!

Young Gymnasts Have a "World Class" Home in Hampton Roads

Restructured from a story I wrote, which was published in the Newport News Town Square section of the Daily Press in late February. I bring it to attention today because there will be a follow-up article in the same section next Thursday about the comeback of Ashley Lambert. Ashley suffered a possible career ending injury almost a year ago. However, her positive spirit and true grit have helped her make a remarkable comeback which is still taking shape. Her inspirational story is worth a read, but will only be published in next Thursday's Daily Press. For now, here's something about the gym where she and many other young gymnasts call their spot.

Located at the end of a side street in midtown Newport News, away from the hustle and bustle of Jefferson Ave., some of the best gymnasts in Virginia have found a new space to call their workout home.

Started by Tami Harrison, the World Class Gym (http://worldclassgym.com) has something for everybody. Harrison’s vision is built on the foundation of having gymnasts achieve their full potential in their gymnastics, and in life.

This makes sense considering her own unique and diverse background. As Tami Elliott, the young gymnast carved an impressive athletic niche for herself as a 10-time All-American at Cal State Fullerton. She competed in the 1984 Olympic trials and barely missed making the team which featured Mary Lou Retton. Still competing as a collegian, Elliott was on a path to making the 1988 Olympic team, including being the highest placing American finisher at the 1985 World University Games. With six months to go before the 1988 trials, while making a standard practice move on the vault, Elliott slipped and landed on her head, compressing her spinal cord and cracking two cervical vertebrae.

With her gymnastics competition career over, Elliott gracefully moved on to the next step of her life. She worked as an assistant coach for Fullerton while finishing her degree in physical education. Later, she returned to the Commonwealth and represented the state as Miss Virginia in 1989, then Mrs. Virginia ten years later, placing in the top ten.

Marriage to husband Rex and children (Rex IV 18, Taylor 16, and Tristan 9) also followed. A call from her alma mater arrived in 2005 with an invitation to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In spite of the transition to family life, Harrison did not let go of her gymnastics past, opening World Class Gym in 2000.

From its humble beginning, the gym has grown by leaps and bounds. A second location was opened in Suffolk. And after 10 years at its original Newport News home on Middle Ground Blvd., the business outgrew the location, and found a new facility on Bell King Road, one which expanded its workspace from 13,000 to 20,000 square feet.

With Harrison serving as the lead coach, World Class has led to numerous stories of accomplishment for young gymnasts.

Keira Brown is one of the success stories to come from World Class. Brown, a junior at Woodside, placed third all-around at the Junior Olympic National Championships, held during the month of May in Long Beach, CA. Because of her placing, she earned the opportunity to train at the USA Gymnastics Training Center in Huntsville, AL. in late October. Two weeks before traveling to Alabama, Brown will be taking a much longer plane ride, to Switzerland, to train for a week. She has already received a scholarship offer from the University of Georgia.

College offers are becoming common for the World Class gymnasts. Nicole Wright, another product of Harrison’s tutelage, earned a scholarship to the University of Maryland, while Sarah Gillespie went on to compete at Ohio State with the same educational benefit. Others, including Menchville’s Ashley Lambert and Taylor Harrison (VA Athlete of the Year and National Junior Olympic team member) are waiting in the wings. In Lambert’s case, the story will be more amazing as she suffered a broken C1 bone in her neck in May 2010. Her comeback story is noteworthy.    

At the younger levels, Lily Olson has qualified for the Diamond Level TOPs Team as a 7 and 8 year old, while Annabelle Hovater competed at the 2010 U.S. Challenge portion of the Covergirl Classic and had the highest All-Around score for optional gymnasts.

But World Class is open to all young gymnasts, regardless of age or ability. In fact, the youngest group of future flippers, known as the Partner Pals, range from 18 months to two years of age. This group moves up to the Tumble Bunnies for the ages of 3-4.

There are ten levels of ability for the gymnasts. Brown, Wright and Gillespie are considered the highest at level 10, but World Class has coaches for all abilities. According to Harrison, there are 85 competitive gymnasts at the Newport News location and about 400 recreational students. In Newport News, there are six other coaches to work with the athletes of varying levels.

The facility is not limited to gymnasts. Local high school cheerleading teams have come in to hone their skills. Girl Scout troops and other youth groups have come by for a variety of activities, including sleepovers and birthday parties. Says Harrison, “we do lots of fun things for everybody. We’re very versatile.”

Looking at the "Man in the Mirror"

Good week for “Writing on the Wall.” I was pleased to be a guest on the “Man in the Mirror” radio show with D’Shawn Wright and Peter J. Castaldo, heard on the Versatility Radio network, and locally at WYRM 1110 in Norfolk. Here is the link to the show:

http://soundcloud.com/terry-riddick/versatility-radio-3-29-12-l?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=google_plus&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fterry-riddick%2Fversatility-radio-3-29-12-l

Peter J. Castaldo (L), myself, and D'Shawn Wright
right after the "Man in the Mirror" radio show

I had a great time. My last time in a radio studio was at WCBG (wcbg.wagner.edu), our little 10-watt station at Wagner College, where I did some DJ-ing in college. Lot different then...10 watts meant that the sounds coming from the studio might have gotten off-campus if the wind blew right. On Staten Island, the Fresh Kills dump was usually more dependable. But it was fun, and a learning experience. In fact, my friend Chris Ryan and I got to cover one half of a basketball game once. Chris went on to own Ryan’s Wake (ryanswake.com), a thriving Irish establishment in Troy, NY. On the other hand, I’m doing lots of things, but still chasing the games with the fervor that other maniacs chase tornadoes!

Anyhow, the topic of the day on the “Man in the Mirror” was fear. Why are we afraid to pursue dreams? Lots of great points made last Thursday afternoon and the show is worth a listen. I was humbled, as their previous guests have included the mayors of Virginia Beach and Hampton, as well as business and religious leaders. My own friends and family enjoyed tweaking me with the question...”what are YOU going to talk about?” I’d like to think there were a few meaningful thoughts included in my 15-minute segment.

Of course, my suggestion is to listen!