Making A Life Changing Choice

So here I sit, at the McDonalds in South Boston, Virginia, eating a sausage burrito and contemplating the immediate future. As of July 15^th, the day before my 48^th birthday, I will begin working here, as an Adult Education teacher with the Virginia Department of Correctional Education.

A couple of points might jump to your mind if you know me and are reading this. First, yes, I’ll be teaching in a jail. But it’s probably a mild assignment for this business. The facility I will be working at is a Level 1, which means that most of the residents are really on their way out of the system. In fact, everyone here works outside of the facility. If you’re living in Newport News, let’s just say it’s like City Farm.

Secondly, South Boston is not close to home; in fact, it’s 182 miles away. Part of my challenge right now is finding an affordable place to live during the workweek. Just looked at a studio apartment, which is at the back of a private home. In terms of simplicity, this could work. It’s all inclusive, furnished and comes with cable and Wi-Fi, which is probably hard to find in a country town of 9,000 residents. But, I’m keeping options open since it’s the first place I’ve looked at. The cost of living is dirt cheap down here in NASCAR country (Martinsville is nearby). I’ve seen three bedroom houses for rent for about $500 a month.

But this is a huge change, and I have been more than a little wistful for the past two weeks. My comfort zone is about to explode, being away from home 4-5 days a week. Never mind the part about mostly giving up my “mistress,” which is what my wife calls track and field. I’m hoping to stay involved with the cross-country and track teams at Menchville HS, but am not sure how useful a coach can be with only one day a week (Sat.) to be available. Thankfully, I am still writing with TrackSide magazine and have two American record holders lined up for interviews. Of course, I can keep covering Saturday games for the Daily Press, which automatically conflicts with what I just said about being available for track on that day. (laugh).

Regardless, this has been a tough decision. But the reality is that my attempts at landing a job with a local school system in Hampton Roads have not succeeded. That’s the irony to me. After eight years of attending graduate school, I have finished a master’s degree in education, all of the coursework for a doctorate, earned an endorsement in school administration, served on a statewide  SOL  committee, and am getting ready to take comps and begin my dissertation. But I can’t nail down a job. The irony is that when I go to admin interviews, it is implied that I have no school admin experience, and when I go for teaching interviews, it is implied that I'm really looking to get into administration. Amazing.

My hope is that none of this will matter and teaching with Corrections will be a better opportunity. I already know it pays a bit more than the school systems here, so it’s a start. There is the challenge of working with people who genuinely need help getting their lives back on track. I figure that most of this job will be preparing students for the GED and helping them transition to life on the other side of jail bars. Being that I have considered covering creativity and at-risk teenagers for a dissertation topic, I’m probably working in the right place – with an agency that is now linked with Juvenile Justice.

Even though I’m sad about leaving my jobs and friends, at least during the week, I have always been one to believe that things happen for a reason. My coaching colleague, Chris Chappell, told me to pray on this decision when I first told him. Last Saturday, I was in Norfolk for a wedding of my longtime friend Alicia Holloway (now Waldon). Turned out that one of the bridesmaids lived here in South Boston, and she has offered to help me. Thanks Tanya!! And thanks to Coach Chapp! I took his advice and resulting meeting with Tanya as my message from above that I wouldn’t be in this (meaning South Boston) alone, and to go ahead and accept the offer.

What is the role of the instructional leader? -- Thoughts from McEwan and Sergiovanni

      While leadership is a broad, all-encompassing topic, the definitions presented fall into a slightly different paradigm. In her book, 7 Steps to Effective Instructional Leadership, Elaine McEwan tackles this definition well, looking at the works of others while viewing its meaning from different lenses.

      To her credit, McEwan notes how the role of the instructional leader has evolved over the past 30 years. While earlier definitions may have focused on administrative tasks (i.e. staffing, budgeting) the more current definitions have much more depth.

Thomas Sergiovanni presented some of the earlier models and has made several revisions. His first models looked at instructional leadership as a meshing of five forces – technical, human, educational, symbolic and cultural. Of these, the first two are related more toward human skills while the last three are aligned more toward leadership within the building.

One element of the leader role that has evolved over the past few years is the role of instructional leader as creator of a learning community. While the leader may not be knowledgeable of all disciplines being taught, the leader should be able to work well with teachers and staff to assure that learning is occurring within the building. Human relations are a key piece toward achieving success.

McEwan introduces her book by introducing the findings of more than a dozen educational researchers and uses this meta-analysis to introduce the reader to her seven steps of effective instructional leadership. According to McEwan, the instructional leader needs to:

1.     )       Establish and implement academic standards – the effective leader sets the bar for standards. Goal setting is an important leadership tool.
2. 2)      Act as an instructional resource – even though the leader is not an expert on all subjects, a strong principal knows what elements are necessary for good teaching and can see when learning is occurring. This leader gives teachers and staff what they need to be effective.
3. 3)      Set the culture and climate – the leader needs to set the tone within the building and create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. This can be as simple as keeping fresh paint on the walls, but it deals with facets of the human element. One example of this is the visibility of the leader within the building.
4. 4)      State and promote the mission and vision – while expecting the teacher to set goals, the leader also has a vision of what the school will become. This is the vision. Through daily management of the building, the mission will be accomplished.
5. 5)      Set high expectations – if the leader aims low, the result will be minimal. Low expectations lead to little progress. As a visionary, the successful leader sets the bar high and encourages others to aim for it. As noted in step four, expectations are high for the leader, just as it is for teachers and staff. Two-way communication is effective here as the leader seeks critiques from teachers in an effort to improve his or her abilities.
6. 6)      Develop teacher leaders – the quality leader inspires others to do the same. More importantly, the leader is not threatened by the idea of putting teachers in leadership positions. The manager who micromanages every detail within a school building will run the risk of burning out. Good leaders build self-efficacy among their teachers and staff and then validate their decision making capabilities by asking them to hold decision making roles (i.e. department chair, program catalyst).
7. 7)      Build positive relationships – just like a successful coach knows, the team works best when all of the parts are in working order. Relationships are the backbone of leadership success, whether the relationships are with staff or superiors. Part of the leader’s role is to serve as the “voice” of the building, so it’s imperative to keep a positive attitude and a cool demeanor in all dealings.

All of these components work together and serve as only part of the role of the

instructional leader. In a recent class, our group came up with over 20 different roles and divided them into five categories. The instructional leader’s role is diverse and can change from minute to minute. The most important quality of an effective instructional leader may be the ability to multi-task.

The "Next Chapter" of Justin Gatlin - as seen in TrackSide magazine

And finally, the cover story. The highlighted piece in our second issue of TrackSide was the interview with world class sprinter Justin Gatlin (conducted twice..LOL).

The timing was certainly right on this one. In spite of being 31, (considered a wee bit old for a sprinter), Gatlin won his first five races this year, beat Usain Bolt, and then placed runner-up in the 100 meters at last weekend's US Track and Field Championships, thus earning a spot on the American team heading to the World Championships in Moscow in early July.

But, as you can read in the article, Gatlin's rebirth as a runner shadows the gains he has made as an overall athlete, father, and to a degree, ambassador of his sport. And away we go.....

For Justin Gatlin, the 2013 outdoor season is not the next step of a “comeback.”

Questioned about a working title for his professional career since 2010, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter dash was quick to reply, “I like to think of it more as my next chapter.”

Gatlin’s recent upward spiral has been astonishing, and some aspects are unknown to many track fans. Three years ago, he was competing at meets in smaller countries, but harbors positive feelings about the beginning of his current journey.  “I like that I started in places like Estonia and Morocco. It was a way of giving back. We, as track athletes, have diehard fans everywhere, but there are a lot of people who don’t get to see us run during a season.” Fast forwarding to the present, he added, “even now, I like to start the season by running in some smaller meets.”

The new chapter reached a lofty plateau in early 2012 when he stunned the track world by winning the 60-meter dash at the World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Commenting on his feeling that day, Gatlin said,

“Up to that point, it seemed like people had written me off. When I crossed the line, it was the first time (since returning) that I felt like I had arrived.”

Gatlin’s reintroduction to track has been fast and furious. He won the 100 meters at the 2012 Olympic trials, with a time of 9.80, a then-personal best. It was also the fastest time ever run by someone 30 years or older.

Following the race, Gatlin’s three year son Jace joined his father for a victory lap around the Hayward Field track. The picture of young Jace holding the American flag while cradled in his dad’s right arm was worthy of coverage in the New York Times and other news outlets.

Becoming a father has Gatlin viewing his career from a new perspective.

To read the rest of this article, please click here:

Northwood University (FL) to Begin Track Program

With colleges dropping track programs across the country due to budget cuts or Title IX realignment, it is memorable for the track community when a new program emerges as the result of school and community interest.

In the first TrackSide issue (www.trackside1.tracknation.com), Greg Foster spoke of his newly formed team at Lindenwood (MO) University, and their expectations of beginning their first season of NAIA competition with 75 athletes.

On the east coast, another program is in the formative stages, this one at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, FL. The Seahawks will compete in the Sun Conference of the NAIA.

Ironically, their new head coach, Kent Baker, found his way to Florida only after 14 years as the head coach of the University of Toledo, a Division I program which fell due to budget cuts.

Having to leave his old position, one which he was successful at, was tough.

“After 14 years, a program becomes a part of you, from working with the alumni and administration. When it’s lost, it’s like someone cuts out part of your heart…that’s what is devastating.”

Baker coached five Division I All-Americans and four Olympic trial qualifiers while at Toledo. Most recently, he was Director of Track and Cross Country at American Heritage School in Florida from 2008-2011, where he won two Florida 2A High School State Championships in Women's Track and Field. He was named 2011 Girls Track "Coach of the Year" by Florida High School Class 2A, 2010 and 2011 Miami Herald Girls Track "Coach of the Year", and the 2010 and 2011 Sun-Sentinel News Girls Track "Coach of the Year."

He looks forward to continuing his run of success at Northwood.

“Florida is rich with talent, but sometimes these men and women get overlooked. The best ones always find somewhere to go. We are interested in providing an opportunity for the others who have interest and talent.”

Northwood is best known as a business school, but Baker quickly points out, “we offer many specialized programs.” He aims to work with high school coaches to draw the kids “who are not highly recruited.” His method appears to be working so far as Baker anticipates fielding a roster of 40-50 athletes for the first year.

Baker will draw strength from two quality assistant coaches. Thomas Johnson, who was recently elected into the Florida Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments has an All-American 400-600 meter sprinter at Florida State, will coach the sprinters, while Maryellen Powers, best known for her work with triathletes and System 3 coaching, was also recently added to the staff.

Olympian Dee Dee Trotter Says, "Test Me I'm Clean!" : Foundation Educates Young Athletes

Interviewing Dee Dee Trotter was fun. She is incredibly passionate about her sport and her foundation and it shows. I actually had to cut off our first conversation because the power in my cell phone ran out. For the record, I had started with three of five bars. Never mind that I had already broken a pen from writing so fast!

The graphics department of TrackSide magazine did a fantastic job with this article, putting the opening line in place as if it were on "Batman." Dee Dee was quite happy with the superhero theme, but you know, some people can get away with being compared to a superhero. She is certainly one of them. Oh yeah, AND I was happy to hear that she was tweeting the article link :)

POW!! BAM!! KABOOM!!

Dee Dee Trotter is a high energy woman, and when she speaks of her charity, “Test Me I’m Clean,” the narrative is fast and furious, like something out of the final fight sequence from the old Batman TV show.

Everything about Trotter is done in double time. Her personality belies her surname; in fact, there is nothing about the 2004 and 2012 Olympic relay gold medalist and 400-meter bronze medalist that resembles a slow gallop. So when she speaks about her involvement with TMIC, it is an advisement to listen, and if one is reporting, to bring extra pens and a cell phone charger.

It was the underlying perception of track and field athletes as cheaters that got Trotter interested in the movement. But it took an airplane ride to put her at the front and center of the movement.

Prefacing the story, she goes back to 2006.

“There was a lot of negativity going on. You had BALCO and the Barry Bonds situation. It put a bad taste in everybody’s mouth and created a stigma that in athletics, everyone was cheating in general, and that was not the case.”

“So I’m on an airplane, and the guy behind me was reading the sports section, and clearly seeing something about BALCO.”

It was his next line that sent Trotter into action.

To read the rest of this article, click here and turn to page 50.

Meeting Billy Mills: The 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist Speaks

Two things stand out about spending an hour on the phone with Billy Mills. First, I wanted to write down everything he said, because he doesn't spend a lot of time with "chit-chat." Every sentence has thought and meaning behind it, and I didn't want to miss a word. After the 40-minute formal interview, we simply talked about track for another 20, during which time he made my entire year.

Billy Mills today - looking quite youthful
for a man in his 70's

Speaking of the marathon he ran at the Rome Olympics soon after his historic win in the 10,000 meters, he talked about the dehydration which got the better of him and how he faltered from 3rd to "about 14th" in the final three miles. I mentioned that one of my former track runners, actually Donchelle Florence from Denbigh H.S. here in Newport News, VA, was getting ready to run the Los Angeles marathon, and I had told her that she needed to stop at every water station, whether she felt thirsty or not. Mills reflected for a moment, and came back with a line I'll never forget. "I should have taken your advice Jim. If  I had, I would have won that day."

Here's an excerpt from our interview from Trackside Magazine. To see the second half, please click the link below for direct access to the magazine.

TIME STANDS STILL - BILLY MILLS

By every definition of the words, Billy Mills is an American legend and hero. In 1964, Mills stunned the sporting world by dramatically coming from behind on the final lap to win the Olympic 10,000 meter run in Tokyo with a world record time of 28:24. His life and Olympic triumph were the inspiration for the 1983 movie “Running Brave,” starring Robby Benson. To date, he is the only American in history to win the event.

Now 75, Mills has used his Olympic fame to help countless others. An American Indian, and member of the Lakota tribe, Mills has advanced the causes of Native Americans and citizens worldwide. Currently, he serves as the spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an organization which supports projects that enhance Indian causes. Running Strong serves as a project of Christian Relief Services Charities. For his work as an advocate, speaker and author, President Barack Obama awarded Mills with the Presidential Citizens Medal in February 2013.

Mills is a member of several athletic Hall of Fames, including those of the U.S. Olympics, National Track, Distance Running, Kansas, San Diego and his birthplace, South Dakota. He is based in the Sacramento, CA area, but continues to travel the country, meeting with youth groups and sponsoring events on behalf of Running Strong.

He has been married to wife Patricia for 51 years. She is an accomplished artist whose work can be found on her website at www.studiotupos.com.

TrackNation: Did you realize the type of cultural impact that you would have after winning the gold medal in 1964?

Mills: I didn’t realize the type of impact it would have. At the time, I was just trying to find my place in the world. Society was going through multitudes of changes. We had grown up with Plessy v. Ferguson (1896 Supreme Court decision which upheld segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal”) and it wasn’t repealed until Brown vs. Board of Education (1954). This had an effect on the existing treaty rights for Indians and the government was trying to take away a lot of the sovereignty we had. I just didn’t feel like I belonged. In fact, I tried to commit suicide as a junior in college (at Kansas) and didn’t tell anyone for many years. Really, I was just trying to find out how I fit in this complex world.

TrackNation: How does one make the transition?

Mills: Through bravery and fortitude. Also, there are two separate virtues and you have to decide how to use those virtues. First, there is wisdom which will empower you. Then there is generosity which will allow you to empower others. That’s what I had to have to step on that track in Tokyo on October 14^th, 1964 at 4:30 in the afternoon. I felt like that moment was a gift.

Years before that, my Dad and I were fishing and he told me something that was a great surprise at the time. He said, “Son, you have broken wings. But I’ll share these words with you and you’ll have the wings of an eagle. He said, look beyond the hurt and the hate. You have hate because people have hurt us. But you don’t see the good in people. It is the pursuit of a dream that will heal you.”

TrackNation: Now the eagle has become a tremendous symbol of your story. Could you share some thoughts on this?


To read the rest of the Billy Mills "Time Stands Still" article, please click here and turn to page 40:

TrackSide Magazine

Can Charter Schools Operate in Virginia?

The policy of permitting states to create charter schools for its students is gaining a great deal of momentum in academic circles. In fact, at last count, 44 states, including Virginia, have opened the door to allow charter schools to operate within their boundaries. Virginia has only opened four charter schools to date, enrolling a mere 240 students. By comparison, neighboring North Carolina has opened almost 100 such institutions.

The idea behind charter schools started as a response to dissatisfaction with the current public school system. There was a school of thought that the public schools were failing for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, scarcity of money, under qualified teachers and archaic teaching methods. As concerned parents and officials of local jurisdictions began to analyze the problem, many questions surfaced. Why should a child have to go to a failing school just because of his/her geographic location? What can be done to close the achievement gap between white students and minority students? If the existing school system is failing, can we do better? From these questions were borne the outline of the charter school policy.

Generally, there was a feeling of helplessness as stakeholders feel separated from the process and felt like the legislative system in place would not be able to improve public education to a level of their liking. Not being able to find a suitable alternative policy, these stakeholders acted on the feeling that they needed to take matters into their own hands.

Some general definitions of charter schools include the following:

·         Elementary/secondary schools that receive public money without having to adhere to public school rules and regulations

·         An alternative to other public schools, but without the ability to charge tuition

·         Magnet schools, or schools that provide a specialized curriculum in a field, whether it is arts, science or math.

For the most part, charter schools are more prominent in urban school districts, such as Chicago and Washington, D.C. Some schools thrive, while others are struggling. New York City's Promise Academy is an example of a charter school enjoying tremendous success by virtually erasing its achievement gap between black and white students.

However, the success of charter schools is a debatable topic, and this is probably the reason why the state of Virginia has been slow to push this policy of offering alternative education to students and parents who are unsatisfied with the state of their neighborhood school.

To date, Governor Bob McDonnell has seized the opportunity. He is planning to loosen restrictions on new charter schools. Currently, the local school boards must approve potential new charter schools. Under McDonnell's plan, charter school organizers may appeal to the Virginia Board of Education in the event of being rejected at the local level. This may help to resolve conflict at the lower level, as local school boards tend to resist competition, especially in the form of a charter school. In cases where a school division has one or more failing schools, the request for a charter school could be made directly to the state. While realizing that the charter school is not the only cure-all, the Republican nominee for governor has been noted in a recent Virginian Pilot-Online editorial as at least putting considerable thought to the issue and developing a solution to the education problem, using charter schools as a viable alternative while keeping an eye on the 72 failing schools in the Old Dominion.

“No Need For Sight If You Have a Vision.”

The new Trackside magazine is out, and I think this will be the one to put us on the map. The whole experience has been an eye opener, and having the opportunity to "meet" and interview some of the biggest names from track's past and present has been so much fun.

My first interview for this issue was with Lex Gillette. Lex is a fascinating person, a man, who despite not being able to see, sprints and jumps as a Paralympian. In fact, he has long jumped over 22 feet, and there is visual evidence of this (see right). There is a rumor that he was also a waiter at a high-end restaurant in the past, but I didn't quite have the nerve to ask if this was true.

TrackSide is now available for free, online at www.trackside2.tracknation.com.

Lex Gillette lives by this motto. Blind since the age of eight, he grew to discover the one bit of information that the doctors failed to relay in their prognosis twenty years ago.

“They never told me that I could see my potential through Paralympic sport,” wrote the long jump world record holder in his category.

Gillette discovered jumping innocently enough.

“I was in high school, and we were taking the Presidential Fitness test for gym class. One of the categories was the standing broad jump. And I was one of the best (in the class).

Brian Whitmer took Gillette to the next level. Whitmer, a visual impairment specialist at Athens Drive HS in Gillette’s hometown of Raleigh, NC, was the first to hone Gillette’s jumping talents. The youngster had been athletic, playing basketball and riding his bicycle with mother Verdina Gillette-Simms, herself legally blind because of complications from glaucoma.

But there was something different about sprinting down a runway at full speed and hurtling through the air into an abyss of the unknown.

“He (Whitmer) was the first person to say we could take it (jumping) from standing to running. We went to a sports camp in Michigan during my sophomore year. It was specifically for the visually impaired. There was a long jump competition and I won. But it was frightening. I’m realistic and the idea of running (at full speed) and jumping was scary and crazy.”

Whitmer, who is also visually impaired, taught Gillette the basics of the event.

“A lot of it (the training) is trust. We developed a system. He would clap and yell. My job was to run toward the noise. It started with a five step approach.”

Indeed, Gillette ended up with an array of bumps and bruises from approach missteps. But he remained steadfast in his desire to succeed at track, and by his junior year had joined the squad at Athens Drive, working his way to team co-captain as a senior.

Gillette’s next step was East Carolina University in nearby Greenville.  He had initial talks with then-ECU coach Bill Carson about joining the Pirate team, but ended up realizing he would be continuing his training alone.

One of his biggest decisions came after a phone call from the United States Olympic Committee.

(continued on page 20 at TrackSide Magazine) --

Back to the Pool - Hampton Roads Water Polo

For those who have watched a water polo game on television or in person, it may seem like an incredible athletic feat to swim back and forth in a pool while maintaining enough agility to catch, aim and throw a ball into a tiny net guarded by a goalie.

Indeed, water polo is tough. In 2011, the Bleacher Report conducted a ranking to determine the world’s toughest sport. In the article, each sport was measured on six attributes - speed, endurance, strength, agility, skill level and physicality. In their findings, water polo was deemed to be the toughest, outpointing football, hockey, rugby and soccer.

In the article, the writer noted the “kicking and grabbing which goes on under the surface, with all sorts of sly blows underwater.” To put it in physical terms, the author recommended going to the local pool and treading water for 30 minutes straight, then trying to imagine playing a competitive game at the same time.”

Fortunately, there are enough able bodied swimmers in the Tidewater region to field a competitive local water polo team. The Hampton Roads Water Polo club was founded in 2009 and is headed by Marcio Soza. The club practices every Thursday night from 8:15-9:30 at the Norfolk Academy pool. According to Soza, his Hampton Roads team is the only one in the region.

Says Soza, “Our main objective is to help grow the sport of water polo in the Hampton Roads area and to provide our military members an avenue to enjoy the sport of water polo. Our players come from all of the Hampton Roads cities.”

Ironically, it is the military aspect of water polo which draws members, but also keeps the team roster in a state of transiency. On last year’s squad, three local players, Chris Flores and Patrick Killingsworth from Hampton, and Matt Creelman from Yorktown were on the roster. However, Killingsworth, on active duty with the Air Force, was transferred to California, while Creelman has taken a job overseas.

But Flores has been there through the changes, starting with HRWP when it began four years ago, but involved with the movement for much longer.

“I have been trying to build water polo with Marcio (Soza) for over a decade,” said the former Penn State player. In spite of the fluctuating lineups of the past, Flores is confident with the structure of this year’s team. “The important thing for us is to always have a strong core to provide leadership and continuity and we have that.”

The league season begins this weekend with a league tournament in Washington D.C., but the club did finish in second place at the third annual Virginia State Championship Tournament, held in the last weekend of February at the NOVA Aquatics Center in Richmond. The event was hosted by the Richmond Water Polo Club and featured eight collegiate (Virginia, William and Mary, VMI and James Madison) and masters co-ed teams. The HRWP squad went undefeated in the round-robin format, winning its ‘B’ bracket and reaching the championship game, in which they narrowly lost to a heavily favored Northern Virginia team.

The team competes in the South Atlantic Coast Water Polo league, and includes the Richmond and D.C. teams, as well as contingents from Charlotte, Raleigh, Atlanta and Baltimore, among others. People who are interested in participating are encouraged to attend a team practice. No experience is necessary, but Soza warns that being a strong swimmer is highly recommended. There is a club membership fee of $25 per month or $10 per visit, plus American Water Polo registration.

The Hampton Roads Water Polo website can be found at www.hamptonroadswaterpolo.com.

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High School Rugby Thrives on Peninsula

As part of the Hampton Roads Conference (HRC), high school rugby is alive and well in Newport News and Hampton. Now in its sixth year, the league, which is not sponsored by either city’s athletic department or the Virginia High School League, has grown into part of Rugby Virginia, which bills itself as the primary development vehicle for youth and high school rugby within the state of Virginia. Currently, there are six boys and three girls teams on the Peninsula competing for the right to represent the HRC against two of the twelve teams playing in the North League, which represents teams from as far west as Winchester, Culpeper, Loudoun and Fairfax counties, as well as the city of Alexandria.

At the end of March, the Hampton teams have the edge in both leagues, with the Hampton High squads leading both the boys (2-0-1) and girls (2-0) divisions.

The season starts in early march with the Tidewater Tournament which helps to determine the pre-season rankings. A round-robin schedule is followed by playoffs and the top two teams qualify for the state tournament. In last year’s tournament, Northern Virginia teams took both titles, as the Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC) won the girls crown, while the Fort Hunt Warriors nipped the Hampton Heat 8-5 to win the Virginia State Rugby boys championship.

In fact, on the Peninsula, only the Menchville boys team, currently coached by Mitch Avent, has won a state championship, with the 2009 team going undefeated.

The season concludes with a regional All-Star game. Last year’s game was held at Founders Field in Pittsburgh, PA.

This year’s Menchville team is having a harder time, starting off 0-3. But, according to forwards coach Russ Komynarets, the team record doesn’t reflect the benefits gained from playing rugby.

“We teach kids how to become champions, but more importantly how to do things the right way. It’s not always about wins and losses.”

Current Standings

Boys

Hampton     2-0-1

Bethel          2-1

Buckroe       2-1

Heritage       1-1-1

Denbigh       1-2

Menchville   0-3

Girls

Hampton      2-0

Menchville  1-1

Lady Canes 0-2

For more information, visit the state rugby site at rugbyvirginia.org.

Yarisley Silva Pushes Women's Pole Vault to New Heights

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of conducting a follow-up interview with world class sprinter Justin Gatlin. One reason for the second chat was that our TrackSide editor, Travis Masters, felt there were some topics that could be added. As it turns out, there were some large topics, and they will make this upcoming article unique. Fortunately, Justin is an active participant in the TrackNation movement. In fact, he’s probably the most recognizable face of the organization. Only for this reason was it possible to call back and ask for a redux. 

Anyhow, Travis had drawn up a few questions, and I was somewhat baffled by a couple of them. “Do you follow track? Are you a track and field fan?” At face value, they looked like throwaways. Then again, I don’t know Mr. Gatlin as well as Travis does. Even the simplest question turned out to be worthy of a well thought out response. More importantly, it was original and worth listening to, a rarity in the cliché filled world of sports interviews.

I’m not going to reveal the other topics of our discussion here, because it will be available on TrackSide (www.tracknation.com) in the next few weeks.

However, while talking with Gatlin, on a whim and while we were discussing track fandom, I mentioned that I had seen a Cuban pole vaulter on TV last Saturday. Her name is Yarisley Silva, and she may become the “next big thing” in track.

Since Justin watches many other events besides the ones he runs (the 100, 200 or 400 relay), he had a lot to offer with regard to Silva and the women’s pole vault. “It’s unbelievable what’s happening there. When I was coming up, Stacy Dragila (2000 Olympic gold medalist and world record holder on numerous occasions) was the big name. Now, the women are just pushing the bar up.”

At last Saturday’s Drake Relays, Silva, a silver medalist at the 2012 London Games, took it to American vaulting ace Jenn Suhr. In the process, she cleared 15’10.75” (4.85 m.) a remarkable height which just edges Dragila’s best (keep in mind that Dragila was like Wayne Gretzky, just WAY ahead of her competition), and also set the Cuban, Caribbean and Central American records.

After clearing the winning height, Silva called it a day, and opted to not make attempts at a higher standard.

In my continuing quest to become an “ace” reporter, I figured that she could be a potential interview, and got to work on this endeavor at 10 PM last Saturday night. With nowhere else to turn, I did a cursory search on Facebook. And there she was, with a fan page.

I sent a message to the page. Ten minutes later, I received a friend request from her friend Lilian. Just noticing that the request was from Cuba was enough to tell me that I had made a connection. As it turned out, we ended up chatting for 30-45 minutes.

About ten minutes into our chat, a message notice popped up. It was Yarisley. She had typed a short note mentioning that I should talk with her friend, who helped her out with “media stuff” and that when she knows what I’m looking for, we could be in contact. Actually, it was more of a “how can we help you?” type of note. Lilian, in particular, was gracious and ready to answer all of my questions. Problem was, I didn’t have any yet!

Here’s the tale of the tape. Yarisley Silva is just 25. She has been vaulting for seven years, but couldn’t find many quality track meets until she was good enough to participate outside of Cuba, where her main competition is the bar itself. Case in point, she has improved from 4.40 to 4.85 in the past four years, and is just entering her peak ages. I have posted a video of Yarisley in action on the “Wall” viewer.

The sky is the limit for Miss Silva. Keep an eye out for her as this outdoor season continues and the World Championships take place in Moscow next summer. She's got it going on.

Lauren Prata follows big brother Joey as a wrestling champion

As published in the April 11, 2013 York County/Poquoson Town Square section of the Daily Press, as well as The Morning Call (Allentown, PA) and WrestlerGirl blog site. The direct link can be found at:

http://www.mcall.com/topic/dp-tsq-ypq-joey-lauren-prata-wrestling-feature-041-20130411,0,3517948.story

Wrestling is the Prata family business, and as it has been said, business is good.

Last year, Joey gained national attention while compiling an 87-2 record with the Virginia Predators club. Prata’s accomplishments allowed him to join the powerful St. Christopher’s HS squad in Richmond where his freshman year accolades included a 50-11 record, Virginia Prep League title and National Prep All-American honors at the 106-lb. weight class.

Now it’s little sister’s turn.

Lauren Prata, a 12-year-old seventh grader at Yorktown Middle School,  recently captured a national title on the mat, taking the 90-lb. crown at the recent USGWA (Girls Wrestling Association) National Championships in Michigan.

Set up as a round-robin tournament, Prata earned a 4-0 record to win, holding two opponents scoreless and pinning another.

The transition to wrestling wasn’t easy. She enjoyed watching her older brother in his matches, but had trouble finding her athletic niche, trying “everything” including soccer, gymnastics and dance. In the end, she “just became obsessed” with wrestling.

Although she has only been competing in the sport for 15 months, Lauren is quick to give credit to her coach.

Who happens to be her brother. Speaking of the reason for her early success, she cites her older brother. 

 “Joey coached me,” said the soft spoken youngster.

“Joey is her only coach,” says mother Shannon. “Her trust in him is amazing. He tells her to do something and she just does it.”

Part of her mat education includes a progression into the freestyle and Greco-Roman styles of wrestling, but father Tony provides a word of caution. “We’re trying to take it slow and steady.”

Her rise to the top of the medal stand has not come without bumps and bruises. In one match against a young man, Prata caught the business end of a head butt, leaving her with a noticeable. black eye, evidenced by photographic proof. “I couldn’t see out of it,” said Prata, adding that she pushed on anyway to finish the match.

“I didn’t really feel it at the time.”

In part, it’s the adrenaline rush that inspires her to continue. “I like the feeling after I win or have worked hard.”

Her goals for the summer are lofty, but attainable. “I want to go to Fargo,” she says, referring to the large national tournament held in North Dakota. “They have a girls division, but I have to win states to go.” She made an attempt last summer, but found the competition to be overwhelming. “The girls were three years older. It wasn’t pretty.” However, one of the referees, Timothy Pearson, pulled her aside, counseled her and provided encouragement. “He said not to give up and keep wrestling.”

She looks forward to moving up to the cadet, then junior, age-group levels of her sport, but it’s her greatest expectation that provides for a pause.

“I’d like to win a regular middle school state title. Then the high school states.”

That would give her coach, who won the East Coast Nationals title two weeks ago, a reason to smile.

(Editor's note: In the time since this article was published, Shannon Prata has released a note with further clarification. 

I wanted to make a correction to this article. Although Joey was Lauren's only coach in Michigan at Girls Nationals and he has coached her several times on the mat at tournaments he is not her only coach. Lauren trains at Virginia team predator in Chester, Virginia under Coach (Mark) Strickland. Lauren also trains at Body by D Gym which has given her the strength to be able to compete and be competitive in the boys and girls division. Lauren's brother Joey has been a huge influence and impact on her life and they have an incredible relationship but her success is not only from all the help he has given her but also from the training she has gotten at Virginia Predator under Coach Strickland and Body by D Gym. In addition Lauren's goal is to compete at Fargo, North Dakota but she is not eligible to compete until she becomes a cadet. Lauren will not enter that age division for a couple more years.