Apprentice's Shumaker Near 100 Wins; Daughter Maggie Always by his Side

For the third year, I am posting one of my articles from the DAILY PRESS on the Virginia Duals. As always, it was a great outing this year, and I was happy to see U. VA win the National College Division, and local Poquoson HS walk away with the Black and Blue title. But, there's more to the tournament, and I was honored to be able to scribe five articles for the paper. The wrestling movement, especially among the youths here in Hampton Roads, is notable, and I'll dedicate some space to it in the coming weeks.

To see the article on the Daily Press website, click here:

HAMPTON – After almost 40 years as a wrestling coach, Apprentice’s Bruce Shumaker is approaching yet another milestone. Leading the Builders for the seventh year, Shumaker entered Saturday’s round just two wins shy of 100. (Note: Shumaker ended last weekend at 98.) 

Apprentice wrestling coach Bruce
Shumaker has received plenty of
help on the sideline from his
daughter Maggie.

While it is easy to fathom that an Apprentice assistant coach may have been present for the seven year run, it is a little more beyond the realm of normal thinking to believe that his scorekeeper has. In fact, Shumaker’s manager has been with the coach for well over twenty years, and started just after her own wrestling career was cut short in second grade by her concerned mother.

And when Bruce Shumaker reaches the magic 100-win mark, one can be sure that his scorekeeper and manager, who both happen to be his daughter Maggie, will be in attendance.

Now married, and living in Fayetteville, NC, the daughter Shumaker still gets to most of the matches. When asked how many she has missed, coach Shumaker interjected, “Well, she got married and missed two. But she’s been to every match, all the back to Mathews.”

Shumaker’s career’s coaching career stretches back to 1974, when he was an assistant, then head coach at Denbigh until 1980. After a year as an assistant at VMI, his other stops included Natural Bridge (six years), Mathews (nine years), and Lafayette (nine years). After a shade over thirty years (“probably 31”) at the high school ranks, Shumaker applied and was hired for the open coaching position at the Apprentice School.

Looking to fill his staff, Shumaker didn’t have to look far for his scorekeeper.

“She has been with me since elementary school,” recalls the coach. “Actually, she went to about 20 state tournaments in a row.”

Asked about her interest in wrestling, Maggie replies, “I just love wrestling and wrestled until second grade.”

That’s when her tomboyish ways became a concern. Says the coach, “She was a mat rat from the get go. Wrestled until her mother said “no more.” Maggie was probably in the second grade. But, I didn’t go to any wrestling event after that without her. She ate up wrestling, and could not get enough of it.”

So, how did the transition to team manager come about?

One night, coach Shumaker found himself without someone to keep the team’s official book. In a pinch, he turned to his young daughter.

When asked if she could remember his recruiting pitch, Maggie was quick with an answer, one which reflects just how youthful she was when taking on the position.

“He asked me, “Do you know how to count to five?” said the daughter, laughing at the recollection.”

Indeed, she could, and a new team manager was born.

Maggie’s prowess as the backbone of the team did not go unnoticed. During her senior year of high school, she was chosen as "USA Wrestling” magazine's manager of the year.

Coach Shumaker admits that “I love it when she’s here,” but also attaches a sidebar which indicates her managerial skills. “When she’s here, I know the score is going to be kept the right way.”

And she wouldn’t miss the opportunity this weekend to watch her Dad earn his 100^th college win for the world.

“That’s why I’m here!” she exclaims. Although her new home 250 miles away makes it harder to attend every meet, she is still an important part of the Builder team.

Aside from the milestone, there is another reason for Maggie to be in attendance at Hampton Coliseum this weekend.

Looking to the seat next to her in Section M of the Coliseum bleachers, she confesses, “Sorry Dad, but it’s always good to have an excuse to come to the Duals!”

From TrackSide Magazine (Winter 2013): Kellie Wells - Live Free

Make no mistake. I think the world of Kellie Wells. To even know only her athletic story is to be overcome by this woman's devotion to her sport and her desire to succeed at it. 

And that's only the half of it....

Kellie adds a little dance to her
repetoire after upsetting 2012
Olympic hurdle champion
Sally Pearson last year. (Right video)
Wells wins her first U.S. title
and qualifies for 2011 World
Championships in Daegu.

Hurdler Kellie Wells isn’t ready to be counted out.

And a smart track prognosticator would be wise to pay attention.

Pardoning the suggestion that the 31-year old bronze medalist from the 2012 Olympics is hard headed, but the trait of perseverance runs deep through the soul of the Richmond, Virginia native.

Older sister Tonni, herself a former collegiate hurdler, and now trainer as well as corporate manager of several fitness outlets in the Hollywood, CA area, offers a viable analysis.

“She was definitely the pinnacle definition of middle child syndrome.”

But being a middle child doesn’t even begin to describe the journey which has made Kellie Wells the person she is today. Yet, it does offer some explanation as to why we should continue to expect to see the 5-foot-3 dynamo excelling on and off the track and breaking barriers much higher than the 33-inch hurdles she flies over for a living.

Wells’ life story has been well documented through many media outlets, including Sports Illustrated and ESPN. There was the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather as a high school student, an event which forced her to leave home at the age of 16, and a situation made worse when her mother and stepfather were killed in a car accident weeks after her departure, an accident which the unknowing teenager drove right past.

There was her performance in the 2008 Olympic Trials, where she ran a personal best time of 12.58 in the semi-finals to qualify with the fastest time for the finals, a race she never got to run because of a hamstring which was torn on her last step.

But Wells always comes back.

She was only able to go public with the teenage piece of her past in 2010, after years of internal processing – a situation that she confronted with thoughtful reflection, spirituality, and by being willing to accept the help of others, most notably Vatel Dixon, her high school coach from Midlothian’s James River HS.

But it was her intensity and overwhelming desire to succeed which helped Wells overcome the second setback. After the tragedy of the 2008 trials, Wells, who now lives and trains in Orlando, Florida under the guidance of legendary sprinter and now coach Dennis Mitchell, had to learn how to simply walk again before beginning hurdle training. It took three years to even return to race at Hayward Field, where the injury had taken place.

Wells won that race in 2011 with a best ever time of 12.50, finally winning an outdoor national title, one to match the indoor crown she had captured months before.

But weeks later, at the World Championships in Daegu, Korea, Wells banged the seventh hurdle in the finals and failed to finish. Once again, her stamina and ability to persevere were put to the test.

A year later, and six months after enduring surgery for a broken arm, she was on the medal stand at the London Olympics.

(continued)

To view the rest of this article, please click here and turn to page 16. Of course, you are welcome to read the other stories in TrackSide magazine, from writers such as Khadevis Robinson, Sarah Masters and Sean Pena.

From TrackSide Magazine (Issue 4): Then and Now - John Godina

John Godina is readily recognized as one of the greatest American throwers of all time – sharing the same rarified air with Mac Wilkins, Al Oerter, and contemporaries such as Adam Nelson and Reese Hoffa. A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Godina excelled has a high school athlete, making All-American in both football and track before heading farther west to attend college at UCLA, where he won five NCAA championships in the shot-put and discus (three outdoor, two indoor) while breaking the national record in the shot (22.00 meters) with his 1995 title performance.

John Godina is a four-time world champion in the
shot-put, but now spends more time training world
 class throwers. (R: video of Godina's 22.00-meter toss)

Godina’s success continued after college, and his throwing career saw the Arizona resident win four World shot-put titles, to go along with two Olympic medals (silver in 1996, bronze in 2000).

In late 2013, Godina received perhaps his biggest public acclaim to date, being inducted into the USATF Hall of Fame. This accolade could be due to his versatility as a thrower. Although all of his World championships and Olympic medals were in the shot-put, he is one of only 10 men to be ranked in the Track and Field News World Top 10 for the shot and discus in the same year; in fact, his 1-3 ranking in 1998 was the second best ever.

Today, Godina, 41, trains world class throwers such as Vikas Gowda and Suzy Powell, and has opened the World Athletics Center (worldthrowscenter.com), a high level training facility for athletes of all ages. Currently there are four locations – two in Arizona and two in Northern California, but plans for further expansion are in the works for 2014 and beyond.

Q: You retired from competition in 2009. How did you make the transition from being a professional athlete to opening the World Throws Center?

Godina: I officially retired in 2009, but my last competition was at the 2008 Olympic Trials. I just needed some time after the meet to think about things. But even back in ’06, after my shoulder surgery, I realized that I didn’t have much (competition) time left, and started thinking about what I was going to do after this. I knew that track was my calling card, where my name was known, and that I wanted to morph into something that dealt with the throwing business. But, I eventually wanted to get involved with all of track and field, not just the throws, which is why we changed the name to the World Athletics Center. We knew that would be the endpoint.

Q: Indeed, you have moved beyond just throws. In fact, it looks like you’re getting involved with other sports. How do you go about finding another sport to add?

Godina: You must be talking about the bobsled. Sometimes it just works. Bobsled teams are mostly made up of former track athletes, with enough leg strength to push the sled. Some of the training is the same. I hope we’re helping. USA Bobsled seems happy with what we’re doing. Our athletes have a couple of early wins in World Cup events. I enjoy the fact that we work with athletes who are in the Olympics every two years.

Q: Are you currently looking to expand to other sports?

To read rest of article, please click here: www.trackside4.tracknation.com

Burden Wins Mid-Atlantic Diving Crown After 38 Year Layoff

From the Newport News, Hampton, and York County/Poquoson Town square sections of the DAILY PRESS, December 19, 2013.


For Jim Burden, the decision to start competitive diving again was largely based on numbers.

“I turned 60,” he recently said with a matter of fact tone.

Jim Burden, 60, and Danita Fox

It didn’t matter that the former East Carolina standout had not competed in 38 years. In fact, Burden had entered his last competition, at the 1975 President’s Cup in Northern Virginia, on a dare.

“I was coaching at my diving school in Reston. Upon seeing an adult competition at the President’s Cup, the kids bet me that I wouldn’t dive, but I got sixth.”

Burden admits that he had a chance to “get on the boards” periodically. Even as his athletic career segued into a successful life in Virginia and Texas as a general contractor and later Production Manager for NV Ryan Homes, his veins still bled chlorine and pool water.

“I coached at Trinity High School starting in 1980 when I lived in Dallas, and worked out with SMU (Southern Methodist) diving a little bit.”

Still, almost thirty years had passed between Burden’s last serious diving workout and his 60^th birthday. Surely, there had to be another reason to start again.

“I started wondering how the Masters (competitions) were going. One day, I went out to the pool and started diving. Little by little, I found out that I could do a lot of the same dives.”

A revelation soon hit Burden.

“I wondered, who else my age could still do this stuff?”

On November 17^th, the Poquoson resident got his answer, which was no one. Traveling to Ewing, N.J., Burden won two gold medals at the Mid-Atlantic Masters Springboard Diving invitational. With the victory, Burden also qualified for the USA National Masters meet in San Antonio, Texas in May 2014 as well as the FINA World Masters Championships in Montreal next August.

The journey turned out to be more interesting than the meet.

It started with a visit to social media, specifically YouTube.

“I went and found some footage of the Master diving competitions from 2011 and 2012, and realized that they weren’t much better than me at that point.”

Armed with newfound confidence in his abilities, Burden went to find a pool. First he tried Christopher Newport University, only to learn that there were insurance issues involved with letting an outsider come in to dive.

The next stop was William and Mary. No diving team – no dice.

There was also Old Dominion, which had a program, but as Burden recalls, “I didn’t really want to drive through the tunnel every day to dive.”

With only two weeks to go until the Jersey meet, Burden remembered the words which the William and Mary swim coach had uttered.

“Have you ever been to the Midtown Aquatic Center?”

Burden had not, but he soon found his way to Newport News and made the acquaintance of aquatics director Danita Fox.

“She was really instrumental in my progress.”

However, the relationship got off to a rocky start.

Fox says, “He came in asking questions about the types of diving boards.”

She faced a similar issue with insurance. “We only allow diving access as long as a certified instructor is present.”

Adds Burden, “she made some calls.”

Over the next two weeks, they worked out seven times. Fox would film Burden’s dives, and as an aquatics coach, would offer feedback. But she was immediately impressed with his ability.

“He gets up on the (diving) board, and WOW! He obviously kept himself in shape.”

Burden attributes his current ability to extended time away from the sport.

“A lot of the older divers are beat up. Diving takes a toll on you. On my last college dive at ECU, we were competing against Johns Hopkins and I separated a rib and shoulder.”

“In fact, I have a heat pack on my neck right now!”

Burden’s initial work on the board started out rough.

“I looked like scrambled eggs – I was all over the place. But eventually it started coming together.”

Fox adds, “Jim said it’s like riding a bicycle. But it was a quick turnaround. Right before he went to New Jersey, he said that he could start to see and spot things as they’re going around, like everything was slowing down during the harder dives, the two and a halves and three and a halves.”

Just like in the old days, which brings Burden’s diving career to a full circle.

“Back in my most competitive days, the mid 1970’s, I used to tell my friends that I would have made the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.”

With a tongue placed firmly in cheek, he adds, “if it hadn’t been for the 200 or so divers that were better than me.”

Ironically, the 2014 World Master’s Diving Championships are in Montreal. Reminded of that fact, he wistfully concludes…

“I might make it there yet.”

Remembering Benny Dean

I'm feeling some sadness this weekend as a piece of my past is gone. 

In the 1990's, I got into the whole karaoke thing, then graduated to open mikes at GW's, a good honky tonk bar in Alexandria, which has since become the Rock-it Grill. Back in the day, I loved to sing some country on Sunday open mike night. Bands like 4x4, City Slicker, Blackjack, and others rotated through the cycle. But Benny Dean and Southern Rain let us sing with them at GW's and brought us up at other places up and down Rte. 1. My greatest singing experience ever was getting up right after New Year's in 1999 and doing a eight minute version of "Mustang Sally" with the band.. full of solos. Benny's in the center, and BJ Parrott, the sax player, is to the right. Had to pull him away from the bar to get back onstage, and he wailed for about a good minute. I'll never sell a record, but I got to sing, thanks to Benny. Rest in peace brother.

Put A Fork In The Redskins

I was examining a Facebook post of mine from three weeks ago, one which was written as my favorite sports team was being blasted by about 20 or some points by (I believe) the Philadelphia Iggles. Two weeks later, my sentiment rings truer than ever, but here was the original rant.


"I'll always be a Redskins fan, but I think it's time to pack it in for 2013. Shanahans have to go. Without Elway, Red Lobster is basically Norv Turner as a head coach, but at 24-34 with the Burgundy and Gold, that's an insult to Norv, who was at least above .500 for his career after a miserable first year. (Defensive coordinator) Haslett should have been gone four weeks ago. No NFL defense should give up 31 points a game. Team needs a secondary, and some people who can tackle. Somebody also needs to get some control of Griffin, who is showing guts, but is in the process of enjoying a 4-5 year career from so many hits. I'm off to get some Chinese food."


Now sitting in the cellar of the NFC East, the Burgundy and Gold are sporting a pathetic 3-9 mark. To blame last night's loss to the Giants on a bad ref call is really to miss the big picture. Since Joe Gibbs left in 1992, the Skins have only made the playoffs four times in the past 21 seasons, and a couple of those were on the Gibbs II parade! The whole organization is in shambles. Aside from Ryan Kerrigan, is there anyone on this inept defense (still giving up 30.2 points a game) worth keeping for 2014? Will RGIII still be playing at 28, or will he become the quarterback equivalent of Gale Sayers - a massive talent with a blown out knee? Is Captain Kirk ever going to get another look behind center before some smart team scoops him out of DC? 

Amazingly, there is a faction of reporters who want to give Coach Shanahan and Son another year or two. The argument is that it would provide a stability to the organization. "Remember," they say. "He has a five year plan. After the salary cap clears up, things will be OK."

Did the five year plan include following up a 10-6 year with 3-9?

And is it just me, or was the salary cap error of several years ago a blatant act of negligance??? How come none of the other NFL teams seem to be suffering from this penalty? Could it be that Snyder and Co. were trying to pull an end-around and cheat the system - a mistake which is costing them dearly right now? If the answer is yes.. and I think it is, why hasn't anyone been in Ashburn been held accountable?

I could moan and groan about the sad state of Redskin affairs all day, but instead I find myself thinking of a simpler time, an era long removed, and I get a visual from the past. Who remembers these guys?

Give yourself another 5 bonus points if you can name them all. HTTR!!!!

(Answer to above picture - #89 Verlon Biggs, #55 Chris Hanburger, #72 Diron Talbert, #41 Mike Bass, #64 Manny Sistrunk, #79 Ron McDole, #32 Jack Pardee)

Howard Tops Hampton 42-39 in 2 OT To Win "Battle For the Real HU"

From Sunday DAILY PRESS sports - November 24, 2013


HAMPTON –

Hampton’s remarkable second half season turnaround ended on a crazy and bittersweet note Saturday. In a penalty filled contest, the Pirates spotted Howard a 19 point lead before rambling back to tie the game, but losing 42-39 to the Bison in double overtime.

Howard got on the board first, as halfback Anthony Philyaw found the soft spot in the defensive line and busted over the goal line from three yards out. The seven-play, 48 yard drive was escalated by Greg McGhee’s lob screen pass to Clayton Gidron, which netted 20 yards on third-and-seven from the Pirate 45.

The Bison (6-6, 4-4 MEAC) had an immediate opportunity to pad another touchdown to the lead, but couldn’t convert from first-and-goal at the nine, settling for a 33-yard field goal by John Fleck, which completed the first quarter scoring.

The Pirates rallied to open the second quarter, as freshman quarterback Bryan Bailey, enjoying some time in the pocket, found Y-back Antwon Chisholm open over the middle from 18 yards out, to give Hampton its first touchdown of the afternoon.

Leading 10-7, the Bison marched back, capping a ten-play, 68 yard drive with a two yard plunge into the end zone by Philyaw, who finished the game with 104 yards on 32 carries.

Penalties plagued both teams throughout the game, as the two squads combined for 30 flags for almost 280 yards/.

But it was the Bison who played with more urgency in the first half, even employing a fake punt on fourth-and-one from their own 22, which succeeded, as Fleck found a gap in the seam for 15 yards, and the first down.

Philyaw found the end zone for a third time, finding room around the right end and scampering in from the nine yard line. A Fleck field goal at the end of the half gave the visitors a 26-7 lead going into the locker room.

Hampton found their first boost early in the third quarter, with Rayshad Riddick overcoming tight coverage to pull down a 20 yard pass from Bailey in the left corner of the end zone, closing the gap to 26-14.

Pirate coach Donovan Rose was optimistic about his team’s chances, even as they faced a 19-point deficit at halftime.

“I knew we were going to come back,” said Rose. “We showed some resiliency. Even today, we had opportunities. It feels bad because we had a chance to cement this. (In the future) we have to learn how to finish and learn how to close.”

The Pirates got back in the game late in the third quarter. Bailey, facing a strong rush, lofted a ball forty yards down the left sideline, in the direction of Twarn Mixson. The ball was underthrown, but Mixson came back, made contact with the defender, and caught the ball, galloping the remaining twenty yards for an unlikely score. The lead, once close to insurmountable, was cut to 26-21 after the Fleck extra point.

But the damage wasn’t done. Howard’s next drive for the end zone was stopped suddenly as Pirate safety Justin Blake picked off McGhee’s end zone bound pass at the 2-yard line, and returned the ball 43 yards. Offsetting penalties gave Hampton the ball at the Bison 45.

Bailey’s first pass down the left sideline was dropped, as was the second. But on the second, an attempt to Riddick, pass interference was called on Howard, giving Hampton a 16 yard gain and first-and-ten from the 28. Two plays later, Bailey’s quarterback keeper from the 18 gave the Pirates their first lead of the day, 27-26 with 10:29 remaining. Marcus Hampton rushed into the end zone for the two point conversion, giving the Pirates a three point edge with 10:22 remaining.

Pirate cornerback Khambrel McGee intercepted McGhee on Howard’s next possession, but Jorrian Washington was stripped of the ball at the Bison 29 and Howard recovered the fumble with just less than nine minutes to play. The Bison drove to the Hampton 3, but on third-and-goal were forced to use their least timeout with 3:29 remaining, rather than face a delay of game penalty. McGhee’s pass into the left corner of the end zone was dropped as the receiver hit the ground. But Fleck’s third field goal of the afternoon, this one from 20 yards, evened the score at 29.

After several running plays, Hampton opted to run out the clock, forcing overtime.

The Pirates won the coin toss, and elected to defend first. As overtime rules dictate, the Bison started from 25 yards outside the goal line with four downs. While the Hampton defense held tough, McGhee drilled a pass to Brandon Flanagan from the three for a touchdown.

Down by seven with the ball on the 25, the Pirates needed only two plays to score, a 20-yard pass to Mixson, followed by a five yard touchdown run by Marcus Hampton, and Prevost’s extra point evened the score at 36.

On the second round, Hampton received the ball first, but only gained one yard on the first two plays. However, a Bison offside penalty gave the Pirates five yards, which turned out to be costly as a three yard run was followed by a two yard gain on fourth-and-one, extending the Hampton drive. Two more penalties left the Pirates with second-and-20 at the 25. Bailey’s quarterback keeper made up 14 of the yards, but the ensuing pass went incomplete. Prevost’s 29 yard field goal attempt was good, and the Pirate lead went to 39-36.

On the next Bison possession, McGhee found Philyaw in the left flat and the true freshman sprinted down to the six. Two plays later, Philyaw broke around the left corner and found the end zone for the game winning score, his fourth.

After starting the season 0-5, the Pirates battled back into contention for a possible third place finish in the MEAC by winning four of their next five contests. The loss concluded their season with a 4-8 record (4-4 MEAC). The fifth place finish, tied with North Carolina A&T and Howard, is still better than the ninth place finish predicted for the Pirates in the pre-season MEAC rankings.

And Rose remains optimistic about his team’s future.

“We saw some positive things today. A lot of our guys are going to get better as they get another year (of experience). We just need to learn how to dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s.”

HOWARD 42, HAMPTON 39

HOWARD  --  10. 16, 0, 3, 7, 6 -- 42

HAMPTON  --  0, 7, 13, 9, 7, 3 -- 39

How – Philyaw 3 run (Fleck kick)

How – Fleck 33 FG

Hamp – Chisholm 18 pass from Bailey (Prevost kick)

How – Philyaw 2 run (Fleck kick)

How – Philyaw 9 run (kick failed)

How – Fleck 29 FG

Hamp – Riddick 20 pass from Bailey (Prevost kick)

Hamp – Mixson 56 pass from Bailey (Prevost kick)

Hamp – Bailey 18 run (M. Hampton run)

How – Fleck 20 FG

How – Flanagan 2 pass from McGhee (Fleck kick)

Ham – M. Hampton 5 run (Prevost kick)

Ham – Prevost 29 FG

How – Philyaw 4 run

        Howard   Hampton

First downs;       33, 17

Rushes-yards;   58-277, 39-178

Passing yards;   254, 180

Comp-att-int;   25-47-2, 12-17-0

Penalties-yards; 15-119, 15-159

Punts-avg;       3-43.3, 5-40.0

Fumbles-lost;   1-0, 1-1

Team Mom #3, Nina Robinson Buoys St. Augustine's "Falcon Boosters"

As printed in the Hampton, Newport News and York Co./Poquoson Town Square sections of the DAILY PRESS on November 14, 2013.

Last Saturday, some of the members of the St. Augustine University athletic family threw a party to thank one of their own.

For Nina Robinson, the celebration made for a day she’ll never forget.

An example of one of the causes which the Falcon Boosters support. As noted on their Facebook page -- "Here are 60 reasons to give $60 to the SAU 60 Day Movement. Our goal is to raise $150,000 by December 31, 2013 to help students bridge the financial gap that many are facing. Falcons, we CAN do this! Donate today! Tell your family and friends to donate! Make your online donation at http://bit.ly/SAU6060. #SAU6060"

Robinson lives a double life. By day, she is a senior logistics analyst for a military support contractor in Newport News. But for the past four years, she has been spending her autumn weekends making the drive from Hampton to Raleigh and other points due south, while dressing up in the blue and white of the Falcons as a 757 parent booster.

She’s not the only one.

“We (St. Augustine’s football) have a total of 18 players from Virginia, and eleven from the 757,” says Robinson, whose son Chaz, a former Phoebus standout, recently broke the school’s career tackle record. “I started a group called the 757 Falcons Parent Boosters, and we wear matching shirts.”

Their involvement goes beyond simply donning blue and white and cheering in the stands.

“We have become surrogate moms and dads to other players who are not as fortunate as our sons. And we make sure they have their necessities, such as toiletries, etc.”

Over the past several years, the booster club has turned into a bona fide support network, gaining parents from other states, and encompassing other Falcon sports. They host a Facebook site, 

“Saint Augustine's University - 757Parents Booster Club,” which boasts 57 members. While the posts may offer best wishes to a football player, such as Michael Oliver, who recently had shoulder surgery, there are also posts noting the school’s cross-country team winning the CIAA title and volleyball coach Nikki Bynum Bumpass winning the conference Coach of the Week award for the second straight week.

All of which led to last Saturday’s party.

The occasion was Senior Day, and the St. Augustine’s family pulled out all the stops. For Chaz, this included not only a visit from Mom and brother Anthony, but also three of his high school basketball and AAU coaches.

But the biggest surprise was waiting for Nina.

“Oh my God! The school president (Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber), Coach (Michael) Costa, and the football team and parents surprised me with an appreciation dinner after the game for starting the 757 Parent Boosters. It was beautiful. I cried the whole time because of all the comments people made. I did not know they loved me like that!”

One look at the plaque presented to Robinson shows that indeed, they do love her like that.

“Nina Robinson – Thank You for being TEAM MOM #3 (Chaz’s number)”

“Your heart, your cheers, and most of all, your presence and support made a difference to the 2010 to 2013 football program.” Presented by St. Augustine’s University, Falcon Football Program, November 2, 2013.

Many of the pictures from the dinner made it on to the Facebook page, drawing comments from other parents, such as, “That was sweet, no doubting your support,”  “You deserve it SUPER DUPER MOM,” and “Stop crying you big baby!”

Says Robinson in a parting thought, “We really have become one big family.”