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South Charlotte Sports Report“HOMETOWN TEAMS ... HOMETOWN KIDS”

Volume 7, Issue 12 October 18, 2012 - FREEwww.southcharlottesports.com

Sometimes when younger sisters follow their older sisters, it can be good or it can be bad. For Ardrey Kell High School senior volleyball player Ra-chel Eppley, following her sisters into the sport of volleyball turned out to be a very good decision. The 17 year old outside hitter has played her way to the very top of the volleyball ladder in our area. Rachel is a three time all-conference player and will head to North Carolina State University on a volleyball scholarship next season. The daughter of Mike and Dayna Eppley combines athletic ability with a strong determination to lead her team to the top.

It’s not a real surprise to find out that her father Mike was the same way when he led the Clemson Ti-gers as a quarterback back in the 80’s.

Rachel’s Ardrey Kell Volleyball Team is off to an amazing start this season and seems to be posi-tioned for a run at the state championship over the next three weeks. Yes, that decision to follow her two sisters looks like it has worked out just right!

After starting to play volleyball at Bradly Middle School, Rachel moved into club volleyball.

“I started playing club ball at Lake Norman, then I heard about Carolina Juniors Volleyball (CJV) and decided to tryout. Making CJV my 14’s year changed my life so much. My club team is full of amazing talent. Last season, our team finished with a 70-8 winning record. With Coach Zoe Bell and Assistant coach Bethany Johansen (now an assistant coach at UNCC), we had all the necessities to be great. There are six players on the team that have been together since our 14’s year. Two seasons ago we won the Big South Qualifier and finished 2nd at Northeast Quali-fier, huge accomplishments. This past year we won our first regional tournament, Monument City Clas-

sic, Capitol Hill Classic, and an AAU Super-Regional tournament.”

All that extra playing time has led Rachel to re-cord an amazing set of statistics this season for Ar-drey Kell, 195 kills, 279 digs and 39 aces. As positive as those numbers are, it’s the things you don’t see in a stat sheet that make Rachel such a special player.

Playing for Ardrey Kell and CJV Head Coach Zoe Bell has been a huge help in Rachel’s overall de-velopment. Rachel transferred to Ardrey Kell from Hopewell High School following her sophomore season and the move has been very successful. Ra-chel and her family made the move to Ardrey Kell in order for a bigger academic challenge. With a 4.5 grade point average, Rachel is very motivated to be the best student-athlete she can be. As successful as she is on the volleyball court, academics serve as the catalyst in her pursuit of success. The overall resume of Rachel Eppley was very attractive to the coaches at NC State.

Rachel talks about the role that Coach Bell has played in her success.

“Coach Bell has made such an impact on my vol-leyball life, as well as my life as an individual. No doubt she has shaped me into the player I am today. Every practice she is pushing me to get better and to always compete. She makes you work hard and put in the effort to become great. She is also very sentimental with all of the quotes she gives to our team in club and school ball. She truly believes that most of your skill and playing comes from your mind and your attitude. Not only has she been an amazing coach, she is like my second mom. She lets her play-ers know that you can talk to her about anything and everything. She makes you want to become a better person because of the greatness inside of her.”

Coach Bell had equally positive words to say about Rachel.

“Rachel is an outstanding student athlete. She excels in the classroom as well as on the volleyball court. She is one of the most competitive athletes I have ever coached. She will be going to NC State

next year and I know she will compete for playing time. Her ball control on the court is outstanding, whether she is passing, digging or hitting.”

With all the success on the travel circuit, col-lege coaches began to court Rachel. North Caro-lina State won the battle to place Rachel in a red and white uniform.

“I committed to play at NC State May 15th, 2012! I’m so excited and grateful to have this wonder-ful opportunity to play at State with such talented players and experienced coaches. When I went and visited State, it felt so right. The atmosphere was so fitting to my personality. The coaches were beyond amazing, as well as the players. It was kind of like the cliche saying “when you know, you know”.”

With that decision behind her and now a success-ful senior season of regular season play, the drive for the state championship is set to begin. Rachel knows her team can win a state title.

“Ardrey Kell can definitely win a state title, as long as we stay focused and determined during every practice and every point of every game. I believe that all things are possible, you just have to put in the hard work and effort to get the outcome you desire. We are all very determined to succeed and do great things. For the seniors, this is our last chance and I know we are busting our tails to make it happen as well as the other players. We have all the pieces to the puzzle, we just have to carry and build the fire in us to compete against great teams.”

With a solid group of talented teammates, the coaching of Zoe Bell and staff, this could very well be the year for Ardrey Kell to make history. We know that Rachel Eppley will do everything she pos-sibly can to help the team reach their goals. This talented, smart and hardworking volleyball player is committed to be the very best she can be. Rachel’s inner-drive will lead her to great success on and off the volleyball court. The South Charlotte Sports Re-port salutes Rachel Eppley on her past success and we wish her a wonderful future at North Carolina State.

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Volume 7, Issue 12

SOUTH CHARLOTTE SPORTS REPORTCovering the Active Children and Families of Our Community

The South Charlotte Sports Report is published twice a month by The South Charlotte Sports Report. The South Charlotte Sports Report is distributed free throughout our coverage area in neighborhoods and local businesses. If you would like copies delivered to your business for distribution to customers, call 704-906-5466.

Story ideas and photo submissions are welcome for use on our website and in our newspaper, email to [email protected]. Advertising rates are available upon request.

PUBLISHERTripp Roakes

GRAPHIC DESIGNERFrances Flowers

PHOTOGRAPHERS Greg ArthurGerry Wall

SALES REPRESENTATIVE Kristy Maher

The SCSR Team!

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P I C K U P Y O U R C O P Y O F T H E S O U T H C H A R L O T T E S P O R T S R E P O R T

A T T H E S E L O C A T I O N S

SORRY, I CAN’T HELP YOUJust last week, I had an interesting email come into my inbox. To paraphrase,

the author decided to tell me how I was making a mistake because I had chosen not to write about a certain student he was promoting. In my email exchange, I had asked him how the athlete performed in the classroom and his answer was, “It doesn’t matter, he only needs a 2.0, he is going to play in the NBA, all he needs to do is get his SAT score for college.”

Right then my decision was made, as you know, the South Charlotte Sports Re-port is committed to the STUDENT-athlete concept and the young man in question seemed far more committed to the ATHLETE-student concept. He was already on his third school in just two years as he has tried to find new places to play after failing to score high enough on his report card. I had to laugh at the comment that “he is going to play in the NBA.” I am all for having big dreams, but if that is the sole focus, I wonder what he will do when he suffers a major injury or when he doesn’t have a high enough vertical jump? I hope for his sake he will take academ-ics serious in college and earn a valuable degree with the free education he will be offered.

Academics are so important in the life of a true STUDENT-athlete. Not only will an impressive report card help you to earn academic scholarship money, it will also help you to attend the college of your choice. Successful academics can be the reason a college coach decides to recruit a STUDENT-athlete, they can be the reason a STUDENT-athlete earns the opportunity to walk-on to a team. Successful academics are a gateway to a successful future.

Here at the South Charlotte Sports Report we are so impressed when we meet a STUDENT-athlete like Rachel Eppley or Daniel Kim or Ruthie Kelley that are all featured in this issue. These STUDENT-athletes have elected to work hard in the classroom and on the field of play. They have learned to balance their time and to maximize their performance. They are the type of high schooler’s that we are going to feature inside these pages.

We want to also take this time to thank everyone that advertises in the South Charlotte Sports Report for helping us to promote the STUDENT-athlete concept. Without your support we could not do our jobs and help to promote all the wonder-ful STUDENT-athletes in our newspaper.

Thanks again for all your support and to all the true STUDENT-athletes out there, we think learning is COOL!

Tripp RoakesPublisherSouth Charlotte Sports [email protected]

Schools and Athletic Associations: We want to be your Photo Partner!

Are you looking for a dependable, customer service based photo partner for your Team Photo Days?

The South Charlotte Sports Report Photography Division proudly offers a WIN-WIN program for your school or athletic association.

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Volume 7, Issue 12 SOUTH CHARLOTTE SPORTS REPORT

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Volume 7, Issue 12SOUTH CHARLOTTE SPORTS REPORT

The color of her jersey is not the only thing that separates Mattie Newson from everyone else. Mattie is the Libero of her volleyball team, who is always distin-guished by a different color jersey from the rest of their team. However, Mattie has also distinguished herself by becom-ing the captain of both her club team and high school volleyball team at Country Day. Her jersey will receive another color change as she travels to Birmingham, Alabama next year to play volleyball for Samford University. Mattie, the 18-year-old daughter of Martha and Andy New-son, earned a scholarship to Samford by displaying excellent defense, which gave her the title of Libero on her team. Mattie has also excelled in school by compiling a 4.0 GPA in her high school career.

Mattie began playing volleyball in seventh grade when the volleyball coach at her school convinced her and a couple

of friends to try out. Having never even touched a volleyball before, Mattie at-tended a camp at Carolina Juniors Volleyball (CJV) right before tryouts. Need-less to say, she fell in love with volleyball.

“I just love how volleyball is a team sport at its core. You can’t win without your teammates, so you have to depend on them. You can’t ever reach your peak because there is always something that you can work on.”

Mattie has stuck with CJV through her volleyball career and plays for them in the spring. She took the next step up when she decided to play travel volley-ball once she reached 16’s. This past year, Mattie decided to play for Carolina Union Volleyball Club as well. She travels to places like Denver and St. Louis to compete in tournaments.

When playing in the spring, Mattie’s team practices 2-3 times a week and plays in tournaments around the country. As for high school, Mattie practices Monday through Friday with her team. They also have workouts over the sum-mer. These workouts can be both practice and conditioning. Through practicing hard and playing hard, Mattie was chosen as her team’s Libero and elected as the captain.

“It is a real honor to be captain of my team because my teammates voted for me. I am usually the youngest on my club team, so that was pretty exciting.”

Being the Libero on a volleyball team is also an honor for Mattie. It is usually the best defensive player on the team who makes most of the digs. They stay in the back row and can make substitutions whenever. They are easy to identify because they are required to wear a different color jersey.

Being the captain, Mattie knows that leadership rests on her shoulders. Vol-leyball players are known for huddling after nearly every point; this is where Mattie talks to the team.

“In the huddle, I usually tell the girls that it is okay if you make mistakes. It is what you do after the mistakes that matter and how you respond to them. I tell them that we need to go all out.”

Leadership, academics, and a knack for keeping the ball off the floor earned Mattie a scholarship to play volleyball for Samford University. There, she will play for the Bulldogs who currently have the best record in the Southern Con-ference

“I chose Samford because it was the type of school I wanted. I liked the aca-demics and I liked the size. It is also Division One and has a good volleyball program. The coach and players are very driven. I’m not expecting to be one of the stars; I am just looking forward to being part of the team and continuing to improve.”

While at Samford, Mattie will study Education and Spanish. The challenge of playing volleyball and completing college courses is difficult, but Mattie proved herself worthy in high school by consistently getting A’s and B’s and compiling an impressive 4.0 GPA.

“I would just like to thank my high school coach, Brian Rosen. Without him, I wouldn’t be playing in college.”

Congratulations to Mattie on earning a scholarship that highlights her achievements academically and athletically. We hope she continues to distin-guish herself in more ways than one.

MATTIE NEWSON IS A LIBERO, A CAPTAIN, AND NOW A BULLDOG

Written by Ryan Scott, Marvin Ridge High School

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Volume 7, Issue 12

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SOUTH CHARLOTTE SPORTS REPORT

Ardrey Kell senior Jeff Marquess is a hard working football player for Coach Adam Hastings. Inside the classroom he has found amazing success with a 4.67 grade point average and a very impressive resume. Jeff, the son of Scott and Robin Marquess plays center for the Knights and he is closing in on the end of his high school football career. Let’s go Beyond the Game with Jeff to learn more.

When did you begin playing football and what position do you play?“I started playing football at age 8 for the Park Road Browns. I have also played for the South Park Falcons, Community House Cavaliers, and Ardrey Kell Knights. I have always played center and also offensive guard for one season.”

What are your top three athletic accom-plishments?“In 2006-2007 I was named Pop Warner 1st team All American Scholar Athlete (one of 100 nation-wide). I was the 2007-2008 Recipient of the Dan-iel R. Martin College Scholarship awarded by the Mecklenburg Optimist Club for athletic achieve-ment, scholastic success, and sportsmanship. Also in my sophomore year I broke my thumb but did not miss a game. I played center on JV with a cast on my left arm for 4 games. I am proud of this because I worked through a difficult situation and was determined to find a way to continue to con-tribute to my team while injured & learned to work around my injury.”

What is your favorite football memory?“My favorite memory is beating Marvin Ridge in our first game of the season this year. AK had never beaten Marvin Ridge before and it was a game that my coaches, teammates, and I had been working towards for months. The atmosphere surrounding the game, along with the game itself, made it an experience I will never forget.”

What are the goals for the rest of the sea-son?“In the second half of the season, our team goals are to have at least one home playoff game and advance deep into the state playoffs. Winning the state championship is the ultimate goal. Person-ally, I would like to enjoy the remaining time that I have with my teammates and the game, since this could be the last season of football I ever play.”

Have you made any college plans for next season?“Next fall, I hope to attend either the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill or the University of Georgia. I would like to major in Marketing or Business Law.”

How well do you perform in the classroom?“My weighted GPA is 4.67. I am a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and the National Society for High School Scholars.”

“I have been a member of the Spanish club. I am very active in DECA which is an international marketing organization. I have represented AK in DECA competitions for the last two years win-ning a total of six medals in the Sports Marketing Category. I won a state trophy in March 2012, qualifying me for the 2012 DECA International Competition, which was held in May, 2012 in Salt Lake City, UT. I am the AK DECA Club President this year.”

BEYOND THE GAME WITH JEFF MARQUESS

Volume 7, Issue 12

Pruitt Keener Insurance Services, Inc. 8832 Blakeney Professional Dr. Suite 203 Charlotte, NC 28277 704-759-1300 www.pruittkeener.com

Ashley AragonaMarvin Ridge High SchoolLee University

Former Marvin Ridge soccer star player Ashley Aragona plays forward for the Lee University Soccer Team. The Lady Flames have won four consecutive NAIA National Titles. Ashley, a junior, is a key contributor on the team and one of its leading scorers this season. The team is currently 10-1 on the season and working hard to win another NAIA National Championship. Ashley is majoring in Health Sciences.

Jake FincherProvidence High SchoolNorth Carolina State University

Jake played a valuable role for the Wolfpack Baseball Team in his freshman season. Jake started 57 of 59 games and helped the team advance to the NCAA Baseball Playoffs. With a .300 batting average, 63 hits and 16 stolen bases Jake laid the foundation for a strong career with the Wolfpack. He was named Baseball America Second Team All-American at the conclusion of the season.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

CUTHBERTSON MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

In spite of their relative youth, Cavalier runners are off to a fantastic start to the 2012 Middle School Cross Country season. In the last two meets alone, four different Cuthbertson Middle School athletes have placed in the top ten, span-ning both the Hare & Hounds Invitational and the Union County Championship race held at Wingate University. Three of these athletes are in seventh grade and one is in sixth, meaning all will return to lead the team in 2013.

Trea Flynn and Sarah LaTour anchor the boys’ and girls’ teams, each reg-istering three straight top-ten finishes. Flynn added to his impressive résumé Tuesday when he cruised to a victory in the Union County Championship, while LaTour registered a 3rd at Saturday’s Hare & Hounds. During the week, Flynn and LaTour each registered personal records of 11:14 and 11:58 for a 3000m race, respectively.

“We have many leaders on the team, all of whom are focused on incremental improvement and the success of all 40 teammates” say Cuthbertson’s volunteer coaching staff. “Our kids believe that if everyone improves a little every day, team results will follow. We celebrate all big efforts; whether the athlete finished 1st or 100th does not matter. We’re building a culture of self-discipline, max-effort and team-fo-cused leadership as our priority.”

The team will conclude its sea-son with three more meets in October, culminating with its own meet, the Cuth-bertson Invitational, on Saturday October 20th.

Trea Flynn Sarah LaTour

The Jay M Robinson Middle School Golf Team has enjoyed a successful season this fall. Front Row: (L-R) Cameron Bean, Kyle Griffiths, Alex Dundorf, Daniel Petronis, Josh Barnett Back Row: (L-R) Moon Chung, Ryan Gusto, Matt Mardjanov, Chris Wheldon, Campbell Robinson, Coach John Topolnak

Volume 7, Issue 12

STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

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RUTHIE KELLEYButler High School junior cheerleader Ruthie Kelley has been named the Architech Sports and Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week. Ruthie, the daughter of John and Pam Kelley, has served as a varsity cheerleader the last two seasons. Last season, Ruthie was honored with the Leadership Award. After starting out as a dancer and softball player, Ruthie turned to cheerleading in middle school. Ruthie can be found raising the spirit of the nationally ranked Butler High School Football Team every Friday night. With the season ending game against Independence coming up, Ruthie and her teammates are very excited about creating a winning atmosphere for the Bulldogs.

Following football season, the Butler team plans to compete in regional cheerleading competitions and Ruthie is very excited about this. The

teamwork and chemistry on the Butler cheerleading squad is very high and all the girls hope to perform to the best of their abilities.

Inside the classroom, Ruthie is a 4.0 student enrolled in honors and Advanced Placement classes. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and Young Life. Following high school, Ruthie hopes to attend North Carolina State University and major in Interior Design. Congratulations to Ruthie Kelley for being named the Architech Sports and Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week.

DANIEL KIMProvidence High School sophomore Daniel Kim has been named the Ar-chitech Sports and Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week. Dan-iel, a cross country and track student-athlete is the son of Dongwook Kim and Sungshil Jun. With a personal best time of 17:10 in cross country and super-fast times in the 800M and hurdles, Daniel is a very unique runner. Very few can combine hurdles and distance running for success. After the cross country season, Daniel will run the 4X800 relay, 4x200 relay, 4x400 relay, 100 & 300 meter hurdles and the 400m dash in the spring. Last season, as a freshman, he was the only ninth grader to qualify for the conference finals in the 110 high hurdles and the 300 M hurdles.. He also ran the starting leg for Providence in the 4x800 event at the state championship.

Daniel’s top times include: 110M hurdles – 16:01; 300M hurdles-41.70; 400M dash-53:57 and 500M indoor dash – 1:11:80. He also hopes to break the 17:00 mark in the 5000 M run this year and help his cross country team advance to the state championship. Daniel is working hard to one day have the opportunity to run track in college.

Inside the classroom, Daniel carries a 3.75 unweighted and 4.25 weighted grade point aver-age. He is very active at Providence High School and he is the first chair cello in the Providence Chamber Orchestra. He is also a member of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra and All State Honors Orchestra. Congratulations to Daniel Kim for being named the Architech Sports and Physical Therapy Student Athlete of the Week.

Join the Carolina Dream 7th Grade Girls Competitive Basketball Team as we get ready for middle school basketball tryouts and prepare for the upcoming season.

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Anyone interested in playing for the 2012-2013 season is encouraged to attend!

Contact: [email protected]





























Is your son or daughter ready for bas-ketball season? Take advantage of the 5th Annual Basketball Boot Camp on October 27th and 28th.

For more information, please visit www.southcharlottesportscamps.com

Volume 7, Issue 12WCWAA TITANS FOOTBALL

Coach Butch Foley and the WCWAA Pee-Wee Titans

Front Row: (L-R) Noah McNair, Josh Collins, Addsion Pigeon, Andrew Powlen, Will Canata, Grant Lamb, Drew Wandzilak, Alex ColumbiaMiddle Row: (L-R) Rob Burrus, Wuinlan McClung, Aaron LeGrand, Josiah Augustin, Josh Campbell, Will Githmark, James Human, Christian Avallone, Andy Walker, Joseph ThomasBack Row: (L-R) Lucas Rogers, Ian Heyer, Slade Hill, Sam Gatherum, Alston Honeycutt, Adam Dye, Colin McEvoy, Caleb Eason, Benjamin Watson, Thomas Bitcon

Coach Phil Butler and the WCWAA Mighty-Mite Titans

Front Row: (L-R) Hiram Johnson II, Jake Cannon, Trace Allen, Hank Morrison, Alex RosenMiddle Row: (L-R) Coach Steve Cannon, Coach Phil Butler, Jack Yeagley, Miracle Nwauche, Sean Butler, Griffin Reimer, Ethan Talley, William Crawford, Will Butkovich, Brice Wunder, Coach Erik Leaver, Coach Hiram JohnsonBack Row: (L-R) Logan Murphy, Curtis Leaver, Brooks Johnson, Tobi Ojomo, Tyler Bowden, Anthony Orloski, Carter Schultz, Ethan Scisciani

Coach Nelson York and the WCWAA Mighty-Mite Titans

Front Row: (L-R) Coach Max Anthony, Rylan Eckert, Davis Melton, Jonathan Melton, Connor Shulman, Jack Nielsen, Desmond Stitt, Calvin Girard, Nicholas RosenMiddle Row: (L-R) Gannon Anthony, Jonathan Beard, Jack Mosrie, Carter Suozzi, Evan Morton, Jacob Pfeifer, Jason Mangeney, Coach Mitch BeyerBack Row: (L-R) Coach Walt Morton, Coach DJ Mosrie, Thomas Lineberger, Robert Deese Jr, Brock McCoy, AJ York, Zymill Patterson, Adam Poissant, Danny Stevens, Austin Ridge, Head Coach Nelson York

Coach James Shipley and the WCWAA Mighty-Mite Titans

Front Row: (L-R) Coach Jones, Landon Carr, Dalen Gordon, Harrison Branham, Gabe Merriott, Bradley Sabo, Zachary Haines, Wesley McElveen, Conner Smith, Coach ShipleyMiddle Row: (L-R) Carson Dunlap, Anthony Piccirillo, Christopher Morales, Daniel Haughton, Will Hayden Brownstead, Hunter Murphy, Ervin Trey Gordon, Jaxon CleggBack Row: (L-R) Coach Dunlap, Coach Brosterhous, Will Shipley, Ashton Flynn, Jaiden Flynn, Steven Bauer, Parker Jones, Grady Brosterhous, Brock Kenison, Logan Clegg, Coach Gordon, Coach Clegg

Coach Shane Bailey and the WCWAA Mighty-Mite Titans Front Row: (L-R) Coach Bradley, Ty Frattaroli , Maxwell Vittorio, Carter Chmielowiec, Tyler Larson, Luke Bailey, Brayden Bradley , Coach PrimaveraMiddle Row: (L-R) Zachary Howard, Charlie Canata, Dylan Barnes, Teddy Primavera, Christopher Landes , Nate AbrahamBack Row: (L-R) Coach Mardany, Coach Bailey, Justin Melendez, Matthew Mardany, Wonnie Brown, Briley Bunn, Jack Downes, Zachary Ross, Sam Crowley, Coach Ross

Coach Jeff Horrell and the WCWAA Junior Pee Wee Titans

Front Row: (L-R) Coach Michael Jennings, Jay Sledd, Ethan Baker, Charles Rothenberger, Andrew Williams, Shane Jennings, Gage Hudson, Coach Damien HudsonMiddle Row: (L-R) Coach Tim Melton, Matt Duggan, Landyn Alexander, Bennett Melton, James Radermacher, Jonathan Freeman, Lucas Cheek, Team Mom Lisa Pippin, Coach Frank PippinBack Row: (L-R) Connor Knox, Matthew Maloney, Blake Berrey, Zachary Reda, Seth Pippin, Seth Potter

Volume 7, Issue 12

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Wired for Excellence Award Recognizing Academic and Athletic Excellence

Sarah Post

8125 Ardrey Kell Road Charlotte NC 28277704-443-0006

www.quimbyandcollins.com

Winning Smiles

Covenant Day School seventh grader Sophie Lindner has been named the Quimby and Col-lins Orthodontics “Wired for Excellence” Winner. Sophie, 12, the daughter of Matt and Leslie Lindner runs cross country for the Covenant Day Team. Her best time in a 3 KM race is 11:50 and she has won almost every race she has entered the last two seasons.

Sophie joined the cross country team two races into the season last year and it has been a wonderful experience from day one. Sophie also is a year round swimmer at SwimMAC where she trains 6 days a week, 11 months out of the year.

Inside the classroom, Sophie is a high honors student and she plays the piano and is involved in the youth group at Christ Covenant Church. Sophie also enjoys baking and has started her own small bakery called Sophie’s Sweets. Congratulations to Sophie Lindner for being named the Quimby and Collins Orthodontics “Wired for Excellence” Winner.

Would you like to nominate an elementary or middle school student for The Quimby and Collins Orthodontics Wired For Excellence Award? Send your nominations to [email protected]

SOPHIE LINDNER

Bryce Morgan is an Ardrey Kell High School se-nior cheerleader with a direct vision on the future and a strong commitment to helping those in her community. The 17 year old daughter of Tim and Janet Morgan is a third year varsity cheerleader and she experienced ultimate success as a member of the Knights State Championship Team her sophomore season. Bryce is also a member of Ardrey Kell’s Div-ing Team and she placed at the NCHSAA Regional Championship last season. Away from the cheer-leading and diving teams, Bryce works very hard in the classroom and is very giving of her time to help others. Bryce teaches cheerleading and acrobatics

classes at the Morrison YMCA.“I love being able to use my gifts by teaching chil-

dren about the sport of cheerleading. It is very im-portant to me that I am a positive role model for the future generation of cheerleaders by teaching them the basics, helping them improve and by providing them with positive advice. I am proud to consider myself as a face that they can look up to.”

Following her high school graduation, Bryce will head to college to prepare for a career as a Pediatrics Physician’s Assistant. Let’s go Beyond The Game to learn more about Bryce Morgan.

When did you first begin to cheer and what led you to choose cheerleading as a sport?“I started competitive cheerleading for Charlotte Allstars when I was in 2nd grade. I had been taking gymnastics classes at International Sport Center, the gym of Charlotte Allstars, and during prac-tice I would watch the competition teams. My best friend Jenna Vaught, who is a former Ardrey Kell cheerleader, cheered for Charlotte Allstars and she is the one who got me into cheerleading. Starting a new sport with my best friends was such a good experience and this led me to meeting so many more people.”

Have you competed with any travel type teams over the years?“Yes, I cheered for Charlotte Allstar Cheerleading for 8 years. I was on Level 5, which is the highest level in competitive cheerleading for 5 years. I was on TEAL, which was the highest team at Charlotte Allstars and we placed 3rd in at the Worlds competition.”

Do you enjoy playing any other sports?“Yes, I have been on Ardrey Kell’s Women’s div-ing team for the past 2 years. I am also the current Captain for Ardrey Kell’s diving team. I have used

my background skills and techniques from cheerlead-ing to help me excel in diving. Last year was my first year diving and I placed at regionals.”

Have you made any college plans? “Where I will attend college is the million dollar question right now. I have narrowed my choices to the University of South Carolina, the University of Alabama and East Carolina University based on their nursing programs. I plan to major in nursing and then later become a Physicians Assistant in pediat-rics. I want to become a pediatrician because I am passionate about working with children and am very interested in the medical field.”

How well do you perform in the classroom? “I currently have a 4.1 GPA and I am a member of National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and National Latin Honor Society. I use my leadership skills by being President of Ardrey Kell’s Friends Club, which is a club that fosters relation-ships between students with and without intellectual disabilities to create a meaningful and memorable high school experience. In addition, I am the trea-surer of Ardrey Kell’s Latin Club. I also participate in Ardrey Kell’s Knights in Action which is a program where you get 25 volunteer hours per school year for all 4 years of high school.”

You have a very strong support system for aca-demics and athletics, would you like to thank anyone for their help?“I would like to thank my parents, brother and grandparents for being so supportive throughout my life in my academics and athletics. They have pushed me to where I need to be, given me hope and sup-ported me when I have been hurt. My family means everything to me and I am so thankful for all that they have helped me accomplish.”

BEYOND THE GAME WITH BRYCE MORGAN

Volume 7, Issue 12

2ND ANNUAL GREATER CHARLOTTE YOUTH FOOTBALL AWARDS“The top night of youth football in Charlotte!”

DECEMBER 8TH

Nominations are now open for:

High School FootballOffensive Player of the YearDefensive Player of the Year

Gridiron (Two-Way) Player of the YearSpecial Teams Player of the Year

Team of the YearScholar-Athlete of the Year

Coach of the YearComeback Player of the Year

Middle School and Youth FootballPlayers of the YearTeams of the Year

Coaches of the Year

Contributions to the Game of Football Award

Tickets are now on sale atwww.charlottefootballawards.com

The Charlotte Soccer Academy U10 Sounders, coached by Troy Rothenberger, are a hard working group of players.

Front Row: (L-R) Bayne Nobili, Noah Graziano, Reed Nobili, Harrison Blevins Back Row: (L-R) Jackson Sykes, Michael Eldridge, Tanner Rothenberger, Alexander Karendys, Andrew Robalino


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teAm Of the WeekCOMMUNITY HOUSE MIDDLE SCHOOL

FOOTBALL TEAMThe Community House Middle School Football Team has been named the Buca Di Beppo Team of the Week. The Cavaliers are off to a fantastic start and look to close the season out with wins in their final two games.

First Row: (L-R) Tito Mlauzi, Austin Vinger, Jason White, Nicco Crew Second Row: (L-R) Tucker Johnson, Landon Nelson, Anthony Carter, Cameron Ramirez, Tyshon Baker, Nick Stowe, Cameron Brantley, Haydon Davidson, Billy Meeker, Cameron Bauer, Jack Ryan, Eli DammThird Row: (L-R) Coach O’Neill Palmer, Charlie Elliott, Ryan Riehl, Tristan Robinson, Jose Vera, Cade McDonald, Grant Pease, Devin Smith, Lex Voelker, Justin Lawson, Elliott Hall, Coach Dan Wallach Fourth Row: (L-R) Nick Bourdeau, Adam Marshell, Sam Wood, Justice Mendler, Jackson Sinclair, Merrick Haston, Carter Watkins, Micheal DeJulio, Nathan Turnbow, Jin Jung, Cameron McCoy, Sam Norris, Jonathan Rubin

Ardrey Kell High School freshman Ali Morrissey is a dynamic student-athlete who always gives her best on and off the field. The 14 year old daughter of Scott and Tamara Morrissey plays center striker for her Charlotte Soccer Academy Premier Team and she hopes to play for the junior varsity team at Ardrey Kell this spring. Ali enjoys playing with her soccer teammates year after year and growing her friendships. When Ali isn’t playing soccer or studying for the next test, she always jumps at the chance to volunteer her time for good causes. She enjoys spending time helping at Elon Park Elementary, South Meck-lenburg Presbyterian Church, Center of Hope, Morrison Y and inside her neighborhood. With an eye on success in the future, we believe Ali is an underclassman to watch over the next few years.

What sports do you play and for what teams and what position? “Currently, I play soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA) on a Premier level team. I am the center striker. At Community House Middle School, I played basketball and soccer.”

What are your top three most memorable athletic accomplishments? “Scoring my 1st hat trick; My CSA team winning our 1st tournament and my CSA team moving up from Classic to Premier level.”

How long have you been playing soccer? “I’ve been playing soccer for 10 years. My first season was at age 4 with the YMCA, then I played for Olde Providence. This is my 4th season with CSA.”

What are your personal goals for high school soccer over the next four years? “To make the JV team during my freshman year and then play Varsity for my remaining years at Ardrey Kell.”

How well do you perform in the classroom?“I am a solid A/B student with Honors level classes. In Middle School I was in BETA Club and selected for National Jr. Honor Society. At Ardrey Kell I am in-volved with DECA and the Friends Club. I am also involved in a program at the YMCA called Leader’s Club and I do a lot of volunteer work in the community.”

UNDERCLASSMAN SPOTLIGHT ON ALI MORRISSEY

The Charlotte Soccer Academy U10G Bobcats are enjoying a fun and exciting season.

Front Row: (L-R): Gracyn O’Mara, Avery Lloyd, Eloise Griffiths, Avarie Cronin, Mary Caroline Devanney, Abby MussoBack Row: (L-R) Kevin Shaughnessy (Coach), Sarah Shaughnessy, Alexi Markle, Emma Iles, Josephine Maclean-Voltz, Brandon Lloyd (Asst. Coach)


4TH ANNUAL FEMALE SPORTS SUMMITSATURDAY, OCTOBER 27TH

8:30AM-12:30PMMorrison YMCA

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The Meck lenburg Area Ca tho l i c Schoo ls/ Arbor Construc t ion Group

Good Sport of the Week

MATTHEW CLAREHoly Trinity Catholic Middle School sixth grader Matthew Clare has been named the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools / Arbor Construction Group Good Sport of the Month. Matthew, the son of Tim and Marisa Clare plays football for the Bulldogs 6th Grade team. His primary positions are offensive tackle, nose guard, defensive tackle and defensive end. Matthew and his team earned the # 2 seed for the conference playoffs and he hopes they can win the championship. Matthew also enjoys playing baseball, basketball, karate, tennis, kayaking with his Dad, and disc golf

Matthew believes that being a good sport means accepting a win humbly, and losing with a good at-titude while congratulating the other team. “When I give my best, then I know I have won.”

Inside the classroom, Matthew is a straight A student and he is in the Duke TIP program. His favorite class is religion.

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The SBA Canes U10 team won the USSSA Super NIT in Lexington, SC to qualify for the Elite 32 World Series held at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL.

Bottom Row: (L-R) Cade Kuehler, John Newton, Noah Caulder, Mitchell Crowley, Jackson Melton, Jakob Eudy

Middle Row: (L-R) Will Dorrell, Justin Cooke, Jeremy Beamon, Cooley Smith, Trevor Kowalski, JD Suarez

Top Row: (L-R) Coaches Glen Kowalski, Richard Kuehler, Jeff Newton, Rick Suarez


Join us at CharlottePreps.TV this fall for great Charlotte prep

football content and updates. Send us your idea for a video feature

of your high school.

(email: [email protected])

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Q SHACK COACH OF THE WEEKCOACH ROBERT WELCH

The John Crosland School Cross Country and Basketball Coach Robert Welch has been named the Q Shack Coach of the Week. Robert, a math teacher, runs the trails every practice with the students and gets enjoyment from it. He is also quite quick. Due to the vast differences in ability of the distance runners (5th – 12th graders), he is able to lightly jog with the slower group and help motivate them to run, and then greatly increase his speed to catch up to the fast kids at the front of the pack and run with them. He does this tech-nique several times throughout the 3 mile run. He is encouraging to all of the students, even if this is their first time running and they have self-doubt. The students love being on the team because of who Mr. Welch is.

Congratulations to Coach Welch for being named the Q Shack Coach of the Week.

To nominate your coach for this award, please visit The Q Shack or email [email protected].

Located in The Providence Promenade10822 Providence RoadCharlotte, NC 28277www.qshackclt.com704-542-5959

The Community House Middle School Volleyball Team is off to anotherfantastic start this season.

Front Row: (L-R) Isabella Colmanares, Megan Keough, Abby Chen, Briana Bertsch, Kristi Robertson (captain), Ella DugganBack Row: (L-R) Elizabeth Mitcham (coach), Sylvia Duggan, Emily Long, Miranda Landis, Maddie Sweeney, Nicole Johnson, Erin Lawrence, Alexa Gullo, Caroline Peer (manager)


Charlotte Christian freshman soccer player Luke Irwin has gone from being an infant with a stuffed soccer ball in his crib to one of the top high school freshman soccer players in the community. The son of Roy Irwin and Nancy Irwin is the leading scorer for the Knights Soccer Team and an outstanding Student-Athlete. Luke grew up on the soccer side-lines watching his older brother Clint earn North Carolina Player of the Year honors as a goalie in 2007 and continue on as a college and now profes-sional soccer player. With many years ahead of him to improve, Luke could very well match his brother’s accomplishments on the soccer field. Let’s go Be-yond The Game with Luke to learn more.

When did you begin playing soccer and what led you to fall in love with it?

“I began to play soccer at the age of 5. I fell in love with it ever since I could walk and somewhat kick a ball. I practically grew up on the sidelines and traveled with the family to wherever my brother’s games happened to be in the state. I probably started going to his games when I was 2 or 3 and went to about every game until he graduated.”

What position do you play and what are your responsibilities?“I play striker and center midfield for my school and left back and left midfield for my club. I am left footed, but can shoot off of both sides. My job as a strik-er is to just play off of the other striker and center mid to open up space for other players getting forward and try to get the ball to the more pacey play-ers. My job as a left back and left midfield is to make runs down the left side and cross the ball in for the forwards and midfielders to connect and score.”

What are your top three athletic accomplishments?“I’m still trying to accomplish a lot of things. I want to be All-Conference as a freshman and I also want to play varsity basketball when I become an upper-classman. But probably my top three accomplishments so far would be: Being named as a varsity athlete of the week as a freshman, having the most goals for varsity this year, and scoring at least 10 goals as a freshman.”

What is the most exciting game you have ever played in?“The most exciting game I have ever played in happened only a few weeks ago when we played Cannon School at home. We scored with 25 seconds left to go in the game off of a great goal by Jeffrey Yoh and eventually wound up win-ning the game in extra time 3-2. I hope I don’t have to play another game as exciting as that one, but it would certainly be fun.”

Do you play any other sports at Christian?“Aside from soccer, I play basketball and am planning on running track in the spring.”

How well do you perform in the classroom?“I usually get A’s with a few B+’s and maybe a B. I am in Biology Honors and Geometry Honors. I am striving to get above a 3.5 GPA this year and have no grade lower than a B+.”

BEYOND THE GAME WITH LUKE IRWIN

The HQ4 Blue 10U team won The Ultimate Super Regional and then won Nation’s Baseball Brawl of the Carolina’s.

Front Row: (L-R) Adam Quintero, Bryson Pisacano, General JD Dietrich, Jacob Maness, Matty Giovannelli, Will BudnickBack Row: (L-R) Coach Ryan Morris, Brady Davidson, Nathan Brooks, AJ Simpkins, Justin Lehman, Sean Pasternak, Bennet Wolf, Coach Brandon Hill

The Jay M. Robinson Volleyball Team is working hard this season to continue to build upon the success of past teams. Head Coach Judy Dewalt is in her 8th season of coaching the Chargers.

Front Row: (L-R) Quinn Pipitone, Kathleen Rogers, Sophie Winfield, Nikki Grouge, Emily Willson, Kara KuuskvereBack Row: (L-R) Madison Long, Anna Caplan, Taylor Rover, Ellie Pontiakos, Holly Burnette, Mikaela Abbey, Judy DeWalt


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Chase Arnold is one of the most well-liked students at Charlotte Catholic High School. The outgoing son of Bobby and Anjali Arnold excels on the football and baseball fields as well as inside the classroom. Chase is a mature, honest, and extremely friendly young man. His lifelong love of baseball has allowed Chase to travel all across the country pursuing baseball success. In middle school, Chase was named as the Youth Baseball Player of the Year at the 1st Annual Greater Charlotte Hot Stove League Dinner. Let’s go Beyond The Game with Chase Arnold to learn more.

What position do you play in football and how long have you played?“I play Left Guard and I have played since sixth grade at Holy Trinity.”

What position do you play in baseball and how long have you played?“I play First & Third Base and I have played since I was 3. I’ve been with the Megastars since I was 8.”

What are your top three athletic accomplishments?“Staying with one travel team for over nine years and doing well while play-ing great competition across the nation, being a 3 year letterman at Catholic, and receiving all-conference honors for football as a junior.”

What is your top athletic memory?“This summer as we (the Megastars) were playing in the WWBA Perfect Game 16u tournament in Atlanta, we were down 12-3 at one point to the PSDS Yankees. I came up in the fourth inning and battled to a 1-2 count, then hit a 2-run home run to left center field. We had two other 2-run home runs after me in that inning to bring the score to 12-8. Time ran out in the bottom of the sixth, so we knew that it would be the last inning going into it with the score 12-11. Our 2nd batter reached on an error, then our 3rd batter had a base hit up the middle. I came to the plate with no outs for a chance to win the game, and homered on the first pitch to left center. It was my first ever walk-off home run and probably my best game at the plate ever. The follow-ing game we played at Southern Poly in Atlanta, which is 385 in center with a 20 foot wall. It was the fifth inning, we were up 3-1, and I had a 1-2 count on me. The pitcher for the Scorpions Baseball Club was a submariner, and he threw me an outside pitch that I fouled off the end of my bat to the first base dugout to stay alive. The next pitch he left one high and I hit a towering pop up to center field. The Center Fielder looked like he was under it, then he kept going back, and back, and back until the balled skipped off the top of the 385 ft. fence 20 feet in the air and went over. Those three home runs are pretty memorable, and the fact that they happened in consecutive games make them even better.”

Are you hoping to play college baseball? At this point, do you have afavorite possibility?“I am hoping to play college baseball, and at this point I do not have a fa-vorite. However, the main schools I have been in contact with are Villanova, West Virginia, Richmond, Radford, Emory, Winthrop, and Mars Hill.”

Describe your feelings of playing as a Catholic Cougar for four years and what it has meant to you?“One of the biggest things I will miss about high school is the amazing support of the Catholic community, it is an honor to be a part of it and represent them out on the field. Playing in a conference where the support is not always there for the other schools is unfortunate, and it makes me appreciate the support

we have even more. We really do have the best fans in Charlotte (I believe in the state) and running the CC flag out on the field for football after leading the prayer is an indescribable feeling. It feels like the whole city keeps up with Charlotte Catholic athletics, whether they like us or not. Just like majority of the games I have played for the Megastars, when teams play Catholic “it’s their Super Bowl” as my old coach, AJ Greene, would say. We do see a lot of added emotion out of teams, positive and negative, when they play us, but our coaches prepare us for that and we have good people who play for us so it’s not a problem.”

“For me, it is an extra special feeling to be a Cougar because my brother, Kyle, also played for Catholic and was a part of the 2 State Championship football teams in 2004 and 2005. We also both wore #72 and played Left Guard. I know their is a long way to go this season and until baseball season, but I think we have a great chance in both to reach state championships and that’s all I ask. After losing two years in a row to Crest as a player and going to four straight State Title game as a fan, I just want to experience a State Championship one time while playing. If we get there I’ll be happy, but if not I can still leave being satisfied with my career at Catholic and very proud as well.”

How well do you perform in the classroom? “I am a B student, and I’m not taking any honors classes this year but I have taken some the past couple years. I’m a part of a few clubs including the Dream Team, which is a club for athletes against drugs, alcohol, and tobacco (No D.A.T.), the FCA, or Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Jam Brigade which is a club where we exchange music mixes weekly, and various sports clubs like disc golf, ultimate frisbee, and flag football. I also serve on the Retreat Team, which means I help out with retreats and other religious/social activities that happen at school or in accordance to the school.”

Do you have any special interests you want to pursue in college?“I think school and baseball will keep me busy enough in college. I just want to get my degree and enjoy playing baseball in the college lifestyle.”

BEYOND THE GAME WITH CHASE ARNOLD

Volume 7, Issue 12

ORTHOPEDIC URGENT CARE

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ORTHOPEDIC URGENT CARE TREATSTHESE MINOR* ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS:

UPTOWN2001 Randolph Rd. | Charlotte, NC704.323.2682

UNIVERSITY9848 N. Tryon St., Ste. 100 | Charlotte, NC704.323.2104

MATTHEWS710 Park Center Dr., Ste. 300 | Matthews NC704.323.3215

Page 16 Volume 7, Issue 12

ORTHOPEDIC URGENT CARE

orthocarolina.com

YOU. IMPROVED.

OUR MISSION: Excellence in care and service, one patient at a time.

» Strains, sprains, minor dislocations and closed fractures » Painful, swollen or injured joints of the ankle, back, elbow, foot, hand, hip, knee,

neck, and shoulder» Pediatric injuries» Cast or wound dressing issues» Sports Injuries

ORTHOPEDIC URGENT CARE TREATSTHESE MINOR* ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS:

UPTOWN2001 Randolph Rd. | Charlotte, NC704.323.2682

UNIVERSITY9848 N. Tryon St., Ste. 100 | Charlotte, NC704.323.2104

MATTHEWS710 Park Center Dr., Ste. 300 | Matthews NC704.323.3215

Page 16 Volume 7, Issue 11

It’s That Time Again!

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•Boysages5-15•Girlsages5-13

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