February 2015 edition 2 - Positive Athlete Georgia Positive Athlete

Georgia
February 20151
NEW INSIDE
10 Mistakes
Team Captains Make
Do You Have A Positive
Athlete On Your Team?
Nominate that person HERE
s
t
r
o
p
S
l
t
l
r
A epo
R
Weekly editions explore:
What’s Happening? What’s Next? Ever Wonder?
My Take with Chris Mooneyham
View this week’s edition
Click Here to visit the Touchdown Club of Atlanta website.
Table of Contents
TCA Report.................................. 2
GA Sports Hall of Fame.............. 5
Laura Eddy................................... 7
Captain’s Corner .................... 8-9
McClain Hermes........................ 11
Al Horford ................................. 13
Marjorie Butler ......................... 15
Patrick Lamar............................ 21
GT Serves .................................. 25
Matt Curry................................. 27
Kyle Korver................................ 29
WORK HARD.
PLAY POSITIVE.
OPTIMISTIC
ENCOURAGING
SERVANT LEADER
HEART FOR OTHERS
ADMITS IMPERFECTIONS
ALWAYS GIVES 100%
PUTS TEAM FIRST
2014-15
COUNTY/REGIONAL
SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS
LOUD Security Systems
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
“Hope & Will Award” ($500) – Given to
the Positive High School Athletes who
represented a Hopeful attitude and strong
Will for their team, school and community.
Hope & Will Award ($500) – Awarded to
a Northwest Georgia student-athlete who
represented a Hopeful attitude and strong Will
for their team, school and community.
Chattahoochee Technical College
Chattahoochee Technical College
Cobb EMC
“Academic Excellence Award” ($500)
Given to a Cobb County student-athlete
who has also achieved academic
excellence in the classroom.
Academic Excellence Award ($500)
Awarded to a Northwest Georgia studentathlete who has also achieved academic
excellence in the classroom.
“Positive Energy Award” ($500)
Given to a Cobb County student-athlete who
brought positive energy to every practice
and competition.
ChoicesToYou.com
Positive Choice Award ($500)
Awarded to a North Fulton County studentathlete who made a positive choice that
benefited their school or community.
“LOUD Statement Award” ( $500)
Given to the student-athlete whose positive
attitude made a LOUD statement about the
importance of a positive attitude to
their school and community.
Comeback Player of the Year Awards ($500 each)
Given to a Gwinnett County male and female student-athlete who overcame and returned from
a game-changing injury or illness that affected their athletic participation, while demonstrating
competitive achievement, sportsmanship, ethical behavior and strong academics.
LGE Community Credit Union
LGE Community Credit Union
College Planning Institute
“Extra Credit Award” ( $500) – Given to the
Cobb County high school student-athlete who
goes above and beyond for their team, school
and community to make the world a better place.
“Extra Credit Award” ( $500) – Given to the
Cobb County high school student-athlete who
goes above and beyond for their team, school
and community to make the world a better place.
“Bright Future Award” ($500) – Given to a
Cobb County underclassman who is developing
a bright future based on their volunteerism,
academics and college planning.
Northside Hospital
Northside Hospital
Northside Hospital
“Leadership Award” ($500) – Given to a
Cobb County student-athlete who has shown
exceptional leadership skills at their school
and in their community.
Leadership Award ($500) – Given to a North
Fulton County student-athlete who has shown
exceptional leadership skills at their school
and in their community.
Leadership Award ($500) – Given to a
Northwest Georgia student-athlete who has
shown exceptional leadership skills at their
school and in their community.
5
In 2002, he broke the National League saves record with
55 saves proving that with hard work and determination
anything is possible.
In 2005, Smoltz returned as a starting pitcher for the
Braves. He spent the next three years as a starter until
2008 when he returned to the reliever position and later
on underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. This was
his last season with the Atlanta Braves.
John
Smoltz
Smoltz Partners with Sports Hall of Fame to
Launch MomentUs Initiative
I
n 1987, the Atlanta Braves acquired a right-handed
pitcher from the Detroit Tigers. Over the next
two decades, this pitcher from Warren, Michigan
became one of the greatest players in Braves franchise
history with eight All-Star selections, over 3,000 career
strikeouts, over 200 wins, and over 150 saves. This
legendary pitcher is John Smoltz.
In 1988, Smoltz made his major league debut with the
Braves. After several promising seasons, he got off to a
rough start in 1991. He quickly turned things around to
finish the season 12-2 after seeing a sports psychologist
with whom he continued to work throughout his career.
John Smoltz’s list of achievements while with the Atlanta
Braves is impressive. In 1992, he was named the MVP
of the National League Championship Series. Three
years later in 1995, he was part of the World Series
Championship team with a 12-7 record. However, it was
1996 that was Smoltz’s greatest season. With an ERA of
2.94 and 278 strikeouts, Smoltz won the National League
Cy Young Award. Not only did Smoltz prove his worth
as a pitcher but he worked to become one of baseball’s
better hitting pitchers. In 1997, Smoltz was the recipient
of the Silver Slugger Award.
The first ten years of Smoltz’s career were extraordinary,
but heartbreak hit in 1998 and 1999 when he spent most
of both seasons on the disabled list. Before the start
of the 2000 season, Smoltz had Tommy John surgery.
Determined to get back to pitching, Smoltz moved to the
bullpen returning to baseball as a relief pitcher in 2001.
John Smoltz continues to have a role in professional
baseball as an analyst for MLB Network and Fox Sports.
In 2012, he was not only inducted into the Georgia Sports
Hall of Fame but, his number 29 jersey was retired by
the Atlanta Braves franchise, too. Smoltz was honored
not only for his unbelievable career but for his hardwork and determination as an athlete and for the active
role he plays in his community. In addition
to his athletic accomplishments, he
founded and manages the John
Smoltz Foundation which has
raised money and awareness for
charities in the Atlanta area for
more than a decade.
Smoltz has recently teamed up
with the Georgia Sports Hall of
Fame’s MomentUs initiative.
This initiative fills a gap in
Georgia’s school curriculum
providing
an effective physical education program in high schools.
Among children, highs school students are at the greatest
risk of obesity with more than 16.5% in the obese range.
Not only will the MomentUs initiative focus on physical
and mental health, it will also integrate the stories of
GSHF inductees providing positive role models to
MomentUs participants.
John Smoltz is one of these role models. Not only is
he an all-star athlete, but he overcame adversity at the
beginning of his career and twice overcame the effects
of season-ending surgery. Smoltz was a leader in the
clubhouse and has been a model of positive community
involvement in the time since his playing career ended.
To learn more about the MomentUs initiative, please
watch the video. n
By Megan Norkunas
Proud Supporters of
High School Athletics
northside.com
Laura
Eddy
7
senior year, served as a second redshirt year for Eddy.
She returned to rehab a second time with even more grit
and focus to get healthy. In 2013, she started every game
and earned SEC honors as Player of the Week during the
season.
About a week after the 2013 season, the coaches invited
the team to a pick-up game. But that casual game resulted
in a third ACL tear for Eddy in the same knee.
“My first reaction to my dad when he walked in was,
‘I can’t do this again. I cannot go through it again.’ But
I gave myself 24 hours and decided that if I can do it
again, if I have a chance and I have one more season,
let’s do it,” she says.
Driven by a Love for Soccer
No pain, no gain.
Few people know the weight of that phrase like University
of Georgia soccer player Laura Eddy.
E
ddy, a native of Atlanta, just completed her sixth
season for the UGA soccer team as a redshirt
senior. She was a team captain and considered
one of the best midfielders in the Southeastern
Conference. But what preceded a 2014 senior season that
culminated in a trip to the NCAA tournament were three
ACL tears and a long road to recovery.
She played her freshman and sophomore years in 2009
and 2010, proving herself as a rising star on the team
and earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors that first
season. But during a preseason practice in August 2011,
Eddy came in on a late tackle and felt her knee pop.
“For every soccer player, that happening is kind of your
worst nightmare,” she says. “And so when you know that
you’ve done it, you’re pretty much just devastated.”
Eddy went into the rehab process determined to return
to the field better than ever. What would have been her
junior season became a redshirt year, and she spent nine
months working on restoring her knee to full health.
In May 2012, doctors cleared Eddy to return to the field.
Twenty-five minutes into her first full training session,
she felt her knee buckle again, this time in a non-contact,
change-of-direction situation. The MRI results showed
that Eddy had torn the same ACL again.
The 2012 season, which originally would have been her
After consulting with doctors, trainers, coaches and her
parents, Eddy decided to take the rout that many doubted
would work.
She decided to rehab a third time and
work toward one final season at
Georgia.
“There was not a doubt in my
mind—this is what I want and this is
what I can do,” Eddy said about her
third injury. “I never wanted to look
back and regret not giving it a try.”
Eddy took the 2014 spring semester off from
school to focus solely on recovering. She went on to
complete a successful sixth-year senior season injuryfree, a season that ended
in the trip to the NCAA
tournament.
Eddy now has her sights set
on playing soccer at the next
level. She is preparing to take
her talents to a professional
team overseas. Eddy knows
that another ACL tear is a
real possibility, but she is not
letting that fear hold her back.
“I have this crazy passion
to play. I can’t imagine ever
giving it up,” she said. “I’m
sure one day I’ll be 60 and on
some women’s team trying to
run around with some knee
replacements.” n
poster looks, someone will not like it. Great team captains must
be comfortable with the fact they will not please everyone.
3: N
ot confronting difficult issues with
the team
Captain’s Corner
Avoid the Top 10 Mistakes
Team Captains Make
By Craig Hillier
I received an e-mail from recently from a potential captain who
posed an intriguing question. “What are the top mistakes
captains make?” After pondering this excellent question, I
compiled a list. While the list could certainly be longer, future
captains will improve the odds of a great season by avoiding
these 10 mistakes.
1: T
hinking the “job” is over after being
elected or selected
An athletic director recently shared a story about how his cross
country captains, who were elected after the season, basically
put their feet up. They thought that because they had the title, the
real work was done. Top-notch captains understand the work is
just beginning. Being elected or selected as a team leader is an
honor and it’s vital to work as hard as possible for the team. In
reality, after being selected, the work has just begun.
2: Trying to please everyone
Smart leaders operate on the 10-80-10 principle. Ten percent of
the team will be very cooperative and easy to work with on a
daily basis. They will follow a leader and create few problems.
The other 10% of the team will be somewhat difficult. This
group causes numerous problems because they don’t take
direction well and refuse to be good team players. The middle
80% of the team hasn’t decided who to follow. The direction of
this large group can make or break a season. Great captains
spend a lot of time working with the 80%. The “difficult” 10%
must be managed differently. Team captains need to understand
no matter how great the theme for the year is or how cool the
Remember that 10%? If a teammate is affecting the team with a
poor attitude or bad choices, a team captain must address them
head-on: otherwise, he or she, risks point the team toward
trouble. If team leaders simply sweep poor behavior under the
rug, eventually that rug will have so much dirt under it, the team
won’t function properly. As difficult as it is to confront a
teammate, it’s important to address the behavior or attitude
issues before they get out of hand.
4: N
ot confronting a difficult issue with
a coach
Team captains and coaches have a unique relationship. On one
hand, a team captain is an extension of the coaching staff. On
the other hand, a captain is an athlete on the squad. The bottom
line is that the coach has the final say in practice and in
competition. If there’s a tough situation that needs to be
discussed however, an effective team leader must take the risk of
approaching the coach with it. Sometimes, coaches may not see
how their actions affect the team. Of course, discussing the
issue could backfire for any number of reasons. So be prepared.
The best team captains will formulate their conversation, keep
their composure, and take confident steps to talk it out. If the
conversation goes badly, team leader will know he or she was
willing to be a leader by attempting to resolve the issue. If the
conversation goes well, the team leader will earn even more
respect from his or her teammates and coaching staff.
5: N
ot connecting with parents of
teammates or players
Blake was the senior basketball captain when my son was a
freshman. I remember one day when I was working out at the
local gym. He approached me and said, “Hi, Mr. Hillier, my
name is Blake. I’ve been watching your son play hoops and I
think he’s going to be a great player.” Impressed with his
attitude, I asked, “How do you know my son?” Blake confidently
explained, “I’m the team captain and he has been showing up for
captain’s practice this summer.” What surprised me was the fact
that Blake knew who I was. It is easy to think team captains just
connect with the players, but this would be a mistake. By
connecting and communicating with parents, team captains
show parents that their kids are in good hands. Even if captains
don’t know all the parent’s names, it’s impressive when a team
leader takes the initiative to talk with a parent.
9
6: “ Dissing” players or coaches behind their
backs
It’s easy to pick on players who are not very talented. Sometimes
it may create a laugh by poking fun at someone who is struggling.
It’s also easy to complain about a coach when he or she is not
there. The problem with “dissing” a player or coach is that the
damage is hard to measure, but it can run very deep. It’s not
uncommon for a younger athlete to struggle as a sophomore and
be a superstar as a senior. Unfortunately, some kids who get
picked on decide not to participate the following year. If team
captains are “dissing” coaches behind their backs, it opens the
floodgates for the rest of the team to think it’s okay. This pattern
could eventually destroy the team. Even if team captains are not
crazy about a teammate or the coach, it’s usually wise to watch
your words.
7: Not planning ahead
Top-notch leaders are forward thinkers. While this may be a
struggle for some personality types, it’s important to anticipate
the future. For example, if team leaders attempt to order team
t-shirts one day and expect them to be ready the next, there’s a
problem. Waiting until the last minute to get something done
will likely lead to frustration for fellow teammates and for the
coaching staff. When team captains plan ahead and allow
“cushion” time for the intended results, however, anxiety is
lowered and the team can focus on becoming their best.
8: B
elieving the only place leadership is
shown revolves around a given sport
Some students just want to be seen as leaders in their sport and
want to take off their leadership “cap” after a competition or
practice. Let’s face it, captains are always representing their
team and are under the watchful eye of others. Captains who
disrupt in the classroom or display unsportsmanlike conduct in
the stands do not shine a positive light on themselves, their high
school or their respected team. High schools need leaders in the
classroom, in the stands and in the community. They must be a
positive example in all arenas. The leadership “cap” can’t be
placed on a hook after the game or practice; it’s worn all the
time.
9: G
iving 80% effort and expecting 100%
results
It’s been said, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work
hard.” Even if the team captain is considered the best athlete on
the field, they never operate at 80%. If a team captain doesn’t
give their “all” in practice or in competition, it gives everyone
else permission to do the same. Effective captains give 100%
effort -100% of the time. They give no less, even if they don’t
“feel” it.
10: E
xpecting to do a good job without
leadership training
For too many years, athletes have been elected or selected and
are then given little or no training or direction on how to be an
effective captain. With all the resources available today, there is
no excuse for being an uneducated team captain. Dozens of
learning avenues are available for team captains including
books, websites, and live workshops. While it may take time
and effort to research the options, tapping into the power of
experts will increase the odds of an excellent season. Great
leaders are willing to put the time in outside of their sport to
sharpen their skills and learn tips and strategies from those who
have been there before them.
Being elected or selected as a team captain is an honor and a
privilege. The role should not be taken lightly. When leaders
avoid the top 10 mistakes captains make, they will look back at
the season years from now with great pride. They will know
they accepted the challenge of the role, put the team’s needs
ahead of their own, and created a season of significance!
Craig Hillier has been
speaking to students
about leadership since
1990. Craig has spoken to
more than two million
students in 30 states. He
has written two books,
“How to Step UP as a
Leader” and “Playing
Beyond the Scoreboard”,
a team captain’s guide to
a season of significance.
To learn more about
Craig’s workshops and
training resources, go to
www.craighillier.com. n
PURCHASE HERE
How it works:
• Nominate any athlete as a Positive Athlete from any High
School boys or girls sport at any time.
• Anyone can nominate an athlete, NOT just coaches.
Parents, family, teammates, classmates or friends can
simply fill out the form if they think their choice meets the
7 criteria for a Positive Athlete.
• Anyone can nominate any person for any sport at any
time. Obviously, you will want to nominate while that
sport is in season. Our Positive Athletes are chosen once a
month for a sport. There will be only one Positive Athlete
per sport.
• Positive Athlete of the Year. At the end of the school year,
we will chose (with the help of coaches and administrators
of your school) the Positive Athlete of the Year, both
boy and girl. That choice will be made from the monthly
winners and be awarded scholarship monies.
• The Positive Athlete of the Year will be submitted for
further consideration and the opportunity to win more
scholarship monies.
• Regional Winners - from the individual school system (not
all school systems will have this option)
• State Wide Winners - from the final school’s winners, we
will determine the final state wide winners for additional
recognition and scholarship monies. Plus, the opportunity
to meet some of the top professional athletes in the area,
including Hines Ward
• Get Started: Fill out the form below. Our selection team
will take the information and evaluate and talk to coaches
before naming the Positive Athlete for that particular sport.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE
YOUR NOMINATION
FOR POSITIVE ATHLETE
11
McClain
Hermes
she and her father, Matt Hermes, founded in 2009. Shoes
for the Souls donate shoes to the Atlanta Mission and they
have collected around 10,000 pairs of shoes since they
began their program 5 years ago! They are constantly
collecting shoes and will take any kind until they have
enough to make a trip to the mission.
Click here to view the CNN story and video.
McClain Hermes, Swimmer, Dacula,
Gwinnett County, GA
M
cClain Hermes started summer league
swimming when she was 4, enrolled in swim
lessons when she was 6, and joined her 1st
swim team when she was 8. McClain was always very
near-sighted but just a couple months after starting year
round swimming, in the fall of 2008, McClain developed
severe vision problems. Beginning with a detached
retina, her vision continued to deteriorate despite several
surgeries and she is now legally blind. McClain’s vision
continues to regress, and her doctors say that she will be
without any vision in 2 to 5 years. McClain has been
incredible in her unwavering determination and she has
not allowed her diagnosis and disability to stop her from
achieving her goals in swimming or life.
McClain has since become a classified Paralympic
swimmer and she continues to train as part of the
BlazeSports Swim Program with new ambitions every
day. In 2014 McClain raced in multiple high level meets
including the U.S. Paralympics Spring CanAm in Miami,
Florida, the Cincinnati Disability Meet in Ohio and the
Jimi Flowers Classic in Colorado Springs. Additionally,
this past summer she competed on the GA swimming zone
team and helped the team to a consecutive championship
title! At meets and practices, McClain, is tapped on the
head by a parent or coach in order to know when to expect
the wall for her flip turns, open turns and finishes. The
tapper is usually a long cane with a tennis ball taped to
the end of it; however, after a recent suggestion we have
started using a golf ball retriever instead of a cane because
it can be extended out pretty far and seems to work better.
McClain has put many extra hours in the pool working on
adapting her training as her eyesight diminishes.
However, her “you can do anything you set your mind
to attitude” doesn’t stop in the pool. Earlier this year,
McClain was recognized by CNN for The Impact Your
World Section for her Shoes for the Souls program, which
Q and As with McClain:
1. As your eyesight regressed, swimming must have
become increasingly more challenging, what was the
biggest challenge?
The hardest part would be having my swim team
understand that even though I am slower than they are,
due to my vision, I work just as hard as they do.
2. When did you decide to get classified and involved
in Paralympic swimming? Do you consider that
decision to have played an important role in your
swimming training and long term goals and plan?
In the summer of 2012, I started running into the wall
more often, and my mom was ready to pull me out of the
pool, but my summer coach started researching adaptive
swimming. She started tapping me, and we soon learned
that there was a local Paralympic meet that fall. We went
to it and I got classified. I think that if I was not introduced
to the Paralympic world, I would not be swimming,
because now I know there are other people like me and I
can compete on a level playing field with them.
3. Do you have a swimming idol or inspiration?
There is a Paralympic swimmer, Jessica Long, who is
a double amputee below her knees, who went to the
Paralympics at age 12; she now has 12 gold medals. She
is my inspiration, because she is always training and
works her hardest in every meet.
4. What advice would you give to another young
athlete or swimmer with a disability about getting
involved with Paralympic competitions?
I would tell another disabled athlete to get involved in
the Paralympics as fast as they can, because you never
know what you can do unless you try. n
13
Al
Horford
The basketball court is where the story of
my healthier generation begins
A
tlanta Hawks center Al Horford takes his
personal health and fitness seriously. The twotime All-Star is a member of the National
Basketball Association’s FIT Team and a self-described
“gym rat.” Now, the Hawks big man is partnering with
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation to reward select
schools in Georgia for creating a healthier lifestyle
environment for their students.
“I have to say, it makes me proud that the schools in my
state are making major strides to keep their students
eating right and moving more with the Alliance’s Healthy
Schools Program,” Horford said. “Since getting involved
fitness and the consequences of an unhealthy diet.
“This visit was extra special because I got the chance
to speak to kids on my own turf – the basketball court,”
said Horford about his trip to Langston Hughes High.
“The basketball court is where the story of my healthier
generation begins and what drives me to maintain my
health. And that’s what I wanted to share with the kids
while showing them what all is possible when you take
care of your body.”
On Dec. 11, Horford visited Parkside Elementary School
in southeast Atlanta to celebrate efforts the
school has taken to improve the health
quality of its students. Horford spent
the morning touring the campus
and visiting with kindergarten
students before speaking to over 400
third, fourth and fifth graders in the
school auditorium. Parkside was
recently awarded the Alliance’s
National Healthy Schools Silver
and Bronze medals for creating a
healthier school.
“I didn’t realize the power of developing healthy habits
until I entered college,” Horford said when asked about
the importance of early health education. “That’s when
I learned that I needed to get enough sleep, eat the right
foods, and stay active so that I would
have the mental fortitude to balance the
demands of college academics with the
physical demands of competing at the
collegiate level.”
Now in his eighth professional season,
Horford understands the importance of
taking care of his body and is doing his
best to educate the next generation of
superstars right here in Georgia. n
with the Alliance, I’ve had the chance to celebrate
healthy school changes with hundreds of students
and staff.”
On Nov. 19, Horford made a surprise visit to see the
boys and girls varsity basketball teams at Langston
Hughes High School in Fairburn, Ga. An honorary
member of the coaching staff for the day, Horford ran
both squads through drills and spoke to the players
about the importance of maintaining a high level of
Marjorie
Butler
15
Butler’s response to others questioning how she does it is
simple. She says, “how could I not? A lot of people don’t
have the opportunity to be at a big university like Georgia
- great basketball program, great academic school. Why
not take advantage of the sports and student side?”
Basketball is her passion and academics are her focus.
Butler arrived to Athens her freshman year with 50-plus
college credits under her belt. Her plan was to graduate
in two years and possibly get a master’s. When that did
not work out she decided to major in biology in addition
to exercise and sport science. She thought biology
would strengthen and prepare her for a hopeful future in
medical practice. Butler has plans to take the MCAT and
apply to medical school. She says, “right now I’m really
interested in Orthopedics and that’s a reason I got into
sport and exercise science major - to deal closely with
athletes. I’d love to stay close to sports if possible.”
Star Player and Outstanding Student
By: Karra Logan
M
arjorie Butler is not your typical studentathlete. Butler is extremely driven on and off
the court, truly proving that she is a student
first, athlete second.
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Butler is in the midst of
her junior season on the University of Georgia’s women’s
basketball team. She leads the team in assists for the
season and free throws scored in a single game. She may
not be the one putting the most points on the scoreboard
for the Lady Bulldogs, but as point guard she’s a crucial
part of the team’s strategy. Butler has started every game
this season, playing an average of 30.2 minutes per game
(the most on the team). What’s most impressive about
Butler, though, is that she has managed to double major,
maintains a 3.8 GPA, and is currently assistant teaching
a course. She is also preparing to take the MCAT in June,
all while playing basketball at UGA. She has not only
found the balance between her title of student-athlete,
she exceeds expectations.
“She’s the whole package,” head coach Andy Landers
said. He then paused to find adequate words and praise
for his “unusual” athlete. “When you look at her
accomplishments at every level, she’s an unusual person.”
Landers continued, “ You hear these phrases used in
sport: ‘strive towards excellence’, ‘be the best you can
be’ and that is who she is in everything she does.”
Staying true to her character, focus, prioritizing,
and being effective are Butler’s keys
to success. She says, “if you have the
desire to do something, you can do
it. The thing about being a studentathlete is that they provide you with
all of the tools you need to excel in
the classroom. If you take advantage
of that you could be a good student,
you could be a great student, you can
be whatever you make of yourself.”
Landers emphasized Butler’s ability to balance her roles.
“She’s a straight A student, she’s at practice everyday,”
he said. “She’s a straight A student, she’s in the gym
on her own as much or more than anyone else. She’s a
straight A student and she does extra rehab. All of this
stuff takes time. And what it tells you about her is that
she has this tremendous ability to prioritize things that
are important and leave the things that aren’t important,
which most college kids find the time to do. She leaves
those things off the table. She takes care of what’s
important and when she has time to relax, she relaxes.
She has an incredible ability to organize and prioritize
and then an incredible self-discipline to follow through.”
On February 5th, Butler was named to the CoSIDA
District 4 Academic All- America team and is now a
finalist for national Academic All-America honors.
Butler says she’s proud that in the end she’ll be leaving
Georgia with two degrees. And she should be. n
Don’t wait until you graduate! Earn
While in High School!
Accel  Dual Enrollment  Joint Enrollment
Move on When Ready
For more information, visit our website at
www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu
Enrollment > Admissions > High School Student
Email: [email protected]
Campus Locations:
Appalachian
Canton
Marietta
Mountain View
North Metro
Paulding
Gilmer Co.
APPALACHIAN
CAMPUS
Bartow Co.
DISCOVER
you
A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Equal Opportunity Institution.
CCN_PositiveAthleteAd_FINAL.indd 1

ATLANTA
NORTH METRO
CAMPUS
PAULDING
CAMPUS
Paulding Co.
Pickens Co.
CANTON CAMPUS
Cherokee Co.
WOODSTOCK
CAMPUS
MOUNTAIN VIEW
CAMPUS
Cobb Co.
MARIETTA CAMPUS
AUSTELL
CAMPUS
9/22/14 11:28 AM
17
High School
Athletes
Transition to
College
C
ollege is a time of new opportunities that include
classes in interesting subjects, friends, added
responsibilities and extracurricular activities.
Between jobs, family, academics, and time with friends,
college students, such as the ones at Chattahoochee
Technical College, are busier than ever. Some students
find that the pressure of deadlines and difficult schedules
to be too demanding to consider sports, still others find it
a necessity to participate in collegiate athletics.
The transition from high school athletics to college
can be a seamless one at the right college or university.
Whether considering intercollegiate teams or intermural
competition, student athletes at Chattahoochee Technical
College see sports as a way to build leadership skills,
strengthen skills and make friends. Recent studies by the
NCAA have said the same thing, finding that 15 percent
of college athletes are the first members of their families
to attend college and that college student-athletes
graduate at rates higher than college students in general.
“Student-athletes represent their school, community,
family, friends and themselves in a different way than
the general student,” said Chattahoochee Technical
College Athletics Coordinator David Archer. “Studentathletes are held to a higher standard of excellence in
both the classroom and the field or court of competition.
The level of commitment, dedication and discipline
necessary to perform at a high level in their chosen sport
also transfers into their efforts academically.”
The business world is focusing on creating a team
environment with employees. Student-athletes are
exposed to learning about leadership, time management
and how to effectively work with others toward a common
goal. They also develop a sense of pride and belonging
at their school of choice through team accomplishments.
Additionally, there are health benefits to college athletics
even at the 2-year-college level. The lifestyle developed
as a student-athlete can carry over into one’s professional
life. Former student-athletes tend to find the time to work
out and eat right because that discipline and routine are
already within him or her.
“Discipline and the ability to work with others in a team
atmosphere are two of the most important lessons that
can be transferred to the classroom and workplace,”
echoed Archer.
Not all student-athletes in high school go on to pursue
the same sports in college. Sometimes injury, changes in
interest, or differing opportunities mean tough choices
for student-athletes. The benefits of the student-athlete
continue beyond the days of competition. Those lessons
of dedication, time management, and drive can go a
long way toward success in the classroom and in the
workplace. Finding the right fit between academics and
athletics can be challenging, but balance is possible with
the right focus.
“My advice would be first to decide what your educational
pursuits are,” said Archer. “Then research to find the
best possible schools that have the sport you participate
in which also has the academic majors you need to study.
I think Chattahoochee Technical College actually offers
a great opportunity for those student-athletes who seek
to use their education to enter the workplace quickly, as
well as, as those who plan to move on to more traditional
four year colleges and universities.”
For more information on the athletics opportunities and
academic programs at Chattahoochee Technical College,
visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu. n
Congrat
To This Mont
Ashton Barnes
11 Football
Lanier High School
Alec Burke
10
Boys Swimming
Flowery Branch High School
Kevin Ficklin
12 Hall
Football
Dacula High School
Gwinnett
Michael Johnson
Boys Lax
11 Allatoona High School
Justin Rypel
12
Gwinnett
Cobb
Boys Soccer
North Cobb Christian School
Cobb
Larson Hodges Boys Swimming
12 Riverwood High School
PJ Gravalec
11 Baseball
Pope High School
Austin Lyons
12 Fulton
Cobb
Boys Track
Archer High School
Gwinnett
You Can Nominate Any Athlete,
Any Time, Any Where
ulations
19
hs Nominees
Addie Scott
11 Kell High School
Taylor Hughey
12 Softball
Cobb
Cheerleading
Tucker High School
Nyota Edjidjimo
11 Dekalb
Girls Swimming
Shiloh High School
Gwinnett
Jazmine Lawrence Girls Basketball
11 Chapel Hill High School
Douglas
Sydney Chandler Girls Basketball
12 Creekview High School
Cherokee
Makenzie Anderson Girls Tennis
12 South Paulding High School
Paulding
Bailey Sims
11 Flowery Branch High School
Julia Howes
10 Softball
Hall
Girls Tennis
Grayson High School
Gwinnett
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE
YOUR SCHOOLS FAVORITE ATHLETE
A SK THE EX PE RT
Carrick Brain Centers and Concussion Treatment
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY EXPERTS DISCUSS NEURO-PLASTICITY
Frederick Carrick, D.C., PhD.
Andre Fredieu, M.D
Cagan Randall, D.C., D.A.C.N.B.
Brandon Brock, M.S.N., NP-C
James Duffy, D.C., D.A.C.N.B.
When you look at the entire
spectrum of brain injury
and treatment, there hasn’t
been near the number
of advances in more
traditional settings. We
offer a medical model in a
non-traditional pathway.
We use various modalities
to achieve optimal recovery, we can’t fix the brain
injury in every case but we
can strengthen the neural
pathways to alleviate the
symptoms and problems
that inhibit the patient from
living a functional, happy life.
At Carrick Brain Centers
we are a concierge neuro-rehabilitation program
centered on thoughtful,
compassionate and
innovative care for each
patient and education for
their families.
Carrick Brain Centers
offers unique treatments
that strengthen and
develop neural pathways,
we like to call it “Neuro-Wiring.” Patients from
across the world seek this
treatment as a solution.
We can focus on the
specific area of injury
and train other areas of
the brain to adapt to the
deficits, restoring more
normal day-to-day function to the patient.
Concussions
What is the treatment philosophy at
Carrick Brain Centers?
Accelerate Recovery
We focus on the principles of Neuroplasticity, in essence
the brain has the ability to heal itself through stimulation of
new neurons and the strengthening of compromised neural pathways. Our patients include athletes suffering from
the short and long-term effects of concussion, elderly
individuals dealing with the decline of physical and cognitive function, chronic effects of stroke, military members
diagnosed with PTSD or TBI and children diagnosed with
mild to severe cognitive or neurological disorders.
The immersive therapies at
the Carrick Brain Centers help
accelerate recovery from both
obvious and hidden symptoms
of concussions. By targeting
the affected areas of the brain
with intensive, multi-therapy
regimens, we are accelerating
healing, allowing the patient
to recover resume normal
activities quickly.
About Us
Headquartered in Dallas with
another location in Atlanta,
Georgia (Marietta), Carrick Brain
Centers is a brain rehabilitation
center that gets to the root of
the problem neurologically and
creates a tailored path toward
recovery. Each patient is treated
as an individual and has their own
unique program built around their
neurologic deficits. We combine
evidence-based diagnostics with
leading-edge technologies and
treatments which quickly improve
patient quality of life. Patients
suffering from brain injuries due
to physical or emotional trauma
or degenerative conditions that
affect the brain and central nervous system, have experienced a
dramatic improvement following
treatments.
Patients are supported by a
staff of patient advocates, nurses,
nurse practitioners, speech therapists, physical therapists,
and occupational therapists, board-certified neurologists from
the discipline of medicine and board-certified neurologists
from the chiropractic discipline. Our professionals work side
by side to bring together innovative treatment options which
address patient needs. Backed by an engineering team working at the frontiers of science and medicine to build new diagnostic and treatment approaches like the patented Off Vertical
Axis Rotational Device (OVARD), Carrick Brain Centers team
is delivering the future of brain health today.
Contact Us Today
Dallas Campus (214)-771-8885
105 Decker Ct, Suite 120,
Irving, TX 75062
Atlanta Campus (404)-334-7100
1950 Spectrum Circle, B-200
Marietta, GA 30067
Want to learn more? Schedule a consultation today!
www.CarrickBrainCenters.com
Toll Free: 855.444.2724
21
three-point shots in leading the Titans to a 23-8 record
last year and to the 6AAA championship game, earning
him second-team all-state honors as a senior by the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (he was named first-team
all-region 6AAA as a junior and senior).
That kind of shooting would be welcome by Georgia
Tech, which shot 31.5 percent from three-point range
last season.
While he can shoot the ball, Lamar showed he was a
good all-around athlete throughout his high school
career, playing running back for two years and also
doing the 100- and 200-meters and the high jump. But,
in the end, basketball won out.
Doctor In
The House
Freshman Patrick Lamar soldiering on to
help Jackets 3-point shooting
B
asketball may seem like a matter of life and
death, especially at the time, but freshman guard
Patrick Lamar has the ability to keep things in
perspective and has set goals for himself extending
beyond the game.
His long-term goals really would be a matter of life and
death.
“I’d like to be an officer in the Army and hopefully be
a medic,” said the Marietta native and Blessed Trinity
Catholic High School star. “I really enjoy medicine, I enjoy
how the human body works and I enjoy learning about
that. So I figured a medic would just kind of incorporate
all of those things. I kind of want to be in the thick of
things on the battlefield so....”
But his is more than a pipe dream. He showed in high
school that he can play and especially shoot, something
he hopes to prove he can do so on the D-I level.
Only the second player in Blessed Trinity history to
score 1,000 career points, Lamar hit 42 percent of his
“I always liked trying to experience different sports ever
since I was young but really my focus on basketball has
been trying to get a scholarship since I started playing
basketball,” he said. “That was my dream to get a
scholarship and I figured I kind of had to put
all my time into one sport and basketball’s
always been my love.”
Unlike with sports, the choice
of where to attend college was
much clearer. All signs pointed
to Georgia Tech.
“It was really, the Engineering
program. I’m studying Biomedical Engineering and
it’s the No. 2-ranked Biomedical Engineering school
in the country,” he said. “That played a huge factor in
it, the ability to play basketball here. They all kind of
contributed to make this decision really the right one.
Down the road there’s the carrot of possibly playing in
the ACC.
So which does he think will be tougher: mastering
Biomedical Engineering or Coach Brian Gregory’s
playbook?
“I think both of them,” he said, with a laugh. “I might
have to say Bio-Med studies. Basketball is nothing new
to me. Plays will be hard to memorize but once I get the
hang of it, it will just be memory for me.” n
23
At each camp, the coaches and instructors were looking
for campers to be recognized as Positive Athletes of
the camp. These recipients received a certificate and
a Positive Athlete GA t-shirt, along with having their
photos posted on the Positive Athlete GA Facebook page.
Hawks Promote Positivity with Happy
Campers
T
he Atlanta Hawks made a “positive” move in their
youth camp program over the summer months.
Partnering with Positive Athlete Georgia, the
Hawks conducted several week-long camps throughout
the metro Atlanta area, teaching youngsters the basics
of the hardwood and instilling positive life values into
the campers.
The Hawks Director of Basketball Programs, Jon Babul
said of the partnership, “The message
that Positive Athlete Georgia is
delivering to the Atlanta sports
community is aligned with the
value system which our Atlanta Hawks
Community Basketball Program is
predicated. We are proud to be
teammates with Positive Athlete
Georgia on this initiative and plan
to grow the partnership in 2015.
Promoting the benefits of “positivity” is
a priority at each of our camps, and we believe that by
delivering this message we can impact the lives of our
campers far beyond the sport of basketball.”
Positive Athlete Georgia is excited to continue their
partnership with the Atlanta Hawks over the course of
the next year and on into the future, with involvement
growing in youth leagues and increases in athlete
recognition during Hawks events. n
Click here for more information
25
GT Serves
A group of Georgia Tech student-athletes
changed their lives, lives of others via FCA
service trip to Dominican Republic
By Jon Cooper • The Good Word
F
or a group of 20 Georgia Tech student-athletes
representing the campus chapter of the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes (FCA), their break, a service
mission to the Dominican Republic, helped make them..
The La Romana community is only about 1,300 miles
from Atlanta, roughly a three-hour flight. Yet living
conditions there make it seem light years away.
That combination of proximity, yet disparity of quality
of life made it the ideal location for a service mission
this past Dec. 13-18. Tech’s FCA Campus Director
Keith Brown, Marla Williams, and GT alumni Kele
Eveland (volleyball) and Alysha Rudnik (softball) also
made the trip.
Photo: Danny Karnik
Georgia Tech Athletics/FCA
fell into place and the student-athletes made the service
mission fun.
Eveland, who speaks fluent Spanish and became a
valuable second translator, also was blown away by the
student-athletes’ ability to make friends with throngs
of local kids that were drawn to them daily. Georgia
Tech’s baseball, softball and volleyball teams donated
equipment, which was put to good use at pretty much
every opportunity.
As the student-athletes and the kids spent
more time together, bonds were formed
and FCA’s mission statement for the trip,
“Change of Place + Change of
Pace = Change of Perspective,”
started to hit home.
Each of the student-athletes
had a life snapshot that touched
their hearts and will never leave them.
A major goal of the mission was to build a recreation
center and a water-retention facility in a little area called
“Hope Mission.”
Even luxury items like cell phones, the same luxury
items which the trip was supposed to discourage, became
instruments of bonding.
Brown noted that the mission served as much of a
vehicle to change the perspective of the student-athletes
as it was to serve the people of the Dominican Republic.
The impact within the student-athletes themselves may
be the long-lasting lesson of the service mission. What
started out as groups within a group separated by team
(six different teams were represented), with little more
than the Georgia Tech logo in common became one, all
pulling in the same direction as an unbreakable unit.
Junior pitcher Jonathan King was one of several athletes
who initially was hesitant to go, as the trip departed
almost immediately after final exams ended. After some
reflection he was all-in.
The mission lasted five days but the memories will last
a lot longer.
The student-athletes have not only improved their
relationships with each other but also their individual
perspectives.
The work was hard, the days long and getting used to
the conditions was an adjustment, but things quickly
For more information on the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes click here or call 404 229-5413. n
Melanie White is a proud sponsor of Positive Athlete









Top 2% Nationally
Life Member Million Dollar Club
Phoenix Award Recipient
International Presidents Elite
International Diamond Society
Certified Relocation Specialist
Accredited Relocation Consultant
Previews International Property Specialist in Luxury Homes
Cendant Mobility Marketing Specialist
You can find out more information about Melanie on her website at:
http://www.coldwellbankeratlanta.com/MelanieWhite
Operated by a subsidiary of NRT, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Melanie White is a proud sponsor of Positive Athlete









Top 2% Nationally
Life Member Million Dollar Club
Phoenix Award Recipient
International Presidents Elite
International Diamond Society
Certified Relocation Specialist
Accredited Relocation Consultant
Previews International Property Specialist in Luxury Homes
Cendant Mobility Marketing Specialist
You can find out more information about Melanie on her website at:
http://www.coldwellbankeratlanta.com/MelanieWhite
Victory
Over Vision
27
Matt knew that playing football would be tough, and the
main question was what position to play. “When I first
started, they wanted me to play offensive and defensive
line. As I went through my first season in seventh grade,
I started to get to play a few games at the end of the year
as a linebacker, “ said Matt.
After just a few weeks at linebacker, Matt says he knew
he had found his position. “It kind of just clicked for me.
I knew that this was the position that I wanted to play. I
like giving the hits rather than taking them,” joked Matt.
W
hen the Fellowship Christian Paladins
football team strapped on the pads on
Friday nights this Fall, the team knew they
were part of something special. This year marked the
tenth anniversary of the football program at Fellowship,
a small private Christian school nestled in the roaring
suburbs of Roswell. But, something even more special
took place this year on the field, thanks to a young man
that uses his faith to overcome his biggest obstacle.
Matt Curry is a freshman middle linebacker for the
Paladins. Standing just over 5’9”, you may think that
he is just your average junior varsity linebacker. But,
after meeting him, you’ll quickly realize that he is quite
possibly one of the most inspiring high school Positive
Athletes in the state of Georgia.
Matt was born with a condition called ocular albinism,
a genetic condition that does not allow his eyes to
correctly process light. Because of his condition, Matt
is unable to see sharp images of any kind and has severe
astigmatisms in both eyes. He is forced to play with
20/200 vision – which is considered “legally blind.”
So if he is “legally blind,” why is he playing football
-- because he loves the game so much. “Growing up, we
always went to the Georgia games, so I love football and
I love contact. Even when I was in fifth and sixth grade,
we would play football without pads on, just for fun. So,
when I came to Fellowship Christian and saw there was
football, I decided that I had to try it out.”
In his first high school season, Matt is widely recognized
as one of the hardest workers on the team, and his
performances have reflected the dedication he has. In
fact, he was on the field during what was arguably the
Paladins’ most exciting win of the year. “Playing our
biggest rival, Mt. Pisgah, on our tenth anniversary of
having a football program,
our
starting
middle
linebacker got injured and
the coaches had me play
the entire fourth quarter –
where we got to stop them
on their last drive to save
the game.”
“Being a Positive Athlete means a lot to me because it
brings me back to putting Jesus first. I am always in a
positive mood when I am glorifying him out on the field.
It also means being a great teammate and lifting them up
when they are down. I always try to keep my teammates
up because I know we have to enjoy this while we can.
We aren’t promised a tomorrow, so why not be positive
today?
If I didn’t have Jesus, I don’t
even know where I would
be right now. The Bible
says that I am fearfully
and wonderfully made,
and The Lord tells us that
he knows the plans that He
has for me, so I know that
He has everything under
control. Even if my vision
is bad, I know that someone
probably has it worse than
I do, so I want to use my
condition to inspire people.”
n
How it works:
• Nominate any athlete as a Positive Athlete from any High
School boys or girls sport at any time.
• Anyone can nominate an athlete, NOT just coaches.
Parents, family, teammates, classmates or friends can
simply fill out the form if they think their choice meets the
7 criteria for a Positive Athlete.
• Anyone can nominate any person for any sport at any
time. Obviously, you will want to nominate while that
sport is in season. Our Positive Athletes are chosen once a
month for a sport. There will be only one Positive Athlete
per sport.
• Positive Athlete of the Year. At the end of the school year,
we will chose (with the help of coaches and administrators
of your school) the Positive Athlete of the Year, both
boy and girl. That choice will be made from the monthly
winners and be awarded scholarship monies.
• The Positive Athlete of the Year will be submitted for
further consideration and the opportunity to win more
scholarship monies.
• Regional Winners - from the individual school system (not
all school systems will have this option)
• State Wide Winners - from the final school’s winners, we
will determine the final state wide winners for additional
recognition and scholarship monies. Plus, the opportunity
to meet some of the top professional athletes in the area,
including Hines Ward
• Get Started: Fill out the form below. Our selection team
will take the information and evaluate and talk to coaches
before naming the Positive Athlete for that particular sport.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE
YOUR NOMINATION
FOR POSITIVE ATHLETE
29
Last October, Korver teamed with the Atlanta Mission
for their “Socktober” effort to aid the homeless
population in the metropolitan area. From Oct. 8-18,
Korver used his social media accounts to promote sock
drives he held at the Atlanta Mission, Premiere Fitness
and the Hawks’ Oct. 18 game against the Detroit Pistons.
Kyle’s efforts helped the Atlanta Mission collect over
2,000 pairs of socks to donate to the homeless.
Kyle
Korver
Atlanta Hawks swingman Kyle Korver
discusses holiday presents with a child at
the Atlanta Children’s Shelter.
(Photo by Kat Goduco)
A
tlanta Hawks three-point specialist Kyle Korver
is known for his hot shooting on the court. Off
the court, the 12-year NBA veteran has been
racking up assists in the
community throughout his
career, and continues to
positively impact cities he has
called home over the years.
Korver’s philanthropy and
integrity are second-to-none and
set a standard for athletes
throughout professional sports.
During the 2013-14 season, Kyle
supported the Hawks Assist
Program to provide tickets to
underprivileged children in the
metropolitan Atlanta area.
Korver supplied 39 local
charities with tickets, donating
over 1,000 total tickets to
organizations throughout the
state of Georgia.
“It’s just fun, you know? We (professional athletes) get
to live a very fortunate life. But we’re all created equal,
there are a lot of really good people in this world, and
we’re just trying to live life together,”
Korver said about his philanthropy
and attitude toward giving.
In Philadelphia, the city Kyle called
home for the first four-plus seasons of his
professional career, the Kyle Korver
Foundation actively repairs
youth development centers and
provides meals to the homeless
even though Kyle has not played for
the 76ers since 2007. In Salt Lake City,
where Korver was a member of the Utah Jazz from
2007-2010, the foundation has constructed more than
100 wheelchair accessibility ramps at the homes of
disabled people.
Kyle’s Seer Outfitters Clothing brand donates 100% of
its profits to support organizations
and causes throughout the country.
In addition to accessibility ramps,
sales of Seer merchandise have
helped build basketball goals and
support schools in inner city
Chicago, where Kyle played for the
Bulls from 2010-2012.
Off to another league-leading
shooting start, the 2013-14 NBA
leader in three-point percentage
continues to hit his mark on-and-off
the court and in the community.
Kyle makes an effort to positively
impact his team and the surrounding
environment, creating a lasting
impression everywhere he goes. n