I am going to talk a bit about recruiting right now because I feel like I have some knowledge of what is going on.
Here is my basic belief. If your child wants to play college sports, they can. I don't care about the overall talent level. If they have the desire, there is a level for them. I am not saying that every child can participate at the D1 level, or even at the D2 level. However, if they are open to other opportunities, they can find a place the suits them.
A quick story- My son had a huge desire to swim in college, and he was a pretty good high school swimmer. I started doing the leg work when he was sophomore, and by the time he was a junior he had started to get some interest form smaller schools.
Now if your child is anything like mine, the first thought is ohh I want to go to a big school, a D1 school and I don't know if I will be happy anywhere else. That's exactly where Hayden started off. But as the search went on and bigger schools only offering for him to walk on, the D2 level became much more appealing.
I will say this. Hayden could have swam for mid level D1 schools and had a successful career. But he has swam at four national championship meets and won a team national championship,so it really doesn't get better than that.
Now Madison wanted something smaller where swimming maybe isn't quite as important. Once again, she had numerous offers, but chose Brenau because of the coach and the package they put together for her. She is a good swimmer, but the NAIA was the perfect level for her.
I get so tired of hearing from parents that they have children who want to play college sports but aren't getting any interest. Well that can be handled a few different ways. But I am a firm believer that the student athlete and parents can get interest for almost any athlete. I will be glad to tell you how to do it. Its not rocker science and we have way too many great athletes in Macon going un noticed
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
college recruiting and such
I know I know, I have been my blog, and please forgive me. My excuses are many. I have been to Oklahoma City and Indianapolis this month and have been battling a cold and sore throat that has made me lazy. But I am on the mend and ready to talk about several things, both personal and not personal.
After Madison helped Brenau to a 3rd place finish in the NAIA National swim meet, I had 2 days to come home and get ready for the next venture, which was Haydens last NCAA D2 National Championship Meet. To say that I was anxious would be a huge understatement. I was feeling the sadness of it being his last college swim meet, the happiness that he had made it this far, and the overall gut wrenching feeling of terror as Queens actually had a chance to win a National Championship.
I will try and make a long story somewhat short. Queens started the meet on Wednesday March 11th, and things went a bit sour for the men's team right away. The 200 medley relay, in which my son swims on was disqualified because our coaches had a wrong swimmer on the relay card. Queens head coach Jeff Dugdale, who has done so much for the swim program, not to mention Hayden, was so classy about the way he handled the situation. He talked to each swimmer on the relay and apologized, had a tearful (from what we hear) apology to the entire team , and even called the parents of the kids on the relay to again apologize. I thought he handled the situation in a heartwarming , professional way.
What was great however, is that the men's team didn't quit. They took it as a personal challenge to come back and win the meet. And by Saturday they had actually come back to take a 14 point lead, and held on with some great swimming to win their first national championship in the schools 158 year history. Hayden had five All- American swims, including being a part of the 800 free relay team that broke a national record for D2. The women also won a national championship, with Mount de Sales alum Nikki Johnston having 3 All-American swim. Another former Mount de Sales swimmer, Jessika Weiss had 2 All-American swims for Wingate and helped her team to a 3rd place finish.
Good coaching matters in any sport,
After Madison helped Brenau to a 3rd place finish in the NAIA National swim meet, I had 2 days to come home and get ready for the next venture, which was Haydens last NCAA D2 National Championship Meet. To say that I was anxious would be a huge understatement. I was feeling the sadness of it being his last college swim meet, the happiness that he had made it this far, and the overall gut wrenching feeling of terror as Queens actually had a chance to win a National Championship.
I will try and make a long story somewhat short. Queens started the meet on Wednesday March 11th, and things went a bit sour for the men's team right away. The 200 medley relay, in which my son swims on was disqualified because our coaches had a wrong swimmer on the relay card. Queens head coach Jeff Dugdale, who has done so much for the swim program, not to mention Hayden, was so classy about the way he handled the situation. He talked to each swimmer on the relay and apologized, had a tearful (from what we hear) apology to the entire team , and even called the parents of the kids on the relay to again apologize. I thought he handled the situation in a heartwarming , professional way.
What was great however, is that the men's team didn't quit. They took it as a personal challenge to come back and win the meet. And by Saturday they had actually come back to take a 14 point lead, and held on with some great swimming to win their first national championship in the schools 158 year history. Hayden had five All- American swims, including being a part of the 800 free relay team that broke a national record for D2. The women also won a national championship, with Mount de Sales alum Nikki Johnston having 3 All-American swim. Another former Mount de Sales swimmer, Jessika Weiss had 2 All-American swims for Wingate and helped her team to a 3rd place finish.
Good coaching matters in any sport,
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Battle of Macon quarter-finals
Yes, I know I have been slow in getting new stuff out lately, but I have been kind of busy traveling the United States watching my kids swim. But that is over now and I am ready to write.
Lets go back to the Battle of Macon and try to finish this up over the next few days
Northeast- Stratford - I can only imagine the battle the Santez Kinder and Quintez Cephus would have. Both of them are high energy guys to say the least, and I know they would be talking the entire game. The Raiders will try to press the Eagles until they cannot breathe and I truly don't know if the Eagles could handle all that pressure. But Northeast is wildly inconsistent and Stratford takes advantage of it in the second half. Kinder outduels Cephus 34-26, but the Eagles get the hard fought 63-58 win. O'Showen adds 17 for the Eagles.
Windsor- Southwest- The Knights won a state championship this year, even though it was in the GISA AA class, they have to be given credit and they have a pretty good basketball team and coach. But could they take down a GHSA team that has Justin Slocum ? In real life probably not, but on here, maybe they could. Windsor shocks Southwest 73-71 to advance to the final four. McKinney scored 23 to overcome Slocums 33.
Unfortunately for Windsor, they get Rutland next, while Stratford takes on Central
Lets go back to the Battle of Macon and try to finish this up over the next few days
Northeast- Stratford - I can only imagine the battle the Santez Kinder and Quintez Cephus would have. Both of them are high energy guys to say the least, and I know they would be talking the entire game. The Raiders will try to press the Eagles until they cannot breathe and I truly don't know if the Eagles could handle all that pressure. But Northeast is wildly inconsistent and Stratford takes advantage of it in the second half. Kinder outduels Cephus 34-26, but the Eagles get the hard fought 63-58 win. O'Showen adds 17 for the Eagles.
Windsor- Southwest- The Knights won a state championship this year, even though it was in the GISA AA class, they have to be given credit and they have a pretty good basketball team and coach. But could they take down a GHSA team that has Justin Slocum ? In real life probably not, but on here, maybe they could. Windsor shocks Southwest 73-71 to advance to the final four. McKinney scored 23 to overcome Slocums 33.
Unfortunately for Windsor, they get Rutland next, while Stratford takes on Central
Monday, March 9, 2015
womens high school basketball
I know I have been negligent about updating this blog but I have been too busy with college swimming at the moment.
But today here is the next round of girls Battle of Macon basketball
Westside vs Stratford- What a classic game in which one team wants to run up and down the court, while the other wants to play slow and methodical. A game that features Westsides Daisha Terry and Stratfords Taylor Reese.
Westside jumps out to an early 16-7 lead as Terry scores 9 quick points. Meanwhile the Eagles are struggling to score points, shooting only 27 percent in the quarter. By the half though, Stratford has made the game ugly, and their pressure is actually giving Westside a problem. Behind Lucy Bobbitt, who hits two 3-s in the quarter, Stratford trails only 22-19 at the half.
Terry picks up her fourth foul early in the third quarter, and the Seminoles are not the same team with her off the floor. Stratford goes on a 9-3 run to begin the third quarter to take a 28-25 lead. Reese is effective getting into the paint and scoring and leads Stratford with 13 points.
Terry is back into the game to start the final quarter and immediately makes a difference, scoring six straight points to give her team a three points lead, but once again, Stratford finds a way , this time at the free throw line. They make 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to win 45-43. Reese ends with 17 and Bobbitt adds 11.
But today here is the next round of girls Battle of Macon basketball
Westside vs Stratford- What a classic game in which one team wants to run up and down the court, while the other wants to play slow and methodical. A game that features Westsides Daisha Terry and Stratfords Taylor Reese.
Westside jumps out to an early 16-7 lead as Terry scores 9 quick points. Meanwhile the Eagles are struggling to score points, shooting only 27 percent in the quarter. By the half though, Stratford has made the game ugly, and their pressure is actually giving Westside a problem. Behind Lucy Bobbitt, who hits two 3-s in the quarter, Stratford trails only 22-19 at the half.
Terry picks up her fourth foul early in the third quarter, and the Seminoles are not the same team with her off the floor. Stratford goes on a 9-3 run to begin the third quarter to take a 28-25 lead. Reese is effective getting into the paint and scoring and leads Stratford with 13 points.
Terry is back into the game to start the final quarter and immediately makes a difference, scoring six straight points to give her team a three points lead, but once again, Stratford finds a way , this time at the free throw line. They make 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to win 45-43. Reese ends with 17 and Bobbitt adds 11.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
First Round Results Battle of Macon (GIRLS)
Windsor-CFCA play in game- don't know much about either team, so I will take Windsor 31-24
#1 Central vs #12 Windsor Central had its best year in forever this year and it seems like coach Shelia Toombs has finally turned the program around. They cruise to a 65-23 win
#2 Tattnall vs #11 Mount de Sales- Tattnall gets an easy first round game as they beat the Cavs 58-29
#3 Westside vs #10 Covenant- Covenant hangs around for a long time in this game, but Daisha Terry is a little bit too much for the GICAA state champion. Westside wins 48-39
#4 Stratford vs #9 Northeast- Stratford will be mad at me for the number four seed, but I think this is accurate, considering they can be a bit up and down. Northeast will run and shoot the three at every opportunity for sure,but just don't have any size at all. Taylor Reese and Lucy Bobbitt take over in the second half and Stratford wins 45-38
#5 Rutland vs #8 FPD - Johnny Dixon would give me that look for the number five seed also, but then he would use it to motivate his team.FPD is a year away from being good, and inexperience shows up in this game. Rutland wins 50-35
#6 Southwest vs #7 Howard - Latavia Coleman would love the chance to play this tournament. Erica Moore, maybe the best shooting girl in Macon, score 32 ad the Huskies advance 61-55
Lets give the second round games
Central and Tattnall get Bi s
Westside vs Stratford
Howard vs Rutland
#1 Central vs #12 Windsor Central had its best year in forever this year and it seems like coach Shelia Toombs has finally turned the program around. They cruise to a 65-23 win
#2 Tattnall vs #11 Mount de Sales- Tattnall gets an easy first round game as they beat the Cavs 58-29
#3 Westside vs #10 Covenant- Covenant hangs around for a long time in this game, but Daisha Terry is a little bit too much for the GICAA state champion. Westside wins 48-39
#4 Stratford vs #9 Northeast- Stratford will be mad at me for the number four seed, but I think this is accurate, considering they can be a bit up and down. Northeast will run and shoot the three at every opportunity for sure,but just don't have any size at all. Taylor Reese and Lucy Bobbitt take over in the second half and Stratford wins 45-38
#5 Rutland vs #8 FPD - Johnny Dixon would give me that look for the number five seed also, but then he would use it to motivate his team.FPD is a year away from being good, and inexperience shows up in this game. Rutland wins 50-35
#6 Southwest vs #7 Howard - Latavia Coleman would love the chance to play this tournament. Erica Moore, maybe the best shooting girl in Macon, score 32 ad the Huskies advance 61-55
Lets give the second round games
Central and Tattnall get Bi s
Westside vs Stratford
Howard vs Rutland
Sunday, March 1, 2015
MENS Battle of Macon first round game results
First I would like to say Congrats to Windsor Academy. The boys made it to the final four, while CFCA loss in the GICAA championship game. I have decided (because I can) to give Windsor the 10 seed and drop CFCA into the play into the 11 spot, moving MDS into the play in game.
PLAY IN GAME
Mount De Sales vs Covenant- The Cavaliers come out and play hard under head coach Jim Massey, and jump out to a 22-14 lead at the half behind Darius Wonnum. But Covenant is well coached and they just wont go away. They trail only 30-28 going into the final quarter, and Wonnum fould out early in the final quarter. Kayden and Jordan Layne, the best brother combo in Macon lead the way as the Rams upset MDS 41-38
#1 Rutland vs #12 Covenant. I know for a fact that Matt Chambless would not back away from this game or this tournament. He has faith that his team can play with the Macon public schools. But this is Rutland, who has a chip on their shoulder from a heartbreaking loss that ended the season. Rutlands full court pressure turns this into a laugher. Ty'lik Evans goes for 22 points, 10 assists, and 10steals as the Canes roll 84-45.
#2 Central vs #11 CFCA- I have no clue how the Lancers lost to someone nobody has heard of, They have two talented seniors in Olivas and Hicks ad that should have been enough. Central has a habit of sleep walking at times and they seem unmotivated for this game, and actually trail 13-9 after a quarter. But Derrick Evans wakes up and takes over, scoring 11 points in the second quarter alone and shutting down the penetration od Hicks. Chargers win 74-55.
#3 Westside vs #10 Windsor - Windsor is pretty good and have a player in Antonio McKinney that probably should have been in my top 10 for most of the year. Westside is so much bigger but cant pull away from the Knights. IN the first upset o the tournament, Windsor, behind McKinney and his 24 points, upsets Westside 66-58.
#4 Stratford vs #9 FPD - Stratford has already handled FPD this year, but they are coming off a big loss in the state tournament. FPD coach Michael Walton manages to keep it close, but the Eagles hold on for a 43-41 win. Cephus has only 11 points.
#5 Northeast vs #8 Tattnall - Northeast is another team very capable of laying an egg on some nights, but Tattnall cant score. This one turns into a blowout in the second half as Kinder goes for 34 in a 67-41 win for the Raiders
#6 Southwest vs #7 Howard - Southwest has Justin Slocum, who is one of the best players in Macon, and Howard does not. IN the last game of the first night, Slocum scores 23 as the Patriots win 59-53
In my tournament, the top two seeds left after the first round, Rutland and Central, get a bye to the semis,
So second round games (because I like the matchups) have Northeast and Stratford playing in one game, and Windsor against Southwest in the other. I would love to see these games.
PLAY IN GAME
Mount De Sales vs Covenant- The Cavaliers come out and play hard under head coach Jim Massey, and jump out to a 22-14 lead at the half behind Darius Wonnum. But Covenant is well coached and they just wont go away. They trail only 30-28 going into the final quarter, and Wonnum fould out early in the final quarter. Kayden and Jordan Layne, the best brother combo in Macon lead the way as the Rams upset MDS 41-38
#1 Rutland vs #12 Covenant. I know for a fact that Matt Chambless would not back away from this game or this tournament. He has faith that his team can play with the Macon public schools. But this is Rutland, who has a chip on their shoulder from a heartbreaking loss that ended the season. Rutlands full court pressure turns this into a laugher. Ty'lik Evans goes for 22 points, 10 assists, and 10steals as the Canes roll 84-45.
#2 Central vs #11 CFCA- I have no clue how the Lancers lost to someone nobody has heard of, They have two talented seniors in Olivas and Hicks ad that should have been enough. Central has a habit of sleep walking at times and they seem unmotivated for this game, and actually trail 13-9 after a quarter. But Derrick Evans wakes up and takes over, scoring 11 points in the second quarter alone and shutting down the penetration od Hicks. Chargers win 74-55.
#3 Westside vs #10 Windsor - Windsor is pretty good and have a player in Antonio McKinney that probably should have been in my top 10 for most of the year. Westside is so much bigger but cant pull away from the Knights. IN the first upset o the tournament, Windsor, behind McKinney and his 24 points, upsets Westside 66-58.
#4 Stratford vs #9 FPD - Stratford has already handled FPD this year, but they are coming off a big loss in the state tournament. FPD coach Michael Walton manages to keep it close, but the Eagles hold on for a 43-41 win. Cephus has only 11 points.
#5 Northeast vs #8 Tattnall - Northeast is another team very capable of laying an egg on some nights, but Tattnall cant score. This one turns into a blowout in the second half as Kinder goes for 34 in a 67-41 win for the Raiders
#6 Southwest vs #7 Howard - Southwest has Justin Slocum, who is one of the best players in Macon, and Howard does not. IN the last game of the first night, Slocum scores 23 as the Patriots win 59-53
In my tournament, the top two seeds left after the first round, Rutland and Central, get a bye to the semis,
So second round games (because I like the matchups) have Northeast and Stratford playing in one game, and Windsor against Southwest in the other. I would love to see these games.
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