HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-06-18, Page 14This Week in Sports...
• Webster records shutout for Exeter Women's Soccer team - page 15
• Hardy birds score impressive victory - page 17
Community poaches, Jim
Workman, above and Kenn
Hines right were recognized
at a town council meeting
on Monday for their out-
standing contribution to
coaching young people in.
our community. The Times -
Advocate received seven
nominations for this pro-
gram. -
The following people were
also nominated:
•Albert Van Dyken -baseball
•Ron Dann - Bowling
•Dave Geoffrey - hockey
•Dave Dalrymple - hockey
•Pete Rutten - girls hockey
J
In December the Times -Advocate joined the Community Coach Recognition Program which operates un-
der the guidance of the Coaching Association of Canada. It's mandate is to develop, support and promote
coaching throughout the country. . -
Supported by 3M as the primary sponsor, the program's objective is to reward coaches who go beyond the
call of duty and exemplify excellence in their coaching performance and philosophies. This program has
been successfully implemented in more than 150 communities across the country.
The Times -Advocate received seven nominations. Although the program was open to both genders the T -A
did not receive one nomination for a female coach so two male nominees were chosen for the award. A win-
ner and a runner-up. They are Jim workman and Kenn Hines.
We would like to thank James Reaney Sports Editor: and Herb Shoveller, Applause news team leader from
the London Free Press for their'help in judging our nominations •
We were informed that all the nominations were of a high order and were reflective of the excellent coach-
es -that are involved in the grass roots sports programs in our community.
Jim Workman
Age: 52
Occupation: Teacher at South Huron District High School
Coaching role: Has been coaching girls field hockey for 22 years and has led the Panthers to four OFSAA
championships in 1990, 92, 93 and 94. The South Huron field hockey team has mad the provincial playoffs
for the last seven years. Also coached highschool soccer leading the junior boys team to a Huron -Perth title
in 1985 and dedicated three years coaching for the Exeter Minor -Soccer Association.
His reaction: "I'm very pleased and honored to have been nominated."
His nomination form:'Mr. Jim Workman has proven to many throughout Ontario that the small town of
Exeter has more to offer than just some white squirrels. He has shown through his incredible generosity of
time and caring that there are girls here that not only have the skills to play field hockey but have the at-
titudes to succeed on and off the field.
He took a chance when starting up the field hockey program at South Huron. As we all know, field hockey
is not one of the sports more commonly known. He dedicated so. much of his personal time in order to make
this an experience that many girls could take pan and enjoy doing.
Jim doesn't ask his players for OFSAA gold medals, he asks them for perseverance, courage, de-
termination, positive mind set, and one'hundred.per cent effort. As -once said, "It's easy -to be a good winner,
the challenge is in being a good loser."
Not only has he inspired many to go on past the'high school level of field hockey; but he has inspired many
of us to take part in other things in and around our communities. He has given us lessons that can't be
learned at home or in class, and in doing so has easily won the affection of the team.
Coaching philosophy: "I like to promote my sport and to see the athletes do the best they can do to
achieve their highest possible level."
His reward: "I like•to see the players I coach start with nothing and end up doing very well in the sport." ,
Kenn llinL ( unner-Up)
Agui 01i `t }
Occupat on ptroller
Coaching Ro h'`Has been coaching fastball for five years. Currently coaches midget girls fastball - the Ex-
eter Nationals in the Provincial Women's Softball Association. An ex-fastball player and former O.A.S.A.
1991 Chantpion with the Exeter Royals, Hines led the midget girls fastball team to the semi-finals in the
Western. Ontario Athletic Association last year. This season the team is undefeated with seven wins and two
ties. 1 . •
His reaction: "Pm very surprised. I wasn't expecting this at all, but it really is a -nice gesture."
His nomination form: "Ken is an excellent baseball coach, friend and mentor. You will rarely run across
a young man who gives up his free time to coach a girls fastball team. Do not be too quick to judge him be-
cause of his age, I (letter writer) have learned more from him than 1 have from previous coaches twice his
age. Kenn, has never, and will never raise his voice to anofficial. He's a quiet respectable, decent coach.
Kenn understands the sport and he teaches others about it as -well. He is highly respected by our team, op-
ponents, and our spectators. Kenn has brought this' team of girls where they are in their baseball career. He.
made the Exeter Fastball Club a reality. This our way of thanking him."
Coaching philosophy: "I like to play to_win, _but I don't like to take the fun out of the game. I always -try
to put something back into the sport."
His reward: "I love the game. It's nice to stay competitive." -
4.11:
T -A sports reporter, leaving but not gone
1 thought 1 .would say goodbye,
but / think 'see you around' would
be more appropriate.
I have recently accepted a Nisi-.
tion at AIS Coinmunications and as
of June 27 1 will no longer be em-
ployed by the Times -Advocate.
Located at the north end of Exet-
er, AIS • Communications publishes
high quality magazines ` for ag-
riculture and construction trades.
Like 1 said, goodbyes are un-
warranted since 1'!! still be working
and living in the community. But,
would like to take this opportunity
to thank the many coaches, contacts
and correspondents who. have as-
sisted me or contributed to the
sports pages of the Times -Advocate
in some way: Your help was greatly
appreciated.
We have a rich and diverse sports
community in and around the E.ret-
er area and 1 hope that is reflected
in. the sports pages for maiy years
to come.
M' replacement, Craig Bradford.
is keen on covering focal sports and
I will have the opportunity to work
with hint for a week before he as-
sumes the helot.
I've enjoyed working for the
Times -Advocate and / know he will
too.
My two years of emplovntent have
been a story in themselves. I've stet
.a lot of interesting people and have
found myself in many extraordinary
situations. I thought I'd leave you
with 10 of them. •
See'ya around. •
Chris' lop 10 memorable events
while working at the T -A:
10) Not long ago, i had .the op-
portunity to join the Exctcr Fire De-
partment in a searchand rescue cx-•
crcisc and I wrote a story. in the
first person, describing the ex-
perience. 1 put on a breathing ap-
paratus and entered a smoke-filled
building, in full gear, looking for
victims (dummies). The hands-on
lesson gave me a greater apprecia-
tion for the volunteer firefighters
and the training thcy undergo to
• serve their community. i hoped
those who read it also shared my
appreciation. Keep. supporting your
local firefighters.
9) i enjoyed reporting on ,the on-
going developments at Motorplcx
in Grand Bend since it came under
new ownership. The now iHRA
"sanctioned track has been adding to
it's facility every year and it has at-
tracted some big show items fea-
turing legendary wheelstandcrs.
funny cars and monster meets to
mention a fcw. A number of local
drivers from Exeter have been suc-
cessful in the Thunder Series brack-
et races and i'vc also enjoyed fol-
lowing their progress,
8) Last year i lost a well pub-
licized bet with the sports reporter
from the Listowel Banner when the
Exeter Juvenile team went up
against the • Listowel Cyclones in
the provincial playoffs. The loser
had to wear the other team's jersey
Editor's note:
Getting the last word on Skalkos is almost impossible but this
time 1 think we'll succeed. •
Chris' brief time at the T -A was just what our newspaper needed.
He turned sports reporting into what it should be....fun, and along
the way developed many friends and contacts all across our cover-
. age area.
When we hired him he was a sera. Ay university graduate who
for a week. As fate would have it,
Exeter lost and 'I had to wear a
bright red Cyclones 'jersey that
smelled like it had just come out of
a steamy -dressing •room. Appar-
ently my colleague .in Listowel
thought. this was hilarious con-
sidering thc het was my idea. How-
ever, I was redeemed last season
when the Exeter Chiefs went the
distance winning .an Atl-Ontario
championship"at home.
7) 1 . attended The Grand Bend
Fishing Derby Media Day event
for three years now and although
we've been skunked every year,
learning 'about big game fishing
was fun. -
6) Taking a ride on an off -shore
powerboat during the Lakc Huron
Poker rally in Grand Bend is some.'
thing only a fcw people get to do.
Travelling 80 m.p.h. on water was
a thrill. The annual event is a pop-
ular crowd pleascr since thc boats
dock in the Grand Bend marina for
viewing before starting the run.
5) Although not my most plea-
surable experience, I'll never forget
the puck i took off the top of my
head while covering a Hawks game
in Exctcr. 1 learned afterwards I
had Nathan Burns, rumored to be
the most accurate shot in the Junior
Development League, to thank for
my eight new stitches. The Hawks
gave ine a hockey helmet labelled
Press at the end of the season dur-
ing their awards banquet shortly af-
terwinning the 1995-96 Junior "D"
All Ontario Championship.
4) Chasing ` All -Ontario. cham-
pionship teams during the tradi-
tional ride around town on the fire
truck seemed to be routine as Exet-
er, Lucan and Stephen Township
enjoyed success in minor sports.
I've never personally felt what it
was like to win a provincial -ti-
tic....in a way, I do now. .
3) Having my dog declared an
honorary ' T -A "newshound" is
something few people can boast
about. Barney the Skateboarding -
Dog made many friends at the T -A
and 1 think his presence will be
missed. Exeter was highlighted
briefly when journalist Terry Cul-
bert from Global Television inter-
viewed us and aired.a three-minute
segment of Barney skateboarding
in front of the primary students of
Exctcr Public School during a sum-
mer safety lecture. The London
Free Press also surprised me one
weekend when, to my honest sur-
prise, I discovered three pictures of
Barney skateboarding in full color
on the first page of its Saturday
edition. The photojournalist told
me he didn't get a good enough
shot and.it probably wouldn't make
the paper. i think i may have used
that line myself once or twice. Bar-
ney and his skateboarding routine
put a smile on many faces, young
and old, and he's still going strong.
2) My impromptu skydive has to
be the craziest thing i've ever tried
during my time at the T -A. i was
covering the Canadian National
Skydiving Championships. hosted
began his job at one of our busiest times, right at the end of hockey'
playoffs. He handled all the pressure and rapidly became part off
the contmtntity (although[ more than a few people have said they
prefer Chris' friend Barney).
Now that Chris is leaving (the real reason i.s that he has hit the
wall in scrounging food from his female co-workers) we can come
out and say we'll miss him without worrying about giving him a big
head.
by SWOOP, outside of Grand
Bend, when I casually asked or-
ganizers what it was like to free
fall. Within 30 minutes 1 found my-
self in a Twin Otter airplane
strapped to a tandem master, (the
person who pulls the rip cord) ready
to jump out of a perfectly func-
tioning airplane at 13,000. I still
find it difficult to describe the ex- •
perience of free falling more than
100 m.p.h. covering a distance of
approximately 174 feet per second,
straight down, for one minute.
1) My number one most mem
orable experience, without a doubt
has to be working with the staff at
the T -A. Thanks Jim, Don, Deb
Ross, Heather, Brenda, Kate, Sue.
Alma, Laurel, Ruthanne, Ruth.
Elaine, Anita; Cassie, Barb R., Barb
.C., Chadsky, Mary, Joyce, Brenda,
David, Al F., Al H., Michele and
Carol for making the T -A a fun
place to work.
Who's who? Does this photo really need a caption?
In the newspaper business compliments usually get overshadowed '
by complaints. In Chris' case, just the reverse happened where 1
would get phone calls raving about our friendly young man with the..
great personality....and many callers didn't even have Greek ac-
cents.
Chris, all of us at the T -A wish you well in your new career.
We've enjoyed the time you spent with us.
Jim Beckett