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Thursday, December 17, 2009
Where have three-sport standouts gone?
For every Dusty Isaacs or Braxton Miller who are coveted Division I college recruits, there are a hundred more chasing the dream. The chance at earning a college scholarship has led some athletes to specialize in one sport. That’s a mistake, according a few Miami Valley coaches.
“Every kid I’ve ever sent to college to play football has been a two-sport kid,” Northmont high school football coach Lance Schneider said. “We preach that to our kids and I think it’s very important they play more than one sport.”
Schneider said there are two questions college recruiters are guaranteed to ask at every visit: How are the grades and what other sports do they play?
“You should never make a kid choose one sport over the other at this level. Like I tell our kids, until someone is paying you to do that sport with a scholarship they have no right to tell you what sport to play,” Schneider said. “To be honest, if you go back 10 or 15 years ago it was worse then than it is now. I think when AAU started getting big people got intoxicated by the fact if my kid specializes in a sport he’s going to get a scholarship. I think people have realized that’s not the case anymore.”
Lebanon baseball coach Lee Day agrees. If a player is good enough to play a D-I sport in college, why not spread the talent around and enjoy other sports and possibly avoid burnout?
“When I was the football coach here in the ’80s I told our linemen you need to go out for wrestling. That will do you more good than just lifting three days a week,” Day said. “I tell our (baseball) kids that are not involved in a fall sport, I tell them I don’t care if they play fall baseball at all. They need some down time. Their arm needs some rest. Take August, September and October off. There needs to be some down time but for whatever reason kids feel pushed.”
“The sad part about that is parents don’t understand there is more academic money out there than there is athletic money,” Day added. Every private school out there offers right off the top, if they have a certain GPA, several thousand dollars off their tuition.”
Here’s what a few others said about the disappearance of three-sport standouts and specialization:
Wayne athletic director Jay Minton: “You want to see them compete and you want to see them enjoy high school. Gosh, there’s so much demand on these kids nowadays they need some release. To me sports is a release.”
Lebanon boys basketball coach Pat Murphy: “The reality is those coaches are going to find you if you’re a player. The numbers are not in your favor of getting a scholarship.”
Lebanon three-sport standout Isaacs: “You only live high school once. You only get a chance to play high school varsity basketball once. After football I realized I’m really going to miss the Friday nights. I figured if I can help out the team and contribute I might as well play.”
Wayne boys basketball coach Travis Trice: “Right now with the economy the way it is and with recruiting where kids are getting offered in the ninth grade, it tends to lean to specializing and trying to get that scholarship. Recruiting is much more of a fast-paced thing than it was 15 years ago and it kind of forces kids to specialize. I don’t think its in the best interest for those kids.”
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Fairmont, Creek ready for Round 1
Five games into the girls basketball season and Fairmont and Beavercreek are already facing a must-win game.
The Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division co-leaders collide at 1 p.m. Saturday at Beavercreek.
Fairmont (5-0) and Beavercreek (4-0) tied for the Central title last season with 9-1 records after splitting the season series. Fairmont won 34-33 on its home court and Beavercreek followed with a 35-32 win at home. Fairmont, though, knocked Beavercreek out of the postseason with a 47-22 rout that the Beavers haven’t likely forgotten.
“This game is very important. In order to win the league there is minimal room for error,” Fairmont coach Tim Cogan said, adding the key for the Firebirds is to control the tempo.
Senior Cassie Sant leads Fairmont with 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Also keep an eye on freshman Chelsea Welch, who averages 11 points and 6.2 rebounds.
For Beavercreek, juniors Sammy Haddix (12.7 points) and Chelsea Bradley (9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds) are key while senior Erin Walsh chips in 11 points.
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