Youth Sports: October 2008 Archives

Thomas Page is the manager of the U12 Bolingbrook Bandits youth baseball team. He is attempting to lose 50 pounds before Jan. 22, 2009. This is the seventh week of his weekly journal for The Brook Blog.

Everything is going very well so far. Good thing too, holidays are approaching quickly. That's is a difficult time for anyone on a diet.

I have noticed since doing my work outs, my endurance has increased a whole lot over the past few weeks. I find that I am able to do more for longer periods of time! This is very exciting because I love to work out. It's very hard but the feeling you get when you are done is a euphoria that is very hard to describe. I am getting more and more fit every time I see Angel.

She didn't stop.

After training for months for the Chicago Marathon, Barbara Nance didn't pull out of the race because of the tendonitis which had been hampering her left hamstring for the month leading up to the race. She couldn't run. So she walked.

Nance kept going even when race officials began taking down the barricades, opening up the streets, disassembling the water stations and telling her to walk on the sidewalk. Nance wasn't finished. So she got on the sidewalk and kept going for the final 14 miles.

"You're in the middle of all this," said Nance, who has lived in Bolingbrook for 10 years, "and nobody's respecting that you're trying to finish. It was really a challenge."

This was a race she wanted to complete a year earlier when the extreme heat caused race officials to turn around her group after 16 miles. Now in her second attempt to finish a marathon, the course itself was falling apart around her.

The 48-year-old knew she could keep going because of the support her running group provided. The Elijah Running Club, based out of her Forest Park church, was there to provide water for her thirst and support for her spirit. She saw her friends in the neon green shirts and knew she could keep going.

"If they had not been out there, I wouldn't have been able to make it," Nance said. "So my focus was getting to the next green shirt to make it through."

The Elijah Running Club trains people who have never run before to finish marathons. That was the case for Nance, who said the only running she ever did "was after my children."

So when fellow members of the Living Word Christian Center told her about the running club, she joined up. Improving her health was her main inspiration. Nance said she was taking medication for high blood pressure, suffered from daily headaches and was constantly tired and in pain.

The aches and pains didn't go away immediately, but Nance stuck with the club. She ran every Saturday with the club and twice a week on her own. Nance credits her faith with giving her the fortitude to push herself.

"The scripture says I can do all things through Christ," said Nance, who is a native of Gary, Ind. "So that's what I quoted every time I would go out and run and I would feel sick or tired or whatever it was. I said, 'Well if Christ is in me, then I can do all things.' One step in front of the other."

Thomas Page is the manager of the 12U Bolingbrook Bandits. He is trying to lose 50 pounds before Jan. 22, 2009 to improve his health and raise money for his travel baseball team. This is the sixth week of his journal for The Brook Blog.

Well, it has been difficult coming up with things to write about, but this one not so much, I'm naming this one mind over matter.

Have you ever noticed how many fast food restaurants we have around? Have you ever noticed how HARD it is to eat out healthy? We went out to dinner the other day and for a "healthy" choice, dinner was somewhere under 650 calories but they could not "promise" that. I have been trying to target my craving time (between 2 and 5) with something sweet like a piece of fruit or something of that nature but wow, it is so hard not to just pull in to grab a bite to eat.

I think that is one of the most difficult aspects of dieting is cutting the fast food. With the holidays fast approaching, well, it will be a challenge to say the least.

Larry Randa reports that the Humphrey Middle School boys soccer team is the Valley View School District tournament champion for the second consecutive year.

Eighth grader Omar Calleros was named tournament MVP.

Team members are Jason Glassco, Luis Marquez, Brian Najera, Brian Dominguez, Gerardo Lira, Christopher Fragosa, Jimmy Mendoza, Jovani Enriquez, Jordan Marquez, Steven Darko, Brandan Hernandez, Eduardo Gonzales, Freddy Ponce, Gamaliel Torres, Jesse Delabra, Steven Ramirez, Eric Sarpong, Ivan Perez, Adan Gonzalez, Alexis Garcia and Devon Hamilton. The coaches are Nicole Olson and Mike Stoehrmann.

Larry Randa reports that the Humphrey MIddle School 7th grade girls basketball team won the 7th grade girls championship at the Lady Mustang Shootout at Bolingbrook High School over the weekend.

The Warriors beat Channahon, Washington Junior High School and Lincoln of Edwardsville, Ill. Coach Justin Ipema's team is now 10-0 on the season. Team members are: Courtney Hankey, Amie Kahovec, Xiarve Rolle, Kiahna Davis, Ashanti Henry, Sharett Fisher, Admira Roman, Beverly Rogers, Jessie Simmons, Ashleigh Milan and Janae Dunn.

Thomas Page coaches the 12U Bolingbrook Bandits travel baseball team. He is trying to lose 50 pounds before Jan. 22, 2009 to both improve his health and raise money for his team. This is his weekly journal for The Brook Blog.

Hi Everyone--thanks again for taking the time to read the blog for Thomas Page. Well, we have stayed the same this week. I have currently lost 15 pounds but can't seem to budge past this.

I am trying to work out extra with my personal trainer. He hopefully will be able to get me over this small hurdle.

My main focus this week was our team. We are trying to complete the roster for the team and have 4 spots still available. We are also starting to work on our fundraisers, which is always a challenge for any team. It does add a small amount of stress to one and this could be another reason for my lack of losing this week.

I must say one thing though, I may not be losing weight, but I am definitely losing inches. I have lost at least six inches from my waist. I cannot tell you how nice it is to be able to move that belt notch back farther and farther.

The boys cross country team at Jane Addams Middle School finished as the sectional runnerup on Oct. 11, qualifying the Mustangs for the IESA Class AA state finals for the first time in school and school district history.

On the girls side, Sydney Banks qualified for state as an individual, placing 11th at the sectional.

The state meet will be held on Oct. 18 Maxwell Park in Normal. Here is a report from Jane Addams coach Adam Thas.

After watching the Jane Addams girls make District history last season by becoming Valley View's first Cross Country team to qualify for the State meet, the boys were on a mission to equal this feat. After a tough season, and a tougher Sectional, Jane Addams did it again by qualifying its first boys' Cross Country team for the State Meet. The IESA's Sectional Cross County meet was held Saturday October 11th at Central Park in Bolingbrook where the Mustangs were one of 12 teams competing for an illustrious top 3 finish, guaranteeing them a spot in next weekend's State meet.

Thomas Page is the manager of the 12U Bolingbrook Bandits travel baseball team. He is raising money for the Bandits through losing weight. Page is trying to lose 50 pounds before Jan. 22, 2009. This is the fourth post of his weekly journal for The Brook Blog.

Well it's been 4 weeks since I started my little project here. Nearly 15 pounds down, 35 to go by January 22nd.

I must say that this is one of the most difficult things I have done in quite some time. I find it very hard because it seems like everywhere you go or anything you do revolves around food. It's hard to say "no thanks" but I am always happy to share my story why it's a "no thanks" instead of "thanks"!.

More and more people are approaching me asking me how I am doing or how's it going. The best part is that I can already tell I have lost weight by my belt.

The Bolingbrook Soccer Club had three teams play in championship games Oct. 3 through Oct. 5 in Champaign at the LISC Orange & Blue Fall Cup. The U11 girls purple team won its championship match, and the U14 and U17 entries placed second.

Here is a report from Russ Jones of the Bolingbrook Soccer Club.

The U-11 girls purple took 1st place in the U-11 Girls Blue Flight. This team won their first 2 games by a combined 17-0 score to place them into the semi-finals in which they beat FC Peoria 98 3-1 to move on to the championship game.

The championship game was tied 2-2 after regulation and the game then went on to play two 5 minute overtime periods. The Bolingbrook girls scored the winning goal with about 2 minutes left in the second overtime period, bringing the championship trophy home.

The best season in Brooks Middle School baseball history came to an end on Friday afternoon as the Bulldogs lost to Normal Parkside 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the IESA baseball state championships in East Peoria.

In its fifth season, Brooks (15-5) had not previously advanced out of the regional before this year.

Brad Elmore hit a two-run home run for the Bulldogs.

Thomas Page is the manager of the 12U Bolingbrook Bandits travel baseball team. He is raising money for the Bandits through losing weight. Page is trying to lose 50 pounds before Jan. 22, 2009. This is the third post of his weekly journal for The Brook Blog.

Welcome to the blog for Tomas Page. This is now week 3 and we are 10 pounds down and counting. We have had a very exciting development in the recent future. I have found a personal trainer who is helping me to achieve my goal quicker.

His name is Angel Santiago. He is a gentleman who I found completely by accident.

His resume is extensive including not only physical training and owning his own facility, but he was also a drill instructor from the Airborne Rangers and is also qualified in physical therapy. He has recently opened a new location, Body Impact on Harlem Avenue in Oak Park which I have been going to three times per week.

The Brooks Middle School sixth grade girls basketball team won both its games on Tuesday night vs. Lukancic. Not sure what the scores were.

Here is the report from Alan Holtz.

Brooks Middle School's Girls 6th Grade Basketball Teams were both successful last night against Lukancic Middle School of Romeoville. During the first game Tammia Wonsey and Shelby Fox were outstanding on defense. Jessica Young hit a lay up as time expired at halftime to give the Bulldogs a 12 to 7 lead at half time. Shelby Fox had a great defensive game grabbing 8 rebounds and scoring a lay up in the late 4th quarter to take a 3 point lead into the last 2 min. Daja Hurks played a great all around game setting up shots for all her teammates.

During the second game, the Lady Bulldogs got off to an early start against the Flames working together on offense and defense. Ashley Wheaton led the team with 10 points, Angel Estrada added 6 points, Natalya Kabirova and Gabby Young each knocked in 4, and Kennedy Ware nibbled away with 2 more points. Imogene Martinez dominated the boards with 10 rebounds. The lady bulldogs still have five games remaining in their season, one being with their cross-town archrival Humphrey!
During this second game Ashley Wheaton and Natalya Kabirova led the team in scoring and Emma Martinez led the team in rebounding.