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Pacific SportsBlogOkinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East. |
Athletes of Quarter: All about what doesn't show up on a stat sheet
Posted March 15th, 2008 by Dave OrnauerHail to the winter season Athletes of the Quarter, wrestler Craig Bell of Matthew C. Perry and basketball point guard Monica Hayes of Kadena.
Not so much for what the stat sheet showed, Bell with his 37-0 record and first gold medal in Perry's history, or Hayes for her 10.3 points and 7.5 rebounds and Kadena's third Class AA Tournament title in six years.
For Hayes, it was about leadership, positioning everybody where they needed to be and showing by example what it takes to win, her coach Ken Hudson said.
For Bell, it was the struggle to adjust from collegiate folkstyle to interntational freestyle while undergoing a most unusual training regimen. The team for which he wrestled, E.J. King, was four hours southwest of Iwakuni. To stay in shape, Bell worked out with a Marine and at a Japanese dojo where English was not spoken.
A tip of the hat to them! And to all the award winners as well.
Congrats...
...To former Edgren Eagle Monica Hayes for being recognized for her athletic excellence... During the 2004-2005 season, fellow basketball players and fans at the Eagle's Nest knew that the freshman phenom had a bright future ahead of her... And what better way to end your high school basketball career as a S&S Athlete of the Quarter?
Re: Congrats...
Jeff: I wish I had a nickel for every time Coach Sarah told me that she still had a spot for Monica on her team any time she wanted to come back to Misawa. Surely, the Divine Ms. Monica demonstrated many times why over the course of her stellar career. Now, she backstops the PANTHERS girls softball team as they go for island championship No. 6 this spring. :)