Morgan Newton verbally commits to University of Kentucky
August 21, 2008
By Lily Zhao
<lzhao@hilite.org>
Quarterback and senior Morgan Newton decided to verbally commit to the University of Kentucky on Aug. 21 where he will start his collegiate athletic career. Newton will not be enrolling early like most college athletes, but instead will start classes and practice in Lexington starting the fall of ‘09. Newton is not planning on redshirting his freshman season and hopes to establish his passing and running abilities in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as soon as he is able.
Following star quarterback Andre Woodsen’s departure for the NFL, Newton said that he will be waiting patiently for his turn to lead the Wildcats on the field. He said that playing in Wildcat Coach Rich Brooks’ styled offense really suited his abilities, thus finalizing his decision. And while there might be competition at the quarterback position, Newton said that he would be ready.
“My goal is to compete for a national championship; that’s my number one goal,” Newton said. “Hopefully I can help move the team and put them in a position to get to the national title game.”
Age not factor in cross-country
August 13, 2008
By Amanda Nguyen
<anguyen@hilite.org>
She was on the running course, at the age of only 11, already training for the cross-country team here and her chance to shine.
Renee Wellman, runner on the varsity women’s cross-country team and freshman, started training for cross-country the summer before her sixth grade year. In seventh and eighth grade, she was the Hamilton County middle school champion as well as the record-setter at Clay Middle School for running a 3K in 10:20. Mark Ellington, the Clay Middle School cross-country coach, organized a Junior Olympics team and won the Regional competition. Wellman said she placed seventh when the Junior Olympics team traveled to Kansas in December for the National competition.
“Experience is important because you need to learn how to pace yourself and respond to competition and how the other girls are running,” Wellman said.
More and more people like Wellman are training for athletics at a younger age. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “There appear to be increasing numbers of children who specialize in a sport at an early age, train year-round for a sport, and/or compete on an ‘elite’ level.” Because athletes start training earlier, they are more experienced by the time they get to high school. This was the case for Wellman and Kristen Schulz, varsity cross-country runner and senior.
Schulz started running in eighth grade and said, “I think experience helps you feel more comfortable because you know more about running.”
The competition level in high school has become more vigorous due to the increasing number of athletes who have had years of training. To do so well in competitions at such a young age, Wellman said she had to practice long, hard hours.
“Practice is important because otherwise your body won’t be able to perform well during the race,” Wellman said. She said she trained hard over the summer to prepare for this season. “I learned to run at a harder pace for a longer distance.” In addition to practicing, she has a ritual to prepare for each meet. Wellman said, “I drink water and eat a couple hours before the race. I also try very hard to think positively.”
At this school, according to Schulz, upperclassmen don’t discourage underclassmen if the younger athletes beat them out; they welcome their new teammates with open arms. Schulz said, “A talented freshman can affect others by encouraging people to do better in their own performances on the team. It builds the team as a whole to become more talented.”
Head Coach Chuck Koeppen said that talented freshmen are a great addition to the team. Koeppen said, “[Talented freshmen] will make the returning varsity girls work even harder.”
A little friendly competition every once in a while doesn’t hurt, and Schulz even said the added competition brings out the best in Carmel’s runners. She said, “A talented freshman can affect the whole team because it pushes everyone else on the team to do better too. One person, in any grade, can make a big difference when it comes to scoring a cross-country meet. Every little bit counts.”
Unfortunately, training longer and harder often causes injuries and mental or physical burn-out. Wellman said, “I haven’t witnessed any burn-out, but there are many athletes who have had their seasons cut short by injury. I try to listen to my coaches and do the stretching and mileage that they recommend so I don’t get injured.”
Being a four-year veteran on the cross-country team, Schulz witnessed multiple injuries and burn-outs. She said, “Mental burn-out usually happens towards the end of the season. There are more physical burn-outs either because people over-trained or because people didn’t train enough. People get injured because they don’t have good base because they didn’t have enough training. Most injuries in cross-country are tendonitis, hip problems or stress fractures from over-working. Some people cross-train to prevent injuries.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “The ever-increasing requirements for success creates a constant pressure for athletes to train longer, harder, more intelligently, and, in some cases, at an earlier age.” But this isn’t necessarily true for Wellman.
Wellman said she strives to be successful, but she does not feel pressured by the older girls. She said, “They encourage me and the other freshmen because they want the team to do well at meets. Cross-country is a team sport.”
Schulz said, “Cross-country is an amazing team sport that makes running fun and exciting because of all the great people. Varsity may have faster times, but everyone on the team pushes each other to do their best. It’s a team sport and everyone is supportive of each other.”
Faces of sports: quarterback Morgan Newton
August 13, 2008
By Lily Zhao
<lzhao@hilite.org>
Lily Zhao: How long have you played football?
Morgan Newton: I’ve played organized football since third grade.
LZ: How did you get involved in football?
MN: My dad (Joh
LZ: Why do you like playing football so much?
MN: I really like the friendships that you build. There’s also some great competition between all the different high schools because (Carmel) won the state title last year, so the competition’s really heavy. The ambiance of Friday nights at the football games is always cool as well.
LZ: Are you thinking about pursuing a professional career in football?
MN: I don’t know, but maybe if the opportunity presented itself, then I’d pursue (a career).
LZ: Are you looking at colleges?
MN: I really don’t have a particular college that I’m zoning in on. I’m just looking at all the colleges in the Big 10, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
LZ: What was it like winning the State championship last year?
MN: It was a lot of fun. It was nice (to win) because that’s what we were all working toward. This title symbolizes all the hard work that we put into the season. Winning is fun, so I think that everyone had a good time because the whole city (of Carmel) enjoyed it and our team enjoyed it too.
LZ: Is it difficult being a student-athlete at Carmel?
MN: Yes, I think being a student-athlete is a little underrated. Because being at Carmel, the work is tough. We play in one of the most competitive states football-wise and we play one of the toughest schedules. Balancing everything is tough.
LZ: Which styles of offense would you like to play in during college?
MN: Versatility is the key. I could play in a lot of different systems, or in some systems that are like pro-style offenses.
LZ: Which collegiate athlete would you compare yourself most to?
MN: (University of Florida quarterback Tim) Tebow because of his running style. I like to play physically like him. For throwing, I could play in a more pro-style offense. People compare me to Vince Young so that’s always nice.
LZ: What’s your favorite song to listen to during workouts?
MN: I just like to listen to the songs that everyone else listens to. I like Lil’ Wayne; he’s my favorite, but I like the albums “The Cool” by Lupe Fiasco and “Tha Carter III” by Lil’ Wayne.
LZ: Any advice to a student who wants to become just like you or to be a varsity football player?
MN: I would just say to work hard. Play as many sports that you can play because you never know where your niche will be.
Hounds work for repeat
August 13, 2008
Football team trains year-round to attempt to defend State title
By Min Qiao
<mqiao@hilite.org>
The sound of metal clinked throughout the room as Alicia Key’s “No One” blasted over the radio. The metallic smell of sweat lingered everywhere. Quarterback and senior Morgan Newton reluctantly began his second repetition of squats. Read more
Softball complex proceeds in face of local opposition
May 22, 2008
By: Grace Baranowski <gbaranowski@hilite.org>
Almost a month ago, on April 28, the Carmel Clay School Board approved the plan to improve the softball fields at Cherry Tree Elementary School. Now, said superintendent of schools Barbara Underwood, “We’re proceeding. We’re in the process of getting permits from the city, reviewing architect plans and putting it out to bid.” Read more
Men’s lacrosse team heads into Semistate
May 22, 2008
By: Andrew Browning <abrowning@hilite.org>
Tomorrow the Carmel men’s lacrosse team takes on Saint Joseph’s in the Semistate championship game at IUPUI at 8 p.m. Should the Hounds win, they would face the winner of Culver and Cathedral in the State Final on Saturday at IUPUI at 8 p.m.
Michael Petersen, varsity captain, midfielder and senior, said that although Carmel lacrosse has produced consistently strong teams in the past, no group has ever won a State championship. For this team to do it, he said, would cap an impressive season.
“I think it would be amazing (to win a State championship),” Petersen said. “We’ve been very close in years past. The history of Carmel lacrosse is amazing, and I think to be able to win a State championship would be a great finish (for the seniors).”
At this point in the playoffs, Petersen said that teams are so equally matched that games can be won and lost based on which team has a better handle on the ball.
“Being able to clear the ball (is a deciding factor). That and ground balls will be key,” Petersen said. “Most likely whoever gets the most ground balls and gets the ball down to the attack will win the game.”
Petersen said that one problem the team has had this year is playing poorly during the beginning of games. “We need to play well early,” he said. “Every game we’ve lost and all our close games we’ve let them get up on us, and then we’re playing catch-up. We need to just come out early and hit the ground running.”
Assistant Coach David Schwartz said that mental preparation is also going to be crucial for the team during the remainder of State.
“(The deciding factor in playoff games) is a combination of execution and desire and focus. Whichever team executes, stays focused and plays with desire is going to win,” Schwartz said. “We’ve played all these teams before and we’ve won some and lost some, but I think if we get focused and execute then we can beat any one of them.”
Schwartz said that this season has proven to him that all the Hounds have the ability to stay focused and perform on the field, regardless of age or grade level.
“I think they’ve really showed (everyone can play at a high level) the last several games,” Schwartz said. “After spring break we had to reorganize and refocus a little bit, and against Brebeuf they really convinced us, even beyond what the score shows, that we have freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors who can all step up and really contribute.”
Petersen also said that a strong performance from every player is more important than the actions of a few senior captains.
“Not just seniors (need to be leaders), but everyone on the team needs to step up and be an example for everyone else,” Petersen said. “This year we’ve stressed that it’s not just the seniors who need to play their hearts out.”
Petersen said if the Hounds can work out some minor kinks then they have a strong chance to bring home the championship.
“This is a great group of guys, and we’re more deep than we’ve ever been,” Petersen said. “We’ve just got to bring some things together (during the playoffs) and I think we’ve got a good shot.”
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