Dawncain7's blog

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHDHiHpMu9MR9fcYr-zadcdOKroRg&url=http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-pagenaud-joins-muscle-milk-for-sebring/

Feb 7, 2012 9:21:35 PM

02/06/2012

ALMS: Pagenaud Joins Muscle Milk For Sebring - SPEEDtv.com

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing has completed its driver lineups for the season opening race with the signing of former American Le Mans Series Champion Simon Pagenaud to the team's LMP1 car and Roger Wills to its LMPC entry.

Pagenaud, who was one of the team's biggest rivals, will now be joining Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr aboard the HPD ARX-03a LMP1 prototype for the 60th anniversary race of the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The Frenchman won the 2010 ALMS Championship with Highcroft Racing ahead of the Muscle Milk team, scoring four wins in an HPD ARX-01c. His last ALMS start came at the 12 Hours of Sebring last season, where he finished second.

Before joining Highcroft Racing in 2010, Pagenaud spent a couple of seasons with de Ferran Motorsports with whom he started his career in the sports car series. Since his debut in 2008, he has made 28 starts, finished on the podium 21 times and scored nine wins, all aboard a Honda Performance Development prototype.

Additionally, the driver who will be competing full time in INDYCAR this season finished second in the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot and is the 2006 Formula Atlantic Champion.

"I'm delighted to be taking on this new challenge and very happy to be joining Muscle Milk Pickett Racing for the first race of the ALMS season," Pagenaud said. "They were my greatest competitor for the last few years and they are a great team with fantastic people and drivers.

"I will do my best to represent them as well as possible and I will use all my experience aboard the previous versions of the HPD prototypes that I have driven to help the team."

Pagenaud will be present with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing at the ALMS Winter Test this week, February 8 and 9, at Sebring International Raceway.

New Zealand native, Roger Wills will be making his first appearance in the ALMS LMPC class this season when he joins regular drivers Mike Guasch and Memo Gidley for Sebring, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta.

Wills competed in the International Le Mans Cup GTE Pro-Am class in 2011, finishing fourth in the championship standings. He made his international GT racing debut in 2010 and went on to win the GT4 class at the Spa 24 Hours.

Prior to his move to GT racing, the 2004 Silverstone Motorsport Academy graduate raced historic cars and has become over the years one of the most prominent historic racers. Wills has recorded numerous wins across the world in sports cars from the 50s to Formula 1 cars from the 70s.

Some of his historic racing highlights include wins at the Le Mans Classic and Goodwood Revival as well as the fastest time of the day at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a Williams FW05.

"I've been very impressed with the team in my discussions so far and from what I have seen of them at previous events," Wills said. "Both Memo Gidley and Mike Guasch have a huge amount of experience and seem super focused on doing well in the class this season so it is great to be joining them."

The 60th annual 12 Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh from Florida, Round 1 of the 2012 American Le Mans Series season, takes place March 17, 2012.

weight gain

Feb 6, 2012 1:21:24 PM

02/05/2012

Bodybuilders given a raw deal - The Borneo Post

by Doreena Naeg. Posted on February 5, 2012, Sunday

DOMINANT: The Sarawak team making a clean sweep of titles in the 2011 Borneo Bodybuilding Competition in Sabah.

ALTHOUGH the year 2011 ended on a grand note for local bodybuilding, turbulence swirled beneath the glory and acclaim, and not long after the curtain came down, uncertainties and disillusionments started seeping through.

Was it all a flash in the pan or a promise of sustained successes in the years ahead?

That?s the 21-inch-bicep question which has been needling the state bodybuilders as they look towards 2012.

Last year was one of the best for bodybuilding in Sarawak, accentuated by record-breaking feats locally and internationally. Sarawak bodybuilders made skeptics stand up and take notice with their run of victories.

Nolan Chee led the way with his spectacular win of the Masters Crown in the Hong Kong World Invite Bodybuilding Championship in June 2011.

The following month, female bodybuilder, Chaser Chan Shu Jun, made history for the sport in the state by muscling her way to third spot in her debut at the International Natural Bodybuilding Competition in Melbourne, Australia.

Female bodybuilding contests have been banned in Malaysia since 1963.

Sarawak achieved another astounding feat in the Mr Malaysia Bodybuilding Competition in Johor last October when Dennis Jeros impressed the judges with his ripped symmetry to bring home the state?s first overall champion trophy.

This coveted accolade has proven elusive since bodybuilding was introduced in the state in the early 60?s.

The local musclemen won two titles in the competition ? Dennis lifting the Mr Malaysia crown after winning the heavyweight (over 70kg) category while George Awi took the light heavy category.

There was more to come. Sarawak bodybuilders were on the roll.

In October last year, Dennis and Nolan, brimming with confidence from their early wins, strutted their stuff in the Philippines Asia Invitation in Cebu.

Up against some of the world?s best-built men, they did not disappoint by finishing among the top five in their categories.

International first-timer Dennis again muscled his way to a well-deserved third spot in the Men?s Physique Medium Height Class category while Chee placed fifth in the heavyweight category.

The Sarawak Bodybuilding Association (SBBA) passed another milestone when George (Awi) was picked by the Malaysian Bodybuilding Association Federation to represent the country in the Mr World Amateur Bodybuilding Championship in Malacca in November.

The first local he-man to take part in this championship was Liew Teck Leong in 2001. It took the state nine long years to produce another representative.

In late November 2011, an eight-strong Srarawak team flexed their muscles in the Mr Borneo Bodybuilding Competition in Kota Kinbablu, Sabah.

The team comprised Mohd Faizal Razali, Malvern Abdullah, Hairol Tarmizi Taha, Densi Runya, Dennis Ateng Jeros, Awang Mohamad Azizul Ghani, Saiful Bahri Norshidi and Hui Kong Fong.

Sarawak won the Best Team Effort trophy in this competition in 2009 and 2011.

In 2010, 31-year-old Fung Hui Kong of Sibu took home the Champion of the Champions trophy in the welterweight category ? a first for the Sibu Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Association.

Shadow looming

THE FIRST: Dennis Jeros made Sarawak proud by wining the state?s first Champion of the Champions title in Mr Malaysia 2011.

As Dennis aptly described it, 2011 was a golden year for SBBA but a long shadow is looming over the sport in the state.

Many of the bodybuilders believe pickings in 2012 will not be as bountiful as 2011 ? not that there was anything fluky about the latter but that the morale of the bodybuilders is now at an all-time low so much so that they are looking at the options of competing elsewhere where they will be better received.

?Our welfare is not being looked into? is their common stance. They didn?t even receive appropriate treatment even when competing.

For instance, during competitions, the Kuching bodybuilders were left to fend for themselves even though a team manager had always been appointed to look after the needs of the contestants.

It is said a moment of glory captured on film is worth a thousand verbal praises but that?s not the case with the Kuching team.

One would have thought a photographer would be assigned to document the competitions featuring Sarawak bodybuilders. But instead, the contestants had to depend on their counterparts to photograph their moments on stage. Ironically, the SBBA would then ask for copies of the pictures for documentation purposes.

Pointed out Chaser: ?We don?t mind sharing or giving photographs. We have been doing that all this while. But when we are on the stage, there is no one from our team to take our pictures. We all want pictures for remembrance and personal documentation. There is no need for a professional photographer. Anyone who can take pictures is good enough.?

Total disregard

Another sore point is the insensitivity ? or total disregard ? towards the bodybuilders? welfare during welcoming dinners.

The food served was often not suitable for the musclemen even though the dinners were meant for them.

?Imagine sitting us at a dinner table that serves food we can?t eat, given our strict diet,? bodybuilder Hoan Kee Huang lamented.

It has reached a point where the bodybuilders are refusing to attend such dinners.

?What?s the point?? Hoan asked.

The indifference towards the sport of bodybuilding in the state is clearly indicated by the kind of prizes offered during competitions.

Besides trophies, the winners also received hampers but these usually consisted of foods that hardly helped the bodybuilders to bulk up.

In stark contrast, winners of the Philippines Asia Invitation received a trophy, cash and a male posing trunk ? a clear indication that the bodybuilders were duly recognised for their achievements.

Dennis said: ?We are not asking for the moon ? just a bit of sensitivity will do. Give something that will benefit us and the sport.?

As for the promises from the association, the Kuching team is saying enough is enough.

Hoan pointed out: ?We were made many promises but none was kept. We tolerated it but the still pending prize money (1k) promised to every winner was the straw that broke the camel?s back.?

As for the courtesy calls on the Sports Minister after their victories, Huon and Dennis felt nothing constructive had ever come out of such calls.

Plight of Kuching team

SIBU?s PRIDE: Fung Hui Kong, the Champion of Champions in the 2011 Mr Borneo Bodybuilding Competition in Sabah.

From someone who has been in the sport long enough to know its ins and outs, Sibu Bodybuilding and Power Lifting Association (SBBPLA) president, Chia Soon Cheong, has witnessed the plight of the Kuching team and he sympathises with them.

He believes Kuching should have its own divisional association to look after its members.

?SSBA has too much on its plate to look after the nitty gritty of the sport.?

However, Chia too has his fair share of problems with SBBA. According to him, SBBPLA has been supporting its members on its own with very little help from SBBA.

Recalling the 2010 Mr Sarawak Bodybuilding Competition in Sibu, he said SBBPLA requested financial help from SBBA but was told there were no funds and they had to raise money elsewhere. Chia did and was given RM5,000 by MSN (Majlis Sukan Negeri).

?We were just the host and not the organisers,? he pointed out.

Lack of funds is the main problem for both SBBA and SBBPLA, he said, adding that both the presidents should look for funds besides just depending on government grants which were not enough.

Chia believes the future of the bodybuilders should not be compromised just because there were no funds, saying it was the responsibility of the association to take care of its flock.

SBBPLA is self-financing ? which is a great help but still not enough. Chia seeks sponsorships from the corporate sector as incentives, subsidies and commemorative fees for his bodybuilders.

Mr Sibu title-holders preparing for the Mr Malaysia Championship are given assistance in the form of food supplements, and incentives (cash) if they win any of the titles at stake.

Chia also makes sure sponsors of the Mr Sibu Contest give appropriate prizes.

?It defeats the purpose to give prizes not related to the sport. In this respect, I can feel the pain of the Kuching team,? he said.

Viewing Kuching bodybuilders as the best in Sarawak, he noted: ?They have been self-sustaining all this while and even so, they have never failed to perform. It?s sad to see the best being unappreciated and neglected. It?s time SBBA do something to help them or be prepared to see them go.?

It?s an open secret the bodybuilders have, for decades, striven on their own to bring honours to the state and country.

In fact, bodybuilding is the one sport where the state has achieved excellence through local champions like Solomon Ismanto, Bujang Taha and more recently, Liaw Teck Leong.

History shows rocking the boat hasn?t brought positive changes to the sport. The bodybuilders have resigned themselves to such a fate but that does not make them immune to disenchantment.

So the question remains ? will the golden year of 2011 slip into silver, then bronze and finally oblivion?

It?s not fair to blame SBBA entirely ? even the bodybuilders know that. The Sports Ministry, the Sarawak State Sports Council and the authorities concerned share the blame. The annual grants for the sport are not enough. The support of the relevant parties is vital.

There should be free use of the state gym for the bodybuilders. The understanding of bosses to release bodybuilders under their employ for training and competitions is also important for the future of the sport.

As SBBA president Dato Wee Hong Seng said: ?The bodybuilders have been our pride despite the adverse conditions. They rightly deserve our help.?

EVERGREEN: Nolan Chee, who took part in the 2011 International Natural Bodybuilding Competition in Melbourne, Australia.

He added that although local bodybuilders were promised better tomorrows, they had to be patient as change does not happen overnight but takes time to materialise.

Wee emphatises with the local bodybuilders who have been striving on their own to bring glory to the state and country.

?I promise there are better things to come for them but they have to be patient because change takes time.?

Appealing to the Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation (MBF) was a time-consuming process, he said, pointing out that SBBA had made steady but slow progress in that direction.

Wee acknowledged the bodybuilders had gotten a raw deal and hoped, in his capacity as SBBA president, to right the wrong. Under his watch (Wee was elected as SBBA president in 2009), the SBBA constitution was amended late last year.

?It took me two years to do this and I did it. I believe the amendments are for the betterment of the sport,? he said.

Previously, competing bodybuilders were not allowed to hold any office in the association but now, they are.

Wee believed having active bodybuilders in the committee would be good for the sport.

?They know the sport better than non-bodybuilders like us.?

He has included Chaser Chan Sun Jun, the first state female bodybuilder, as a member of the association. This has never happened before as female bodybuilding is banned in the country.

Wee has also introduced a financial incentive scheme for the bodybuilders this year with the winners to get RM1,000 and the runners-up RM500.

?I know the amount is paltry compared to the amount they spent but it?s an appreciation ? a recognition that goes beyond monetary value.?

So far, the incentive has yet to be presented.

The association has struck off the allowance for the committee members but is retaining that for the bodybuilders.

?It?s a way to save money,? Wee explained.

Though seemingly unfair, it was something he had to do for the betterment of the sport.

?The bodybuilders need it more than the committee members,? he said.

SBBA received an annual grant of RM25,000 from the state government last year. The amount fluctuates as the association received RM20,000 in 2008, RM15,000 in 2009 and RM10,000 in 2010.

The variation only serves to increase Wee?s need for prudence. Very often, he has to dig into his own pocket for funds.

He wants every cent of the grant spent on the bodybuilders, saying: ?We?re not here for personal gain but are given the responsibility to bring the sport to a higher level.?

While disagreeing with the setting up a sub-association due to lack of manpower, he is all for forming a club.

?We have problems getting committee members for the association, what more to say for a sub-association. That?s why I encourage the formation of a club which can be run by the bodybuilders themselves.?

The club will have no affiliation to any federation, making it an independent entity.

This freedom would allow its members to participate in any tournaments they so wished, Wee explained.

He pledged to give the formation of a club his full support but pointed out it had to come from the bodybuilders themselves.

For those who have taken part in international tournaments, he offers nothing but praises.

He saw their dedication and commitment and above all, their passion when they strove on their own to be among the top five in an international contest.

?I take my hat off to them. It?s raw passion that drives these men to strike out on their own without any help from anybody.

?And when they win, their victories are not for personal glory. They?re also for the state and country. These athletes should get all the assistance they need.?

The bodybuilders and Wee have enjoyed good rapport since he took office two years ago. He doesn?t want to see that destroyed.

?I have the utmost respect for these athletes. They are among the most dedicated, committed and disciplined people I have come to know.?

The SBBA president believes Sarawak bodybuilders are among the best in the country. The Armed Forces presently head the pack.

?By right, Sarawak should be represented only by Sarawakians and that goes for all the states as well,? Wee pointed out.

The Armed Forces and the police should only compete in the open category, he said, adding that this would give all the contestants a fair go.

Despite this, Wee believes Sarawak bodybuilders are capable of taking the individual titles.

?I have seen them at their best ? they are among Malaysia?s cream,? he noted.

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Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEVY-Ti3CXJsE4xyTfAffhGitEdWg&url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/02/05/bodybuilders-given-a-raw-deal/

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGfBEorNq5ToaQ63xnYZ8kVRVsJEw&url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120203/SPORTS0207/302030063/1091/SPORTS02/Wrestling-Cyclones-squeak-by-Panthers

Feb 5, 2012 9:21:35 PM

Wrestling: Cyclones squeak by Panthers - DesMoinesRegister.com

CEDAR FALLS, IA. ? Coach Doug Schwab?s strategy nearly paid off for Northern Iowa Friday night. He decided during intermission that sophomore Riley Banach would forfeit his wrestling match against Iowa State?s No. 4-ranked Andrew Sorenson and move up a weight class, at 174 pounds against Mikey England.

?It was the best thing at the time,? Schwab said. ?We got to try to win the meet, and that?s what we tried to do.?

England won 8-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 2,200 at the West Gym.

Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson said he?s disappointed Sorenson didn?t get to wrestle in his last match at Northern Iowa, but was pleased with the 19-17 win. It was the seventh consecutive Cyclone win over the Panthers.

?I know we?re right up there at the top of the teams he (Schwab) wants to beat,? Jackson said. ?It feels good for us to come and win.?

The dual wasn?t decided until the heavyweight bout between Iowa State?s No. 12-ranked Matt Gibson and Northern Iowa?s Blayne Beale. Gibson took a 7-1 decision.

The Cyclones started with a 4-0 advantage after No. 12-ranked Ryak Finch defeated Cruse Aarhrus by technical fall.

No. 11 Joe Colon put the Panthers ahead 5-4 by a technical fall after he was awarded a near fall against R.J. Hallman.

?He?s going out and scoring points. He?s attacking and building leads,? Schwab said. ?He?s wrestling really well right now and we got to keep building on that.?

Iowa State?s No. 18-ranked Luke Goettl battled Levi Wolfensberger for three periods until winning by decision and regaining the lead for the Cyclones, 7-5.

The featured match between Northern Iowa?s No. 6-ranked sophomore Ryan Loder and Iowa State?s No. 16 sophomore Boaz Beard stayed close; Loder won 1-0.

New facility: Northern Iowa announced it would build a revamped training facility, named the Bill Koll Wrestling Room in honor of the three-time national champion. The renovation will begin this spring.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGw4MzrSFuXrPkI2z20lQftBgudBg&url=http://huskerextra.com/sports/other/article_3fee6592-2181-5156-b7a5-c56f3356b39a.html

Feb 5, 2012 5:21:28 AM

02/04/2012

NU wrestling vs. Penn State - HuskerExtra.com

As many Nebraskans prepared for a deluge of snow Friday night, the seventh-ranked Husker wrestling team was buried by an avalanche.

Defending national champion Penn State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) showed its power and depth, winning the first five matches and crushing NU 31-6 at the NU Coliseum to snuff out any hope Nebraska (14-2, 5-2) had of a conference regular-season title.

The result left Husker coach Mark Manning frustrated with his team's effort.

"They've got some guys who are pretty talented. If we're not as talented, we have to match them by being tougher and better conditioned," Manning said. "It's a simple equation, in my mind, but I don't wrestle, my guys do. So I've got to get my guys to believe in that."

Things looked promising for Nebraska from the start, but quickly deteriorated.

Defending Big Ten champion Ed Ruth looked slow and sluggish at 174 pounds, but turned a second-period takedown into a near-fall, then pinned NU's Tyler Koehn with 1:02 left in the third period.

In one of the dual's most-anticipated matches, defending 184-pound national champion Quentin Wright turned a first-period clinch into a takedown and near-fall by throwing NU's seventh-ranked Josh Ihnen to his back, then held off Ihnen the rest of the way for a 9-6 win.

NU's two seniors carried the action early in their matches, but eventually succumbed.

At 197, James Nakashima was penalized for stalling with 35 seconds left and lost 2-1 to Penn State's Matt Brown. And in a battle of ranked heavyweights, No. 6 Cameron Wade of Penn State turned three of No. 8 Tucker Lane's shots into takedowns and rolled to an 8-2 decision.

After ninth-ranked Nico Megaludis dominated NU's Shawn Nagel for a 24-6 technical fall, the Lions were up 20-0 and virtually had the dual won.

It took a late flurry by NU's No. 18 Ridge Kiley to end the Lions' run and finally give the crowd of 2,673 and his usually ebullient teammates something to cheer about.

Trailing 2-1 at 133, Kiley tied the match when Frank Martellotti was penalized for stalling, then won on a reversal with eight seconds left.

"I heard coach say, ?Get the ball rolling,' and that got me going when I got out there," Kiley said. "Our expectations were better than the outcome and guys weren't happy with performances that they had. I guess it took a little out of them."

After Husker true freshman Jake Sueflohn, ranked fifth at 141, beat Bryan Pearsall 6-1, the Lions won the last three matches to finish off the rout. That run included No. 2 David Taylor's 13-3 major decision against NU's No. 6 Robert Kokesh at 165 to end the night.

Manning said his team has the ability to rebound Sunday at No. 4 Minneapolis, but knows it will take a different energy than it showed Friday.

"It's time to stand up and be a man, dust yourself off," Manning said. "We have a good ceiling, which I knew coming into a bout like this. If you've got 10 competitors, we can bounce back and it's not an issue. "

Briefly

*The Huskers' dual meet Sunday at Minneapolis starts at 1 p.m. and will be shown at 5:30 p.m. on a tape-delayed basis on BTN (Time Warner Cable 24; HD 1333).

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNH8p3fsF5wG6YN3X7CSKyjsWhPeCA&url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/petmdcom-provides-six-tips-for-fighting-winter-weight-gain-in-pets-2012-02-02

Feb 4, 2012 1:22:04 PM

02/03/2012

petMD.com Provides Six Tips for Fighting Winter Weight Gain in Pets - MarketWatch (press release)

MIAMI, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Winter weight gain is an all too common struggle, and not just for humans. Weight gain in dogs and cats is more prevalent in the winter as well. When a dog that's used to getting a daily walk around the neighborhood is now only running outside for speedy breaks - or a cat that's accustomed to a romp around the yard is now reluctant to spending time outdoors - it naturally follows that the food they've consumed is not being burned as energy. Plus, when colder temperatures set in, activity levels drop, metabolisms slow, and hibernation mode sets in. It's the age-old evolutionary method for preservation.

With cat and dog obesity on the rise, it is important to stay focused on your pet's health year round. To help pet parents keep winter weight gain at bay, petMD.com has pulled together the following tips:

Create an exercise plan. This can include brisk walks, weather permitting, or activities like fetch modified for indoor play.

If getting enough activity may prove troublesome, consider cutting back on calories. This can mean cutting back on treats or decreasing the amount of kibble doled out. If you're worried about your pet feeling deprived, add fresh vegetables into the mix. Carrots make a great treat substitute.

Visit your veterinarian at the start of winter to get an accurate picture of your pet's current health. It is easier to maintain if you know what you're starting with.

If your pet is on the heavier side, or has a history of weight issues, continue to see your veterinarian once a month for a check-up to make sure the weight is not creeping on.

Learn the signs indicative of a pet being overweight or obese. The two areas it is easiest to spot weight gain in are the spine and the ribs.

If weight gain still does occur, consult your veterinarian for a cat or dog weight loss plan. You do not want to cut back drastically on food without a veterinary opinion.

The most important thing for pet parents to remember is that prevention is key. Stopping winter weight gain from occurring is much easier than helping your pet lose weight.

About petMD

petMD is a leading online resource focused solely on the health and well-being of pets. The site maintains the world's largest pet health library, written and approved by a network of trusted veterinarians. petMD was founded to inspire pet owners to provide an ever-increasing quality of life for their pets and to connect pet owners with pet experts and other animal lovers. petMD is a subsidiary of the Pet360 family of brands, which also includes PetFoodDirect.com - the most complete pet food and supply retailer online, and NationalPetPharmacy.com- a fully certified, full-service pet pharmacy delivering pet meds, vitamins and comprehensive pet health and wellness products.

SOURCE petMD.com

Comtex

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHKCu9nk1aFfLCDEGnYpkE95sF9OQ&url=http://www.thedailymountpleasant.com/wellness/ease-sore-muscles-after-physical-activity

Feb 3, 2012 9:21:26 PM

Ease Sore Muscles After Physical Activity - The Daily Mount Pleasant

Kristen Hallett Rzasa

Photo credit: Contributed

How do you feel on Sunday night after working all weekend in your yard or after doing a marathon of home repair or house cleaning? As if you?d rather not move for hours, right?

In order to prevent muscle stiffness and soreness, try these suggestions below before relaxing for the night.

Move more ? now: Even though you might want to flop onto the coach, cold drink in hand, first move a little more. Slowly and gently is fine. Get the blood flowing into those sore muscles by simply walking around the house or around your neighborhood or by raising your arms over your head while breathing deeply.

Stretch: Before relaxing in your recliner, stretch your muscles before they stiffen and help them to become more pliable and flexible. As oxygen flows into your muscles, you?ll speed their recovery. Whether you choose yoga, Pilates or stretches of your own, here?s a bonus: Dr. Andrew Weil says muscles contain stretch receptors, which can improve your mood.

Drink water: Water is the ultimate rehydrator. Avoid caffeine and alcohol because they dehydrate you.

Feel kneaded: Gently massage overworked muscles, which will prompt nutrient-rich blood to flow through and replenish them. Better yet, get a massage from someone you like.

Pack in protein: Your muscles are hungry after exertion. They crave protein. Choose natural sources such as fish, poultry, lean meats, nuts, lentils and quinoa.

Hydrotherapy: A warm bath cures many ills and always helps ease stiff muscles. You?ll also sleep better after a bath, which can help you feel refreshed the next morning. If you?re brave, try a hot/cold treatment, alternating water temperatures every couple minutes, to open blood vessels more.

Ease back in: When your muscles are feeling rested, ease back into your normal fitness program gradually so your body has time to catch up with all the plans you have.

Remember, the most effective way to relieve muscle soreness after an active weekend is to move a bit more, drink lots of water and nourish your muscles back to health.

Norwalk-based Kristen Hallett Rzasa is the owner of InterPlay Health LLC and Jazzercise. She is an entrepreneur, dancer, instructor, writer, yogi, golfer and avid reader.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHuDF51u8ApS-BasQEjVVmGIpD2gQ&url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500368_162-57369841/massage-may-help-sore-muscles-recover/

Feb 3, 2012 5:21:28 AM

02/02/2012

Massage may help sore muscles recover - CBS News

(WebMD)

There may be more to love about massage than just the "ahhhhh." A new study shows that kneading muscles after hard exercise decreases inflammation and helps your muscles recover.

The study hints that massage after exercise may help relieve soreness, and may also help muscles become fitter faster -- two benefits that have thus far been mutually exclusive in the "no pain, no gain" world of athletics.

For the study, researchers put 11 men through a hard bout of exercise. It was the kind of session that was tough to finish and would normally have made an athlete stiff and sore for a few days afterward.

Following their workouts, each man got a 10-minute, Swedish-style massage, but only on one leg. The other leg was rested and used for comparison. Researchers repeatedly sampled muscle tissue from both legs before and after exercise.

They used gene-profiling techniques to look for chemical changes in muscle cells. They saw two main differences between the legs that were massaged and those that were rested.

First, massage switched on genes that decrease inflammation. Many painkilling medications also work by blocking inflammation. Second, massage activated genes that promote the creation of mitochondria, structures that are the energy factories inside cells. The fitter a muscle cell is, the more mitochondria it tends to have.

Could Massage Boost Muscle Fitness?

"If someone starts an endurance exercise training program, after two or four months of training, depending on the intensity, you essentially double the volume of mitochondria in muscle," says researcher Mark A. Tarnopolsky, MD, PhD, a professor of pediatrics and head of Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Disease at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Mitochondria, he says, help the cell to take up and use oxygen: "The muscles' ability to extract oxygen is proportional to the amount of mitochondria that are there."

"Exercise plus massage seems to enhance that pathway," Tarnopolsky says.

If further research can duplicate and expand on these findings, Tarnopolsky says that would mean that massage may be uniquely beneficial to muscle recovery and muscle growth.

In recent years, a number of studies have shown that remedies for muscle soreness that work by turning down inflammation -- things like ice baths or anti-inflammatory medications -- may also have a downside. They may also block muscle repair and growth, which depends on inflammation.

"People were starting to feel it was a one-to-one link: You suppress inflammation, you [lessen] adaptation," says Tarnopolsky. "But this appears to be an intervention that suppresses the inflammatory response but still allows, and actually enhances, the [recovery] response." The study is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Massage May Be Serious Medicine

Experts who reviewed the study for WebMD say it is one of the first to document how human muscle cells respond to massage, a popular therapy that has struggled to gain respect as serious medicine.

And it echoes a 2008 study in rabbits, which found that rubbed muscle tissue recovered more strength after exercise than muscle tissue that was simply rested, with less swelling and inflammation.

As encouraging as these findings are, however, there's still a lot the study isn't able to say.

Priscilla Clarkson, PhD, who studies post-exercise muscle soreness, cautions that the study didn't look at whether massage actually improved pain.

"If a massage gives you temporary respite from the pain, by all means, try it. However, these molecular changes may have no effect -- or may need to be elicited many times to have a lasting effect," Clarkson, who is distinguished professor of kinesiology at University of Massachusetts at Amherst, says in an email.

What's also not known is whether massage may still be helpful if a person gets a rubdown hours or days after a hard workout instead of just minutes.

Still, scientists who say they were once wary that massage had any real benefits, beyond relaxation, say they are starting to come around.

"I went into all of this truly skeptical," says Mark H. Rapaport, MD, chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral services at Emory University in Atlanta.

"I've changed. I think there is something there. We saw profound biological changes associated with it," says Rapaport, referring to a 2010 study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, which found that Swedish massage boosted immune function and decreased stress hormones compared to a placebo.

"There's a real consistency between their results and our results," Rapaport says. "I was amazed at how positive their results were based on a really brief intervention."

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFRH8prCZ4xTODdcz3CWEccb0THLQ&url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/02/01/massage-muscle-repair.html

Feb 2, 2012 1:21:29 PM

02/01/2012

How massage aids muscle healing - CBC.ca

Massage helps relieve pain in damaged muscles by sending anti-inflammation messages to muscle cells, Canadian researchers have found.

Athletes have long sought massages to relieve pain and promote recovery. Despite reports that long-term massage therapy reduces chronic pain such as back pain, the biological effects of massage on muscles weren't known.

Massage seemed to blunt muscle pain using the same route that anti-inflammatory pain relievers do. (Jack Dempsey/Associated Press)

Now scientists at McMaster University in Hamilton have found evidence at the cellular level that massage blunts muscle pain in a similar way to anti-inflammatory pills.

The study in Wednesday's issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine examined the effects of massage therapy versus no treatment on the quadricep muscles of 11 young men who were recreationally active.

Scientists studied samples from the men before they exercised to the point of exhaustion, just after and then 2½ hours afterwards.

Massage could also help the elderly, those suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and people with chronic inflammatory disease, although that idea still needs to be tested, cautioned the study's lead author, Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky of the pediatrics department at McMaster.

The study does offer evidence that massage is a safe and viable option to use in medical practice, he said.

"We know that exercise is a panacea of goodness," Tarnopolsky said in an interview. "Massage might enhance some of the favourable benefits that we get from exercise."

Massage is a safe and viable option to use in medical practice, said Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky. (CBC)

When the researchers analyzed the muscle tissue samples for tears and signs of damage in the cells, they found massage seemed to blunt muscle pain using the same route that anti-inflammatory pain relievers do.

What's more, Tarnopolsky said, the anti-inflammatory signals released by massage also improved the ability of muscle cells to make new mitochondria ? the furnaces that convert food into energy.

That could explain how massage seems to speed up recovery in athletes with injured muscles, the study's authors said.

Tarnopolsky, who normally treats muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial disorders, became interested in investigating massage after he tore all of his hamstring muscles while waterskiing. He received massage therapy as part of his physiotherapy following surgery.

The analysis also suggested that one commonly held idea about massage isn't true: the researchers found no evidence that massage helped clear lactic acid from tired muscles.

None of the researchers knew which leg was massaged except the massage therapist and the leg that was massaged was randomly selected ? two experimental steps that add validity to the findings.

The convenience factor of pills, the expense of massages and whether they are covered by provincial health plans are deterrents to greater use of the therapy, Tarnopolsky acknowledged.

"Definitely, [massage] is tiring the muscles out so they can relax and recover," said Jaqueline Gradish, a personal trainer in Toronto who lifts at least 1,000 pounds a day with her clients.

The study was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Warren Lammert and family.

With files from CBC's Kelly Crowe and Melanie Glanz

Any questions? Ask DietDoc

Feb 1, 2012 9:21:51 PM

Medication can cause weight gain - Health24.com

Medication can potentially cause weight gain via two routes, namely either through stimulation of the appetite so that the patient tends to eat more food,or due to changes in blood glucose levels. In this article we will first consider those food-drug interactions that may stimulate the appetite thus leading to an increase in body weight.

Woman with scale, weight gain (iStock)

Appetite-stimulating meds

It is unfortunate that a great many essential medications can stimulate the appetite and then lead to weight gain, which is often so great that previously slender individuals become obese.

Medications which have the potential to increase the appetite and weight, include:

Psychotropics (e.g. benzodiazepines, and other anti-anxiety drugs)
Typical and atypical antipsychotics (e.g. haloperidol or risperidone)
Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline), MAOI antidepressants (e.g. isocarboxazide), and other antidepressants (e.g. paroxetine)
Anticonvulsants (e.g. valproic acid)
Hormones including human growth hormone, corticosteroids, and human reproductive hormones (progesterone or testosterone)

(Mahan LK et al, 2011).

(See Table 1 below for examples of drugs in each category which are available in South Africa).

Contributing factors

A number of other factors can also contribute to the pronounced weight gain that some patients experience when they use the above mentioned drugs.

Eating disturbances related to anxiety

While anti-anxiety drugs in the psychotropic category can cause weight gain, it should be kept in mind that many people turn to food when they are stressed or anxious. "Comfort food" can help ease the pain of anxiety, but these typical consolation foods are often very high in energy, fat and sugar (chocolate, sweets, cakes, pies, chips, etc), and will pile on the kilos. Patients seeking relief from their anxiety do not usually nibble on celery or fat-free cottage cheese! These patients seek relief in foods dripping with fat and loaded with kJ and sugar.

Eating disturbances related to depression

It is ironic that depression on its own can lead to massive weight gain or serious weight loss depending on how the individual patient reacts to his or her illness. When a patient who is suffering from depression starts taking antidepressants, these medications (i.e. tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs and other antidepressants which do not fall into these 2 categories), can also cause an increase in appetite and body weight.

It is, therefore, important that the body weight of patients with depression should be monitored on a regular basis. Patients who are already overweight or obese may gain even more weight when they receive treatment, while patients who are underweight as a result of their depression may regain their normal weight.

When a depressed patient becomes overweight either due to his/her condition or the necessary drug treatment, this can further exacerbate the depression and cause serious distress. Some patients become reclusive because they cannot bear anyone seeing how much weight they have gained. Other patients may decide to stop taking their medications which could lead to worsening of the depression to such an extent that the patient may commit suicide.

It is essential that patients with depression should never, ever stop taking their medications without discussing this step with the prescribing doctor. Tell your doctor about your concerns relating to the fact that you have gained weight since commencing treatment and ask him or her to help you find a solution. Your doctor must determine the solution and any changes that may need to be made to your drug treatment should only be attempted under his/her strict supervision.

Eating disturbances related to anticonvulsants

Patients who suffer from convulsions induced by conditions such as epilepsy, brain damage or tumours, etc, need to take anticonvulsants which in some cases can also stimulate the appetite. Once again, some patients using anticonvulsants may lose weight, while others pick up weight.

The cautions mentioned above in relation to not stopping antidepressants, also apply to anticonvulsants. Do not stop taking your prescribed anticonvulsants because you have gained some weight, but do discuss this problem with your physician so that he or she can plan how you can continue to take these drugs and lose the weight you have gained. Stopping anticonvulsants without medical supervision can be very dangerous and even life threatening.

Eating disturbances related to hormones

Many members of the public complain that they have gained weight after taking corticosteroids for asthma or skin conditions or any other illness where cortisone has to be prescribed. Medications containing male and female hormones can also either cause weight gain or weight loss in patients. It is interesting to note that human growth hormone, which is so often mentioned as ?the injection? to promote weight loss in fad slimming regimens, is listed as a hormone that can cause weight gain.

As most women know, taking female hormones for contraceptive, fertility or anti-menopausal treatment can cause weight gain or weight loss, as determined by the patient?s individual reaction.

Lipodystrophy associated with HAART therapy

Now that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has become available globally and in South Africa, patients with HIV/Aids are developing so-called lipodystrophy syndrome. The latter syndrome is associated with redistribution of body fat, raised blood fat levels, high blood pressure and glucose intolerance. HIV/Aids patients who in the past tended to be emaciated, now find that they are gaining weight when they use HAART.

Any patient with HIV/Aids who is contemplating the use of a drastic or unbalanced slimming diet, excessive exercise and/or taking over-the-counter slimming pills to lose weight, should first consult the doctor who is treating their HIV/Aids and their dietician for a balanced low-fat diet that is also low-GI (glycaemic index) to address the insulin tolerance and hyperlipidaemia associated with lipodystrophy.

The dilemma of weight gain caused by medications that in many cases save the patient?s life, is not easy to solve, but by talking to the prescribing doctor and consulting a dietician for an appropriate diet, most drug-induced appetite stimulation and weight gain should be controllable and reversible.

- (Dr IV van Heerden, DieDoc, January 2012)

(Image: iStock)

TABLE 1: EXAMPLES OF DRUGS AVAILABLE IN SOUTH AFRICA THAT MAY STIMULATE THE APPETITE AND CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN

Listed in MIMS (2011)

Psychotropics

Alprazolam

Benzodiazepines

Chlordiazepoxide

Antipsychotics (Typical)

Haloperidol

Antipsychotics (Atypical)

Clozapine

Olanzapine

Quetiapine

Risperidone

Antidepressants(Tricyclic)

Amitriptyline

Clomipramine

Imipramine

Selegiline

Antidepressants (MAOIs)

Moclobemide

Antidepressants (Other)

Mirtazapine

Anticonvulsants

Gabapentin

Valproic acid/Sodium valproate

Hormones

Corticosteroids (Cortisone, Methyl Prednisolone Acetate, Prednisone)

Human Growth Hormone/Somatropin

Medroxyprogesterone acetate

Testosterone

(Based on Box 9-9 in Mahan et al (2011), page 223, including modifications relevant to South Africa)

References:

(Mahan LK et al (2011). Krause?s Food & the Nutrition Care Process. Ed. 13. Elsevier, USA.
MIMS, (2011), Vol 51, No 10, October 2011.)

Read more:

Medication that affects nutrient intake

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. tweets 'I'm ready to fight Pacquiao 5/5/12'

Feb 1, 2012 5:21:37 AM

01/31/2012

Bob Arum: Mayweather 'isn't in the picture' for Pacquiao in spring - Los Angeles Times

Boxing promoter Bob Arum Monday said Floyd Mayweather "isn't in the picture" to fight Arum's boxer Manny Pacquiao in May.

"They don't want to fight in late May," Arum said of the Mayweather camp. "It's dead for May, so we should sit down with everybody, let Mayweather fight someone else May 5 and we'll fight someone else June 9, and then let's get a signed contract for [Mayweather-Pacquiao] in November. That's a win-win for everybody."

Arum additionally narrowed the pool of potential June 9 opponents for Pacquiao to world super-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and World Boxing Council junior-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of Cathedral City by announcing he's finalizing another bout.

Arum says he has struck a preliminary deal to stage a junior-welterweight title fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and champion Lamont Peterson later this year at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas. The date will either be in May or July, Arum said.

"I just got off the phone with [Peterson manager] Barry Hunter," Arum said, assuring that Peterson will not participate in a discussed May 19 rematch at Staples Center against England's Amir Khan, whom Peterson defeated by a controversial decision in December.

"So if you eliminate those two [potential Pacquiao opponents] and Mayweather isn't in the picture, you can do that math," Arum said.

The promoter said he'd like to announce Pacquiao's next opponent by Feb. 7 and have the fighters start a national publicity tour after Feb. 18.

Cotto, who defeated Antonio Margarito by technical knockout in December, might take himself out of the driver's seat in the talks because he's expressed reluctance to fight under 150 pounds, with Pacquiao not budging to fight above 147 pounds.

Pacquiao defeated Cotto by 12th-round TKO in 2009.

"I'm not saying [Cotto's] right or wrong," Arum said. "It's his body. He has to make the determination. You have to respect a fighter who makes that decision. It's a substantive decision, his own health."

Bradley is unbeaten. He last year joined Arum's Top Rank stable and defeated Joel Casamayor on the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez in Las Vegas.

Bradley's name recognition is suspect, but Pacquiao's participation ensures interest at the gate and on pay-per-view. In November, Pacquiao-Marquez drew more than 1.3 million pay-per-view buys, Arum said.

The high interest in Marquez, Arum said, encouraged him to stage the bout against Peterson in Texas. Arum said "based on the pricing," he believes Marquez-Peterson could draw 40,000 fans to Cowboys Stadium.

The promoter is dealing with a busy Monday, as he declined an invitation by New York Giants owner Steve Tisch to attend the Super Bowl in Indianapolis on Sunday because he's obligated to attend an HBO doubleheader in San Antonio featuring middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Nonito Donaire.

Also, Arum said he's finalizing an April 14 card at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas that will pit Oxnard's Brandon Rios vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa in a 135-pound clash.

Manny Pacquiao has a backup plan if Mayweather fight doesn't occur

-- Lance Pugmire

Left photo: Floyd Mayweather. Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Right photo: Julie Jacobson / Associated Press

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEqeAzGuByMAofbY5MDIqQSx5yllg&url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2012/01/manny-pacquiao-floyd-mayweather-jr-boxing.html

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Jan 31, 2012 1:21:35 PM

01/30/2012

2012 Bodybuilding competition season starts soon - Examiner.com

It's an exciting time in the world of bodybuilding right now. There is an unmatched anticipation in the heart of each current or aspiring competitor as the competition season is about to begin! Michigan is host to many upcoming competitions. As Michigan residents, we have the privilege of witnessing these amazing creatures display the fruits of their labor on many local stages.

According to Michigan NPC News, the contest season here in Michigan begins on March 17 right in our very own Rochester, MI. A complete contest schedule may be obtained by visiting http://www.michigannpcnews.com and clicking the 2012 NPC Schedule button in the menu on the right side of the screen.

If you've never seen a bodybuilding competition or think that bodybuilding is only for the Arnold Schwarzenegger types, you should check out a show. The sport of bodybuilding has really blossomed in the last few years and includes divisions for various levels of muscular development for both women and men.

In addition to the categories of figure and bikini, a new division called physique has been included. Female competitors in the physique division are said to more muscular than a figure or fitness competitor but less muscular than a bodybuilder. Male competitors in the physique division are actually marked down for extreme muscularity and instead judged on symmetry and overall conditioning combined with some muscularity.

Here's to an exciting bodybuilding competition season here in Michigan. It'll be interesting to see how many of our hometown competitors go pro!

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG4iTfsaoVPKVnDEM1OGDpd53QeTA&url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1044086-heavyweight-action-in-upstate-new-york-tony-grano-kos-brian-minto-in-three

Jan 30, 2012 9:21:22 PM

Heavyweight Action in Upstate New York: Tony Grano KOs Brian Minto in 3 - Bleacher Report

On Saturday, January 28th, the Oneida Nation's Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York played host to an action-packed card of professional boxing, capped off by a main event which saw Connecticut heavyweight prospect Tony Grano, 19-2-1 (15), pick up the biggest win of his career by KOing former world tittle challenger Brian Minto, 35-5 (22), in the third round.

Grano, whose previous career highlights included a thrilling fourth-round knockout of Travis Kaufman that was broadcast on ShoBox, demonstrated once more that he is clearly a heavyweight puncher. After two close, feeling-out rounds, Grano unloaded quickly in the third, dropping Minto with an explosive combination.

Minto made it back to his feet and fought gamely, bringing the crowd to its feet. But Grano demonstrated professional composure, as he finished off his badly-hurt opponent. He put Minto down again and the fight was done.

Grano, who was KO'd in two rounds himself by journeyman Nicolai Firtha only two fights ago, is clearly still a long way off from being discussed as a potential title challenger, but he demonstrated again that he is a quality professional who can make exciting fights in the heavyweight division.

In the co-main event, cruiserweight Eric Fields of Ardmore, OK improved to 20-1 (14) with an easy unanimous decision victory over popular local journeyman Derrick Brown, 13-7-3 (11), of nearby Utica, NY.

After the fight, Fields called out cruisererweight contender BJ Flores, 27-1-1 (17), during an in-ring interview with Gofightlive.com, the website that was broadcasting the card online.

Flores, who won a fight himself on Saturday night, fighting in Springfield, Missouri, would represent a significant rise in class over Fields' recent competition. On Saturday night, Fields showed talent but was, frankly, less than completely impressive against the tough but over-matched Brown.

Still, give credit to Fields for stepping up. A pretty girl with a camera crew put a microphone in front of him and he asks about the biggest challenge that he could have thought up.

Fields is not unreasonable to want to put himself in the mix at the top of the cruiserweight division. His only loss is to Ola Afobi, who has only lost to Marco Huck and Allan Green.

The Fighter of the Night Award went to another local fighter, undefeated light heavyweight Ryon McKenzie, who improved to 9-0 (9) with a second-round stoppage of Richard Starnino out of Providence, Rhode Island. McKenzie, a native of the Bahamas, has recently relocated to Canastota, "Boxing's Hometown."

http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/01/28/12/ASU-flexes-offensive-muscle-downs-Wazzu/landing_sundevils.html?blockID=655158

Jan 30, 2012 5:21:20 AM

01/29/2012

ASU 'flexes' offensive muscle, downs Wazzu - FS Arizona

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Jan 29, 2012 1:21:22 PM

01/28/2012

Wrestling: Barrington leaves MSL meet with another title - Lincolnshire Review

BY GARY LARSEN Contributor January 28, 2012 6:24PM

Elk Grove -Kevin Conrad of Barrignton (left) battles Joe Madio of Buffalo Grove. Mid-Suburban League wresting championships. | Joe Cyganowski ~ For Sun Times Media

storyidforme: 24797844
tmspicid: 9104534
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Updated: January 28, 2012 7:56PM

Barrington senior wrestler Ryan Wilt can tell you exactly why his team dominated the Mid-Suburban League meet for the second consecutive year.

?It?s the team unity we have,? Wilt said. ?Every one of us cares about how everyone else is wrestling and we feed off of each other. That carries us from match to match.?

The Broncos posted a 281.5-186 edge over second-place Schaumburg in Elk Grove, led by MSL champions Wilt (195), Jared Parvinmehr (113), Kevin Conrad (126), Nick Shealy (152), Mark Shealy (182), Ben Calamari (285) and 13 total place-winners on the day. Buffalo Grove placed third, followed by Conant and Prospect.

Late takedowns for wins, overtime periods, upsets ? this year?s MSL meet met the standard.

?Anything can happen in this conference and that?s why it?s so exciting and fun to watch,? Barrington coach Ken Hoving said. ?There are a lot of high-ranked kids in this tournament and it?s a lot of fun.?

Only one MSL wrestler walked away with his unbeaten record intact, as defending state champion Josh Marchok (34-0) of Schaumburg won his third MSL title by posting three first-period pins on the day, giving him 30 pins on the season.

?I don?t know if I?m more confident but I feel like I need to be more aggressive,? Marchok said. ?I want to make sure nothing silly happens so I want to go out there and wrestle as hard as I can.?

The day?s barn-burner came at 170, with Rolling Meadows? Joe Caprio (34-1) using an overtime takedown against Wheeling?s Eddie Scanlon to win 13-11 for his second MSL crown.

?That was definitely scary,? Caprio said. ?In overtime I knew he was going to shoot (a low single) because that?s how he took me down early, so I had to defend it and score off it.?

Hersey had three MSL champs on the day in Stephfon Scales (120), Conrad Bugay (132), and Hunter Rollins (160). Conant?s Mitch Alexander (138) and Buffalo Grove?s Jordan Rathje (145) rounded out this year?s field of MSL champs. Parvinmehr, Scales, and Alexander each won their second MSL titles.

The upset of the tournament came on the title mat at 106 pounds when Conant freshman Bobby Alexander used a third-period reversal and three back points to win 11-8 over top-seeded Adrian Gonzalez of Barrington.

Gonzalez (29-2) and Alexander (30-6) took turns reversing each other throughout the match.

?He pinned me real quick in our dual, so I wanted to stay positive and keep it close,? Alexander said. ?I?m comfortable scrambling and I feel like I?ve gotten stronger as the year has gone on.?

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFzEFOuy5YFrltRZAR62lMdbpfMiw&url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120128/GPG1008/201280301/Wrestling-Roundup-Kewaunee-wins-2-5-De-Pere-Duals

Jan 28, 2012 9:21:24 PM

Wrestling Roundup: Kewaunee wins 2 of 5 at De Pere Duals - Green Bay Press Gazette

The Kewaunee wrestling team went 2-3 at the Redbird Duals in De Pere on Jan. 21, after losing its Packerland Conference opener, 51-30, to visiting Oconto on Jan. 19.

At De Pere, Kewaunee lost to Kiel, 39-36; avenged an earlier loss with a 40-36 win over Green Bay West/Southwest; lost to New London, 44-24; defeated West De Pere, 45-28; and lost to De Pere, 40-36.

"We should have won four of five," Kewaunee coach Dave Jerabek said. "I was really happy with the way the boys wrestled. David Steinhorst went 5-0 on the day and we had several boys go 4-1. We used one of our football players, Austin Richard, at heavyweight for the first time and he went 4-1 on the day. We wrestled a (junior varsity) at 152 who got us a pin and saved us three forfeits."

Kewaunee returned to action on Jan. 24 with a match against the Luxemburg-Casco JVs and competed again on Jan. 26 in a Packerland match at Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol, a combined team. The Storm also competes in the Deerfield Invitational on Jan. 28.

Meanwhile, Luxemburg-Casco (17-3 overall, 4-0 conference), off since Jan. 12, returned to action on Jan. 26 in a triple dual against Denmark, Marinette and Shawano at Luxemburg-Casco. The Spartans also compete in the Pulaski Invitational on Jan. 28 and face Oconto Falls at home in a Bay Conference showdown for first place on Feb. 3 (6:30 p.m.).

» AT KEWAUNEE: The Blue Devils won seven of the 11 contested matches, including six by pin fall.

"We got caught at the end of some of them," Storm coach Dave Jerabek said. "If a couple of matches went our way at the end, we would have been right there with them.

Momentum swung in Oconto's favor in the third match of the dual when Kewaunee junior Ryan Kickbusch was pinned by Brian Ozak in the 145-pound match. Kickbusch was up 11-1 with 30 seconds remaining.

"He wrestled a good match, so that was a tough one for him," Jerabek said.

The Storm got pins from Jon Pilgrim at 138 pounds, Adam Kuehl at 220, Austin Pilgrim at 106 and Ken Hower at 120.

» AT DE PERE: Kewaunee got pin wins from Jon Pilgrim at 138, Jared Ledvina at 152 and Adam Kuehl at 220 in 39-36 loss to Kiel, while Andrew LaCrosse lost a 9-7 heartbreak at 160 pounds and Austin Richard lost only 5-0 in his varsity debut, while wrestling up a weight class at 285.

(Page 2 of 3)

Kewaunee beat Green Bay West/Southwest, 40-36, getting pin wins by Jon Pilgrim at 138 and Adam Kuehl at 220, while Ryan Kichbusch was a major decision winner at 145.

In its loss to New London, Kewaunee got pin wins from Austin Pilgrim at 106 and Jon Pilgrim at 138. Suffering close losses were Ryan Kickbusch (10-5) at 145, Jacob Wendt (4-2) at 182 and Adam Kuehl (2-1 at 220.

Kewaunee claimed six pin wins in beating West De Pere. They came from Austin Pilgrim at 106, Austin Pekarek at 113, Jon Pilgrim at 138, David Steinhorst at 195, Adam Kuehl at 220 and Austin Richard at 285, while Ryan Kickbusch was a 3-0 decision winner at 145.

Against De Pere, Kewaunee received pin wins from Austin Pilgrim at 106, Ken Hower at 120 and David Steinhorst at 195.

Oconto 51, Kewaunee 30

132: Blake Bostwick, O, pin Dylan Saxby, 0:53; 138: Jon Pilgrim, K, pin Doug Exworthy, 1:42; 145: Brian Ozak, O, pin Ryan Kickbusch, 5:40; 152: Justin Micoley, O, dec. Austin Bernsdorf, 6-2; 160: Brandon Tousey, O, won by forfeit; 170: Gerald Kelsey, O, pin Andrew LaCrosse, 1:28; 182: Michael Bailey, O, pin Jacob Wendt, 1:51; 195: David Steinhorst, K, won by forfeit; 220: Adam Kuehl, K, pin Adam Schultz, 1:23; 285: John Petrick, O, pin Joe LeFevre, 3:01; 106: Austin Pilgrim, K, pin Alex Crowe, 2:44; 113: Ben Giesler, O, pin Austin Pekarek, 3:52; 120: Ken Hower, K, pin Alexis Ermis, 3:36; 126: Hunter Michalak, O, won by forfeit.

REDBIRD DUALS

Kiel 39, Kewaunee 36

106: Tanner Woepse, Kiel, pinned Austin Pilgrim, 2:33; 113: Philip Schultz, Kiel, won 12-9 decision over Austin Pekarek; 120: Ken Hower, Kew, won by forfeit; 126: Jordan Ausloos, Kiel, won by forfeit; 132: Jesus Sandoval, Kiel, won by forfeit; 138: Jon Pilgrim, Kew, pinned Justin Walters, 1:34; 145: Ryan Kickbusch, Kewaunee, won by forfeit; 152: Jared Ledvina, Kew, pinned Dustin Landolt, 2:46; 160: Aaron Field, Kiel, won 9-7 decision over Andrew LaCrosse; 170: Brendan Meyer, Kiel, won by forfeit; 182: Austin Field, Kiel, pinned Jacob wendt, 3;08; 195: David Steinhorst, Kew, won by forfeit; 220: Adam Kuehl, Kew, pinned Josh Scharenbroch, 0:39; 285: Matt Halverson, Kiel, won 5-0 decision over Austin Richard.

(Page 3 of 3)

Kewaunee 40, Green Bay West/Southwest 36

106: Austin Pilgrim, K, won by forfeit; 112: Andrew Walintine, GBW/SW, won by pin, 0:41, over Austin Pekarek; 120: Kyle Nelson, GBW/SW, won by pin, 1:29, over Ken Hower; 126: Justin Schmidt, GBW/SW won by forfeit; 132: Jose Hernandez, GBW/SW, won by forfeit; 138: Jon Pilgrim, K, won by pin, 1:41, over Gerardo Gonzales; 145: Ryan Kickbusch, K, won by major decision, 15-5, over Colton Lindley; 152: Dylan Montoure, GBW/SW, won by pin, 3:06, over Jared Ledvina; 160: Double forfeit; 170: Anthony Holloran, GBW/SW, won by pin, 2:47, over Andrew LaCrosse; 182; Jacob Wendt, SB, won by forfeit; 195; David Steinhorst, K, won by forfeit; 220: Austin Richard, K, won by forfeit; 285: Adam Kuehl, K, won by pin, 1:49, over Steven Fischler.

New London 44, Kewaunee 24

106: Austin Pilgrim, K, won by pin, 3:36, over Theo Ambrosius; 113: Kevin Urban, NL, won by pin, 3:58, over Austin Pekarek; 120: Jake Close, NL, won by pin, 4:43, over Ken Hower; 126: Double forfeit; 132: Austin Wyngaard, NL, won by forfeit; 138: Jon Pilgrim, K, won by pin, 1:18, over Earon Postel; 145: Zach Duenas, NL, won by decision, 10-5, over Ryan Kickbusch; 152: Andrew Moser, NL, won by technical fall, 16-0, over Jared Ledvina; 160: Brett Handscke, NL, won by forfeit; 170; Austin Postel, NL, won by pin, 0:25, over Andrew LaCrosse; 182: Justin Behnke, NL, won by decision, 4-2, over Jacob Wendt; 195: David Steinhorst, K, won by forfeit; 220: Andrew Ritchie, NL, won by 2-1 decision over Adam Kuehl; 285: Austin Richard, K, won by forfeit.

Kewaunee 45, West De Pere 28

106: Austin Pilgrim, K, won by pin, 3:23, over Greg Martin; 113: Austin Pekarek, K, won by pin, 1:07, over owen Maass; 120: Ken Hower, K, won by forfeit; 126: Bryce Elm, WDP, won by forfeit; 132; Shane Watruba, WDP, won by forfeit; 138: Jon Pilgrim, K, won by pin, 0:50, over Calvin Albers; 145: Ryan Kickbusch, K, won by decision, 3-0, over Reece Lade; 152; Gage Dessart, SDP, won by major decision, 13-2, over Jared Ledvina; 160: Alex Schmit, WDP, won by forfeit; 170: Tad Taggart, WDP, won by decision, 13-8, over Andrew LaCrosse; 182; Jason Stupka, WDP, won by decision, 8-1, over Jacob Wendt; 195: David Steinhorst, K, won by pin, 1:14, over Darwin Thunder; 220: Adam Kuehl, K, won by pin, 2:35, over Matt Bjork; 285: Austin Richard, K, won by pin, 2:41, over Terrence Huff.

De Pere 40, Kewaunee 36

106: Austin Pilgrim, K, won by pin, 5:19, over Stephanie Sobleskey; 113: Josh Bonness, DP, won by decision, 6-0, over Austin Pekarek; 120: Ken Hower, K, won by pin, 3:43, over Zach Broulire; 126: Casey Leanna, DP, won by forfeit; 132; Andrew Rossetti, DP, won by forfeit; 138: Tyler Turriff, DP, won by major decision, 11-2, over Jon Pilgrim; 145: Ryan Kickbusch, K, won by forfeit; 152: Bobby Guns, DP, won by tech. fall, 20-4, over Jared Ledvina; 160: Marcus Kolpack, DP, won by forfeit; 170; Aaron Norwood, DP, won by pin, 0:56, over Andrew LaCrosse; 182: Jacob Wendt, K, won by forfeit; 195: David Steinhorst, K, won by pin, 0:21, over Ian Arndorfer; 220: Isaiah Hayes, DP, won by major decision, 12-3, over Adam Kuehl; 285: Austin Richard, K, won by forfeit.

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Jan 28, 2012 5:21:31 AM

01/27/2012

Wrestling Travels to Boston for Two Bouts - GoDuke.com

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Jan 27, 2012 1:21:21 PM

01/26/2012

Wrestling changes a weighty issue - Greenwich Time

Trumbull senior Ben Anderson was all set to wrestle his senior year in the 135-pound weight class before an announcement came down last spring that altered the strategic landscape of high school wrestling across the nation.

The wrestling rules committee of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced that there would be 10 new weight classes. The lightest weight class shifted from 103 pounds to 106 pounds -- and up to 108 pounds after Christmas with each weight class being bumped up two pounds as in the past.

The biggest change was the elimination of the 135-pound weight class and an extra class added among the four heavier weights (182, 195, 220 and 285).

To what degree the weight changes have altered lineups across the state is still under debate and will take more than one season to assess.

Most coaches and wrestlers were upset about the announcement, and their feelings have not changed since the season began on Dec. 14.

It may not seem like a big difference from the outside looking in, but in a sport where two pounds can be a big difference and teams struggle to fill heavier weight classes every year, the rule changes presented an unnecessary obstacle to many wrestlers.

"It kind of hurt me because I was planning on staying at 135," said Anderson, who won the Class LL and FCIAC titles at 135 last year. "Going to 132 was too much weight for me to cut and I would have felt too small. So I had to go up to 138, which is 140 now with the two-pound bump."

The statement released by the national committee in the spring didn't make coaches around the state feel any better about the decision.

"The change in weight classes resulted from a three-to-four year process utilizing data from the National Wrestling Coaches Association Optimal Performance Calculator," Dale Pleimann, chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, said in a statement. "The rules committee was able to analyze data from almost 200,000 wrestlers across the country, with the goal to create weight classes that have approximately seven percent of the wrestlers in each weight class.

"Overall in the long run, it will hurt a lot of schools," said Danbury coach Ricky Shook, whose Hatters are ranked No. 1 in the state coaches' poll. "They took away a middle weight class. The majority of wrestlers in our state are in the middle weight classes. We always struggle to get bigger kids. In 25 years, this change would have only helped us in maybe three years."

The fact that Danbury, one of the biggest schools in the state and also the most dominant program during the past 20 years, has struggled to fill heavier weight classes could be a good indication that the changes will hurt many teams.

"This year it worked out OK for us," Shook said. "We just happened to luck out. I will have problems next year filling out the upper weights."

The national federation last made a change in 1988, when the lowest weight class increased from 98 to 103 pounds. In 2002, a 215-pound class was added, and in 2006, the 275-pound class increased to 285.

So this season's weight shifts is the most drastic change in recent history, but not all wrestlers are handling it the same way.

"It's no big deal," said Fairfield Warde junior Pharoah Eaton after earning a win against Danbury in a dual meet Wednesday at 132 pounds.

Like Danbury, Warde has been blessed with a strong youth program in recent years that has helped provide not only experienced wrestlers, but a high volume.

"You definitely see a lot more experienced wrestlers at the lower to middle weights," Warde coach Jason Shaughnessy said. "We have a good relationship with the football team and get some of the bigger guys to wrestle."

Trumbull coach Charlie Anderson, Ben's father, is a strong believer that the weight changes have hurt the most talented parts of many teams' lineups.

"They bucked the bell curve," coach Anderson said. "You take a weight class out of the bell curve and put it on the end, it definitely affects most teams. It won't help teams in the long run. We have one of the biggest teams in the state and can fill all the weight classes. Other teams will have trouble finding bigger kids at the heavier weights."

The postseason tournaments begin in a little more than two weeks, so the first season is close to being in the books.

"Maybe the change was made for the teams in the Midwest, more where kids are bigger from lifting bails of hay," Ben Anderson said. "The middleweights are big on the East Coast. They tried to make it across the nation for everybody and it doesn't work. We all made the adjustment in the beginning but people are still pushing for the old way."

Reach Jason Sonski at jsonski@newstimes.com.

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Jan 26, 2012 9:21:19 PM

Indians Roundup: Wrestlers Ready for Run at SCT Title - Patch.com

The Toms River South wrestling team has been through some challenging matches already this season. Wrestling in Shore Conference Class A South with the likes of both Jackson Memorial and Southern ? perennial favorites on several levels ? makes for a tough schedule.

But it?s a schedule that has helped the Indians earn the fifth seed in the Shore Conference Tournament. Toms River South (8-3) takes on 12^th-seeded Jackson Liberty at 5 p.m. Thursday at Brick Memorial in the tournament?s Round of 16. The host Mustangs wrestle Freehold Township at the same time, and then the winners will wrestle their quarterfinal match at 7 p.m.

The Indians have been led by junior BJ Clagon, who was a state runner-up last year, and brothers Ken and Matt Theobold, who transferred from Manchester. This trio gives Toms River South a great deal of strength in its lower weights, while the upperweights are filled with young wrestlers, thanks in part to the new weight classes.

The Indians have a meeting with Pinelands on Saturday and next week face Raritan and Kittatinny as they ramp up for the state team tournament.

In boys basketball: The Indians (9-5) bounced back from their second loss to Southern with a 55-54 victory over Brick Memorial on Tuesday. Toms River South trailed 24-18 at halftime, and finished off its rally with a 23-point fourth quarter. Elijah Dupree led the Indians with 20 points in the win.

Toms River South faces Raritan on Thursday and Toms River North on Friday as it gears up for a rematch with Jackson Memorial on Tuesday.

In girls basketball: The Toms River South girls team has bounced back from a pair of losses to Jackson (68-34) and Toms River East (57-31) with a pair of victories in recent days. The Indians (7-5) beat Southern 34-16, and then topped Brick Memorial on Tuesday 52-44. Amanda Timmes (15) and Andrea Eckholt (14) led the way for Toms River South, which faces Raritan on Thursday and Toms River North on Friday.

In ice hockey: The Indians (5-9-1) have dropped three straight since topping Freehold Township on Jan. 14. Goals have been hard to come by for Toms River South in the losses, while the Indians? opponents have been scoring at will. The Indians fell to Brick 6-1, then to Howell, 8-1, and dropped a match to crosstown rival Toms River North, 5-2, on Monday. Toms River South faces St. John Vianney, whom it lost to 7-2 in the teams? first meeting, and gets another shot at Howell early next week.

In swimming: The Toms River South boys had a strong showing at the Ocean County Championships at the Ocean County YMCA, winning two of the three relays and placing swimmers in the top 6 in eight other events.

Jacob Limaldi swam all three relays and took second in the 200 individual medley and in the 100 breaststroke, Nicholas Yodonis added thirds in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle to his roles on the relays; Peter Herbst took third in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 freestyle, and Jake Lewandowski was fifth in the 500 freestyle as Toms River South showed off some talent.

On the girls side, Angie Tomasura took second in the 100 butterfly, sixth in the 200 individual medley and swam a leg of the 200 medley relay wth Miranda Farfalla, and Farfalla took third in the 100 breaststroke.

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Jan 26, 2012 5:21:24 AM

01/25/2012

Pirate wrestlers earn first trophy in years - Cibola County Beacon

GRANTS - It has been several years since the Grants Pirates wrestling squad earned a trophy at any type of tournament. On Saturday in Belen, the Pirates finally earned a third place team trophy. The Leonard Kirby Invitational dual meet at Belen High hosted six teams, all but Taos being 4A.

The Pirates started off the day wrestling weight for weight with Belen High, who was later proclaimed the victor of the tournament. Earning the first win of the dual was 170 pound sophomore Michael Marez, who handily pinned his district opponent. Marez won four out of his five matches on the day, improving his record to 18-5.

Junior, 220 pound Daniel Sedillos (21-7) was the next to win in a match against a wrestler out of Belen. Sedillos won his match by scraping in 2 take down points late in the third round. It is expected, by head coach Andrew Gordon, that this match will happen once more for the district championship in a few weeks. Sedillos won four out of his five matches on the day.

After starting out somewhat slow in their first dual, the Pirates picked up the pace against Bernalillo. Most of the Pirate squad came up victorious, including freshman Isaac Ramirez. Isaac Ramirez, of the tough 195 pound weight class, earned his first win of the year wrestling with Bernalillo.

The Pirates wrestled a Los Lunas junior varsity squad, handling them similarly to Bernalillo.

After wrestling the Los Lunas JV squad, the Pirates matched up with the Los Lunas Varsity team. Highlighting the dual was a match in the 170 pound weight class. Marez was set to wrestle returning State Champion out of Los Lunas. Marez was behind by points early in the match. In desperation, Marez flipped his opponent onto his back, twice. After nearly pinning the returning state champion, Marez still fell short. "I know that I can beat this guy". This is all Marez had to say about his opponent.

The Pirates finished the day wrestling Taos. Taos had a lot of forfeits due to their small roster. Chase Bailey, 120, encountered the biggest battle of his small wrestling career. Bailey was losing and was almost pinned at one point, but he never gave in. With ten seconds left Bailey surprised his opponent by slamming him to the mat for the pin.

At the end of the day the Pirates placed third, behind Belen and Los Lunas. "We're young and we still need to improve, but we did good and I'm proud." Says Coach Gordon. "We'll be prepared when district comes, and I plan on taking eight to ten wrestlers to the State Tournament.?

More action for the improving Pirate squad will continue on Saturday at Ft. Wingate High School.

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Jan 25, 2012 1:21:44 PM

01/24/2012

Junk Food in Schools May Not Cause Weight Gain in Kids - GoLocalProv

Monday, January 23, 2012

GoLocalProv Health Team

With tempting junk food in their schools, kids did not gain more weight.

While the percentage of obese children in the United States tripled between the early 1970s and the late 2000s, a new study suggests that?at least for middle school students?weight gain has nothing to do with the candy, soda, chips, and other junk food they can purchase at school.

?We were really surprised by that result and, in fact, we held back from publishing our study for roughly two years because we kept looking for a connection that just wasn?t there,? said Jennifer Van Hook, a Professor of Sociology and Demography at Pennsylvania State University and lead author of the study, which appears in the January issue of Sociology of Education.

The study relies on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999, which follows a nationally representative sample of nearly 20,000 students from the fall of kindergarten through the spring of eighth grade.

Junk food in schools didn't equal weight gain

The authors found that 59.2 percent of fifth graders and 86.3 percent of eighth graders in their study attended schools that sold junk food. But, while there was a significant increase in the percentage of students who attended schools that sold junk food between fifth and eighth grades, there was no rise in the percentage of students who were overweight or obese. In fact, despite the increased availability of junk food, the percentage of students who were overweight or obese actually decreased from fifth grade to eighth grade, from 39.1 percent to 35.4 percent.

?There has been a great deal of focus in the media on how schools make a lot of money from the sale of junk food to students, and on how schools have the ability to help reduce childhood obesity,? Van Hook said. ?In that light, we expected to find a definitive connection between the sale of junk food in middle schools and weight gain among children between fifth and eighth grades. But, our study suggests that?when it comes to weight issues?we need to be looking far beyond schools and, more specifically, junk food sales in schools, to make a difference.?

The need to focus on home environments

According to Van Hook, policies that aim to reduce childhood obesity and prevent unhealthy weight gain need to concentrate more on the home and family environments as well as the broader environments outside of school.

?Schools only represent a small portion of children?s food environment,? Van Hook said. ?They can get food at home, they can get food in their neighborhoods, and they can go across the street from the school to buy food. Additionally, kids are actually very busy at school. When they?re not in class, they have to get from one class to another and they have certain fixed times when they can eat. So, there really isn?t a lot of opportunity for children to eat while they?re in school, or at least eat endlessly, compared to when they?re at home. As a result, whether or not junk food is available to them at school may not have much bearing on how much junk food they eat.?

Hasbro expert: two wrongs don't make a right

?This is the classic case of "two wrongs don't make a right," said Barbara B Robinson, MPH, RD, Pediatric Nutrition Specialist at Hasbro Children?s Hospital. "One of the authors' major contentions is that children develop poor eating habits and become overweight in their earlier years and that including "junk food" in the schools does not contribute further to the obesity problem."

While Robinson says she agreed that children form their eating habits early in life in the context of their families, she said that she didn't take the view that "the damage is done and therefore we don't need to continue efforts to keep unhealthy foods and beverages out of schools." We should be concerned about childhood obesity, Robinson said, "but we should also be concerned with whether our children are well nourished. Just because children were not becoming more overweight it does not mean that they didn't become less well nourished overall. For example, if children drank more soda and less milk, they might be setting themselves up for Vitamin D deficiency and poor bone density."

Should emphasis be on younger kids?

The study results also intimate that when it comes to combating childhood obesity and weight issues, policymakers should put more emphasis on younger children, Van Hook said. ?There has been a lot of research showing that many children develop eating habits and tastes for certain types of foods when they are of preschool age, and that those habits and tastes may stay with them for their whole lives,? Van Hook said. ?So, their middle school environments might not matter a lot.?

Schools should not abdicate their responsibility to structure a setting that is run by adults who show good judgment, Robinson said. "Implicit in allowing competitive foods in the schools is a passive stamp of approval. In essence, 'responsible' adults are condoning such foods. What kind of a message does that send to children??

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Jan 24, 2012 9:21:22 PM

Lithium therapy for bipolar disoder may cause weight gain, thyroid problems - HealthJockey.com

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Jan 24, 2012 5:21:28 AM

01/23/2012

Ohio sports fest site gets Schwarzenegger statue - San Jose Mercury News

COLUMBUS, Ohio?A sculpted version of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his bodybuilding prime is getting a permanent home in central Ohio.

The Columbus Dispatch ( http://bit.ly/wt7riE) reports an 8-foot bronze statue of the actor and former California governor will stand outside the Veterans Memorial exhibition space that hosts the Arnold Sports Festival. It will be unveiled March 2 during the multisport festival.

The statue showing the young bodybuilder flexing his muscles is based on the same prototype used to create the trophy for the winner of the bodybuilding contest at the festival. Last year, Schwarzenegger unveiled a matching sculpture in his hometown in Austria at a museum chronicling his life.

The Columbus statue was donated by Dr. Robert Goldman, the president emeritus of the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

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Jan 23, 2012 1:21:28 PM

01/22/2012

Boxing clever with support crew - Herald Sun

Serena Williams

Serena Williams has a supportive crew behind the scenes. Picture: Fiona Hamilton Source: news.com.au

DURING his career as a tennis professional Mark Hlawaty's entourage extended to a mate, a family friend and a doubles partner at a dirt-cheap hotel.

Now that the Australian rolls with Serena Williams, life is temporarily on a grander scale.

In recent days, he has rubbed shoulders with NFL megastar Dwight Freeney and rock band Tool.

Williams has booked eight rooms at a South Yarra hotel and has her food prepared off-site.

Her entourage in her player's box has numbered as many as a dozen friends and family and coaches.

But where once that tally of helpers might have been deemed excessive, now it is par for the course.

For Williams, shelling out huge cash to travel with her growing band of coaches, trainers and agents is just the cost of doing business.

Hlawaty has been a hitting partner with her in Australia since 2003, the year of her first Australian Open title.

In his other life, as a national academy coach in Melbourne, he knows the other end of the spectrum.

There he sees battlers simply trying to make ends meet as they strive for progress on the tour.

But he said Williams' band of supporters helped her get the job done on court.

"(My entourage) used to be the guy I was rooming with. That would be it, or maybe my doubles partner," Hlawaty said.

"Now it is absolutely vital. This is their livelihood. Playing tennis and being successful is the key for them.

"If they can afford it, they can provide a comfortable work environment for themselves. This is not a hobby. They want maximum return for their effort."

At Wimbledon last year Williams drew attention for the number of people in her player's box.

But where Marat Safin invited a bevy of blondes, most of Williams' team of 15 were critical members of her support staff.

Among them were personal assistant Val Vogt, trainer Esther Lee, hitting partner Sasha Bajin, agent Jill Smoller, Nike rep Suzanne Pond, and seven friends or family.

Many are here again this week, but Hlawaty spends up to five weeks with her, knowing exactly what he must do to hone her skills.

He maximises her time on the practice court, allowing her to be at her best.

Hlawaty says the investment of coach/trainer/hitting partner for players on the rise is quickly returned.

"I think (ideally) you have your coach, your physical trainer, and they may also have skills as a physio or masseur," he said.

"Then you might have your mum and dad, so five or six seems to be the norm. In a perfect world that would be the case and then you fly friends and family in.

"You have to be at a certain level to do that, but it's an expensive game. A lot of people at the lower levels are doing it tough and don't have the luxury of an entourage."

The hotel's Nick Gouin said Serena had come prepared. "We have got a lot of tennis players here, and they all seem to have quite a few people with them," he said.

"In comparison to other players, the (Williams camp) might do it in excess of some others, but they certainly don't come underprepared."

Why so many people?

Williams is not just a tennis player. She is a multi million-dollar industry with more than $33 million in career prizemoney, more than any female athlete in history.

She has a $40 million Nike deal, is a part-owner of the Miami Dolphins, and has built and funded a school in Kenya.

None of it comes without a huge support structure.

For Williams, the likes of friend Kim Kardashian will always steal the limelight when they visit her player's box.

But it is those no-names flying under the radar providing critical support who help make her the player she has become.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGFV99fLIXQprlJmg0Q_B9-CKGqHQ&url=http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20120122/SPORTS/201220322/Wrestling-Marysville-Vikings-third-own-invitational?odyssey=mod%257Cnewswell%257Ctext%257CFRONTPAGE%257Cs

Jan 22, 2012 9:21:25 PM

Wrestling: Marysville Vikings third at own invitational - Port Huron Times Herald

MARYSVILLE -- The Marysville wrestling team went 3-2 and finished third in its own eight-team tournament Saturday.

Lake Orion won the title with a 4-1 record, while Flint Kearsley was runner-up at 4-1.

The Vikings (12-10-1) defeated Troy Athens 43-32; St. Clair Shores Lakeview 49-22 and Croswell-Lexington 33-31. They lost to to Kearsley 42-36 and Lake Orion 34-20.

Dominic Ciaramella, a 130-pounder, and Zach Trout (215) each went 5-0 for the Vikings, while Nick Dunlap (119), Matt Volpe (112) and Trevor Connor (125) were 4-1.

Marysville is home Thursday for a match against Sterling Heights that will determine the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division championship.

Cros-Lex finished 3-2 on the day after winning its pool. The Pioneers knocked off Lutheran North (63-13), Romulus (50-18) and Lake Orion (40-28) in their pool before losing to Marysville and Flint Kearsley.

Robert Wait led the way for the Pioneers, going 5-0 at 215 pounds.

Cody Dobson (119), Garrison Schoettle (140), Austin Woodruff (152) and Adam Sechrist (285) each went 4-1 on the day.

Double Duals

NOVI -- The Richmond A team went 0-2 at the Detroit Catholic Central Double Duals.

The Blue Devils lost to Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller 48-6 and to Lowell 43-25.

Dustin Pitcel (125) and Josh Younk (285) earned the wins for Richmond (18-3) against Moeller, which is ranked 16th in the country.

Nick Burg (119), Pitcel (125), Devin Skatzka (135), Eric Boyd (189) and Younk (285) each had a win against Lowell, which is ranked No. 2 in Division 2 and 29th nationally.

Chippewa Valley

HARRISON TWP. -- Port Huron Northern went 3-2, winning the Bronze Division at the Chippewa Valley Invitational.

The Huskies defeated Yale (38-31), Warren Cousino (35-34) and Richmond B (53-30), and lost to Utica Ford (40-37) and Birmingham Seaholm (36-36 on criteria).

Steffan Cleavor (103), Austin Thompson (112), Robert Leal (130) and Mitch Schrader (160) each went 5-0 for the Huskies, while Kevin Nguyen (125), Parker Willard (135) and Sebastian Taylor (171) each went 4-1.

The Richmond B team posted a 2-3 record, including victories against Warren Cousino (34-34 on criteria) and Yale (40-29). The Blue Devils fell to Warren Mott (47-41), Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (39-34) and
Northern (53-30).

Marius Weisser (215/285) and Logan Robbins (140/145) each went 5-0 for the Blue Devils, who are 16-7 on the season.

Connor Behem (103), Jeff Sepienza (160) and Austin Peltier (189) finished with 4-1 marks, while Nick Olko (119) and Brenden Adams (215) each went 3-2.

Mayville Tournament

MAYVILLE -- Dakota Burke was 4-1 at 152 pounds for the Cros-Lex B team.

The Pioneers were 1-4 on the day, with their lone win coming against Armada.

Dakota Tournament

MACOMB -- Capac finished fourth with a 3-2 record, while Port Huron High was also 3-2 and finished seventh. Host Macomb Dakota was 5-0 and won the tournament.

Capac defeated Fraser (60-23), Grosse Pointe South (78-0) and Warren DeLaSalle (51-20), and lost to Dakota (53-18) and Warren Woods-Tower (44-27).

Dustin Hunsucker (103) and Dan Cornish (171) each went 5-0 on the day for the Chiefs, while Joey Nemecek (112) was 4-1.

Clawson Tournament

CLAWSON -- St. Clair improved to 20-10 on the season with a 4-1 record and runner-up finish at the Clawson Team Tournament.

The Saints lost in the finals to Southfield 33-30. They beat Bloomfield Hills Andover 53-19; Madison Heights Bishop Foley 58-24; Highland Park 48-17 and Hamtramck 62-15.

Ryan Parslow (103), Justin McGinnis (112), Ryan Boucher (130), Mike Denny (135) and Justin Jokoty (140) each went 5-0 for the Saints. Keene Garcia (145) was 4-1.

St. Clair wrestles for the outright MAC Gold championship Thursday at Warren Lincoln.

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Jan 22, 2012 5:21:29 AM

01/21/2012

Wrestling Falls to No. 5 Cornell, 38-7 - Harvard Crimson

After moving into the Top 25 earlier this week, the Harvard wrestling team appeared poised for a breakout performance on Friday night as it faced its toughest opponent thus far, No. 5 Cornell (6-0, 3-0 Ivy). But the highly touted Big Red proved itself worthy of the hype, and the Crimson (4-4, 0-2 Ivy) couldn?t keep pace, falling, 38-7, in Ithaca, NY.

After forfeiting the 125-pound match, Harvard freshman Ryan Osleeb won a decision at 133 pounds to open the action, but it would be one of only two wins on the day for the Crimson as Cornell quickly took control.

No. 5 Walter Peppelman continued his impressive campaign, as he interrupted a string of Cornell wins with a major decision over Ryan Dunphy in the 157-pound match, improving to 17-3 on the season.

The Big Red, which boasted three wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes, swept the remainder of the matches with three decisions, one injury default, one technical fall, and three pins.

No. 7 Corey Jantzen suffered only his second loss since returning from injury, falling to Chris Villalonga in a tight 1-0 match at 149 pounds.

Harvard is off until next Saturday, when it will face Army in a dual-meet at home.

?Check thecrimson.com for updates.

?Staff writer James M. Acer be reached at jacer@college.harvard.edu.

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Jan 21, 2012 1:21:25 PM

01/20/2012

Epix To Televise Three Consecutive Heavyweight Title Fights - SaddoBoxing.com

They may not be stepping into the same ring to unify their titles but their upcoming title defenses will be televised live in the U.S. on the same network.

World heavyweight champions Vitali Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin and Wladimir Klitschko will defend their respective championship crowns over three consecutive weeks, beginning February 18, and all three world heavyweight title fights will be televised live in the U.S. exclusively on EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service. EpixHD.com will stream the fights live as part of a special free trial offer for boxing fans.

The EPIX heavyweight championship extravaganza will begin on Saturday, February 18 with Vitali Klitschko defending his WBC title against Top-10 contender Dereck Chisora at Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany.

On Saturday, February 25, the undefeated Povetkin will defend his WBA belt against world cruiserweight champion Marco Huck in the Porsche-Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.

The grand finale will take place on Saturday, March 3 in the Espirit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, and will feature unified champion Wladimir Klitschko defending his WBO, IBF and WBA super crowns against two-time world cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck.

These six gladiators boast a combined record of 207-12 (161 KOs) ? a 94.5% winning percentage and a 78% victory by knockout ratio.

As has become the custom, Epix will once again present the closed-captioned simulcast of the three world heavyweight championship fights on a jumbotron in Times Square, Broadway between 44th and 45th Sts.

?Epix was pleased with the fan reaction to its exclusive live U.S. telecasts of Vitali Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin?s heavyweight title fights last year. Now to be able to televise live an unprecedented three-week block of the best in the heavyweight division is as exciting to Epix as it is to U.S. boxing fans,? said Travis Pomposello, Epix CCO and executive producer of Epix Sports.

Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KOs), of Kiev, Ukraine, is a three-time heavyweight champion. He claimed his first world championship belt, the WBO title, in 1999 when he knocked out defending champion Herbie Hide in the second round. He successfully defended that title twice ? both by knockout ? before losing it to Chris Byrd the following year.

Klitscko?s second reign began in 2004 when he won the vacant WBC title by knocking out one-time world champion Corrie Sanders in the eighth round. After successfully defending the title that same year, knocking out Danny Williams in the eighth round, Klitschko retired.

Four years later, in 2008, Klitschko returned to the ring, stopping defending WBC champion Samuel Peter in the eighth round and beginning his current reign which is now in its fourth year and has included seven successful title defenses against world champions Tomasz Adamek, Shannon Briggs and Juan Carlos Gomez as well as top-rated contenders Chris Arreola, Odlanier Solis, Kevin Johnson and Albert Sosnowski. Only Briggs and Johnson made it the distance.

Chisora (15-3, 9 KOs), of London, returns to the ring after a career-best performance. Last December, in a fight that was televised live in the U.S. on Epix, Chisora, an underdog fighting outside his native United Kingdom for the first time, out-boxed undefeated No. 1 heavyweight contender Robert Helenius over 12-rounds in his native Finland only to have the judges return a narrow split decision victory to Helenius to the outrage of fans and media alike.

Chisora, the former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion boasts consecutive knockout victories of Danny Williams and Sam Sexton, who had a combined record of 54-9 when he defeated them.

Povetkin (23-0, 16 KOs), of Russia, captured the vacant WBA heavyweight title last August, winning a gutsy unanimous decision over former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev, who entered the fight as the No. 1-rated contender.

Povetkin, the 2004 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist, has an impressive resume which includes a knockout victory over former two-time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, and unanimous decision victories over one-time heavyweight title challenger Eddie Chambers and former U.S. Olympians Jason Estrada and Larry Donald.

Povetkin, who has been promoted by Sauerland Event throughout his entire professional career, enters this fight having won four of his last six bouts by knockout, which includes his most recent title defense, an eighth-round stoppage of Cedric Boswell on December 3. All of Povetkin?s heavyweight title fights have been televised live in the U.S. on EPIX.

Huck (34-1, 25 KOs), of Berlin, Germany, enters this fight riding a four-year, 15-bout winning streak. He captured the WBO cruiserweight crown in 2009 with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Victor Ramirez. Huck has successfully defended that title eight times, five by knockout.

Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49 KOs), of Kiev, Ukraine, is a two-time world heavyweight champion. Wladimir began his first title reign in 2000 when he captured the WBO heavyweight title via a unanimous decision over defending champion Chris Byrd. Byrd suffered two knockdowns in that battle.

Klitschko?s two-year title reign included five successful defenses ? all by knockout ? before losing the belt to Corrie Sanders in 2003. Klitschko returned to the world championship throne in 2006, this time as IBF champion, when he dethroned Chris Byrd in a title rematch.

This victory was even more emphatic than the first one with Klitschko stopping Byrd in the seventh round. Since that fight, Klitschko has taken on and defeated all comers while unifying the title with victories over WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov, and WBA champion David Haye. He enters this fight riding a eight-year, 14-bout winning streak.

Mormeck (36-4, 22 KOs), of Pantin, France, captured the WBA cruiserweight title in 2002, dethroning the legendary Virgil Hill who could not answer the bell for the ninth round of their championship fight. His four-year reign as champion included three successful defenses and a title unification victory over WBC champion Wayne Braithwaite.

After losing the titles to IBF champion O?Neil Bell in 2006, he regained the WBC and WBA crowns one year later, defeating Bell in their rematch. Since losing the cruiserweight titles to David Haye in 2007, Mormeck has moved up to the heavyweight division where he has been undefeated and is now world-rated in the Top-10.

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01/19/2012

Ronan wrestlers hit Jug Beck tourney - Polson Lake County Leader

MISSOULA - Ronan grapplers squared off against wrestlers from larger schools in Montana, Washington, Idaho and even Nevada and came out with some medals after the weekend was all said and done at the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic.

"I thought we performed well," Ronan head coach Dustyn Azure said. "I was pleased but we still expect more out of our wrestlers as the season continues."

Ronan had three placers and one wrestler just a match from placing at the Classic.

Shelby Grant placed eighth at 152 pounds with a 3-2 record during the tournament, Quentin Denton placed seventh, going 5-2 at 160 pounds and 189-pounder Colby Roberts placed seventh also with a 5-2 finish also. Chase Rhine was very close to placing in the 112-pound category, going 2-2 on the weekend.

"They gained a lot of experience against top wrestlers this weekend," Azure said. "It was good for them to see that they can compete against this high level of competition. This year there was a lot of talent and it's always fun to get together with the other states and mix it up."

Three of his placers were juniors and another was a sophomore, meaning that they'll get a chance to come back to the tournament next year. Placing helps with their seeding and could give them a great edge in the bracket next year.

"I feel these big tournaments are tougher than the state tournament in a way," Azure said. "It's a real confidence booster for the kids. We're always trying to keep a very competitive level of competition and with these young wrestlers, it helps them grow by getting them all this mat time. The tough schedule this season is kind of the way we designed it."

While Azure said his team is still working on mat consistency, they're going to be very busy this week with a quad in Eureka, a dual with Big Sky and the Conrad Class B Duals.

MISSION 58, RONAN 28

ST. IGNATIUS - Ronan had two pins and a decision against the Bulldogs, but five forfeits in weight classes hurt them in a 58-28 dual loss last Tuesday (Jan. 10).

Still, Azure was happy with the wrestling he saw from Brandon Dumont and Ronnie Cullis, who both had pins in their matches.

"They both went out and got pins, really taking the fight to the kids," Azure said.

Shelby Grant also picked up a 15-8 decision for the Chiefs, but some making-weight issues to fill all the divisions was tough for the Chiefs. Since it was on Tuesday, it was hard for Ronan to come out of the previous weekend of wrestling and make weight the next week. Still, Azure had good things to say about his fellow Mission Valley team.

"My hat is off to Mission-Charlo," Azure said. "They came ready to go."

Brandon Hansen is the sports editor for the Lake County Leader. You can reach him at 883-4343 and sports@leaderadvertiser.com.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHupVXdsV00r2cj520COCzSSOnG-g&url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-plank/female-boxing-forced-to-wear-a-skirt_b_1213103.html

Jan 19, 2012 1:21:27 PM

01/18/2012

Female Boxing: Forced To Wear A Skirt? - Huffington Post (blog)

With the London 2012 Olympics rapidly approaching, I am eagerly awaiting the inauguration of female boxing as an official discipline. Despite this being a long overdue development, as a beginner to the sport, I am thrilled to see female boxers finally gracing the ring at the most important sporting event of the year.

In preparation, the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) met yesterday to discuss the games and draw up recommendations, including suitable dress requirements. One of the items up for discussion was whether female boxers should have to wear skirts.

Last year, they suggested that wearing skirts would make female athletes look 'elegant' and help 'distinguish' them from their male counterparts. In other words, they are recommending that a female boxer's performance as an athlete should align with her performance as a feminine woman.

This emphasis placed on gendered norms highlighting delicateness and grace is certainly not aligned with the way I understand boxing as a discipline, nor does it fit into the current social reality where women and men are given equal credence as athletes.

What does elegance have to do with boxing anyways? There is nothing pretty about it. Boxing is strenuous, fatiguing and comes with its share of aches, pains, hits and unanticipated smacks.

My body still refuses to forgive me for the aftermath of my first training. The pain in my joints was so visceral that even typing a four-letter word became a cringe inducing task. Any graduate student or self-proclaimed Twitter addict like myself can relate to the level of debilitation this can have on your life!

Nevertheless, there is a particular kind of beauty in roughness. Boxing invigorates and animates every muscle and fragment of flesh in my body. I still remember the astonishment of my coach in reaction to the amount of power I was able to harness in my first punch. What is it about the strength of women that still shocks us?

What is so intolerable about a woman in control of her abilities that makes an organisation like the AIBA want to confine her to a mini-skirt? If there is something menacing about a woman in shorts it suggests that there is still something menacing about a woman in full ability to thrive. While men are taught to apologise for their weaknesses, women are still expected to apologise for their strengths.

In a way, boxing encapsulates everything that is frequently socially discouraged of women.

However in my opinion, there is nothing more satisfying than doing something that isn't expected. When someone expects you to be weak, have the courage to be strong. When someone expects you to be compliant, demonstrate the bravery to resist. If women are told they must be seen not heard, then they must stand up and speak louder. Given that we are often instructed not to fight back, it's about time we enter the metaphorical ring and kick some serious figurative butt.

This petition is not about a piece of fabric, it's about athletes. It's not about their clothing, it's about their credibility. If there's one lesson I've learned through my experience as a boxer is that when someone throws a punch, curling up in the foetal position is not an option. You stand up and you fight. You don't ask for power, you just take it.

Sign the petition on Change.org now and show the AIBA we're not willing to throw in the towel before we've won the fight!

The AIBA's meeting ends 22 January. A decision is expected later this year.

Follow Elizabeth Plank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/feministabulous

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content

Jan 18, 2012 9:21:29 PM

Raymond Tucker honored by the CAC - Nassau Guardian

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Jan 18, 2012 5:21:24 AM

01/17/2012

Roach pushing hard for Pac-Mayweather - ESPN

Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesFreddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao wants a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight, but business has intervened.

So will Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., boxing's two best fighters and biggest stars, ever give fans around the world what they want by fighting each other?

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer and a newly elected International Boxing Hall of Famer, is like everyone else -- he sure hopes so.

"I want the fight bad," Roach said in an interview with ESPN.com on Thursday. "It's definitely a challenge, and we need to challenge Manny to get him motivated. He doesn't get motivated for ordinary guys, and Mayweather isn't an ordinary guy."

Rafael's boxing blog

Rafael Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.

Like many fight fans, Roach watched the rhetoric explode between the camps after Mayweather's 87-day jail sentence on a domestic violence plea was deferred from Jan. 6 to June 1 so he could fulfill an obligation to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a May 5 fight against an undetermined opponent.

A few days later, Mayweather called out Pacquiao on Twitter. Since then, the camps have gone back and forth in the media, arguing over a variety of things, including the date -- Mayweather wants May 5, while Pacquiao and his promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum, say they would accept the fight later in May or in June (impossible if Mayweather is behind bars).

However the saga plays out, Roach wants the fight now and said he has wanted it for the past two years, which is how long the fight -- likely boxing's richest ever, if it happens -- has lingered.

On Tuesday, Mayweather directly called out Pacquiao with a pair of tweets:

"Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see," read Mayweather's first tweet.

One minute later, Mayweather followed with this: "My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk."

Roach is glad Mayweather did it.

"It was typical," Roach said. "We've been chasing him for two years. All of a sudden he gets his get-out-of-jail-free card and wants to call the shots. Tweeting people and promoting fights through Twitter is very common now, trash-talking through Twitter. I found it kind of humorous. But just because you call someone out, there's still a lot of negotiating to do. At least he called us out, though. I'd like Manny to call him out too. Since Mayweather has been so bold, I hope Manny is just as bold back.

[+] Enlarge Floyd Mayweather

AP Photo/Julie JacobsonFloyd Mayweather Jr.'s legal woes no longer seem to be a legitimate obstacle to a Manny Pacquiao fight.

"This is good news that he called Manny out. Both guys want to fight each other, and we need to get this done, now or never."

Although Roach wants the fight -- May 5 or later in the month -- he isn't convinced it will happen until after Mayweather's jail sentence.

"My theory on what's going to happen is Mayweather will fight someone [May 5] and Pacquiao will fight Lamont Peterson or [Timothy] Bradley [in June], and in November they'll finally fight each other," Roach said. "I know Mayweather got 90 days, but he can be out a lot sooner for good behavior.

"I truly, truly, truly hope they fight as soon as possible. That's my dream. I love the fight."

While the discussion of Pacquiao-Mayweather swirled this week, Arum was in the Philippines talking to Pacquiao about various fights -- Mayweather plus those on Arum's initial list of four potential opponents, junior welterweight titleholders Peterson and Bradley, junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto (in a rematch) and Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao's great rival, for a fourth fight.

If Pacquiao doesn't fight Mayweather next, Roach's list, in order of preference, is Peterson, Bradley, Cotto and Marquez.

Roach said he hopes Peterson first gives Amir Khan, another of the trainer's fighters, a rematch of his junior welterweight title-winning decision against Khan in December.

"If we don't get Floyd, Peterson is my No. 1 pick," Roach said. "I think it's a great fight. The kid comes to fight, which is a good style for Manny. I think with Peterson's heart, it's a great fight. I'd rather have Amir fight him first, though.

"One thing I don't get to decide is who Manny fights. I get him ready for who they decide he will fight. I'm waiting for a call from Bob to see who it is. I hope it's Mayweather, like everyone in the world, because I'm a boxing fan. We need the fight to happen."

?

It was typical. We've been chasing him for two years. All of a sudden he gets his get-out-of-jail-free card and wants to call the shots.
? -- Trainer Freddie Roach, on Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s calling out his fighter, Manny Pacquiao, via Twitter

Arum has changed his story multiple times in the past week about why Pacquiao and Mayweather can't fight May 5.

First, he voiced concern about the cut Pacquiao suffered against Marquez on Nov. 12, which needed 28 stitches. When Mayweather was going to jail last week, he said Pacquiao would be OK to fight May 5. When Mayweather's sentence was delayed, clearing the way for them to fight, Arum said Pacquiao couldn't fight until June. Arum also said May 5 was too soon because of the need for a 45,000-seat temporary stadium to be constructed on the Las Vegas Strip to host the fight, because the 17,000-seat MGM Grand Garden Arena was too small.

Roach said the cut issue was bogus.

"They do take time to heal, but I don't think that's a big issue, to be honest with you," Roach said, recalling how during his boxing career he suffered three cuts in a fight, each of which needed about eight stitches, and fought a month later.

Ultimately, Roach said, there have been too many excuses on both sides. He said the reason this fight has been hung up for so long comes down to the animosity between Arum and Mayweather's adviser, Al Haymon, as well as Golden Boy, the promoter Mayweather works with.

"It's ridiculous that two grown men can't do business together," Roach said. "It's like they both want to take their ball and go home. F--- it, it's business. They just need to drop the issues they have with each other and negotiate. This is not personal. This is business. Golden Boy is part of that equation too.

"People are starting to go the other way and not care about this fight because it's taking so damn long to make it. You've got to do it soon. I think it's at its peak. It's definitely time."

Dan Rafael is a boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFoYdPnzyHxNWKjuI2QAv6P6_1SFg&url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/burlington/wrestling-melton-no-typical-heavyweight/article_766109a7-d470-547d-a7eb-68e1b6718c6c.html

Jan 17, 2012 1:21:22 PM

01/16/2012

Wrestling: Melton no typical heavyweight - phillyBurbs.com

Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012 7:38 pm | Updated: 10:50 pm, Mon Jan 16, 2012.

Cody Melton has always been a heavyweight.

That?s why watching Melton, now a high school senior, on the wrestling mat isn?t like watching most heavyweights.

It doesn?t start with a two-minute shoving match. It isn?t always decided by who scores first. More often than not, you?re observing a process, as Melton breaks down an opponent, solves him, and earns his team a victory ? more often than not, a pin.

It?s a fun process to watch.

?He knows how to wrestle that way, because he?s wrestled so long and been a heavyweight all his life,? Northern Burlington coach Jule Dolci said. ?You get a lot of heavyweights who aren?t really heavyweights ? they?re just big guys. But Cody has been doing this since he was 4 or 5 years old. He knows the game. He?s got great mat sense, he knows how to move, and I think on that alone, he breaks a lot of kids.?

Last year Melton was 32-8, a Region 7 runner-up and a first-team All-County selection who pinned 19 opponents.

This year, you can expect that latter number to grow, not just because of the impressive amount of work Melton put in between last March and Thanksgiving day, but also because he?s made increasing the pin count much more than a personal mission.

Every time a referee smacks the mat this season, it?s going to mean about $160 for charity.

Melton has collected that much in pledges, in support of the Fisher House Program; an organization that supports American military families through its humanitarian efforts.

?I?ve had a lot of support from family, friends, coaches and teachers and I feel like it?s only appropriate for me to give back,? Melton said. ?And I figured the easiest way would be for me to incorporate wrestling ? to use that as a way to do it.?

Melton said about 50 people have pledged. So far, they?re in for whatever they?ve pledged, times six ? that?s how many opponents he?s pinned on the way to an 8-2 start this season.

Melton said it?s changed the way he wrestles this year.

?Absolutely, there?s a big difference,? he said. ?It makes you want to give everything you?ve got, every time. Even in a match where you?re ahead, you?ve got that extra incentive. There was one (on Jan. 7) where I was ahead in the third period and ended up pinning the kid (Brearley/Dayton?s Mike Christian) with a second left.?

They?re going to start coming faster and more frequently, according to Dolci. Melton, a defensive lineman for the Greyhounds? division championship football team, hasn?t quite hit his stride yet, but he?s getting closer ? close enough to earn a spot in the state?s All-Star meet, coming up next Sunday at Brick Memorial High School. Melton will wrestle John Appice of Manalapan in the heavyweight bout.

?He?s still a little banged up from football,? Dolci said. ?And Cody?s not a kid who ever goes 50 percent with anything ? but a program is in place where he can get back to where he was last year. He has to do better. We want to get him on a podium in Atlantic City this year.?

That?s also a personal goal for Melton, who?s motivated to better the accomplishments of his brother. R.J. Melton was 102-35 for the Greyhounds before he graduated in 2008. Cody figures to overtake him in career wins some time this season, and earning a place in the state tournament would pretty much secure his place as the best wrestler in the family.

Cody said R.J., who?s finishing up this year at Rider University, has been to every match so far this season.

?He?s right there, cheering me along,? Melton said. ?He wants to see it.?

When it happens, it won?t be the last time Cody follows big brother. R.J. has already joined the family business, Melton Sales and Service, Inc., of Burlington ? a company that rebuilds diesel engines. Cody wants to wrestle in a Division 3 college and study business, so he can do the same. He?s already been involved in the business at several levels.

?I rotate around the shop, in different areas,? he said. ?Assembly, parts cleaning, parts preparation ? I go wherever they need me during the summer, or when I have an off day.?

The family business is one of the ways Melton connects with the military; it has contracts to work on hum-vee engines and generators. Being part of the Northern Burlington community is another way.

?Northern Burlington is heavily involved,? he said. ?I?ve had about 20 friends who?ve come and gone because they were base kids, from McGuire. Some of my good friends now are base kids, and I asked a military father, who suggested Fisher House, as a charity. I looked into it and I liked it. I like how it gets involved with whole families. A lot of times, Veterans Affairs doesn?t do that.?

It?s just like Melton, his coach said, to insist on taking something all the way. That?s a reason the Greyhounds made him a captain as a junior last season, and a reason Dolci feels it was a great decision.

?He?s a leader in every sense of the word,? Dolci said. ?With football, in the classroom, with wrestling ? it?s bred into him through his family. Their work ethic is special. That, plus leadership and skill, is a hard combination to beat.?

It?s also a fun one to have on your side.

?It?s pretty cool, having the kids look up to you,? Melton said. ?You walk around the school, and everybody knows who you are. It?s pretty awesome.?

John A. Lewis: 609-871-8141: email, jlewis@phillyBurbs.com: Twitter, @JohnLewis19

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGPwSATEhBCB3GVE1lf7IX8mwJMkw&url=http://www.inklingsnews.com/c/2012/01/14/scrawny-and-proud-why-bodybuilding-is-a-waste-of-time/

Jan 16, 2012 9:21:27 PM

Scrawny and Proud; Why Bodybuilding is a Waste of Time - Inklings News

Graphic by Nate Rosen '14

Erik Sommer, Staff Writer
January 14, 2012
Filed under Opinions

How many times, especially for the men, have you happily walked into the gym locker rooms only to come out feeling like a whimpering boy? Everyone has or had at least one jacked kid in his gym class? the one who can?t help but look like a brawny Abercrombie model every time he takes off his shirt to change. And almost everyone has shamefully looked at him flex his eight pack in a way that said ?you have no testosterone in your body- keep your shirt on.?

So you ask, what is the solution to this problem; the bow flex, protein shakes, steroids, or your mother?s shake weight? The answer is actually none of the above? my guaranteed lifetime solution is to simply look at the pros and cons of bodybuilding, and realize that it is a waste of time (if you do lift, this is nothing personal- in other words, please don?t hurt me).

Let?s first look at this situation short term? bodybuilding requires a huge amount of work with minimal reward. I know from firsthand experience that it is painful?the 45 minutes of daily workout that men?s fitness magazine recommends is no stroll in the park. Going through the recommended routines- whether it be the Men?s Fitness 99 rep (for the 99 percent) ?Occupy Wall Street Workout?, or the Magazine?s ?Building a King- Size Back? deadlift workout requires an excruciating tolerance for pain. If you don?t believe me, try squatting while holding a 50 pound object for the next two minutes and see how you feel.

There is also a great risk of injury when lifting heavy weights, even death. According to Marty Gallagher, writer for Muscle and Fitness Magazine, factors such as incorrect technique, too much weight, a bad spotter, or a lack of concentration can cause accidents. Such mistakes seem small and insignificant- but unfortunately they can have dire consequences. No amount of muscle, protein, or sex appeal will help if you make a miscalculation before lifting.

Maybe all this effort and risk would be worth it if you were guaranteed incredible, long-lasting results; but unfortunately this is not the case. One sprained ankle or one week of not emulating Mike the Situation could morph you back into the scrawny child you once were. Lifting doesn?t provide vacations.

Everyone has at some point lost muscle faster than it was gained, and thus felt what Austin Powers would call a ?mojo shortage.? The rate at which it is lost varies from person to person, but one must only compare 50 cent and Arnold Schwarzenegger to their former selves to comprehend how rapidly muscle can deteriorate.

Unfortunately this explanation doesn?t solve everything. Some people might still be thinking, ?I need large biceps because females like them.? Firstly, I think it would help our situation if people stopped making dumb comments like that. Secondly, most females care about other qualities more than muscle, a truth supported by my mother marrying my father.

I can even be mathematical in proving this point? looking at celebrity men with the prettiest wives, it becomes clear that there is very little correlation between muscle and sex appeal.

Scarlet Johansson?s preferred body type= Ryan Renolds(scrawny).

Angelina Jolie?s preferred body type= Johnny Lee Miller (scrawny British actor) + Billy Bob Thorton (gaunt- and screwed up in the head), + Brad Pitt (sometimes ripped- depending on film)

Marilyn Monroe?s preferred body type= Jim Dougherty (average, skinny policeman) + Joe Dimaggio (Yankees Legend who looks like Babe Ruth divided by two) + Arthur Miller (scrawny playwright).

For those who still are set on ?maxing out? every other day and emulating the diet of Rocky, just remember that there other ways to get strong without all the risk. In moderation, pull ups, pushups, and sit-ups can allow adults to feel younger, and adolescents not to raise domestic childhood obesity statistics.

You can still be strong without all the heavy lifting. Many athletes like NFL legend and MMA fighter Herschell Walker, as verified by a 1991 interview with theAcademyofAchievement, do pushups and other non- lifting exercises to stay ripped.

So if you insist on putting yourself through all the trouble, then lift away. Just remember that you are wasting your time; Scarlet Johansson won?t notice you anytime soon.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGeFd-WUIHVq7Nj7_-j1sYZqxEAYw&url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/15/1983882/survivor-contender.html

Jan 16, 2012 5:21:29 AM

01/15/2012

Rochester boxer Eloy Perez is unbeaten as a pro ? but getting there wasn't easy - TheNewsTribune.com

Ask nearly anyone around south Thurston County what they remember about Eloy Perez, and his smile is the first thing to come to mind.

?You could no more than get his name out, and he had a great big grin from ear to ear,? said Jerrad Jeske, former Rainier High School head football coach, who coached Perez in 2004 and 2005.

?He always had a smile on his face, even when he was in trouble,? said Russ Surridge, Eloy?s principal at Grand Mound Elementary School near Rochester. ?He?d look at me with that smile and say, ?Yeah, I know.? That?s not a difficult kid.?

The only trouble Perez is causing these days is for his opponents in the boxing ring. In nearly eight years as a professional boxer, Eloy has never lost a fight, compiling a 23-0-2 (seven KOs) record.

Perez?s climb to the top of the professional boxing world has been nearly 13 years in the making. After a once-troubled childhood in Rochester, Perez used boxing as an outlet to deal with aggression. He is one fight away from achieving his dream of bringing a professional world championship back to Washington and his hometown.

Last month, the 25-year-old Perez received the news that he will face WBO super featherweight champion Adrien Broner (22-0-0, 18 KOs) for his first shot at a professional world championship Feb. 25 in St. Louis. The fight will be broadcast live on HBO on the undercard of the Devon Alexander vs. Marcos Maidana fight.

?My life is blessed,? Perez said while sitting with his father in his modest two-bedroom apartment along U.S. Highway 101 in Salinas, Calif.

TROUBLED CHILDHOOD

Fighting came naturally to young Eloy, who was teased by Rochester classmates about his Mexican heritage. Perez said he was chubby and shy, and the teasing often led to scraps ? short fights that Perez won ? when someone chose the wrong day to pick on him.

Lifelong friend James Douglas, now a baseball coach at Oakville High School, said it was the only way Perez knew to stand up for himself.

?He got a lot of teasing about being Mexican, you know ?You?re from Oaxaca? and stuff like that,? Douglas said. ?But he was always tough enough to stand up for himself. My dad told him, ?You like to fight so much, let?s see how you like boxing? and took us to the gym.?

Perez said he thought he was turning into a bully, and that boxing gave him a controlled outlet for his aggression and helped him learn to avoid fights at school.

Rose Farrar, Perez?s third- and fourth-grade teacher at Grand Mound Elementary, recalled Perez as a ?pure boy? who simply needed guidance.

?He needed to be told that he should do something, that it needed to be done, and that he wouldn?t regret it,? she said. ?He took some work.?

?I was a devil, but she kept having faith in me,? Perez said.

Perez came to the United States as a 13-month-old baby. His father, Eloy Perez Sr., gave up his career as a teacher in Mexico to make a better life for his wife, Digna Montealegre, and their son. First coming to the United States on his own, the elder Perez was robbed, and returned to Mexico broke and ashamed. His family gave him money for a second chance. He eventually brought his son and wife to Rochester, where Eloy Sr. worked long hours on a dairy farm. At one point, the family lived in a small trailer home with holes in the rotting floor.

?He had a hard life, and look at where we are now,? Perez said, giving his dad a hug.

THE LONG ROAD

Perez began amateur boxing in 1999 at age 13, and compiled a 55-11 record over the next five years. In his final amateur fight, the 17-year-old Perez won the 132-pound Ringside World Championship by defeating 22-year-old Canadian Arash Usmanee. He turned professional the next year.

Still a senior in high school, Perez won his first professional fight by knockout at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester.

But the real legend of Eloy Perez came on Oct. 21, 2005, when as a senior running back on the Rainier High School football team (Perez transferred from Rochester for his junior and senior years after his parents moved to Rainier) he rushed for 245 yards and four touchdowns in the Mountaineers? 48-22 win over Toledo. The following night, Perez won his third professional fight, defeating Ivan Korotkov, 21, in a four-round decision. That was when coach Jeske knew Perez was a special kid. Even though Perez took a beating by a grown man, he still showed up for football practice the following Monday.

?I knew then what he was made of,? Jeske said.

?He was the kind of kid you could tell was going to be a professional something,? said former Rainier assistant football coach Pete Zimmerman. ?It didn?t matter what sport. He loved the competition.?

Perez trained at the small Fight For Life gym along U.S. Highway 12 east of Rochester with manager Jim Douglas, trainer Rudy ?The Haida Warrior? Nix, and coaches Tony Medina and James Douglas. He compiled a 7-0-1 professional record, fighting at various South Sound casinos where raucous hometown crowds would chant his name throughout the fight.

A sparring job in 2007 with California state champion Jesus ?Chuy? Rodriguez opened trainer Max Garcia?s eyes to the young boxer?s skills and toughness.

?Eloy had fast hands and fast feet. ? Things you can?t teach, he had,? Garcia said of the 5-foot-6, 130-pound Perez. ?I saw some potential. We had to work with this kid.?

At the encouragement of Douglas, Perez made the difficult decision to move more than 800 miles to Salinas, asking to join the strict training regime of the Garcia Boxing camp. In the nearly five years under new manager Kathy Garcia, the sharp-dressing kid they nicknamed ?The Prince? faced tougher and tougher competition, earning super-featherweight titles in the North American Boxing Organization and the United States National Boxing Championship.

The move away from family, friends and coaches was hard on the 20-year-old. Even now at 25, being far from home isn?t easy. His longtime girlfriend moved to Salinas last year, but returned home to Washington.

?I feel so alone and empty sometimes,? Perez said. ?I think that?s why I?m a fighter, because this life is alone. And in the ring, I am alone.?

Perez doesn?t eat fast food. He doesn?t go out to nightclubs. He goes to bed early. He?s up before dawn for an intense two-hour workout, and back in the Garcia gym for another four hours in the evening. It?s the life of a professional boxer.

The investment has paid off with notable victories, including a 10-round decision over hard-hitting David Rodela in 2010, a six-round TKO of Ira Terry in 2011, and in the toughest test of his career, a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Dannie Williams in the WBC USNBC super-featherweight title fight at the Playboy Mansion in 2009. In that fight, Perez was knocked down twice ? hit in the head so hard that he was unable to remain standing ? but rebounded to dominate the 10-round decision, leaving both Williams and the ring drenched in blood.

Fighting out of the Garcia gym led to an invitation for Perez to spar with three-time world champion ?Sugar? Shane Mosley in 2010 before his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Perez was included on the undercard of the big stage event, earning a 10-round decision over Gilberto Sanchez-Leon in his NABO title defense.

The relationship with Mosley ? who took Perez under his wing ? earned Perez the opportunity to sign with Golden Boy Promotions and founder Oscar De La Hoya. Perez calls signing with Golden Boy ?the best business decision of my life.?

Through it all, Perez has continued to win. Quality opponents and television exposure helped build his following. In November, the North American Boxing Organization named him 2011 Fighter of the Year.

Critics say Perez?s shortage of knockout victories shows a weakness, but his undefeated record says otherwise.

?It?s a fair criticism,? Garcia said, ?but they?ve never felt his punch.?

Derrick Campos has felt Perez?s punch.

In their August 2010 fight at Pico Rivera, Calif., Perez picked apart his opponent with sharp, stinging jabs and combinations. By the fifth round, Campos? face was beginning to swell. Halfway through the round, judge Gwen Adair began whispering under her breath: ?Stop the fight. Stop the fight.? Within 30 seconds, referee Jose Cobain stepped in to stop the fight in a technical knockout.

Perez left the ring without a scratch.

?It?s a smart fighter who is proud enough of his skills to not take unnecessary punishment,? Douglas said. ?Eloy is smart enough to know he?s a survivor. He?s always been a survivor.?

His second-round knockout of former NABO champion Daniel Jimenez (20-4-1, 15 KOs) in September 2011 silenced many critics. But not Adrien Broner, the world champion nicknamed ?The Problem,? who has knocked out 18 of his 22 opponents.

?Broner?s going to find out what Eloy?s about,? Garcia said. ?He?s for real. If you ask me, he?s the best 130-pounder in the world.?

Garcia says ?good boxing genes? could keep Perez healthy and fighting professionally for another 10 years. ?We see a Hall of Fame career for him.?

FIGHT OF HIS LIFE

Perez is ready for the February title shot. He began training camp before the fight was arranged, and is leaving the tactics to combat Broner to Garcia and fight strategist Dean Familton of Los Angeles.

Perez says that the reality of the biggest fight of his life won?t sink in until he?s in the ring, under the bright lights for a worldwide audience.

?The competition is getting better, but that?s what sports are about,? Perez said. ?I?m just living the moment. And when I fight for the title, I?m not thinking about winning or losing, but to give it my best shot.?

With a win, Perez hopes to fight other champions to unify the super-featherweight divisions. A loss for either fighter could mean a long climb back before another world title shot, more so for the underdog Perez.

?He doesn?t want to lose. And that, of all things, is probably the defining factor in why Eloy can win this fight,? Douglas said.

GIVING BACK

Perez says he is uncomfortable with the spotlight on him. He prefers that his exposure in the boxing world helps those in need. He hopes to return to Rochester after his retirement from boxing and wants to pursue a career in law enforcement.

?I want to give back,? he said. ?Everyone has given me so much.?

In 2010, he wore a patch on his shorts for Done Vida (?Donate Life?), an organ, eye and tissue donation advocacy group, to support liver transplant recipient Ricki Lee. In 2011, Perez befriended Sy Sherman, a 9-year-old boxing fan fighting a rare form of liver cancer. Perez has welcomed Sy to training camps, taken him to boxing matches and introduced him to world champions such as Mosley and De La Hoya. He even let Sy ride on his shoulders in the ring after a victory.

?Fame and money, that?s just a blessing,? Perez said. ?I want to use my name to tell everyone else?s story. I can sacrifice for everyone else.?

On a trip back to Rochester in the spring, Perez visited his old school, Grand Mound Elementary, to have lunch and play at recess with third-grade friend Jayden Lancaster. ?I wanted him to feel special,? Perez explained.

?His boxing talent and hard work aside, Eloy has become the kind of person that I am proud to have my son idolize,? said Erin Lancaster, Jayden?s mom. ?I have known him since junior high. And to see what he?s done with himself is amazing.?

Perez also visits The Resurrection Boxing Club in Chehalis to work with young boxers under the tutelage of Perez?s former trainer Tony Medina. Last spring, he sparred with the youngsters, offering tips and encouragement while allowing them to take shots at the pro.

?It?s a good experience. Definitely he knows what he?s doing,? said Samantha Garcia of Centralia. ?He?s somebody you wouldn?t want to mess with.?

?I?m trying to give them courage, give them confidence, kind of give them a boost,? Perez said. ?It?s important to have someone to look up to. Maybe they?ll work a little harder when they see what they can accomplish.?

Those in his hometown of Rochester feel lucky to have been part of Perez?s growth and success.

?Wherever you come from, but especially when you come from a small town like Rochester, it says something about everyone who touched Eloy along the way,? his teacher Rose Farrar said. ?He didn?t do it on his own. It took everyone. We can all be very proud of Eloy.?

Tony Overman: 360-754-5467
toverman@theolympian.com

Photojournalist Tony Overman began following the career of professional boxer Eloy Perez with a four-month photo story published in The Olympian in 2006. Overman returned to the story in 2009 in anticipation of Perez earning a shot at a world championship. Overman flew to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and drove to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Salinas over the past two years to photograph fights and research the story. Help from Kathy Garcia and the Garcia Boxing Team, Monica Sears and Golden Boy Promotions, and the staff of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas provided ringside and backstage access for the story.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFBPiJvrqK8_bLmYrrlwxKHQFY-Dw&url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/sports/52087-clayton-blair-win-boxing-gold

Jan 15, 2012 1:21:28 PM

01/14/2012

Clayton, Blair win boxing gold - TheChronicleHerald.ca

Nova Scotian boxing gold medalists Custio Clayton, left and Brody Blair, right, pose with former world heavyweight boxing champion, Larry Holmes at the 2012 Elite National Boxing Championships in Sydney on Saturday. Clayton took the gold in the men's welter 69kg class, while Blair took the gold in the men's middle 75kg class and both are off to Brazil in May, their last stop to qualify for the upcoming summer Olympic Games in London this summer. (TIM KROCHAK/ Staff)

It?s on to Brazil and Olympic qualifying for Dartmouth?s Custio Clayton and Brody Blair of Lyons Brook, Pictou County.

Blair and Clayton capped perfect weeks in Membertou, Cape Breton on Saturday afternoon with gold-medal victories at the Canadian senior elite boxing tournament.

As defending champions in their respective weight classes, the two fighters will be able to skip the Canadian last-chance tournament in Quebec next month and head straight to Rio de Janeiro in May to scrap for berths in the London Olympics.

Clayton, now a six-time national champion out of the City of Lakes Boxing Club, defeated Quebec?s Mian Hussain 12-7 in the 69 kg final. In the next bout, Blair downed Ontario?s Josh Cameron 15-9 at 75 kg.

?It?s an amazing feeling, I?m kind of speechless right now,? Blair, a Pan Am Games bronze medallist, said shortly after his victory. ?It?s just a dream come true, really. I get the chance to go to the Olympics and that?s been my goal from the very first of my boxing career.?

Blair ? named the Canadian amateur boxer of the year and rookie of the year later Saturday ? thanked the people of Cape Breton for their support, as well as a strong contingent from home.

It?s his third national win and second in the senior class. He only turned 20 in December.

?I felt very relaxed this tournament,? he said. ?I was amazingly confident, 150-per-cent confident. I knew the hard work and dedication I put in. I knew the hard work and dedication my coach, my dad and my family put in. They are all right there with me.?

Blair had to win three fights to defend his belt.

?They were all game, that?s for sure, and you can?t take anything away from Josh,? he said. ?He?s a great fighter and you?ll definitely see him around again.?

The 24-year-old Clayton already had a chance to qualify for the Olympics at the world championships last October in Azerbaijan, but lost to U.S. champion Errol Spence in his second match.

?It was amazing,? Clayton said of his week in Cape Breton. ?I went out there and did what I had to do. I stuck to the game plan every time and everything went well.

?All of the opponents were good and they fought hard, but, me being the defending champion, I knew it was my time and I had more to prove. I went out there and did it.?

Clayton, a father of two, wants nothing more than to be an Olympian. He also went 3-0 for the week.

?It?s what I?ve been waiting for, what I?ve been training for,? he said. ?Right now I?m probably going to take a week off and chill out for a minute, then see what the national team has for us. I?ll be ready in May to qualify for the Olympics.?

Provincial team head coach Wayne Gordon heaped praise on the two gold medallists and had some fun at the same time.

?They were the class of the tournament, without a doubt,? he said. ?They boxed with composure, skill, conditioning and obviously, it goes without saying, superior coaching.

?This whole tournament, Brody didn?t lose a round. I don?t know if any other fighter didn?t lose a round. Custio was close to that. I?m not sure he lost a round, but I know Brody didn?t. And they both had really tough competitors. I was proud to be in the corner with them.?

Four-time champion Joey Laviolette of Lower Sackville, who lost on Thursday in Cape Breton, remains in contention for the Olympics, but has work to do. He will have a chance to regain his national team spot at 56 kg at the final team selection camp.