South Charlotte Sports Report “HOMETOWN TEAMS ... HOMETOWN KIDS” Volume 7, Issue 6 www.southcharlottesports.com July 12, 2012 - FREE THREE IS THE NUMBER FOR SAM WILSON ...Academics and Athletics are important for Latin Senior Written by Ryan Scott, Marvin Ridge High School focus has helped Sam accumulate a right body for wrestling and told Sam 3.9 grade point average through three that he should try it. Just like all his years at Charlotte Latin. other sports, Sam was immediately Sam’s father started him in foot- hooked. From eighth grade on, Sam ball when he was in second grade. He won the conference championship in played Pop Warner football as a cen- his weight class. He was a captain on ter and has remained a center all the his wrestling team as a junior and was way up to his current starting position voted MVW (Most Valuable Wrestler). on his school’s varsity football team. His team won state championships Sam started with shotgun snaps in when he was a freshman and when Pop Warner, which is very unusual he was a junior. He currently wrestles for someone as young as he was. That in the 220-pound weight class. Even helped him become the center he is to- though he wrestles in the winter, wres- day. He builds on his talent for snap- tling practice gets very hot from the ping the ball and blocking by lifting combination of intense workouts and weights three days a week over the Sam’s coach cranking up the heater. summer with his team. “Wrestling is unique because it is “I like football because of the struc- only me playing. It is a chance for me ture we have on the offensive line. We to show people what I can do. I either have to all know our blocks and be able win or lose and it is all on me. There to work together as a unit. We do the aren’t any excuses.” grunt work even though we don’t al- Sam hopes to continue playing ways get recognized for it.” sports through college. Not only does Starting up lacrosse was a decision he love playing sports, but the strict influenced by Sam’s grandfather. He schedule forces Sam to manage his had been a high school standout play- time which helps him to do better in ing lacrosse. Sam started in second school. He is currently looking at play- grade when his team of 40 kids played ing football or lacrosse for Washington only one game all season. Despite min- & Lee, Middlebury, or Dartmouth. imal playing time, Sam was hooked “Wherever I go for college, I re- and has continued playing to earn ally want to play a sport. It creates a the starting role as a defender on his structure for my life and keeps me fo- school’s varsity lacrosse team. Today, cused.” Sam and his grandfather still practice Colleges are most likely impressed together when they get a chance. Team with Sam’s athletic achievements, but practices get very intense with a series his academic achievements will draw a of different workouts. They usually lot of attention as well. Sam’s 3.9 GPA start out with plyometric training, then at Charlotte Latin is impressive, but his move on to drills and finish with heavy perfect score of 800 on the math SAT conditioning. All the blood, sweat and will definitely show colleges how well tears of training paid off with a 17-2 re- rounded Sam is. As he enters his se- cord and a state championship. nior year, Sam hopes to lead his teams “Lacrosse is exciting because I to more success and continue his work Three sports, three seasons, three break. have the ability to make plays that di- in the classroom. The South Charlotte years, and three state championships. The obvious question is what sport rectly impact the game. As a defender Sports Report wishes good luck to Sam This is the bulky athletic resume of does he like the most? Sam loyally re- I have some control on the outcome of in all his sports as he continues down a Charlotte Latin’s Sam Wilson. Going plies that he enjoys each equally and the game. If I do my job right, we will successful path. from one sport to the next, Sam has they are all unique in their own ways. win.” Looking for players for your team found success in the sports he loves, He may not have a favorite, but Sam The decision to try out for wres- or league? football, wrestling, and lacrosse. Sam, focuses everything on the sport he tling was recommended by Sam’s sixth Let all of our readers know! the 17-year-old son of Chip and Cindy is playing that season. Sam also be- grade math teacher, who happened to Wilson, endures a nonstop athletic lieves that this strict athletic schedule be the middle school wrestling coach. Advertise in the South Charlotte schedule that hardly ever allows for a helps him focus more in school. This Sam’s math teacher noticed he had the Sports Report Support the growth of youth sports Market your business or service to the families of South Charlotte and Northern Union County Advertise with very affordable rates from the South Charlotte Sports Report 704-906-5466 OR [email protected] Page 2 SOCIAL MEDIA PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THEVolume 7, Issue 6 SOUTH CHARLOTTE SPORTS REPORT …Friend or Foe of Student-Athletes? AT THESE LOCATIONS Social Media has certainly taken over when it comes to letting the outside world Play It Again Sports Sam & Carlies Deli Community House Middle School Tutoring Club of Charlotte inside your life. First it was Facebook and now Twitter that seem to be the top Dick’s Sporting Goods – Matthews Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School websites in our universe. Over the last few months, like a lot of folks, I have Mathnasium The Q Shack moved my social media usage from Facebook to Twitter. I have found the site to Southeastern Gymnastics The Bagel Bin be a one-stop shop to gather information on topics that I am interested in. With Steps N’ Motion – The Fountains Charlotte Aquatics just one click of the mouse I can see the latest news on the New York Yankees or Tokyo One Express Waxhaw Family Physicians Extreme Ice Center Architech Sports & Physical Therapy my East Carolina Pirates. I can also see up to the minute reporting of local, re- Dr. Sellers Orthodontics Winning Awards gion, national and worldwide events. Within minutes, I know when something Weddington Activity Center Ardrey Kell High School good or bad has happened in the world. Baskin Robbins (Highway 521) Ameritrust Mortgage Nothing But Noodles Dynamic Sports Performance This column may sound like a sales pitch for Twitter, but my message is going to Champions Baseball Academy South Library (Rea & 51) focus on helpful hints for how Student-Athletes can make Twitter and Facebook International Sports Center Matthews Motor Company Try Sports New Point Learning their best friend and keep it from being their biggest foe. Pet Essentials Grace Academy Jesse Brown’s Adventure SwimMac • Be smart, do you really want to use foul language in front of the world and Jersey Mike’s (Stonecrest) Gateway Travel and college admission officers that use Twitter? CrossFit Charlotte Park Sharon Athletic Association Laxer, Long and Savage Kinetic Spine Sports • Do you really want to post that photo of you showing your middle finger to Grand Slam USA Salsaritas (Blakeney) Tebby Sports Medicine Showcase Baseball Academy the camera? Meridian Medical Group Ciarla Fitness Quimby and Collins Orthodontics Switchin Kitchens • Twitter has around 200 million users, Facebook has over 900 million, that’s Charlotte All-Stars Jewish Community Center a lot of people outside your neighborhood that can form a real quick opinion Omega Sports Waxhaw Family Physicians about you Four Seasons Barber and Salon Covenant Day School Dunkin Donuts (Highway 521) Beurlein Pro Fitness Fitness For Women Carolina Courts • After typing a post ask yourself: “Would it be ok to say this in front of my Sports Connection Ballantyne National Amateur Sports parents, my grandmother, or a current or future coach?” If the answer is no, Sports and Fitness- Ballantyne Velocity Sports Performance don’t post it. Sports Perf. Ctr. @ OrthoCarolina Goddard School (Waxhaw) Presbyterian Urgent Care – Blakeney Subway (Camfield Corners) • Take pride in who you represent, don’t embarrass your school, your family Premier Soccer Karate Charlotte Charlotte Running Company Flip’n Chicken or yourself with immature posts. Sports Clips (Promenede) Providence Day School Marvin Ridge High School Charlotte Latin School • Don’t use foul language, don’t ReTweet foul language, and don’t try to ab- Marvin Ridge Middle School K & W Cafeteria breviate dirty words. Charlotte Catholic High School Performance Unlimited Bird Dentistry HQ4 Baseball • Don’t try to be cute or dirty with your Facebook or Twitter names. Dr. Garden Dentistry Weddington Middle School Robek’s Juice Lorenzos Pizza Run For Your Life Stingrays Aquatic Center • Don’t post from social media sites during classes. Your coaches, coaches Sports Orthopedic Architech Sports and Physical Therapy that are recruiting you, teachers and family members also use social media. SCRA Baseball Complex (Indian Trail) I used a lot of “don’ts” up above, now for a few things that I encourage all stu- dents to do with social media. • Use Twitter as your own personal resume, share all the positives in your life. Tune up your racquet for • If you are mature enough to follow the Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media, Queen City and USTA Leagues then follow the coaches and schools that you are most interested in.