SPORTS WEEKLY Nashville Volume 6 Number 38 The Home of Hometown Heroes! October 16, 2019 Dream Come True Pearl-Cohn QB Owens Dreamed of Job at Nine Years Old By Vince Troia the horizon, Owens was sacked by NSW Contributor his coach for failing with school-re- lated responsibilities. Two weeks without football has “When I heard the decision, I was quarterback Martino Owens “hun- heartbroken. It was a rivalry,” Ow- gry” and he’s hoping the Pearl- ens said, but quickly noted that if he Cohn Firebirds will get to feast on was upset, it was at himself, not his their opponent, Whites Creek High, coach. “Whatever decision (Coach this Friday night. Brunetti) makes I won’t get angry However, half of Owens’ two- with him, because I see him as a fa- week fast was unplanned. ther figure.” Although the Firebirds had a Brunetti, who along with winning bye last week, Owens, the start- games, sees his role coaching play- ing junior quarterback, was given ers as “teaching them to make good the previous week off in the form choices.” He knew the suspensions of a one-game suspension by head would upset some people, but said coach Tony Brunetti. Owens and it was “an easy decision.” several teammates watched from “I think it sent a message to the the sidelines as Pearl-Cohn pulled rest of the team. We have been very out a 14-0 victory over rival East successful as a program but some- Nashville to remain undefeated on times mistakes are made,” Brunet- the season. ti said, adding that Martino never This was a season that Owens had complained. to work hard to play in, following a Owens has a history with his devastating ACL injury at the start coach that’s somewhat unique. of his sophomore year. Being the For starters, he and the coach’s starting quarterback for Pearl-Cohn son, Lucien (a standout receiver at was something that Owens pledged MBA), grew up together, playing a to do ever since he told Brunetti lot of baseball in West Nashville. he would... when he was just nine It was there that Owens declared he years old. would someday play quarterback at He started, played well, and the Pearl-Cohn. Firebirds won their first six games. Befriending the coach’s son The team vaulted to a No. 2 Mid- also found him on the sidelines at state Football ranking by USA To- Firebirds games in 2014 watch- day Sports Network and Martino Rising Star ing up close as Pearl-Cohn legend got an offer sheet to play at Ten- Pearl-Cohn quarterback Martino Owens has not let injury or circumstance Ke’Shawn Vaughn rushed for 2,646 nessee State University after high stop him from leading the Firebirds and Coach Brunetti is determined to keep him on the right track. school. Then, with a rival game on Photo by Vince Troia Continued on Page 6 INSIDE THIS ISSUE WNSL Gears Up for Basketball West Side TKD Students Earn Belts Ensworth Bounces Back With Shutout Page 3 Page 5 Page 7 2 Nashville Sports Publications October 16, 2019 2019 FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL TICKETSTICKETS ONON SALESALE NOWNOW MONDAY, DEC. 30, 2019 3:00 PM CST NISSAN STADIUM NASHVILLE, TN WWW.MUSICCITYBOWL.COM October 16, 2019 Nashville Sports Publications 3 WNSL Gearing Up for Winter Basketball West Nashville Sports League is gearing up for the 23rd Winter Bas- ketball season and we hope your player will join us! There are many reasons why WNSL continues to grow each year, so take a look at some of these outstanding stats: Mike Hastings WNSL began in 1997 as the Publisher WNBA (West Nashville Basketball [email protected] Association) with 100 girls play- ing basketball in 2 gyms - Harding Editorial Staff Academy and Ensworth. In 1999 Stetson Marlin boys basketball was added and the Contributing Writer name changed to the WNSL. Parker Bell Today, the league has over 2,500 Contributing Writer boys and girls playing basketball Local basketball teams are coming together in anticipation of the 2019 Craig Flagg with 20+ gym floors being utilized. Winter Basketball season at the WNSL. Contributing Writer It takes a tremendous community Photo courtesy of WNSL Craig Ladd effort to house all of the basketball Contributing Writer players and play 125 basketball the tournaments use their skills they held at MBA on November 17th and Chip Cirillo games on a Saturday. have built on to play competitively. 24th and December 1st and 8th. To Contributing Writer The Christmas and March Mad- Winter Basketball is open to boys learn more about the season and to George Wong ness Tournaments were added and girls in grades Pre-K - 9th and register your player we encourage Contributing Writer to allow our teams to play other boys in 10th - 12th grade. The 12th you to visit WNSL.org/Basketball. league teams, and other area teams/ grade division is new this year During the Basketball season leagues/schools 11 and 20 years Photography By: as we had such a turnout for 11th WNSL also offers Basketball ago respectively. These tourna- grade teams last year and are excit- Cheerleading for our peppy siblings Carl Edmondson ments have grown over the years ed to have them return this season. (or players - we encourage players www.cejrphotography.com and are very popular events in the Teams are built by grade and not to participate in as many sports as Andrew Atkins Southeast with 72 teams playing in age allowing players to play with they wish - we will make schedul- Contributing Photographer the Christmas Tournament and 295 their friends - regardless of age. ing arrangements!) in grades Pre-K Sarah Galloway teams playing in the March Mad- Registration is open for full/partial - 6th. Full uniforms and practice Contributing Photographer ness Tournament last year. teams and free agent players. WNSL times/location is also provided. John Wilkinson As with all sports, WNSL prides builds teams based off of several el- Basketball registration closes No- www.jfw3.com itself on the emphasis on sports- ements for free agent players, area vember 8th for Pre-K - 4th grade Katie Bashaw manship. We reward teams for lov- of town in which you live, school and December 6th for 5th - 11th Contributing Photographer ing the game, not winning. Regular the player attends, friend/coach re- grade, and Cheerleading registra- Jennifer Spradlin season records are not published quest, etc. Full uniforms are provid- tion closes December 6th. The sea- Contributing Photographer and after three weeks of play, we ed and every game throughout the son will tip off on January 11th and Jan Johnson look at all teams and change divi- season has certified referees. look forward to once again to serv- www.imagine--this.com sions if necessary. Our intent and In keeping with tradition, we will ing the children of Middle Tennes- Greg & Jess Photo hope is that the players will learn also offer four pre-season clinics see! www.gregandjess.com the game and have fun, then during Art Director: Renee Phillips �ase�all � �o��all Instruc�on �a�ng cages • Pitching mounds Advertising Sales: Colby Rager 10,000 square feet • Indoor field [email protected] Stephanie Haynesworth [email protected] Experience our player-first approach to helping all players improve and enjoy the game 615.891.1676 www.NashvilleSports.net Facebook/NashvilleSports15 Twitter: @15Nashville (1.5 miles off the I-65/Harding Place exit) The Sports Weekly is published by Nashville Sports Publicastions LLC, 142 Belle Forest Circle, Nash- ville TN 37221. All rights reserved. 4 Nashville Sports Publications October 16, 2019 SEE YOURSELF REACHING THE TOP WITH A SMILE Delta Dental of Tennessee Now offers DeltaVison®, reliable vision coverage you can count on administered by VSP®. To learn more about protecting your eyes and your smile, visit: www.DeltaDentalTN.com. @DeltaDentalTN October 16, 2019 Nashville Sports Publications 5 Moving Up Students at West Side Tae Kwon Do Awarded New Belts During the first week of Sep- Joseph DeHarde, Ashley Lesogor, tember, students at West Side Tae- Liam Moran, Natalie Papendick. kwondo participated in the Summer Senior Green Belt to Junior Blue Graduation. We congratulate them Belt - Allison Glenn, Matthias Lo- on their promotions. They put in pez, Matilda Drennan. Junior Blue many hours of work in learning and Belt to Blue Belt - Carsyn Carder, perfecting their techniques. In their Jordan Hayes, Beckett Lee, Eliza- work they have shown persever- beth Claxton. Blue Belt to Senior ance, self-control, and indomitable Blue Belt - Keira Dunbar, Addison spirit which are 3 of the 5 Tenets of Ripmaster, Hazel Crabiel, Henry Taekwondo. (Courtesy and integ- Sandberg, Bruce Newland, Adri- rity being the other 2 tenets). Our anne Burroughs, Maverik Hawkins. students strive to show all 5 tenets The Advanced Level students at school, work, home, and in the that promoted are as follows: Se- dojang. nior Blue Belt to Junior Red Belt - Kristy Chau, Kenneth Chau, An- The Beginners that promoted are drew Rybiski, Trinity Mahan. Ju- as follows: White Belt to Junior nior Red Belt to Red Belt - Karo- Beginning students at West Side Tae Kwon Do take a picture with Master Yellow Belt - Max Floyd, Brighton Lewis and their new belts!. lyn Baldwin, Sydney Lee, Alana Burchett, Joey Folk, Brennan Haw- Photo courtesy of WSTKD Burroughs, Diana Warrick, Jewell kins, Sara Jerome, Elijah Reedus, Hamilton. Red Belt to Senior Red Raegan Smith, Arianna Reese, Ar- nior Yellow Belt - Caleb Goddard, Jack Kelso, Noah Emerson. Junior Belt - Luke Doster. Senior Red manee McCray, Yousef Jambi, Jon Olivia Mart, Will Claxton, Madoc Green Belt to Senior Green Belt - Belt to 1st Degree Recommended Harris, Keegan Blount.