South Charlotte Sports Report “HOMETOWN TEAMS ... HOMETOWN KIDS” Volume 9, Issue 18 www.southcharlottesports.com @SCSportsReport February 12, 2015 - FREE NATALIE BROWN IS CLIMBING THE DIVE LADDER TO SUCCESS South Mecklenburg High able with the feeling of flipping in the air, and to have a certain spatial awareness. School junior diver Natalie Diving would be a lot harder if I didn’t know how to spot where I am in the air, Brown has found quick suc- and be able to control, twist, and adjust my body to get to vertical or wherever I cess in less than three years need to be in the dive.” as a competitive diver. The Natalie is also an All-American in the classroom with a 5.0 grade point aver- daughter of Patrick and age. After this year, she will have completed six AP courses and plans to take Linda Brown has taken her four more in her senior year. She is a member of the National Honor Society, gymnastics experience and National Technical Honor Society, and Health Occupations Students of America turned it into success in a dif- (HOSA) clubs, as well as the Charlotte Area Health Center Health Career Educa- ferent sport. In her first two tion-Reaching Out to Excellent Students (AHEC-HEROES) organization, years, Natalie has found suc- Natalie has also volunteered at local hospitals every summer since freshman cess locally, regionally and year. on a national stage. Where “I’ve had lots of different positions, including assisting with a nursing unit it takes her, no one knows and working in the sterile processing department with surgical tools. I am also a for sure, but the climb up Girl Scout at the Ambassador rank, and am currently working on my Gold Award the ladder has certainly got- Project, which is equivalent to the Boy Scout Eagle Award. This project has a ten off to a great start. 100-hour minimum requirement, and must involve the community and be sus- Natalie has found the tainable beyond my efforts. I plan to be finished with everything for my project most success springboard by this coming summer.” diving. The South Charlotte Sports Report salutes Natalie for all her amazing accom- “I am best at springboard plishments inside and out of the classroom. We wish her the very best in her diving because it allows me pursuit of diving excellence and academic success. Keep climbing the ladder to to manipulate the surface reach all of your dreams Natalie. I’m on and get extra height/bounce for my dives. I have trained some platform (5, 7, and 10-meter) before and like that type of diving as well, but springboard is best for me.” South Charlotte Sports Report Natalie has made it to her national competition the last two years and was named as an All-American on both the 1 and 3 meter springboard for top 12 Basketball Tournaments finishes. She has also qualified for the state championship all three years and is ready for year three this winter. February 28-March 1 As we mentioned diving wasn’t her original choice for a sport to find success in. Gymnastics and then cheerleading have been the sports of choice for Natalie & leading up to high school. March 7-8 “My background is definitely one involving a lot of gymnastics- I trained on the Harris Y’s competitive team for roughly 8 years, and made it up to Level 8 Boys & Girls throughout that time. During my childhood I also was a soccer player, swimmer, and softball player- I loved all of the sports I did! I started diving my freshman Ages 8-HS year because of a recommendation from one of my friend’s moms- I had no idea what it was, but she said to give it a try because I was a gymnast!” www.southcharlottesportscamps.com Natalie gave it a try and with the help of CMS Diving Instructor Roy Botsko, she began to learn the basics needed to dive. As a freshman, she finished 8th in the state championship. BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS OFFERED “After states, I competed one last time for my gymnastics team and then de- cided that it was time I moved on- I was constantly getting injured and changes ...Enter your team February 28-March 1 & March 7-8 in coaching at my gym helped me make the decision to leave. I then joined Caro- Two of the very best youth basketball tournaments in lina Diving Academy (CDA), which is a year-round club team that trains up at Charlotte have combined forces this season to offer back- Huntersville Family Fitness and Aquatics Center. This is where I broadened my to-back events February 28-March 1 and March 7-8. The experience with diving beyond high school competitions and 1-meter spring- South Charlotte All Star Tournament (SCAT) and the board.” South Charlotte Sports Report Shootout are teaming up In addition to diving, Natalie has also been a cheerleader for Carmel Middle to provide two first-class events on consecutive weekends and South Meck since seventh grade. She relied on her gymnastics background for area all-star, club and travel basketball teams. Each to get her started in the sport. event will offer divisions for all levels of play and boys and “Gymnastics and cheerleading have both helped with my success in diving girls ages 8U-HS are invited to enter. because I’ve been doing flips and tumbling from an early age. Though diving and Tournament owners Jeff White and Tripp Roakes are gymnastics are drastically different in many aspects, it helps a lot to be comfort- very excited about providing tournaments on back-to- back weekends. Spring Break and Summer Camps “By combining resources and relationships, we believe it will only improve April 6-8 Spring Break Multi Sports Camp the quality of each event. Teams can play with us for two consecutive weekends Spring Break Cheer and Dance Camp and know they will receive the same great experience at each tournament. Our June 15-18 Multi Sports Camp # 1 focus with each tournament has always been to provide a fun, safe atmosphere Cheer and Dance Camp # 1 for the kids and that will remain our number one mission.” July 6-10 Multi-Sports Camp # 2 Tournament games will operate from top area school gymnasiums and also Cheer and Dance Camp # 2 include games the second weekend at Carolina Courts. Each division will of- July 13-16 Volleyball Camp fer championship medals, all tournament teams and newspaper and internet July 20-23 Baseball Camp coverage of the events. The South Charlotte Sports Report will print All-Tour- July 27-30 Multi-Sports Camp # 3 nament Teams in the newspaper! Cheer and Dance Camp # 3 TBA Basketball Camp To enter into both or just one of the events, please visit www.southcharlottesportscamps.com Enroll in our camps at www.southcharlottesportscamps.com Page 2 Volume 9, Issue 18 TICE WILKERSON LIVES LIFE INSIDE AND OUT OF THE POOL Covenant Day School junior swimmer Tice grade when he joined a club team after being motivated by the success of his Wilkerson enjoys competing in the pool for older brother. With the club team, Tice has been able to receive year round the Lions Swim Team. The 17 year old son of training and the chance to compete against teams from all across the country. Roger and Lynne Wilkerson competes in the With his prep career now down to just three more semesters, Tice has started to shorter distances, specializing in the 50, 100, turn his attention to college. and 200 freestyle, the 100 breaststroke, and “I would love to swim on a college team but we will see what God has in store the 100 and 200 backstroke. His top times in- for me.” clude; 22.77 in the 50 free, 51.14 in the 100 Once he arrives in college, Tice believes he would like to major in business free, 1:03.80 in the 100 breaststroke, and a and become an entrepreneur with his own business. 58.99 in the 100 backstroke. Inside the classroom, Tice is a successful student with his place on the Honor Tice also swims for a club team throughout Roll and he is also a member of the Beta Club and the Environmental Club. the year. Good luck to Tice Wilkerson as he begins to move forward in the final stages “I swim for Stingray Aquatics in Matthews, of his high school career and into a successful summer swim season. The South it’s the best group of coaches and swimmers. Charlotte Sports Report sends out best wishes to Tice as he finishes up the high ever.” school swim season. Tice has built up an impressive list of swim- ming credentials along the way to his junior season. “In middle school I was MVP for 7th and 8th Come try out for south CharlotteÕs grade. I’ve been All-Conference for the past three years. I’ve also been team captain for the past two premier AAU basketball club! years which enables me to build relationships and work with some younger swimmers, something I al- ways enjoy doing.” Skills for Basketball - Skills for Life - Skills for Success Swimming has always been a part of Tice’s life, but things began to become more serious in the 8th Try Out Schedule: Session 1! Session 2! ! ! Feb. 15! Feb. 22! ! ! Providence High School! Providence High School! ! ! 1:00-2:30 - 10U & 11U Boys! 1:00-2:30 - 10U & 11U Boys! ! ! 3:00-4:30 - 12U & 13U Boys! 3:00-4:30 - 12U & 13U Boys! ! ! 5:00-6:30 - 14U & 9th Grade Boys 5:00-6:30 - 14U & 9th Grade Boys *Players are strongly encouraged to attend both try out sessions!* For more information, please visit www.PSBSELECT.com Congratulations to these Student-athletes from Charlotte Catholic High School for signing NCAA Athletic Letter of Intents last week.