Three-time EuroLeague champ meets Joe Arlauckas

Small forward Stratos Perperoglou of Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade may not be as much of a household name as some of his teammates over the years, but he has been as much of a winner as almost any Turkish Airlines EuroLeague player during his career. To date, Perperoglou has won three EuroLeague crowns which is tied for the second-highest total in the Final Four era and has been a starter in the playoffs for four different clubs. The Crossover host Joe Arlauckas asked Perperoglou about all of it in this episode.

Perperoglou's road to basketball glory has been interesting. The son of a career army man, he moved every few years as a child and did not play serious basketball until being recruited to play in Athens in his mid-teens. Since the decision to accept his first offer to play away from home caused great stress in his family, Perperoglou became aware early of how his basketball career affected those around him.

[6:40] "I knew that there were many sacrifices involved for my family, too, so I wanted to make that work," he said of the move. "I found out later that my parents didn't really talk for like a year. There was a big conflict in the house."

Perperoglou's upbringing had a big impact on the player he would become. Growing up in a military environment gave him the tools that would put Perperoglou in a position to grow and endear him to coaches.

[11:10] "I learned early in my life to be disciplined. My dad was in the army. I learned how important work ethic is and also being able to listen to instructions," he explained. "I was never the talent that everyone was talking about, but I wanted to work hard and listen to my coaches."

Perperoglou started to receive attention around Greece after several successful seasons at Panionios. He recalls that after one Greek League game against Panathinaikos, opposing coach Zeljko Obradovic sought him out and gave him a high five. The following season, Perperoglou was playing for Obradovic. He spent five seasons at Panathinaikos, during which he won EuroLeague titles in 2009 and 2011 while playing alongside some greats of the sport.

[26:10] "I feel like after I retire, it will be nice to look back and see what happened over these years. It's an amazing thing to have played for such good teams. A lot of players have played and never won EuroLeagues," he said. "I have been blessed."

It hasn't always been smooth sailing for Perperoglou, whose career and life were threatened by a blood clot following a flight home from the United States, where he was visiting his wife Erin's family, back in 2011, shortly after winning his second EuroLeague title with Panathinaikos.

[37:00] "When we got to Athens, my knee was really aching. I thought I was just stiff from sitting for 10 hours. Then the pain moved down to my calf," Perperoglou recalled. The next day he went for his physical with the Greek national team and the team doctor ordered a vein exam. "When the results came in, [the doctor] was like, 'Sit down and don't move. You are staying here.' "

He spent a week and a half in the hospital on blood thinners and would need to take that medication for the next five to six months. He missed all of the 2011-12 EuroLeague Regular Season.

[38:45] "The hard part for me was [the doctors] didn't have an answer. 'We don't know if you'll be able to play again or not.' I didn't know what direction this thing would take," Perperoglou, a devout Christian, recounted. "My faith is what gets me through the hard times, but you're not immune to the feelings and the uncertainty."

Now 35 years old, Perperoglou is starting to think about the end of his playing career. His contract with Zvezda expires after the current season and Perperoglou told Arlauckas about his thoughts for next season.

[47:55] "I would like to go to Greece to play for one more year, finish my career in Greece. We'll see," Perperoglou said. "I don't know about what team, but if it's something I feel good about, I'll do it."

With a one-hour format of exclusive one-on-one interviews, The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas goes well beyond the playing court with each podcast to delve into the life experiences that have made his guests protagonists and legends of the EuroLeague. This season, he is also reviewing the EuroLeague's modern history in its 20th season of this century by talking to the legends who have made the competition more popular than ever.

The Crossover debuted last season with such current stars as Vassilis Spanoulis and Kyle Hines, coaching greats like Pablo Laso and Zeljko Obradovic, and legends like Nikola Vujcic and Robertas Javtokas, among others. Recent guests include coach Sarunas Jasikevicius of Zalgiris Kaunas and Tyrese Rice of of Panathinaikos OPAP Athens.

The Crossover with Joe Arlauckas is available on iTunes, Audioboom, Spotify, Deezer, RadioPublic, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Stitcher, CastBox and other platforms.

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Life Mastery Consultant Amy Walston is shown presenting a Vision Workshop last November at The Pickwick Place in Bucyrus. Walston trained to become a certified life mastery consultant through the Life Mastery Institute. She offers life-coaching services for individuals and groups in the central Ohio area.(Photo: Amy Walston-Empowering You LLC)

MARION If you can dream it, you can become it.

That's the message Life Mastery Consultant Amy Walston wants people to understand and embrace in order to make their lives better.

Walston, a native of Marion, is the owner of Empowering You LLC, a life-coaching service she recently started. Her office is located at 1199 Delaware Avenue, Suite 102C in the Corporate Center in Marion. She is also a licensed massage therapist, a profession she has worked in for the past decade. Sheoperates that business out of the same office.

Prior to becoming a massage therapist, Walston worked in the financial services field, but decided to leave that business because she didn't believe she was fulfilling her purpose in life.

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"I got into (massage therapy) because I wanted to do something to help people," Walston said. "I was a finance manager and really was not happy with it because I couldn't answer the question, 'Who have I helped.' So, I got into massage therapy and, yes,I help everyone that I work on with my hands, but after all this time, and working on enough people, I realized that a lot of their physical problems come from what's going on inside them.

"You start working on someone and the emotions come out, whether they're stressed out, grieving, or whatever."

Amy Walston is a certified life mastery consultant and owner of Empowering You LLC in Marion.(Photo: Amy Walston-Empowering You LLC)

It was those types of experiences with her massage therapy clients that led Walston to the next phase of her journey, becoming a life coach.

"I realized that I could help them on another level," she said. "I was just helping physically. Basically, I was just scratching the surface of what a real problem is, but there could be more help, but I didn't know what it was."

Walston's search for answers led her to theLife Mastery Institute (LMI) founded by Mary Morrissey in 2009. Morrissey, according to the LMI website, "is widely considered the worlds foremost expert on dream-building, which is the art and science of transforming your dreams into reality."

According to the LMI website, Morrissey has spent40 years "studying transformational principles, and is the author of two bestselling books, 'No Less Than Greatness'and 'Building Your Field of Dreams,'which became a PBS special."

Walston completed a six-week training course last year to become a certified life mastery consultant. She will complete advanced training in April of this year, she said.

"It's a whole transformational process," Walston said. "The power lies within us because we're spiritual beings, and we're so much more than we even realize we are. We're more than our condition. It's about raising your awareness and bringing out everything that's within you, and help you realize your dreams. It's about helping you design a life that you'd really love to live."

Walston offers life coaching programs and services for individuals and groups. She will conduct workshops and seminars forlarge and small groups, in-house corporate training, and executive and personal retreats. She said she will tailor her presentations to fit the needs of the individuals or groups.

Walston also offers speaking services, ranging from "10-minute talks" and"Lunch and Learn training" to motivational and keynote speeches. She also offers what she calls Vision Workshops.

"The Vision Workshop is a three-hour, motivational workshop," she said. "I have people start dreaming their dream, writing down what they'd love to see for their lives, and teaching some of the principles of the DreamBuilder program. It's fun, interactive, motivational."

For information about the programs and services Walston offers through Empowering You LLC, call 740-360-2218, or email AmyWalston@LifeMasteryConsultant.com.

Information is also available on her website, AmyWalston.LifeMasteryConsultant.com.

Email: eacarter@marionstar.com

Office: 740-375-5154

Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

Aces of Trades is a planned weekly seriesfrom the Marion Star focusing on people and their jobs whether they're unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at news@marionstar.com.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. With a guiding hand and a booming voice head coach Mike Savage commands an off-season weightlifting session for his New Town High School football team.

But before too long his powerful grip and encouraging dialogue will be gone.

My right arm is weak. My right hand is not as active as my left, he said. Its challenging at times.

He is feeling the symptoms of ALS.

Not me. Not Mike Savage. No, you have it misdiagnosed, the 47-year-old recalled thinking when he was diagnosed last summer.

Savage told his four sons first.

I was shocked. Definitely. It hit me instantly. I actually broke down and cried, said his 30-year-old son Joshua.

Mike kept it secret until an exchange with his brother and cousin during practice in the fall. Both are assistants on his staff.

I was in practice and I was kind of zoned out. Like am I going to see this field again next year? Thats when I was kind of down, he said. The practice was kind of wild that day. They looked at me like, When are you going to fix it? I just said I dont got it in me. I dont have it no more. They was like, Whats wrong with you? As we was walking up the steps I told my cousin and my brother, Man, Im dying'.

ALS is a degenerative neuromuscular disease. Theres no cure.

My brother immediately started crying and my cousin just put his head down and said, Hey man, what do you mean? I told them I got diagnosed with ALS.

The disease eventually paralyzes its victims, who lose the ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe.

I was broke at that point. I was at my lowest. I just couldnt believe what was happening to me. I felt like what I had always worked hard to do was to become a head coach and become a powerful head coach in the county and in state. My dream finally came true. I got an opportunity to help kids and get kids to college and now its going to be cut short. I just couldnt understand it. I was like, Why me?, said Savage.

Those kids he has helped, hundreds of them over the years, have his back.

I look at him as a father figure more than a coach, said Titans senior Elijah Lawrence. Hes probably a better damn father than my own father. I aint gonna lie to ya.

Coach Savages illness hits hard for Lawrence. Savage has been at his side while Lawrences mother battles stage 3 brain cancer.

Like he always says, Be strong, said Lawrence. "If Im going to be strong for my mother, I know damn sure well I can be strong for my coach.

Be strong.

Thats Mike Savage.

Hes a former college linebacker, a former military man, a current head coach and mentor living with one of the worlds most devastating illnesses.

I always tell them no matter what, in life you got to find a way to win. No matter what the circumstance is just find a way to win, he said. Theres going to be ups and downs. Theres going to be triumphs and disappointments and things like that. You just got to keep going.

Thats just what he intends to do. With a guiding hand, a booming voice and an inspiring determination.

Im going to walk on that field or Im going to wheel on it. One way or the other. Ill die a football coach, said Savage.

How long do you plan on coaching and working?

Until the Lord calls me home. Until my job is done. When my task is done here on earth and the Lord calls me home then Ill go. But until then Im going to be around.

Savage is learning how to balance his time between his three jobs and his three-to-four doctors appointments per week.

In his two years as New Town head coach he has led the Titans to back-to-back state semifinal appearances. Hell have another good shot at that state title in 2020.

Follow Shawn Stepner on Twitter @StepnerWMAR and Facebook

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Determination after diagnosis, New Town head coach in the fight of his life - wmar2news.com

Have you ever had a great coach, whether in or out of school? One who not only helped you to master a skill or a sport, but who also helped shape you as a person?

LOS ANGELES For the past three years, Henrique Hicu Motta, a rowing coach, has created unlikely success stories in a sport long associated with the privileged. He has taken his team of high school girls from working-class families to the national championships and sent several of them to Division I colleges on athletic scholarships.

Im Latina, little and had never been on a sports team, said Isabella Soto, 17, the daughter of a nanny and a machinist who hopes to row at an elite college next fall.

Isabella, who was accepted onto the RowLA team despite being only 5 feet 2 inches tall on a good day, is a first-generation American whose parents are undocumented Mexicans. Kassie Kim is the child of Korean immigrants, a cashier and a fire-alarm installer. Samadhi Dissanayake, a Sri Lankan-American raised by a single mother in subsidized housing, rides two buses to practice.

I hated sports before coming here, said Samadhi, who is also considering rowing in college. Now I love rowing and the sense of community.

But Mr. Motta, 39, a Brazilian who is in the country on a work visa, has been notified that his petition to remain in the United States has been denied. In order to stay, U.S. immigration authorities said, he must prove that he has extraordinary ability to do a job that might otherwise go to an American.

In a sport dominated by athletes who are white and wealthy, RowLA under Mr. Mottas leadership has long made a point of enlisting those who normally would not have access to rowing. Neither build nor athletic acumen determine who gets to compete and succeed. He can take a girl, regardless of size and ability, and turn her into a serious rower. Thats rare among coaches, said Liz Greenberger, a retired international security analyst who founded the team a decade ago and brought Mr. Motta in as their second coach in 2017. Its Hicus philosophy that is perfect for our program, she said.

Mr. Mottas philosophy is simple: I try to make something special out of any girl who wants to give rowing a shot, he said.

The question is, does that amount to extraordinary ability?

In the three years since receiving a work visa, Mr. Motta has crafted a program of dedicated rowers who have competed in the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals, the highest level for high school rowers, and won college scholarships. But Mr. Motta does not just coach.

A nutritionist by training, he instructs his athletes to maintain a balanced diet. (No processed food before races. Stick to fruit for energy and coconut water for hydration.) Mr. Motta urges his rowers to spend time on their studies and think about futures that can be full of possibilities.

We dont just focus on rowing performance; were developing student athletes, said Mr. Motta, standing in Parking Lot 77 at Marina del Rey in West Los Angeles, where the team assembles six days a week to train, rain or shine.

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

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What Role Have Coaches Played in Your Life? - The New York Times

One of Petal High Schools most beloved teachers will soon return to his old classroom for Coffee with Coach and Class with Coach, two events hosted by the Petal Education Foundation that will reunite Coach Si Thompson with former students and other acquaintances to benefit the foundation.

Coffee with Coach, which will be held from 2-3 p.m. March 7 in Thompsons former classroom at the high school, will give attendees the chance to enjoy coffee and have a little one-on-one time with Thompson, who began teaching AP History at the high school in 1994 before retiring approximately three years ago. Each attendee of that event will receive a retro-style coffee mug with Thompsons autograph.

We thought about all the great components of Coachs life here at the Petal School District, said Leahne Lightsey, executive director of the Petal Education Foundation. One of the things that kids remember most is that he drank that black coffee and taught, and they became lovers of coffee.

So that was a time particularly if you came to his office early or stayed late for some one-on-one good life coaching that he did, and of course he helped you with your assignments and all of your educational situations, quite frankly. So we thought that would be kind of a neat time for alumni to come back and have a little more intimate circle of folks, and enjoy that cup of coffee and catch up a little bit.

The Class with Coach, formally titled At This Point in Time or even more formally, The Dialectical Evolution from Economic Capitalism through Marxist Material Socialism and the Advent of the General Will will be held from 3-5:30 p.m. the same day in the high schools Black Box Theater.

Its going to be interactive, and I know thats what the kids are wanting because (in his class), he wanted discussion, he wanted your point of view, all of that, Lightsey said. I dont want that title (of the lecture) to intimidate anybody, because he can take the most in-depth concept and put it out there where you understand, and I think thats why the kids love him so much.

(My children) had him, and so many of my friends had children in his class, that we said Oh my gosh, if we could just sit in his room for one day, how much we would learn. If we would have had that type of experience with a teacher, we would have learned all the geography and history. Everybody grew to love him.

Tickets are $50 for Class with Coach, or $125 for both Class with Coach and Coffee with Coach. Tickets can be purchased at https://squ.re/38BO1AL, with all proceeds going to the Petal Education Foundation.

Coffee with Coach can accommodate 30 participants, while Class with Coach can hold 100.

Were always trying to fundraise, and we do pretty well with all the areas like scholarships, mini-grants, Excel By 5, athletics and fine arts, Lightsey said. But operations always needs a boost, so with a little bit of prompting, Coach agreed to do this. The response so far has been pretty good.

The Petal Education Foundation was organized in 1987 with the goal of enhancing the quality of education in the Petal School District by providing private funding to have a positive impact on the districts schools.

For more information on the foundation or its events, call Lightsey at (601) 325-8139.

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) Theres a hidden gem at the University of Indianapolis, but she comes with a team of 24 young women. Head softball coach Melissa Frost is closing in on a milestone and sharing a very personal victory that inspires her team.

Frost just earned a 600th win as a coach at the university and is 21 wins away from 700 in her coaching career. But she always finds herself back on the field no matter what challenges are thrown her way.

Hard work at practice is an expectation from coach Frost.

I cant imagine getting up and actually doing a job every day because I love what I do and this doesnt feel like a job to me, she said.

She was a standout at Marshall University and then went on to pitch professionally for the Akron Racers.

Shes tough and competitive and shes going to work you until you cant work no more, junior Brooke Montgomery said. Shes going to get the best out of you no matter what.

But dont let her fool you, shes got a great sense of humor and a heart made of gold.

Just to be able to be an influential person in the life of an 18 to 22-year-old is just where God meant for me to be, Frost said.

Frosts faith was tested in 2016 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I was a patient at Community South and the nurses there in the oncology unit, its very rare that you will find people that will pray with you, she said.

Her mom was right by her side.

I think that strong support and my faith not only got me through cancer but has also gotten me the opportunity to share the word elsewhere, Frost said.

She never stopped coaching and traveled to games after chemo treatments. She says she couldnt have done it without the help of a special man in her life.

I couldnt ask for a better partner in life than David, she said. His love and support through chemo, I think thats hard for any man to watch the woman they love go through something I went through.

Her girls are thankful for him too.

He is just as much in it as we are and coach Frost, Montgomery said. After the game, he gives everyone high fives and tells them awesome job. No matter if we win or lose, he is there.

Now, she has a chance to share her story with the ones she loves the most.

Every three months coach Frost has a check up. Shes currently on a chemo pill for 10 years.

As for the team, theyve been to the World Series twice and dream of the day they bring home a national championship.

by: Associated Press / 6 mins ago

CANTON, Ohio (AP) An Ohio woman was arrested for calling 911 when her parents cut off her cellphone service, authorities said.

Seloni Khetarpal was arrested Feb. 13 by Massillon police and charged with disrupting police services, a fourth-degree felony,The Canton Repository reported.

Jail records show that Khetarpal, 36, repeatedly called emergency dispatchers because her parents had terminated her cellphone service, which they paid for.

An officer contacted her and advised she call emergency services only for emergencies.

Two hours later, she called again and was belligerent and stated she believed it to be a legitimate issue, according to jail records.

Court records do not list an attorney who could speak on Khetarpals behalf.

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UIndy softball coach gets 600th win, becomes inspiration for young women - WISHTV.com

Many of us make New Years resolutions, but weve usually given up on them by the time Groundhog Day arrives. Thats not been the case with the urban reggae group SayReal. The band vowed that in 2020 it would release a new song every Friday on Soundcloud and on its Facebook page. The group also vowed to make sure the song on Facebook would also have an accompanying video. Thats right: 52 original songs in one year.

Its an ambitious project that is taking a lot of work, but it has paid off, as the band has found a new way to engage with its audience, all the while keeping the focus on the music and the messages within it.

Listeners will get a chance to hear some of these new songs played live when SayReal and Rebelle perform at the Perch at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center on 289 Main St. tomorrow night, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

SayReal is based in Los Angelesbut has roots are here in the Pioneer Valley, where the group has been visiting for the past couple of months. The group is led by Naia Kete, who was born in Northampton and lived in various parts of Western Massachusetts including Shutesbury and Leverett when she was growing up. She is the groups lead vocalist, lyricist and bassist. She is joined in SayReal by her younger brother,Imani Elijah on keyboards and drums, and her longtime boyfriend, Lee John on drums and guitar.

The daughter of musicians, Kete has been making music with her family including Imani for as long as she can remember. She got her musical start singing with her familys reggae band the Black Rebels, which becameRebelle and is led by her mother,Kalpana Devi and step-father, Emmanuel Manou.Kete later launched a solo career and started performing at various local venues. Her backing band included Imani and about 12 years ago, she met Lee John, who joined her band. Like Keteand her brother, Johns parents are musicians. His father is guitarist Earl Slick, best known for his work with David Bowie, and his mom is Jean Millington, who co-founded the band Fanny with her sister Institute for the Musical Arts co-founder June Millington.

Not long after John started working with Kete, the three musicians moved to California and started busking on the streets. Ketes powerful, expressive voice landed her on the second season of The Voice, where she made it to the top 24 on Team Blake. The group continued to make music under her name, but after musician/ producer Randy Jackson confronted her after a gig and pointed out that the music was bigger than her, she got to thinking about forming a proper band.

I asked Lee and Imani how about would you feel about being a band? said Kete in a recent phone conversation. Because the music never was about me. The music that I love to perform is sparking personal musical and cultural evolution, and we are all on board with that.

Kete said the band works because they are a family, and theirs is an egoless collaboration where they give each other the freedom to express themselves however they want.

SayReal released its full-length debut Unarmed and Ready in September. The group released four singles from the project, prior to its official release, and noticed that with each songs release came a spark in activity everything from increased plays on Spotify to more activity on Facebook. So we thought the more we release the more we have the opportunity to gain more fans and grow our community, said Kete about one of the ideas that sparked the 52 releases project.

The fact that this project would allow them to dig deeper into the content and message of the music also made it appealing. Kete said, however, that what really appealed to her most about the idea was that it was a way that SayReal could help combat all the hatred and division that is so prevalent these days, especially on social media.

The thing that I love about music is that it inspires this feeling of awe and wonderment, she said. I really wholeheartedly feel that the right song has the opportunity to open a persons heart and change a persons mind in an instant. It really is a universal language, so for me, 52 songs is 52 opportunities to do just that: to open peoples hearts, and for all of us to be able to find common ground and speak a common language.

So far, the songs they have released is a diverse bunch that range from the love song Take it Slow, released last week in honor of Valentines Day, to Photograph, a tune that explores the current obsession with snapping pictures to post on social media. While all of RealSays music is rooted in reggae, rock, pop and soul sounds can be heard in their work, all the while the message remains positive and life-affirming.

In the accompanying videos, the band shares a behind-the-scenes look at their songwriting process and the meaning behind some of the songs.

Some of the songs were written before the start of the year and others they are writing now specifically for this series.

Ive been working harder than I ever have before, but its a welcomed challenge and the kind of work I believe in, said Kete, adding that at only two months in, shes not sure where the project will ultimately go. Who knows? It could be a new business model for us. It is all an experiment.

SayReal is also in the midst of running a GoFundMe campaign to help finance a new tour van. And,Kete has other side projects: she works as a life coach supporting women in weight loss, fitness, relationship goals and more. Shes also launched an online project through which she is encouraging women to play bass and posts a video online every Monday of her playing the bass lines of the new songs.

It started when I was vocal coaching at IMA (the Institute for the Musical Arts in Goshen) last summer, Kete said. I was so inspired by female musicians, and would like to see more of them, particularly in reggae music, so it became my mission to encourage more women to play bass.

But SayReals greatest passion remains playing live and inspiring fans with messages of empowerment and positivity.

Its about being honest and transparent about all the emotions and feelings and experiences that life has to offer whether that is on a personal level, in a relationship or something happening in politics or in our culture, Kete said. It is just being real and honest about sharing your perspective and sharing your heart so that is what I try and do in my music.

Tickets to Fridays show are $12 in advance, available at hawksandreed.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. For music, visit sayrealmusic/freemusic.com

Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at soundslocal@yahoo.com.

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One original song every week - The Recorder

KANNAPOLIS 298, 299, 300.

Those are all just numbers to Shelwyn Klutz. And none of them have any more significance than the other to the longtime A.L. Brown boys basketball coach.

People have been talking with him about those numbers recently, wishing to recognize him for a career-victories milestone that lingered as a bit of a mystery last week. The number of coaching wins wasnt important to Klutz when he took the job in 1997, and it sure isnt now.

When the Wonders defeated Jay M. Robinson 70-68 on Tuesday, Klutz and others in the A.L. Brown athletic department received information that it was victory No. 298. However, by the weekend, updated information from a couple of media outlets (new math, if you will) confirmed it was actually Klutz 300th career victory.

Regardless of how all the past, current and future victories shake out, numbers should never define Klutz or his career. Words should. And when he finally hangs up his whistle a time that is still undetermined among the few that will come to mind are winner, mentor and gentleman.

The one thing I always try and do is influence the kids in a positive way, said Klutz. Of course, I want to win, but I try not to ever make it about me as a coach. Ive had my time in basketball. Its taken me a lot of places. Ive met a lot of outstanding people.

Shelwyn Klutz (right) and assistant coach Davon Brown collaborate on a strategy.

It paid for my (college) education. It helped me get the (teaching) job that Ive had for 30 years, something I dont really want to call it a job because I enjoy it. But I always wanted to try to help other people get to where they want. And I hope Ive done a good job of that.

So although no formal recognition of the milestone has taken place, the A.L. Brown boys basketball team can begin the South Piedmont 3A Conference tournament tonight and next weeks state playoffs without any distractions.

Hes like my pops when I come into the gym, said senior point guard Amari Grier. Hes helped me with my shot, and hes made me smarter on and off the court. He works hard. He knows what hes doing.

A.L. Browns next game will be in the conference tournament semifinals against neighborhood rival Northwest Cabarrus tonight at Concord High at 7:30.

Klutz has always had a vested interest in Kannapolis and A.L. Brown. He is a native son, having played basketball and football at the school in the early 80s. His family resided in Kannapolis south Little Texas Road neighborhood, and his mother, Constance, still lives in town.

Klutz and his brother, Quintin, older by one grade, helped the Wonders reach the basketball state championship game in 1983 as players.

After graduating from Mars Hill, where he was a four-year basketball letter winner, Klutz taught a couple years at Concord Middle School. In 1991, A.L. Brown football coach and athletics director Bruce Hardin hired Klutz to be an assistant football coach and the head girls basketball coach, a position he kept for five years before sliding over to the boys team for the 1997-98 season.

The Wonders football team won the state championship in 1997, which posed an inner conflict for the schools new boys basketball coach.

I had half of my basketball players playing football, said Klutz. We would try to push basketball games back, but you can only do that so much. So we would have to play (varsity games) with junior varsity players. It was something that went on for a long time.

Klutzs first few years as basketball coach were lean. It wasnt until his fifth season that the Wonders had a winning record, beginning a stretch of 12 years in which A.L. Brown had 11 winning seasons.

The Wonders won the North Piedmont 3A in 2005, Klutzs only conference championship as coach. But A.L. Brown has been a bridesmaid to several other league champions, including each of the last two seasons.

Klutz has coached several Division I college athletes including Avery Patterson (a 2004 A.L. Brown graduate who played at St. Johns), Teven Jones (2011, Virginia), and Aundrae Allison (2002). Allison played football at East Carolina and for a short time in the NFL.

It would be hard to accuse Klutz of ever playing favorites with his players. In the ultimate act of fairness, Klutz agonizingly cut his own son, Jalen, from the junior varsity team during his freshman year, simply feeling he wasnt as physically or mentally mature as the other candidates.

Since 1997, Shelwyn Klutz has been the head basketball coach at his alma mater, A.L. Brown.

Jalen went on to have a solid varsity career. His older brother, Shelwyn Jr., never played basketball for his father. He was a member of the A.L. Brown swim team instead.

In Klutzs time as boys coach, the Wonders have competed in some of the toughest conferences and in one of the best basketball counties in the state. A.L. Brown has been a member of a conference in which one of its teams won a state title five times. Two additional times, one of the Wonders Cabarrus County rivals won state championships.

By all accounts, the 23 years Klutz has spent leading the Wonders is a record for longevity at one school among county boys basketball coaches. And only one other coach, Scott Brewer who spent time at Mount Pleasant, Central Cabarrus and Concord has more career victories (448) than Klutz.

It seems like there was always something on the line (coaching against Klutz), said Brewer, who left coaching in 2013. For most years, it was for one, two, or three in the conference. He was consistent with having solid teams.

Shelwyn Klutz (left) brainstorms with his staff, which includes Davon Brown (center) and brother Quintin Klutz (far right), to help the Wonders win.

Whats also impressive is the loyalty of some of Klutzs assistant coaches hes employed over the years. James Allen was his bench mate for 18 seasons. Current coaches Davon Brown and Klutzs brother Quintin have been with him for six-seven years.

For the last few years, Klutz has considered giving up coaching. The 31 years hes spent teaching would allow him to retire from the classroom with full benefits. But even Quintin doesnt know what the future holds for his brother.

For the last 10 years, hes been saying, This is it for me, said Quintin, who is also the Wonders JV coach. But hes still here. I think it will be a day-to-day decision.

Shelwyn Klutz credits the support of his wife, Carletta, for his long career and says he simply just wants to go out on his own terms. And when he reflects on having spent such a long career at his alma mater, he thinks about one thing.

Ive been lucky, he said. Ive been blessed.

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A Coach's Life: Klutz wins 300th game, but the number of lives he's changed matters most to Wonders leader - Independent Tribune

PITSBURG Veteran Franklin Monroe Lady Jets basketball coach Abbey Moore has been named Cross County Conference Coach of the Year by her coaching piers.Moore was quick to give credit for the award to her coaching staff and players.

My coaching staff does a phenomenal job in helping me, Coach Moore said of JV Coach Whitney Rhodus and varsity assistant coach Brandy Buck. Without their support and being there at practice every day we wouldnt be where we are at.

I took that award and hung it up in our locker room. I made it a team of the year award instead of a coach of the year award just because I one hundred percent believe that every girl on my team has worked so hard and they need to be recognized for what they have done this year.

It really is a team of the year award and I appreciate everything they have done for this program, Moore added. We wouldnt be where we are at if it wasnt for everybody buying into that.

Coach Moore spoke of what she believes to be a contributor to the teams success both on the court, off the court and the future.

The one thing that impresses me the most out of this group is their strong Faith and they love God, said Moore. God is in their life and I really feel like they are the kind of kids that they are because of that and because of their family support. We talk about that all the time.

We have life lessons that we talk about in our locker room and God is a big part of that, Moore continued. I feel like God put basketball in my life for a reason and these girls were here for a reason too. Weve had a lot of tears and a lot of great moments. Happy tears, sad tears but it always seems like we go back to God and no matter what they do as long as they keep God with them, theyre going to be successful and that is special.

When asked about her seniors, Coach Moore was pleased to talk about each one but not before mentioning all the 2019-2020 team members.

Its just the kind of kids that they are and not just the seniors, but all of them, Moore said of the teams special family attitude. When this time of the year comes around I always kind of dread it just a little bit because you know it can either do good things for your team or it can turn the other way. In my five years of coaching here it has always been a good thing and that just goes to show what kind of kids we have here.

They are not jealous, they support each other, they love each other and thats our program right now we are a family, continued Moore. Were in it together and that has always been our motto; In it Together and they really are. That goes to show a lot of the leadership on the team and the role models that we have. I couldnt be any more proud of them than what I am. They are just a great group, a special group and its going to be a special end of the year.

Chloe Brumbaugh has played three out of her four years here and made a decision to not play last year and came back this year, Moore said of the first of five seniors. That shows a lot of character out of her and Im extremely proud of her, how hard she has worked and to be able to have a kid like her to come off the bench and play defense the way she does is phenomenal. A great student athlete.

Chloe Peters (All-Conference Second Team) is our workhorse, Moore said of her second senior. The progress that shes made from her freshman year to now is phenomenal. That just goes to show her work ethic. She excels on and off the court and I couldnt be any more proud of her than what I am. Shes a great role model.

Belle Cable (All-Conference First Team), the progress that she has made from day one to now and a couple years ago when Audrey got hurt, her role changed and she has excelled in that role in being our point guard, Moore noted. She took that leadership on the team and cant wait to see what she is able to accomplish in the future.

Audrey Cable (CCC Special Mention) has been through so much on and off the floor, said Moore. For that girl to be where she is now, shes had to grow up a lot. To see how she can handle adversity is phenomenal and no matter what she chooses to do outside of here, shes going to be successful.

Corina Conley (CCC Player of the Year), I kind of get a loss for words when it comes to her, Coach Moore said of the fifth senior. She is a special kid, her personality is contagious, shes a leader, she sets the tone and she is going to be missed as being a role model. What she can do on the floor is pretty amazing and I cant wait to see what she is going to do at the next level its going to be good things.

Moore, the wife of Chase Moore and the mother of eight year old Lilly, a FM second grader, six year old Navie, a kindergartener and two year old Toby, thanked her family.

I would like to thank my husband and his support, stated Moore. Having three little ones and spending so much time in the gym, it wouldnt be possible without him. He does a great job and I am very thankful for what he does.

Theres not a better place to raise my kids, Coach Moore said of the Franklin Monroe Hanger. Both of my girls come to practice every day with us and have these older girls to look up to as role models. Its special. I want them to take it all in because those are things not every kid gets to experience and to be able to have these kinds of girls as their role models is pretty special.

PHOTO CAPTION: Cross County Conference Coach of the Year, Franklin Monroe Lady Jets Abbey Moore. (Gaylen Blosser)

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FM's Abbey Moore named CCC coach of the year - Early Bird Newspaper

Thornton is a trusted confidant of head coach Frank Reich and general manager Chris Ballard: As a former player Thornton was a fourth-round pick by the Colts in the 2002 NFL Draft, and would end up playing eight NFL seasons, including four in Indy the current Colts players know when they talk to Thornton, he can more times than not relate to what they're going through. Reich and Ballard, then, rely on Thornton's relationships with the players to get a read on any number of critical day-to-day team endeavors.

"As the head coach, he's one of the key people that I rely on, literally, day in and day out," Reich said.

"DT brings so much to the table. One, he was the former player; he understands the pulse of the locker room, he's connected to the guys. No. 2: he just has a mind and a heart to wanna serve those players, to help them out in any way that he can. No. 3: he's always helping me understanding that, helping me to connect to players. We're all in this together."

While succeeding on the field is always going to be a major focus, Ballard said Thornton's ability to help keep players on track off the field and in their own personal lives is just as important.

"David's ability to draw upon himself as a player what he did as a player, the mistakes he made and successes he had, both on the field and off the field and then connect with our players and give them guidance is invaluable," Ballard said.

Thornton embodies the Colts' "family" atmosphere: Having previously played for the Colts from 2002 through 2005, Thornton already knew all about the "Horseshoe" and what it was all about. But deciding to come back to Indy after his playing career in a player engagement role? It was a "no-brainer," Thornton said.

"To be back here and to be able to serve and help others help, of course, the guys in the locker room, but just help throughout the organization it's a great honor," he said.

"First what comes to mind when I think of the Horseshoe is family. Family," Thornton continued. "The Horseshoe, we're really close. The support, the love that we have for each other when you think of family, family has your back you know, people you trust, people you can rely on and depend on and that's kind of what this organization's kind of built on, that family culture, that family environment."

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Take a look into the life of former Colts linebacker David Thornton in Colts Productions' latest episode of its series "Colts Forever" -...