Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / March 14, 1985, edition 1 / Page 18
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Page B4-The Chronicle, Thursday, March 14, 1985 BOXING Lowery and his champs set their sights on regionals By CHRIS MACKIE Chronicle Staff Writer For every boxing trainer, there is the dream of one day coaching a great talent - that true thoroughbred of the sport who is known simply as “the champ.” Whit Lowery, head boxing coach at the Reynolds Park Recreation Center, knows the dream well and recently saw it fulfilled when not one, but three of his stable of young fighters claimed North Carolina Golden Glove Boxing titles. Michael Miller (106-pound division), Harold Bennett (132) and Thomas Warren (139) won Golden Gloves titles, prompting their veteran coach to say he couldn’t be happier. “I’ve had one champion at a time before but never three,” Lowery said in an interview last Friday. “Also, these guys all won in the open divisions (which are open to any amateur fighter in the state who has competed in more than 10 matches) and that shows how good they really are. to be a senior at Parkland, this championship was definitely a big step toward the future. “This was one of my best vic tories, and I hope it will be a sign of things to come,” said Miller, a veteran of more than 40 amateur bouts. “I got into boxing about five years ago just through wat ching in here (at the Reynolds Park gym) and it’s something I’ve never regretted. I’ve won four novice titles and I want to go as far as I can in the amateurs and then, hopefully, turn pro sometime in the future.” Twenty-one-year-old Thomas Warren also hopes his involve ment in Golden Gloves will lead to a professional career. But he said he’s fully aware that a rewar ding pro tenure will hinge on more prominent amateur ex- p o s u r e . “I’ve only been fighting for about two and a half years and in order to get the right sponsorship (as a professional) you need to make a name for yourself in the amateurs,” said Warren, a subscribe to the Winston-Salem Chronic 722-8624 ■Je ‘Rocky III’ Lowery, front, and his triumvirate of champs: left to right, Michael Miller, Harold Bennett and Thomas Warren (photo by Chris Mackie). ‘‘This was a good title to win but I hope it’s just a step to bigger and better things. ” - Harold Bennett They beat guys who were a lot older and more experienced than they are, guys who have been fighting in the open division for a number of years.” To Bennett, the open division was a new twist to a setting that had become old hat. The 17-year- old Parkland High senior has a lengthy boxing past which in cludes more than eight con secutive state championships, but all of which were won in the ! novice division. “This was my first time in the ' open division and it was good to . get the chance to fight more ex- I perienced guys,” said Bennett, * who was voted the tourney’s f outstanding boxer. “This was a ! good title to win but I hope it’s S just a step to bigger and better f things.” ; For Miller, who also happens Reynolds High product. “I wrestled and played football in high school but boxing is something totally different from those two. I’ve had to learn everything new and it hasn’t been easy. Luckily, I’ve had a great coach and some good sparring partners to help me along the way and now I feel ready to fight in the nationals.” But in order to reach the na tionals, each of Lowery’s cham pions must first win their respec tive weight divisions at a regional tournament in Knoxville, Tenn., March 14-16. The first-place finishers will then move on to the national championships (March 28-30 in Arkansas) and compete against the best amateur boxers in the country. The crew is, of course, already preparing for the five-state event. nings and afternoons and teaches us the right ways to train and everything else. Really, he’s just like a dad to me and I hope that when I get out of boxing I can be just like him.” A fitting tribute to man whose unyielding devotion has proven that dreams really can come true. although Lowery said its rigorous training schedule is really just business as usual. “I’ve never had any problems with keeping these guys in shape because they train constantly,” he said. “Dedication pays off and they all realize that in this sport you have to be very dedicated.” Indeed you do, and that’s why it is not uncommon to see Lowery’s troops up at 5:00 a.m. and on the road for a three-mile jog laced with a variety of sprints. Then, after a long day at school or work (Warren is MARCH...1985 — JVIAP employed as a barber), the trio returns to the gym for a two-hour session in the ring. Multiply this workout by at least five days a week and you’ve got three guys who are ready to do business when they step between the ropes. “Coach (as Lowery is called) is the one who inspires all of us to be the best we can,” said Ben nett. “He picks us up in the mor- LAY AWAY FOR EASTER SAVE UP TO $60 on a Suit Barry can save you big money if you drive to our factory outiet for your next ciothing purchase. 3-pc. Vested Suits $79.95 & up Sportscoats ^49-95 & up • Size 35 to 60 • Shorts, Reg. Long, X-Longs • Ties front *4.95 • Belts from *5.95 • Dress Shirts from. .*9.95 • Slacks from... .*15.95 • White S,uits in Stock now Expert Alterations Visit Our Big & Tall Wien’s Dgpt. Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Sat. g-B; Fri. 9-9; Sun,VsTJ BARRY Manufacturing Co. s 1 Ul 1 5 FACTORY OUTLET ‘OVAUCi Phone 748-9031/1455 Trade Mart Blvd. Across from Side of Brendle’s J /DAkRYf ' /MFo.y (Jy J PREP SPOTLIGHT North’s Shuler still pleased with ’85 i By CHRIS MACKIE I Chronicle Staff Writer ^ Although the 1985 season may not have netted 1 the title his talented Vikings had hoped to bring t home, it was a year that North Forsyth basketball • Coach Olon Shuler won’t soon forget. ; After all, Shuler’s team notched 23 consecutive ; victories, a Frank Spencer Tournament title and a f regular-season conference crown. ■ But, with the good there must also be the bad fand, for the Vikings, it came in the form of a I season-ending 69-62 loss at Roxboro Person last ; week. That setback, the second in a row for the Vik- I ings in postseason play, occurred in the first round I of the state tournament and abruptly ended North’s (quest for a state championship. J “We didn’t rebound well and didn’t execute our • offense when we needed to,” said Shuler in an in- |terview late last week. “But it has been a great ;season, one I’m very happy with. We had some fgreat players and we were able to accomplish a jnumber of things. Anytime you go 23-2, you’ve got |to be satisfied.” I Shuler was also satisfied with playing in Person’s {home gym, although he admitted that the Viking Splayers were a bit bothered by the partisan crowd. I “It was a great atmosphere to play in and it was Sreally the type of excitement all high school basket -ball games should be played in,” he said. “To be |the best in the state, you have to be able to beat Janybody at any place and, unfortunately, we {weren’t able to do that. I do think that, at times, -our guys pressed a little too hard because of the |fans.” ; But for most of the night, the Vikings were able 'to match baskets with Person and kept the seore iwithin a three-point margin. However, turnovers {(12 in the second half and 20 for the night) and -missed rebound opportunities eventually led to -North’s demise. { By scoring mostly on second and third shots, Per- json was able to maintain a narrow lead and then -nail down the win with several foul shots in the clos ing minute of play. Junior Brian Howard ended the night with 22 points to lead all scorers. He was followed by Jeff Denny and Scott Johnson, who had 13 points apiece for the Vikings. “Howard, Johnson and (shooting guard David) Carlyle were, of course, the heart of our team all year long,” said Shuler. “But everybody on the team made an important contribution. It was a tough way to end the season, especially for our seniors. But we have to put it out of our minds and start looking toward next season.” Recruit From Page B3 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllimm has stripped from high school athletes a once-in-a- lifetime experience, and in its place are early sign ings based sometimes on scanty information and limited contact. High school stars are constantly heard to say they want to “get the decision over with” so they can enjoy their senior year in high school. That almost-universal comment tells me that they have been taught to believe that this is the intelligent thing to think and say. They have no idea what they are missing. But the NCAA should. In many cases, the coaches who are shielding young athletes from college coaches and from media attention are pumping their own egos and are basking in the limelight themselves; and the NCAA, by so restricting recruiting, is denying the athletes an exceptional opportunity in the process. It really isn’t so much pressure being wanted and being pursued. Mostly, it’s fun. And it’s con trollable. Coaches don’t purposely try to irritate a kid. They’ll take no for an answer once they are made to realize the guidelines a kid or a family has set up. So, don’t bother feeling sorry for any kid who claims the recruiting process is pressure. It’s a lot more pressure for the kids who are not wanted, and who spend their senior years wondering what hap pened to their dreams, where they went wrong and what they’ll be doing next year with their lives. For 70 Good Years, More People Have Been Riding On Goodyear Tires Than On Any Other Kind. We re Celebrating With Super Savings. Save On Goodyear's Original All Season Radial 3595 P155/80R13 Whitewall No trade needed Tiempo Radial • steel belted radial • Sidewall scuff rib saves on gas helps protect • 10,000 biting edges whitewalls . deliver all season • Steel and polyester traction .. .don't settle for less Sale Ends Mar. 20. 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Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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March 14, 1985, edition 1
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