Final Hang
The Net Celebrity
Shootout draws
big crowd
BY TEVIN ST1NSON
THE CHRONICLE
Children from all over the city filed
into Hanes Hosiery Recreation center on
Thursday, July 23 for the final Hang The
Net Celebrity Shootout,
Since 1992, Art Blevins has brought
local celebrities together for a day of bas
ketball and fun. During the event, children
from across the city get the chance to meet
local TV personalities and basketball stars
from the area.
According to Blevins, this year's event
drew a crowd of over 500 children.
"We have a lot of summer camps from
local YMCA's and church's bringing
buses," said Blevins. "The event is free,
and we just want the kids to come out and
have a good time and meet some celebri
ties."
This year's event featured a number of
stars. The college division of the^competi
tion featured a number of talented shooters
who play or have played at the Division I
A level including; CJ Harris (Wake
Forest), Clifford Crawford (NC State) and
Antonio Robinson (ECU).
Most of the children were excited to
see former Wake Forest and Dallas
Maverick all-star Josh Howard. Howard
put on a show during the celebrity shootout
hanging the net multiple times in route to
winning the competition.
During the event, Howard could be
seen taking pictures and signing auto
graphs. He said he comes to the event
every year because he enjoys giving back
to the community that helped raise him.
"I remember attending the Hang The
Net Shootout when I was a kid myself,"
Howard said. "I know the community will
1
hate to see the event go, but I'm sure it will
always be remembered throughout the
city."
Howard also spoke highly of Blevins,
who has been working in the community
since he was 19 years old.
"Coach Art was a big part of my devel
opment on and off the court," said
Howard. "For years he has looked out for
the youth in this community. He really
does a great job."
University of Nonh Carolina basket
ball great Phil Ford also attended the final
celebrity shootout and said he was honored
to receive a Living Legend award for his
community work around the state.
"It is a real honor to receive such a
great award from a great community
organization like this one." Ford said.
Every year during the event, Blevins
gives out a Living Legend award to those
who have made a major impact in the com
munity. Much to his surprise, this year
Blevins received a Living Legend award
of his own.
"1 was not expecting this at all," said
Blevins. "Everything I do is for this com
munity, I never wanted or needed any
recognition for the things I do I just want
to keep this youth of the community out of
trouble."
Although this was the last Hang The
Net Shootout, Blevins said he will contin
ue to work with the youth in the communi
ty
"I've enjoyed every minute of this,"
Blevins said. "I know I'll be lost next year,
but it will give me time to focus on other
things. I'm sure I'll think of another event
for the kids in the community in the next
couple of years."
Photo by Tevin Stinson
Art Blevins, right, introduces Phil Ford to the crowd at the final Hang The Net
Celebrity Shootout. As a point guard at UNC-Chapel Hill, Ford earned First
Team Ail-American Honors and was the 1978 National Player of The Year.
Winston- Salem Roadrunners qualify for AAU Junior Olympic Nationals
BY MEUSSIA SUTTON
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE .
There were more than just fireworks flying on the
Fourth of July weekend in Charlotte. The Winston- Salem
Roadrunners were shooting off sparks of their own at the
North Carolina AAU Area 25 Regional Qualifier at
Olympic High School.
This meet would determine what athletes would be
able to attend the AAU Junior Olympic Nationals in
Norfolk, Virginia, Aug. 1-8.
The Roadrunners placed fifth out of 38 teams and
qualified 33 out of 37 athletes to attend Nationals. The
first gold medal came from Jahnaul Ritizie-Pouncey in the
9-year-old boys' triathlon. Next was Jaden Lockhart in the
12-year-old pentathlon and the sparks were flying the rest
of the weekend.
Some of the other champions were Aniya Edwards in
the 9-year-old long jump, Uyi Igbinigie in 11-year-old
high jump, Jahvaree Ritzie-Pouncey in the 12-year-old
discus, shot put, and tied with Jaden Lockhart in the high
jump. Jaden Lockhart also won the 800m. Isaac Sutton
was champion in the 100, 200, and 4x100 with Brandon
Johnson, Jamison Warren and Tremaine Pate. Isaac also
received the Regional Meet MVP for the 12-year-old
boys' age group. Brandon Whitfield was champion in the
13-year-old high jump and 1500m.
Other Roadrunners that performed well and qualified
for the Nationals are: Alia Bowles, Jericho Edwards,
Jaden Glenn and Saxen Fair for the 8 and under age group;
Brandon Sutton and for the 9-year-old group; Sterling
Fair, Jon Gullette II, Justin Powell,Chaney Fitzgerald and
Joshua Scales for the 11-year-old group; Javon Siddle,
Asia Phillips, Stephanie Sutton, Celeste Neal and Gahques
Ligons for the 12-year-old group; Cameron Attucks,
Amar Aikens, Jadyn Thompson, Darius Williams and
Kalani Gillion for the 13-year-old group; Gjerria Ligons
for the 14-year-old group; Brycen Charles for the 15- to
16-year-old group and Jordan Johnson for the 17- to 18 -
year-old group. Other great performers were Jordyn
Robinson, David Neal, Don Robinson III, and Jaden
Sutton
The Roadrunners were founded in 1971 by Virgil
Simpson and re-established in 2012 by some of Coach
Simpson's former athletes - Marcus Sutton, Harvey
Sutton and Linell Johnson - along with their wives
Deborah Sutton, Melissia Sutton and Lynette Johnson;
with close friends Jerome and Sodonnie Warren, who
share the same passion for track, the Roadrunners once
again became a first-class organization. The organization
serves boys and girls ages 6-18 in Winston Salem and the
surrounding areas. The Roadrunner Track Club exists to
promote healthy living through exercise and proper nutri
tion, to cultivate a competitive spirit through track and
field, and to encourage education and higher learning in
order to build the youth of today into leaders of tomorrow.
Their website is at www.wsroadrunners.com.
Edwards
Whitfield
Sutton
Lockhart
Pouncey
Pouncey
Igbinigie
Ball person tryouts for Winston-Salem Open July 31 and Aug. 1
SPECIAL-TO THE CHRONICLE
The Winston-Salem Open will hoid
tryouts for ball persons on Friday, July 31
from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 1
from 10 a.m. to noon.
The tryouts are open to the public and
will be held at the Wake Forest University
Indoor Tennis Center, 100 West 32nd St.
(adjacent to BB&T Field).
Candidates for ball persons must know
how to keep score of tennis games, be able
to move quickly, be willing to endure
lengthy tennis matches in the sun and
work well with others on a team. Ball per
sons must be 12 years old by Aug. 1 (proof
of age required) in order to qualify.
All applicants are asked to attend a
minimum of three of the two-hour training
sessions from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 5, 10,
12, 17 and 19 at the Wake Forest
University Indoor Tennis Center. Also,
applicants must be available for the entire
Winston-Salem Open tournament and
qualifying rounds Aug. 22 through 29.
"The primary role of ball persons is to
retrieve tennis balls when they are out of
play. Ball persons play very important
roles in each match. Our ball persons have
been an integral part of the Winston-Salem
Open in past years," said Winston-Salem
Open tournament director Bill Oakes.
"Being a ball person is a great way to get
involved in tennis, see the competition up
close and have some fun at the same time,
but it's also a serious commitment."
Oakes said all applicants must be
knowledgeable about tennis rules, be able
to stand and run for a least an hour and
must be able to concentrate for extended
periods. They also must be mature, have
good hand-eye coordination and exhibit
outstanding citizenship.
"I also want to stress that ball persons
must be willing to attend three of the five
training sessions we're offering and be
available for possible work during the
entire tournament," Oakes said. "There
are no exceptions to these rules."
Applicants are asked to wear appropri
ate athletic clothes to the tryouts and can
not wear shoes with black soles. Ball per
sons serve as volunteers, and there is no
fee to apply. More information, including
online registration, is available at
WinstonSalemOpen.com under the
"Volunteers" tab at the top.
About the Winston-Salem Open
The Winston-Salem Open, an ATP
World Tour 250 event with a total purse of
more than $695,000, will take place from
Aug. 22-29, with qualifying set for Aug.
22. Thetournament will be the final men's
event of the Emirates Airline US Open
Series and is the week before the US
Open.
For more information on the 2015
Winston-Salem Open, please go to
WinstonSalemOpen .com.
WINSTON-SALEM DASH BASEBALL
vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks: Royals Affiliat^gMM^
Thursday, July 30, 7:00 pm presented [ffJlJii |
* Thirsty Thursday - $1 Beer Specials by 4gQQDSj
Series vs. Lynchburg Hillcats: Indians Affiliate
Friday, July 31, 7:00 pm
* Post-Game Fireworks presented
* Post-Game Kids Run The Bases ' by
Saturday, August 1, 6:30 pm - ^
* Post-Game Kids Run The Bases
Sunday, August 2, 2:00 pm
* Pre-Game Autograph Session,
$1 Hot Dogs and Sodas Through Second Inning
* Post-Game Kids Run The Bases
To Reserve Your Tickets Today
Call 336.714.2287
or
Visit WSDash.Com