SportsWeek
section B Also Religion , Obituaries , Classifieds November 22, 2007
File photo
Alt. Tabor's Hunter Furr ran for over 200 yards last Friday.
Teams still hunting
for state title
Mt. Tabor (4A) and Carver
(3A) are the only Winston
Salem football teams still alive
in the playoffs. Atkins and
Glenn both suffered heart break
ers last week, especially Atkins.
They lost 41-38. That had to
hurt. Parkland also lost, but that
game didn't even seem close.
I still feel bad for the guys
that played
their last foot
ball game.
Everybody
isn't lucky
enough to play
ball in college.
Some guys are
only left with
memories. That
was always the
saddest thing to
me. It wasn't
me iaci mat i
lost my final high school game.
It was the fact that I knew a lot
of my teammates wouldn't
grace another football uniform
or play in front of screaming
fans ever again. That's a sad
reality folks.
The Yellowjackets and
Spartans hope their endings are
a lot more joyous, though. Both
squads have looked good the
last two weeks, especially last
week. Mt. Tabor demolished
Crest, 4-14. Carver destroyed
West Iredell, 34-7. If both
squads play similar to the way
they did last week then we're
going to have a couple state
championships to celebrate in
FROM THE
HUDDLE
the city. I was at the Mt. Tabor
game, where ray main man,
Hunter Furr, torched the Crest
defense for 200-plus yards. No
other run was more exciting
than his 77-yard scamper for a
score right before the half. Mt.
Tabor was clinging to a 14-7
lead, and I thought that's the
way it would stay until halftime.
The Spartans
seemed to be try
ing to simply run
a few plays to
end the first half.
But Furr took a
routine dive and
made into a high
light reel.
He broke
about three tack
les, dipped to the
right, hurdled one
guy auu uicn
took off for the exciting run. I
talked with Hunter right before
the game ended, and I told him
that was the best run I'd seen all
year. He simply looked at me,
gave me an innocent smile and
said, "Thanks." That's Hunter
for you. He doesn't get too
excited when things are going
well. He responds like he's been
there before. I like that. My
man, Lamont Atwater, also put
in a good game for the Spartans.
So did Brooks Hardin. No
Spartan played better than quar
terback Donny McElveen, who
finished with 267 passing yards.
He looked smooth the entire
See Hill on B4
Photo courtesy of PCD
FCD standout Margaret Harvey is happy to be signing a letter of intent to play for Wake Forest.
FCD's Harvey is
ready to help Deacs
BY ANTHONY HILL
THE CHRONICLE
Forsyth Country Day senior guard Margaret
Harvey has always dreamed ot playing
basketball for Wake Forest University.
Ever since she was 11 years old, she
imagined herself suiting up for the
Deacs. Last week, Harvey made that
dream a reality when the 5-10 shooting
guard/ small forward signed with the
Deacs in front of family and friends at
Forsyth Country Day.
Harvey turned down offers from
Old Dominion, James Madison and
UNC-Charlotte ? to name a few.
"Wake is closer to home," Harvey
said. "Plus. I felt Wake was on the level that I am
on, basketball- wise. It's a perfect fit for me. And,
I've always dreamed of being a Deac ."
FCD head coach Ray Quesnel added: "I think
it's a great decision on Margaret's part. I'm very
Quesnel
proud of her, obviously. I think that the combina
tion of playing on the highest level in the ACC,
coupled with the academic opportunity that Wake
gives her will set her up for the rest of her life.
That's an opportunity that every kid
would be excited about. Wake's a per
fect fit for her. She could've played for
a number of other colleges. But I think
Wake could be just as strong as any of
them. Take a look at the men's pro
gram. There's no reason Margaret can't
help the women's program be as
strong."
Harvey has been a solid performer
for the Furies for a while now. She
ranks high in a number of other cate
gories for Forsyth Country Day. She
holds the school record for career games played
(135 and counting) and career team record (106
29). Harvey is fourth in points with 1V153. She's
See Harvey on B3
Thompson
contender
for honor
Wake player chosen as
sportsmanship
award finalist
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Jeremy Thompson, who's a
defensive end for Wake Forest
University, was chosen as one of
10 finalist for the 2007 National
Sportsmanship Award.
The defensive end, who's a
health and sciences major and
local elementary school tutor,
traveled
to Liberia rmrnMHMmnn
to build a
school,
chapel
and
orphan
age for
children
during
his off
season. ^
The Thompson
Awards
and Recognition Association
(ARA) revealed the nine other
finalists for its annual sports
manship award, given to one
outstanding NCAA Division I
collegiate football player who
best personifies the spirit of
sportsmanship.
Former Brigham Young
University Head Football Coach
La Veil Edwards chairs the com
mittee that selects college ath
letes who exemplify sportsman
ship. Last year's winner,
Rutgers University fullback
Brian Leonard went on to play
for the St. Louis Rams.
The 2007 Sportsmanship
Award recipient will be chosen
from one of the ten finalists
(listed below) and announced
this December. Finalists repre
sent a variety of schools of all
sizes and locations throughout
the United States and award "?
teria take into consideration the
athlete's conduct both on and off
the field.
"ARA's Sportsmanship
Award is the only national
award that recognizes an ath
lete's character and leadership
as it translates to sportsman
ship," said Ed Hunt, president of
the ARA. "Our panel looks for
players that stand out and con
tribute when playing and in life.
It's encouraging to see so many
of today's collegiate athletes
who consistently conduct them
selves in a highly sportsmanlike
manner."
To qualify for the award, an
athlete must be a starting player
or significant contributor on his
team, be a senior in good aca
demic standing, demonstrate
great respect for competitors,
school, teammates and coaches,
show an ability to accept victory
See Thompson on B4
The People's Champ
Local boxer Earl Ladson
thankful for opportunity
to pursue dream
BY ANTHONY HILL ?
THE CHRONICLE
Local boxer Earl Ladson,
34, has been enjoying a great
deal of success in the ring lately.
He won a decision over Ron
Bellamy last Saturday at
Millennium Center. Ladson (IS
IS) used a solid collection of
hooks and overhand rights to
outlast Bellamy, who's beaten
Ladson during a previous bout.
"That last fight was kind of a
tiebreaker," said Ladson's train
er Whit Lowery. "He looked
good the other night. We're get
ting ready to go on the road and
upset some guys. Earl has a
chance to keep moving up
because the heavyweight divi
sion is up in the air."
But Ladson's age may be his
stiffest opponent. Ladson didn't
turn professional until the age of
27. The shelf life for an older
boxer typically isn't that long.
File photo
Local boxer Earl Ladson is thankful to be boxing today.
But that hasn't stopped Ladson
from thinking big, and pushing
forward to fulfill his dreams of
being a boxftig champion. He's
already viewed as a champion
here in Winston-Salem, where
he was bom and raised. Some
people look up to Ladson
because of the moderate success
he's enjoyed in the ring, while
others admire him because of
the road he took to get to where
he is today.
"Earl has come a long way,"
said Lowery, who's trained box
ers for more than 40 years.
"He's also gone through some
rough times. But he's a humble
man. And he listened to what I
told him. Now he's a pretty good
fighter."
Ladson has always dreamed
of being successful in the ring.
He even started boxing at the
tender age of 8.
"I was in and out of the gym
from the time I was 8 until 14,"
Ladson said. "I started running
with the wrong crowd when 1
was 14, and I got out of boxing.
I started to get into a lot of trou
ble. I was selling drugs and
See Ladson on B2
Gimme that ball!
Photo by Tim Wilaon
A couple Ml. Tabor players try to wrestle the ball away
from a West Forsyth player during the semifinal round of
the Mary Garber Holiday Classic on Monday. Mt. Tabor
won the game, 58-34, to advance to Tuesday night's cham
pionship lilt with Glenn.
FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS CALL (JJfi) 722-8624 - MASTERCARD. VISA AND /V M ERIC AN E)