UT's Charlton Rolle leaps inquiries
University of Tennessee
freshman Charlton Rolle is
the type of athlete that coach
es talk about for years.
He's a kid that shows that
you don't have to be the best
from the time you start a
sport. When Charlton first
began to run competitively in
middle school there were a
number of kids that performed
better on the track. But he's
worked toward being the best
ever since those younger
days. Charlton is probably
outside running ? working to
get better right now.
Rolle's work ethic and
drive are simply two of many
things you have to like about
him. He's also a very deter
mined young man. He's deter
mined to make it, whether it
be in track or business.
There's almost no-doubt that
Rolle will hurdle any obstacle
in his way of success. He and
I talked about what he wanted
to do, as well as how things
are going in college earlier
this week.
We also discussed Hunter
Furr, steroids, track scholar
ships and his social life. Take
a look at some of the other
topics Rolle and I cleared on
Tuesday evening.
Anthony: What's going
on, Charlton?
Charlton: Nothing much.
I'm chillin.'
Anthony: Cool. I know
you did very well at the Sea
Relays. You also finished in
the top IS at the national
meet. Kind of characterize
your freshman season for me.
Charlton: It was kind of
bumpy. I had a bumpy start. I
battled a few injuries earty on.
It kind of took all of indoor
(season) to recover from that.
The pace got a little quicker
once outdoor started. You
have to get in tuned with
things, or get left behind. So I
had to come with it.
Anthony: What has been
the biggest adjustment for you
since going to Tennessee?
Charlton: Actually, the
weight lifting. I have always
kind of liked to lift weights,
but it's different when they
make you lift weights and you
^an't leave until you do it.
The coaching style is different
too. I'm used to a strict, but
laid back coach. My coaches
now are like, "Do this and do
that." No more laid back.
Anthony: How did you
do in the SEC championship
meet?
Charlton: I did OK.
Q Photo by Elizabeth Oliver/ Uftports ?
Charlton Rolle, who's a former Reynolds star, recorded his personal best time (13.68) in the 110 hurdles during the Sea Ray
Relays this year. That finish put Rolle in 10th place on UT's all-time performance list in that race.
That's when the hard part
from the coaches really came.
It was either do or die. That's
when tljey told me that it's not
about the national meet. They
said they recruited me for the
SEC meet. That kind of both
ered me at first. I didn't think
they cared about me and my
injury. I toughed it out, and
got eighth place. I think the
top four in the nation came
from the SEC.
Anthony: (Smiles.) I
know that's right. What flo
you wish you could've done
more in high school that
would've benefited you now?
Charlton: Technique
work. I've always had a speed
coach, but I wish I could've
worked more? on my tech
nique.
Anthony: What kind of
advice do you have for some
of the high school hurdlers
out there?
* Charlton: Just have a
tight core, and work on tech
nique.
Anthony: OK. How do
they treat track athletes at
Tennessee?
Charlton: Behind foot
ball and basketball, great.
Anthony: How are you
enjoying that cold weather?
. Charlton: It doesn't get
too bad. It hasn't been too hot
so far this summer.
Anthony: How's your
social life?
Charlton: I have a great
social life. I'm lovin^p?it. I
haven't found a girlfriend, but
I have a couple ot, friends.
(Both laugh.) I'm not Jpoking
for a girlfriend right now.
Anthony: I hear that.
Have you declared a major
yet?
Charlton: Right now it's
business administration. I'm
also interested in physical
therapy. It would be tough for
me to get that degree, and do
athletics. That's kind of
investigated in Justin Oatlin
Charlton: Yeah, you
know I had to ask. I asked the
coaches if they had anything
to do with that. They denied
it. (Both laugh.) But I had to
ask.
Anthony: Do you specu
late on guys that do something
amazing on the track, or do
you simply assume that things
were done the' right way?
Charlton: You try not to.
But sometimes yoo have guys
One-on-One
with Anthony Hill
tough.
Anthony: True! There's
been a lot of track athletes
busted for steroids this year.
Do you and your teammates
ever talk about the steroid
issue?
Charlton: All the time,
especially with so many pro
fessional athletes training at
the university. They kind of
started this program, "Test me
I'm clean." The awareness has
gone up a lot. It's big talk.
Anthony: What about the
fact that a UT alum is being
that come into college as high
school all-stars. Then, they
kind of disappear before com
ing back to do some amazing
things their senior year.
They're posting these world
record times. That kind of
makes you wonder. But I try
not to think that way. They
could be putting in the work
I'm putting in
Anthony: I was talking
with one of your former
coaches (coach Speas). He
told me how much he wishes
his guys had your work ethic.
How do you leei alter nearing
something like that?
Charlton: It makes me
feel great. I wish other
Winston-Salem athletes
would work to use athletics to
get them away, as well. 1
mean, I come home and I see
people I went to school with
and see that things haven't
changed for them.
They had the same oppor
tunity I had. I have to admit
that the school work gets
overwhelming at times, and
you want to come back home.
But once 1 get here I'm ready
to go back after three days.
Anthony: (Both laugh.)
How are your little brother
(Curtis Miller) and sister
(Kamgria Miller)?
Charlton: Oh, great. My
little brother is doing well.
My sister is doing well.
Everybody else is doing good
right now too. But you know
how that is.
Anthony: Definitely.
Hunter Furr just won the 100
at the Nike. What do yoi
think about that?
Charlton: Hey, I hea
he's been putting in the work
1 actually went down to watcl
his race, and I haven't seei
him run like that. Whateve
he's doing is working for him
I wish him luck. That's greai
for Winstbn guys. It's always
been the guys from Charlotte
Texas and Florida that had all
the speed. Now we have guys
Charlton Rolle
I, <9 T.J. Graham and Hunter
Furr. Bryce Sherman is even
trying to show back up.
Anthony: Do you think
that track scholarships are the O
toughest to maintain?
Charlton: Yeah.
Definitely. You are always
under the scope, and you
don't have much time. I basi- _
catlly go to class from 9 until
12 o'clock. 1 have to squeeze
in lunch. I have to go to prac
tice at 1. From 1 until 2:30 I
have hurdle practice. And, 3
until 4:30 I have sprint prac
tice. Then, I have to lift
weights for about an hour. By
the time 1 get home, it's time
for study hall. We have to get
eight hours of study hall a
week. That's my day.
Anthony:
Yeah, it's definitely time con
suming. OK. Let's finish with
free association.
Charlton: All right.
Anthony: Charlton Rolle.
Charlton: Uh, one of the
best hurdlers to come from
Winston-Salem.
Anthony: University of
Tennessee.
Charlton: Great program.
Hopefully one of the top four
in the country next year.
Anthony: Reynolds track
Charlton: One of the
best programs in Winston
Salem.
Anthonys Best track ath
lete you've seen.
Charlton: I would have
to say Archie Barrow.
Anthony: Coach Derrick
Speas.
r Charlton: Probably the
best speed coach in North
1 Carolina.
Anthony: Thurmond
r Street. (Where Charlton grew
up.)
Charlton: Motivation.
Anthony: (Smiles.) I hear
that. Well, good luck to you
with everything.
Storm Coming: Local team ready to begin operation
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The American Basketball
Association (ABA) announced that it
has added Winston-Salem to its ros
ter of expansion teams for the 2008
2009 season.
"We are very pleased to be back
in North Carolina ? a great basket
ball state and we have an excellent,
well-qualified group of individuals
leading the way. This will be a very
successful
organization," said Joe Newman,
ABA CEO.
Wesley E. Mason, UI will serve
as co-owner of the team. He is cur
rently Chief Executive Officer at Old
Vineyard Behavioral Health Services
in Winston-Salem. LaToya Camille
Shine Mason is the other co-owner.
Currently she owns and operates
Edible Arrangements in North Little
Rock, AR and successfully manages
? l
several reai esiaic piup
erties.
"My vision is to
bring a quality basket
ball team to Winston
Salem that will be enter
taining and affordable to
the community," said
LqToya ]Mason.
Bryan Short has been
appointed team Genefal
Manager. He is currently
nir??rtnr nf Plaver
Personnel at Alliance Sports
Management. Bryan attended
Kentucky Christian University and
Florida Christian College, playing
both baseball and basketball.
The Triad Community chose the
name Winston-Salem Storm through
"Nairn- Ymir Team" con
test that began last fall and
concluded in January 2008.
Community members voted
online and at 12 local busi
nesses.
"This is the community's
?team" said Wes Mason. "It
was important to haVe the
community
involved in the begin
ning."
An overwhelming
response to the name contest led to
designing the brand identity. The
Winston-Salem Storm partnered with
One Hero Creative, a Winston-Salem
based advertising agency, for this
effort. The logo embodies the
essence of the ABA and the strength
and passion of basketball within the
community. The mascot, a local
species of owl, was chosen because it
is a fierce hunter that storms its prey.
Community support is instrumen
tal for the basketball team to be suc
cessful for years to come. The
Winston-Salem Storm is primed and
ready to go according to team
General Manager, Bryan Short. In
addition to bringing one of the most
exciting professional sports to
Winston-Salem, the Winston-Salem
Storm plans to provide employment
opportunities and internships, raise
funds for local charities and create
scholarship funds.
Tty-outs, internships, dance team
and other team opportunities will be
announced and posted on .the wejbsite
and through local media. Currently
there are negotiations with the Joel
Coliseum to play at the Annex.
"Winston-Salem is already in the
running for the 2009 ABA All-Star
game," concluded Wesley Mason. "I
have discussed this with the CEO of
the ABA. This is basketball country
and there isn't a better choice than
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to
hold such an event."
For more information, email or
call Mason at (336) 409-1936 or
visit www.winstonsalemstorm .com
or the ABA website
www.abalive .com .
Mason *
call us first.
888.286.5259
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