Camp
from page B)
was really high. He told them that
because of his grades the Clemson
coaches knew academics would not
be a problem and they could focus on
getting him better at his craft.
Fellow Carver grad and
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back
Denzel Rice joined Hairston for the
camp to show kids the importance of
working hard. After leaving Carver,
Rice went to Coastal Carolina and
joined the Eagles as an undrafted
rookie in 2015.
"I wanted to come out here and
tell the kids to work hard. It's not
about self because this is a team sport
and you have to pick one another up,"
Rice said. "I want them to just win.
By getting good grades in the class
room is a win. By making your par
ents proud is a win. Coming out to the
field and competing is a win and if
you do that, you can't fail."
Rice wanted to let the kids know
that they have to be smart in all of the
decisions they make going forward.
He said that any wrong decision can
lead you down the wrong path and
put you in a bad situation. He said for
those who have aspirations of making
it to the NFL level, the biggest tip is
to continue to work on your craft and
trust the process.
After the camp concluded,
Hairston gave out signed footballs to
campers who showed skill, listened to
the counselors and exhibited great
sportsmanship. Jason Wall was one
of the winners of the signed footballs.
His father was very happy for him.
"I am just proud of him because
he is growing and maturing and doing
the right things," said Wall's father,
David Covington. "I think this stems
from learning and being more into
sprats; he knows academics come
first and sports come second.
Discipline is the main thing I hope he
took from this camp. Listening to
your coaches and following direc
tions is what it's all about."
Hairston plans to bring more NFL
players in the following years along
with motivational speakers. He want
ed the campers to know that the road
to the NFL is not all "glitz and glam
our" and it's very hard work to make
it.
His advice to them was to under
stand that it becomes very lonely
sometimes to make it to that level
because it's just you working to get
better, and.it's all about what you do
when no one is watching.
Jason Wall, left, poses with his father David
Covington after receiving a signed ball from Chris
Hairstonfor his excellent performance and sports
manship throughout the camp.
Jada Dowd, who won the Region 25 high jump finals, will try to top her personal best of 5 feet.
Track
from page Bl
she is able to travel and
spend time with her friends
and teammates. Outside of
running track she enjoys
swimming and skating.
She stated her favorite sub
ject in school is math and
she knows that the books
come before sports.
Athletic Director for
the track club Chris Joines
said Dowd epitomizes what
the track club wants from
their athletes by perform
ing on the track as well as
in the classroom.
"She has been in our
program for a number of
years and from an academ
ic standpoint, she is top
notch,'* Joines said. "She
has a good attitude and a
good work ethic so it tran
sitions into the classroom
from that standpoint. We
are really proud of her for
her achievements on the
track and our mission is to
develop student athletes."
Dowd has a strong fam
ily foundation at home with
her grandparents Robert
and Delia Dowd, along
with her parents Angela
Dowd and Jermain Marlin
cheering her every step of
the way.
Delia Dowd said, "I am
very, veiy proud of Jada.
She has worked very hard
all year long. We can't say
enough about her. She has
done very, very well."
Her coaches feel the
sky's the limit for Dowd.
They said if she continues
on this path, a Division I
scholarship is in her future.
Photo* by Timothy Ramsey
Assistant Coach Jarrell Elliott thinks with her
versatility, the sky is the limit for young Jada Dowd.
(On the right) Dowd practices her footwork in
preparation for the Junior Olympics in Texas at the
end of this month.
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