I'm on the warpath for athletes from summer football conditioning all the way into the spring. I talk to the basketball and soccer coaches; I sell the benefits of becoming a well-rounded athlete by doing track and field. No matter what sport you're in, track can help. Running isn't a punishment like it is in other sports. We make it fun and trick the kids into working hard.

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The selection panel had a daunting task to choose 20 players for the game, but we do fell that this group of young, talented players will put on an excellent display of basketball skill and good sportsmanship.

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We're shooting for 1,500 if possible. The gym holds 2,200. We'd love to sell it out. We've had a little bit more media coverage and marketing this year, so hopefully we'll have a larger turnout.

75

Of our 49 boys, 17 are freshmen, so we're still teaching some of the guys this isn't middle school anymore. Some of the freshmen are helping in relays and others are challenging in open events. Six or seven will make an immediate impact. We're talking about kids that maybe lost one meet in seventh and eighth grade, so they're good athletes.

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