Page 62 April 2012 A RC A DI A SPORTS PAGE A RC A DI A SPORTS PAGE Peaceful Warriors head to championships By Ashley Vannatta The Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts school of Scottsdale has accomplished a major feat: all 13 students have quali fi ed to compete in this year’s national competition. The United States Karate Alliance National Tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico has seen its fair share of Scottsdale competitors, and this year it will host 11 Peaceful Warrior students. All 13 students quali fi ed for the tournament, but two students will be staying behind due to an injury and a scheduling con fl ict. Not only are the students competing, but their sensei, Richard Poage, will be participating as well. Poage began Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts school in 2010 and has been named the Arizona State Karate Alliance number one instructor in Arizona for fi ve years. Many of the students are amazed that the entire school made it to nationals, but listening to them talk about the lessons they’ve learned from Poage while at Peaceful Warrior, it’s not a surprising accomplishment. The students are disciplined mentally as well as physically. Cameron Kessner has been taking karate lessons for more than fi ve years and has attended the national competition in the past. He said karate has helped him develop into a stronger person mentally and physically. “The most important lesson I learned from my Sensei was self-con fi dence,” Kessner said. “I used to be a really shy person. Once I began training, I felt more con fi dent with my ideas and personal feelings.” To prepare for nationals, Kessner practices at home regularly and goes through everything very slowly to focus on his breathing and form. Continued on page 64 By Margaret Ann Lippincott Nathan Humphery’s plans for his life changed when as a fi rst-year student at Arizona State, his car was hit by a driver running a red light. After recovering from a concussion, he discovered his short-term memory took a beating. Not able to work at the level required for a pre-engineering major, he dropped out of ASU and enrolled at Mesa Community College to take general classes. Nathan stumbled upon journalism at MCC. He had always been a good writer and quickly saw a bene fi t of not having to take Calculus 2 as a journalism major. So what if his father, brother and grandfather were engineers? He would take after his mom’s side of the family and be a writer. Fast forward several years and you’ll fi nd Nathan’s life about to take another detour. A junior at ASU and now a sports reporter intern for the Arcadia News , Nathan has been selected as one of 19 ASU journalism students who will get to cover the Summer Olympics in London for a two-week study abroad, three credit hour course. There were 58 applications for the competitive selection. Greg Boeck, retired USA Today sports reporter and associate professor at ASU’s Cronkite School of Journalism, is well quali fi ed to lead the students as he has covered nine Olympics. The group of ASU broadcast, writers and photography students going to London will have limited press passes, so they will focus mainly on fun, feature stories. Sports-related stories may not be widely available to them. Yet to Nathan it doesn’t matter. “Writing about bocce ball would be fi ne,” he said, or talking to Olympic fans or musing about personal observations. It was Boeck’s sportswriting class that ignited his passion for covering sports. He currently is the baseball beat writer for the Arcadia News . Continued on page 64 Caleb McKinnon applies a tag during an early-season baseball game at Arcadia. The baserunner was called safe. The Titans went into late March in the hunt for a Division II playoff berth. Photo by Dale Messmer. Intern earns London trip for Olympics Give your kids the skills to laugh hard and play hard! 6 VALLEY CAMP LOCATIONS In your neighborhood @ Phoenix Swim Club 29th Street & Campbell basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming, archery, volleyball & field sports · ages 4½ to 13 May 29 - August 10 · One week sessions HUBBARDSPORTS.COM 602.971.4044 Hubbard Sports Camps

Cole has enjoyed the sport of baseball for most of his life playing for the RAMMS, Ti- tans, Pilots, Bulldogs and Ar- cadia High School. He enjoys playing JV with Arcadia and welcomes the opportunity to learn and grow with this or- ganization. Recently he was listed in the Arcadia News for pitching in the most recent baseball tournament held this past weekend. When he isn’t playing ball; he is an avid fi shermen and is a member of The Phoenix Junior Bass Fishermen. He has his own custom bait business and many followers on his fi shing YouTube channel. Our hats are off to Cole, the winner of a $100 gift certi fi cate to Arcadia Sports & Fitness. Do you know an Arcadia athlete who deserves to be recognized by the community? Fill out a Nomination Form at Arcadia Sports & Fitness or www.arcadiadaily.com/athlete.pdf, or drop us a line at athlete@arcadianews.com. HURRY! WE WILL BE CHOOSING ANOTHER WINNER ON APRIL16TH! Congratulations Cole Norris! l of the of the