Page 54 February 2 0 1 4 ARCADIA SPORTS Drill aids distance control By Tina Tombs Are you having trouble getting your first putt close to the hole? This speed putting practice drill will help to improve your distance control when you putt. Goal is to improve your speed on putts between 10-40 feet. Items needed: 8 needlepoint needles 4 pieces of string, each 10 feet in length Take 2 needlepoint needles and attach one string to them, repeat, making 4 sets of 10-foot string lines. Measure from the edge of the green 10 feet, 20 feet, 30 feet and 40 feet markers and insert the markers at each measurement. Putt 4 balls from each marker to the edge of the green. Do this 3 to 4 times every time you practice. The goal is to have the ball stop at the edge of the green. The reason I chose the edge of the green is to focus on the speed and distance of the putt. You can vary your practice session by putting with your right hand one time through and then the next time only with your left hand. On the third try, close your eyes and on the fourth try, look at the edge of the green. After a few practice sessions you will begin to notice a different sensation and become more aware of the speed for each distance. The final result will hopefully be a lower score with fewer putts! Hit Them High and Let Them Fly!! Tina Tombs is the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club Director of Instruction and an LPGA tour professional, Tina@tinatombsgolf.com. Tina models her speed putting drill. Soccer captain seeks improvement this season By Nicholas Smith For the captain of Arcadia High School’s boy’s soccer team, the sport can absolutely be described as a family affair. Lorenzo Belhassen grew up with a father who played soccer in France and an older brother who played the sport as well. “I’ve been playing soccer for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I liked it since I first started and haven’t stopped since.” Lorenzo began playing on a club soccer team when he was 8 years old. He notes that his club teams have been very competitive, which prepared him to make the varsity team at Arcadia as a freshman. “The thing I like the most about soccer is probably the creativity,” he said. “It allows you to be creative, while at the same time it’s still a very technical sport.” Last year’s team didn’t make the playoffs, but Lorenzo noted that this year’s team has the potential to improve. “We have a few new faces to soccer this year,” he said. “But I definitely think we have a chance to be a very good team.” The team’s goals this year are to show improvement, while still having a good time playing. “That’s what I really want for myself and the team,” Lorenzo said. “Just to be able to play the game and have fun.” Lorenzo will sometimes attend the practice and work out with the girl’s soccer team, just to get more of the sport he loves. So it comes as no surprise that he might not be willing to give up the sport he loves when he goes to college. He’s considering playing the sport at Chapman University, as well as other schools in California. “I’m from Arizona,” he said. “I can’t give up the warm weather.” OPTIMIZE YOUR WORKOUT! “She (Lindsay) approaches fitness and wellness in a caring holistic approach. She listens, watches, observes and applies for a total customized workout program to fit all of her clients needs individually.” - Mary Masters Opila 2196 E Camelback Rd, Ste 200, Phoenix (602) 840-0201 www.KinesisPhoenix.com Offer good for New Members Only. $ 50 for 5 classes our swim programs are internationally-recognized stop in and find out why! FREE BABY SPLASH 8 wks - 5 mos LITTLE SNAPPERS 6 mos - 35 mos GROUP LESSONS 3 yrs - 12 yrs SPLASH, PLAY & LEARN the Hubbard way! HUBBARDSWIM.COM 602.971.4044

Page 55 February 2 0 1 4 ARCADIA SPORTS By Nicholas Smith Playing a sport with hundreds of people watching you may seem nerve wracking to most of us. But it doesn’t faze Connor Nichols, a 6’ 5” junior who plays shooting guard for Arcadia High School’s basketball team. “It’s like being in a zone,” he said. “Five minutes before the game starts everything just sort of shuts off. Unless you hit a really big shot, you don’t even notice the crowd. It’s like nothing is there for that hour or two except for the basketball court.” The game has been in Connor’s life since he was young. His father played basketball for Montana University, and that influence had a great effect on Connor’s choice of sport. “I played baseball and other sports when I was younger,” he said. “But basketball just got to me.” Last year Connor played on the varsity team as a sophomore. “To be honest, we struggled at times last year,” he explained. “We had graduated 11 seniors the year before, so it was obviously going to be a rebuilding year.” But the team ended up surprising many, nearly making it to the playoffs. Team unity is focus for basketball team “To be in the playoff hunt all the way to the end was a really big deal for us,” Connor said. “I was really proud of how we fought.” This year, the team is aiming at much higher goals. They are currently ranked in the top 12, with their goal being to reach the top 8, in order to have at least two home games in the playoffs. “We have a lot more talent and experience this year, as opposed to last,” Connor explained. “I really think we have a chance to do some real damage in the playoffs this year.” Connor heavily emphasized the team unity when he explained the strengths of the team. “I love the guys on the team,” he said. “We’re all friends beyond basketball, we hang out after school and off the court all the time. The closeness of the team this year has really helped us.” Connor’s eventual goal is to be able to play basketball in college. “That’s absolutely something I’m shooting for,” he said. “I’d love to be able to follow my dad’s footsteps and play for a big sky school. Who knows, maybe I’ll even play at Montana.” actually turned into a positive. “Because we aren’t really a tall team, we have to put real emphasis on being quick,” she said. “It’s also made us focus a lot on defense. We know what we’re good at, and we focus on that.” This year’s team is a tight knit group, a trait that Tori says has helped them on the court. “The chemistry on this team is unlike any I’ve ever seen,” she said. “We know each other so well and that really gives us an advantage when we play other teams.” She highlighted one play in particular from earlier this season that showed what she means. “There was a play where I was running down the court and threw this behind the back pass,” she said. “I couldn’t even see if there was anyone where I was throwing the ball. But sure enough, my teammate was already there to catch it. We just know where everyone else is always going to be on the court.” Tori may be taking a break from sports next year, as she is looking to possibly major in Psychology when she goes to college. Although not an Arizona native, she’s looking at Northern Arizona or University of Arizona as a possible college destination. “I’ve grown fond of this area,” she said. “I’ll be sticking around for a while.” Basketball Continued from page 53 Missy explains that she plays pretty much every position except for keeper on this year’s Arcadia High School team, a team whose potential she believes to be limitless. Last season, the team had a great year, including winning the preseason Horizon tournament, before finally going down in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Missy expects this team to finish even better. “I truly believe we can top what we did last year,” she said. “We lost some key seniors from last year, but we also gained some top notch midfielders who are freshmen.” She believes the team benefits greatly from their positions style of play. “I feel like a lot of high school teams play a direct style, where the center just launches the ball forward and hopes someone can finish,” she said. “Our style involves much more passing oriented. I feel like it’s easier, fun, and more effective to play position style.” Missy plans to play soccer in college, and her prospective schools include the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago. But she has unfinished work to finish at Arcadia before she leaves. “Every person says that their goal is to win state,” she said. “But I honestly think it’s within our reach. That’s our goal and I truly think we are capable of pulling it off.” Soccer Continued from page 53 eeks season ement, while still having a good aying. t’s what I really want for myself team,” Lorenzo said. “Just to be play the game and have fun.” nzo will sometimes attend the e and work out with the girl’s soccer ust to get more of the sport he loves. omes as no surprise that he might willing to give up the sport he loves e goes to college. He’s considering the sport at Chapman University, as other schools in California. from Arizona,” he said. “I can’t the warm weather.” Play Local. Play Competitive. Play Ball. But First, Get Registered Online. Go to arcadialittleleague.com to get pre-registered today! Register for the 2014 Spring BASEBALL and SOFTBALL Season – Boys & Girls Ages 4-16 Practice BEGINS February 7 | Season RUNS March 17 – May 22, 2014 REGISTER ONLINE OR IN-PERSON AT OUR UPCOMING TRYOUT DATES – SATURDAY, JAN. 25TH AND SATURDAY, FEB. 1ST – THIS IS LAST CALL!