There's a new PowerZone member on the horizon, as regulars Les and Cindy Sturt have a new addition to their family.
Duncan Leslie George Sturt was born on July 16, weighing in at 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
Les was playing in the Parsippany Grass Tournament on July 15, with Cindy spectating, when she felt it was time to head for the hospital. Les, who was playing in the reverse coed doubles with Ann-Lee Yuan, had to leave without playing their last pool play match that day, but Cindy's feelings were right since she spent the night in the hospital and gave birth the following morning.
Cindy said all three Sturts are doing well. "I came home two days later, and Les is home on paternity leave. My mom moved in today (Monday) to give us a break,'' Cindy said.
Cindy said they choose the name Duncan because "it's Scottish-sounding and unique. We debated it a lot because we aren't sure if he'll get bullied because of it, but we wanted something different.''
The first middle name came from Les' dad, and George is after Les' uncle. But he joked to PowerZone director George Mon that the baby was named after him because George was the last person he and Cindy saw at Volunteers Park before they left for the hospital.
Duncan Leslie George Sturt is 20 inches long, Cindy said. "He's a good size,'' she said. "We still haven't decided if my Asian genes or Les' Scottish genes won.''
Either way, he'll probably be a great volleyball player!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Pat Powers clinic takes over the 'Zone
For two days, PowerZone became Pat Powers-Zone.
Olympic Gold Medalist, USC men's coach, and former AVP star Pat Powers brought his unique coaching/teaching style to PowerZone on June 30 and July 1 for a sold-out two-day clinic with over 70 participants from all over the East Coast. One participant was from Japan, by way of his summer vacation in Vermont.
Powers, who was on the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal winning team from the United States and also played on the US World Championship team in 1986, has 35 clinics scheduled this year all over the United States.
Powers has developed a method that can teach players how to master the game of volleyball over a short two-day span. His "Over-Correction" method combined with "Survivor" games helps the junior and recreational player overcome years of bad habits.
"I teach skills a little different than most coaches: I advocate passing the ball low instead of high,'' Powers says on his website (vbclinics.com). "I am a big fan of snapping the ball instead of hitting it. Because of this, I have a successful teaching manner: theory, demonstration, "Over-Correction," drill, next skill.''
He said "Survivor'' helps players put all the skills together.
"The first part of the clinic is where we establish the rules and teach you how to play, the last part of each day is when we make you play by the rules…or you go to the end of the line. Very effective!'' Powers wrote on his website.
Powers plans to return to PowerZone with another camp next summer in late June/early July.
"PowerZone is one of the best facilities
that I see all year!'' he said. "I like the fact that we get a lot of
adults there. They keep the young players in line ... It's a very fun
event. I can't wait to return next year!''
Olympic Gold Medalist, USC men's coach, and former AVP star Pat Powers brought his unique coaching/teaching style to PowerZone on June 30 and July 1 for a sold-out two-day clinic with over 70 participants from all over the East Coast. One participant was from Japan, by way of his summer vacation in Vermont.
Powers, who was on the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal winning team from the United States and also played on the US World Championship team in 1986, has 35 clinics scheduled this year all over the United States.
Powers has developed a method that can teach players how to master the game of volleyball over a short two-day span. His "Over-Correction" method combined with "Survivor" games helps the junior and recreational player overcome years of bad habits.
"I teach skills a little different than most coaches: I advocate passing the ball low instead of high,'' Powers says on his website (vbclinics.com). "I am a big fan of snapping the ball instead of hitting it. Because of this, I have a successful teaching manner: theory, demonstration, "Over-Correction," drill, next skill.''
He said "Survivor'' helps players put all the skills together.
"The first part of the clinic is where we establish the rules and teach you how to play, the last part of each day is when we make you play by the rules…or you go to the end of the line. Very effective!'' Powers wrote on his website.
Powers plans to return to PowerZone with another camp next summer in late June/early July.
"PowerZone is one of the best facilities
that I see all year!'' he said. "I like the fact that we get a lot of
adults there. They keep the young players in line ... It's a very fun
event. I can't wait to return next year!''
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Scott Teske's injury
Powerzone regular Scott Teske - most Powerzone members probably know him, since he plays on a men's club team, is a regular at open gyms, plays in the men's and coed leagues, and coaches in the Allegro local program - fractured one of his vertebrae during a trip to Greece.
Scott fractured the C1 vertebrae in three spots, and will be in rehab for the next six-to-nine months. He's at home with his parents in Tabernacle now.
"I'm actually pretty lucky, 80-90 percent of the people who fracture that vertebrae end up with some paralysis, like Christopher Reeve,'' Teske said. "I don't have any. I can eat, walk, go to the bathroom, and talk. I'm able to get around on my own.''
To allow the bone to heal, Scott has to wear a halo that is attached to his to his skull in four places, and also attaches to a vest that he wears.
"It's like a body cast, but it's pretty comfortable,'' he said. "I've been improving every day.''
Scott said he'd be very happy to hear from everyone via email (steske@earthlink.net). His address is 7 Moore Road West, Tabernacle, NJ, 08088. He's also publishing a blog on the web detailing his recovery (http://www.sjtdesigns.com/wordpress/).
"I'm going to be bored out of my mind for the next six months, so if anyone wanted to shoot me an email I'd be glad to hear from them,'' Scott said. "I appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers - I'm not the most religious person, but someone upstairs was obviously looking out for me.''
Scott fractured the C1 vertebrae in three spots, and will be in rehab for the next six-to-nine months. He's at home with his parents in Tabernacle now.
"I'm actually pretty lucky, 80-90 percent of the people who fracture that vertebrae end up with some paralysis, like Christopher Reeve,'' Teske said. "I don't have any. I can eat, walk, go to the bathroom, and talk. I'm able to get around on my own.''
To allow the bone to heal, Scott has to wear a halo that is attached to his to his skull in four places, and also attaches to a vest that he wears.
"It's like a body cast, but it's pretty comfortable,'' he said. "I've been improving every day.''
Scott said he'd be very happy to hear from everyone via email (steske@earthlink.net). His address is 7 Moore Road West, Tabernacle, NJ, 08088. He's also publishing a blog on the web detailing his recovery (http://www.sjtdesigns.com/wordpress/).
"I'm going to be bored out of my mind for the next six months, so if anyone wanted to shoot me an email I'd be glad to hear from them,'' Scott said. "I appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers - I'm not the most religious person, but someone upstairs was obviously looking out for me.''