“The focus are the kids,” said Mimi Watson, a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Naples and who has been helping organize the event since 2000. “As our saying goes, ‘Children are priority one.’ “The Run for Fun gives children the opportunity to be active and exercise during the summer. They really enjoy the competition and being rewarded.”

The Summer Run for Fun is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Naples, as it has been since 1996. Beginning in 1978, however, the program starts each year the first Monday after school lets out for the summer, and generally is held for eight weeks.
Because of construction at the Barron track this year, the Run for Fun was limited to seven weeks. Kids of all ages, and even some adults, compete in the shot put, discus, long jump. After the field events, then everyone competes in a mile run, which is broken down by age group.

In using the term “compete,” participants actually are measured against their previous performances rather than against each other. Kiwanis Club members serve as official timers, recording each child’s performance in the mile. Those times are then compared week to week to gauge each runner’s progress. This year more than 180 area youth registered for the programs. Most weeks draw more than 120 participants. Every kid who ran at least in five of the seven weeks received a trophy and a T-shirt on Monday.

Among the awards distributed Monday were two special trophies given to sisters Alicia and Valerie Fowski, who were recognized for participating each of the last 10 years. There were also 11 other special awards given out to outstanding athletes in the program. “We really enjoy seeing the kids run and them coming out each week,” said Watson, who also mentioned the involvement of the Gulf Coast Runners in putting on the events. “They recognize us and we recognize them.”

“Beating 4500 contestants Payal won the Champion trophy held at Vadodara. She solved 200 sums in just seven minutes, with few seconds to go before the exam got over,” Ramesh Merja, Payal’s father said.

The All Gujarat Mental Arithmetic Champion Trophy-2008 was held recently at Vadodara, and over 4500 contestants from across the state participated in the competition.

“If we ask Payal about the sum total of three digit sums, which involves fractions, subtractions, additions and mulitiplications, she answers them very swiftly,” he added.

A class five at Bavis Gam Vidhyalaya-Vallabh Vidhyanagar, Payal is quick in solving mathematical problems, and holds the distinction of being runners up in All India UC-MAS competitions,” Merja said.

According to Payal, concentration is the key to her success. She is an intelligent and gifted child with inclination towards science and maths.

Payal loves reading autobiographies of great leaders and towering personalities during leisure time, Merja said adding, “she is an intelligent and gifted child.”

Originally posted in The Hindu.

They’re 10 golden, gleaming trophies, each touting him as a “winner” at T-ball, soccer, basketball. The most recent is a pewter mega-monument he earned playing football—on a team that lost every game by about 30 points.

While certainly a winner in my book, the kid has never once been on a championship team. Or even a mediocre one. Still, he has received more trophies than birthday cakes in his life. And he’s not alone.
Mini-athletes get trophies these days just for showing up. They’re de rigeur, as much a part of kids’ sports now as Gatorade and ghastly, costly team photos. At the end-of-season pizza party (also a given), every team member gets a sizable statuette on an engraved pedestal. Play-off teams probably get bigger ones; ahem, I, wouldn’t know.

“Claire got a soccer trophy even though she sat on her fanny and cried through every practice,” says a mom I know.

What’s the cost of being so generous with awards that were once reserved for the best of the best? Are we championing mediocrity? Will our kids expect “atta boys” for everything they do?

“There is a definite shift toward an ‘everybody wins’ attitude in sports these days,” says a local dad. “It’s good and bad.” Getting a trophy was his five-year-old daughter’s favorite part of her first soccer season—which explains why, at the start of the next season, she came off the field asking, “Where’s my trophy?”

Trophy inflation seems to have started with the self-esteem movement of the 1980s, when pop psychology convinced us that “effort” matters more than “success.” Some called this progress; others deemed it hogwash.

“I abhor awarding trophies willy-nilly,” says a soccer, basketball, and baseball coach. “I have strong suspicions the trophy industry is behind the ‘trophies for everyone’ tradition.” An outrageous accusation? Perhaps. “I suspect the Trophy-Industrial Complex is behind the subprime debacle, as well.”

In real life, loss comes frequently—elections, jobs, relationships—and it forces us to reassess our performance and try harder next time. Isn’t it better to let our kids taste disappointment now, when the terms are small, than to “protect” them from it till they’re grown?

A friend of mine who works in human resources says that, as young adults, the “participation trophy generation” exudes a distinct sense of entitlement. “We don’t give merit raises,” she finds herself explaining, “just for doing your job.”

But not everyone is anti-trophy. Proponents say the token effigies bolster kids’ spirits after a brutal season.

“We aren’t rewarding them for not winning,” argues one coach. “We’re rewarding them for showing up regularly, practicing, working as a team, learning the skills and rules of the game, playing through disappointment and pain.”

Well, when you put it like that …

“Kids can be so hard on themselves and feel undeserving even when they played well,” adds my cousin, whose children play up to four sports at a time. “Some kids have uber-competitive parents and a little trophy may be their only positive reinforcement.”

It’s a fair point. It’s not like we’ve stopped scoring the games; kids, it turns out, are keenly aware of the difference between bench-warming trophies and VIP trophies. And while they may treasure a thanks-for-playing memento as a souvenir from an exacting season, they’ll be the first to tell you this: It’s small consolation for failure.

“There are only three trophies I’m really proud of,” says a sensible fifth-grader I know, who has won big in soccer, hoops, and music. “The rest I call ‘loser trophies‘ because you get them for losing.

“I actually think they’re a waste of metal.”
Originally posted by Starshine Roshell.

Honors keep piling up for Sibley East graduate Jordan Berg. Last week, the Augsburg quarterback was named one of ten finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy which recognizes the most outstanding student-athlete in NCAA Division III football.

Named after legendary St. John’s University football coach John Gagliardi, the Gagliardi trophy is widely recognized as the premier individual award in Division III football. It honors excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

Berg, in just a three season college career, shattered many Augsburg records in becoming the top passing quarterback in the school’s history. The Auggies co-captain finished with a school best 8,777 passing yards (292 per game) and completed 796 of his 1,350 passes. Berg also set a new Augsburg record with 74 touchdown passes.
Last month, Berg left his mark on the MIAC record book. In a game at St. John’s, he broke the conference’s career passing yardage record. He finished his career with 7,414 passing yards in only 24 league games.

In his senior campaign, Berg completed 297 of his 499 pass attempts. That completion total set a new single season record at Augsburg. Berg also tossed 25 touchdowns this past season. That was second on Augsburg’s all-time list behind Berg’s own numbers he put up in 2007.

Berg’s lofty throwing records don’t just rank high in the MIAC. He stands second among Division III quarterbacks nationally in completions per game (29.70). Berg was fourth in the nation in passing yardage per game (322), seventh in total passing yardage (3,266), ninth in total offensive yardage per game (314), and 23rd in points responsible per game (17).

In the MIAC this season, Berg led the way in passing yardage per game and total offense in both overall (322, 314) and conference games only (333, 320).

Berg was recently named first team All-MIAC, his second all-conference honor. Last month, he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team.

A physics major with a 3.80 grade-point average, Berg was an Academic All-MIAC honoree last season and will be named to the honor again this year when the awards are announced this spring.

In addition to his athletic and academic feats, Berg has volunteered at local food shelves and volunteer coached at youth basketball camps. He took part in a mission trip to Benton Harbor, Mich. to volunteer at a local Boys and Girls Club and helped refurbish and paint homes for people in need. He has also volunteered for Adopt-a-Highway trash pickup efforts as well as park cleanup for Earth Day.

Berg is also a skilled artist. He has designed logos for the Augsburg football team and painted a mural in the Auggies locker room.

Nominations for the Gagliardi Trophy are made by college presidents with supporting letters and credentials provided by head football coaches. Other nominees include Jason Boltus (Hartwick College), Justin Feaster (Hardin-Simmons University), Juan Joseph (Millsaps College), Greg Micheli (Mount Union College), Jack Rafferty (Otterbein College), Chad Rupp (Franklin College), Dominic Sulo (North Central College), Bobby Swallow (Washington and Jefferson College) and Dan Whalen (Case Western Reserve College).

The 16th annual Gagliardi Trophy will be presented Thursday, December 18th in Salem, VA, site of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (Division III national championship game).

Originally posted in gaylordhub.com.

The World Junior Championship Trophies will be in the city on Thursday, part of a tour of eastern Ontario cities.

Canada has won the World Junior title the last four years, and the trophies will be making stops at 16 RBC branches during the next three weeks.

While in Cornwall, the trophies will also visit some local schools where students will be provided with free Cornwall Colts tickets courtesy of RBC.

The trophies will also be available for public viewing in the concourse of the Ed Lumley Arena at the Colts game on Thursday evening.

This year’s World Junior Hockey Championship is taking place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, in Ottawa.

The trophies will be in Cornwall at the RBC main branch (300 Pitt Street) on Thursday, from 9:30 a. m. until noon.

From noon until 1 p. m., the trophies will be at local schools.

The Cornwall Square will have the trophies on display from 1 p. m. to 5 p. m., before the hardware makes it way over to the Ed Lumley Arena, on display in the concourse area from 6:30 p. m. to 8 p. m.

The Colts host the Gloucester Rangers on Thursday.

Originally posted by Standard Freeholder.

RHYDDINGS Business and Enterprise School headteacher Barry Burke gave his farewell prize night speech last night.

Mr Burke became head of the Oswaldtwistle school in 1999. In 2005 it was named as one of the fifth most improved schools in the country.

At the end of this term Mr Burke will leave to take up the post at a new inner city academy in Manchester.

Mr Burke told patrents and pupils: “Tonight is the last time I’ll speak to you as headteacher of Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School.

“As you know, I’ve been given the opportunity to take some of the ‘Rhyddings Magic’ and plant it in a new school in Manchester.

“So you see, it’s really your fault I’m leaving at the end of this term.

“After all, you’ve demonstrated to the world that Rhyddings’ students improve their performance year on year with your year group achieving the best all round set of results ever, and that makes me look good!

“And just like Joe Calzaghe’s decision to ‘quit’ while he’s at the top, I’m able to leave Rhyddings at the pinnacle of my teaching career – all because of your outstanding success.”

Mr Burke thanked pupils, staff, governors and parents and added: “I’ll take my Rhyddings ‘snapshots’ with me to make me happy when times get tough and call on the support of my friends when I inevitably meet those apparently insurmountable obstacles.

“Standing on the shoulders of giants, like those in Rhyddings, has made me successful but, more importantly, happy.”

>> PRIZEWINNERS

100 per cent attendance: One year, Katie Collins, Kirsty Evans; five years, Daniel Duckett; Art and Design: Aqsa Munir; Business Studies: Daniel Duckett; Engineering: Liam Koral; English Language: Farheen Mohammed; English Literature: Nafisa Tahir; French: Rebecca Entwistle; Geography: Katie Collins; Health and social care: Leanne Slattery; History: Farheen Mohammed; ICT: Kirsty Ormerod; Mathematics: Daniel Duckett; Media Studies: Sameena Waheed; Performing Arts: Emma Ward; Physical Education: Danny Wilkinson; Religious Education: Zisham Abid; Science: Rebecca Entwistle.

Technology (Catering): Katie Collins; Graphics: Louise Pike; Product Design: Aqsa Munir; Technology, resistant materials: Drew Owens; Textiles: Zakkeha Begum; Travel and Tourism: Louise Pike; Urdu: Zisham Abid.

School Trophies: Moore Trophy for service to the school: Mark Braysford; Governors’ Trophy for service to the community, Annabel Johnson; Rhyd-dings Trophy for effort, Moinuddin Anwar; Banks Trophy for achievement, Emma Ward; Mim’s Trophy for extra-curricular perfor-mance, Christopher O’Connor; Rhyddings Trophy for outstanding academic achievement, Rebecca Entwistle.

Originally posted by Catherine Pye

Trophy News from Granby, CO

The Panthers of Middle Park High charged to victory in their first home football game of the season, beating Clear Creek’s Golddiggers 30-12 on Friday night.

The win was an excellent recovery for the Panthers, who fell 31-3 to Estes Park’s Bobcats during the season-opener the previous weekend.

“We had a great week of preparation to get ready for Clear Creek, who has a great passing game,” said Middle Park’s coach Marc Loberg. “Everybody on our team, especially our younger players, worked hard to get our varsity ready for this one. This is a win we can build off of.”

Friday’s victory also regained the Mountain Man Trophy for the Panthers, who lost it last year to the Golddiggers. Middle Park has now won the trophy four of the five years of its history.

“We’ve brought the Mountain Man Trophy back to its proper resting place,” Loberg said. “It was a fun game and a good way to start the school year.”

Middle Park got on the scoreboard first late in the first quarter of Friday’s game. A superbly thrown pass by senior quarterback Mike Schmidt was caught by receiver Jordan Reynolds, who scored the Panthers’ first touchdown. Reynolds then topped it off by booting the ball through the goalposts for the extra point.

Clear Creek almost succeeded in scoring on the return kickoff that took the ball to Middle Park’s 30-yard line. The Golddiggers battled forward as the second quarter began, but their drive was cut short by an interception by the Panthers’ Justin Cisneros at the 6 yard line.

Finding themselves deep in their own territory, the Panthers began a long, grinding drive of short passes and rushes led by Schmidt and Reynolds, who alternated as quarterback. Still 16 yards short of the endzone, Middle Park opted for the field goal on a fourth-down play. Reynolds’ kick through the uprights added three more points to Middle Park’s points total as the first half ended.

If the Panthers felt secure with a 10-0 lead, the Golddiggers quickly upset them as the second half began. An excellent return on the opening kickoff brought Clear Creek to Middle Park’s 36-yard line. Then a couple well-thrown passes put the Golddiggers into the endzone for six points.

The 10-6 score remained unchanged until just after the start of the fourth quarter as a Middle Park’s drive reached Clear Creek’s one-yard line on a 27-yard rush by running back Zane Bickler. In one final push, Panther quarterback Mike Schmidt plowed into the endzone for the touchdown. Reynolds then added the extra point with another well-aimed kick.

After the Panther defense quickly crushed the Golddiggers’ next possession, Middle Park returned the short punt to Clear Creek’s 39-yard line. On the first play, Schmidt pitched the ball to running back Ben Shipman, who scampered around the left side of the field for the touchdown.

Still full of fight, the Golddiggers retaliated immediately with an excellent passing-and-rushing drive that scored their second TD. Their attempt for a two-point conversion failed when Shipman intercepted their pass.

Clear Creek then attempted to quickly regain possession of the ball with an onside kick, but Middle Park’s Jake Finch snagged it at midfield.

The Panthers’ final possession of the game earned them another touchdown. A series of rushes by Bickler as well as another well-executed pitch by Schmidt to Shipman took the ball 72-yards across the field to Clear Creek’s 3 yard line.

Receiving excellent blocking once again, Schmidt charged up the middle into the endzone for the score. Reynolds then capped the successful drive with one more extra-point kick.

“I want to give credit where credit is due and that is to our offensive line,” coach Loberg said. “Center Mitch Sprague, guard Mitch Strang, tackle Chris Hillison, tight-end Sam Damon, right guards Kyle Anderson and Cory Berger, and right tackle Charlie Miller did an outstanding job to make this win possible.”

Middle Park earned some good rushing stats in Friday’s game. Zane Bickler earned 122 yards, followed by Ben Shipman with 114 and Mike Schmidt with 103.

Originally written by Will Bublitz

Trophy News From York, Nebraska

Add another piece of hardware to the growing York High tennis trophy case. York High School head tennis coach Josh Budler was recently awarded the 2007-08 NSAA Tennis Coach of the Year award. The honor is Budler’s first. Budler won the award after leading the squad to the Class B state championship last season.

Despite his recent success with the Dukes, Budler is fairly new to the sport.

“I went to Concordia University in 1999 to play soccer,” he explained. “I made some great friends that were on the tennis team. After playing some with them, they talked me into trying the sport out. I haven’t looked back since.”

Budler arrived at York High School as the head tennis coach in 2003, during his last semester at Concordia.
“(Former York High head tennis coach) Don Bohling was leaving the team, and they needed someone to step up and lead the group. I went for the opportunity, driving back and forth from Seward each day while finishing up my degree.”
It paid off in an enormous way, as Budler’s first season at the helm yielded a Class B state championship trophy for the Dukes. Along with the 2007 trophy, York High has also finished third twice and fifth once with Budler leading the way.
According to the coach, he loves three things the most about coaching the Duke tennis teams.
“I love the kids, first and foremost. In addition to helping the kids, I also love the competitive side of the sport and the aspect of mental warfare in tennis.”
Budler and the Dukes will look to defend their trophy beginning on Aug. 28 against Waverly.

Originally Written by Josh Van Pelt in the York News-Times

Trophy News from ESPN

Kobe Bryant recently said he would rather win an Olympic gold medal than the NBA championship. Was he merely saying what was politically correct before the Olympics? Did he say it only because it sounds better than “I would rather win an Olympic gold medal than lose the NBA championship”? Or does an Olympic gold medal really mean more to him than a professional championship?

Only Kobe knows for sure but what about you? What sporting trophy means the most to you? Of all the things you could win in sports, which would you choose? A Super Bowl ring? The Masters green jacket? The Heisman Trophy? The Cy Young Award? A World Series? A Final Four? There are dozens upon dozens of championships and awards to win, but which would you most want to claim?

Here are a few quick caveats on my rankings:

The form of the award matters. Trophies top plaques, and the bigger the better. After all, you want the damn thing to look impressive in your trophy case.

Names count, too. Awards named in honor of a person (such as the Cy Young) just resonate more than those that, while prestigious, are named something boring and generic like the “MVP award.”

Durability counts. Generally, the longer the award has been around, the more it means.

Originally Written by Jim Caple for ESPN