Patrice Hirr and John Shultz named 2009 Florida Senior Games Athletes of the Year
~ The pair will be honored at Ambassadors for Aging Day at the Florida Capitol ~

An athlete with an 18-consecutive years medal winning streak and a record-breaking swimmer highlight the 2009 Florida Senior Games State Championships Athletes of the Year selections.

John Shultz (pictured at right), a table tennis player from Inverness, won a gold medal in singles table tennis to extend his streak of winning Florida Senior Games State Championships medals dating back to 1993.  It is the longest consecutive years medal winning streak of any athlete in the State Championships history.  Patrice Hirr, a swimmer from The Villages, went six-for-six in her events, winning six gold medals and setting six age group records. 

Shultz and Hirr were selected from among over 1,800 athletes who competed in the 2009 Florida Senior Games State Championships last December in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral.  The pair will be presented with their awards at Ambassadors for Aging Day, at Florida’s Capitol, in Tallahassee, on March 10.

With a gold medal in 2009 in the men’s singles 70-74 age group, it was his 12^th overall gold medal and 10^th in singles competition.  He has now won gold medals in four different age groups with his first coming in the 55-59 age group.  The 73-year old Shultz, has also played Florida Senior Games State Championships golf.

Hirr (pictured at left) won six gold medals and set six new records in the 60-64 age group over two days at the Florida Gulf Coast University Aquatic Center.  Her medals came in the Backstroke, Butterfly, Individual Medley and Freestyle events.  Her record setting time in the 100 yard butterfly was 15 seconds faster than the previous records.  The six record-setting performances came after total knee replacement surgery in July, 2009.

Hirr has spent most of her life in aquatics as a collegiate athlete at Central Michigan Univeristy, a high school swim coach in Grand Blanc and Flint Township, Michigan, an aquatics director at Genesys Athletic Club in Grand Blanc, and master’s swimmer.  She set records in the 55-59 age group at the 2006 Games and won two bronze medals at the 2007 National Senior Games.

Florida Senior Athletes are currently qualifying for the 2010 Florida Senior Games State Championships at various locations around the state.  The 2010 State Championships will be held December 4-12, for a fifth and final year in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral.  The 2010 Games are a qualifier for the 2011 National Senior Games, to be held in Houston, Texas, during the summer of 2011.

For more information on the Florida Senior Games State Championships, please visit www.flasports.com.

Previous Florida Senior Games State Championships Athletes of the Year

1994 - Doris Prokopi, Land O’Lakes; Wayne Wakefield, Bradenton

1995 - Mary Melehan, Englewood; Leonard Stone, Barefoot Bay

1996 - Hope Fage, Largo; F.L. McFadden, Lakeland

1997 - Ethel Lehmann, Largo; Seymour Duckman, Daytona Beach

1998 - Lucia Schatteleyn, Englewood; Donald Ritenour, Belleview

1999 - Patricia Bond, Bradenton; Gordon Johnson, Dundee           

2000 - Erika Messner, Clermont; Al Treichel, Spring Hill

2001 - Sperry Rademaker, Floral City; Howard Hall, Port Charlotte

2002 - Janice Lathouwers, The Villages; Allen Bjork, Sebring

2003 - Madelaine Cazel, The Villages; James Anderson, New Port Richey

2004 - Lillian Webb, Sebring; Harry Carothers, Pinellas Park

2005 - Patricia Sargeant, Melbourne; Andy McGuffin, Umatilla

2006 - Sari Kisbany, Redington Shores; Roger Gentilhomme, Dunedin

2007 - Claudette Braswell, Lake Wales; Larry Wallen, Jacksonville

2008 – Suzy Nothhouse, Estero; Dean Davis, Fort Myers

Anglers: Get free goodies for buying a 5-year freshwater fishing license now!

 
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a major partner in the Get Outdoors Florida! coalition (www.GetOutdoorsFlorida.org) encourages families to enjoy all the pleasures of recreational fishing in Florida.  Active, nature-based recreation develops happier, healthier and smarter lifestyles for Floridians, as well as encouraging a conservation stewardship ethic among resource users. 

One way the FWC and their industry partners encourage fishing and provide extra incentives and savings to anglers is via a special 5-year freshwater fishing license bonus program.  Beginning March 1, the first 3,000 anglers to upgrade to a 5-year freshwater fishing license will receive a special incentive in the form of free tackle, publications and fishing accessories that add to the convenience and cost savings already associated with a 5-year license. 

Matched with the priceless memories created from your fishing experiences, the FWC makes this a deal difficult to resist. A 5-year license costs just $79, plus a convenience fee, but in return you know the fees won’t increase while you have your license, and you don’t need to worry about renewing for five years.  For most anglers, that amounts to barely a dollar per fishing trip, or about one quarter per hour, for healthy, relaxing recreation that allows you to connect with your family and friends in a fun, stress-free environment — and maybe even take home a free meal or two.

 
The bonus package literally has you covered “hook, line and sinker.” The first 3,000 customers to upgrade to a 5-year freshwater fishing license after March 1 receive a free bonus package by mail with samples, magazines and coupons from fishing-related companies. Some of the items offered include free hooks from Tru-Turn and Owner, jigs from Fish Vision, a free spool of Spiderwire fishing line from Berkley, lead-free sinkers from Bullet Weights, and biodegradable lures from Fish Bites and Stubby Steve’s. 

Also in the package is a variety of useful literature to help ensure a safe-and-sustainable fishing trip, including Florida Wildlife magazine, freshwater regulations booklet, boating safety, fish ID charts, Polk County fishing maps, and a Nature Rocks brochure. Also thrown in are Catch-and-Release (Sure Life) for your livewell, a retractor for your angling tools (Power Pole), instructions and special “Fishhook Removal String,” plus coupons for fishing or paddling trips (Bass Online, Canoe Outpost), educatonal programs (Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing), fuel supplements (Fuel Medics) for your boat motor, and top-of-the-line polarized fishing sunglasses (Ocean Waves).

Five-year licenses are available online at MyFWC.com/License and or by calling, 888-347-4356. In addition, they may be purchased at any license agent, such as retail stores that sell fishing supplies and bait-and-tackle shops or at local county tax collectors’ offices. Even if your current license hasn’t expired, you can order a 5-year license now and have the effective date for the license set for up to 60 days after the purchase. The package typically arrives in three to four weeks.

For information about local fishing opportunities, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing, where you can also verify that you will be one of the first 3,000 and see all of the bonus package contents.

One final note, the FWC has designated the weekend of April 3 and 4 (Easter weekend) as Free Fishing Weekend. Both residents and nonresidents can fish in public fresh waters across the state without a license. All other fishing rules apply (see MyFWC.com/Fishing).

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Hall of Fame 2010 Inductees to be honored in March

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission recognizes its 2010 class of Hall of Fame inductees – including baseball legend Hank Aaron, LPGA standout Dottie Pepper, and NFL Pro Bowl running back and University of Florida standout, Fred Taylor, March 21, 2010, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

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Rated by The Sporting News as one of the top five ‘Greatest Baseball Players’ and a member of the Major League Baseball ‘All Century Team,’ Henry “Hank” Aaron retired from the game in 1976 holding the league record with 755 home runs. The sports icon played for 23 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves (National League), and Milwaukee Brewers (American League). He was selected to every All-Star team from 1955 to 1975 and  was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

From 1963 through 1974, Aaron participated in MLBs spring training in West Palm Beach, and has a street dedicated to him, Hank Aaron Drive. He has maintained a longtime winter residence in Palm Beach County.

A dominant LPGA Tour player, Dottie Pepper amassed $6.8 million in prize money, preceded by a successful amateur career winning two statewide championships in New York (1981) and runner-up in the 1982 PGA National Junior Championship. Recipient of numerous LPGA awards, including the Rolex Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy. Pepper now serves as a golf analyst for NBC Sports.

Pahokee native, Fred Taylor, began his stellar football career playing running back for Glades Central High School (Class of 1994). After an outstanding tenure as running back for the University of Florida, he was the ninth overall NFL draft pick in 1998, selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars. From 1998 to 2009, he was the team’s offensive workhorse rushing for 11,271 yards and 62 touchdowns. Taylor is the only 1,000 yard rusher in Jaguars’ history and currently plays for the three-time Super Bowl champions, New England Patriots.

"Given the caliber of athletes that come out of Palm Beach County and being a native myself, I am shocked, surprised and honored to be selected for the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame,” said NFL Pro Bowl running back Fred Taylor. I look forward to attending the event and seeing many of my longtime friends and fans."

Rounding out the elite class of athletes to be inducted include:

Reverend Leo Armbrust – A prominent figure in the world of college and football sports, served as team priest for the University of Miami football team (1983-86), Dallas Cowboys (1993-94) and Miami Dolphins (1996 to 2006).

Leonard Banks – A Belle Glade native, Pahokee High School graduate (lettered in football, basketball and track), and a basketball All-American honors student at Palm Beach Atlantic. Dedicated veteran teach, athletic director and coach (football, swimming, basketball, flag football, cross country and track).

Richard Ellington – A graduate of Palm Beach High school, where he played basketball for Hall of Fame member, “Coach” Joe Ceravolo. Actively involved in youth and professional sports-related organizations including the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, the Orange Bowl Committee, Super Bowl XXXIX and Super Bowl XXXIII.

Margie Engle – A champion equestrian rider who represented the United States in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Named the 1991 American Horse Shows Association Equestrian of the Year, Rolex/National Grand Prix League Rider of the Year (1992 and 1993), and the ten-time American Grand Prix Association Rider of the Year.

Loring ‘Snag’ Holmes – A competitive swimmer and renowned coach over the last 50 years, with 20 first-place finishes in the 75 to 79 age group. Worked with Hall of Fame members Buddy Goodell and Buddy Baarcke, as well as University of Texas swim coach and five-time Olympics’ coach, Eddie Reese.

Marilu Almeida Hunt – A three-sport standout at Cardinal Newman High School, winning four letters each in basketball and softball, and three in volleyball. Named Academic All-Area and to numerous all-star and all-area teams in all three sports.

Robert Zammit – A pitcher for Palm Beach High School (1954-57), Florida Southern College (1957-59), and Kansas City Royals minor league system for three years. Coached American Legion Post 12 (1967-74) and a member of several professional fishing tours (2000-05).

Also on the program for the evening is the 2009 Annual Sports Awards.  The finalists include an impressive group of homegrown talent, including NFL superstars; top golf, baseball, tennis, lacrosse and football coaches; and some of the most talented soccer, golf, track and football athletes in the nation.

Categories for the 2009 Annual Sports Awards are:

Amateur Athlete of the Year

High School Coach of the Year

High School Athlete of the Year

Coach of the Year

Professional Athlete of the Year

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s (PBCSC) 34th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place March 21, 2010, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. For tickets or sponsorship information, contact the PBCSC at 561-233-3180.

Florida athletes compete in the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games

Four Florida athletes will be competing in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver – a pair of figure skaters, a speed skater and the vice-captain of the curling team.

Miami Native, Jennifer Rodriguez, made her fourth consecutive Winter Olympics appearance in speed skating and had her best finish in the 1000 meter event coming in seventh place with a time of 1:17.08.  She was the highest U.S. finisher in that event. 

500 meters - 20th place, 39.18

1000 meters - 7th place, 1:17.08

1500 meters - 18th place, 2:00.08 

Rodriguez (pictured at right) first honed her athletic skills at Florida’s Sunshine State Games, where she competed from 1983-1987 and 1990-1992. 

Rodriguez parlayed her experience from the Sunshine State Games into a second place finish at the 1992 World Roller Figure Skating Championships and a World Championship at the 1993 In-Line Speedskating Championship.  She learned to ice skate in just three months time in 1996 and made the US National team.  Rodriguez has become one of America’s most decorated ice speedskaters, winning two bronze medals at the 2002 Olympic Games.

Another former Artistic Roller Skater from Florida’s Sunshine State Games, Caydee Denny, of Wesley Chapel, came in 14th place in the Pairs Short Program, with partner, Jeremy Barrett, of Venice.

Caydee, born in Ocala and now living in Wesley Chapel, began her skating career in 1995 at the Sunshine State Games Artistic Roller Skating competition at age 2 (photo at left is from 1995 Sunshine State Games).   She switched to ice skating at age nine and qualified for the Olympics with Barrett winning a gold medal at the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Jason Smith, a part-time resident of Cape Coral, is the vice captain of the U.S. curling team.  The U.S. team finished round-robin pool play winning only two of nine matches and did not advance to the medal round.  The U.S. had wins over France and Sweden and five of their seven losses were by two points or less.

Jason, who began curling as a teenager, grew up in Chisholm, Minn. He lives part time in Duluth, Minn. He became a part-time Cape Coral resident three years ago to live near his grandfather.

The opening ceremonies will be bittersweet for Smith and his grandfather, Duane “Buzz” Smith, who lives in a one-bedroom Cape Coral apartment.  It will fall on the 11th anniversary of the death of Jason’s grandmother, Judy Smith. She and Buzz raised their grandson after Jason’s parents, teenagers at the time, put him in a foster home when he was a few weeks old.

“I was spoiled by my grandparents,” Jason said in an interview with the Fort Myers News-Press. “Grandpa was always there for sports, and grandma brought me down to real life.”  He calls his grandfather his best friend and his grandmother the grounding influence in his life

Seeing his grandson on TV with the U.S. flag will be a sad reminder of his wife, Buzz said. But the date also serves as a source of pride, surpassed perhaps only “by the day we brought him home from the hospital,” he said.

“He’s more like a son than a grandson,” Buzz Smith said. “It’s hard to talk. He’s been a good kid, and I miss him. He’s made me feel good. I wish I was there, to tell you the truth.”

FSF awards $84,000 in regional grants to seven Florida sports events

Sporting events bring additional tourism to Florida causing a significant out-of-state economic impact on an annual basis. Since 1996, the FSF has been assisting communities around the state in their efforts to attract sport events and opportunities. The December, 2009 disbursement of regional grants was the second of the FSF 2009-10 fiscal year.

Thus far in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the FSF awarded 15 major and regional grants totaling over $483,000.  Combined, the 15 grants have a projected out of state economic impact of over $49 million and over 100,000 visitors to the State.

Full listing of Grants awarded by the FSF:

** Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions Boys National Club Lacrosse Finals, Pasco County, January 1-3

** 2010 Big Ten/Big East Collegiate Baseball Challenge, Clearwater, February 26-28 

** Snowbird Collegiate Baseball Classic, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, February 27-March 27, 2010

** National Training Center Spring Collegiate Softball Games, Clermont, February 22 – April 22, 2010

** USA Taekwondo Junior Olympics and Senior National Championships, Orlando, June 29 – July 4, 2010

** American Youth Soccer Organization National Games, Palm Beach County, July 4, 11, 2010

** 2010 Acrobatic Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, July 22-29, 2010

Germain Family earns Sunshine State Games Athlete of the Year

While family competition is constantly growing in Florida's Sunshine State Games, Polk County’s first family of Judo, the Germain family (Brian, Chris, Katie and Kelly) has been a constant in the annual Judo competition since 2000.  For their ongoing support and success in the Games, they have been named the 2009 Sunshine State Games Athletes of the Year.

Back Row (L-R) County Commissioners Sam Johnson, Randy Wilkinson, Bob English, Ed Smith and Jean Reed

Front Row (L-R) Summerlin Academy commandant, Colonel (Hon) Michael R Butler, Chris Germain, Kelly Germain, Katie Germain and Brian Germain

The Germain family was recognized Tuesday morning at the Polk County Commission Meeting for their efforts from more than 8,000 athletes competing in 2009 Sunshine State Games competitions including the Summer Games, which were held in Polk County, June 12-14.  More than 4,500 amateur athletes participated in the Summer Games in Polk County.

Each member of the family played a part in the Sunshine State Games Judo competition in 2009 from start to finish.  From recruiting competitors, to venue setup, to technical assistance at the scoring table to competition, and winning matches and medals on the mat, Brian, Chris, Katie and Kelly Germain were invaluable to the success of the Judo event in 2009.

“The Germain family has been crucial to the success of the Sunshine State Games Judo in Polk County for the last couple of years,” said Fred Hand, the Sunshine State Games Judo Sport Director and friend of the family.  “Each member of the family and the club members from Summerlin Judo, where Brian is an instructor, have helped with the event and making it run successfully.”

Brian and his daughters competed in Sunshine State Games judo for the 10th consecutive year in 2009 and he has served as the local Judo chairman since the Games have been held in Polk County. 

Brian Germain, a fourth degree black belt who has traveled the world competing in judo competitions, is now an international coach and instructor at Summerlin Judo in Lakeland.  Germain won a 2009 gold medal in the Master's Division, 100kg weight class in an epic battle and “gripping clinic” with John Fiege, another international judoka, from Jacksonville.

Germain, 50 years old, checks in at 6-4, 205 pounds while Fiege is 42, 6-8, 220 lbs.  Germain  went through the bracket winning five matches and losing one.  The division came down to a best of three match with Brian winning first and third matches for the gold medal.

Equally competitive in this judo family are Brian’s two daughters, Katie and Kelly.  Katie has competed in the Sunshine State Games nine of the last 10 years.  In 2000 she won her first Sunshine State Games gold medal in the Junior Division, 6-8 years old, 41-50 lbs.  In her Sunshine State Games career she has won six gold medals and three silver medals. 

At the 2009 Sunshine State Games, she won the gold medal in the Juvenile Division 54-61kg weight class and was named the Most Outstanding Junior Female Performer of the competition.  Following her Sunshine State Games performance, Germain won a bronze medal at the USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships in late-July at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. 

"I can definitely say Katie is in the mix as one of the top girls in the country right now," Coach and father, Brian said following the competition. "She has been training very hard and continues to develop and perform well. As she matures, I'll be looking for a lot more out of her."

When not on the judo mat, Katie also competes in Track and Field and Freestyle Wrestling.

Kelly Germain, a Sunshine State Games competitor since 2003, won three matches to take the gold medal in the Female Intermediate 2 (Age 11 and 12), 50kg weight class at the 2009 Games.  She has won four gold and four silver medals competing in the last seven consecutive Sunshine State Games since.  She began competing in 2003 when she was six years old.

Rounding out the family awards for 2009 Chris German who won the annual Spirit of Tai Yosheda Award, give to a Technical Official or Referee.  During the 2009 Games, Chris provided technical assistance at the head scoring table and made sure individual matches at three different Judo mats at the Lakeland Center.  She also provided valulable support for Brian, Katie and Kelly.

For more information about the 2010 Calendar of Florida’s Sunshine State Games events, please visit www.flasports.com.  The Florida Sports Foundation annually offers competition in 25 amateur sports through the Sunshine State Games.   Since 1980, the Games have been held to serve Florida’s athletes and community in promoting amateur sports.

Polk County, Florida Named as Host City for Southeast Sports Festival

Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia also have provisional permission to participate in the 2010 Southeast Sports Festival.

“Polk County’s experience in hosting multi-sport events and the communities support make it an ideal host city for the Southeast Sports Festival,” said Marc T. Riker, President of Southeast Sports Festival. “Plus, being a destination area, for participants and family members to visit, is an added benefit.”

The tentative roster of sports for the Third Southeast Sports Festival currently includes Fencing, Lacrosse, Soccer, Taekwondo and Track & Field with the possibility of Baseball, Basketball, Cycling and Table Tennis being added at a later date.

“Polk County is very excited to be selected as the host of the 2010 and 2012 Southeast Sports Festival,” said Marc Zimmerman, Sales and Events Manager for Central Florida’s Polk County Sports Marketing. “This event will help to bolster the local economy at a much needed time. Having hosted the Sunshine State Games for the past three years hosting the Southeast Sports Festival is the next logical step.”

Polk County venues currently scheduled to be used for the Southeast Sports Festival include The Lakeland Center, Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, Lakeland’s Simpson Park and Frostproof High School.

The Southeast Sports Festival is a biennial event that began in 2006 in Shelby County, Alabama. It was held in Tallahassee in 2008. Polk County, home of the 2007 through 2009 Florida’s Sunshine State Games, will serve as hosts for the next two events. Dates of competition for the 2010 Southeast Sports Festival will be July 30 – August 1, 2010.

For more information as it becomes available, please check www.southeastsportsfestival.org.

During the past year, more than 225 Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing-assisted events generated in excess of $126 million in economic benefits for Polk County. General information on sports in Polk County can be found by visiting the PCSM website at www.centralfloridasports.com.