Athlete of the Month: Jaedin Sklapsky

Written by: Elizabeth Prieskorn '14

           

           How many freshmen wrestlers have a record of 26-1? One: Jaedin Sklapsky. Jaedin Sklapsky is a 15 year old freshman on the varsity wrestling team. He’s been wrestling since he was five. For ten years straight wrestling has been Jaedin’s number one sport, although he also plays football. Throughout Jaedin’s wrestling career he’s had four coaches; Mr. Warriner, Troy Nault, Dave Milheim, and Bill Dorner. The one coach that has stuck with him has been Troy Nault.

Troy Nault has coached Jaedin for seven years and is part of the reason why Jaedin is as successful as he is now. “Troy has been the most fun coach I’ve had. He’s been with me the longest and he’s just fun to be around,” says Jaedin. Another factor to Jaedin’s success is his family. His parents have always supported him in anything he does and his brothers, being wrestlers themselves, always set high expectations for him. Jaedin looks up to them and sees them as his role models. They inspire him to do more. He hopes that soon he’ll be better than both of them.

The two main differences between middle school wrestling and high school wrestling are coaching, and talent. “The talent and competition is at a lot level in high school. The coaches work you harder and push you to be your best”, says Jaedin. Jaedin’s transition into high school was fairly easy. Balancing school and sports is no obstacle for him. He works diligently in class to get his work done. Like many of us, Jaedin enjoys high school more than middle school. Jaedin says, “Yeah high school is way more fun than middle school, even though the classes are stricter.” During his free time Jaedin likes to do the same things as many high school boys do. Eat, sleep, and hangout with friends.

Jaedin has many goals for his wresting career. The goals that he has set for himself for this year are to beast the Most Wins record. The goals that Jaedin has for his full high school wrestling career are to win leagues all four years, break all of the wrestling records, and to win states his junior and senior year. After high school Jaedin would like to attend a Division-one college and wrestle. After college Jaedin would like to become a wrestling coach at a high school.

Jaedin’s favorite wrestler is Anthony Robles. He’s a graduate from Arizona State University and is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Arizona State history. His interests are in Michigan State University, Iowa University, and Penn State University. They all have extremely good programs and Jaedin plans to work hard during high school to reach his goals. Jaedin’s greatest accomplishment in wrestling was when he was in seventh grade. Jaedin went down to Orem, Utah and won his weight class at Nationals. Jaedin is very excited for the rest of his high school wrestling career and beyond. In his future he hopes to reach all of his goals.

30% of athletes overcome debilitating condition to compete

Written by: Carly Darrow '12

                The statistics aren’t good; as an extensive amount of people are affected by asthma, make that 18.7 million people. It also accounts for an ample amount of hospitalizations for kids and kills nearly 5,000 people every year.

You would think a condition that includes the symptoms of chest pains, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and breathlessness wouldn’t exactly coincide with sports. In actuality, many athletes deal with this disease on a day to day basis. Medically known as “exercise-induced asthma”, it occurs when people typically breathe through their mouths, inhaling colder and drier air. The muscle bands around the airways contract due to the changes in temperature and humidity.

Although asthma restricts those who suffer from it, it does not mean that people or athletes should stop physical activity. In fact, physical activity when done right with medications and inhalers can help those with exercise induced asthma. The fitter someone is, the less air they need for a physical task, because your cardio respiratory system grows more efficient resulting in less strain on your bronchial tubes.

Precautions while exercising are always necessary. Inhalers should only be used before exercise but always on hand while exercising. Not only are attacks random and potentially deadly, but nothing can really be done to help someone with an asthma attack other than an inhaler or medical personnel.

                Despite this many athletes, famous Olympians even, have not let asthma keep them from competing. NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman, Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, NFL Pro Bowl running back Emmitt Smith, and Olympic medalist swimmer Amy VanDyken, are all examples of athletes who don’t let asthma run their lives.

“Having a full on asthma attack is something that you can never imagine without having experienced one,” states senior athlete Anna Archey. “It is like drowning with air all around you that you just can’t breathe in. When I was first diagnosed with asthma in middle school, I didn’t work hard enough to control it and that showed in my athletic performance up until last year.”

                Many people are still undiagnosed of asthma; and most athletes will not even display signs of asthma or symptoms. Athletes can help counteract the effects of asthma by working with medical personnel, taking an inhaler 15-30 minutes before sports, and making sure to do a warm up and cool down with stretching before and after working out.

                “It’s wonderful when my asthma isn’t acting up and I can perform to my full potential,” says Archey. “It takes a lot of medications, exercises, shots, and doctor’s appointments to make it there. When I do jump my furthest and run my fastest, it just makes the moment that much better knowing what I overcame to make it there.”

The hard nosed truth with Garrett Dubya

Written by: Garrett Johnson '12

        On December 8^th 2011 James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers laid a controversial helmet to helmet hit on quarterback Colt McCoy of the Cleveland Browns. The National Football League suspended Harrison from the Steelers game against the San Francisco 49ers.

        Harrison was not fined for the hit, but was docked one game check, which amounts to roughly $73,500.

        This is not Harrison’s first tangle up with fines and penalties due too flagrant head to head collisions. But honestly what is the game that we have all grown up watching and loving coming to? It’s the hits that people like James Harrison have on opposing players that fill the stands; the same hits that are shown over and over again on shows like NFL’s top 20 players to highlight the talents of previous great NFL players.

        Sure I will agree concussions are a major issue involving the sport, but then again doesn’t everyone know the risks when they step onto the grid iron?

        These are men ranging from the ages of twenty to almost forty years old. Can they not comprehend the dangers of the game of Football? I’m not going to knock the league but honestly let men be men.

        “Football is a sport of collision, emotion, and ferocity.” - Kanon McVicker. Not a game to limit the brutality of one player to another. In my opinion James Harrison was in the right and always has been. Let men be men and let the men try to prove dominance on the grid iron without a bunch of spectators crying about the dangers of the game.

         If you don’t like what you’re seeing… don’t watch, because when you cringe I smile.