This is a brand new forum for the North Raleigh News.
About a year and a half ago I got lucky and landed the "Who's Got Game" column in The North Raleigh News. What a good time I have had, interviewing North Raleigh athletes. Who says there is an epidemic of television-watching, internet surfing, computer game-playing, and junk-food indulging? If there is, it's not in North Raleigh.
In the past 17 months, I have interiewed people who have sought out sports they love to play, from curling to hockey, from dodgeball to flag football. There's a growing population of adventure racing in North Raleigh.
The area has a national championship women's rugby team. We also boast some female national stand-outs in sports not usually associated with women. Jackeitha Baker is a 10-year old wrestling phenom, who works extra hard so she can beat boys on the mat. Ruth Ann Calais, at age 60, held a world powerlifting championship in her age group. Theresa Scott, a Raleigh police officer, is ranked fifth in her weight class in the nationwide USA Boxing Association.
"Who's Got Game" has reported on young athletes who have overcome adversity to excel in their sports: Christine Baker came back from surgery to correct severe scoliosis to land a coveted spot on the Broughton High School varsity cheerleading squad - as a freshman. Abbey Freeman suffers from a motorneuron disease, which causes her to faint often, yet she managed to help her Raleigh Christian Academy swim team finish second in a relay championship among Independent Schools across the state.
There is Sarah Roberts-Witt. A marathon runner on her way to qualifying for the Boston Marathon, she was struck with Primary Laterial Sclerosis, a disease similar to Lou Gehrig's disease. Confined to a wheelchair now, and unable to speak, she will never run another marathon, but she is devoting the energy she does retain to raising money for research into such diseases. The Magnificent Mile represents the fruits of her labor, and in its debut last fall, raised more than $20,000.
I could go on and on.
The newspaper column is only 200 words. This is hardly enough to showcase the wonderful feats of bravery, perserverance and just plain fun our North Raleigh athletes display week after week.
Our athletes have inspiring stories to tell. This blog will help tell these stories in more detail. Readers will also have a chance to talk back, and I will welcome your comments and information about all of the fun sporting events and talented athletes in North Raleigh.
