Lions give up second period lead, bow to Rebels

  Over 130 runners pre-registered for this year’s South Dundas Spooky Fun Run, held at Earl Baker Park on Sunday morning, October 18. The 2015 Fun Run was organized by the Playground Committee. Runners raised […]

 

Organizer Andy Lee says he is very happy with the response he has had to the Spikes Volleyball program he runs in the Seaway District High School gymnasium on Thursday nights, and he is even happier with the results he is seeing in the participants.

Twenty-two local girls, from grades 8 to 12, signed up for the eight week Spikes program which started in early November.

Developed by the Ontario Volleyball Association, the Spikes Volleyball program is meant to interest and develop players in the game. Drills and games are designed so that everyone has fun while learning volleyball skills.

Although Lee says he capped the number at 32, he wasn’t sure just how much interest there would be.

“It started fairly slow, but we had more girls join along the way, so that is great. It has been good and the kids are really enjoying it.”

Enjoying and improving so much so that Lee says he is considering extending it into February.

“We have a good mix of girls, in age, experience and skills. They all help each other, so it has worked out really well.”

Also working out well, is his volunteer crew of coaches which include his wife Nancy Jordan, former Seaway District High School volleyball player Ryan Douma, current Seaway senior volleyball player Sarah Dickey (who trained in the Ottawa Mavericks program) and longtime player Jamie Thompson who is a co-organizer of an adult league that plays weekly at Seaway.

Lee says the Spikes program is not a strict regiment, and he and Nancy work out their own practise plans. “Through the Spikes program, we have insurance and we received a three hour coaching clinic. In addition, we received some balls and registration T-shirts.”

“The Spikes people are very accommodating and the program is popping up everywhere. It’s a very active program. I’ve learned a lot and am still learning things.”

“Between the school volleyball program at Seaway and our Spikes program, I am seeing improvement in the girls. We want to take it further, and that is why I am thinking of extending it.”

On Thursday night, December 13, the local program benefitted from a clinic hosted by Patrick Corriveau who is a coach in the Maverick’s Volleyball Club out of Ottawa.

Lee says the clinic was well received. “The Mavericks have some highly skilled coaches in their program, some of whom have been to Seaway in the past. It was good Thursday night and Patrick said he is willing to come again. The next time he said it would be more involved as he now knows his audience.”

“It’s gone really well. I think the girls are having fun with it. Seaway has been very cooperative and the staff at night is great.”

After this week’s session, the Spikes program will break for the holidays and return to the Seaway courts on January 20.

“The plan right now is to extend it into February,” says Lee. “Perhaps we will get more girls involved so that we can expand it.”

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By Craig Revelle

IROQUOIS-Luke Whitteker and the Whitteker Motorsports Racing Team had an amazing 2012 race season. 

To start, Luke was named Race 101 Premier Driver from his class of 2011 in North Carolina and had the opportunity to represent and drive the Race 101 asphalt Super Late Model racecar at the Southern National Speedway in Kenly, North Carolina. The first Canadian and the first dirt racer to have won the honour of Premier Driver, Luke showed the talent, focus and drive necessary to compete at this extremely high level of racing. 

Luke even managed to pull off a top 10 finish on his very first start, which was also the first top 10 finish by a Race 101 Premier Driver since the beginning of the program.

Luke and the Whitteker Motorsports team took on a very strenuous schedule racing weekly at three different tracks; Mohawk Motor Speedway on Friday nights, Brockville Motor Speedway on Saturday nights and Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday nights. 

The Whitteker Motorsports team managed to keep it all together and found success each week as Luke raced, even when traveling back and forth from North Carolina.

“As a crew member and a sponsor of Luke and the 38 team it was definitely an exciting year watching each race unfold,” said Joe Jansen, a crew member and sponsor to the Whitteker Motorsports team. “It was also a busy year with countless hours of time put into the new Bicknell car by the whole crew. I’m confident that the Whitteker Motorsports team will be a force to reckon with in the 2013 season!”

In mid-July, Luke Whitteker and the team picked up their brand new 2012 experimental Bicknell race car. Everyone was excited about this new BRP experimental car as Luke Whitteker had a large input into the design. 

Whitteker and the team at Bicknell Racing Products put in a lot of thought and hard work to bring life to this very unique car. 

Week after week, Luke continued to be successful on and off the track when he and his team participated in community events when they were not racing. 

“[Luke’s] fan base continues to grow and Luke is just getting started,” says friend and sponsor Steven Iwachniuk. “He is a young man with the passion, dedication, work ethic, professionalism, and drive to be a great champion and role model in our community.”

Luke did his far share of work during the season doing PR and sponsor hunting. 

Among his new sponsors, was a local real estate brokerage, Storm Realty Cornwall. 

In 2013, Luke Whitteker will attend numerous community events with Storm Realty Cornwall and is very excited to give back to his community that he cares about. Luke and his team will showcase their new experimental car and will be available to sign autographs on site at these community events.

This year Luke and his team also built a great partnership and friendship with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cornwall and District. Luke and The Whitteker Motorsports team will attend future events with this organization and are looking forward to making all the difference that they can.

With the end of the 2012 race season, the Whitteker Motorsports Racing Team is currently preparing for the 2013 season. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available and can be made by contacting Luke Whitteker at lukewhitt@ripnet.com.

Luke and the Whitteker Motorsports Racing Team are most appreciative of their fans, their crew, their friends and family members who helped to make 2012 a huge success. 

Luke 2012 crew included Joe Jansen, Kevin Whitteker, Travis McMillan, Dustin Gillard, Tommy McMillan, Jeff Whitteker, Sean Nixon, Jamie Whitteker, Elaine Whitteker and Kyle Dingwall.

2012 sponsors included Storm Realty Cornwall, Rust Check, Toy Storage, Jim’s Performance Plus, ET Performance, C Double J Harvesting, Parcoll Products/Napa Auto Parts, Cohen and Lord Insurance, ERD Engine Research and Development, Bicknell Racing Products and Finish Line Web Design.

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