The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 13 No. 16 - January 30, 2013

sports

Center hosts Anna Maria Island Sports Awards

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

scott dell | submitted
Athletic Director Troy Shonk congratulates Overall
Female Athlete of the Year Lexi Braxton.

The Anna Maria Island Community Center hosted the first Anna Maria Island Sports Awards night on Saturday. The event was the Center’s version of ESPN’s E.S.P.Y Awards. The awards were designed to honor the male and female ddult athletes who participate at the Center.

A host committee planned hard and laid the foundation for a fun new tradition for the annual event. Members of the host committee were Island D.J. Chris Grumley, Chrissy & Chuck McCracken, Matt Ray, Troy Shonk, Nate and Amy Talucci, Dawn Wash and Lindsey Weaver.

The event was a big hit and helped raise money for the sports scholarship fund at the Center. Lee Roy Selmon’s catered the food for the event, and Wash Family Construction and Slim’s Place sponsored the bar. Specific awards were sponsored by Emerson’s Studio/Store and Miller Electric to honor athletes. Nate and Amy Talucci and Don Meilner & Son Construction personally made every wooden award that was given out. To determine the winners, nominees were voted on by the people who attend the event.

The 2012 awards go to:

Ace (Best Serve) Volleyball – Mackenzie Kosfeld
Dirty Digs Volleyball – Mark Pennell
Most Sponsorships – Tyler’s Ice Cream
Best Cheerleader – Erin Heckler
Sharp Shooter Basketball – Matt Ray
Lunch Bucket (All-around basketball player) – Chuck McCracken
Not In My House (Soccer defender) – Scott Rudacille
Golden Boot (Soccer offense) – Aaron Parkin
Batman & Robin (Dynamic Duo) – Jonathan & Ryan Moss
Mr. Touchdown – Eric Gledhill
Shutdown Defender (football) – Pat Calvary
Mr. Hustle – Jesse Brisson
Bonnie & Clyde (husband and wife combo) – Nate and Amy Talucci
Best Team (of all the championship teams) – Duffy’s Tavern Raiders (football)
Captain Morgan (team captains) – Nate Talucci
Rookie of the Year – Chris Gillum
Lucky Charm (always seems to be on the championship team) – Amy Talucci
Biggest Upset of the Year - #8 seed Island Pest Control defeated undefeated team in soccer
Lifetime Achievement – Lyn Clarke (Forever Young)
Most Championships by an Athlete – Rich Bell
Basketball Sportsmanship – Brandon Kern
Football Sportsmanship – Chrissy McCracken
Soccer Sportsmanship – Ed Moss
Volleyball Sportsmanship – Laura Alderson
Wash Family Construction Female Soccer MVP – Lindsey Weaver
Emerson’s Studio Volleyball female MVP – MacKenzie Kosfeld
Wash Family Construction Basketball Female MVP – Serena Samuels
Don Meilner & Son Construction Football Female MVP – Dina DeJesus
Wash Family Construction Male Soccer MVP – Josh Sato
Emerson’s Studio Volleyball Male MVP – Mike Rigo
Miller Electric Male Basketball MVP – Antwuan Jackson
Don Meilner & Son Construction Male Football MVP – Eric Gledhill
Breakthrough Athlete – Matt Ray
Overall Female Athlete of the Year – Lexi Braxton
Overall Male Athlete of the Year – Jonathan Moss

Adult co-ed Flag Football Results

Southern Greens Seahawks 42
BY Construction Bears  31

Lobstahs Lions  40
Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings  34

Beach to Bay Construction Ravens  27
Agnelli Pools & Spa Giants  21

The Island Sun Bills  40
Slim’s Place Patriots 26

Duffy’s Tavern Raiders  54
Harrington House Bucs  24

Florida Discount Signs Colts  27
Duncan Real Estate Cardinals  20

Adult co-ed Flag Football Schedule

Jan. 30, Wednesday, 7 p.m., Florida Discount Signs Colts vs. BY Construction Bears
Jan. 30, Wednesday, 8 p.m., Southern Greens Seahawks vs. Agnelli Pools & Spa Giants
Jan. 30, Wednesday, 9 p.m., Harrington House Bucs vs. Lobstahs Lions
Jan. 31, Thursday, 6 p.m., Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings vs. Slim’s Place Patriots
Jan. 31, Thursday, 7 p.m., Beach to Bay Construction Ravens vs. Waterfront restaurant Dolphins
Jan. 31, Thursday, 8 p.m., Duncan Real Estate Cardinals vs. The Island Sun Bills
Jan. 31, Thursday, 9 p.m., Duffy’s Tavern Raiders vs. Sato Real Estate Browns

14–17-Year-Olds Flag Football Results

Integrity Sound Falcons  37
Beach to Bay Construction Browns  0

Eat Here Packers  34
Walter & Associates Bears 13

14–17-Year-Olds Flag Football schedule

Feb. 2, Saturday, 12 p.m., Walter & Associates Bears vs. Eat Here Packers
Feb. 2, Saturday, 1 p.m., Integrity Sound Falcons vs. Beach to Bay Construction Browns
Feb. 2, Saturday, 2 p.m., Lobstahs Colts vs. West Coast Surf Shop Bucs
Feb. 4, Monday, 8 p.m., Beach to Bay Construction Browns vs. Lobstahs Colts
Feb. 5, Tuesday, 7 p.m., Eat Here Packers vs. Integrity Sound Falcons
Feb. 5, Tuesday, 8 p.m., West Coast Surf Shop Bucs vs. Walter & Associates Bears

11–13-Year-Olds Flag Football Results

Holy Cow Ice Cream Cardinals  41
Mr. Bones Colts  0

11–13-Year-Olds Flag Football schedule

Feb. 1, Friday, 8 p.m., Lobstahs Bucs vs. Walter & Associates Bears
Feb. 2, Saturday, 9 a.m., Beach Bums Ravens vs. Ross Built Construction Dolphins
Feb. 2, Saturday, 10 a.m., Mr. Bones Colts vs. Holy Cow Ice Cream Cardinals
Feb. 2, Saturday, 11 a.m., Edgewater Realty Jaguars vs. Lobstahs Bucs
Feb. 4, Monday, 6 p.m., Ross Built Construction Dolphins vs. Edgewater Realty Jaguars
Feb. 4, Monday, 7 p.m., Holy Cow Ice Cream Cardinals vs. Beach Bums Ravens

8–10-Year-Olds Flag Football Results

Lobstahs Browns  7
LPAC Cardinals  18

Coastal Orthopedics Bears  12
Manatee Cancer Center Dolphins  6

Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings  13
Beach Bistro Bucs  0

Miller Electric Chargers  20
Air & Energy Jets 14

8–10-Year-Olds Flag Football schedule:

Jan. 30, Wednesday, 6 p.m., Lobstahs Browns vs. Manatee Cancer Center Dolphins
Feb. 1, Friday, 6 p.m., Beach Bistro Bucs vs. Miller Electric Chargers
Feb. 1, Friday, 7 p.m., Air & Energy Jets vs. Coastal Orthopedics Bears
Feb. 5, Tuesday, 6 p.m., LPAC Cardinals vs. Coastal Orthopedics Bears

5–7-Year-Olds Flag Football Schedule

Feb. 1, Friday, 6 p.m. – Lobstahs Broncos vs. Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings

Adult co-ed Volleyball Results

Duncan Real Estate  25
Lobstah’s  16
(First game of best 2 out of 3)

Duncan Real Estate  25
Lobstah’s  20
(Second game of best 2 out of 3)

Tyler’s Ice Cream  25
Island Real Estate  14
(First game of best 2 out of 3)

Tyler’s Ice Cream 25
Island Real Estate  19
(Second game of best 2 out of 3)

Duncan Real Estate  25
Island Real Estate  20
(First game of best 2 out of 3)

Duncan Real Estate  25
Island Real Estate  22
(Second game of best 2 out of 3)

Adult co-ed Volleyball schedule

Jan. 29, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Island Real Estate ,vs. Lobstah’s
Jan. 29, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Duncan Real Estate vs. Tyler’s Ice Cream
Jan. 29, Tuesday, 8:30 p.m., Lobstah’s vs. Tyler’s Ice Cream

 

A weekend of transformation in Texas

Just pinch me, again. You’ve heard me say this before. Here it comes again. We moved here, like so many people do, to chill. But that is not what the universe had in mind. Last weekend, I didn’t have a column because I was honored to be a speaker in the New Year, New You Healthfest. Its website called me one of the most influential speakers/authors and athletes. I don’t know. It’s always better when others say those things.

Here’s part of what I wrote and what was published in the largest vegan magazine in the US. I was also asked to be the reporter for the event.

If you do a Happy Cow search of Marshall, Texas, you will get zero listings. (Happy Cow is a listing of all vegan restaurants in the US.) This didn’t stop Ed and Mandy Smith from Get Healthy Marshall, a non-profit that offers many food and exercise programs throughout the year to inspire residents of Marshall and beyond to take control of their health. The Get Healthy Marshall website encourages readers to reduce their risk of disease while shedding pounds and and feeling great.

One of the many programs Get Healthy Marshall offers is New Year, New You Healthfest. Three hundred twenty-four people from 26 states attended the second year for this action-packed weekend, Jan. 11-13.

Dozens of attendees revealed breathtaking testimonials of their journeys switching to a plant-based diet. Ed Smith, the mayor of Marshall, Texas, and his wife, Amanda, began their story of reversing Ed’s prostate cancer on a vegan diet. While advertising often says, “Results are not typical,” more people are finding that a plant-based diet accomplishes many astounding, typical improvements. Testimonials included 100-pound-plus weight losses, and reversals of many diseases and illnesses.

New Year New You was the brainchild of the Smiths. They were astounded that a few dietary changes reversed disease when traditional medicine didn’t, the Smiths set out last year to make their town of Marshall, population 27,000, and described as “in the middle of the stroke-belt,” as vegan-friendly as possible.

The New Year New You website described the weekend of transformation weekend as “an opportunity to learn about the endless benefits of a healthful, compassionate and sustainable plant-based lifestyle.

Gain inspiration from some of the world’s most influential and sought after speakers, athletes, and best-selling authors.”

The list included T. Colin Campbell, author of "The China Study;" Dr. Michael Greger, the force behind the science-based, entertaining, NutritionFacts.org; Julieanna Hever RD, author of "The Plant Based Dietitian;" Dr. Milton Mills, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine board member; Chef AJ, author of "Unprocessed;" Victoria Moran, author of "Mainstreet Vegan;" Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary; John Pierre, Hollywood fitness guru; Robert Cheeke, author of "Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness;" Chef Del Sroufe, author of "Forks Over Knives-The Cookbook;" Kerrie Saunders PhD, author of' "The Vegan Diet as Chronic Disease Prevention;" and Ellen Jaffe Jones, author of "Eat Vegan on $4 A Day."

A few quotes:

T. Colin Campbell, “I’ve heard so many of these kinds of testimonials. It’s still a struggle to convince people in authority to take plant-based science seriously.

Dr. Michael Greger, “It’s not every day T. Colin Campbell is your warm-up act. I read every nutrition journal in the world so you don’t have to.”

Victoria Moran, “Treat foods like drugs. Stop food addictions cold Tofurky.”

Julianna Hever, “Bulkify your diet. Drink more water. Eat more fiber.”

Ed Smith said, “Our goal was to try to make a meaningful change in our community and improve overall health. We didn’t know how well this would go over in the heart of cattle country. We’ve seen phenomenal results in reversing diabetes and getting off all medications.”

Mandy Smith said she hadn’t slept for days. “I’ll have time to do that after I’m dead,” she said with her usual smile. This couple is on a serious mission. Attendees said, “We need a Marshall in our town.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every mayor in the US did this?”

And on top of all that, I was asked to be a celebrity runner in a 5K race, a first for the town. Only 40 braved the snow flurries and lightening 15 minutes before race time. First in my age group, making that my 42nd age group placement since 2006. Go plants!

You can follow Island resident Ellen Jaffe Jones on her Facebook page and keep up with her just released book:,"Eat Vegan on $4 a Day," or her website: www.vegcoach.com. She is also a nationally certified personal trainer and running coach. For training in a gym or private hire, contact Ellen at ejones@vegcoach.com or 941-704-1025.


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