Last weekend, Eastside High swimmers Drew Ellwanger and Nijyl Chavis each competed during the state high school championship at Westminster in Atlanta, placing 35th overall out of 47 teams.
Ellwanger, a junior, won the B finals with a time of 1:00.47 in the breaststroke finals, good for seventh overall in state.
"I was disappointed in my time," admitted Ellwanger, who ended ninth overall in all state classifications. "My season goal was to achieve an All-American time standard of 59.55 seconds."
Chavis, a junior, finished with a personal best mark of 1:05.2 in the 100-meter breaststroke, good for 25th overall in state.
Both Ellwanger and Chavis are already looking forward to the 2009 high school season. They return to pool training for the upcoming USA meets this spring.
"My goal is to place in the top three at the northern divisional championship for the 100-yard breaststroke in March," said Ellwanger.
BASKETBALL
The Eastside High basketball program is currently undergoing a search for all former boys and girls players, including head coaches, assistant coaches, managers, cheerleaders and mascots, to compete in the fall 2008 Alumni Basketball Game.
For further information regarding this special event to kickoff the 2008-09 Eastside basketball season, contact Eastside coach Rochone Dilligard at (770) 784-2920 or send e-mail to Dilligard.rochone@newton.k12.ga.us.
KARATE
A Kick-a-thon for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is being held Saturday at all three local Jim Fuller U.M.A.S. Karate locations in the Conyers, Covington and Lithonia area.
The volunteer for this event is Mr. Jim Fuller, who encourages all students and the public to participate in this unique opportunity.
All U.M.A.S. Karate students will be collecting donations for the event. In addition, Fuller will be donating a portion of all sales and make a donation for each new student who joins the school that day.
By participating in or attending the event, individuals will help raise funds for children in the world who are stricken with diseases like cancer, AIDS and Sick Cell Anemia. These funds will help St. Jude in its ongoing fight against childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children. Founded by the late entertainer, Danny Thomas, and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world.
No family ever pays for treatments that are not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALCS, it's fundraising organization, through events such as the U.M.A.S. Karate's annual kick-a-thon.
For additional information, call Jim Fuller at (770) 385-8106 or visit the Web site at www.umaskarate.com or www.stjude.org.
NEWTON RECREATION
The Newton County Recreation Commission is now offering the opportunity to advertise businesses using a 4 feet by 8 feet ball field fence sign to be located at the Turner Lake Complex, City Pond Complex and/or Stone Road Complex.
It is a unique chance to show support of the local teams, as well as reach visiting families using such a low cost advertising vehicle. This comes at a wonderful time seeing that the complex is hosting the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series this summer.
The sign, which is white vinyl reinforced with nylon, includes metal grommets in the hem. The cost per sign is $250 for the first year and will be displayed throughout the duration of the baseball/softball season.
Those wishing to purchase the signs may have up to four lines of words. Use of the logo costs an additional $50 ($300 per sign). If one advertised last year and wishes to renew, the price is $200 and $200 for each successive year thereafter.
The Recreation Department currently has more than 200 teams - both youth and adult - that participate in the program. It continues to draw tournaments from outside the area, as the facility is nationally recognized for its excellent conditions.
For further information, contact Carol Rooks (special events/marketing) at the Newton County Recreation Commission at (770) 786-4373 or send e-mail to carolfrooks@newtonrecreation.com.
