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A8 Monday-Tuesday, April 16-17, 20121 FROM TH E FRONT 1www.kentuckynewera.com SOLDIER: Man shoots wife, self FROM PAGEAl The string of com- ments continued to grow with one user sug- gesting the domestic dis- pute had ended in afatal shooting. Others said they had family on post and pleaded for more in- formation. Following the inci- dent, the soldier started driving southeast to- ward Atlanta in a white Cadillac. According to Associated Press re- ports, he was spotted in southeastern Tennessee early Saturday morn- ing. From there, he report- edly led police on an 80- mile chase from Tennessee to Georgia at speeds upward of 120 mph. Bartow County Sher- iffClark Millsap told the Daily Tribune News in Cartersville, Ga., that his agency was alerted about the chase coming toward his jurisdiction at about 2:30a.m. Millsap said that Geor- gia police deployed spike strips to stop the soldier at about 2:47a.m. on Interstate 75near Al- latoona Lake. The sol- dier shot himself and was flown to an area hospital, the Daily Trib- une News reported. The woman's death is being investigated by Army Criminal Investi- gation Command in con- junction with civilian law enforcement agen- cies. REACH ELI PACEat 270-887-3235 or [email protected]. WorkonGreenup Lacks and Dam to begininJune LLOYD,Ky.(AP)- The U.S.Army CorpsofEngi- neers sayworktoreplace asetofaginggatesatthe Greenup Locks and Dam on the Ohio River will begin in June. The $12million project will replace the upriver set of hydraulic doors and will close down the 1,200-foot-longmain lock chamber on the Ohio River between Greenup County, Ky., and Lawrence County, Ohio, forabout 12weeks. Project manager Mike Keathley told The Inde- pendent that all river traffic will have to pass through an auxiliary chamber, which willtake more time. Keathley says crews are making prepa- rations to ease conges- tion while the main lock isunder construction. "Those activities are closely coordinated with stakeholders, especially the navigation industries because they rely so heavily on this project, and the commodities that are shipping through this Greenup Locks and Dam are soimportant notjust to the regional economy, but on a national level," he said. The newspaper reports that the Greenup Locks and Dam is one of the country's 10 busiest in- land navigation locks - 56.4million tons of com- modities moved through thelockin2010. Lockmaster Eric Dolly says it usually takes about an hour for a tow- boat and its barges to pass through the main lock. He says that time could be doubled or tripled while the auxil- iary lockisused. The lock system was constructed in 1959and has already outlasted its lifeexpectancy,according to Corps officials. In re- cent years, the main lock has been closed a num- ber of times for unex- pectedandcostlyrepairs. MONICA K. SMITH I KENTUCKY NEW ERA Chris Peterson, Hopkinsville Headhunters coach, watches asthe Headhunters meet the North Carolina rugby team, Triad, in aserum during a playoff game Saturday at Ruff Park. HEADHUNTERS: Hopkinsville rugby team competes in firstplayoff game in dud history FROM PAGEAl Pregame Though players normally arrive at the pitch an hour before the game,jor this game, they came a little earlier. Jason Petrous, team captain said he watches rugby videos to start thinking of the game. Christopher Peterson, team coach, said he didn't sleep well the night before. Mont- gomery said he hasn't been sleeping well the past few days. Team members put on their boots, socks, shorts and ateio players are taped. Then they start warm-ups and stretching exercises be- fore running drills. The method each player uses toprepare for the game is different. Some listen to music while others talk about the upcoming contest. "Thirty minutes before the joking stops, " said Petrous, who has played with the Head- hunters for the past two years. "Wefocus on the game:" Having heart After a few years, the team began to dwin- dle in numbers. Deployments at Fort Camp- bell drew team members away months to a yearatatime. "Weforfeited an entire season," said Mont- gomery,"but weplayed every game." Even in those years, Montgomery said the Headhunters showed heart. Despite not hav- ing the required numbers to playa game, the teamwouldtraveltocompete,forfeitthegame then borrow afewplayers from the opposing team and have a game anyway. By2006though, the team no longer existed. With a local team gone, Montgomery found himself playing for teams in Nashville, Tenn., andatFortCampbell.Itwasthroughplayingfor these teams that Montgomery metPeterson. "I gottired of traveling and asked Chris if he wanted to get a team started," Mont- gomery said. Through word-of-mouth, players began to join and the team's membership grew. This time the team was comprised of teammates from Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville and as far away as Bowling Green. "The team we have now is like a brother- hood," Montgomery said. "Everyone isjust to- gether. If someone calls and says they need something, you can't be the first there, you know what Imean?" Petrous believes that bybecoming involved in each other's families, the teammates be- come a brotherhood which gives them heart onthe field. "We are brothers on and off the field," Petrous said. "If you're a family off the field then you'll bleed for each other on the field." Game time As the whistle sounds the beginning of the game, fans find viewing space around the pitch. Many leave their comfortable chairs so they can move with the team up and down the field. Thefirst score of the game, called a try and toorthftoe points, comes in thefirst four min- utes. The wind prevents a two-point conver- sion but the Headhunters have struck thetirst blow. In another five minutes they hit again. It isn't until the 14-minute mark that Triad makes their first try. The Headhunters retaliate at minute 22. First 10hits Amember oftheteamforthepastsixyears, Peterson, 33,has been acting as a coach and player. This year was his first year acting as onlyacoach. "It has been difficult, it's a lot more work than I anticipated," said Peterson, who has been playing rugby for 25years. "It's hard to keep 20guys focused at practice and it's hard watching them play and Ican't." Montgomery said Peterson acting inthe ca- pacityofacoachisalargepersonal stepback, but shows how much the members of the team are willing to give. "He's the best player I've played with," Montgomery said. "But as a coach he has brought ustowhere weare now.Wewereun- organized." BeforePeterson, the team waspeer-coached andwithout focus,saidMontgomery.WithPe- terson acting as coach, the team dynamic MONICA K. SMITH I KENTUCKY NEW ERA (Above) John Austin Chapman makes a run during the rugby game against North Carolina'sTriad team. (Right) The Hopkinsville Headhunters rugby team finishes each game by doing acheer in thanks to their fans. shifted - and for the better, he said. In addi- tion to increased fitness, Peterson records each game and critiques the team on their plays. The following practice allows Peterson to work with players to improve on their weaknesses. Montgomery believes the team's success has everything to do with its cohesiveness rather than the quality of their opponents. "The competition has been good, better than ever," he said. "But we have been that much better." The team has a method of getting into the psyche of its opponents - a saying it incor- porates into its conversations and encourage- ments: First 10hits. Players give everything they have in the first 10hits of the game. By giving their all early in the game, the Head- hunters hope to educate their opponents. The lesson? They are leaving everything on the field. A loss for the team will not come be- cause of weakness in will. ''After10hits, he's goingtoquestion what he wants to do," Montgomery said. "Webring it every time. The score looks like it's easy.But ithasn't been easy." Thesecond half At the half, the score is 22-10infavor of the Headhunters. During the break, Peterson tells his players toprepare for Triad to hit hard in the second half. This is a playoff game. Everyone is here to win. Peterson's prediction is verified soon after the second half begins. After an early score by the Headhunters, Triad finds their strength scoring twice in thefirst 23 minutes of the sec- ond half and bringing the score to 27-22. The point gap was becoming smaller. This game wasn't going to be a quick win. Eattheirfood, drink their beer During arecent game,Montgomery washit inthefaceandlostatooth.Thenervewasex- posed and the pain was intense. However, Montgomery said those things happen and players learn to leave any issues when the gameends.Thehometeam usually provides a socialwherebothteamsandtheir fansjointo- gether foracelebration. "I went to the social afterward and me and the guy (who knocked out my tooth) laughed about it," Montgomery said. "Wetalked and hadablast.Thesocialsarejustthat- social." Both Peterson and Montgomery agree the mentality is different in rugby from other sports. The physical intensity of the sport makes iteasytoassume players arejust asag- gressive off the field as on, but Montgomery says that type of thinking is ''American.'' "TheBritish royalty usedtoplayitandthey likened ittowar,"Montgomery said."Youap- preciate what you did for your team and you appreciate what they didfortheir team. There is more respect. Either way you get to eat their foodand drink their beer." This aspect was most reflected atthe end of the game Saturday. Theend As tensions rise on thefield, tempers began tojly. Players are held backfrom one another as the desire to win brings them to each other's throats. Withjust minutes left in the game, the Head- hunters scoreagain to bring the score to 35-22 The Headhunters win theirfirst playoff game in club history and qualify for the semifinals in Little Rock. New pursuits The Headhunters reveled briefly in their victory and then quickly strode to the center ofthefieldtocommendplayersfromTriadon agamewellfought. "Most teams just play each other and that's it,"Petroussaid."Buthereweleaveitonthe field. I don't know any other sport that does that." The Triad team was staying at the Holiday Inn, where the Hopkinsville Headhunters havetheir post-game social.TheHeadhunters werequicktoencourage themtojointhemfor foodand drink. Triad accepted. Spirits were high in the Headhunters camp as they removed their battle gear. This time laughter hung in the air more freely than it did just 80minutes before. The Headhunters had won and were advancing. Their new tar- getlayinLittleRock. "I have full confidence in my team," said Petrous while limping toward the edge of the field."I'mveryconfident inthewaythisteam plays." And in the background Montgomery could beheard singing, "Weare the champions, my friends." REACH MONICA K. SMITH at 270-887-3243 or [email protected].
