P C S A T H L E T I C S SUMMER 2015 1 Instead of writing an original piece I thought I would share an article that shows what playing the right way and for the right reasons can look like. Showing humility while celebrating success is often a struggle among Christian athletes of all ages. There is no doubt the culture we live in and the athletes we see on TV definitely play a large part in this. I remember my high school days trying to mimic the antics of my favorite player at the time, Allen Iverson. Lets just say corn rows were not a good fit for me. This article was written by Bethany Jenkins and taken from The Gospel Coalition. You can find the article online here: http:// www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/ stephen-curry-and-the-culture-of-self- trust. In the last 70 years, we’ve changed how we celebrate victory, David Brooks argues in his new book, The Road to Character. While listening to a radio broadcast from August 15, 1945, the day after V-J Day, Brooks noticed how the host Bing Crosby described the program’s tone: “Today, though, our deep-down feeling is one of humility.” One guest, recalls Brooks, quoted a war correspondent, saying, “We did not win [the war] because destiny created us better than all other people. I hope that in victory we are more grateful than proud.” When the program ended, Brooks turned on his TV to watch a football game just in time to see a wide receiver catch a short pass before he got tackled. Immediately, the defensive lineman did a “self-puffing victory dance” to celebrate his accomplishment. “It occurred to me,” Brooks reflects, “that I had just watched more self-celebration after a two-yard gain than I had heard after the United States won World War II.” He then zooms out to comment on this significant cultural shift: It did occur to me that there was perhaps a strain of humility that was more common then than now, that there was a moral ecology, stretching back centuries but less prominent now, encouraging people to be more skeptical of their desires, more aware of their own weaknesses, more intent on combatting the flaws in their own natures and turning weakness into strength. In contrast with our “modest” tone of former years, our current era embraces “the gospel of self-trust,” Brooks says. Citing modern-day “prophets” Brooks says that this gospel tells us to trust ourselves, to follow our passions, and to embrace our destinies. …continued on page 2 PLAY THE RIGHT WAY, PLAY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” - Colossians 3:17 IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES * 8/17 - 1st Day of Upper School athletics, Athletic packets due * 8/27 - US Field Hockey Play Day * 9/1 - 1st Day of Middle School athletics, MS athletic packets due, * 9/1 - Fall Sports Parents/Coaches meeting - 5:30 before BTS picnic * 10/9-10/10 - Homecoming weekend * 11/16 - Fall Sports Awards Banquet SCHEDULES We encourage all of our athletes and parents to log onto schedulestar.com Create an account and sign up for instant updates that can be sent as a text or an e-mail - this is the best way to get up to the SECOND schedule changes! Summer 2015 Verse: 1 Cor. 3:21-23 FIND US ONLINE! WEB: www.plumsteadchristianschool.org/ athletics FACEBOOK: PCS ATHLETICS TWITTER: @athleticspcs INSTAGRAM: @pcsathletics SNAP CHAT: Coming Soon! From the Athletic Director: 1 Cor. 3:21: “Therefore let no man glory in men.For all things are Your’s.” (KJ)
Transcript
P C S A T H L E T I C S
SUMMER 2015 " 1
Instead of writing an original piece I thought I would share an article that shows what playing the right way and for the right reasons can look like. Showing humility while celebrating success is often a struggle among Christian athletes of all ages. There is no doubt the culture we live in and the athletes we see on TV definitely play a large part in this. I remember my high school days trying to mimic the antics of my favorite player at the time, Allen Iverson. Lets just say corn rows were not a good fit for me. This article was written by Bethany Jenkins and taken from The Gospel Coalition. You can find the article online here: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/stephen-curry-and-the-culture-of-self-trust.
In the last 70 years, we’ve changed how we celebrate victory, David Brooks argues in his new book, The Road to Character. While listening to a radio broadcast from August 15, 1945, the day after V-J Day, Brooks noticed how the host Bing Crosby described the program’s tone: “Today, though, our deep-down feeling is one of humility.” One guest, recalls Brooks, quoted a war correspondent, saying, “We did not win [the war] because destiny created us better than all other people. I hope that in victory we are more grateful than proud.”
When the program ended, Brooks turned on his TV to watch a football game just in time to see a wide receiver catch a short pass before he got tackled. Immediately, the defensive lineman did a “self-puffing victory dance” to celebrate his accomplishment. “It occurred to me,” Brooks reflects, “that I had just watched more self-celebration after a two-yard gain than I had heard after the United States won World War II.” He then zooms out to comment on this significant cultural shift:
It did occur to me that there was perhaps a strain of humility that was more common then than now, that there was a moral ecology, stretching back centuries but less prominent now, encouraging people to be more skeptical of their desires, more aware of their own weaknesses, more intent on combatting the flaws in their own natures and turning weakness into strength.
In contrast with our “modest” tone of former years, our current era embraces “the gospel of self-trust,” Brooks says. Citing modern-day “prophets” Brooks says that this gospel tells us to trust ourselves, to follow our passions, and to embrace our destinies.…continued on page 2
PLAY THE RIGHT WAY, PLAY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him” - Colossians 3:17
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
* 8/17 - 1st Day of Upper School athletics, Athletic packets due
* 8/27 - US Field Hockey Play Day* 9/1 - 1st Day of Middle School athletics,
MS athletic packets due, * 9/1 - Fall Sports Parents/Coaches
meeting - 5:30 before BTS picnic* 10/9-10/10 - Homecoming weekend* 11/16 - Fall Sports Awards Banquet
SCHEDULESWe encourage all of our athletes and parents to log onto schedulestar.com
Create an account and sign up for instant updates that can be sent as a text or an e-mail - this is the best way to get up to the SECOND schedule changes!
Most Valuable Player AwardThen enters basketball player Stephen Curry of
the Golden State Warriors. Last week, just two weeks after the publication of Brooks’s book, Curry was named Kia Motors 2014—2015 NBA Most Valuable Player. He opened his acceptance speech this way:
This is a tremendous honor. First and foremost, I have to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing me with the talents to play this game, with the family to support me, day in and day out. I am his humble servant right now, and I can’t say it enough how important my faith is to how I play the game and who I am. I’m just blessed, and I’m just thankful for where I am.For the next 10 minutes, often with tears, Curry
thanked his family and community who made his success possible—his mom and dad, his wife, his siblings, his coaches, and the administration and staff, even the equipment manager, of the Golden State Warriors. He then continued:
I want to use this opportunity to shed light on who I am and what drives me to play the way that I do. I do a little sign on the court every time I make a shot or make a good pass. I pound my chest and point to the sky that symbolizes that I have a heart for God. It is something that my mom and I came up with in college, and I do it every time I step on the floor as a reminder of who I’m playing for. People should know who I represent and why I am who I am and that’s because of my Lord and Savior. I can’t say that enough.Curry isn’t perfect, and he knows it. Just like
the rest of us, he’s flawed. That’s why he points beyond himself to the true hero—not himself, but God.Inadequacy of Self-Trust
Tim Keller suggests that four things characterize the natural state of the human ego—emptiness, pain, busyness, and fragility. We’re riddled with prideful illusions that self-trust and self-esteem are rational responses to our greatness. We believe we can find meaning in life without God and think our accomplishments can produce satisfaction and joy.
But we know these are lies, because when we try to quiet our deep feelings of inadequacy with personal achievement, failure causes our self-worth to plummet, and shallow notions of success leave us dissatisfied. One of my friends, for example, graduated from Harvard University and Yale Law School, received a Marshall Scholarship for study at Oxford, and secured a Supreme Court clerkship—all before he turned 25. I’ve achieved 99 percent of everything I’ve ever wanted in life, he recalls thinking. Do I really think getting that additional 1 percent will make me happy?Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul testifies about how the gospel has transformed his self-identity (1 Cor. 3:21—4:7). He doesn’t care what other people think about him; he doesn’t even care what he thinks about himself. What’s his secret? Self-forgetfulness, Keller says:
The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself; it is thinking of myself less. . . . I stop connecting every experience, every conversation with myself. In fact, I stop thinking about myself. The freedom of self-forgetfulness. The blessed rest that only self-forgetfulness brings.
The gospel transforms our notion of self-worth and identity because it invites us to embrace a sense of meaning and purpose that’s bigger than ourselves. In Christ, we we’re not demoralized by failure or overly impressed by narrow ideas of success, like football tackles or MVP awards or prestigious scholarships and degrees.
How do we embrace this freedom? By looking to the only achievement that matters—not what we’ve done for ourselves, but what Christ has done for us (Mk. 1:11, Rom. 8:1). Our work no longer becomes about “self-puffing” celebrations, but about the faithfulness and joy of doing good work, loving others, and glorifying God. Only with the indwelling of the Spirit can we find that deep humility that Brooks laments we’ve lost in modern times—that deep humility that says, when we’ve done everything commanded, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Lk. 17:10). As we embark on this next season, let us compete, win, cheer, and celebrate with humility and the right attitude and mindset!
S E Q U O I A C L U B
SUMMER 2015 " 3
WHAT’S NEW?
Gymnasium The new gym is almost complete and we expect to be playing basketball in it this coming winter season!
Tennis CourtsThe tennis courts are being repaired
and resurfaced and will be ready
to go for girls Tennis this fall!
If you would like to volunteer to be on our PCS Athletics Boosters Committee please contact the athletic department - [email protected]. Responsibilities would be helping out for one of the following during only one sports season: Concessions, Homecoming (pep rally, senior recognition), Awards Banquet.
ATHLETIC PACKETAthletic packets, including a completed sports physical
physical are due August 17. Please stop in the office during business hours (M-Thurs 9am-3pm) this summer if you have not already received one!
We ask that you follow the instructions included in the packet and turn all materials in at once in the envelopes provided, this will help us better keep track of all forms, paperwork, and payments needed for your student to participate in MS and US athletics!
Physicals must be completed on or after June 1st 2015, and the PIAA forms must be filled out completely and signed by a physician. Students may not practice or participate without it!
PICTURES/VIDEOS NEEDED!We would love to have more
pictures, highlight videos of our athletes for social media, website, season highlight videos, etc. If you would like to share your pictures/videos of our athletes playing, practicing, or just having fun at a team outing, please send them to [email protected]
Wrestling? There is a growing interest to
bring wrestling back to Plumstead Christian! If you are a student interested in participating or an adult who would be able to coach or know of someone interested and qualified please contact us!
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACKFor the last two years, in order
to rebuild our track and field program, we have offered track and field to our middle school athletes as a club sport. Coming in the spring of 2016 we plan on launching our inaugural Middle School track and field team! If you or anyone you know is interested and qualified to help coach please contact us!
NEW OR RETURNING!
* Field Hockey - Jessie Brittingham (H), Lauren VanPelt (A)
* Soccer - Jim Zeldenrust (VH), Steve Haines (VA), Max Fritsche (JVH), Wes Brown (MSH)
* Girls Tennis - Jessica Jackson (VH)
FALL and FUTURE COACHING NEEDS
* Field Hockey (F) - MS Head Coach* Soccer (F) - MS Boys Assistant * Wrestling (W) - Varsity Head Coach * Basketball (W)- MS Boys Head Coach , MS
Boys Assistant * Track (S) - Varsity Girls, MS Girls, MS Boys * Tennis (S) - Boys Head Coach
P C S A T H L E T I C S
Summer 2015 6
STATE AND LEAGUE RECOGNITIONS
(In order form left to right) BLAIR HEWITT: 1st Team BAL
(Softball)SHAYLEE MCROBERTS: 1st Team
BAL (Softball)KYLE SEELIG: NATIONAL ALL
AMERICAN (Tennis)BROCK HEWITT: 1st Team BAL
(Baseball)SOPHIE KENT: 1st Team BAL
(Softball)ANNA ROBINSON: 1st Team
BAL (SoftbalL)
2015 PCS AWARDS
PCS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR - Andrew Johnson, Shaylee McRoberts, Justin
Brautigam
PCS CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN ATHLETICS
Sophie Kent, Ali Kent
S E Q U O I A C L U B
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SPRING SPORTS WRAPUP
STATE CHAMP!Congratulations to Kyle Seelig on winning the A Singles
State Tennis Championship!
BAL Singles Champ District 1 A Champ
State A ChampNational All-American Selection
Kyle will be attending and playing tennis for Ohio State University next year
(Pictured Below - Kyle and his family at the State Capitol in Harrisburg with state senator Stewart Greenleaf)
P C S A T H L E T I C S
SUMMER 2015 8
NEW SCHOOL TRACK RECORDS!
Boys 4 X 100m: 46.94 - N. Klinger (Jr.), B. Provan (So.), R. Harwick (Jr.), S. Haines (So.)
Girls 4 X 100m: 53.57 - (P. Hawthorne (Jr.), H. Bruce (Jr.) E. Gresham (So.), R. Thurston (Sr.)
Boys 4 X 200: 1:42.35 - B. Provan (So.), S Harwick (Fr.), P. Cho (Jr.), N. Klinger (Jr.)
Boys 100m: 11.37 - Noah KlingerBoys Triple Jump: 29-07.5 - Peter Cho
S E Q U O I A C L U B
Summer 2015 " 9
Varsity Girls Softball
Overall Record: 5-11
Team AwardsTeam MVP: Ali Kent (Sr.)Coaches Award: Anna Robinson (Jr.)Most Improved: Sarah LaBouliere (Sr.)
BAL Awards 1st Team - Sophie Kent (Sr.), Shaylee McRoberts (Sr.), Anna Robinson (Jr.), Blair Hewitt (Sr.)2nd Team - Ali Kent (Sr.)Honorable Mention - Sarah LaBouliere (Sr.)
Coaches: Wes Brown (Head), Ryan Sheffer, Dana Schnitzel (Assistants)
Middle School Girls Softball
Overall Record: 6-7-1Leadership Awards: Olivia Mott (7th)Coaches Award: Anna Hamilton (7th)Christian Character: Chloe Kent (8th)
Most Improved: Julia Caracappa (7th), Julianna Winget (6th)Coaches: Jennifer Mott (Head) Cindy Caracappa (Assistant)
P C S A T H L E T I C S
Summer 2015 10
Varsity Boys Baseball
Overall Record: 4-9-1
Team AwardsLeadership: Ben Read (8th)Christian Character: Josh
Pritchard (8th)Most Improved: Billy Jacobs
(7th)Coaches Award: Colby Seelig
(6th)Coaches: Bill Weaver (Head) Val
Eubanks (Assistant)
Overall Record: 6-11
Team AwardsTeam MVP: Brock Hewitt (So.)Christian Character: Brendan Meyer (Fr.)Most Improved: Christian Roberts (So.)
BAL Awards1st Team - Brock Hewitt (So.)2nd Team - Cam Kantner (Jr. )Honorable Mention - Christian Robers (So.)Coaches: Dan Kantner (Head), Jon
Delgado (Assistant)
Middle School Boys Baseball
S E Q U O I A C L U B
SUMMER 2015 " 11
Varsity Boys Tennis
Team Awards
MVP: Kyle Seelig (Sr.)Coaches Award: Jimmy McGuinness
(Sr.)Most Improved: Chris Maxell (Jr.)
Coaches: Dylan Garven (Head) Dr. Cam Garven (Assistant)
Recognitions: National All-American: Kyle Seelig (Sr.)
Most Improved: John Kalajian (So.), Ruth Thurston (Sr.)Coaches: Max Fritsche (Head) Christina Kopka (Assistant)
P C S A T H L E T I C S
SUMMER 2015 12
HOW CAN YOU HELP PCS ATHLETICS?Plumstead Christian School is a community and depends on the help and
support of all of its members. We appreciate all of the sacrifice, time, and efforts our parents, players, and coaches put into our programs so that we can offer these great opportunities to our students. Our first seasonal awards banquet demonstrated how wonderful it is to be a part of this amazing community and the Christian fellowship and friendships that are built here at PCS. We depend on one another to help achieve our goals and make things run smoothly. Here are some ways you as a Plumstead parent, student, or just supporter of the school, can help all of our athletic programs
out:
* Coach or assistant coach - We are always looking for extra help coaching, whether it be paid or volunteer
* Volunteering to serve at concessions or admissions - the money raised goes right back into our program!
* Helping clean up after games (or don’t make a mess) - this does not fall under janitorial duty and is the responsibility of our coaches and athletic department to make sure everything is cleaned up
* Volunteering to drive to games - We had some great parents who have helped so far this year, and it is a huge help when we can get parent volunteers to help drive kids to games
* Run the clock or keep score at the game - We will pay you for this! Students too!
* Be a student-manager - We have some amazing, talented, very responsible student managers like Andrew Ziegenfuss (Basketball) and are always looking for more in all of our sports to help out.
* Volunteer to serve on the new PCS Boosters Committee (Coming in the fall of 2015) Activities would include concessions and helping plan and or set up for homecoming, pep rally events, and athletic banquets
* Field maintenance
Please contact Athletic Director Jim Zeldenrust if you have any interest in serving a specific role or if you would just like to help out in one way or another - [email protected], or [email protected].
