Page 15 - March 14 issue

sports 15 THE SPOTLIGHT | BDSPOTLIGHT.COM | MARCH 14, 2014 It is their turn now SENIORS FOCUSED ON BRINGING TRACK TITLES BACK TO BD By Deon Thomas staff writer Anderson also runs the 4x800 and 800 and has similar goals to Futrell. As track season is coming around seniors Tony “We want to bring a state title back here,” Ander- Futrell and Timmy Anderson are taking lead roles son said. “That is our focus.” getting the team ready for the 2014 season. Both In the indoor MIC meet last weekend, senior boys and girls giants have been working very hard DeAndre Bluitt won the high jump with a leap of in their offseason conditioning. 6 foot, 4 inches and Conde won the pole vault at 14 That conditioning paid off last weekend as the feet. Those were the only two individual titles in ad- boys won the MIC Indoor Championsiphs and the dition to the 4x400 relay team. girls fnished sixth. Anderson believes our biggest rivalry this season Futrell runs in the 4x800 that fnished second is Carmel, which fnished second in the MIC with in the indoor championships. The boys 4x400 re- 105 points to our 109. lay won the MIC indoors title. Runners included “They are strong in events that we are not and seniors Moussa Conde and Aaron Murray, junior we are strong in places they are not,” Anderson Derrick Jones and sophomore Jordan Wilkinson, said. “They will be a team to watch out for.” whop copmbine for a 3:28.03 winning times. In the girls meet, the 4x200 relay team of seniors Futrell has been one of the offseason leaders for Mya Caudle and Devyn Vandever, sophomore Ra- the boys. von Woodson and freshman Kyara Simmons won “My goals for this season are to break both of with a time of 1:46.5. Warren Central won the girlsd the two indoor meets and go to state,” Fuitrell said. meet with 112 points and carmel was second. “Come outdoor season I want to win sectionals and The outdoor boys track season gets underway regionals and then go to state again.” April 8 at North Central with the frst home meet Futrell is focused on his last season and he April 16 against Warren Central and the Ben davis LEADERS Seniors Jordan Bryant (left) and Tony doesn’t want to hold anything back. Invitational on April 19. Futrell run during a Winter Warriors workout., The ‘’The biggest rivalry for me is me and anybody The girls open March 27 at home against South- boys won the indoor MIC title last weekend. (Photo else I step on the track with because when I run I port and then host North Central and Lawrence by Madison Baker) am in my zone,” Futrell said. Central on April 8. IN SPORTS, FORGET GAY, JUST PLAY HOMOSEXUALITY IN SPORTS HAS Pro basketball player Jason Collins made news Some thought the announcement would affect STARTED A SLOW EVOLUTION when he made his announcment of being gay. where he would go in the draft. TO UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE Brittney Griner is a female professional basketball Making this announcement is probably the hard- player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury who has est thing for athletes -- or anyone -- because you get By Tim Leath also come out as homosexual. everyone’s opinion whether good or bad. Homosexuality is becoming more open and In each case, the athlete made the personal deci- online sports editor sion to announce his or her sexual orientation on more accepted by society. Same-sex marriage has their own terms. Public pressure should not dictate been approved in states like Utah, and in states like Gay rights has been an important national news what type of announcements an athlete makes. Oklahoma where they tried to put a ban on it the story over the last year. With some states starting Football player Michael Sam is a prime example government told them that it was not allowed. to ease off of the gay marriage ban, more and more of that. He told his college teammates he was ho- Not only in life has homosexuality been ap- people have become open about the issue. mosexual during his senior year of college football proved for marriage, but it has also not stopped As the gay marriage issue has made national and made it public last month. Sam was expected to people from doing what they love most in their headlines, more and more professional athletes be a top prospect in the NFL because of his record- sport. It may cause them to receive extra criticism, have also made the personal choice to come out as breaking career, but after the announcement there but they still get to play the game they love, which gay or lesbian. was talk about how this might affect his draft. is the point in the frst place.