(l-r) Softball Olympic Gold Medalists Jessica Mendoza, Jenni Finch, and Crystl Bustos spoke at the 2010 Mohegan Sun World Softball Coaches' Convention. Afterwards, Jenni told the Resident in an exclusive interview, “The secret to my success was I always got to the park early and left later than anyone else. It is hard work, but if you want it enough you can do it.”
story & photo
by Christopher Annino
Several weeks ago both young and old softball enthusiasts had the privilege to see some of the best speak about various ways of training. The event was the 2010 Mohegan Sun World Softball Coaches’ Convention. Organized by America’s Game, the event had the following superstars present: Softball Olympic Champions Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza, Crystl Bustos, Legendary UCLA Coach Sue Enquist, Michigan State University Associate Head Coach Kathryn Gleason, Planet Fast Pitch Founder Denise Davis and renowned sports psychology consultant Ken Ravizza among others.
Jessica Mendoza gave a special presentation about the importance of resistance training. “I think resistance training with rubber bands makes a whole lot of difference. It really helps with stamina, speed and certain core strength which is crucial in this sport,” said Jessica.
Crystl Bustos, who runs several programs for inner city kids spoke about the importance of mentoring. She also gave several key mistakes soft ball coaches make when training young female athletes. “Coaches need to remember that a woman’s body is different from a man’s especially when it comes to training the legs. A lot of coaches like to weight train – that is a huge problem because women’s muscles develop a lot differently than men’s. And it can result in serious injury.” Crystl later added, “In regards to Softball being back in the Olympics, I think it will happen again. It’s a fast growing sport and the world is really starting to recognize it.”
Later, in an exclusive Jenni Finch said, “I am a pitcher and the thing to know for anyone who is thinking about being a pitcher is they shouldn’t just focus on one position. They should try to play as many positions as they can. This will help them understand the game better.”
“The secret to my success was, I always got to the park early and left later than anyone else. It is hard work, but if you want it enough you can do it,” said Jenni.
For more information on the World Softball Coaches Convention at the Mohegan Sun visit www.softballcoachesclinic.com.
(l-r) Coach George Yates, South Windsor American Legion, baseball legend Bobby Valentine, Pitcher Craig Breslow, Oakland A's, are all thumbs up for baseball.
story & photos
by Christopher Annino
Mohegan Sun simultaneously hosted the World Baseball and World Softball Coaches’ Conventions at the end of January. The 2010 Mohegan Sun World Baseball Coaches Convention ran the 21st through 23rd and the Softball Convention was a one-day event on January 21st. Both events were sponsored by Gold Orluck & Partners and America’s Game and had a tremendously successful turnout of coaches, players and fans from throughout the nation.
For the baseball portion, experts, such as Manager Bobby Valentine, Team USA Coach Dan McDonnell, Oakland A’s Centerfielder Rajai Davis, gave tremendous talks on the fundamentals of the game. Olympic Gold Medallists Jessica Mendoza and Crystl Bustos, softball superstar Jennie Finch and NCAA legend Sue Enquist were a few of the key speakers for the softball portion of the event.
(l-r) Brooklyn resident Jim Yaworski talks to baseball legend Bobby Valentine at the 2010 Mohegan Sun World Baseball Coaches’ Convention.
Other additional speakers and guests were renowned sports psychology consultant Ken Ravizza, MLB Analyst Hazel Mae, and Sports Yoga Instructor Gwen Lawrence. Not only did coaches and experts alike go over hitting and fielding, but one of the main focus points that each key presenter went over was the importance of teamwork and how the game should be respectfully played. The audience was allowed to ask questions after each of the speakers presentations.
Joe Mugovero, New London, curls 100-pounds. Joe, owner and trainer, Breakfastclub Gym, is 61-years-old and has lifted for 38 years.
by Chris Annino and Roger Zotti photos by Christopher Annino
Joe Mugovero, 61, owner and trainer, the Breakfastclub Gym, has an impressive strongman resume. For instance, in various strength sports over the years, he has won more than 200 awards. In 2008, the Diesel Crew website, generally regarded as the world’s leading instructional grip strength website, recognized him as Athlete of the Month. Joe has lifted for 38 years and holds three age group CT records in the bench press.
When Joe was 58, he challenged the famous Thomas Inch Dumbbell. If you’re wondering what’s so special about this dumbbell, consider this: “It weighs 172 lbs and has a very thick handle and two big bells on each side, making it nearly impossible to lift,” said Joe. Guess what? Since age 58 Joe has lifted it 97 times, all verified! “I am the only person over 60 years of age known to have lifted it in CT.”
About 20 years ago, Joe said, “at the Sports Complex in New London, an onlooker observed me training every Sunday morning. I was in serious competition at the time and benching fairly well for this area.” After a while, “others interested in competing in power-lifting started to train with me.” Before long someone nicknamed the group the Breakfastclub. “We trained and competed under that banner.”
Roy Saluk, Waterford, lifts a 114-pound Thomas Inch Dumbbell.
Several years passed and Joe opened his cellar to trainees: “We branched out into strongman and grip strength training. Our present site is located in New London, near Ocean Beach, and we specialize in strength, not necessarily fitness.” The small private club has been in existence for 13 years, and right now there are about 12 members, from ages 17 to 68.
The gym is unique. “You can go in most of the gyms around here, and you won’t find hundred-pound-plates,” Joe said. “I have, for example, eight-hundred-pound plates and 42 45-pound plates. It’s heavy duty stuff because we specialize in strong man implements, like you see on television. It’s frowned upon in regular gyms because they don’t want people doing that stuff.”
As for women, “We had a woman who drove in from Waterbury, in the warm weather, so she could train here.” She has competed and “wants to again. She’s in her early thirties. Her husband also competes and he’s very good.”
Joe speaks with pride – quite rightly – about “some recent results in competition and general training.” For instance, Mystic’s Chris Annino, photographer/writer for “The Resident,” set a record in the dead-lift competition; teenager Sal Gromolini won second place in an arm wrestling contest in Providence; Mike Richards emerged victorious, in a New Hampshire strongman camp, lightweight division; and several weeks ago, two members carried 600-pounds for 100 feet.
Joe added, “We have one guy, John Retkowski, who did a feat of bending done by only 58 people – ever. It’s called bending a Red Nail. John McGuire just lifted 485-pounds, five times in a row. John’s 68 years old. We’re all friends with each other. Everybody pushes everybody. It’s all about camaraderie.”
(l-r) T.J. “The Tomahawk” Stukes, Harlem Wizards, spins a basketball on his fingers for fans Austin Myers, Dorins and Amandi White, and Sam Fosten as part of Stonington High School’s basketball fundraiser on January 9th.
story & photo
by Christopher Annino
The legendary Harlem Wizards were invited to put on a show at Stonington High School on January 9th. With their acrobatic high flying dunks and their amazing ball handling skills The Harlem Wizards have brought worldwide joy and entertainment for 50 years. Over their five decades of existence, the Harlem Wizards raised millions of dollars for charities and non-profits, while providing sensational basketball entertainment.
“I played at Southern so it is always great to come back home to Connecticut,” said Dwain “Swoop” Simpson, player and coach, Harlem Wizards. “I always enjoyed playing basketball and entertaining people with what I can do. I was also with the Harlem Globetrotters. During my years with them and with the Wizards, I have understood the role and impact that an individual like me has on a kid;s life. There are not many people that step up to be remodels but the Harlem Wizards pride ourselves in trying to be positive remodels. My mother always said that it takes a village to raise a child and it is very true.”
The Harlem Wizards competed against the Stonington Super Stars, a skilled group of teachers, alum, and coaches, in a charity basketball game to raise funds for the Stonington High School Athletics Department. The event was put on by Caroline Chapman and the Stonington High School Boosters which is a group of parents, teachers, coaches and friends of Stonington High School Athletes who volunteer their time at sporting events. They also provide scholarships and awards for Stonington High School athletes. “The Wizards come every year, and every year they put on a great show. We are so lucky to have them,” said Caroline Chapman.
The game was great family fun. The Wizards, who won, created a tremendous atmosphere for people to come and enjoy themselves for a good cause. After the game Ben Chapman, Stonington Super Star player and center for UConn Huskies Football, said, “This is so fun being apart of this. We had such a good game with the Wizards and hope they come back again next year.”
For more information on the Harlem Wizards go to www.harlemwizards.com.
“…it’s not a big deal.” - Chuck Brenker, after completing his 100th marathon
by Roger Zotti
After Lisbon’s Chuck Brenker finished the 2009 Hartford Marathon, October 26, you’d think he’d have reason to celebrate. After all, it was his 100th marathon. But Chuck didn’t celebrate because, as he put it: “It’s not a big deal.” I have news for Chuck: His accomplishment is an extremely big deal.
As for the race itself, Chuck explained, “I was injured beforehand, so I knew it was prudent that I back off the pace. My friend Gary Tremblay and I had initially planned to run a certain pace, but he took off and had a beautiful second half….I planned to finish at 4:30 and I did. It wasn’t a run for a personal best.” Then, about a month after the Hartford Marathon, Chuck competed in the JFK 50 Miler, in Hagertown, Maryland. “It was my ninth consecutive ultra-marathon, and it’s an incredible course,” he said. “The first one I ran was when I was fifty years old.”
Interestingly, Chuck doesn’t believe that running marathons “makes you any healthier. Most of us are so obsessed with what we do that we will run through injuries, like I did in Hartford. We’ll do whatever we have to do to cross that finish line. Guess what? I’ll be going in for an MRI in a few days to see if I have a stress factor in my foot.” So, did he entertain ideas of pulling out of the JFK 50 miler? “No way,” he said, with a laugh.
In 1969 Chuck started running. Then in 1970, when he was stationed on a submarine, the Commanding Officer announced a contest. “Whoever lost the most weight could go to whatever school he wanted to,” said Chuck said, who lost the most weight and picked Navy Diver School. There, he became intensely involved in calisthenics and running. Fast forward to 1976 and Chuck’s first marathon: “It was the Oceanside California Marathon. At the time I was stationed with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service at Camp Pendleton, California….I ended up my active duty in 1976.”
Yes, Chuck has a goal when he runs – which “is to run long, to run healthy, and to have the best life I can as long as I can.” His advice to runners is “find a running group. When I moved here I saw a few guys running, befriended them, and soon it became an informal running group. It is so much easier to run with other people. Try to find people who enjoy running. Talk and have fun while you run. And for a first time marathoner – don’t over-train.”
Clearly, running is a huge part of Chuck’s life and so is apheresis which, according its website, is defined as a procedure that “collects platelets or plasma from a donor. The remaining blood components, including the red cells, are returned to the donor.” A State of CT Special Donor, Chuck has completed almost three hundred apheresis procedures and wants to “get the word out” about the process. For more information about apheresis, visit www.bloodct.org/what_is_apheresis.php.
