Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan

      On January 6, 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked while training for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The assaulter struck her in the knee with a metal baton, leaving her injured and unable to compete. With Nancy on the sidelines, her biggest rival, Tonya Harding, skated to victory. As both women prepared to compete in the 1994 Winter Olympics, rumors began circulating that Tonya was involved in the assault, which caused a media frenzy. Days after Nancy's attack, police arrested Tonya's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and three of his friends. At a subsequent press conference, Tonya told reporters she had no prior knowledge of the planned assault on Nancy. "I am responsible, however, for failing to report things I learned about the assault," she said. Tonya was obviously involved in the attack, one way or another. She was still allowed to compete in the 1994 olympics. She skated her way to gold without Nancy in the way, which is exactly what she wanted.

       One month after returning from the Winter Olympics, Tonya was convicted of conspiracy to hinder prosecution. She was heavily fined and banned from U.S. figure skating for life. Tonya says it still hurts to think back about that time in her life. To this day, Tonya says she never wanted to prevent Nancy from competing.  Tonya knows what she did but still didn't get tried as hard, and didn't accept the crimes she committed. She is the reason why Nancy was attacked, and should have served jail time for it period.

Sandusky's trial

I feel like it's kind of fishy that so many families would accuse him of the same thing. The odds are against Sandusky right now. He does not have much of a chance to get out of being in prison for the next 30-60 years. With such a high potential sentance, it's very unlikely he will be deemed as innocent. The families may just want money, who wouldn't want a few extra bucks. but it's unlikely that it didn't happen. I feel as if Sandusky is holding back some very true, and crucial details about what really went on with these children. I'm sure Dottie has absolutely no idea what may actually be true, and Her husband may just be lying to her, or making sure she's making him sound good. Especially since Sandusky has a past with showering with children, it shows that he would potentially do something like what he's being accused of. The evidence that even has him admitting that that was true, just does not add up to the rest of what he's saying. Dottie said that that's just "the generation he grew up in." Really? you were raised in a generation that taught you to shower with children that aren't your own? That makes a whole lot of sense.

College Basketball

What are your predictions for the upcoming college basketball season? What teams are you routing for? What teams are you not supporting?

Sports Interviews

     After interviewing Sam Khokhlan, I have learned that he is not much of a sporty person himself, but he has supported teams in the past & used to play. My first question was "What is your favorite sports team that you have played on/supported?" He answered with the Cheer Factor small senior 5 group. He supports this team because one of his friends is on it. Then i asked "What is the best sporting moment you have ever been a part of/supported?" He said that the best sporting moment he has supported was when he went to the superbowl, The Rams vs. The titans. He went with his family when he was younger to support the rams. Next i asked "Have you even gotten any sports related injuries?" He said that yes, he fractured his wrist once. He did so while playing football with his friends.

 

      My next question was concerning what sports teams he has been on and supported, and how many. He said that he has been on a total of five teams. He played pop warner football, and soccer. He said that he has supported a countless number of teams. He likes to watch football, and basketball. Lastly, I asked him "how many years have you been playing sports." He said that he has been playing from around the age of seven until his first year of high school. That makes him have been playing sports for a total of seven years. He is more into going to the gym and working out than sports now a days. He said that was something he was more into as a child.

     My next interview was Nick Cocogenetti. When i asked him what his favorite sports team he has ever been on, he replied with football. He has always enjoyed football, even years previous to high school. The best sporting moment that he has ever been a part of was making it to semi finals with his soccer team. This was a good achievement for him, never making it there before. He said that he also enjoys playing and watching as a whole. Nick has luckily never gotten and sports related injuries.

     When asking him how many sports team he has been on and supported, he replied with that he has been on six. Like Khokhlan, he said that he has supported many and cannot give me an exact number. Some of the teams that he has been on is recreational soccer and football, and the NHS soccer team. He has been playing sports for a good deal of his life. He has been playing since he was four, making that twelve years. most people cannot say that they have been playing sports for that long. Some people cannot even say that they've played sports at all.

   

Bracketology

When everybody loses, somebody has to win. Half of the top ten teams have lost. Four of the next ten lost too. That gives the bracket a new look, although the top line remains the same. The very top of the bracket was fine. Wichita State is now 31-0 after beating Missouri State. Syracuse stayed on the top line despite a loss at Virginia, most likely because Kansas lost also. Creighton, Iowa State, Michigan State, Saint Louis and Texas all lost as well and fell down the list to some degree. There was some turnover at the bottom of the list as well. Minnesota dropped back out after losing to Michigan. Dayton is back in after a win over UMass, which is the Flyers' best of the season.

Norton High School Wrestling

       Norton High School's dominant sport is wrestling. We have one of the best teams in the state, with the help of our awesome coaches Coleman, Francis, and May. Norton had an awesome season this year; winning nearly every meet they had. It's nearly impossible to beat us. A total of 8 have made it all the way to Allstates this year, and one wrestler, one alternate have qualified for New Englands.

     Earlier in the season, The team won sectionals in Cohasset. They ended up being a total of 82.5 points ahead of the 15 team field. It was a great effort in which every one of Norton's 14 wrestlers won matches to contribute to the cause. As a result, 11 Lancers qualified for the upcoming D-3 State tournament, a school record. Leading were Seniors JT Taylor, Myles McAlpine and Mike Travers who, along with junior Elliott Johnson, were undefeated champions of their weight classes. Junior Alek Donovan finished second while seniors Ahrayah Saintius and Brandon Pike, as well as junior Adam Marcon and sophomore Deven Schuko all placed third. Sophomore Aidan Kahn and junior Russel Hansen placed fourth. Junior Robbie Douglas and senior Grant Monast placed sixth. sophomore Zach Scarpetti didn't place, but won two matches by pins. With four pins on the day, JT Taylor was voted the tournaments Outstanding Wrestler, the third 145 pound wrestler to be recognized. (Scott Coleman in '10 and John Royle in '12.) As a result of the performance Coach coleman was named the D-3 South Coach of the Year.

 Last Saturday Norton had the MIAA D-3 State wrestling championship, and did they not only win it, they dominated. They were 41 points ahead of their leading opponent. Senior co-captains Mike Travers got First. Travers became only the third Norton Wrestler to win a state championship. JT Taylor got third and Myles McAlpine got fourth. After two days of spirited competition the Lancers emerged, once again the best of 56 teams. Alek Donovan, Adam Marcon, and Elliot Johnson finished 3rd, 5th, and 5th. Aidan Kahn and Deven Schuko both earned 6th place medals. Even though they didn't place, Ahrayah Saintius, Brandon Pike, and Russell Hansen won matches to add to Norton's total points making this championship a great team effort.

         Onto Allstates, where Mike Reached the semi-finals before falling to eventual runner-up Matt Paris of Springfield Central, The All-State champion team. Mike finished with sixth. McAlpine lost his first match to Chris Ortega of Agawam but still fought back, winning four of five matches losing to only Ian Horkan of Pembroke in overtime. Myles Finished seventh. Both will continue training in preparation for the New Englands which will be held next weekend in Providence, RI. Six other wrestlers qualified though one, Elliott Johnson was unable to compete due to an injury suffered at states. Aidan Kahn lost in the first round, hurt his elbow and couldn't continue. Deven Schuko, Adam Marcon and Alek Donovan along with JT Taylor all wrestled well and won matches for the lancers, though none of them placed high enough to earn medals, So their seasons are over.