By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach’s Chris Arnold has been playing golf for nearly eight years, but never had a hole-in-one until he aced the Par-3, 190-yard fifth hole at Crystal Lake Country Club recently.

“I just hit an easy 5-wood on a windy day and flew the ball into the hole landing on the lip making a keyhole,” said the 45-year-old Arnold, who plays to a 15-handicap. “I was pretty excited. I’ve had some birdie chip-ins and hit balls in out of the bunker, but this is tops for me.”

Arnold said he saw the ball hit close to the middle of the green near the hole and thought it went long. His two playing partners, Steve Mowry and Will Jorge, were both searching long and short of the green trying to locate the ball.

“I had landed right on the edge of the hole and it blew the side of the hole up,” said Arnold, a cabinetmaker, who said he got as close as 1-ft., 9 in. about a year ago. “It looked like a keyhole, so it went straight in the hole, no bounce, no nothing and, on the bottom of the cup, there was some turf. The whole cup was filled with turf. Will spotted it in the bottom of the cup and I screamed, ‘don’t touch it.’ I ran over and pulled it out. I couldn’t play the next few holes (at all), I was so excited.”

Arnold, who tries to play once or twice a week, said what made it so exciting was the way the ball entered the hole.

“It basically flew into the hole,” Arnold said. “It never bounced and rolled. It literally just flew into the cup. I never realized it went in like that.”

Simply soccer camp slated

Simply Soccer has its final summer soccer camp in Pompano August 13-17. Registration is being held at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. The soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who are taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

There are three sessions each day ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Cost is $100 weekly); extended hours camp is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $125 each week, and a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m.to noon for $55 weekly.

Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information, call Pompano’s Parks and Recreation Department at 954-786- 4119 or 954-786-4111.

By Gary Curreri

Tournament Director Mike Goodrich couldn’t have been happier as a record number of golfers turned out recently for the 5th annual Frankie Foundation Golf Tournament at Palm Aire Country Club.

“We certainly had the biggest field we ever had with 240 golfers and a waiting list,” said Goodrich, 49, of Coral Springs, who said the tournament was staged to raise money and awareness for automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

“We certainly didn’t want to overburden the golf course with slow play, so we kept it at 240 on purpose.”

“You can’t put words on it,” said Goodrich, whose efforts with the foundation have helped raise more than $300,000 in five years.

“Frankie (Speciale) was a very, very special person to everyone and the impact he had on everyone he touched was great. You can see that by the turn-out that we get every year, either with the players, volunteers, sponsors … he was a friend of everybody.”

Goodrich said the scramble/ best ball tournament, on two courses at Palm Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, raised $70,000 from in-kind donations, tournament fees and the LIVE auction.

More than 30 AED units have been awarded to cities and municipalities in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Goodrich said the Sheridan House and church groups have also been given AEDs.

They also award four $1,000 scholarships annually in Speciale’s name to deserving high school seniors. Speciale died of a massive heart attack while playing in a recreational men’s soccer league match in Deerfield Beach in 2007. Even though the 1982 graduate of Pompano Beach High School was given CPR immediately, his life could not be saved. It is believed an automated external defibrillator might have made the difference in him surviving.

Goodrich, president of the Frankie Foundation and classmate of Speciale’s, said the tournament has grown over the years. The first tournament at Colony West drew a capacity crowd of 144 golfers.

On the Oaks course, Ryan Romero, Jay Guerrieres and Luis Guerrieres won with a 59, while Tom Cooper, Jim Fry, Troy Parra Jr. and Pete Tagget were second with a 60, and won by a match of cards over Doug Chasser, John Dedes, Connor MacBeth, and Ian Shinnick, who took third with a 60.

Dustin Major, Jon Major, Frank Major and Bob Salico shot a 61 to win on the Cypress Course, while Dan Calleja, Shawn Cevra, Howard Nash and Marlon Thompson took second with a 63.

The tournament will be played at Woodlands Country Club next year. Palm Aire, which was purchased by ClubLink last fall, suggested the tournament move to Woodlands because its banquet facility can accommodate the 240 golfers.

By Gary Curreri

For nearly three decades, Highlands Christian Academy has combined fun and instruction with outstanding results at its annual summer basketball camp.

Now, in its 27th year, Highlands Christian Academy hosted more than 100 players in two separate sessions.

The first session attracted the older students (7th through 12th graders) who met from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There were a total of 55 players.

The younger athletes (2nd through 6th graders) met from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the second session. There were 50 that week.

Jim Good, the school’s athletic director and boys’ varsity basketball coach, said a typical day included morning devotion, warm-up runs, stretches, ball handling, dribbling and Gatorade contests. Each day, a certain competition was done: 1 on 1, 2 on 2, free throw competition and hot shots competition.

“We went to lunch at Chick-fil-A and CiCi’s Pizza,” Good said. “In the afternoon, we played 5 on 5, full court games. Reg Cook started the camp back in 1985, and it is our most popular athletic camp at HCA.

Other athletic camps the school provides include cheerleading, softball, flag football, indoor soccer, volleyball and golf.

The head coaches for the two weeks of camp were Jim Good (boys varsity), Luke Still (boys’ JV), Josh Good (boys’ junior high) and Kelly Fichtner (girls’ varsity).

Several varsity athletes at the school also helped out during the second week to earn community service hours.

Soccer camps slated

Simply Soccer has two summer camps remaining in the city of Pompano. The dates are July 23-27 and August 13-17. Registration is being held at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. The soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting. There are three sessions each day, ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (cost is $100 weekly); extended hours camp is available: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $125 each week, and a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m.to noon for $55 weekly.

Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information, call the city of Pompano Parks and Recreation Department at 954-786- 4119 or 954-786-4111.

Men’s softball league begins

The city of Pompano Beach’s summer softball league began on July 9. The league, which plays its game at the Pompano Community Park 4-Fields Complex, offers games on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights from 6:45 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Teams with a little more experience play on Wednesday nights. All-star events such as a Home Run Derby and special prizes will be offered throughout the season. There is a fully operational concession stand.

For more information, call 954-786-4119 or visit www.leaguelineup.com/ pompano.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Allison Cuneen has been attending Simply Soccer summer camps in Pompano Beach for the past three years. The 10-year-old has parlayed the learning experience into a spot on a traveling soccer team for Team Boca.

“It’s the best camp around,” said Cuneen, who has a sister, Kayla, 12, and twin brother, Bryce, who also play travel soccer and have also been fixtures at the local camp.

“If you want to learn how to play or advance your skills, this is the camp to go to. You won’t get let down.”

“I like a (shooting) game they play called ‘power and finesse,’” Cuneen added. “It is also nice that you get to cool down at the pool after lunch before you play again.”

Simply Soccer has two additional summer camps remaining in the city of Pompano. Dates are July 23-27 and August 13-17.

Registration is being held at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. The soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who are taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

There are three sessions each day (for the Pompano camp) ranging from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ($100 weekly); extended hours camp is available from 8 a.m. -4 p.m. for $125 each week, a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m.-noon for $55 weekly.

Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information, call the city of Pompano Parks and Recreation Department at 954-786-4119 or 954-786-4111.

Ely reaches quarters

Ely High School’s boys “A” team reached the quarterfinals of therecentMiamiDolphinsAcademy 7-on-7 High School Football Tournament.

Cardinal Newman defeated Ely, 35-28, in the quarterfinals at Sun Life Stadium and lost to the eventual champion, Booker T. Washington, who will represent South Florida and the Dolphins at this year’s national championships July 12-15 in Indianapolis, IN. There were teams from 50 schools in the tournament.

Local golfers fare well in opening tourney

Local golfers got off to a good start in the Junior Golf Association of Broward County’s summer opening event at the Inverrary Golf Club recently.

Pompano Beach’s Wyatt Rubin won the Boys “B” Division as he carded a nine-hole score of 4-over par, 40.

Two other golfers took second place in their respective divisions as Lighthouse Point’s Alex Lutz shot an even par-72 to finish one shot behind Todd-Tyler Williams of Southwest Ranches in the Championship Division, while Isak Nilsson of Pompano Beach took second in the Boys Junior Flight. He was one shot behindtheeffortofDavie’sAiden Alvarez, who carded an 18-hole score of 79.

Pompano Beach’s Dylan Glatt was third in the Boys C Division with a 44.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Briley Pizzelanti hopes her Italian heritage will lead her to an Olympic medal someday in figure skating.

The 16-year-old Pizzelanti, who recently completed her sophomore year at Boca Prep International School, has a goal of getting her Italian citizenship, getting on the Italian national team and doing some competitions for them in the junior division.

“Hopefully, I will do really well for them and then maybe compete for them at the senior level and then go to Worlds in the junior and the senior division,” said Pizzelanti, who won the Junior Ladies Freestyle (Unrestricted) Division at the Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Saveology.com Iceplex in Coral Springs.

“I’d like to make the Olympics someday,” Pizzelanti said. “I love skating so much. It is such a big part of my life and, to be able to go out and skate for my country, would be amazing.”

Pizzelanti said her school schedule (10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) enables her to skate more.

“It helps a lot,” Pizzelanti said. “I am able to skate for two hours in the morning and then an hour in the afternoon. I am also able to do dryland training.

“I love everything about skating. I love being able to train really, really hard all year and then be able to go out and show everyone what I have been practicing and how hard I have been practicing all year.”

Pizzelanti, who has been skating since she was 4, struggled in the warm-ups and was noticeably upset prior to her routine. She was able to put it all behind her and skate a clean program.

“I have been working a lot on that the last couple of years,” Pizzelanti said. “My mom has also coached me on that. She says whenever you have mistakes in the warmup, the competition is a totally different event and you can’t go by what you did in the warm-up.”

There were nearly 400 skaters from around the state – the largest competition ever in the Games. “The numbers of skaters from Florida and the southeast who competed last year at the regionals was extremely large,” said Betty Stark, who has served as sports director for figure skating at the Games for the past 26 years. “I think that has helped the sport gain exposure.”

“It has highlighted the sport and now people are saying those kids from Florida are good,” Stark added. “The coaches are doing a great job and the level of skating over the years has really improved.”

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Christa Osmond, 17, earned a gold medal at the Florida Special Olympics State Equestrian Sports Championships held in Tampa recently at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.

Osmond, who received a gold medal in dressage and a silver medal in the barrels event, was one of five athletes, all students in the therapeutic horseback riding program at Horses and the Handicapped of South Florida, based in Coconut Creek, to return home with a medal.

Making the trip to Tampa, along with student athletes, were coaches Alison Plaza, Horses and the Handicapped’s program director; Katie Baker, volunteer manager and riding i n s t r u c t o r ; and Mandy DeBord, executive director of Horses and the Handicapped of South Florida. Also making the trip were four horses: Jose, Hallory, Fred and Fire.

“We very proud of all our s t u d e n t a t h l e t e s w h o worked very hard to prepare for the state equestrian championships,” DeBord said. “They showed dedication and determination and were very impressive.”

The trip for the team was made possible through the support of veterinarian Dr. Jerry Rudnick and several volunteers. For more information about Horses and the Handicapped of S o u t h F l o r i d a , v i s i t www.handhmagic.org.

Sunshine Senior Softball League seeks players

The Sunshine Senior Softball League of Pompano Beach seeks players 55 years of age and older to participate in their Spring/Summer League. Games are on Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Pompano 4-Field Complex on NE 10 Street in Pompano. Applications and information are available online at www.leaguelineup.com/sssfl or by calling Bart Grillo at 954-421-6892.

Soccer Camp

Simply Soccer will hold three additional summer camps in the city of Pompano. The dates are June 25- June 29, July 23-27 and August 13-17. Registration will be held at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. The soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting. There are three sessions each day, from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. ($100 weekly); extended hours camp is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $125 each week; a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6

from 9 a.m. to noon for $55 weekly. Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information,

call the city of Pompano Parks and Recreation Department at 954-786-4119 or 954-786-4111.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Chasity Martin has always idolized Laila Ali.

The 15-year-old has taken a similar approach to boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s daughter as she first noticed women’s boxing on television. Martin, who is homeschooled, ran into problems at her local high school and started boxing.

“I had problems in school with fighting so I went to home-schooling to stay on track and not get caught up in all of the street fighting and get in trouble,” Martin said. “Boxing is very important to me. It is 50 percent of my life. This is what I focus on other than school and my schoolwork. Boxing is one of my main priorities.”

Martin turned to Stacy McKinley, who spent 10 years as Mike Tyson’s trainer, to help guide the local teen in the boxing ring. She said she feels like Hilary Swank in the 2004 Clint Eastwood movie “Million Dollar Baby.”

“That’s crazy,” Martin said. “It is a once in a lifetime thing to get someone like him to train me. I am his first female fighter he ever trained. He calls me a female Mike Tyson. It’s a good thing.” The admiration is mutual.

“It is hard to find girls who want to fight her,” McKinley said. “She is strong and she is fast. She reminds me of Mike a little bit. When the bell rings, she goes through a transformation and she is a different person.”

Martin said she hopes to fight in the Olympics someday and eventually turn pro.

“I still have to stay humble and keep my attitude in check,” said Martin, who trains every day of the week, four hours a day. “I would like to go to the Olympics and box before I try and go pro. I get up and do my schoolwork and then it is nothing but boxing. When I get in the ring, I am a whole different person. I don’t remember much of what happened in the fight.”

She said she also looks past the stigma of being a female boxer.

“I don’t worry about what other people say about me,”

Martin said. “I enjoy what I am doing. That is what keeps me calm and that is what keeps me on track. It doesn’t really matter what everyone else says. That’s just what I focus on. If you were to see me on the street and I am not in my workout clothes … It is very discreet and I tend to have a lot of people know about it, but in a good way.”

SOCCER CAMPS SLATED

For the first time ever, Simply Soccer will hold four summer camps in the city of Pompano. The dates are: June 11-15; June 25-June 29; July 23-27 and Aug. 13-17. Registration will be held at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. Camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

There are three sessions each day (for the Pompano camp) ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (cost is $100 weekly); extended hours camp is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $125 each week, and a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m.to noon for $55 weekly.

Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information, call the city of Pompano Parks and Recreation Department at 954- 786-4119 or 954-786-4111.

By Gary Curreri

Simply perfect.

The eighth graders at St. Coleman’s School capped off four years of perfection as they won 49 consecutive matches dating back to when they were fifth graders (including a 25- 16, 18-25, 15-12 victory over previously undefeated St. Bonaventure (Davie) recently in the All Broward Catholic Conference tournament).

After splitting the first two games in the final, St. Bonaventure seized a seemingly insurmountable sevenpoint lead before the Chargers battled back.

“It was going to take a lot of fight to get back into the game,” said St. Coleman’s coach Kristin Scher. “The girls never gave up though and kept pushing.”

With St. Bonaventure leading 11-4, Bailey Pearlman served eight consecutive points to pull St. Coleman’s ahead, 13-11. After a sideout, Madison Faust served at 14-12 to win the match for the Chargers and sealed the team’s 17th consecutive victory of the season.

“We knew going in it would be a tough match because St. Bonaventure had a great team,” said Scher, who noted that St. Bonaventure’s team hadn’t lost a match in a decade. “Our girls worked very hard all season though and really wanted this victory. I was so proud of them, not only for the win, but also for the way they won it. To be behind like that in a match and come back takes a lot of talent, confidence and heart – all of which this team has.”

“I am so proud of the way the whole team played together all season long,” Scher added. “They set a goal at the beginning of the season to remain undefeated and they worked hard to accomplish that. They are a great group of girls both on and off the court, and it has truly been a pleasure to coach each and every one of them.”

St. Coleman’s plays in the North League of the All Broward Catholic Conference (ABCC). The tournament featured the top teams in both the North and Central Leagues.

Scher cited the strong play of eighth graders Gabby Cook, Tori Tocco, Pearlman and Faust. The team advanced to the final with victories over St. Anthony, 25-19, 25-23; St. Mark’s, 25-9, 25-14, and St. David, 25-14, 25-23.

Soccer camps slated

For the first time ever, Simply Soccer will hold four summer camps in the city of Pompano. Dates are June 11-15, 25- 29; July 23-27 and Aug. 13-17.

Registration will be held at Pompano Beach Civic Center. The soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14 of all skill levels, who will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting. This is the sixth year of camp offerings in Pompano Beach.

There are three sessions each day (for the Pompano camp) 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. ($100 weekly); extended hours camp is available 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. ($125 weekly); Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m.-noon ($55 weekly).

Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information, call the city of Pompano Parks and Recreation Department at 954-786- 4119 or 954-786-4111.

By Gary Curreri

Highlands Christian Academy track and field coach Mark Veynovich has done a solid job building the school’s program during the past five years, despite not having a true facility.

Four of his athletes recently returned home from the FHSAA Class 1A state track meet at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida with medals.

“I came in without anything,” said Veynovich, who had 60 athletes on this year’s team. “We train on the grass at Highlands. We take the hurdles out and mark them off with a tape measure.

“Their performance at state really didn’t surprise me that much since I have been with them for three to five years and have seen them growing,” Veynovich added. “What did surprise me was how fast and quick they took to the hurdles. To hit ninth as a team in states with two juniors and a senior make me think next year could be even better.”

Knights junior Ryan Davis, who had finished seventh in the 400-meter dash at the state meet last year, won the state title in the 300-meter hurdles (37.54) and took third in the 110-meter hurdles (14.91).

Teammate and senior Randy Hage was fourth with a careerbest effort in the pole vault (13- feet), while junior Kyle Audet took eighth in 300-meter hurdles (39.54). Audet was also 10th in the 110-meter hurdles (15.60).

“Ryan went into the state meet with one goal-be a state champion,” Veynovich said. “All year long, he stepped up to any challenge on the track in the 300-meter hurdles and was victorious. To meet his goal in the 300-meter hurdles and to exceed his expectations in the 110-meter high hurdles was a huge blessing and proof that hard work does payoff!”

Grayson Mack, a senior, who just signed a track scholarship at Liberty University, was sixth in the pole vault at state after clearing 10-ft; 6-in., which was just shy of her season-best jump of 11-ft.

Mack was the district champ in long jump, triple jump and pole vault, and took second in regionals for pole vault. Mack, who home schools, started with the school in the 10th grade. The boys and girls were the District 14-1A runners-up this year and the boys’ team placed fourth in the Regionals.

“Grayson had been working very hard all year to put herself into a position to compete at states,” Veynovich said.

By Gary Curreri

S’kaydrah Woods made a triumphant return to South Florida as she capped off her middle school career with a victory in the 200-meter dash in the recent Broward County Middle School Track and Field championships at Coral Springs High School.

The Pompano Beach Middle School eighth grader moved to Central Florida last year with her father but came back in time to turn in a huge performance at the track meet.

Woods was second in the 100-meter dash (13.00) and the 400-meter dash (58.68) before winning the 200-meter dash (26.43) and her efforts helped her school finish fourth with 30 points in the girls competition.

“Track is like a job,” said the 14-year-old Woods. “I love to do it. I like track because it is hard and you have to work for it. You just can’t go out there and expect to win and I like working hard. I like to compete.”

The three-time Junior Olympic champion in 2009 plans to compete this summer in the Junior Olympics with the FINESSE Track Club.

Another Pompano Beach Middle School track athlete also picked up a first place finish with a strong effort.

Marc Maurency, 15, won the boys 800-meter run by nearly four seconds over Arthur Ashe’s Deandre Miles as he completed the race in 2:08.89. Maurency, an eighth grader, came in third last year in the same event.

“I want to do this forever,” said Maurency, who shaved six seconds off his previous best time and helped the boys’ team finish second overall. “I want to go to the Olympics. I love track.”

Maurency said the win was very satisfying.

“This is the biggest thing that ever happened to me and this shows me I can do anything I want if I just set my mind to it,” Maurency said. “A lot of people told me I couldn’t do nothing, but I just proved them wrong. When I went through the finish line, that was the best moment ever.”

Pompano’s Benjamin Victor won the high jump with a 5-8 jump, while Deerfield Beach Middle School’s Jenicka Theodor placed fourth in the long jump for its only points of the meet.