LETTER: The real heroes at Speed Camp
In response to the Aug. 8 letter from Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi regarding our Speed Camp program, I feel the need to acknowledge my real “heroes” that make this endeavor possible: the 18 coaches who, without their efforts throughout June and July, would be virtually impossible to teach and coach these fantastic young people.
The community needs to know the names of these selfless volunteers, many of whom are teachers, coaches, administrators or great athletes who devote countless hours for the betterment of our local athletes.
They are Andy Clutter, Brad Scott, Tom Olszewski, Katrina Thomas, Dr. Terry Kushner, Dr. John Reihner, Bob Redlinger, George Linck, Ed Bonus, Dennis Garrett, Renee Buckingham, Rev. Angie (Mack) Madden, the Rev. Bryan Cherry, Suzanne Antonucci, Bob McCarrell, Commissioner Maggi, Co-Director Laura Montecalvo, and my wife, Marie.
In our character education/values segment, we have been fortunate to have some phenomenal speakers who have shared their inspirational and riveting stories of success and commitment. It’s rare that young people get to work out with and be inspired by a current two-time NCAA Women’s Basketball Champion from NYU, or a young man who started in the NCAA Division I National Championship football game for West Virginia or the unique saga of the starting center for Colgate University – and that was just this year.
The kids who we are blessed to work with are special, as this is a rigorous program that is not for everyone. Those who stay for the entire summer make measurable improvements in speed, explosion, endurance, toughness and character development. They train under the mantras of “Get comfortable being uncomfortable,” “High achievement occurs within the framework of high expectation,” “What doesn’t challenge you doesn’t change you,” “Greatness is on the other side of hard,” “Make your own luck,” “Grit … it’s a choice,” and “Hard, compared to what?”
These non-compensated volunteers would tell you that these young people are their “heroes.” No monetary remuneration could supplant the joy of seeing how hard they work to improve. Their smiles, handshakes and hugs are all the reward they need.
Sincere thanks are extended to the Chartiers-Houston School District for hosting this program for the past seven years and to the Washington and Canon-McMillan districts, hosts from 1997-2014.
I am often asked if young people today are as dedicated, hardworking and amenable to coaching and correctives as those in past decades. My frequent response is, “Come on down and watch Speed Camp some morning and decide for yourself!”
Guy Montecalvo
Washington