Madi Hingston is Versatile and Talented for McNary Girls' Basketball

In Keizer, Oregon, there is one talented young lady that's helping the McNary Lady Celtics stay at the top of the Greater Valley Conference (GVC) next to number two in the state, South Salem. She dribbles the ball effortlessly with either hand. She passes the basketball skillfully dishing out assists, shoots the three-point shot very well, and is a leader on the court.

Madi is a senior this year and wears number 21 standing at 5' 8". She's also the starting point guard for her team. She is the daughter of Matt Hingston and Bonnie Davis. Her sister, Megan, graduated two years ago from Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho. Megan played four years of basketball there.

Madi was raised in Keizer, Oregon, in a middle-income-class neighborhood. The environment was fairly calm and community based. She attended Clearlake Elementary and then Whiteaker Middle School.

"In grade school I hung out with friends like Crystal Wilson, Cammie Decker, Kaelie Flores, and Reina Strand. It was pretty low-key and we had a lot of fun back in the days," Madi said.

Madi's personality is a little on the shy side at times, but she's a fearless competitor when it comes to sports. Most of her life has revolved around sports. A goal-driven young lady is an understatement ... she has a perfectionist attitude and is always finding ways to be ahead of the game.

When Madi was six years of age, she was inspired by her older sister, Megan. She would tag along to watch her sister play basketball.

"I grew up around sports and I always looked up to my sister. I watched her excel -- she did everything so well. I wanted to be like that. I watched her at Gubser Elementary when she was in the fourth grade," Madi said.

While Megan was a huge inspiration, Madi speaks highly of all her coaches. They have all been helpful and she has learned many things from them.

Madi started playing organized basketball at a very young age. Her dad, Matt, and Kaelie's dad coached a KYBA (Keizer Youth Basketball Association) tournament team. She developed into a fine player with this invaluable experience. She played with this team from fifth grade to seventh grade.

Things were going well and Madi was having the time of her life. Not only was she playing basketball, but she was also playing volleyball and involved with track and field. She was spending time with her best friends and earning all kinds of awards.

One of the biggest obstacles she would face was an emotional downturn. Her parents went through a divorce. For a thirteen-year-old child, a heartbreak like that can have a huge impact on many things in life. Madi overcame and adapted to the uncomfortable situation. Another obstacle was when Madi broke her wrist while playing at a playground. She managed to recover from that painful incident and went back to playing sports.

"Yeah, it was an adjustment at first, but now I'm used to it and it's not bad. I like how I get to have individual time with both my parents," Madi said.

By the time Madi reached the eighth grade she had surfaced among the top players in the state. She landed a spot on the Oregon Elite Team -- an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) tournament team based out of Lake Oswego. This team played in competitive tournaments across the USA. Madi traveled to Phoenix, Nashville, Chicago, Charlotte, San Diego, and tournaments in Washington.

"This was an awesome experience! I got to travel all over -- crazy. It was a little nerve-racking at first, but I adapted well with the girls that had the same goals that I had," Madi said.

It was during those experiences that college scouts started taking a look at Madi and her abilities on the basketball court. One college in particular was Seattle Pacific University. They play in the same college league as Northwest Nazarene -- where her sister played.

Wrapping up her middle-school days, in one game Madi scored a game high of 25 points. In one game, playing with Oregon Elite she scored 20 points -- this game went into overtime.

"One of my memorable moments has to be when we beat Oregon City. All of the years that we played them we never won. Well, in the Oregon City Tournament, we finally knocked them out -- it was so amazing. We beat them in an overtime game for the championship crown!" Madi said.

Madi Hingston #21 drives past the defender.

Coming in as a freshman in 2012 at McNary High School, Madi was nervous and didn't know what to expect. Her basketball tryouts went well. What she didn't expect is how the seniors had taken her and her freshman friends in. She went on to make the varsity team and became one of the starters as a freshman. That season she had some good games and some bad games, but the experience she gained was priceless.

"I try to be as consistent as possible, not just in basketball, but also in my grades. Time management is huge. I try to find a good balance with basketball practices, games, and grades. I take grades seriously and focus on staying up with class work, " Madi said.

High school basketball has been rewarding for Madi. She has helped put the McNary Lady Celtics at a very high ranking in the state of Oregon. This week they are ranked number ten and by the end of the season possibly number five.

"It's awesome to be able to play with the girls in my team. Three of them are my closest friends. We've played together since grade school -- Kaelie Flores, Reina Strand, and Sydney Hunter. Our entire team is encouraging and supportive of each other. We like to have fun and sometimes we are even goofy -- ha-ha! But when it's time to battle on the court, we get pretty serious -- very focused," Madi said.

In 2016, her final year of high school, Madi is taking all AP (Advanced Placement) classes carrying a 3.9 GPA. She enjoys focusing on her homework at home after practice. She is the type of person that wants to eliminate stresses for the next school day. AP classes can give a student college credits depending on the college. Madi is also a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, during weekends you can find her refereeing at kids' basketball games.

Madi Hingston #21 hits a huge three-point shot at a home game.

Derick Handley is in his second year of coaching the Lady Celtics. He and his staff are doing a remarkable job keeping his team in a top-notch pace for a possible run at the OSAA State Tournament.

"Madi has developed from a good off-guard to a dominate point guard over the last two seasons. Going into her junior year she hadn't quite developed the confidence in her abilities needed to take over games making her somewhat inconsistent. Over the past season her defense has improved dramatically, she's one of our best rebounders, which is phenomenal. She's also one of our best passers. Her belief in her skills along with her teammates has been essential to our improvement as a team," Head Coach Derick Handley said.

Madi displays her resilience on and off the court and sets a fine example for the underclassmen at McNary. She has shown strong leadership and even to where she gives suggestions to the coaches, whether in plays, offenses or defenses. This season she is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals per game. It's pretty normal anytime she hits four or five three-balls in a game.

Her freshman and sophomore years Madi earned second team all-league honors in the CVC (Central Valley Conference). Her junior year she earned first team all-league honors in the GVC (Greater Valley Conference). This year she was first team all-league in volleyball and in basketball she has scored as many as 26 points in one game.

Several colleges expressed interest in Madi. After exploring several options she decided to sign a letter of intent with Seattle Pacific University where she'll play in the same league as her sister Megan did two years ago. 

"As a dad I'm very proud of my daughter. I don't have any one highlight or moment about her that stands out. To me every time I watch her play is a highlight and my favorite moment. I'm so proud of Madi," her dad said.

Sometimes it's easy to overlook the support that athletes get from their parents. Bonnie Davis, her mom, would give Madi rides to practices and back everyday -- the support list could be a mile long.

"I'm so proud of my daughter," Bonnie said.   

Madi, what is your favorite subject in school?

I like writing -- language arts.

Favorite pro basketball team?

Golden State Warriors.

Do you have a short-term goal?

I want to keep my GPA really high, and I want to make it to the state tournament this year.

Do you have a long-term goal?

Major in business in college and somehow tie it to a field in sports as a career. I also want to help my college team win a conference championship and hopefully advance to nationals.

What advice can you give a young kid that wants to play high school basketball?

Sometimes it's hard when you're at practice -- you want to do other things -- I know it sucks but it will pay off in the end. Set a goal for yourself, and when you reach that goal don't settle for just that. Set another goal and achieve it ... reach it. Don't let anything make you lose motivation.

Alex Hurlburt, a Remarkable Athlete That Refuses to Say Can't

Before Alex was born back in 2000, an ultrasound was performed. After the procedure, the doctor didn't want to say anything negative. The parents asked if everything was okay with the baby, but the doctor was hesitant to say anything. Ed and Julie Hurlburt knew something wasn't quite right. They finally dragged it out of the doctor. They were told that the baby's left arm (below the elbow) was missing.

"I remember the ultrasound because it was take-your-child-to-work day. The procedure was taking too long, many things went through my head," Julie said.

Ed was stunned in disbelief -- like the entire world had collapsed on him. It was very emotional for both parents -- they were both torn inside. Their baby was going to be born with a defect.

"I just wanted to be able to play catch with my son, something any dad would want. I wasn't asking for much," Ed said.

The cause was possibly amniotic band syndrome -- a congenital birth defect believed to be caused by entrapment of the fetal parts. Another possibility, the loose strands could have wrapped around his arm and caused a lack of blood circulation -- a vascular incident. It's difficult to know what exactly caused Alex's defect.

Alex was born in Portland, Oregon, but has lived in Salem most of his life. Sean is his older brother by four years. His parents, Ed and Julie, wanted the best for their son, so they started teaching him that "Can't is not an option". Over the past-challenging years, they have managed to provide a support system (people, programs, etc) for Alex. He has learned to overcome -- this is who he was and no one was about to keep him from accomplishing many things.

He attended Brush College Elementary in West Salem. During his grade school days there was once a group of kids that climbed a fence. Alex was following them and stopped to watch. They laughed and made fun of him -- daring him and yelling out that he couldn't climb the fence with one arm. Alex remembered the words, "Can't is not an option". With his determination and partly angered, he started climbing, finding a way to get over that fence, painfully using one hand to grab the fencing and his legs to push up. He managed to get over! The kids looked at him in a shocking way -- they were left speechless. Those kids became his friends after that moment.

A sense of humor started becoming natural to Alex -- he was that comfortable with who he was. One day the P.E. teacher at Brush College Elementary was warning the kids not to take the soccer balls out of the barrel. She had about thirty soccer balls that were supposed to be left alone. The teacher was unaware of her sarcastic talk to the kids, and realized it too late. She was meaning it as a joke.

"If anyone else takes another ball from the barrel, I'll cut their arm off!"

Alex responded, "You better listen to her, look what she did to me!"

Alex was not supposed to be able to climb a rope to the top of the gym, but he did. Alex was not supposed to be able to contribute significantly to any sports team, but he did. He was a determined kid with a perfectionist attitude and the words in his head, "Can't is not an option". He found a way to master the skills needed.

He played football, basketball, baseball, and in middle school he added track and field. Playing with an all-star baseball team just summed it up. Try visualizing this, he catches the baseball with the glove in his right hand as it comes zooming, removes his mitt with the ball in it, tucks it under his short limb, grabs the ball with his right hand and throws it with amazing accuracy to the baseman or pitcher. It's like watching the gears on an automatic transmission.

In 2012, Alex entered Straub Middle School. He felt a bit nervous about facing new teachers and students. He had adapted well in grade school and had a comfort zone there with the students and staff. Attending a larger school created more challenges. Interacting with teachers, playing the tuba, and sports. Making new friends was very difficult for him. Alex discovered that it didn't take him long to adapt. Because of the bullying policies the school had in place, it was more relaxing and fewer kids made fun of him or joked around.

Alex Hurlburt pitches in a game. Photo by Ed Hurlburt.

Alex went on to become a great athlete at Straub Middle School. In football he played defensive end and wingback -- in one game he had four rushing touchdowns. On defense he consistently sacked quarterbacks. In one of his basketball games he scored 18 points and it was normal for him to block a few shots every game. In baseball he played outfield and pitcher and every year he kept improving at every skill. In track and field he ran the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and a was a member of the 4 x 400 relay team.

"I didn't really have any personal disappointments, but I guess one disappointment was the coaching that we had, it wasn't as great as I wished it could have been. Also the lack of energy that our team had at times. In eighth grade we did have a good coach that we learned a lot from. Our team's record was 9 - 0. We went undefeated that year," Alex said.    

In 2015, Alex was promoted to West Salem High School. Coming in as a freshman his nerve-racking thoughts were back again with the uncertainty of how the new students would treat him. He was more mature and had grown to be a tall 6' 3". There were upperclassmen that Alex would have to face every day at school. Kids would say things to him, some that were very uncomfortable and others that he just joked about himself.

"I've heard many comments all my life, it's tough to work through that at times. To be honest, those comments don't bother me anymore -- I find a way to ignore them and work through it. Actually, it bothers my friends a lot more than it does me. They seem to want to defend me against anyone that makes mean comments -- they usually have my back," Alex said.

There are other situations that make Alex feel a little awkward, such as in the following incident which involved a Spanish teacher. At the beginning of the school year the teacher asked Alex to hold up his fingers as she counted in Spanish. When she counted "six (seis)" she asked Alex to hold his sixth finger up. Alex said, "I only have one hand." She asked him again, "Alex please hold up your other hand!" She walked over and saw that there was only one hand. Alex thought it was funny, but the teacher felt really, really, bad about the whole situation.

Alex entered the football tryouts with confidence but still a little nervous. He would have an entire new coaching staff and players to battle for a spot. He survived making the freshman football team. He would be playing for Head Coach Jay Bacus. His position would be defensive end and wingback. What a year for Alex, he had three blocked punts and three sacks in one of his games. The team went 8 - 3 for the season. He was moved up to varsity for the playoffs for the experience and he was voted Defensive Player of the Year.

Alex during a football game his freshman year. Photo by Ed Hurlburt.

Some people think of how much better Alex could be if he had both hands. How much more he could do for his teams.

"My answer to that question is, I don't think I'd be better with two hands. I strongly feel that I'm better with one hand. Especifically because I don't think I would put the hard work in the way I do now. I have to work twice as hard as most people to master a certain skill," Alex said.

Basketball season came around quickly and it didn't surprise me to see Alex as one of the members of the West Salem freshman basketball team playing for Coach Daniel Murray. Watching Alex play against the McKay Royal Scots in a packed house was a humbling experience. I can't imagine how proud his parents must be watching their son play basketball for a high school team. They don't miss any of his games -- love, loyal, and supportive. I can't imagine how proud his coaches, former teachers and current teachers must be of him.

Alex is one of the players in the playing-time rotation. In this game he had four points, four rebounds, three assists, and four blocked shots. He plays half of the game and is one of the posts on the team. He has mastered catching the ball and driving to the basket with no problems. He has a spin move that he learned from playing other sports, and he finishes well underneath the basket. His defense is strong and he rebounds well.

#10 Alex Hurlburt in a freshman basketball game. Photo by Ed Hurlburt.

"Skills that I pick up from other sports translate on the basketball court -- I figure out a way to master a certain skill on my own. Sometimes I'll watch others, but mostly it's just me figuring out what works for me," Alex said.

Along with his athletic accomplishments he carries a 3.75 GPA. He is driven to succeed in his studies as well. Alex finds time to study during school and after school -- very consistent about it.

His mom and dad have experienced so much throughout the years and observed many things. If they'd known back then, when Alex was born, what they know now, they wouldn't have it any other way. Ed wishes he could take back the thoughts he had when Alex was first born. Things came out way better than expected -- He is very proud of his son. You can see Ed taking photos of his son at games often.

"There's always comments made to him by people. I remember once there was a kid that fouled out of the basketball game. He fouled Alex and he wasn't too happy. The kid turned around as he walked to the bench looking at Alex, and said something like, good luck the rest of the game with one arm. I don't think that will ever end ... Alex has done a great job adapting and not making it a big deal. We're so proud of where he is at today and his accomplishments," Julie said.

Alex Hurlburt has a great future ahead of him, he's an inspiration to many kids that might want to give up. He is a prime example of how we should not look at our disabilities, but look at our possibilities.             

This blog post is too short for the entire story, for Alex's complete detailed story which includes the people that helped him, his struggles and accomplishments, etc. please read, The Professor Grayson Boucher Plus More NW Sports Stories, this book includes eight biographies -- one of them is Alex's story.

Alex, What is your favorite subject in school?

Math is my favorite.

Favorite football team, basketball team, and baseball team?

I like the Denver Broncos, Portland Blazers, and the Boston Red Sox.

Do you have a short-term goal?

Getting to the next level in my sports career and maintaining a cumulative 3.5 or better by the time I graduate high school.

Do you have a long-term goal?

I'd love to play a college sport and go into business or law. 

Darrell Woods, from Hardship in Hawaii to McKay Basketball

Not many athletes acquire the basketball skill sets needed in a short amount of time. It takes years to grasp the coordination, the knowledge, and the mind set. There happens to be a basketball player at McKay High School that's finding success despite his life of hardship in Hawaii where he once lived.

Darrell Woods (pronounced Duh-rail) was born in Guam. Four years later his family moved to Hawaii. He is the son of Demitrius Woods and Marsen Sally. Darrell has four half sisters and four half brothers that are much older -- we're talking fifteen years apart. One of his half brothers has passed away.

He attended Queen Ka'ahumanu Elementary School and Stevenson Middle School, both in Honolulu, Hawaii. His family did not have much money and times were very hard. It was during the middle-school days that he was inspired to start playing basketball. He would watch his dad play at different places. He decided to give it try.

"I didn't really know anything about the game. I just watched my dad and decided to start playing. It was mostly street ball that I played ... with my Islander group of friends," Darrell said.

Darrell always looked up to his half sister, Marie -- everyone used to call her "Boo Boo". Unfortunately, Marie was running around with the bad crowds -- getting into trouble, smoking, drinking, etc. Darrell fell into that trap and started making poor decisions. His parents started thinking of ways to remove Darrell from the negative environment -- he was getting ready to enter high school.

With a dysfunctional family and not much money, his parents were evicted from their apartment. The older siblings had moved out by this time. With too much pride and a strong independent mentality, Demitrius and Marsen refused assistance from their relatives -- they did not want charity. Darrell moved in with his relatives there in Hawaii, but his mom and dad chose to live in their car.

"My parents wanted a better environment for me. One of my half sisters, Murina, was living in Oregon. They sent me to Salem to live with her -- she became my legal guardian," Darrell said.

Shortly after, his parents separated. His dad moved to Seattle and his mom stayed in Hawaii. Darrell has always been close with his mom and dad -- he has always made it a point to keep communications open with phone calls from time to time.

Entering a new school and a new state was a huge adjustment -- emotionally, physically, and mentally. Without his parents and with a transfer into a new family was like a dream of another world -- it was real life. Murina has a family of six kids, and now, seven. She welcomed Darrell and does whatever she can to help him despite the financial struggles with a large family.

Darrell started hanging out with a great group of Islanders from Salem that played basketball at McKay High School. Glenn, Akson, and Israel Moses, encouraged him to go out for the freshman basketball team.

"I never played organized basketball in my life. I was not a person that could be coached at that time. I didn't know anything about the basketball skills -- it was frustrating," Darrell said.

In 2012, his freshman year at McKay High School, proved to be a depressing year full of confusion, disappointments, and a major adaptation. He was struggling with grades and he was adjusting to his new large family at home. Darrell was cut from the freshman team to put a cap on his first year at McKay High School.

He gave this freshman-downslide episode plenty of thought. He wasn't ready to give up on something he really wanted. His Islander friends, once again, were looking out for him. Darrell wanted a better future for himself.

He gives credit to, Israel Moses, a former McKay point guard who found success there in basketball. Israel started helping Darrell -- explaining to him about defense and offense and basic fundamental skills. The summer was full of playing basketball with a group of Islanders that became his friends.

"My friends showed me not only how to play better basketball, but also how to treat people the right way. I was never like that before. Islanders have a lot of faith in God. They showed me how to love people," Darrell said.

Darrell worked his tail off that summer, he found a love for basketball and he worked extremely hard to get better. He was adapting well his sophomore year and basketball tryouts had arrived once again. The McKay coaching staff saw something in Darrell that led them to believe he could possibly play on the JV team. Darrell's athleticism and intense play earned him a spot.

"When I was playing JV, Coach Bryan Huber showed me some moves in the low-post area. He was the first coach I had in an organized basketball team," Darrell said.

Darrell Woods drives on a North Salem defender. Photo by Kent Brewer

Wearing #22 on his jersey as a junior, Darrell had grown to be 6' 0" and had made great progress the previous season as a sophomore  -- improvements were noticeable by leaps and bounds. Head Coach Dean Sanderson moved him up to the varsity team where he became one of the starting five. Dean is the type of coach that teaches kids to be responsible. He looks out for their future. It doesn't matter how talented a player is, if he skips class or shows up late to practice, he'll pay the price like any other team member. This was all new to Darrell but he was adapting very well. He joined Tristen Wilson in playing one of the two post/forward positions.

Darrell was utilizing his quickness and speed on the basketball floor, but his control at times was unattainable. The lack of experience was noticeable in that area. He was learning as much as he could through a tough-way-to-learn road. McKay did not have much height on the team and Darrell's rebounding ability was needed. His shooting needed much improvement. He was better at lay-ups than outside shots. The needed skills he would need to learn quickly was three-point shooting and free-throw shooting.

At the end of his junior year, his team, the McKay Royal Scots, did not make the playoffs, but Darrell played one of his best games in the GVC League (Greater Valley Conference). Against the Sprague Olympians, he scored 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds -- a double-double!

"That was definitely my best memory of my basketball career so far. I remember because I had a choir concert the same night. Coach worked out a solution with the choir teacher. I would play the game and then join the choir at the concert right after the game, which was being played at McKay. Everyone in the choir was telling me how I better score a lot of points if I wasn't going to be at the concert. It was all in good fun - I guess I met their request," Darrell said with a smile.

Darrell was blending in very well with teammates like Tristen Wilson, Demeris Bailey, Kevin Aguilar, Jon Gray, and Glenn. Darrell's personality is more of a loner-type where he recharges by being alone -- he enjoys his space from time to time, and he always makes time to hang out with his friends and to adapt to their interests.

"Basketball has changed me to become a better person and athlete. Travel cards, which are like a progress reports have helped me bring my grades up. Going into my senior year I have decided that I really want to play college basketball," Darrell said.

The summer of 2015, prior to his senior year, had arrived. Darrell received word that his dad had died of a heart attack. His dad always found a way to provide what his son needed despite the fact that he had been living in Seattle without much money. His parents had reunited and they were both living in Hawaii again.

"That was tough for me -- I was close with my dad. I remember asking my dad for fifty dollars for a trip our team was making to a Gonzaga basketball camp. He told me that he was going to give me more than fifty dollars. I knew he didn't have much but he always found a way to give me more than I needed," Darrell said.

During the summer, Darrell went to work on his shooting skills. He needed to develop an outside shot better than what he had. Coaches are allowed to work with two athletes at a time during the off-season. Assistant Coach Matt Espinoza (Coach Noza) helped Darrell with his shooting form and basketball skill sets during the summer.

"Coach Noza was the person that really opened my eyes on high school basketball. He taught me so much. My shooting form, different kinds of moves, ball handling, footing, and much more. It was usually myself and Kevin Aguilar that showed up to work during the summer. During football season, we continued since most of the guys played football," Darrell said.

Darrell Woods has overcome many obstacles and is looking toward the future with his short-term goal of helping his team win a league title -- he likes to dream big. He would also like to bring the grades up to above average. His long-term goal is to play college basketball somewhere and receive a college degree. As far as a career after basketball, he's still undecided.

"Darrell wants to be great. He is beginning to develop into more of a leader this year. I think he has the potential to play at the next level. He has improved his outside shooting tremendously," Coach Noza said.

It's always great to hear from the coaching staff as seniors approach the end of their career of high school basketball. I've had the honor of watching the hard work coaches put in for their team. A lot of the time is volunteer, especially during the summers.

"Darrell is a great kid. His story, while not exactly like other players, is a great representation of McKay Basketball and the resiliency our kids show to have success on and off the court. I'm excited to watch him as a senior and look forward to his future success," Head Coach Dean Sanderson said.

I pray that this young man reaches his dream and that he stays healthy his entire senior year. His work ethic is such a great example for many. Basketball has given Darrell a safe environment to have fun and to be around people that care deeply about him. The McKay basketball coaching staff has done a great job helping Darrell become a fine young man as they do with many athletes.

Darrell, What are your favorite hobbies?

Basketball, singing, and family time

Who is your favorite NBA team?

Chicago Bulls

What is your GPA?

Close to a 3.0

What advice can you give young athletes?

Work hard, even when you think you're that guy. If I would have worked as hard as I am now when I was a freshman, I'd be much better.

Sports Parents

I’m not going to be the first person to pick up that stone and throw it. I’ve been around sports for many moons. I was a competitive person in my days, but never thought of the example I was setting to the young kids. Over the years I’ve learned that some kids don’t listen to the lectures we give them. What does happen is that they see with their own eyes the example that the adults display during a game. I’ve heard most of them, “Go back to ref school you idiot!” Who’s really the idiot here? “Are you kidding, my grandma can ref better than you!” Really? … my grandma could not see very well or walk without assistance. “Come on stripes what game are you watching!” Well, obviously the same game you are.

Just recently I read about two high school kids spearing a referee from his blindside during a football game. Another incident I've read about was a parent stepping onto the football field and preventing a child from scoring a touchdown. In one basketball game a parent jumped off the bleachers to attack a young kid after he scored the winning basket. This was all due to some bad calls the  referees made. Sometimes winning is so important to the parent that it leads to temper issues and out-of-control situations. If you as a parent ever reach this level, please seek counseling because I feel that there are other serious issues in your life.

In my opinion, competitive people that want to win so bad need to draw the line. Maybe what we need to do is start letting the referees do their job. It’s tough enough officiating a close game without the fans' distraction. I keep thinking what it would have been like when I was a software engineer. Someone at my throat constantly – my job would not get done.

We as parents also need to stop living our dreams through our kids. Allow them to discover what they enjoy and support them on it. Help them set objectives to eventually reach a goal in their near future.

I also feel like parents that get involved in sports should make an effort to look at sports in positive ways that are enjoyable, rewarding, and fun. That's why the majority of kids go out for sports ...  to have fun! Focus more on the skill-development aspect of your child and discuss the improvements they are making every game. Talk about the great things they did in a game and then bring up the skills they could improve on. Talk to them about helping their teammates.

“You forgot to read the rule book you zebra!” Well, zebras don’t read books. “How much did they pay you ref – I’ll double it!” I’ll be the first to admit I wouldn’t want to pay a referee double what they make, even if it’s the opponent paying him. “Hey ref, did you come from the blind school!” The comments seem to start getting lower every time, I mean really, to include a blind school? In reality the complaints against calls made will not help at all. The only thing it could do is flare up the officials and help your team earn more bad calls. In addition, your child will see your example and fulfill the same thing in the future.

Being a good sport isn’t just about controlling our tempers with officials, but it’s also about thinking of other players on the team and not just your own son or daughter. Cheer for every player on the team – football and basketball are team sports not individual sports. Every kid on that team has put in hours of practice all week long – they’ve helped the team get better. Try your best not to gossip to other parents about why your son or daughter isn’t playing – don't make assumptions. If you have an issue with that, ask your son or daughter if you can set up a meeting with the coach. The coach will inform you of what skills your child needs to work on to contribute more in a game. Then, follow through and encourage your child to practice everyday – hard work pays off.

We’re not perfect, we’re only human. But it’s important that we try our best to set a good example for our younger generation – Lord knows this world really needs it. Sports seasons are supposed to be fun and exciting – although we all want to win, the reality is that one team will end up losing after the game is over.

Go out and support your local high school or college team. Buy refreshments to help the booster clubs – you can’t watch a game without food … or at least I can’t.

I feel that one of the most important things a parent can do is “listen” to your son or daughter. Ask them if they are having fun and if they aren’t having fun, ask them how you can help.

Have a fun and rewarding experience with sports this season, I wish every parent and child the best. God bless.

Inspiring Books Inspiring Review

I recently received a message from a young lady who is from Keizer, Oregon. She finished reading my two-part realism-fiction novel that was based on some true experiences. When I received the message it made me feel really good inside. It reminded me of why I enjoy writing. I thank God every day for the passion he gave me and the guidance. My goal is to deliver an enjoyable escape for others from their everyday life.

When you read you learn many things, take adventures, and go many places while on vacation, or without leaving your home. Sometimes you laugh and sometimes you cry. You relate to some of the characters and maybe put yourself in their situation or conflict. Thank you Annabel for your honest and kind words.

Annabel's message (review) of Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid I and II   

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I finished both books (Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid 1 and 2) and they were amazing! I loved how many aspects of life were shown in there and how many simple truths and lessons were described. The ending to the second one was sweet!  I love how throughout the books you get to see everyone mature and grow closer as they build each other up. :-) The books were just so touching, they were very nice to read.

Annabel Guptill 

Finding Peace is Meeting Up With a Brother in Christ

On Tuesday morning I met up with, David Lacy, a good friend and a church brother from Mission Fellowship - a church I attend that teaches the Bible, book by book and verse by verse. I like the name of our church because that's exactly what we do, "serve the Lord".

I apologize to my sports readers -- I normally do write sports stories. Today I really felt in my heart that I needed to address something more important than sports. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad that God gave me a passion for sports in a good way.

I have to admit that with all of the worldly things going on, I seem to be getting angry at times. Prayer helps me understand that I am a sinner too, and that I should pluck the log out of my own eye before trying to pluck the speck out of someone else's eye.

In the past I was never the one to sit down with a church brother and talk scriptures. My life was based on sports, family, work, movies, music, and finally God on Sundays (how sad is that?).

The last two years I've been meeting up with people like, Hans Rasmussen (our pastor), Mark Manthey, David Lacy,  and my two sons (Jake and Matt) who are walking with the Lord. I'm still trying to meet up with Shane Witham (leads worship - fine musician). These meetings have helped me grow as a  husband, father, and person. Not only have I gained new knowledge of the scriptures, but I've also gained a peace inside my heart that can only come from Jesus my Savior.

During our hot chocolate/coffee time I asked David Lacy about the Supreme Court ruling. I felt that the decision should have been made by the voters of the U.S.A. and not five people.

David pointed me to the scripture at the end of this blog. I know this scripture well because it has helped my marriage tremendously (men, having marriage issues?). Anyway, love does mean what this scripture says in black and white. These words aren't mine or yours, these words are what the Lord has given to us as a beautiful gift.

These scriptures really help when I think about arguing with anyone that is sinning visibly 24/7.

Meeting up with church brothers like David Lacy has given me a better understanding of what is right ... it's all about what Jesus wants not what we want. To love people that are doing what Jesus is against, is to pray for them and to set the best Christian example you possibly can -- shining God's light so that it blinds them with love.

It is up to that person (sinning 24/7) to have a change of heart, trust me, I'm not excluding me from this, because I'm a sinner too (it may be a different sin but it's a sin) -- the closer I am to Jesus the less I will sin. Like He told Phillip, "All this time you have been with me and you don't even know me." Whether we know it or not, Jesus is right next to us 24/7.

I hope I haven't offended anyone -- not my intentions. I really feel that this is the truth. Thank you for taking the time in reading this blog. God bless you.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Huge Thank You to the Juntos Program in Madras, Oregon

First of all I want to thank God for such an amazing opportunity last Tuesday July 7th. I was hired to be the keynote speaker at a dinner event for the Juntos Program.

Juntos means "together" in Spanish. A growing number of school districts and universities are working together to encourage Latino teens and their parents to get into college and better their future. This is such a great program, they even have workshops for the parents and their kids.

Three years ago I met Jennifer Oppenlander at the Oregon State Fair where I sign and sell my books along with other Oregon authors. Jennifer is a coordinator for outreach programs at Oregon State University. She was in the process of starting the Juntos Program in Madras, but it wasn't up and running yet. She asked me if I was willing to come speak to the community, focusing on the poor life I once lived and what inspired me to get a college education ... also, my software engineer career, and my author adventures. At the state fair a lot of people ask me to come speak but only a few email me and set something up.

After three years went by, Jennifer emailed me. It was quite a surprise because I didn't expect it and I vaguely remembered her. At the state fair I speak to hundreds of people. She refreshed my memory and we scheduled a keynote in Madras, Oregon, at Central Oregon Community College.

When that day finally arrived, my wife and I drove through Woodburn, Molalla, Sandy, and on the way to Madras we passed Government Camp, Warm Springs, and much more I had never seen. This is  another reason I love the northwest, I mean, the mountains, like Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Three Finger Jack, etc. are amazing!  As we were driving down some rocky-mountain country on Highway 26, we could actually see all three mountains from a distance.

We arrived there early -- about 1:00 p.m. and toured the city of Madras, the city park is amazing and very clean. The Quality Inn was very nice and the people were very friendly. The event dinner was set for 5:30 p.m. It was catered by Rios -- one of the finest restaurants there. My speaking engagement was set for 6:00 p.m. immediately following the authentic, delicious, Mexican dinner.

I spoke about where my parents were raised and their difficult times in the south part of Texas, which is Hidalgo County -- one of the poorest counties in the U.S. Then I explained where I was raised, which was Dimmitt, Texas, and our move to Oregon. I was impressed with the students and parents on how well they were engaged while I spoke. Of course I included a few jokes.

I continued with my career as a professional football player and why I decided to end that adventure after two years. Then I followed with my information technology career. There were students, like Salma, who had a 4.0 GPA this year. I'm really hoping these students take I.T. as a consideration in their future -- so much opportunity for these kids.

I finished my presentation talking about what inspired me to become an author and a little bit about the four books I've written. And then finally I closed with questions from the audience. This I felt was one of my favorite parts of my presentation, because I felt that I was helping each individual in what they were interested in the most.

Salma's Mom, Me, and Salma Who Holds a 4.0 GPA.

Several parents and students came to talk to me afterward. I was so touched by the people and their eagerness to learn and reach out for a better future. I gave them a discount on the books they purchased from me. One lady said she was going to ask her husband to get into college to some day be a P.C. Tech. That would be so awesome if he did that.

Thank you Jennifer for having my wife and I , and for coordinating such a wonderful event that will benefit many youths ... and for the top-of-the-line hospitality. Thank you also to all of your helpers that made this possible. I will never forget this amazing experience and if I inspired one or two students to get an education, I've accomplished helping someone in the Madras community -- which was my objective.

The Amazing Childress Sisters Find Success in Tennis

I never could understand the scorekeeping logic in tennis. I mean, 40 - Love?  Forty to zero - maybe a lot of love for one team. Anyway, tennis is such a fun sport to play competitively and recreationally. For two young ladies full of life, it has become a sport that fills many gaps.

The two sisters captured the GVC (Greater Valley Conference) District doubles championship and advanced to the 6A Oregon State Tournament. In addition to the successful season, they were named the Statesman Journal All-Mid-Valley Players of the Year.

Sandy and Hannah Childress have excelled on the tennis court. Sandy is the older sister of the two. This past year in 2015 she was a senior at McNary High School in Keizer, Oregon, and Hannah was a freshman. They are the daughters of Dave and Jenny. The two girls grew up in Long Beach, California, in a lower-middle class neighborhood - the projects.

"We'd go to Disneyland every Friday - it was so much fun!" Hannah said.

"We stopped going when Hannah was too old to get a free pass," Sandy said.

When Sandy was eight she attended Newcomb Academy Elementary School in California, Hannah was not in school yet. In 2005, their dad was recruited to be a pastor in Oregon. So the family packed up and moved to Keizer where they both attended Clearlake Elementary, Whiteaker Middle School, and McNary High School.

"I really thought that we were just going on a vacation, but then we never returned," Hannah said.

It was Jenny, the mom, that inspired Sandy to start playing tennis. Jenny was a top-notch tennis player at Sonoma St. University, which is just north of San Francisco -- she was very competitive. Her daughter, Sandy, played basketball, but things weren't working out for her. Her mom encouraged her to give tennis a try. She started playing the game and discovered that she actually liked it a lot. Her mom and dad signed her up for tennis lessons.

"Once I started playing tennis, I just kept working hard at it to improve as much as I could," Sandy said.

Hannah was huge into softball as a young girl. She was a great pitcher and part of several competitive teams. Softball, to her, stopped being fun because of the drama on the team -- especially the parents. Sometimes the parents are the ones that take the fun out of sports. After trying different leagues, things just weren't working out so she dropped out of softball completely.

"Sandy kept asking me to come play tennis. My mom also kept asking me because Sandy was playing. I hated tennis before playing it, but once I tried it I just kept playing it and started loving it," Hannah said.

Among their peers the two sisters are a little different. Sandy is a hard worker and more on the shy side, but once she gets to know someone she'll socialize more. Hannah is more outgoing and social, everyone likes her and she enjoys talking to anyone. Hannah is a few inches taller than her older sister.

Dave and Jenny have always been very supportive of the girls, they encourage them as much as they can. Tennis lessons and driving to different places for matches add more to the cost. And then there's equipment to be purchased and the time put in -- all the sacrifices made were worth it for the Childress family.

"We only wish we could have sent them to tennis camps, but we just didn't have the funds for that. They've had to do a lot of training on their own -- they've done well," Dave said.

When both girls started attending McNary High School, the girls tennis program took a turn for the good. Hannah was winning singles matches as a freshman on the varsity team. Sandy was doing the same with an added responsibility as the captain of the team.

"Things were a little confusing, because of the coaching situation. Our coach, Myers Reid, who had the tennis knowledge, was coaching the boys team and we didn't get her until the district championships," Hannah said.

"We were happy that we did have an assistant coach, Derick Handley, who was great and  helped us with many things, but he just didn't have the tennis knowledge that the boys' coach did. If it wasn't for Coach Handley we would not have been able to play tennis," Sandy said.

Despite the coaching situation, Sandy and Hannah practiced hard at getting better throughout the season. On an average practice day, they would warm-up first followed by racket drills, volley drills, and serving drills. They also did a lot of running. Their practice usually ran an hour and a half.

"I try to play tennis year-round, Hannah can't because she plays volleyball. I also like playing against boys because they hit the ball harder -- it's just better practice for me," Sandy said.

"We benefit so much being sisters because we are always playing against each other. Sandy is always asking me to come play some tennis -- that has helped me get better really fast," Hannah said.

The sisters are both members of the Courthouse Tennis Club and they consistently work hard to one day get a national ranking to help their future in the tennis world.

"Blue Chip is pretty impossible to get, but I think we could someday work for a 2 Star or 1-Star ranking," Hannah said.

Each year top prospects accolades to the best players in each class are awarded. The very best players are tabbed as Blue Chips which would be NCAA Division I college material. Then more players are awarded 5 Star, 4 Star, 3 Star, 2 Star, and 1 Star.

As a freshman in high school, Hannah found out that she had broken the barrier that held her back as being one of the top players in the GVC and possibly the state. Her sister normally played as the number one singles. Sandy could not be at a match in McMinnville, Oregon. The coach put Hannah at the number one singles and she was facing top tennis player, Caitlin Baker. Caitlin blew Hannah away in the first set, 1 - 6.

Head Coach Myers Reid had a talk with Hannah after the first set. Hannah didn't know what to do. But with her mental toughness and the will to not give up, she bounced back defeating Caitlin Baker, 6 - 4 and 7 - 5 on the final sets. She won the match.

"That match gave me a lot of confidence and at the same time put a little pressure on me -- because people will now expect me to do well every time," Hannah said.

"My sister and I do everything together, we are best friends -- it's nice to have the common bond we have. I think that's what makes us a great team," Sandy said.

Tennis has taught the Childress sisters many things about life in general. The game has taught them not to give up even when you're down, like in Hannah's case where she had to bounce back from a 1 - 6  loss. They have gained social skills. In addition to the sisters being best friends, they have also made a good friend in Tayler Rains -- a close friend they've gotten to know. The two have learned to overcome adversity and excel despite any uncomfortable situation.

"Sometimes it's stressful, not so much in high school, but in USTA Tennis where it's all about winning -- it's more intense. I just want to be active and enjoy life, because at the end of the day ... it's just a game," Hannah said.

In the academic world, Sandy maintained a 3.71 GPA and Hannah maintained a 3.75 GPA. Sandy took three AP classes and Hannah took two honors classes.

"Yeah, I studied late at night, with tennis practices and tournaments I liked waiting until the evening," Sandy said.

"I liked to get my homework done as soon as possible. Sometimes I would go to study hall to get it done at school. I was always telling Sandy to take me home so I could study," Hannah said.

Sandy and Hannah had a remarkable season and placing fourth at state was a great ending especially for Sandy who was completing her final year of high school. Who would have guessed that she would be playing tennis at Sonoma St. University next year?

"We had prepared a video of me playing tennis for the coach at Sonoma St. and we emailed it to him. When he finally received it we got word that it was not a great quality video and there wasn't enough of my play in it," Sandy said.

Eventually the coach at Sonoma St. invited Sandy to come watch their practice. There were two other girls looking at playing there, these girls were ranked 2 Star and Sandy was unranked simply because she never had the exposure or opportunities. The coach had Sandy play one of the college players that was on the team already at a local park. He watched from afar.

The coach told Sandy that he was impressed with the way she hustled on the tennis court -- her quickness and athletic ability. He knew Sandy had talent, but the college was already offering a spot to the 2-Star girls. He said that Sandy could play on the team if one of the 2-Star girls decided not to play at Sonoma St.

A few weeks later Sandy received a call from the Sonoma coach. One of the 2-Star girls did not join the team and Sandy was on the team. There are six spots and she would get the sixth spot.

"When I got the call I was so excited! I ran over to tell my mom and she was screaming with me. My dad was sad because I was leaving," Sandy said.

A bitter-sweet situation for Hannah, because she will no longer have her best friend to play against anytime she wants.

"I'll miss her, she would give me rides to tournaments and practices, and she's my best friend. I won't have her to practice with," Hannah said.

Dave and Jenny are very proud of their daughters. They both cheer for them differently. Jenny yells loud and coaches from the bleachers, where Dave is quiet and just keeps it inside.

                                                             Hannah, Dad, and Sandy

"It's definitely nerve-racking, I want them to do well. When I watch their games I normally pray for them to do their best and I let the winning take care of itself. They remind me of when I was playing sports. It's nice that they can have a little bit of success and be happy," Dave said.

Hannah will be returning for her sophomore year at McNary High School, You can count me in to come watch her play as I encourage everyone in Keizer to do the same - she has a great future ahead of her.

Sandy will be at Sonoma St. University where she plans on studying to some day become a forensic accountant for the FBI. She will also be the number six player on the tennis team. Best of luck to both girls!

Sandy and Hannah, what are your goals for next year?

Sandy: I would love to stay on the Sonoma St. tennis roster and play the entire year.

Hannah: I don't want to have that expectation that I'm going to do very well, but I know that some people will have high expectations. I would love to win at district in singles and I would love to make it to state again.

Favorite movie?

Sandy: The Heat

Hannah: I like true stories, and I guess The Heat like Sandy

Favorite Athlete?

Sandy: Serena Williams

Hannah: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

What kind of advice can you give a young athlete?

Sandy: If you really want to accomplish something, you have to put in the time and effort. Hard work pays off.

Hannah: Tennis is stressful, be competitive but make sure you have fun. If you lose or things don't go the way you want them to, don't get down, because at the end of the day, it's only a game.

What My Father has Demonstrated Since I was Born

My father has demonstrated to me what unconditional love means since I was born.

During the majority of my childhood I made this pretty easy for him; I got good grades, helped out around the house, went to church with my family every Sunday and excelled in sports. In high school I unintentionally put this love to the test as I refocused my priorities from my family and activities that would ensure I had a positive future to immediate pleasures.

My dad put a lot of effort into ensuring my brother and I had everything we wanted and were put in situations that allowed us to excel. When I was a kid, he spent the time and money to build my brother and I a basketball court at each of the three houses we lived in. (The one at his current house still stands and I can’t wait until my sons are able to play on it.)

Every summer he made sure we were able to attend basketball camps to allow us to continue developing our skills.

Even with him doing all of this, I still put my friends as a priority over things important to him. This was really hard on my dad, but his love was not given with conditions.  

I’ve always been extremely grateful for the unconditional love I was given by my father, but now that I am a father I am especially grateful. Now that I am a father of two I am beginning to understand how truly blessed I was to have such an amazing example of what a father should be.

I am just beginning my journey into fatherhood, but I hope to be the kind of father he was for me.

Love you Dad!

Jacob Espinoza

Deven Hunter Defines Basketball Success at Oregon State University

It's easy to notice a 6' 3" thin-athletic lady that walks by you. She has a long stride and a confident display on her face. Deven Hunter is friendly, outgoing, and sometimes a little shy if she doesn't know you. She's a former McNary Lady Celtic who graduated high school in 2012. As a freshman she helped McNary place fourth at the state tournament.

She is now (in 2016) a senior at Oregon State University where she wears number 32 and is a huge part of the women's basketball team that plays in the PAC12 Conference. During her four years thus far she's helped her team advance to the NCAA Tournament (The Big Dance) for the third time.

Deven is the daughter of Burt and Debbie Hunter. She has a younger sister, Sydney, who currently plays basketball at McNary High School. Deven is from Keizer, Oregon, which is located right next to Salem, Oregon -- the state capital.

Raised in a middle-income neighborhood, she was always involved with sports as a little kid. Her dad coached a few professional baseball teams -- one being the Volcanoes in Keizer. Naturally, Deven became a softball player at a very young age.

"Our neighborhood was pretty calm and quiet. I had a few friends that I hung out with - it was fun. My parents signed me up to play softball, which was the first sport I played," Deven said.

She attended Kennedy Elementary School and then Claggett Creek Middle School in Keizer. In the third grade her parents signed her up to play basketball in a pee-wee league called KYBA (Keizer Youth Basketball Association). This inspired Deven to play the game and she fell in love with it.

"I really started enjoying basketball. It was so rewarding -- I had an opportunity to play on a team that had a bunch of my friends from school," Deven said.

In the fifth grade she joined a tournament team called the Keizer Celts. This was the type of team that held tryouts. Deven made the team and started playing competitive basketball all over the state. Weekend tournaments were fun for her -- playing against great players improved her game all around.

When she was a freshman at McNary High School, her tall frame combined with her athleticism earned her a spot on the girls' varsity team. She ran the floor well for a tall girl. Deven played with talented athletes like Taylor Jones and Megan Hingston. This made McNary a solid team that went on to place fourth at the state tournament.

Deven wanted to continue improving every part of her skill set. During her sophomore and junior years of high school she earned a spot with a team called Oregon Elite. During the summers this team traveled to compete against some of the best teams in the nation. Coaches started believing that she could definitely play college ball some day.

"Playing basketball with Oregon Elite was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I had so much fun with a group of girls I got to know," Deven said.

After her sophomore year in high school, the world begin to drastically change for Deven Hunter. She started receiving letters from colleges everywhere. College coaches were starting to contact her -- they would also come watch her games. It was Megan Dickerson, Eric Ely, and Scott Rueck that showed positive interest in her. Oregon State seemed to fit what she was looking for -- plus, her grandparents lived in Corvallis and still do. Deven signed to play with Oregon State going into her senior year of high school. She received a full scholarship to play basketball at OSU.

"It felt really good, knowing that I would be playing basketball at the Division I level and the PAC12 Conference -- it's kind of like a dream a lot of basketball players have," Deven said.

Deven has been blessed with the support of her parents, Burt and Debbie. They fed the passion she had for basketball and they were there to watch her play at every game they could possibly attend.

"My parents are the greatest. They are the ones that put me here. Whatever I needed they provided for me. They sacrificed their time and money for me. Even now at Oregon State, I can see them sitting with our fans at every home game. They also come to some of the away games -- I'm so thankful to mom and dad," Deven said.

The difference between high school basketball and college basketball is significant. Deven's three years at OSU has educated her on some of them.

"There are a lot of differences. In high school we never got the crowds until playoff time. In college I've played in front of seven thousand people. College is more fun because you have a group of girls that have the same goal in mind -- they're more dedicated. In college, basketball and winning are taken more serious and everyone on the team wants that -- we put in the hours and the sacrifices to make the best effort," Deven said.

In 2013, she had her first double-double, 13 points and 13 rebounds against Bakersfield - she was only a sophomore.

"When I had my first college-game double-double, I had no idea how big of a deal that was. I've had several since that first one -- it's great to see how the hard work pays off and how it helps our team," Deven said.

In her 2014-2015 season, Deven averaged 8.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 23 minutes per game - a solid performer on the basketball court.

This season, last year's GVC Player of the Year, Katie McWilliams, from South Salem High School joined Deven at Oregon State. Katie led her team in capturing the OSAA State Tournament crown in 2015.

Deven has had a remarkable season this year. She was a huge impact on this year's team. She is a well-rounded player -- defensively and offensively. Her leadership skills are a plus. She's a forward (no. 4 position) that likes to drive to the basket finishing a shot or dishing off an assist. She's strong and has expanded her range on outside shooting. This season she has made many three-point shots.

Deven has helped the Beavers advance to the NCAA Tournament once again. The kind of experience she's gained over the years will help the Beavers advance well in the tournament.

"Playing in the NCAA Tournament was an amazing feeling! We were a little disappointed that we didn't finish the way we would have liked to, but it was a great experience. We can just process it as a learning experience and stay positive to get back there again," Deven said last summer.

Well, it's happened. Deven was right, they are back for another opportunity to do well in the NCAA Tournament. Starting Friday, March 18th 2016 in Corvallis where they will play Troy in the first round. With talented players on her team like Ruth Hamblin, Jamie Weisner, Sydney Wiese, and Katie McWilliams, this Beaver team could go a long ways in the Big Dance.

Deven is doing great in the academic world, she holds a 3.3 GPA and her major is Apparel Design with a minor in Market Merchandise Management. With basketball practices, games, and meetings it's hard to find time to study. She is big into time management and finding a balance. During road trips she takes her school work with her. Studies are very important to an athlete -- without the grades you can't play. At OSU they have study halls, tutors, and even meetings with the instructors -- this helps the athletes make the grade.

Deven has a great player-coach relationship with Head Coach Scott Rueck.

"Coach is great, he knows how to balance the practices. If we're not working hard enough he knows how to motivate us by giving us a little push. He knows his stuff -- he led us to the NCAA Tournament," Deven said.

In an article on the Beaver site, Scott Rueck says, "Deven is a big-time player and a big-time athlete."

Everyone that knows Deven from the Salem-Keizer area is very proud of her accomplishments. We wish her the very best next season at Oregon State -- Go Beavers!

Does Deven Hunter have a goal after her senior year? Of course, she's open to several options. If there is interest from the WNBA, she'll be part of the draft. Playing overseas is also a possibility. If a job opportunity arises in Apparel Design, she's also open for that.

Deven, what are your three favorite moments of all time?

Starting as a freshman on the Beaver's basketball team, winning the PAC12 Championship, and advancing to the NCAA Tournament (March Madness).

Favorite movie?

Love and Basketball.

Favorite Athlete?

Blake Griffin.

Favorite NBA team and WNBA team?

LA Clippers and LA Sparks.

What kind of advice can you give a young female athlete?

Work hard, set goals. Read your dreams -- hang out with people that lift you. Some people will put you down -- don't listen to them. Stay with your dream.

BallUP Streetball's The Professor - a Hometown Signing

                                                                  The Professor and Author David Espinoza

On Saturday May 16, 2015, it was a special day for a talented young man. Grayson Boucher is also known as "The Professor". He wears #12 on his BallUP Streetball uniform. He now lives in Los Angeles and doesn't get a chance to come visit the place he was raised in - the Salem/Keizer, Oregon area. At Hattawear, which is located at the Reed Opera House, Grayson held a meet and greet and an in-store signing, 12:00-1:00 p.m. for all of his family and fans. Oh, and the best part, this humble young man gave away free signed cards.

"It was a blessing to be able to interact firsthand with such strong supporters of mine in Salem today. I loved every second of it. Big thank you to Luke Hess and Hattawear for being gracious enough to host and promote the signing," Grayson said.

Grayson is the son of Steve and Molly Boucher. He also has a brother, Landon. The first time he touched a basketball as a toddler was when his dad bought him a Larry Bird hoop. Grayson fell in love with basketball and had a difficult time focusing on anything else. His parents tried signing him up for many other activities, but he always went back to basketball.

One of the obstacles he had to overcome was his small frame and height. Grayson was always one of the shortest and skinniest kids playing on any team. But there was something about him that was different from other basketball players - his flashy style of play and his ball-handling skills.

Discipline basketball was too slow for his pace - he'd rather run the court, shoot 3-point shots, and throw a behind-the-back pass. His free-throws were automatic and they still are.

Grayson - The Professor Boucher attended Gubser Elementary School, Whiteaker Middle School, and McNary High School in Keizer, Oregon. He then transferred from McNary to Salem Academy, a private Christian high school. At Salem Academy he blossomed into an elite all-state player that led his team to the state playoffs.

College basketball was much more competitive and the guys were a lot bigger. Grayson was a little nervous at first, but that changed real quick when he gained his confidence - he realized he could definitely battle with the big boys. At the time he was only 5' 8". He played for ChemeketaCommunity College one year and was planning on returning the following year as an improved player on every level of the game.

In 2003 he found out about an open run that the And 1 Mixtape Tour was holding in Portland, Oregon. He and his brother, Landon drove to Portland. There were many ballers trying out showing their ball-handling styles, fancy passes, and sharp shooting. The winner selected would earn a spot on the tour. An ESPN TV series called Streetball was being aired weekly. If Grayson was selected, he would join the tour, he would be one of the players on the show. He was selected! After many city stops the tour would come to an end. It was like the American Idol of basketball. The last player standing would win a contract with And 1. Grayson won that contract!

After a six-year run the show ended and by 2011 no contract was offered to any of the players - Grayson left And 1 with several other players. In 2012, Grayson joined BallUP Streetball, a company based out of Los Angeles, California. BallUP Streetball signed a deal with Fox Sports to air ten TV episodes beginning with a celebrity all-start game. A new adventure began for the Professor.

He joined talented streetballers like Air Up There, Bone Collector, AO, Sik Wit It, the late Escalade (RIP), Springs, Violator, Special FX, Mr. Afrika, and Pat the Rock. The entertaining squad currently tours all over the world - The Professor is a huge hit wherever he plays.

The Professor has added a new adventure. Not knowing all the details of how he started all of this, I'll say that everyone is having a blast with his six episodes of Youtube videos he stars in ... Spiderman Basketball. His hard work of true action while in a Spiderman uniform is mesmerizing. How does he do that!

The hometown visit was a success. I showed up right at 12:00 noon and I saw several people standing around waiting. Many kids had their basketballs ready to be autographed by The Professor. A few minutes later in walks The Professor with a camera crew following him. It was a pleasure seeing him again and it was very exciting watching all of his fans lined up for their chance to take a picture and receive an autograph.

Grayson, God bless you for taking the time to talk to everyone that showed up at your in-store signing. And thank you Hattawear for the use of your store - it was a blast!

A few years ago my son and I traveled to LA to hang out with Grayson. On a two-day stay I interviewed him for a featured story about his life and what inspired him to choose his path. His full-detailed story is remarkable. Please order the book ... The Professor Grayson Boucher Plus More NW Sports Stories. You will enjoy reading about what he has been through. His success is not something that came easy ... he worked very hard - trust me.

Author David Espinoza - Book-Signing Event

Author David Espinoza will hold a book-signing event at Big Town Hero. He would like to thank Scott White, the owner, for the use of his amazing soup-sandwich place. Stop by at your convenience, grab a sandwich, and meet the author, who has written a total of four books and one memoir. There is plenty of parking right in front of the venue. Date: Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Place: Big Town Hero in Keizer, Oregon

Address: 5099   River Road N, Keizer, OR 97303

Directions: Keizer sits next to Salem - heading south off I-5 take Keizer exit, turn right go a couple of miles then left on River Road - go about a mile, it's on the right inside a mini-mall.

                                                              Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid

Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid  was published in 2011 and is the first part of the new release. In this realism-fiction novel, a poor family packs up in Texas and moves to Oregon. Carlos has just graduated from the eighth grade and he's not too happy - Dimmitt, Texas, is a place one might call his comfort zone - his friends and a sports career were left behind. When he arrives at Gervais High School, his family is broke and the family struggles. He meets a very wealthy kid, Harv, in the berry field and becomes friends with him.  When he meets his high school sweetheart (Liz), his disappointment takes a drastic turn. The only problem is the discrimination he faces from Liz Bradford's dad, Ted. This diverse story is about two cultures coming together. In addition, will Carlos and Harv help the Gervais Cougars make it to state?

                                                           Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid II

New Release Title: Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid II

ISBN: 978-1-60862-590-1

Page Count: 258

Price: $15.00

Publisher: E-BookTime, LLC

Genre: Sports Fiction

Description:

Spiral back to 1980 when kids were talking to each other instead of texting. In this Gervais High School story it's senior year. Carlos has several life-changing decisions to make. The Edmonton Eskimos, from the Canadian Football League, offer him a great deal. Liz Bradford has acquired two new friends, Kalin Jensen and Brianna Harper. Liz doesn't agree with Carlos going pro right out of high school. She feels that a college education is more important. Her brother, Harv, feels differently. Dirk Newman has graduated and continues to be the antagonist – a prejudiced bully that lingers around wanting Carlos to fail. This realism-fiction novel is about two high school sweethearts growing up and diving into the challenges of the world. The classroom, senior skip day, graduation, airports, a lost love, and the big game are all brought to life. After graduation day, Carlos and Liz are tested on how strong their love is for each other. Will Carlos accept a two-year contract to play professional football in the Canadian Football League?

I wrote this two-part story with the consideration of all ages. I want everyone to enjoy a clean read that sends a positive message while delivering an education of true places in a fun way.

I plan to have all of my books available for sale that day as well. I look forward to meeting you, if you purchase one of my books, you'll get a free DavidEspi.com pen.

Thank you so much for your support!

David Espinoza

What Does it Take to Write a Book?

                                                         2015 Author David Espinoza

Before I write a fiction book, my first thought is, do I even want to do this? As we all know, even writing a two-page essay is plenty of work. Firmly and convicting I decide to myself, yes I really want to do this!

The first thing I come up with is an idea - a topic. I'm sure many authors have their own approach, but I'll share my approach with you. I think about this topic for a few weeks and dream about the many ideas ... how can I start this story? What are some of the  conflicts, relationships, and adventures that will provoke the reader to want more. Is there an antagonist and a protagonist? The ending is also something that I struggle with mentally - I normally don't decide that until I've written most of the story. Do I want this to be a happy ending or a sad ending? Personally, I don't like cliffhangers. I try my best to write three different endings and then select the best one that flows with the entire story.

The characters that I build in my story are people that I take great pride in creating. My mind leads me to people I've known from the past. The personalities, the appearances, and the behaviors. I put a twist in some of my characters visualizing their actions and what might happen based on their impulses. At fifty-six years of age I have so many memorable experiences that I take full advantage of my knowledge and apply it to the story.

When and where is this story taking place? This is important so that I can describe a setting or maybe music in the background. In my newest book, I picked the 1980s and the place is Gervais High School, simply because that's where I graduated from - I know the area well. This makes it easy to write about places where characters hang out.

I try to outline my chapters ahead of time, although it seems like I always change the titles or add new chapters along the way based on flow. While in this writing process I get frustrated at times because I discover that I've written something in the first chapter that doesn't pan out with what I wrote in the fourth chapter. Naturally, I go back and rewrite for accuracy on context.

The frustrations and tiring work of writing a book is something I detach from the enjoyment of creativity and the passion of telling a story and sending a positive message to the readers. The sacrifice is worth giving to the audience.

After the first year of writing this book, I start seeing my characters come to life when I'm sleeping at night. In my new book, Carlos (a poor Hispanic kid) and Liz ( a wealthy White girl) are high-school sweethearts experiencing many things during their senior year, conflicts, new challenges, and new friendships. Not everyone accepts interracial couples. Dirk is the bully and the antagonist that can't stand to see a Hispanic kid with one of his own kind. As the senior year is coming to an end, Carlos is faced with a major decision. Will he bypass a college scholarship to play football for a chance at signing a major contract to play professional football? This could bring his family out of poverty.

My thoughts went to Liz's character and how she deals with this. Carlos would be giving up an education for big money in the Canadian Football League. Liz would rather Carlos play college football - she has her reasons.

As I develop the scenarios in my mind day after day, my head is numb from thinking and writing. Sometimes I'll take a couple of days off to rest my brain - that helps a lot. As I arrive at completing the first draft after two years of work, I see a light at the end of a tunnel. It's quite relieving to finally be done with my main idea of a story.

The not-so-fun work begins. Paragraph transitions, grammar errors, correct spelling, and rewrites. This process is called editing. I have about five grammar-reference books that I use. It's amazing how many times I will read the story I wrote for editing purposes - on the average, about twenty times - we're talking over 250 pages. I print the manuscript out - much easier than sitting at the computer editing. My wife, Loni, is my reader and editing partner. It's so important to have a different set of eyes. I encourage anyone that writes a book to get a reader.

The book cover is another piece that is crucial. I want the cover to catch someone's attention and to fit what the story is about. I pick the photos and I write the text for the back or front of the cover. My son, Jake, studied computer graphics at the University of Oregon. He designs all my book covers. My son, Matt, does a great job with photography - he provides the photo for the front cover.

It takes dedication, persistence, and hard work. I lay down a set of objectives and one goal. The most important object is, write every day even if it's for one hour a day. Use Microsoft Word (or word processor that publisher requires) and get a flash drive to save the progress you've made. Find a comfortable seat and stretch a lot - sitting is not good for the back. Get plenty of rest. Look away from the screen periodically to prevent eye strain - maybe look out of the window for a few minutes. There's more objectives, but I won't list all of them. My one goal is to see the finished paperback book that I wrote - many people will not have the same feeling as the author. The author knows what it took to put this product into the competitive market.

When I feel the manuscript is clean, I then submit it to my publisher. We start the publishing process which is another challenge and adventure - I won't talk too much about this. It involves a contract that the publishing company has the author sign - must read carefully. The manuscript is received from the publisher in a PDF file. It is sent back and forth with revisions from the author until both sides are happy. Once approved, the cover and manuscript are sent to the printing plant for setup and print. After a few days the book is available for online sells through Amazon or any book stores. The author can order a shipment of books for signings and appearances.

Keep in mind that every author publishes a different way. Some authors may even have an agent or a publicist to help with marketing - I can't really afford one right now. But maybe some day I will get an offer for nation-wide distribution - still working on that part. So when someone wants to know about publishing, well, that's a tough one to answer because there are many ways.

My fourth and newest book is called, Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid II - sports fiction. It took me roughly two years to write this story - I feel passionate about the subject. This uplifting story sends a positive message and will keep you going chapter after chapter. Release month is June 2015.

                                                            Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid II

I'm holding a book signing on Saturday, June 20, 2015, 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. in Keizer, Oregon, at Big Town Hero. It will be an informal book signing ... drop by and purchase my new book when it's convenient for you. I look forward to meeting you.

My goal is to someday make it to the best seller list - God willing. What I stand for as an author, is to deliver clean reading material for pleasure to everyone out there of all ages.

Thank you for taking the time,

David Espinoza

Home Schooled, Annabel Guptill, Passionate About Running and Music

     2015 Annabel Guptill Runs a 5K

Versatile is an understatement for a young blue-eyed blonde who has stunning-stage presence. Her mom says, "Annabel's schedule is insane!" It doesn't seem to phase the 5'8" high school junior with her upbeat-friendly personality. Oh, and I'd like to mention that she's only sixteen and maintains a 4.0 GPA?

Annabel Guptill was born in Huntington Beach, California. The proud parents are Scott and Celeste. She is the oldest of five sisters and two brothers -- that in itself tells you the busy life she's living. As a little girl, she lived near the beach and her life was moving from place to place.

When Annabel was seven years old, her family moved up to Ontario, Oregon. She has been home schooled all of her life with the exception of a few elective classes at some public schools. At this age she also started taking lessons to play the fiddle and the piano. She has played instruments and sang since she could talk. She found a love for music at an early age.

"I experienced moving around so much when I was young and realized how difficult it was being the new kid at a school. We didn't want that for our kids -- home schooling seemed to be a solution for us. In Ontario there was such a large community of home schoolers, we even had sports teams," her mom said.

Annabel was raised in a calm middle-class neighborhood close to the Oregon-Idaho border. She hung out with a group of friends and she attended church functions regularly. When she was nine years old she'd often watch Bianca Thompson, a runner from the high school. Annabel was always beating her friends in races. One day she finally worked up the courage to ask Bianca if she would race her. Bianca was a good runner and of course Annabel was much younger.

"I think watching Bianca really inspired me to become a runner. When I saw myself beating my friends in the neighborhood, and all my brothers and sisters, well, I'm older so I guess I should beat them -- ha-ha! I think that's when I realized that maybe I could be a good runner," Annabel said.

Annabel loved competing for home-schooled teams like volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Her home school team would always win against many public schools in the area.

"I remember playing tennis with a friend. There were runners going by. I would say, 'those people are so dumb, I will never run -- that isn't even a skill!' During volleyball our coach made us run a mile, and if you didn't run it under eight minutes you couldn't play," Annabel said.

The grades that ran the mile were six through twelve and Annabel would win every time. In basketball she was always the first one down the court. She started finding a passion for running and started realizing that maybe she had found her sport. Although she loved basketball, the shots wouldn't always go in.

Annabel struggled in reading as a young kid, but her mom persevered by helping her read Bible scriptures or anything that might help improve her reading. One day she just blossomed by reading the entire  "Laura Ingles Wilder" series.

"I couldn't believe it to tell you the truth. I asked her questions about the books and she answered everyone correctly," Celeste said.

During her eighth grade year, the Guptills moved to the Willamette Valley due to a teaching job offer that her dad received in Silverton, Oregon. Annabel's mom posted a comment on Facebook requesting info on a home for a family of ten. Someone responded and they were able to move into a rental home in Keizer, Oregon.

Home school has been such a blessing to Annabel. Her mom speaks of purchasing tests to take at different levels -- third grade, fifth grade, eighth grade, and tenth grade -- every state has different policies. She has the option of taking electives at the public school, and participating in sports. She is a member of the McNary Cross Country Team and the McNary Track and Field Team.

"I enjoy home school because of the flexibility. I study by my own schedule and I can compete in sports teams at McNary. I'm able to spend time with my friends so I still get the social aspect as well," Annabel said.

Although home schooling has it's pros and cons, Annabel finds more pros. She is improving every day while she works hard to become a great runner. Her training schedule is usually running at least 30 miles a week. Sometimes she'll run six miles worth of intervals for strength. Last year, her best time in the 3K as a sophomore was 11:53. She qualified for the state meet in Eugene, Oregon, but finished in the middle of the pack.

"I got stuck in the middle of the pack right at the beginning and when I finally got past them, there wasn't enough time to gain what I lost," Annabel said.

Annabel doesn't look at running in a way that she's the best, but she looks at running as a challenge for herself to get better every year. She wants to make it to the state meet again this year and place higher than last year. She wants to earn a spot on the McNary 4 x 400 relay team. Her best time in the 400 meters is 61 seconds, she hopes to break 60 seconds in the near future.

2015 Annabel Guptill with her Fiddle

While running keeps her active, she has such a passion for music. The God-given talent of playing several instruments, like the violin-fiddle, piano, and saxophone, has given her a whole new leisure of a positive activity that she loves. At sixteen years old she is an instructor and has ten clients, some that are special-needs.

"Being a home schooled student gives me the opportunity to teach music lessons, I've been teaching the last three years. I enjoy teaching and at the same time I've also learned about life skills -- an amazing experience," Annabel said.

Annabel is part of a worship team for her church, and is involved with Orchestra at McNary High School. She has recently become part of the Highway Home Gospel Bluegrass Band. She's a new member so her picture won't be part of that band yet.

"We've never been parents that have pressured our kids, but we do recognize their gifts and encourage them as much as we can," her mom said.

Annabel has a leader-type personality. When someone asks her a question, she'll give her opinion -- she'll tell it like it is. She organizes events for her team and friends and follows through.

Her parents have supported her in so many ways. Her dad is out there timing her and giving her helpful hints on her running form, etc. Her mom is always teaching her about nutrition -- what the body needs to continue training. She's also the stay-at-home mom that puts in the hours for home school. Annabel's grandparents are also supportive. They moved to Keizer to help out the Guptills.

"I'm so thankful for her grandparents, if we need something and I can't be there, they are always willing to help us out," Celeste said.

Annabel is the type of kid that welcomes her little brother, Tyler, when he wants to go hang out with her entire team. She'll have him ride his bike while they run. Most kids these days will not want their little brother tagging along. She has a good heart and loves her family dearly.

This year she qualified for a national competition in the Oregon Old-Time Fiddlers. She placed first at the state competition in the "Twin Fiddler" with Hyrum Kohler, who attends McNary High School. She placed second in the "Solo Fiddler" event. She'll compete at nationals this June 2015.

"She is so nice and amazing ... and especially to all of her siblings, I'm so proud of Annabel," her grandma said.

Annabel will be graduating high school at age sixteen, she's very young. Her dedication to running and music will continue. She would really love to run the 5K in college and is looking at Corban University in Salem, Oregon. Music is more likely as far as scholarship funds, but she plans to keep training and improving as much as she can on running.

"I'm still young and have time to continue working hard even after high school. I would really love to run in college and be committed to music as well," Annabel said.

Annabel's talents are mesmerizing, I can't begin to think how much work this young lady has put in over the years. For a long-term goal, she would love to continue teaching music, and eventually become an accountant. Starting a family some day is included in the list.

When I asked Annabel to play the fiddle for me, I was expecting a young girl that played average. I was blown away! I almost started dancing with an injured knee.

One can only imagine accomplishing so much as a young teenager ... congrats Annabel, you are a wonderful example for many people. Keep doing what you're doing.

1. Annabel, what are your favorite hobbies?

I like playing the fiddle, making music, cooking and decorating cakes,  and listening to country music.

2. What are your favorite subjects in school?

I like science, history, and chemistry.

3. Who is your favorite athlete that inspires you?

Eric Liddell, an Olympic athlete and missionary, inspires me.

4. What advice can you give young athletes that are following a dream like yours?

Find your passion and work hard at it. I know I'm not the best at what I do, but I have the desire to improve every day.

Salem Hoops Project - Every Kid Deserves a Chance

Matt Espinoza, Director of Salem Hoops Project

Too often, lack of funds is the reason a child may not be able to participate in a basketball camp. I’ve seen many young kids eager to learn how to shoot the basketball or dribble it the right way. Sometimes unfortunate kids envy the players that experience being on a basketball team and playing to have fun.

A basketball camp could cost anywhere from $60.00 to $125.00 per day depending on where it is and who’s organizing it. Don’t get me wrong, I think that’s awesome that coaches are holding these basketball camps or clinics. It is hard work – teaching kids fundamentals and drills.  Private lessons can cost a parent on the average $60.00 per hour – maybe more depending on who the trainer is.

There are families that just can’t afford those high-priced camps, clinics, or private lessons. There are so many single moms, single dads, and married parents that know nothing about basketball, but their child wants to learn basketball skills. Those kids often suffer the lack of fundamental skills when they get into high school. The result is either getting cut from the team or sitting on the bench with lack of playing time. Kids sign up to play. A survey says that the number one reason kids play sports is to have fun. Sitting the bench is not fun. Sometimes kids quit for that reason.

Dribbling Skills with Coach Noza

Salem Hoops Project is “Free” and spearheaded by Director and Coach Matt Espinoza – he’s the founder of the program that he started in Salem, Oregon, at McKay High School. This community program has grown fast. He’s currently a basketball coach at McKay High School, a basketball trainer at Shoot360, and has completed his Masters Degree in Education. Matt has been certified in Strength and Conditioning, Weightlifting, and has learned basketball skills from some the best college coaches. Coach Noza learned many skills while he played college basketball and even two years of professional basketball. He now demonstrates the skills to students in a way they understand – he’s very patient too.

Noza set two 3-point shooting records at Southern Oregon University in 2007 where he was awarded a national scholar athlete award as well. He’s an intense student of the game keeping up with the newest drills to help a basketball player – one of my favorites to watch is the basketball-tennis drill for coordination. It’s so important to have your child learn from a person that has a passion for the game of basketball. This means that your child will learn the correct footwork, shooting form, ball-handling skills, etc. in a fun way – and the best part, it’s “Free”.

When Coach Noza first started the program, he used his own funds to buy prizes to raffle off to the kids. Now he receives basketballs and other items to give as prizes from donors.

High school basketball players help at the clinic, which is very much appreciated. All of the high school volunteers that I’ve talked to have had fun helping out the younger kids and being part of Salem Hoops Project. It’s so rewarding to know you’ve helped someone else in the community.

This is how Coach Noza describes Salem Hoops Project on his website – No child should be limited from opportunities because of financial limitations. The aim of Salem Hoops Project is to provide organized basketball training through use of donors and volunteers. While basketball may simply be a sport, it also provides youth with a positive environment to develop life-skills. Athletics, if used correctly, can be a gateway to achievement in all aspects of life. The Salem Hoops Project is spearheaded by Matt Espinoza. Matt is a 2007 graduate of Southern Oregon University and has been coaching basketball in the Salem-Keizer School District since then.

“The Salem Hoops Project will provide area youth with a place to develop life-skills, personal growth, and a sense of community using the game of basketball as a source of inspiration,” Matt Espinoza said.

Salem Hoops Project clinics are normally during holidays, because that’s when parents can bring their kids to the clinic. If your son or daughter is looking for a place to improve their basketball skills at no cost, please consider bringing them to Salem Hoops Project. K-5 and 6th– 8th grades have set schedules throughout the year. Every child deserves an opportunity to improve their skills in a positive environment.

If you have questions or would like to register your child, please email salemhoopsproject@gmail.com… also visit www.coachnoza.com for more details.

Thanks for your support!

A Wakeup Call and a Shock, No Lord Not Twice!

Loni and David in 2005

My wife Loni and I recently celebrated our ninth-year wedding anniversary – we got married in 2005. I took her out to Red Lobster in Salem and we had such a great time. We both agreed that this past year had been the best year of our marriage which has grown amazingly – we are definitely “one” and love each other very much.

Let me take you on a flashback. On December 6th of 1980 I married, Candi, my first wife – my high school sweetheart. To make a long story short, we were married for thirteen years before brain cancer took her from me and my two boys (who were 9 and 11 years old at the time). It was then that I realized how much I actually loved a person – tough times.

On Monday, January 5th, 2015, my wife, Loni, returned to school after a wonderful Christmas vacation. I went in to get a much anticipated haircut at the Keizer Station. I wanted to look presentable since I was scheduled to appear on a local TV show called “Awesome Authors”. My wife always tells me, “Dave, wait until you get home to answer your text messages – they can wait.” While my hair was getting cut I didn’t answer my text messages. The haircut was finally completed so I drove to my next destination – had some errands to run and bills to mail off.

At 11:45 a.m. I parked my SUV and pulled out my phone immediately … an alarming message, “Hi Dave, this is Artonya. We have been trying to reach you. Loni is here in the ER at Salem Hospital.” I felt my body go into shock – almost like feeling numb for two seconds. I took a deep breath and responded, “On my way!” – shifted the gear into reverse and then into drive and I sped as fast as I could down Portland Rd. I heard my phone again, pulled over momentarily to read the text – it was Artonya (the school principal) again, “She said don’t worry.” My wife knows me so well – she knew I would be driving like a maniac to get to her. I was hoping a police would see me and escort me to the ER – luckily I didn’t need that service.

While driving to the emergency room all I could think about was two scriptures, Matthew 9:22, when Jesus said, “Take heart daughter – your faith has made you well.” Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your path. I kept thinking, no Lord, not twice! After remembering those two scriptures, I found myself relaxed and somehow calmed down.

When I arrived at the hospital emergency wing, I saw my wife with Artonya next to her in the room (thank you Artonya for staying with my wife until I got there). And thank you to the Brush College Elementary Staff for taking care of her while the ambulance was on its way.

Loni was feeling really good when she drove to work that morning. Her two first classes went well, but during her third class she began to slur her speech. She immediately knew it was a sign of a stroke and notified another teacher. Loni herself took all the right steps, especially having someone call 911 to get her into the ER ASAP.

I prayed with my wife in the room and I thought about those two scriptures again. They wheeled her off for an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging – image slices of the brain). While I was waiting nervously all I could think about was how my first wife had speech problems due to a tumor pressing on that part of the brain. I notified our kids, some family members, and the school on what was happening.

When the results came back much later, the ER doctor said that the MRI was clean and he did not see any sign of a major stroke. It was possibly a TIA (tiny stroke). The brain has tiny vessels that go everywhere and somehow a clot or break of oxygen affected the speech part of the brain. The slurred speech happened for two or three minutes back at her school. After that she could talk normal. She then experienced headaches if she talked too much.

After a few days off, we visited her family doctor and we learned more about strokes and what we needed to do to prevent any in the future. This really caught my attention. My wife and I immediately changed our diets to start eating healthier. The funny thing is that she eats so much healthier than I do – ironic. Our kids tell us regularly to start eating healthier and encourage us all the time. Well, I guess this certainly hit home.

Loni's Flowers from David

The good news, I drove Loni to work on Thursday morning. She is doing better every day and I’m so thrilled to see her laughing again. I jokingly told her, you need to start eating more McDonald’s hamburgers– ha-ha!

We are following the doctor’s orders to help prevent this from happening again. I recommend you all to exercise, check your blood pressure regularly, and eat healthy. Also, do research on what causes strokes. There are many opinions but they are all pretty consistent. I’m so thankful that I didn’t lose my precious wife, and that the good Lord answers prayers.

Noah Torres Wins the Espi Essay Contest

Noah Torres displays his favorite book

The $100.00 winner of the Espi Essay Contest is Noah Torres! Noah is a freshman at Moses Lake Christian Academy. This young man lives in Moses Lake, Washington. Congratulations Noah! Thank you to all of the people that entered especially Cameron Traeger, who was the youngest contestant – a fifth grader in Mt. Angel, Oregon – he gets $20.00 for his solid effort.

Noah wrote a one-page essay on the book I published in 2011, Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid. Enjoy the essay which is posted below.

Noah’s Essay:

David Espinoza has written a total of three books. NOZA: A True Basketball Success Story, The Professor - Grayson Boucher Plus More NW Sports Stories, and Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid. Noza: A True Basketball Success Story was about Matt Espinoza and all of the adversity he and his family overcame together. The Professor - Grayson Boucher Plus More NW Sports Stories tells the stories and the hardships each of the eight athletes overcame. Lastly, of all the books David has written, Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid is my favorite book.

Every book he has written is amazing, but personally, Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid stands out to me as David's best book because tons of people can relate to this book, and also, it is his only book that is realistic fiction.

In this story, the author tells of a young teenager named Carlos. He starts out as a normal kid in Dimmitt, Texas. Later he is forced to move to Gervais, Oregon. Just like any kid, he hates the idea of moving, especially because he has lived his whole life in Dimmitt. He has so many memories, friends, and sports teams he has played with.

In this story, Carlos is a phenomenal athlete. To describe how great of an athlete he is,  David writes that Carlos has an incredible and accurate arm. It was so accurate that when Carlos' family was low on food, his dad would make bets with people that his son would hit a road sign fifty yards away! Sure enough, Carlos would hit the sign spot on! Moving to Gervais was pretty difficult for Carlos, but because he was an incredible athlete, he attracted attention.

Most importantly, this story tells of the poor kid, and the wealthy kid. Carlos becomes friends with a boy named Harv. Harv is not a great athlete, but he is a very wealthy and intelligent person. Carlos' weakness is maintaining good grades in school, and because Harv is pretty smart Carlos asks Harv for help in school. Eventually the two become best of friends. Harv has a sister named Liz. Later in the book, Liz finds herself liking Carlos quite a bit, but unfortunately, Liz's father prohibits her from being around poor Hispanic kids. The rest of the story goes on from there.

This story is my personal favorite. I remember the day this book came in my mailbox – I could not put it down. I had to read what was next! I definitely recommend this book to everyone. The two other books this author wrote were really good, but I believe, for me, this book was the best – mainly because it has a great message.

We all find ourselves fighting for who we are and what we believe in. We also find ourselves fighting for the people we love. In this novel, Liz could have listened to her father and stayed away from Carlos, but she didn't, she really loved Carlos for who he was. Later in the book, she tries to convince her parents that Carlos is a great person. That’s a problem in today's society. People judge other people by how they look. We also need more people like Liz. Standing up for the people we love. Author David Espinoza's message in this book is loud and clear.

Hands down, this book is probably the best book I've ever read. Yes I think it's better than the Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Divergent, etc. Since it is the Christmas season, I would even recommend people to give this book to people they know who haven't read it. It would make a great stocking stuffer! This amazing book is a definite must read!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,

-Noah Torres

Ahmed Muhumed, from Ethiopia to the United States

2014 Ahmed Muhumed - Distance Runner

Just talking to Ahmed and watching his smile you wouldn’t know what this young man has endured. He’s not your average high school student. He has a gift that he discovered, not in Ethiopia, but at Ron Russell Middle School in Portland, Oregon. He now attends West Salem High School and is determined to break some personal records in the 1500 meters, 3000 meters, and 5000 meters.

Ahmed is the son of Abdiwahab Abdi (Dad) and Fardowsa Ahmed (Mom). He has four brothers and four sisters. His dad is disabled but still finds time to volunteer three times a week at AYCO (African Youth and Community Organization) in Portland – he enjoys helping kids.

“When we were in Ethiopia, my dad fell down this deep hole on the ground that was meant for garbage. He injured himself severely and is limited on what he can do,” Ahmed said.

His mom stays at home with the kids – she does daycare work as well. It’s very difficult for a non-English-speaking person to find work. During the summers it’s much easier.

Ahmed grew up in eastern Africa (Ethiopia). He lived in a small town called Kabribayah close to a refugee camp – a lot of poverty in that area. For example, $50.00 in the U.S.A. is equivalent to $1500.00 in Kabribayah. He would walk six miles roundtrip to school every day. The school he attended is not like here in the U.S.A. He speaks of five-year-old kids through ten-year-old kids mixed in the same class. Every kid has the opportunity to advance at their own pace.

Ahmed was known as the smart kid in his neighborhood. His friends would always come to his home to ask for help or to play. He was more than willing to help his friends.

“I had friends knocking at my door all the time. I knew all of them by name. I’ll give you my educated guess of how many – let’s say around 200 friends,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed speaks of how his family was in the upper-middle class in Ethiopia, but here in the United States that class would be very poor. Kids played everyday, soccer mainly, but there would never be a chance to advance – it was just for fun.

“There wasn’t much money – plenty of poor kids running around everywhere. We would have fun and laugh all the time despite that hardship,” Ahmed said.

In 2005 there was a United Nations’ program. Not being clear of all the details to this program, Ahmed speaks of how the officials were giving families the opportunities to relocate to countries like Europe, the U.S., etc. His dad and mom were not thrilled at first, but when they learned about a possible better education and life for their kids, they decided to apply for a chance at coming to the United States. It wasn’t easy as they had to pass a series of written tests, medical examinations, etc. They had to meet strict qualifications. The family was approved after a few years – they had met all the qualifications and were U.S.A. bound.

Ahmed and his family arrived in Portland, Oregon, September 2011. He attended seventh and eighth grade at Ron Russell Middle School in southeast Portland. It was there that P.E. Teacher Mrs. Maccomber inspired this young man to become a runner. She had recognized how well he had done in the pacer test as a seventh grader. He scored 107 and later, 136. She also witnessed him running the 1600 meters in six minutes flat.

“Hey Ahmed, You’re doing track right?” Mrs. Maccomber asked.

“No, I’m doing soccer,” Ahmed said.

“Ahmed, if you run the 1500 meters in 4:15 I will pay for all of your high school sports’ fees at David Douglas,” she said.

Ahmed came really close – he ran a 4:30 in the 1500 meters. The P.E. teacher was so impressed by his dedication and work ethic to try and meet her request that she agreed to pay for his fees. Ahmed started realizing that he could be a very good runner. He had never been part of a track club, but worked hard at improving.

During his freshman year of high school his parents made a decision to move to Salem – about an hour away from Portland. They chose West Salem High School for Ahmed to attend. His brothers and sisters would attend there as well. West Salem is an area that consists of middle to upper-class families. In the flats there are more low-income families. Ahmed’s family settled in the flats.

Ahmed is not your average high school student. His hobbies are not watching TV, going to movies, playing video games, or hanging out with friends. His hobbies are cooking for his family, taking care of his brothers and sisters, and interpreting for his parents, who don’t speak much English. In addition to knowing English, Ahmed knows three more languages – Somali, Amharic, and Arabic.

“No one really knows that I enjoy cooking – especially Somali food. Back where I come from a lot of the people in the refugee camp were Somali. My grandma was really like my mother when I was growing up. I would help her walk across the street. My mom was always super busy with many things. Grandma taught me how to cook. She taught me many other things too – especially how to help people,” Ahmed said.

One can only imagine how tough the adjustment must have been for Ahmed, coming from such a different culture and accomplishing the many things he has at West Salem. As a freshman and sophomore he was the district champion in cross country and in track and field events. He has run 15:03 in the 5K cross country. He has run 8:46 in the 3K, and 4:03 in the 1500 meters. He was recently named the 2014 SJ All-Mid-Valley boys cross country athlete of the year.

“I run six days a week, and I realize I still have so much more room to improve. Running in the West Salem hills is great,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed admits that at West Salem the people are different than where he was raised. He’s learning so much everyday and in the academic world he has improved to a 3.8 GPA. He speaks of how his parents have supported him by just simply loving him and encouraging him to have fun but work hard at achieving his goals in life.

“The students at West Salem respect me because I’m a great runner. People tell me I smile all the time. I don’t have many real friends here, but I think I have a lot of fans here. They treat me good, maybe there’s some drama here and there, but not any different than any other student,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed in the middle preparing for a race

As a runner, Ahmed is the type of person that encourages runners that compete against him. He likes to support his competitors. One of his favorite memories is coming from behind and winning a race. At the end of the race, the person he passed up congratulated him and said, you are great man!

Ahmed has a long term goal of being the OSAA 6A State Champion in cross country and in track and field – he believes he can do it by his senior year. He would like to break 4:00 by running a 3:54 1500 meters, and he would like to break 8:46 by running an 8:25 3K. I wish him the very best and I’m rooting for him all the way. Keep on going Ahmed, never give up.

Ahmed was interpreting for me as I asked his mom some questions.

“I’m very proud of him. I want him to be successful … first in education and then in sports. We are all adjusting good here in the U.S.A.,” his mom said.

Ahmed, what are your two favorite moments in running?

Winning the 3K at the Twighlight Relays as a freshman and winning the 5K at the Harrier Classic in 2014.

What are your favorite subjects in school?

My favorites are Computer Science and World Geography.

Who is your favorite athlete?

Mo Farah, a Somali-born long distance runner from Great Britain.

What advice can you give a younger athlete?

Give it time. Don’t give up and stay positive.

ESPI ESSAY CONTEST! Author is Giving Away $100.00 Cash

The holidays are approaching fast and I thought to myself, I have to do something for my readers – I appreciate them so much! Most people can certainly use some extra cash this time of the year. Yes! An ESPI ESSAY CONTEST is perfect.

Starting immediately, all you have to do is write a one-page essay on any of my books. You are welcome to use two pages, but not necessary. The winner will receive $100.00 cash.

Deadline to enter this contest is December 16^th, 2014. Winner will be announced on December 24^th – Christmas Eve. Their essay will be posted on my website.

Send a one-page essay to: David Espinoza, P.O. Box 20393, Keizer, OR 97307. I live in Salem, OR, but my P.O. Box is in Keizer.

Of course … you have to read one of the three books I’ve written.

To order autographed books, mail a check or money order payable to David Espinoza. Look at the top tab "Order Autographed Copy" for retail prices and order information. You can also order through Amazon, just click one of the book covers to the right.

Everyone is eligible to enter except my immediate family members (sorry family).

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement through all my author experiences. I’m looking forward to releasing my fourth book “Poor Kid, Wealthy Kid II”.

I’m excited to read your essays – Good Luck to all!