The Bradsher Beat
Wednesday, December 21,
2011
By Bethany Bradsher |
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Purple and
gold gratitude fills Pirates' outbox
By
Bethany Bradsher
©2011 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Christmas has come early
to the Pirate Nation in myriad ways this year — on courts, fields and
tracks. And since Pirates are nothing if not well-mannered, they have
responded in kind with prompt and thoughtful thank-you notes. A sampling
of the grateful messages going out in the East Carolina mailbag:
• Dear Virginia
Cavaliers,
We would like to
thank you for the generous gift of Britny and Whitny Edwards. The twins
have added maturity, leadership and experience to a team that is giving
a new meaning to the word rebuilding. The Lady Pirates are 6-4 after
nearly toppling North Carolina yesterday, and Britny has already
contributed two double-doubles and pulled down an astounding 18 rebounds
against Jacksonville. We expect that their presence will evoke the same
winning spirit brought by their father, former ECU great Blue Edwards.
Sincerely, the Lady
Pirates coaching staff
• Dear Chanticleers
(what is a chanticleer, anyway?),
I can’t thank you
enough for the wonderful party you hosted for me on December 19. A
coming-out party, and on my own home court, too! My coach had been
talking about the need for new Pirates to emerge offensively, and I
guess my 17 points were a start. Of course, we also had
our most complete victory of the season,
with four players scoring in double figures and 85.7 percent from the
free-throw line. I’m sorry that all we could offer you was 11 turnovers
— we have given more to previous opponents, but we’re trying to cut
back. We hated to hand you your worst defeat of the year so close to the
holidays, but we have a conference schedule to warm up for. Better luck
in the new year.
Best wishes, Shamarr
Bowden
• Dear NCCSIA,
We don’t have room on
the notecard to spell out that acronym, but we understand you’re the
organization responsible for Caty Butler’s selection to the N.C.
All-State Soccer Team. She has definitely worked hard, and it showed
this season with eight goals, four assists and 20 points — all career
highs and all boosts to her Pirates team. She loves the new stadium, and
she says the atmosphere there just keeps getting better. We can’t wait
until Caty’s senior year, when she and teammates like Chrissy Gratz and
Lexi Miller take aim at the Conference USA title. Make sure you’re
watching — hopefully there will be plenty of honors to hand out in 2012.
Gratefully, Caty’s
proud parents
• Dear Indoor Track
and Field Season,
You have always been
good to us, but four school records already? It was only the first
indoor meet of the season, and already our athletes are distinguishing
themselves in all kinds of ways. Joseph Samuels sends his special thanks
— his 7.91 run in the 60m hurdles was a wonderful surprise, especially
since it broke the record set by two-time Olympian Hector Cotto. And the
pole vault was a treat for anyone partial to purple as well — three of
our jumpers — Stephen Hodapp, Henry Johnson and Aaron Zakula — tied for
first with jumps of 4.61 meters, but then Hodapp won the event and the
ECU record in a jump-off. A school record is certainly a thoughtful gift
for an athlete, and runners Tania Minkins and Britney Kott do treasure
theirs — earned in the 60-meter dash and the 600-meter run,
respectively. In all, it was quite an auspicious start to what we expect
will be an eventful season. We can’t wait to see what future treasures
you have in store.
Your friends, the
members of the Pirates track and field teams
A new year brings
endless possibilities and, for ECU athletics, 2012 is an unpainted vista
rich with potential and heart. Here’s hoping that the opportunities for
thankfulness will abound as Pirates of all specialties move forward.
E-mail Bethany Bradsher
PAGE UPDATED
01/03/12 02:39 AM.
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