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Saturday: May 2, 1992 m

but could I kindly have the attention “all of all the teenage athletes in Castle- gar for a few minutes?

Put the skin mags back in dad’s closet, tear yourself away from the phone, the makeup mirror and Nin- tendo and let me help you make your life easier. :

No, it doesn’t involve new ways of skipping class without getting caught —though I was considered a semi-pro in high school — or getting more dates, food, money or fame.

But in a way it involves all those things. Because you, young athletes, should you heed the information sup- plied here, will be on your way to ex- tending your easy, carefree existence for several years.

Sound good? Good. Read on.

You, of course, have to do your part, and that won’t always be easy. But trust me, it will be worth it.

Tl start with the tough one.

You know your friends? The guys/girls you borrow underwear from without thinking twice about issues in personal hygiene. Well, you’re going to have to forget about them. You will anyway, but you have to start thinking about it now.

At some point, you’re going to real- ize that a goodly portion of you’re best buddies in the world are in fact the same people you destroy in video games — alien beings, who really

pants, the better

al world.

This is probably too much to ask, have nothing in common with you at

It’s the same thing with the oppo- site sex .The sooner you figure out that your teenage love will undoubtedly ditch you like dirt for the guy with the cool car or the girl in the spandex

Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine to tongue wrestle and continue all the mindless things all kids do, but keep in my that you, as a student athlete, have a clear road to the easy life and you plan on taking it. You can’t have childish attachments to people you're not going to like in a few years anyway clouding your judgement when it comes time to make the big decisions.

Okay, it gets easier from there.

The next big thing on the road to the leisurely life is school. This is your big ticket item. If you can't negotiate a way into college then, unless you're ex- ceedingly spoiled, you’ve crossed the line from-the easy life to the, gasp, re-

Remember one thing about post secondary education — for the most part, it’s not your brains they want, it’s your money. In other words, econom- ic ability tends to outweigh academic ability in terms of entrance require- ments. Just check out the rigid stan- dards set in the outlines of any first year course at Selkirk College if you don’t believe me. A brain surgeon you don’t have to be to get through these

A short course on the easy life

Agent

bills.

Free

courses.

athletics.

Allof which puts high school in a bit of a different light. :

Sure, you have to goto high school and get the basics, but if you kill your- self trying to get straight As, your wasting your time. I mean, ifI had a buck for all the things I learned in high school that have actually come in handy in the real world, boy, ’'d have $14.50 saved up by now. ‘

High school is a good time for a good time and a good time to concentrate on

Athletics is the third essential re- quirement. Barring a financial wind- fall, it is your key to entry into post secondary education.

And you don’t have to be as super- star either. There’s a million colleges in North America that have a zillion

is clear,

placements on athletic teams, and not all those teams are NCAA or Canadi- an champions.

Once you get on a team, at least a portion of your tuition is paid and, if you only take three courses, you can get a part-time job in a really cool restaurant or bar to pay the rest of the

The key is to take advantage of the opportunities. Keep your eyes and ears open, write letters to a lot of col- leges, or go in as a walk on. It sure beats paying for college on your own.

If you can do all these things you have succeeded in prolo carefree existence for a minimum of four years. You'll realize the rewards’ of this when you see your ex-friends, who are living with your ex-girl friends, bor jobs right after high school

And by the time it’s over you’ve been forced to read some books, do a couple of tests and you end up witha piece of parchment that gives you an edge for jobs on people who are prob- ably more qualified but don’t have that piece of parchment. Cool.

Of course, all these things are just a method of postponing the inevitable — the real world. Unfortunately, at some point you will probably have to make an appearance in the adult world. But believe me, you want to put this off as long as possible. Your path

mig your

slogging away in manual la-

‘Looking Forward...

te News photo by Ed Mills basketball in Kamloops was no picnic, but let a couple of bad experiences, and bad

Ed Mills SPORTS EDITOR

Kristy Lees is an optimist — she has to be.

After the experience she had in her first year of college basketball in Kamloops, things really couldn't get much worse.

With every excuse to sulk, pout or get mad and quit, Lees is doing the exact opposite.

“It was frustrating last year, but I’m just going to go all out and show what I can do next season,” she said.

Back in Castlegar to track down a summer job, work on her game and renew. friend- ships, Lees, 18, described her demoralizing days in Kam- loops without bitterness. She’s looking at it as a learning ex- perience.

“I got my first year in, now I know what it’s going to be like next season. I know I'll have a good season next year.”

A five-foot-four spéeedster who can shoot and handle the ball, Lees was a star on the Stanley Humphries Secondary School’s senior team that fin-

ished third in the province in 1990-91.

Her play at SHSS attracted the attention of a several col- lege scouts and Lees ended up getting a basketball scholar- ship to Cariboo College.

It was a shaky start on a shaky team with a new, inex- perienced coach and a lot of rookie players.

The team didn’t win many games in the beginning, but Lees was a starter, got lots of playing time and was feeling fairly good about it all.

Then the coach was fired and the troubles began soon after his replacement arrived in November.

“She (the new coach) had her own ideas I guess. I start- ed out starting with her and then she was really up and down: — one weekend she’d have me on the court the whole weekend and the next week- end I’d be riding the pine the whole time,” Lees said.

Tt wasn’t a player/coach per- sonality conflict, she said, as much as it was a difference in opinion.

“She told three of us that we were uncoachable pretty much, so my confidence just went down as the season went

on. Lees thought she had a

chance to put it her season back on the rails in the second semester, but that too fell

ugh.

“She said if you prove it to me in practise you'll be play- ing. So I'd run my butt off in practise and then I'd be sitting

on the bench, and I'd have no_

clue what she wants.

“It was pretty frustrating. You try and show her what you can do and it didn’t seem to make any difference at all.

“I ended up playing second string point guard, I wasn’t too impressed.”

The Sun Demons finished with a 6-8 record and missed the playoffs in the B.C. Col- leges Athletic Association .

Despite playing through a difficult situation, Lees stayed focused on school work and re- membered the reason she was playing college ball in the first place — as a stepping stone to university ball.

She knows that the coming season is a pivotal one if she hopes to get to university. And her positive attitude says she’s ready to accept the challenge.

“It'll be very different, I’m going all out next year. We have new coach and usually I have a better season my seéc- ond year with a team,” she said.

...1to Better Days

2h e

NEWS STAFF

The Castlegar Figure Skat- ing Club officially wrapped up its season with its awards banquet last week.

And it was familiar names in the club who walked away with its major awards.

The Castlegar Figure Skating club officially put an end to its season by handing out the heavy

Newcomer and top club performer Larissa Leason took the Most Congenial award, while Daniel Jmieff was named the Most Dedicat- ed skater and Laura Kosowan picked up the prestigious Artist award.

avy hardware at its wrap-up banquet.

The club handed out three awards in the most improved category with Erin Cawte tak- ing-the overall prize. Alexis Rideout was named Most Im- proved Junior and Karen Skibinski got Most Improved Senior.

Among the big winners were Larissa Leason, Daniel Jmieff, Laura Kosowan, Erin Cawte and Karen Skibinski.

Skaters collect hardware at wrap-up banquet

Meanwhile, about 185 skaters from nine clubs across the Kootenays were tested over two days in March as the local club hosted the event at the Community Complex.

Skaters of all skill levels participated.

COMMUNITY

MEN'S SUPPORT GROUP Castlegar Community Services will be offering a Men's Support Group in May (date TBA). The group will present an opportunity to explore the stress-in our lives and discover directions toward health and well-being. For more information phone 365-2104. There is no charge. (5/33)

BAG SALE St. David's Thrift Shop, $2.00 per bag. May 5-May 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

daily. (2/35)

SPRING TEA Jobs Daughters Senior Citizens Hall, May 9th. 1-3 p.m. Tickets $1.50.

Bake Table, Door Prize. (2/35)

CONCERT FOR JUSTICE Featuring the Galo family from Nicaragua and local artists. Friday, May 8th 7:30 p.m. St. Paul's-Trinity United Church, Nelson. $5.00 or by donation. Sponsored by Tools for Peace, Nelson Central America Support & West Kootenay CUSO. 354-2094 or 365-5077 for into. (2/35)

CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE CONFERENCE Saturday, May 9th 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $15 includes lunch. Pre-

registration: 365-5077 or 354-2094. Ri

Galo Family (2/35)

include the Ni

Coming eyents of Castlegar and District non-profit organizations may be

listed hi

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Boldfaced words (which must be used for headings) count as two words. There is no extra charge for a second insertion while the third consecutive insertion is half-price and the fourth and fifth consecutive insertions are only half price for the two of them. Minimum charge is $5 (whether ad is for one, two or three. times). Deadlines are 5 p.m. Wednesdays for

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y's paper.

y for should be brought to the Castlegar News at 197 Columbia Ave.

COMMUNITY

Bulletin Board

If you are a woman 40 or over, this program is a must. THE SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY PROGRAM OF B.C,

A free service for the early detection of breast cancer. Doctor's referral not required. Ministry of Health funded. Call for the centre nearest you. Lower Mainland 660-3639. Free Long Distance 1-800-663-9203.

British Columbia

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TheNUMBERS _

1992 WEST KOOTENAY GOLF CALENDAR CHRISTINA LAKE Pro./Mgr.: Carl Yelland Supt.: Doug Agnew April 26 Junior Circuit June 20-21 Men's Open Sept. 3 Senior's Open CRESTON Pro.: Randy Panton Supt.: Tim Edwards May 17-18 Kokanee Open May 24 Toyota Deale4rs of B.C. & Earl's Zone 1 (Wewst) Amateur, Junior & Sumer Games Qualifying June 9 Ladies’ Open —

~ July 5 Fruit G owers Junior Circuit

July 9-10 Senior's Open Aug. 12-13 B.C. Championship (Hcp. 9-18) Aug. 15-16 Ladies’ Open Sept. 13 Harvest Open KASLO Pres.: Bill Russell Supt.: Jim Draper July 5 Rainbow Open Aug. 10 Rainbow Open KETTLE VALLEY Pres./Supt.: Gerald Dennill Sec/Treas.: Lynda Dennill Sept. 12-13 dMen's Open Sept. 20 Mixed Open KOKANEE SPRINGS Pro.: Neil Green Supt.: Craig Stocker Sept. 12-13 Men's Open NAKUSP ea Sr Pro./Mgr.: Wayne Young Supt.: George Mcintryre. April 26 Zone One (West) Nine-Player Team Scramble July 8 Ladies’ Invitational Aug. 23 Men's & Ladies* Open NEW DENVER (358-2408) Pres.,: Ray Williams Supt.: Richard James Aug. 9 Men's and Ladies Open NELSON : Pro.: Randy Breen Mgr.: Jim Lorman Supt.: Dan Sammartino May 26 Tournament of Roses June 7 Junior Circuit Sept. 5 Labour Day Open Sept. 6-7 Labour Day Oepn (ROSSLAND/ TRAIL Birchbank Pro.: Wayne Gamborski Mgr.: Brian Miller Supt.: Greg Kennedy May 23 Toyota Dealers of B.C. & Earis Zone 1 (West) Amateur, Junior & Summer Gaems Qualifying June 2 Sweepstakes June 14 Junior Circuit July 17-19 Rossland/Trail Senior's Open July 29 Western Canada Juvenile Team Championship July 31-Aug. 1-2 Mixed Open Aug. 14-16 Rossland/Trail 54 Hole Open y

Juniors

mpound

storage CO Rd et 228 Courtesy

Hignwey Xe

Bus: 693-2224