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A24 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, March 31, 2006 Making basketball fun helps m 1era's team reach new heights By Herb Garbutt CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Foi Andre lera, bavmng a competitive basketball îeamn is onîsy important iii the effect it has on bus players. The look of satisfaction on the players' faces is ail] e needs t0 see ai the seasonrs end. "Tbey're flot really sure what tbey can do ai the start of the season," said fera, the coach of the St. Peter Panthers girls baskethall teain. "As tire season goes on vout sec thecir confi- dence grow Nowý tbey're sîarting 10 tbink tbey're baskethall players, not jîîsî kids wearing a uniiorm." For belpîng the buddîng athietes become players, leta is ITO I@ CANADA the Championis March Coach of the Month. fera has coached track, soccer and volîcybaîl over bis 13- year teaclîing career - the lasi 10 witb the Halton Caîholie board and last two ai St. Peter Scbool. In addition to his coacbing duties, fera is also the teacb- ers' student counicil represenialive for the sebool. "He gives up a lot of bis own time to make school better lor the kids," said Rob Stevenson, a grade 7/8 phys eci teacher. "My wîfe soînetîmes says; 1 speîîd more lime here wth tbe students iban I do wîtb bier," fera said. "But shes a teacher, too, so she understands." At the hegtnning of the scason, fera admîts thr Paîîtlers were sîruggling to keep up witb their opponrenîs. "List year we had a loi of grade 6ss su 1 just trîed to get tbem to understand the fundamentals of the game. 1 was boping it would pay dividends." ht dîd. Al the players returned thîs year and as tbe season _____________________________bas progressed, the team bas started to build con last year's solîdi founidation. Tbis ycar St. Peter is cballengîng tbe une of tbe top ~ u ik three teamis in nortb Halton to move on to tbe Hialton cbampionsbips. fera bas taken tbe îeam to tournamenîs ancd scbeduled exbibition gaines tu belp sbarpen tbe players' skîlls. "He makes basketball so mucb iun to play because be belps its learn plays and be is hîappy for us even if we lose," saîd Sarah ( amick, a gracie 7 strident at Si. Peter- "He knows a lot about tbe gamnes be coaches and bes got a great rapport wtîb tbc kîds, Stevenson said. "les positive ancl ver>' approachable. He always makes bimself available for tbe stuidents. lera saîd tie objec tive iii elentcnîary scliool sports is to introduce stridents to ibe gaine. "Ilopelstilîs', it instilîs sonse conideclnce ut tlîc'm " lie said. Often ibat conficdetnce ss'ill carry oser to the classioomn And fera satd lie s in a untique position to teacb .îll of lis Islavers because be tcaîcbes IFrench it gracIes ) (o K And tsat's just fine wsîlits sw, t"plsc "'Outr teatît kttosss thai lie ts otie of tIse bcsî coaches atnc icachers îb,îî sse lias, cver bacl ai St. Peter sbul'C aintck sicL APPROACHABLE COACH: Andre fera, a grade 6-8 French teacher, s in Irs second season coaching the St. Peter Panthers girls basketbail team, "He makes basketlbai so rnuch fun to play," said Sarah Carntck, one of his players, When the hoops seasori wvraps uip he'ý move sucrer tearn on to his next coaching venture, the boys Three skaters speed to gold in Brampton Tbree members of tise Milioti Speed Skating Club claîîîsed gold medals at the Brampîton Invitational. Maîîbew Kerwin. L.ydia (aeng and Alex Bortlîwick eacb wcon tbeîr division ait tise sea-son-ciosing meet. Kerwin set personai best limes in tbe 500m, 666m and 777m races as be ciained tbe overail titie in tbe Bravo Division, lie missed breaking tbe une- minute mark in the 500m by 2.22 sec- sinds. (Geng îook 13 seconds off ber besi tîme iii tbe 500ns. Th lai was une of four persiinal besîs - she aiso set new marks in tbe Il lm, 222ni and 333m - sbe set on ber way lu ciaimîng tIse divi- sion tille. Alex Boribwick won tbe Foxtrot Division tbanks to personal bests in tbe 222m, 333m and 500m. lis lime in the 500m was eigbî seconds beiter than bis presîssus best. Pbilip Geng earnied the silser medal in tbree distances, tbe 333m, tbe 666m and tbe 500m, in wbîcb be îook fîve seconsds off bis personal besi. Kaîte Lauer îook tbe bronze inedal in tbe 500m in tise Charlie Division. takîng five seconds off ber besi lime. She also set new personal standards in the 333m and 666in. If you received a blood transfusion or blood product before 1992, you rnay have been infected with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a blood-bomre virus that slowly damages your liver. Syrnptoms do flot show up for years but you will eventually get sick. Before 1992, screening for this disease was flot consistent and ruany patients becarne infected through the blood systern. So ask your cloctor about getting tested. Detection is key Io controlling the virus and you ruay be entitle1 to financial assistance. Fidoti o hav . 1-877 222 4>77 vv5\.lieýilfli.go.o)i.e il ieOpi 1-877-'_)22-4ý ý77