Wednesday June 23, 2010

Sports at a Glance

All stories by Jean Schurman

Bess achieves martial art milestone

Bucs win Mabel Arthur Tournament in Dillon

Second annual Barnyard Games held

Bess achieves martial art milestone Imagine being accosted and attacked by not one but three thugs. It’s a scary situation and one that no one wants to voluntarily go through. But this very scenario is a vital part of testing and advancement in the sport of Tae Kwon Do. Now imagine being autistic and having an aversion to having people in your own personal space and being confronted by three advanced Tae Kwon Do students who’s main goal is to fluster and make a young student lose his cool. Thursday night, Grant Bess, who is autistic, earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do during Hamilton Tae Kwon Do’s advancement exercises. The attack was really sparring but when Jessi Devine, the first one to spar with Grant, came at him with feet and fists flying, Grant admitted it was scary. Once two more advanced students stepped in, he got in a few kicks and blocks and tried to hold the onslaught off. Instructor Kim Devine kept a close eye on the trio and Grant and stepped in after about a minute to stop the sparring. “I was a little scared,” said Grant. “But (I felt) brave more.” According to Chris Devine, master instructor at Hamilton Tae Kwon Do, the test Grant took is the same test that everyone takes to earn his or her black belt. The sparring test is referred to as ‘getting jumped’. “It’s not a matter of whether you think you’re going to win, it’s a matter of keeping going no matter what the odds.”

Grant Bess breaks his first board in Tae Kwon Do after earning his black belt at the Hamilton Tae Kwon Do Academy. Jean Schurman photo. Grant Bess executes one part of his test for a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Jean Schurman photo.

Grant began taking Tae Kwon Do classes when he was nine years old. Devine said he and Kim discussed how to teach Grant but made every effort to teach him the same way as they teach all of the beginners. Devine said Grant needed a little extra help to at first with but once he figured it out, after about six months, he was able to handle the classes without any extra help.

According Grant’s mother, Laura Bess, autistic children often have a mind/body disconnect and have a difficult time copying movements they are shown. Because Tae Kwon Do forms are a repetition of a sequence of movements, Grant did have problems at first following the movements but she said “he’s come a long ways.”

Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art. It means the method (do) used to strike or break with foot (tae) or fist (kwon). It is the national sport of Korea but the sport has a huge following here in the United States. Although students learn the forms and stances necessary to advance through the ranks, there is are underlying lessons of respect, self-discipline, justice and self-confidence.

As Grant has progressed through the levels he has had some setbacks but it is a testament to his will that he hasn’t given up. Devine says he occasionally has to ‘bark’ at Grant to go faster or kick higher but that doesn’t phase Grant.

“His memory is there,” said Devine. “His coordination is just a little bit different.”

Grant competes with the Dragon Brigade at competitions and even competes in the sparring events. Devine said that although Grant hasn’t won a sparring contest, he has earned points which indicates he has been the aggressor upon occasion.

Laura Bess said her son is more athletic now and can follow directions better. “But we’re really proud of him. He’s had to skip a couple of promotions so it took a little bit longer but that’s ok.”

The pride on Laura and Bryce Bess’s faces, along with little sister Taylor, was evident throughout the testing. But everyone in the area had a big smile on their face when Grant broke a board with his foot for the final test of the day. It had taken him three different times to achieve this goal.

“I practice hard,” he said as we finished the interview.

After losing to the Missoula Pioneers earlier Sunday, the Bitterroot Bucs came back in the championship game and defeated the Missoula team for the championship at the Mabel Arthur Tournament in Dillon.

The Bucs won, 7-4, in the championship game. Zach Blackstun had a 2-run homer in the second inning to get the Bucs going. He was 2-for-3 for the game and also had a double. Coe Golden went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Billy Hanna contributed a double. Riley Philips went the distance from the mound with seven strikeouts and two walks.

In the earlier game against the Missoula Pioneers, Billy Hanna pitched five innings and fanned five batters before retiring. Tanner Cobbs came in in the fifth and took the 5-4 loss for the Bucs. Blackstun was 2-for-2 with a double and Dan Lockman had an RBI double. The game was delayed twice for rain and lightening.

The Bucs opened against the hometown Cubs and won that game, 10-0, in five innings. Austin Erler struck out four and walked two. He had two doubles and three RBIs. Hanna had a home run that scored two and a double. Tyler Lind went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Bucs defeated Deer Lodge and Dillon in that tournament as well.

The Bitterroot Red Sox were at the Gallatin Valley tournament in Three Forks. They defeated Butte, 12-3, in their first game. Nolan Boland got the win for the Sox. He had five hits, one earned run, four strikeouts and two walks. Trevor Brown was 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and two RBIs. Austin Allen had three RBIs and was 3-for-4. Tyler Tintzman also had three RBIs and was 3-for-4.

The Red Sox defeated the Glendive Blue Devils, 7-6. Rodee Anderson relived Brown in the fifth inning and got the win. He fanned four and walked one. Tintzman scored one run and had a stolen base. Brown was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

No further results from Three Forks were available at press time.

Second annual Barnyard Games held Stevensville was the scene of organized chaos on Saturday during Western Heritage Days. The second annual Barnyard Games was held at three venues throughout downtown Stevensville to the delight of onlookers and participants alike. The event, a fundraiser for the Stevensville Main Street Association, featured seven teams vying for prize money and bragging rights. Teams competed in the leaky pail relay, stick horse obstacle course, and the bale buckin’ relay. There were three divisions: men’s, women’s, and coed. The Burnt Fork Buckers won the men’s division. In the women’s division, Forty & Fabulous came away with the top prize. Paul and Kristie Joachim won the coed division.

Heidi Elam winds her way through the pole bending course on her trusty steed during the Barnyard games. Jean Schurman photo. Steve Kauffman was one of the winners during the Barnyard Games. Here, he has to navigate a course while holding on to an egg in a spoon. Jean Schurman photo.