The Villadom Times Weekly Newspaper Online-Jun 16, 2010 Issue

Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • June 16, 2010 Midland Park Zuidema is ﬁrst state champion in MPHS history At 17, star javelin thrower Kaleb Zuidema has made history by becoming Midland Park High School’s first state champion in any sport. His 209 foot, five inch throw won him the title. As Zuidema himself notes, javelin throwers who reach the 200-foot mark are considered an elite group. Over 220 feet puts athletes in the stratosphere. Zuidema should know. During the North 1, Group 1 state track and field championships held last month, he broke a meet record, throwing for 220 feet, 8 inches, to earn his second consecutive state sectional title. The throw was just shy of the 224 foot, one inch throw he made to earn the state record at the BPSL Championships. Zuidema recently told Villadom TIMES he was eager to pursue the state record. “I usually play basketball in the winter, but last winter, I spent working on my javelin throwing technique. I missed out (on basketball). I’ve played since sixth grade with friends,” the athlete said. However, he acknowledged that the off-season training in his main sport was the key to his recent success. “I was more confident,” he acknowledged. He explained that javelin throwers should possess both flexibility and a characteristic he called “explosiveness” – essentially a combination of speed and excellent reflexes. “Coach Steve Ferro (at MPHS) helped me out throughout the whole season and was my mentor. He was a big reason why I was so successful throughout my career,” Zuidema added. He also works with trainer Joe Lee and weight trainer Anthony Gallea. In 2007, Zuidema, has won the gold medal in the Junior Olympics. Zuidema, who had been playing center field for his baseball team, decided to try throwing the javelin after watching his older brother, Andrew, succeed in the sport. (Andrew held the record for distance at Midland Park High School – until he was edged out by his younger brother.) Zuidema’s trainer encouraged him to seek out and enter competitive events. After going online, Kaleb learned about the district and regional competitions that led to his win in Nashville. On the road to the gold medal, Kaleb experienced success, throwing his javelin 146 feet to beat his next competitor by only one foot. Although he was seeded fourth going into the regional event, he ended up taking first place. (continued on page 13) Kaleb Zuidema Outdoor Workshops • Portfolio Development 6-28 to 8-20-10 Register Now Summer ART Camp CIRINO LANDSCAPING Full Service Landscape Company Personal Service Personal Care Free Estimate Tom Cirino �� Boilers Repaired or Replaced in One Day • Oil Tank Abatement • Chimney Liners • Water Heaters • Sewers & Drains • Cast Iron Gas Fired Boilers �� drawingroomllc.com facebook:DrawingRoomFineArt&SculptureStudio �� 201-447-7272 15% OFF ANY SERVICE New Clients Only • w/Coupon • Exp 6/13/10 • Not Combinable Call 201-891-0955 For Information Senior Discounts • N.J. State Lic# 6980 �� 6-9-10 pat/janine Cirino2x2(6-9-10) 2x2” �� 201-934-7755 119 Interstate Shopping Center, Ramsey, New Jersey Intersection of Route 17 & Franklin Turnpike ADVANCED HEARING SERVICES, INC. Thomas J. Higgins, BC-HIS*, ACA** www.HearNJ.com Supervising Licence. NJ Hearing Aid Dispenser * Licence # 743 Member International Hearing Society *Board Certiﬁed by the National Board for Certiﬁcation in Hearing Instrument Sciences. **American Conference of Audioprosthology