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PowerADE Personal Blake Rittenberry Dedication is a concept understood by most athletes, but self-sacrifice for your sport is not a common practice among most middle school athletes. That's what sets Blake Rittenberry apart from the rest of the crowd.
Blake is a seventh-grader at Austin Middle School. He's also an aspiring pole vaulter, and that dream prompted him to forgo a family trip over spring break to stay home and work on his technique. That's not something Austin Coach Curt O'Hair sees every day. "It's pretty amazing for a kid to pass up a trip to stay in town and work out every day during his vacation time," he said. "Blake isn't opposed to working hard and sacrificing some personal time to be a winner." Blake's classroom teachers have also noticed that he stands apart. "He's a great student," said Nancy Rosales. "He's a joy to have in my class." Language arts teacher Lisa Shoemaker agrees. "Blake has really matured throughout the year. I've seen more dedication in his work ethic. He's focused and committed in his studies, and he's a pleasure to have in class." His determination to do his very best, even if he has to sacrifice, makes his achievements all the sweeter. The staff of The Amarillo Independent is proud to join his coaches and teachers this week in recognizing him as the PowerADE Personal Best Athlete of the week.
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comments about this story Posted: April 3, 2008 |
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