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Ow&pcuWlrźe>wţKl`pEr/(/L:X$˸}\ڱU+~ j,VOhv* v8IHɬC×u-„uw/܎| )V=,Q\2 Ȏ@~gEPԦnoJ+ZjOgWv]I!8 t=g]CW^®[J' U;'񭨽,̱QӼw[ݝR""o|t/v|O ?1K0'9֡ڳ=mu}y"F+ygpp}3Dy B$c4W z`;%Ty@ž lRNܞzt&_n@j9fimŸD/b{Ė!@F4WT589KTċAQeG/;Wt+BFnɰdm?>a 1Z4e#ץcn-ЁlYܼdCqFdf8@ssFm՞mYJ x\Ξ eToAW湒ց# ~e( iSince Portola is a small school, we have to develop the students we have. We don t have the luxury of the numbers some of the schools have. Most of the best athletes have to play both ways, so our conditioning must be superior. As the 1998 JV team grew into the 2000 Varsity team, their lifting sessions became more intense and dedicated.<br>Our project has been successful. We have restored our self-esteem. Winning has also brought the community together to support our football program.  It is all worth the effort, to see our players faces after our division championship, said coach Bass. More students have expressed an interest in playing next year. Our next challenge is now on our doorstep. Can we sustain this energy level? I believe so, with the help of the Bigger Faster Stronger Program.<br><br>" <br>The BFS Program provides a plan the athletes love, because it is motivational. It promotes goal setting, record breaking and teamwork. Athletes can set PR s everyday! The athletes want to continue lifting. It is no longer just hard work, it is FUN!<br> --Howard Thomasle and to handle adversity. <br>As for drugs and alcohol, Tom is totally against them for teens and athletes. It was a wonderful thing for Tom to be able to look me straight in the eye and declare in all truthfulness that he had never had one drop of alcohol or gone near an illegal drug.  Taking drugs and drinking alcohol are not good decisions, confirms Tom.  Not even a little bit. If you do something illegal long enough, you are going to get caught. I will never do it. I want to surround myself with good people and, thankfully, I have been in a good environment. <br>Whenever an athlete like Tom has extraordinary strength, the question of steroids invariably comes up.  Steroids have never been an option, says Tom.  I never even think about it. If you think you need steroids, you are thinking and training wrong. Nothing could ever make me take steroids. <br> The Be An Eleven concept is important here at Park High School . . . to be a great individual in all areas like athletics, school, family and community, says Tom.  To me, it is going the extra step to stand out. Spiritual values are also important. It also became known to me that Tom prays every day.<br>Tom tries to be an example, and he is very much aware that the younger athletes and students are looking to him for leadership. He tells others,  Have fortitude. Have courage and strength of mind. Make your family important. If I couldn t play football again, I would still consider myself fortunate. <br>I want to mention two other amazing facts about Tom s life. First, Tom does not have a driver s license and does not drive. His driver education class conflicted with his workouts and the start of football practice, so he chose football.<br>Second, Tom was elected homecoming king last fall. At the presentation ceremony, he gave his crown to his little brother Joey, who has Down syndrome. Joey was all smiles and so was everyone else as he stood as king at the homecoming assembly. <br>Tom is a true Eleven, and we at BFS wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his life at the University of Iowa. Our thanks go to Tom, his parents and Coach Ekmark for this inspiring story. <br><br><br><br>rt is that he has been able to work especially well with super heavyweights, having coached three of the four Americans who have clean and jerked 500 pounds. In addition to coaching Patera, Wilhelm and Cameron, he also coached John Bergman (396 snatch, 496 clean and jerk) and