What's Up Magazines

Athletes Worth Watching
By Pat O'Malley
Photos by Larry French

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JESSICA REAGANS
Annapolis High School
Basketball and Volleyball

This delightful young lady is one of the most outstanding junior student/athletes at the cap city school. Reagans, a California native by result of military parents, plays volleyball in the fall and is currently playing basketball for the Panthers while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point-average as a member of the prestigious International Baccalaureate program. Reagans is ranked 30th in her class of 470, is a member of the Student Government Association, the Annapolis Ambassadors, and volunteers at Atria Manresa. “She is just a great kid, the kind every coach wants to have,” said Annapolis girls basketball coach Jeff Starr of his three-year starter at guard, who was a third team All-County choice as a sophomore. Starr said he is counting on Reagans to be one of the team leaders this season. She relishes the role because it is part of her personality. “I love talking in front of crowds and public speaking,” said Reagans, who has electronic media as one of her several option classes. “I've been in theater and have thought about business as well.” At the moment, Reagans is interested in such schools as Princeton, Harvard, Yale, North Carolina, and Southern Cal. “I want to play basketball in college and hope I can achieve a scholarship.” Reagans considers her mom, Yolanda, who played basketball at Navy, as her hero, saying, “My mom taught me how to be myself and that I can be anything I want to be as long as I put my mind to it.” Her father is Elliott Reagans, former Navy football player.

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BRAD BALD
Archbishop Spalding High School
Basketball and Volleyball

To work on his leaping and jumping abilities and to keep in shape for basketball, Bald took up volleyball in this his junior year with the Cavaliers. Bald is a 6' 8”, 200-pound forward who is expected to be one of the key players on first-year head coach Dale Chambers' basketball team. “A couple of our basketball players played volleyball last year and I enjoyed watching it,” said Bald, who has a 3.8 grade-point-average and is a member of the school's National Honor Society. “It's helped my jumping ability and my quickness. It's a different environment from basketball, but it's been good.” Bald says this year's hoops team should do very well in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League, and has adjusted well to Chambers, who succeeded Mike Glick. Glick resigned after seven seasons and is now coaching at Gwynn Park in Prince George's County. “We should be pretty good and try to get near the top of the league,” said Bald, whose attorney-father, Jeff Bald, played basketball at Severna Park High, Randolph Macon, and Georgia. “It's been a lot different with coach Chambers because coach Glick was more emotional and out there, while coach Chambers is more inside.” Bald is working hard to earn an opportunity to play college hoops and this fall visited Virginia and Virginia Tech. He did well at the Nike Jamboree and other summer camps and has opened eyes. Bald has worked hard with the weights to get stronger (gained 10 pounds) and is committed. He wants to follow in his dad's footsteps and take up law. His mom is Sharon Bald.

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EMILEE WEST
Severna Park High School
Field Hockey and Lacrosse

West was the leading scorer on the Falcons' Anne Arundel County Champion field hockey team and is the fourth sister to play for them during their incredible run of 12 consecutive county championship game victories. She was one of four Falcons to score a goal in the 4-2 victory over South River in the county final, back in October. Her sisters who played on county championship teams before her, during the 12-year run, were Christine, Cari, and Kelly. Emilee wants to keep them involved with her when she pursues her ultimate goal. “I want to own my own restaurant, so I will probably major in business management when I go to college,” said West, who is interested in Towson University and Delaware. “It would be such a fun thing to do and I want to get my sisters in on it.” Surprisingly enough, West, an All-County player in field hockey, is not concerned about playing in college. “I don't know if I want to play sports in college, maybe club ball,” said West, who carries a 3.0 grade-point-average and is a member of the Student Government Association. West credits veteran field hockey coach Lil Shelton and her mom, Debbie West, for her development as a person and as an athlete. “Coach Shelton takes care of us and really cares about us,” said West. “She is really the nicest lady. My mom also has set a wonderful example taking care of such a big family and keeping me in such good shape.” West's mom is a personal trainer and her father, Bob West, works for the government.

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MARVIN SMITH
Severn School
Basketball and Baseball

Severn athletic director and boys basketball coach Charles “Tank” Duckett says that Smith is “a model student/athlete, one of our best.” Smith plays two sports, basketball and baseball, and the junior also participates in chorus and the drama club. Playing Amateur Athletic Union basketball, Smith, an Annapolis resident, met Duckett and the latter got him interested in attending Severn. “He started talking to me about coming to Severn and I'm glad I ended up here,” said Smith, a 3.0 student. “Coach Duckett teaches more than basketball. He teaches you about life.” Smith, who is a solid 6' 1” and 230 pounds, expects the Admirals to do well this year in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference. “Our league has gotten a lot tougher with more competition in the B Conference, but we have a good nucleus with eight guys back,” said Smith, whose interests are in journalism. “I want to get into journalism. I love writing papers and expressing myself. It seems like a burden to a lot of people, but I really enjoy it. Liberty University has a good journalism program and I'm going to look at Washington and Catholic University as well.” Smith's father, Marvin Smith, was a standout baseball player and track sprinter at Southern, and the younger Smith plays centerfield on the Severn baseball team. Smith, whose mother is Debbie Williams, also loves to sing and has been in choir since sixth grade. His music interests vary from gospel to rap to classical. His idol is Michael Jordan.

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