Talking Sports And Fitness With Zeke

Head coach Tiffany Cappellano shares with Zeke the story of the remarkable Lynx field hockey program. Oley Valley was 26-0 this past season before losing to Moravian Academy 4-3 in the PIAA Class 1A state championship game -- an encounter in which it trailed by four goals with less than 27 minutes left. While the loss was a heartbreaker, Cappellano tells Zeke she was very proud of how her girls fought back. The Lynx were looking for their first state championship since 2000. It was their sixth state title game and first since 2005. Cappellano is 133-34-5 in seven years as the Oley Valley head coach, with six division championships, two Berks titles and two District 3 titles. Her teams have reached three PIAA semifinals and one PIAA final. She succeeded the legendary Donna Long, who compiled a 459-88-30 record as Oley head coach. Cappellano is a 1999 Oley Valley grad who helped Oley win a PIAA 2A title in 1997 and played at the University of Iowa. She is a sixth-grade teacher at Oley. Cappellano tells Zeke tha

Samantha Donovan, who hails from Australia ("I did fitness in Australia and then got recertified when I got here in 1997.") and is the co-owner of Down Under Sports & Fitness along with Stephen Pradon, tells Zeke about their all-purpose gym and fitness center located in the VF Outlets. "It is a fully equipped gym with the all the latest, greatest modalities available," Samantha tells Zeke. Donovan's philosophy is that the right kind of workouts will have people seeing results and coming back for more. "We grow business per the feedback we get from everybody," Donovan shares with Zeke. “Our membership includes our group fitness classes." Her special interest lies in understanding nutritional physiology as it relates to what people eat and how they feel and perform. Donovan's goal is to help others incorporate exercise and nutritional balance into their lifestyle so they feel, function and perform optimally. "Nutrition is important," Samantha tells Zeke. "Research shows that low fat is not the issue for ob

Bruce Ure shares his remarkable story with Zeke. Ure tells Zeke that he lost 140 pounds from his once 315-pound frame through bariatric surgery and his strong commitment to working out over the two-plus years since his surgery. Ure competed in his first Ironman competition this year. "I always had trouble with weight," Ure explains. "I would run for 6 to 8 months and lose 40 to 50 pounds. Then put it back on again. I never addressed the underlying issue but I would get active and lose weight but then I could not keep it off." The specific type of bariatric surgery Ure had was a sleeve gastrectomy in which a vertical, tube-shaped stomach is created so there is less room for food. "They remove a portion of your stomach making the area that keeps food smaller, thus your appetite decreases," Ure explains to Zeke. "You begin to eat food measured by handfuls, one or two handfuls four or five times a day. You tend to find yourself gravitating toward food that will give you the energy you need. You need to address yo

Chris Kaag, a disabled former Marine, tells Zeke about the IM ABLE Foundation he founded in 2007. Kaag tells Zeke that the idea was to build and support active lifestyles for individuals with disabilities. Kaag, who lost the use of his legs because of a degenerative nerve disorder called adrenomyeloneuropathy, tells Zeke that IM ABLE's goal is to help all individuals realize the potential to go further and push harder than their preconceived limits. Kaag says that once this potential is realized, the possibilities are endless. With handcycles, racing chairs, adaptive skis and other advances in technology, it is possible for anyone who has a disability to increase their fitness level. Kaag tells Zeke that people should never forget to appreciate what they can do and get up and move. "Unfortunately being disabled is not cheap," Kaag tells Zeke. "We want to provide adaptive equipment grants (through fundraising) ... to allow people with adaptive challenges to get out as much as possible. It gives people the abil

Chris Kaag, a disabled former Marine, tells Zeke about the degenerative nerve disorder called adrenomyeloneuropathy that slowly robbed him of the use of his legs and made it impossible for him to stay in the Marine Corps. Kaag tells Zeke that he began exhibiting symptoms of adrenomyeloneuropathy in 1997. It started out affecting his gait while running but eventually interfered with walking as well. "I spent nine weeks at Walter Reed Hospital and was diagnosed with adrenomyeloneuropathy," Kaag tells Zeke. "I was in a wheelchair in five years." Kaag tells Zeke that his Corps Fitness classes and philosophy are based on his experience in boot camp with the Marines Corps, which he joined as a 17-year-old in 1994. During a group cadence run that essentially was a 4-mile sprint, Chris’ drill instructor, Sgt. Dave Hart, uttered five words that continue to echo in Chris’ head during his most difficult times: “Don’t quit on me, Kaag.” After being diagnosed with the nerve disorder, Kaag tells Zeke that he realized that

Snip Esterly, who as the boys basketball head coach at Central Catholic (22 seasons) and Berks Catholic (five seasons), is Berks County's winningest coach with 637 victories as opposed to just 156 losses, tells Zeke that the secret to his success has been “obviously the kids plus the coaching staff I’ve had over the years.” Esterly's coaching legacy is amazing -- 22 division titles, six county titles, 12 district titles and one state championship. “I wouldn’t have ever started without (then Central head coach) Reggie Weiss,” Esterly tells Zeke. “He came over to the house one night and asked me if I wanted to help out.” And when the head coaching job eventually opened, “I am grateful that (then Central athletic director) Joe Murphy and (then Central principal) Vince Shemanski gave me a chance,” Esterly said. The Saints had a young team last season, finishing 17-10 and coming up short of state playoffs. Berks Catholic did lose All-Berks Tyrone Nesby Jr., who would have been its top returning player but transfer

Wilson High School boys basketball head coach Matt Coldren tells Zeke about his team's players and prospects this season. The Bulldogs, who won the Berks Conference championship in 2013-2014, return a lot of players from last year's 18-11 young team that made a run to the District 3-AAA semifinals. “We had lots of talented boys without lots of experience,” Coldren tells Zeke. Wilson has lost its top player from last season, Christian Sload, to graduation. “He was one of the best overall athletes I’ve ever coached,” says Coldren of Sload, also an outstanding soccer player and track star. Wilson starts playing its basketball games a week after most schools because Coldren often has numerous football players on his roster and Wilson football usually makes a deep playoff run. “Typically it takes us a little while to get started,” Coldren said of football and basketball overlapping. “We may win games early but they’re ugly. I love having kids who play multiple sports. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But I can’t

Kelly Garrity-Haldeman shares her courageous and inspiring story with Zeke about a car accident that almost killed her but ultimately gave her a new life. She tells Zeke that she was a non-runner nine years ago when the accident happened. And now she recently ran the Berlin Marathon, the third of six races that make up the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Garrity-Haldeman tells Zeke how she battled through a lengthy rehab and deep sense of loss to find a passion for running. Garrity-Haldeman tells Zeke that she has her sights set onTokyo next year. She is not an elite runner, and she typically must rely on a random lottery or a charity slot to land a race bib. She's pushing herself for IM ABLE, the Wyomissing-based nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities increase their fitness levels. In 2015, she ran the Chicago Marathon and dedicated her IM ABLE fundraising to Ryan Noyes. The then-4-year-old Lebanon County boy wanted a bike to help him stay active despite some muscle limitations caused by sp

Rudy Ruth shares his remarkable story with Zeke about going from the ultra-successful boys water polo coach at Wilson to becoming superintendent of the school district and then after retiring from that position, resuming coaching the team this year after Adam Filer stepped down as coach to spend more time with his family. As of this taping Ruth hadn't lost his touch, with the Bulldogs 7-0 in the Pennsylvania State Water Polo League and 21-6 overall. Ruth won nine state titles, four East Coast championships and more than 100 consecutive matches from 1992-96 during his first coaching stint with Wilson. Ruth also has been the state commissioner for high school water polo and is a member of the Berks County Aquatics Hall of Fame. Ruth tells Zeke about his family's shared passion for water polo. His wife has been with him every step of the way and is an assistant coach with the Wilson girls team. Their son Jack was two-time high school All-American in swimming and water polo and played four years of water polo at

Chip Lutz, a member of the LedgeRock Golf Club, shares with Zeke his outstanding success on the local scene before primarily concentrating on national and international events as a senior golfer. "Running our business was a priority while raising our kids," Lutz tells Zeke. "When Bonnie and I became empty-nesters, I had the time to invest my time, energy and resources to be the best golfer I can be." Lutz won eight Berks County Golf Association titles before having expanding his golfing horizons. Lutz explains to Zeke the Lutz family tradition of naming their sons John. Lutz's father was named John, but everybody knew him as Buddy, a Mount Penn funeral director who played on the PGA Tour in the early 1950s. Buddy named his three sons John but gave them nicknames that stuck -- Wedge, Putter and Chip. "My sister should have been named Sandy," Lutz jests. Lutz also tells Zeke about his interactions with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus as well as his favorite golf courses in the world. “I played with Arnold Palme

Chip Lutz, a member of the LedgeRock Golf Club, shares with Zeke the story of his remarkable golf year and his amazing success as one of the top senior amateurs in the world. "The last seven years I have taken my golf game to a whole new level," Lutz tells Zeke. "One of my goals when I became a senior at age 55 was to bring my game up and become competitive at that level. No. 55 was a magic number for me as I prepared to be competitive at that point and it has been a success for me." Lutz, 61, talks to Zeke about capturing his third British Senior Amateur title this summer at England's Formsby Golf Club in thrilling fashion, birdieing the first hole of a three-way sudden death playoff, and being the only amateur to make the cut in the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in suburban Columbus, Ohio -- finishing in a tie for 37th. "It was a thrilling finish in the British Senior Amateur," Lutz tells Zeke. "I played well enough to enter into a three-way tie. In the playoff they play the 18th hole repeatedly u

Jim Sutton shares with Zeke his remarkable story of still going strong in his 80s. Sutton, 85, has set six world records, 17 national records and won over 50 national championships as a Masters runner. Sutton, who won three state championships as Exeter’s boys cross country coach in the 1960s, also talks with Zeke about his other physical activities such as biking (which he gave up last year after breaking an arm in a crash), 3-to- 4-hour daily gym workouts and wind surfing. Sutton also recounts for Zeke his compelling training sessions with former Olympian middle-distance runners and world-record holders Sebastian Coe of Great Britain and John Walker of New Zealand in the 1970s. Sutton has been inducted into the Berks County Sports Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Masters Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Stallone Amrich shares with Zeke details about her gym, which is over 7,000 square feet and contains the newest and most updated equipment available. Stallone Amrich was an accomplished international competitor. Along with the 1981 World Championships in Moscow, she also competed in France, Australia, Holland, and Germany. Stallone Amrich graduated from Wyomissing High School and was awarded a full gymnastics scholarship to the University of Florida. After college, she transitioned to become a nationally ranked gymnastics judge, choreographer, coach and regional balance beam clinician. Gina's first two years on the U.S. national team were spent competing for Berks Gymnastic Academy before moving on to the Allentown Parkettes.

Gina Stallone Amrich, a four-time U.S. National gymnastics team member, talks with Zeke about the U.S. women’s 2016 Olympic awesome team performance in Rio. Stallone Amrich discusses with Zeke the vaunted Final Five of Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, and Madison Kocian. Stallone Amrich recounts for Zeke the remarkable performances of Biles, who won five medals -- four of them gold -- and Aly Raisman, whose silver medal in women's floor exercise made her the first U.S. female gymnast to win an individual medal in consecutive Olympics since Shannon Miller did it in 1992 and 1996. It was the sixth Olympic medal for Raisman, putting her second only to Miller. Stallone Amrich also talks with Zeke about long-time U.S. gymnastics team coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi.

Maria Carjan, owner and personal trainer at ‘Keys 2 Fitness’ is a nurse and shares with Zeke the story of their results-driven program. Carjan tells Zeke that she has had a passion for exercising since she was a young girl and realizes that not everybody gets to do what they love. Her nursing background is in critical care, she tells Zeke, and that motivated her to help people in a preventive way. “I am in the business of helping others,” Carjan tells Zeke. “Fitness is injury and prevention.” Carjan knows how difficult it can be to find time for yourself, whether you are a busy stay at home mom or juggling a full-time job. She tells Zeke that at ‘Keys 2 Fitness’ nobody just walks in and trains themselves. They either have an individualized trainer or take classes. Their trainers specialize in specific areas and Carjan's niche is resistance training. “Lifting helps women lose weight by helping the body burn calories while at rest.” Carjan tells Zeke. “The best way to build muscle mass is to incorporate a var

Sorita Averill shares with Zeke her remarkable story of becoming an Ironman competitor after undergoing three surgeries involving a double mastectomy and breast implants. Averill, who owns A Running Start in West Reading, trains runners, and is a veteran of many sprint distance triathlons and marathons, was training for her first-half Ironman five years ago when she found out she had breast cancer.

Wyomissing head football coach Bob Wolfrum shares with Zeke his story of sustaining excellence over a lengthy career. Wolfrum is entering his 30th season as the Spartans' head coach. "My dad was a coach, my son is also a coach," Wolfrum tells Zeke. "I couldn't imagine doing anything else." Wolfrum is the winningest coach in Berks County history. He has 274 wins, seven district titles and a PIAA 2A state championship in 2012, a team that went 16-0. "The stability of our staff is the No. 1 thing that helps our team maintain consistency," Wolfrum tells Zeke. "From the youth leagues to high school we are all using the same language." Wolfrum tells Zeke about last year's outstanding Wyomissing team, which won the Berks Section 2 title at 6-0 and was 12-0 before getting beat by Berks Catholic 34-6 in the District 3-AA title game -- just three weeks after beating BC 34-28. "It's tough to beat a good team twice because the losing team the first time really gets up for it," Wolfrum tells Zeke. Spartans quarterback Cha

Berks Catholic head football coach Rick Keeley shares with Zeke his story of sustaining excellence over a lengthy career. Keeley is entering his 31st season. He coached Holy Name for many years before the school merged with Central Catholic and he also was the head coach at Hamburg. Keeley tells Zeke that he "does it one day at a time. I mingle with the kids, talk with the coaches and enjoy every minute of it. You can't get caught up in wins and losses. You know you have kids out there you are molding into young adults." Keeley tells Zeke about last year's outstanding Saints team, which went 12-2 and beat Backyard Brawl rival Wyomissing to win the District 3-AA championship. The Saints were the highest-scoring team in Berks history, their 44.5 scoring average eclipsing Reading High's 2001 mark of 43.5. The Saints were No. 1 in Berks in total offense and set a Berks record by averaging 354 rushing yards per game -- nearly 20 yards more than Reading High's 2000 record. They won their regular season games by an

Wilson head football coach Doug Dahms shares with Zeke how a senior-oriented program, football players dedicated to play and excel, and a wonderful assistant coaching staff have enabled the football program to sustain a legacy of great success during the regular season and the playoffs. Dahms tells Zeke about how challenging it is to replace so many starters each season. The Bulldogs had an unprecedented eighth straight perfect run through Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League last season, where they ran their league winning streak to a record 57 games. Dahms credits a variety of defensive schemes and looks for making the Bulldogs so dominant. Dahms also shares with Zeke the disappointment of last year’s stunning playoff loss to Central Dauphin East, a team Wilson had beaten 38-0 in Week 2. While Wilson did have a 10-win season, the playoff loss took some of the shine off a season in which it was expected to repeat as district champions. The Bulldogs battled injuries all season and played half the year w

Wilson head football coach Doug Dahms talks about the remarkable multiplicity of his coaching, educational and humanitarian endeavors outside of football with Zeke. Dahms also is the head boys and girls indoor and outdoor track coach at Wilson and runs the Wilson High School Ski Club. Dahms shares with the Zeke the differences and similarities between coaching football and track. Dahms also talks about his teaching career at Wilson. He designed and is teaching AP Biology, Honors Biology and AP Environmental Science. In addition, he leads the Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium Field Trip to Virginia each year and is the director of the Jamaica Marine Studies Field Trip to St. Ann’s Bay, which also has a humanitarian outreach to impoverished people. Dahms tells Zeke he manages to do all this because he is good at multitasking, gets great support from his wife and coaching staffs, and sleeps only 4-5 hours a night.