Talking Sports and Fitness with Zeke

Dr. Adam Feldman, a 52-year-old cardiologist with the Tower Health Medical Group in West Reading, shares his remarkable story as a world-class fencer. Feldman started fencing in 1980, was a three-time All-American at Penn State from 1983-87; the NCAA foil champion in 1986 and won silver in the 1986 U.S. Olympic Festival. With the demand of medical school consuming his time, he stopped competing in 1988.

When his daughter Jessica took up fencing at Pitt, Dr. Feldman tells Zeke that he gave her some lessons and that rekindle his interest in fencing. His comeback came in 2015 and immediately returned to form, good enough to go the 2015 Maccabiah Games in Berlin. He tore a meniscus a week before the competition and had surgery a month later.

Dr. Feldman tells Zeke that he resumed his comeback in 2016 and with light training won the Keystone Games foil event for veterans. He returned to the national level in 2017, winning his age division in the U.S. Nationals and winning gold medals in the 40-and-up and 50-and-up foil and a silver medal in 50-and-older epee in the Pan-Am Games.

Dr. Feldman tells Zeke that his performance in nationals earned him a spot in the Veterans World Championships in Slovenia, where he finished 39th in individual foil.

When Larry Zerbe took over as director of the COR (City of Reading) Tennis Program in 2006, his vision was to expose city kids, most of whom would be picking up a racket for the first time, to the game of tennis. Zerbe tells Zeke that there originally had been some consideration given to limiting COR to city kids, but the lure of tennis, high-quality instruction, top-notch competition, and fun attracted more and more suburban kids and eventually every school district in the county was coming to the program.
Zerbe, who grew up in the Oakbrook housing project and now is the Alvernia University tennis coach, tells Zeke that COR has helped break down barriers and turned the program into a melting pot – with tennis the common denominator fostering a connection between kids from different worlds. The kids come to COR for the tennis but leave with an appreciation and awareness that serves them for a lifetime.
The remarkable thing about COR bridging social gaps is that tennis traditionally discriminates fiscally and culturally. Zerbe tells Zeke that he and his COR staff also offer adult classes.
As for tennis, COR has produced a number of outstanding scholastic and collegiate players through its summer and winter programs.
Zerbe tells Zeke that the COR program receives support from the Reading Recreation Department, Fromuth Tennis and the United States Tennis Association. The connections Zerbe has made with the USTA enables COR to send kids to the U.S. Open and Philadelphia Freedom matches.

Dr. Randy Yocum, the Director of Physical Therapy at Body Zone Sports and Wellness, discusses with Zeke the treatment of sports injuries. Yocum tells Zeke that his areas of interest include ACL rehabilitation and prevention, sport-specific rehabilitation and athletic performance enhancement. Sarah Vecchio, the Director of Fitness at Body Zone Sports and Wellness, shares with Zeke an overview of the 120-plus group exercise programs she plans and oversees in Body Zone’s studios and pool. Vecchio tells Zeke that their personal trainers evaluate their individual clients before designing a training regimen for them and she also discusses the classes she instructs.

Mike Spidale, the general manager and co-owner of Rip It, a batting cage and baseball training facility located on Macarthur Road near Reading Airport, tells Zeke how he and his staff spent the summer renovating the former Grand Slam USA building, refurbishing the four automated hitting cages and adding a 30-by-70-foot turf field that can be used for every type of instruction.
Spidale, the Reading Fightin Phils' all-time leader in hits and games played who was elected to the Baseball town Hall of Fame this year, tells Zeke that youth coaching became his focus after he retired from playing in 2012. He formed the Berks County Bulls, a collection of teams from U12 to U16. Rip It was the next logical step.
The facility is open Mondays through Fridays from 4-9, Saturdays from 11-8 and Sundays from 12-6. Spidale tells Zeke that the pitching instruction will be led by Steve Schrenk, the Fightin Phils pitching coach the previous two seasons and CEO of Pitching Coach Pro.

Patty Kroppe shares with Zeke her remarkable story of completing a marathon in each of the 50 states by the time she turned 50. Patty tells Zeke that when she was in the fourth grade and studying geography, she hoped to one day visit all 50 states. That led to a goal she would set well after finding out at age 11 that she had inherited a love of running from her father, also a marathoner. Kroppe completed her first marathon in 2000 while living in Australia; completed her first marathon in the U.S., the Detroit Marathon in 2002; and completed the circuit by completing the Kenai River Marathon in Alaska in 2016. Kroppe says one of her most memorable races was the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon in North Bend, Wash., in 2011. That race course, which was on an old railroad trail on the side of a mountain, went 2.6 miles through a muddy tunnel. Kroppe tells Zeke that her husband has been her emotional coach through her journey and her two children have been big inspirations. She tied a few of her marathons into family vacations. She credits cross-training with Body Pump classes at Colonial Fitness, sculpting class at Flying Hills Fitness, yoga and stretching for helping her remain relatively injury free.

Cheryl Heckman, owner and operator of the Manor Golf Club in Spring Township, shares with Zeke how she has focused on making golf a more welcoming sport at the public course. Heckman tells Zeke that her goal is to get more women and kids in the game and to make sure people enter the game without an intimidation factor. The Manor Golf Club has earned a reputation centered on the clinics, camps and programs it offers. Heckman tells Zeke that the Manor has the largest instructional program in Berks County.

A woman owning and operating a golf club is not the norm, but Heckman tells Zeke that more women are involved than ever in the male-dominated industry. Heckman tells Zeke that while female participation in the sport is up, the industry as a whole is still on the decline. While Heckman said there is a big golf demographic in Berks County, she said fewer people are available to play because of the time factor. However, Heckman tells Zeke that she sees some positivity on the horizon as they aim to capture the next generation of golfers, with sights set on the millennials and emphasizing the health benefits of golf.

Heckman also shares with Zeke her story as a certified fitness instructor with the body pump and body step programs at Colonial Fitness Center as well as teaching golf stretching and flexibility.

Melissa Hummel and David James Twiford, who own the I-Form Fitness Studio in West Reading, share with Zeke their individual specialties and pursuits. Hummel is a Titleist-certified golf conditioning specialist and marathon runner, competing in numerous marathons, including Boston's. Hummel tells Zeke that she is training for this year’s Philadelphia Marathon. Twiford is an avid bicyclist and participates in the annual New York City five-borough bike ride. He organizes bike trips for local charities. Twiford also is a senior fitness strength and conditioning specialist, working with 50- to 90-year-olds. He calls that group active aging.

Melissa Hummel and David James Twiford share with Zeke the philosophy of their I-Form Fitness Studio in West Reading that eschews machines in favor of a personal approach. They work on multiple muscles, making the core the strongest part of the body. They tell Zeke that they do a lot of anchoring with bands, helping their clients with TRX suspension straps and other devices for total body resistance. Hummel and Twiford do not use standard machines, which they believe get in the way. In Danish, the name I-Form means health, shape and wellness and that's what their studio is about. I-Form Fitness Studio also offers yoga classes.

Mitch Walding, the Reading Fightin Phils 6-4 third baseman with a sweet left-handed swing and power, tells Zeke about his remarkable Eastern League season so far. Walding struggled in his first three professional seasons, turning in low batting averages without much power as a mostly opposite-field hitter who couldn't hit inside fastballs. But Walding worked on pulling the ball and he has blossomed.

Walding took a big step forward last year, homering 13 times in a season split between Clearwater and Reading. The 13 homers equaled the total of his first four pro seasons. Walding tells Zeke about his remarkable month of June this season in which he was named EL Player of the Month. He hit 13 homers in 25 June games, hitting .337 and driving in 27 runs. That surge had Walding leading the league in homers, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage and OPS in early July.

His career once stuck in neutral, Walding seems on the fast track to the majors if he can hit consistently with power.

Conor Delaney adroitly juggles being a marathon runner (Boston), CEO of Good Life Financial Advisors and the father of three young children. Delaney shares his remarkable story with Zeke, how he grew up in a family with a poor diet and no understanding of exercise. Delaney tells Zeke that it’s now easier to jump when playing basketball at 170 pounds than it was at 270 pounds.

Delany says he played sports at Alvernia but only after college did he put it all together with diet and exercise. He began to run local races with his wife Elizabeth, who inspired him and pushed him. In 2016, with the desire to run his fist marathon, he partnered with a coach and mentor, Ray Piazza, to take him from a 5K hobby runner to an athlete. Delaney tells Zeke that his training consists of running, lifting and biking but a healthy diet is at least 50 percent of his fitness equation.

InvestmentNews recently named Delaney as one of its 2017 40 Under 40. Based on accomplishments to date, contributions to the financial advisory industry, leadership and promise, Delaney was chosen from more than 800 nominations.

Tyrone Nesby shares with Zeke his story of never giving up on a dream or backing down from a challenge. The new head boys basketball coach at Muhlenberg didn’t start playing organized basketball until eighth grade. He began his sophomore season as the last guy on the bench at Cairo (Ill.) High School. Believing that nothing is impossible, a decade later he found himself playing in the NBA -- and as a teammate of Michael Jordan.

It is the same message he conveys to his players at Muhlenberg, a program that went 5-17 last season and has won just six Berks Conference games over the past four seasons. Nesby brings a vast wealth of basketball experience to the Muhls. He played 255 games in the NBA over four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards, the latter with Jordan. Nesby scored more than 1,000 points in two seasons at UNLV. He has coached AAU teams for the past four years, including his son, Tyrone Nesby IV, who helped lead Reading High to a state championship last season.

“My first NBA game was when I played in the NBA,” Nesby tells Zeke. “I had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an assistant coach. The guys knew I wanted to be a coach when I got done playing basketball. Every time we went on the road I sat behind Michael Jordan on the plane and on the bus and talked a lot. I took advantage of that.” Nesby tells Zeke that he got to the NBA from being the last guy on his high school bench “with a lot of hard work and dedication. I never stopped learning. It doesn’t matter where you started. It’s all about where you finish.”

When Zeke asks Nesby what his coaching style at Muhlenberg will be, he replies: “We are doing a lot of getting the ball out quicker. X’s and O’s are big to me, I’m all about plays. Different defense principles, I’m big on that. Teaching can overcome some talent gaps. I don’t have to have the best talent in the county, as long as I have kids that at least know the game a little bit. If you want respect, you gotta give respect. Give me some effort, show me that you really want to be here, that’s enough for me. You can work hard all you want to, you gotta work smart. I have been here (Berks County) four years now. I notice a lot of kids coming to my camp; there are a lot of fundamentals not being taught. We do a lot of fundamentals.”

As for his expectations for next season, Nesby replies that “it’s definitely too early to tell. I just told the kids, I do not want to be done in February when our regular season is over.” Nesby encourages his players to play other sports as well. “I tell the kids go play football, go play baseball, I’m OK with that,” he says. “I try to schedule around other sports (in the offseason) so the kids can go play all they want to.”

Fernando Lossa shares his story with Zeke, how he started running a year-and-a-half ago after weight loss surgery. Lossa tells Zeke he joined A Running Start running club, has competed in some 5Ks, and has kept off the 110 pounds (335 to 225) that he lost. Lossa tells Zeke that Bruce Ure, who lost 140 pounds through bariatric surgery and became an Ironman competitor, mentored him after his weight loss surgery. “Gastric bypass helped me control my bad eating habits,” Lossa tells Zeke. “Gastric surgery is all about changing your lifestyle … and BOOM I started running. A Running Start people are people who are positive and motivating. Running Start is part of my success … they motivate me to keep going. Bruce Ure has been a great mentor to me. When I was 335 pounds, I was lucky if I could run as long as 20 minutes. Now with losing over 100 pounds, I can run for over one-and-a-half hours.” Lossa shares with Zeke his love of the Rocky movies and his plans to run the Rocky 10K in Philadelphia in November: “I grew up on Rocky and I still watch his movies for motivation. I will be running up the steps (at the Art Museum that Rocky ran up). One of my goals after the Rocky 10K is to do a half Ironman.”

Albright College men's basketball coach Rick Ferry shares with the Zeke the story of the Lions' 2016-2017 season in which they surprisingly reached the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game despite finishing with a losing overall record at 13-14 but going 10-6 in the conference. Albright lost the title game to top-seeded Lycoming 76-62, but the fact that they even reached the title game was a remarkable turnaround. The Lions were struggling miserably on offense but the emergence of Fred Rowles as a scorer to complement leading scorer Dejuan Smith and Omari Ringgold fueled their strong finish. Smith, a junior, and Ringgold, a senior, were named to the All-MAC Commonwealth Men's Basketball Team -- Smith earning second-team honors and Ringgold making honorable mention.

As for the turnaround as the season progressed, Ferry tells Zeke: “I don’t think you can point to one thing -- we’ve been on a rebuild for the past few years. We weren’t necessarily pretty but we were playing good, we had some good losses.” Ferry tells Zeke that a difficult non-conference schedule contributed to their sub .500 season. “I consciously built up our schedule this past year,” Ferry tells Zeke. “It doesn’t matter what our overall record is as long as we do well in the conference and have a shot at the NCAA playoffs. My boss looks at team GPA, retention and graduation rate before wins and losses.”

The cost of attendance at a private college like Albright can make recruiting a challenge. “You can’t give scholarships in Division III,” Ferry says, then adds with a laugh: “If you’re really poor and really smart you will get a great financial aid package.” Regarding recruiting, Ferry tells Zeke: “You never know what will make a person tick. You want good work ethic. You want someone who is highly motivated.” When Zeke asks what gives him the most satisfaction in coaching, Ferry replies: “Watching these guys develop. They come in as 17- and 18-year-old boys and leave as 22-year-old men.”

anice Luck, Albright College women's basketball coach, shares with Zeke the story of the Lions' remarkable season. They were 23-6 overall, including 16-0 in the MAC Commonwealth Conference during the regular season, and made their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Plagued by turnovers, they lost to Messiah 53-50 in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game. Albright rebounded to beat Piedmont 64-54 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. But Marymount's powerful inside game was too much for the Lions in a second-round 68-59 loss. Albright had reached the NCAA Sweet 16 the previous season. The Lions reached 20 wins and the MAC Commonwealth title game for the third straight season. “This past season we had a very difficult non-conference schedule,” Luck tells Zeke. “It made some of the easier competition seem even easier.” Nina Mazzarelli, their top 3-point shooter, was the leading scorer at 14.7 per game, followed by Alysha Lofton at 11.8, Shannon Thomas at 11.5 and Devan Horka at 11. Lofton, a junior, was named Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention for also averaging 9.4 rebounds a game (second in the conference).

The All-MAC Commonwealth Conference first-team selection had 13 double-doubles and 21 double-digit scoring games. Her 76 steals ranked third in the conference. Next year also looks promising. “We have four returning starters,” Luck tells Zeke. “They will be seniors.” But all that returning talent can crimp recruiting. “This year was a little rough recruiting because we have so many returning players,” Luck tells Zeke. “Everybody wants to play right away. Athleticism seems to get us where we are today. I’m always looking for that and height. There is a lot more athleticism in women’s basketball today. I want kids who are going to be active on campus.” Another change in college women’s basketball is they play four quarters instead of two halves. “That’s because the WNBA plays four quarters,” Luck says. She played at Albright but upon graduation her career plan didn’t include coaching her alma mater. “I wish I could say that it was a fairy tale and all but I was a psych business major,” Luck tells Zeke. “Looking back, everything happened the way it should have. I love seeing the kids mature, grow up and graduate.”

Mike Miller this past season became the winningest men's basketball coach in Alvernia University history. In 13 seasons, he is 236-118 with six conference titles and six NCAA Division III tournament berths. The men’s basketball program and its sustained excellence have been embraced by the Alvernia community. “Most of our games down the stretch and in the playoffs are sellouts -- the kids (his players) like to see that,” Miller says. Miller stresses fundamentals, relying on man defense and running just a few offensive sets. His teams are mentally tough, focused grinders. “You have to find a mentally disciplined kid who is going to work on it,” Miller tells Zeke. “The best thing for us right now is player development. We work on fundamentals. It’s getting tougher and tougher to find that kid who is going to be a basketball junkie and be coachable.” Miller talks about this past season with Zeke when Alvernia was 15-11, losing four of its last seven games including a loss to Lebanon Valley in a MAC Commonwealth play-in-game. “We ran into a lot of injuries last season,” Miller tells Zeke. Miller played for Lloyd Wolf at Holy Name and then was an assistant under Jim Gano, Rick Binder and Steve Hahn at Reading High. Miller took his first head coaching job at Kutztown High and left after one season to be the Reading head coach. He coached Donyell Marshall, who became an All-American at Connecticut and had an18-year NBA career. He now is the head coach at Central Connecticut. At Alvernia the past two seasons Miller coached Donyell’s son, Marquis Marshall, the MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year this past season. “Donyell and Marquis are very much alike – very coachable, skills, good hands and loving to play,” Miller tells Zeke. “But Donyell is 6-11 and Marquis is 6-5.” Speaking of fathers-sons, Miller coaches his son Mike, a 6-2 guard who will be a senior next year. “I didn’t have to push him to do anything -- he’s been around the game all his life,” the elder Miller shares with Zeke. After Miller left Reading High in 1994 with a 145-31 record, he spent 10 seasons as an Alvernia assistant to Jack McCloskey before succeeding him at Alvernia. “I’m doing what I love to do and get paid to it; it can’t get better than that,” Miller tells Zeke.

Troy Longenecker, owner of Anytime Fitness in West Lawn, tells Zeke that his facility offers its members exactly what its name suggests: access to the gym anytime, 24 hours a day. “Convenience is paramount,” Longenecker tells Zeke. Longenecker says that Anytime Fitness is attractive to clients because it is accessible and affordable. Longenecker tells Zeke that in off-peak hours the gym is unstaffed but members can text trainers with questions at any time. Members have access to the locked facility through an electronic key fob. “My gym is a little bit different from typical gyms,” Longenecker tells Zeke. “Everyday people working to get to a healthier place. I was looking for a facility in line with my philosophy. It’s about taking care of people, a very personal friendly gym. The biggest difference is customer service. The key to success is to surround yourself with good people and being in a comfortable environment. I have three trainers on staff and you also can access classes online -- on demand in the gym.” Anytime Fitness last year was named the No. 1 global franchise for the second straight year by Entrepreneur magazine. Longenecker tells Zeke that the franchise business model dictates a limited staff to allow trainers to get to know the clients on a personal level. As for a training tip, Longenecker shares with Zeke that “strength training and muscle building are equally important as cardio if you want to lose weight. You build muscle and burn calories all day.” Anytime Fitness has other Berks locations in Blandon, Hamburg and Gilbertsville.

Ralph Clark is the first head football coach at Alvernia University, which is starting up the program and will kick off in the 2018 season in the Middle Atlantic Conference that includes Albright College. Clark shares with Zeke the opportunities that come with creating a program. "People talk about the challenges of a startup program," Clark says. "I don’t look at challenges. I am the ultimate optimist. Challenges are all opportunities." Clark tells Zeke that he is no stranger to the situation, having been a freshman running back when Joe Walton, the former New York Giants and Washington Redskins tight end and head coach of the New York Jets for seven seasons, created the football program at Robert Morris University. "He told us, ‘Be happy for your teammates' success,'" Clark said. "That stuck with me. It is important to understand and accept your role and know how it fits in the overall success of the team. The ultimate goal is to win the game. Don’t tell me what we can’t do, I'm gonna tell you what we can do with hard work." Clark has 19 years of coaching experience but had never been a head coach until now. "The difference between defensive coordinator and head coach is that everything falls on your shoulders," Clark tells Zeke. "You have to think broad-based." While his recent focus has been defense, Clark has coached every position except offensive line. After an extensive search by Alvernia, the school hired Clark because of his character and integrity, his charisma, his success as a recruiter, and being a players' coach that players love to play for. His boundless energy and emphasis on faith, family and academics made him the perfect fit for Alvernia. It is a shared respect. "Alvernia is a special place," Clark tells Zeke. "We do have core values and mission. That is what I was looking for. Alvernia is the most supportive environment both academically and athletically than any school I've been at. We’ve got more support directed to our students. It’s all about the atmosphere. It’s different at Alvernia." While they are not playing until the 2018 season, Clark tells Zeke he is working hard to bring in recruits in 2017 so they can train and get to know the culture. "We’ll do everything we are allowed to do (under NCAA guidelines); we just aren’t playing games in the 2017 season," Clark says. "We’ll get them in the weight room and on the field," Clark says. "But we will focus on ourselves. We won't be playing games or scrimmaging other schools. What it does is give you an opportunity to think about how it is you want it as a program. You get to mold and shape it brick by brick. Anybody that really loves football will embrace the opportunity. I am looking for guys that want to stay and help build the team. If you’re from this area, then stay here. We can build something special right here."

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 that the future is bright because they had nine underclassmen in the starting lineup in 2016 en route to Berks and District 3 titles. Class 1A All-State first-team freshman Sophia Gladieux had 23 goals and 19 assists, both team highs. Class 1A All-State second-team sophomore Madison Kline had 24 goals and 11 assists. Class 1A All-State first-team junior midfielder Shannon Lackey, who has committed to Northwestern, also returns. In fact, 15 of their top 19 players return. They do lose Class 1A All-State first-team captain and Wake Forest recruit Sam Buzalewski, who had 19 goals and 15 assists, to graduation.

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 your fitness and the eating disorder to have the right outcome for success.
After surgery, you lose 100 pounds or so in the first year or so ... the challenge is
keeping it off." Ure went to A Running Start in West Reading to get a good pair of
sneakers and wound up getting much more. He met Sorita Averill, who owns A Running
Start and became an Ironman competitor herself after undergoing three surgeries
involving a double mastectomy and breast implants. "I met people there who meet and
run weekly," Ure tells Zeke. "I met people training for all kinds of challenges. I met
people training for The Ironman and they inspired me." He began by competing in a
triathlon. He had been a runner on and off over the years. "I lived in Florida and am a
natural swimmer and am very comfortable in open water," Ure tells Zeke. "I borrowed a
bike, then got fitted for a new bike and started riding ... 30 miles became 50, then 60."
His first Ironman competition in Cambridge, MD was scheduled for a 2.4-mile swim, a
112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run. The weather had different plans.
"Event day there were 20-mile-per-hour winds and drenching rain," Ure explains, "and
the swim was canceled." But there was plenty of water with parts of the route flooded.
Running and biking in all that rain and wind was grueling enough without the swim.
"Everything I thought I prepared for changed," Ure tells Zeke. "I completed the event in
14-and-a-half hours. Your desire to accomplish a goal is important and necessary for
the mental confidence needed to complete an Ironman." It is not uncommon for an
Ironman event to have the open-water swim event canceled due to rough
weather but Ure's goal is to complete an Ironman that includes the swim. But his post sleeve
gastrectomy and fitness-centric lifestyle is much more than Ironman
competitions. "It’s a gift you give back to your family -- be healthy," Ure tells Zeke.

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 ability to feel quote normal unquote. There are so many great technologies that allow people to do different things. At a recent bash, we were able to fund a woman with no hands and one leg to get her fit for a bike. You have to get a body in condition. It's amazing to see what these recipients can accomplish ... figure out what it is you're able to do, then use us as a resource to get fitted with adaptive equipment." Kaag tells Zeke that his Corps Fitness facility interacts with his IM ABLE Foundation. "Corps Fitness is the only adaptive inclusive facility (around here) ... we have inclusive fitness classes, including all cognitive abilities." Kaag also tells Zeke that "dealing with peers helps to motivate you and inspire you."

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 the "Marine Corps saved my life. The military gave me the ability to overcome all my challenges. I became a trainer after leaving the Marines and incorporated a military-style approach. I like being able to inspire and motivate people. When I went to boot camp, I was challenged. At Corps Fitness, we have a board that says, 'If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you."

His Corps Fitness classes are based on calisthenics, plyometric and body-weight exercises, as well as team exercises, and are held in a circuit training format. He also offers boot camp-style classes as well Crossfit and kettlebell classes. Kaag tells Zeke that he hopes to push his clients beyond their preconceived physical boundaries. Corps Fitness promotes the philosophies of respect, accountability and teamwork. Every participant in a class helps other classmates to get the job done ... from beginning fitness levels to advanced fitness levels all members works as a team to push through a workout. Everyone is accountable to one another in giving maximum effort and correctly executing exercises. "Sometimes you come in to work out; sometimes you take care of somebody else," Kaag tells Zeke. Kaag admits to Zeke that his military style approach can be a marketing challenge in attracting new clients, but he assures that "you don't need to be intimidated. It's for everyone. I just want to give everyone the opportunity to do the best they can. I want people to be able to tackle challenges outside my facility."

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 transferred to Reading High. “We have at least five to seven sophomores that will see game time this season,” Esterly tells Zeke. “We’re gonna be a force. I really like this team.” The PIAA reclassification now has Berks Catholic as a 4A, but Esterly says, “Basically, I don’t think it’s much difference for us.” Asked by Zeke about what has changed the most in high school basketball over the years, Esterly responds: “I think not much has changed. But kids have so much more today. Technology is incredible … open gym, running laps, playing, and kids on the side all sitting there looking at phones and texting. Another difference is that 15 to 20 years ago, the weight program was not there as much. Now everybody is doing it. It always helps.” Asked by Zeke what he enjoys most about coaching, Esterly replies: “The kids are great. The young men are great.”

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 tell you a season that I’ve had everybody at practice at the start.” Coldren, in his 16th season as Wilson's head coach, talks to Zeke about his team's annual rivalry with Reading High for the Division I title. Coldren explains to Zeke why he made a rare gesture after losing to the Red Knights in last season's conference semifinals, asking Reading coach Rick Perez if he could address his team. “It’s a huge rivalry but it’s a respect rivalry,” Coldren says. “Last year, of all the years I’ve coached, that was the best team they’ve ever had. It was a special group of kids.” Coldren tells Zeke that the PIAA's reclassification, moving Wilson from 4A to 6A, essentially still groups the Bulldogs with the same schools. Coldren also talks about coaching his son Kyle, a junior guard who has moved up from last year's JV team. “I am looking forward to coaching him and getting to spend a lot of time with him in a different aspect than at home,” Coldren tells Zeke.

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 spine bifida. Noyes got his bike last year, and sometimes rides alongside Kelly on training runs. Kelly, who also has run the New York Marathon, has raised about $5,000 for IM ABLE. Garrity-Haldeman tells Zeke that she hopes to complete the other two international marathons over the next two years, and then earn her Abbott six-star certificate at the Boston Marathon. Her running accomplishments are amazing especially considering she has no peripheral vision in her left eye and occasional gait problems connected to the car accident in 2007.

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 Princeton. Their daughter Molly was a two-time high school All--American in water polo and played at Maryland.

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 Palmer three times,” he says. “It was an honor to be with him and I enjoyed the moment. I've been in Jack Nicklaus' company at Concession Golf Club in Sarasota, Florida, a course he helped design. What a gracious man.” Lutz has played many outstanding courses in the world but as for his favorite, he tells Zeke, "I haven't met one I didn't like."

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 until there is a winner. As it turns out, I managed to get it done on the first try. The greens are different over there. There are a lot more refinements and different approaches to the game." Lutz also shares with Zeke his disappointment about his play in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in St. Louis. Lutz, the defending champion, advanced to match play by shooting a 7-over 149 after 36 holes to place 45th -- with the top 64 advancing. But he lost in the round of 32 at Old Warson Country Club, losing in match play to 2012 champ Paul Simson 5-and-3. Lutz also has won two Canadian Senior Amateur titles.

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 variety of reps, ranges and weights.”
The classes are more affordable than trainers, but which can take your fitness routine to the next level and design a workout program specially customized for your fitness goals. “All our programs are custom designed to meet client goals,” Carjan shares with Zeke. Carjan says that since no two bodies are the same, a personalized training program focuses on you and only you.
They also offer nutritional guidance and offer multiple programs, including weight loss training, next level training and K2Fit Boot Camp training. “Our gym is friendly, personalized and less intimidating,” Carjan says. “Our typical client wants to lose weight. Others want more agility and speed with sports. Others want to tone, sculpt and shape their body. Nutritional counseling is important. You cannot train a bad diet.”

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 Charlie Tonneslan was Berks' most efficient passer, with a 66 percent completion rate and 19 TDs in just 100 attempts.

Running backs Christian Martir and Brandon Westwood each topped 1,000 yards and combined for 25 touchdowns. Each matched the school record by scoring five TDs in a game. "I find that kids are the same, they want to win," Wolfrum explains. "If you can get them to buy in -- and that just doesn't happen -- you have to work hard. Fortunately, our seniors help the younger kids. One of the biggest things with winning is your kids expect to win. The bottom line is our blocking, the angle blocking. We do this because we are a small school. It gives us a chance to beat teams that are bigger and stronger." Wolfrum discusses with Zeke Wyomissing rivalry with Berks Catholic.

Over the past four seasons, either the Saints or the Spartans has earned a District 3-AA championship; the last two they've played each other for it. These two programs have continued to one-up each other. Over the past two seasons, they have combined to go 49-6 -- 45-2 against outside competition. "A lot of our kids and their kids know each other from the neighborhood and really get up for that game," Wolfrum explains. Wolfrum shares with Zeke his hopes for the upcoming season and also discusses the PIAA restructuring into six football classes, with Berks Catholic now in Class 4 and Wyomissing in Class 3 -- meaning the two rivals no longer will have district duels. "This season will be a rebuilding year for us,” he says. "We have very few starters back. As for the playoffs, now we only have to play Berks Catholic once."

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 average of 32.3 points -- seventh-highest in Berks history. BC became the first Berks team to have brothers -- Isaac and Cooper Lutz -- each rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. The Saints came within a couple of carries of having three 1,000-yard rushers; Marcus Wilson finished with 946. "The key to our success was our offense,” Keeley explains. “We run a misdirection offense. We were fortunate last year to have three backs that if you give them 5 yards, they'll get 50." Keeley discusses with Zeke Berks Catholic's rivalry with Wyomissing.

The Spartans won Berks Section 2 last season by beating Berks Catholic but had their 12-0 season ended by the Saints in the district title game. Over the past four seasons, either the Saints or the Spartans has earned a District 3-AA championship; the last two they've played each other for it. Following the script from the previous season, when Wyomissing avenged a loss in the Backyard Brawl by beating BC for the district title, the Saints put together their best game of the season to take out the Spartans 34-6 -- just three weeks after losing to them 34-28. These two programs have continued to one-up each other.

Over the past two seasons, they have combined to go 49-6 -- 45-2 against outside competition. "Our kids play their best games against Wyomissing; Wyomissing kids play their best games against us," the Berks Catholic coach tells Zeke. "We both have exceptional staffs who buy into what they are doing every day." Keeley shares with Zeke his hopes for the upcoming season and also discusses the PIAA restructuring into six football classes, with Berks Catholic now in Class 4 and Wyomissing in Class 3 -- meaning the two rivals no longer will have district duals. "We upped our schedule this year," Keeley shares with Zeke. "It will be tougher to win all those non-league games. We can play any of the good teams right now, but we can't play them back to back because of depth. As for the new playoff structure, I don't worry about that too much but it does mean that it will be one less time we have to play Wyomissing."

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 without star tailback Shane Dantzler. Wilson’s Berks-record 30-game regular season win streak was snapped in Week 3 by Central Dauphin. Dahms tells Zeke that he expects to have a running back by committee approach this season.

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.

Exeter athletic director Tom Legath shares with Zeke the story of how the school district has made a significant investment in the safety of its football players grades 7 through 12. Concerned about the increasing awareness of concussions and brain injuries, the Exeter School Board approved the purchase of 145 Riddell SpeedFlex helmets with InSite Impact Response System at a cost of $55,825. "This speaks volumes about our school district and our school board and what we are and what we want for the safety of our kids," Legath says. "The movie 'Concussion' led to the decision to make this purchase." Legath tells Zeke that next season every Eagles football player -- from varsity to junior high -- will wear the state-of-the-art SpeedFlex helmets, designed to disperse energy and reduce the risk of head trauma. "The technology of the new helmets is designed to help disperse the blow of a hit,"

Legath says. Exeter players will be the first in Berks County to wear them. Legath explains that in addition to reducing impact, the SpeedFlex helmets record the severity and frequency of blows each player takes during games and practices through the InSite Impact Response System. Exeter trainers will be able to monitor the data in real time. If the data indicates that a player has sustained a hit that could endanger his well-being, he will be pulled from the game or practice. "The information gleaned from the helmet technology allows football coach Matt Bauer and his staff to make the necessary adjustments to protect our kids," Legath tells Zeke. "They’ll use the data from the helmet sensors to improve teaching techniques for tackling and blocking. Parents will be a lot more on board about football knowing that their children's safety is being taken care of."

Michal Menet, the first Berks County football player ever to be named first-team All-State in Class AAA for three straight years en route to becoming a crown jewel of Penn State's 2016 recruiting class, shares with Zeke his offseason and his expectations this fall playing for the Nittany Lions. Menet, 6-5 and now up to 290 pounds, is a five-star recruit who is rated by some recruiting analysts as the top guard offensive guard in the country and the second-best offensive tackle. Menet was thrown a curve when Penn State offensive line coach Herb Hand, who played a primary role in recruiting Menet to Penn State, resigned to take the same job at Auburn. Four days later Menet received a visit from Penn State head coach James Franklin, new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead and new offensive line coach Matt Limegrover. "As soon as he (Hand) left, a lot of other coaches started calling me," Menet tells Zeke. "But I never wavered. I was 100 percent Penn State." Menet tells Zeke that he "gave serious thought" to early enrollment this spring and taking part in Penn State spring drills but opted to enjoy the remainder of his high school experience. He did give up playing basketball his senior year to concentrate on football. "My foot speed is natural but the lateral moves I developed came from basketball," he tells Zeke. Menet is taking two summer classes at Penn State and will be joining football drills. He decided not to play in the Voices All-Star Game or the Big 33 game because he already had played in the Under Armour All-American Game ("They treated us like kings; I had a lot of fun.") and wanted to give other guys a chance to play in an all-star game. Menet tells Zeke that he "likes to play tackle but can handle guard. I will play wherever they need me." Franklin has said that Menet has the athletic ability to play tackle, the intelligence to play center and the power to play guard. The Nittany Lions have struggled mightily on the offensive line the last two seasons, but they return four starters. Menet says he hopes to compete for a starting job this fall. "As a freshman everybody was a big dog in their town, now I'm just a small fish in a big pond," Menet tells Zeke. "I'm now ready to go up there and put in the work so I can get on the field." Menet, who is undecided about a major but is leaning toward business, says he is not worried about balancing big-time athletics and academics at Penn State. "With mandatory study halls and academic help when we need it, they make it easy on us," he says.

Marshall Kauffman, shares the story of his KING's Gym in Reading which he opened in 1995 to get youngsters off the streets and involved in more positive activities, helping them gain confidence and pride in themselves. KING's is an acronym for Kids In Need of Guidance. Kauffman talks with Zeke about training such world champions from Reading as Steve Little and Kermit Cintron along with his son Travis, a heavyweight contender. Kauffman also explains how his KING's Promotions not only puts on fight cards in Reading and regionally but has blossomed into televised promotions across the country on ESPN, Showtime, Fox Sports 1 and other networks.

Kauffman tells Zeke that the inspiration for KING's Gym was finding "a way to get kids off the street in the name of the one King, Jesus Christ. And Reading is a hotbed for boxing with fighters like Travis, Kermit and Steve. Ali was Steve’s inspiration." Kauffman and Zeke also discuss the changing world of boxing and how it has become marginalized by multiple champions and competing sanctioning bodies that prevent top contenders from fighting each other.

But Kauffman believes having more televised network matches these days instead of just having fights on premium channels like HBO and Showtime is bringing the sport back. And he said that Travis, 30-1 with 22 KOs at the age of 30, is training in Texas for a fight this summer to be announced shortly. "Travis is being trained by Naazim Richardson, who used to train Bernard Hopkins, and being managed by Al Haymon, who has advised Floyd Mayweather," Kauffman says. "I used to train and manage Travis but it was a necessary transition because it makes for a healthier relationship between father and son." Kauffman is grateful he has been able to make a difference in his fighters’ lives, "giving kids like Kermit the opportunity to go from making $7 an hour laying carpet to a world champion."

Marshall Kauffman, boxing trainer, manager and promoter, discusses with Zeke the remarkable career inside and outside the ring of former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, who trained at nearby Deer Lake on what became known as Muhammad's Mountain. "I think Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer of all time, as much for what he did outside the ring as he did inside the ring," Kauffman tells Zeke. "His technique was terrible but his speed made up for it. He was an amazing individual, an amazing athlete … standing up for what he believed in." Kauffman also told Zeke that "as we get older we get slower. But he got smarter. He had tremendous charisma and his will and his ego carried him through."

Champion bodybuilder Maria Ortiz shares with Zeke her take on body image and explains that she is quite comfortable with being muscular even though others may disagree. Maria details for Zeke the specifics of her training program, which begins at 3:20 in the morning so she can get half of her cardio in before going to her full-time job in in quality control at Alcon Manufacturing.

She does another hour of cardio, walking and jogging, after work along with an hour of weightlifting -- focusing on one body part per day under the direction of her husband and trainer Banyon. Maria tells Zeke that the hardest hurdle in training is the strict diet, which has her eating five meals a day, mostly protein, and drinking at least two gallons of water. Her daily diet consists of eggs, brown rice, fish, chicken, steak, salmon, broccoli, green beans and spinach. While her body craves sweets and carbs, she resists so her muscles look cut and defined in competition.

Maria Ortiz shares her story with Zeke about how a shy person who loved junk food became a champion bodybuilder with professional aspirations to compete for the Ms. Olympia title.

Maria tells Zeke that she used to go the gym but really didn't know what she was doing until she met Banyon Ortiz, a former bodybuilder who would not only change her life but become her husband. As proper training and diet transformed her body, Maria finally heeded suggestions by her husband and others to begin competing.

Overcoming her shyness on stage, Maria had a sensational debut in the 2013 Big Cat Classic in in Allentown, with first-place finishes in women's physique masters and in women's physique Class A en route to the overall title.

Two years later she made the transition from women's physique competition to bodybuilding competition and in the 2015 NPC Eastern USA Championships in Teaneck, N.J., she placed first in women's bodybuilding open and first place in women's bodybuilding over 35 en route to the overall title.

Now at age 46 and a grandmother, Maria is thoroughly immersed in her training as a hobby and a lifestyle and is seeking sponsorships to further pursue her professional career.

Marc David, a veteran journalist, author and speaker whose writing career spans three decades covering the sports spectrum from heavyweight boxing champions to the Olympics, talks with Zeke about running for enjoyment, a healthy lifestyle and his first book "The Addicted Runner."

Marc shares with Zeke his passion for running every day, some of the more unusual places and weather conditions he has run in, the proper way to run to minimize injury, and how being addicted to running develops a daily discipline that runs in tandem with a healthy lifestyle.

Reading High basketball star Lonnie Walker IV discusses his outstanding individual accomplishments with Zeke, which included being named a two-time Berks Player of the Year, first-team All-State, Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year, becoming the first junior in more than 100 years at the school to score 1,000 career points, and his invitation to try out for the USA Basketball U18 team.

Walker also shares with Zeke the experience of being heavily recruited by Villanova, Connecticut, Miami, Indiana, Oregon, UCLA, Penn State, West Virginia, Temple, SMU, Stanford and Harvard. Lonnie tells Zeke that his parents and his focus on academics and other interests help keep him centered amidst all the acclaim. His all-around skill set makes the 6-5 guard/forward so attractive to colleges. "A lot of kids get caught up in scoring only," Lonnie tells Zeke. "I like to do the dirty work, too." He focuses on the fundamentals.

Academically Lonnie has his sights on the possibility of being a surgeon or an accountant. Walker says that he never imagined as a kid that he would be in this position. But he met the challenge to achieve and make something of himself, a challenge put forth by his mother and grandmother. When marquee college coaches come to see him, Walker admits he tries to stay grounded. "Sometimes I turn into a little kid inside my head," he says. Walker says he is looking for a coach who is cool, calm and collected and willing to "work on my game on and off the court and help build up my character -- keep my academics up."

Reading High basketball star Lonnie Walker IV shares with Zeke the story of leading the Red Knights to a 28-4 season, their second straight Berks Conference title, their first District 3-AAAA title in six years, and their first trip to the PIAA semifinals in 33 years.

Walker also tells Zeke about the remarkable bond and chemistry he has with his teammates, a group of friends who have been playing together since the fourth grade. "I'm not a selfish player," he tells Zeke. "I trust every single player on the team. They can do as well as I do." Lonnie also explains how special it was to be embraced so warmly by the community.

The city of Reading motivates him. Which is why he says this season was a dream accomplished -- playing for Reading High and doing something for the city of Reading. Lonnie grew up seeing a lot of good players leave the city because of the environment.

He said his dad emphasized that you don't have to go anywhere to do well. You just have to work hard. Walker talks about the power of parents and having his dad a role model. "Growing up I thought it was impossible for me to play in Reading," he says. "I took on the challenge.

I worked out day and night with my father." He said the best compliment he received was from a 9-year-old kid who told him, "I'm actually happy to be a Red Knight. Thank you." Lonnie says when he heard that he realized why he was here in Reading. And listen to this story to hear his favorite part of this remarkable season.