Hilton Head Monthly Connecting the Lowcountry 
PRIVATE TRAVEL TEAMS GAIN GROUND IN YOUTH SPORTS
Competitive youth sports programs can teach valuable life skills — how to win gracefully, how to accept defeat, how to be a good sport — and help boost self-esteem and self-confidence. Unfortunately, these programs also can offer lessons in how not to behave: shouting matches and shoving among grandstanding parents or aimed at umpires, judges, coaches and opposing players.
Six former standout student-athletes were inducted into the Hilton Head Island High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 1 during halftime of the Seahawks’ football game against Battery Creek High School. The 2017 Hall of Fame class includes Angela Beyhan Thune, cross-country and track & field, class of 1986; Jennifer Dana, cross-country and track & field, 1989; Carlos Gadson, football, 1988; Sadie Jenkins Bush, volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross-country and track & field, 1984; Andrew Mitchell, football, basketball, baseball, and track & field, 1991; and Emily Natoli, volleyball, basketball and soccer, 2009.
There are few better ways to spend a fine October afternoon in the South then eating, drinking, socializing and watching an action-packed polo match.
And it doesn’t get much better than the annual Okatie Rotary Polo for Charity fundraiser, kicking off this year at noon Oct. 22 at the Rose Hill Equestrian Center. This year, local nonprofit organizations and area charities like Paws4Vets and Foundation for Eductional Excellence are the beneficiaries.
Runners of all ages and ability levels are invited to join the HHI Run Club for free group runs every Sunday at 7 a.m. The organized, structured runs are designed to help runners of all levels reach their goals. The group runs leave from Go Tri Sports at 31 New Orleans Road. For more information, email Alfred Olivetti atalfred@gotrisports.com.
If you’re looking for a non-traditional way of exercising, hula hooping might be for you. Hula hoop expert Jody Evans is teaching a hula hoop fitness and dance class from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Oct. 31 at Shelter Cove Pavilion. The class is sponsored by the Island Rec Center and costs $10 per session. Evans, who has been sharing her love of hula hooping for six years in Boulder, Colorado, and on the beaches of Hilton Head Island, provides the hoops and teaches hoop aerobics, strength-building, and hoop dance tricks.
The Low Country Volleyball Club (LCVC) will hold organizational meetings for the 2017-18 season at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 and 9 in the Bluffton High School gym. Any players interested in trying out for an LCVC travel team should attend one of the meetings for important information about the club, tryouts, the season schedule, and costs. LCVC features travel teams for school-aged players from ages 8-19 and is open to both boys and girls, though the club has never had enough interest to field a boys team. For more information contact Al Stern at spiker149@hargray.com or 843-705-5293. Or go to www.lowcountryvolleyball.com.
The Professional Tennis Registry reached a major milestone Aug. 31, when the Hilton Head Island-based organization welcomed its 10,000th member in the United States.
"When you provide quality education leading to certification, plus outstanding member services and benefits — membership growth follows,” PTR CEO Dan Santorum said. “Reaching 10,000 members in the U.S., one-third of whom are coaches of color, is a tremendous source of pride for PTR.”
The 10th annual Tiger Bass 5K/15K in Hampton Lake has been rescheduled for Oct. 28 after being postponed in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The race, which benefits Memory Matters and River Ridge Academy, also includes a 1-mile fun run. Registration is open through Oct. 26. For more information, go to www.tigerbassrace.com.
One of the area’s best annual charity golf tournaments and an exciting new one are just around the corner.
The 14th annual Mortgage Network Tee Off Fore The Arts tournament is Oct. 25 at Wexford Golf & Tennis Club and will also feature a mixed doubles round robin tennis event. Participants will enjoy an awards reception and silent auction after play. Golf entries are $350 per player, and tennis entries are $175. Sign sponsor rates are $100 for golf signage and $50 for tennis signage. For more information, call Lyn Kaplan at 843-686-3945, ext. 210.
Ready to hit the open road astride a bike to get in shape or to participate in an upcoming race or ride? The Lowcountry is a great place to start cycling, thanks to its nearly perfect weather and bike path-friendly terrain. The Town of Hilton Head Island has been recognized as one of the most bicycle-friendly communities in the U.S., and it offers something for beginning cyclists and hard-core athletes alike.
Many cyclists prefer to bike alone, while others enjoy the camaraderie of a regular group ride. Either way, finding a few friends to help get your biking routine in gear can really help, area enthusiasts say.
