PHOTO via Metro Richmond Tennis Club
The Richmond Free Press has a great article on Charlesten Freeman:
The 16-year-old East End resident is the Conference 26 singles champion and aspiring for even loftier goals.
“I’m definitely thinking Division I (college) — even pro. But I have to keep working hard,” he told The Free Press.
Freeman is a sophomore at Richmond’s Franklin Military Academy but plays with speed and a crisp forehand for his comprehensive neighborhood school, Armstrong High School.
17 comments
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Go Charlesten!
Sure do wish that our community would deemphasize sports and focus on educational core values. Considering the percentage of students who will “make it” in sports at college let alone professional, we need to be setting these students up for success.
Lets highlight the students in the honors programs, those that are participating the science fair or writing competitions.
If our community spent a fraction of the time encouraging academics as we do high school sports, we might actually break the cycle of poverty.
http://www.dailynews.com/social-affairs/20170604/75-of-black-california-boys-dont-meet-state-reading-standards
Actually Franklin Military does ranks pretty well in terms of AP participation and compared to other RPS high schools. It has a 100% graduation rate and higher than average math and English proficiency rates. It stresses academics as well as other activities and has outside partners to help with curriculum related to financial literacy programs. Maybe you should learn more about it.
The students who are succeeding at athletics at Armstrong are doing so through hard work and dedication, and through teamwork, and through working with an adult coach who is likely important in their life. All of this means an awful lot, for character development and for the education: sports helps keep kids in school.
I saw any number of kids find a safe place in athletics. I can think a good number who I was worried about as 11-year-olds, who ended up at least graduating, and a good % who are off to college.
Don’t underestimate what the coaches are telling these kids. The coaches that I’ve met at MLK and Armstrong aren’t meatheads. They’re not hoodwinking with delusions of the NFL. To a T, they’re doing these jobs because it’s a great way to work with the youth.
I knew Coach Banks when he was Officer Banks at MLK. Coaching tennis has been his way to connect with the students for years, and any student is going to benefit from that relationship. Straight up good man doing good work.
I also knew Charlesten as a 6th grader. Great kid, great student. I’d have guessed then that he was college bound, sports or not. Let’s celebrate that he’s doing well. Congrats, dude!
Well done Charlesten Freeman!! Keep up the good work.
My comment was in reply to Neighbor and yes, congrats Charlesten! Keep it up:)
Thank you to Clay Street and John M for expressing so clearly the importance of athletics balanced with academic standards. Athletics (swimming) was helpful with my kids teaching them – focus, sportsmanship, discipline, leadership, and goal setting…all excellent skills for someone who will be contributing back to the community after academics. (And Neighbor-for the record they contributed to academic competitions in Math, poetry, economics and investements) While there are plenty of academic and research scholarships, there are also plenty of sports scholarships which can get Charleston to a college of his choice and well beyond many’s dreams. Go Charleston!! Keep after it.. My kids played sports in a D1 college and loved it. Their teammates are some of their closest friends. It’s an awesome experience – keep striving. Be sure to start contacting college coaches to let them know you are interested!! I was a tennis player growing up – it’s great to see you pursuing your dream in tennis!
Awesome stuff. Love to hear about kids who are working hard and succeeding. I attribute much of my personal success to what I learned through coaches and competing in sports.