THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170226
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 34 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRYAN JOHNSTON, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
FOR MANY ATHLETES, their sport is their life. Every waking moment is spent thinking about or participating in athletics - often to the point of unhealthy preoccupation.
This is not the case for Tiffany Sykes.
Sykes, the starting center on the Western Branch girls' junior varsity basketball team, is involved in a host of other activities.
She can thank her mother for that.
``I wanted to start playing earlier, but my mother insisted that I study ballet and piano,'' she said. ``My godmother convinced her to let me try basketball.''
Although her mother simply wanted her to appreciate the fine arts, Sykes also had a few physical problems that impeded her progress as an athlete.
``I was born with a dislocated hip socket, and doctors thought I might have to wear a brace permanently. I was overweight and awkward in middle school,'' she said.
But Sykes turned things around with a few words of wisdom at home.
``My motto comes from my stepfather - it's not how you start, it's how you finish,'' she said.
Known to some as ``Shaq'' because of her height (5-11) and the fact that she wears a size 12 men's shoe, Sykes, 14, is just now starting to come into her own and is averaging 16 points and 13 rebounds a game.
``I attribute my success to God, supportive parents, hard work, and being able to take constructive criticism,'' she said. ``My father was a great athlete and my stepfather is a VHSL official. They give me great suggestions.''
Sykes considers her strengths to be her rebounding skills and ability to take the ball to the basket, but points out that there are still aspects of her game that need work.
``Even professional athletes practice every day. Because I'll graduate at 16, I don't think I'll reach my potential until college,'' she said.
Because Sykes is only 14, chances are she still has plenty of growing to do. Although her mother, Sandy Hutchinson, is only 5-8, Sykes' father, former Norfolk State player Randolph Sykes, is 6-8. Her projected height is 6-1, but Sykes hopes for more.
``I pray every night to grow at least to 6-3,'' she said.
Sykes was listed in last year's edition of ``Who's Who Among American High School Students'' and received a gold medal in poetry writing through ACT-SO (Afro Academic-Cultural-Technological-Scientific Olympics).
``I went to Chicago for the national competition, where I was selected to sing in the ACT-SO choir. Rosa Parks was a guest there and it was great,'' Sykes said.
She gets accolades as an athlete as well.
Sykes earned a varsity letter in volleyball as a freshman and supplements her role on the Western Branch JV team by playing Junior Olympic and Boo Williams AAU basketball. She also plans on competing for the Bruins during outdoor track season.
Sykes' goals for this year, and the future, include helping her team become district champions and playing three sports while still making the honor roll. When it comes to her life after high school, she has a pretty good idea what direction she'll go.
``I'd like to play basketball in college at a CIAA school . . . study sports medicine and work for a NBA team,'' Sykes said. ``I'd like to get a minor in communications and help female athletics get more attention, maybe as a sportscaster for a major network.''
Whether she's on the court playing basketball, on television announcing games, or even just in her bedroom writing poetry, Sykes has the special talent to succeed in whatever path she finally chooses. With her ability, she might succeed at all of them. ILLUSTRATION: Tiffany Sykes, starting center on Western Branch girls' junior
varsity basketball team, averages 16 points and 13 rebounds a game.
Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Sykes' goals include helping her team become district champions,
playing three sports and making honor roll.
by CNB