DATE: Monday, March 31, 1997                TAG: 9703310061

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PHILLIP PURYEAR, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   48 lines

SCHOOL OFFICIAL SEEKS TO GIVE CHILDREN EARLIER START IN SPORTS

Carlton Thornton Sr. has spent 25 years working with children in the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank school system.

Now, he want to help children develop values outside of school, and he sees entry-level athletics as one avenue to reach that goal.

Thornton, assistant superintendent of the school system, and recently appointed as coordinator of athletics, wants to begin a feeder athletics program in Pasquotank County.

It's a drive triggered by the recent wrestling success of his 5-year-old grandson, Carlton Thornton III.

The boy, a resident of Carrboro, won the North Carolina Amateur Athletic Association's ``Tot'' Unlimited Class state wrestling championship, which qualified him for a spot in the St. Louis nationals.

Thornton took his grandson to a meet in Virginia Beach recently to hone his grandson's wrestling skills. But there was no one his size, Thornton said of the 94-pound boy.

``There were 300 kids competing up in Virginia Beach,'' Thornton said. ``It's good for our children to take advantage of these opportunities.''

One way for youngsters to get started in organized athletics is through starter programs that prepare them for organized play at higher levels as they mature.

``Feeder programs help teach fundamentals and shape attitudes for a pre-varsity team,'' said Thornton, who coached wrestling and cross-country track for 11 years.

``The key to having outstanding individual athletes is to start them off at an early age,'' he said.

In addition to starting feeder programs in wrestling, Thornton also wants to focus on other sports, such as tennis, swimming, golf and volleyball.

Thornton currently is working with Jim Overman, the city's director of parks and recreation, to begin youth leagues in the summer.

In addition to creating successful athletic programs, Thornton hopes to produce successful students through the focus and goal-oriented mind-set that athletics instills. ``It is common knowledge that children that are physically engaged are also successful in the classroom,'' said Thornton. ``There's a positive correlation between the two.''

Thornton said he has seen that correlation in his grandson, who has newfound confidence as a result of wrestling.

Thornton also hopes to offer opportunities that children in the community may not normally have, such as an outlet for physical energy and, down the road, scholarship opportunities.

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