Head athletic trainer Gary Vitti spends much of his time taking care of myriad things for the Lakers, but that’s not the extent of his services in his field.

In fact, Vitti has been involved with Team HEAL (Helping Enrich Athlete’s Lives) since the mid 1980’s, helping the foundation towards its mission of bringing “comprehensive injury prevention, medical care, athletic training, healthcare awareness, mentoring and acaemic support to high school athletes in underserved communities.”

On September 10, Team HEAL will host its “7th Annual Afternoon of Jazz Fundraiser” at the Wilshire Country Club from 2-7:00 p.m. in order to celebrate the achievements of high school scholar athletes. Vitti will be the recipient of the “Local Hero Award,” set to honor him for his help towards placing full-time Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC’s) to treat and rehabilitate injured student athletes.

“Appropriate medical care goes beyond having a physician and an ambulance at a game,” said Vitti. “There’s a lot more practice time than games, and of an estimated seven million high school athletes, only 42% have access to a certified athletic trainer. One in six adolescents that participate in high school sports will sustain a sports related injury, while one in every 100,000 will sustain a catastrophic injury. Team HEAL is doing its part but we have a long way to go.”

According to Vitti, program services include: pre-season sports physicals by volunteer physicians, sports medicine classes taught by (ATC’s) at participating schools; and scholarships given to deserving students. The program currently offers assistance to Banning, Carson, Crenshaw and Manual Arts high schools.

“I’ve been involved with trying to get athletic trainers in high schools for so long that it means a great deal to me that (Medical Director) Dr. (Clarence L.) Shields thought enough of the concept to create this magnificent foundation,” said Vitti. “Just as we have a responsibility to have coaches, facilities and equipment, we have a responsibility to provide care for these young athletes.”

Those interested in supporting the cause can attend Team HEAL’s jazz fundraiser, make a financial donation, an auction donation or “simply spread the word by word of mouth to people they know that may interested in this cause,” as Vitti concluded. Mike Trudell | Lakers Reporter

Lakers website: http://www.nba.com/lakers/newsnba/110802_team_heal_honors_vitti.html

For more information, please contact the Team HEAL office: 310.645.8347 | teamheal@ca.rr.com

Throw a halfback pass, the Crenshaw High coach told De’Anthony Thomas.

“Make it good,” the Crenshaw coach said.

It was unforgettable, even though the ball never left Thomas’ hands.

Bottled up along the right sideline at the Coliseum, his intended receiver covered, Thomas cut back and raced toward the far side of the field. He didn’t stop until he reached the end zone, his 12-yard touchdown run serving as the exclamation point in the Cougars’ 45-7 victory over Carson in the City Section Division I championship.

Said Thomas: “It was a great feeling when I hit the end zone.”

Said Garrett: “That play will stand out forever for me.”

There were plenty of memorable moments for Thomas during a senior season in which he led Crenshaw to a second consecutive City title by rushing for 1,299 yards and 18 touchdowns while also intercepting five passes as a defensive back.

Thomas averaged 11.4 yards per carry and put on a spectacular display against Carson in the title game, rushing for 137 yards and a touchdown. He also intercepted two passes, running back one for a touchdown.

“He was definitely a breed apart,” Harbor City Narbonne Coach Manuel Douglas said of Thomas, the Los Angeles Times’ Glenn Davis Award winner as the top player in Southern California.

Thomas is the first player from the City Section to win the award since Carson quarterback John Walsh in 1990. He is also the rare megastar liked as much for his humble nature as his enormous talent.

Before the season, Garrett was asked who was close to Thomas on his team.

“Everybody,” the coach said.

Who is his best friend?

“Everybody,” Garrett said.

Thomas’ biggest fan might be Damorrea Jefferson, a freshman wide receiver and defensive back trying to model himself after his older sibling with a different last name.

“If I keep on trying, maybe I will get that way,” Jefferson said. “He’s just a really good kid, and I appreciate him being my brother.”

It was hard not to adore a player who sacrificed his own statistics to accelerate the development of younger teammates. There were eight games this season in which Thomas had fewer than 10 carries, and he ran the ball only once during blowout playoff victories over Narbonne and Granada Hills.

“He would want to know, ‘When are we going to get the ball to somebody else?’ ” Garrett said.

That could change next season, when Thomas hopes to pile up carries as a USC freshman. After initially saying he wanted to play defensive back in college because it might lead to a longer NFL career, Thomas reversed course.

“I was figuring that I could be another big-time running back like Reggie Bush or Joe McKnight and try to compete for the Heisman Trophy,” Thomas said.

As a freshman?

“Yes,” Thomas said.

Garrett predicted great things for Thomas because of his willingness to augment his talent with hard work.

“He comes to practice every day with a hard hat on,” Garrett said. “He doesn’t take a play off. If you had 10 De’Anthony Thomases, you’d win every year.”

One worked out just fine for Crenshaw.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

The CIF / LA Section Football Championships return to the Coliseum on Saturday, December 11th. Kickoff will be at 1pm, with gates opening at 12noon. $10 for Adults, $8 for students (with ID) with children 4 & under admitted free.

 

December 3, 2010: The Carson Colts football squad scored 40 points and restricted the visiting Taft Toreadors to 21 in the Colts non-league victory on Friday.

The Colts now possess an 11-2 record. They put it on the line next when they travel to Crenshaw for a non-league battle on Saturday, December 11. Carson will face a Cougars squad coming off a 63-12 non-league win over Venice (Los Angeles, CA). The Cougars record now stands at 11-2.

The CIF / LA Section Football Championships return to the Coliseum on Saturday, December 11th. Kickoff will be at 1pm, with gates opening at 12noon. $10 for Adults, $8 for students (with ID) with children 4 & under admitted free.