December 2000: Vol. 80, No. 1December 2000: Vol. 80, No. 1 |
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 Mark McGarity is the nation's top-ranked expert-class mountain biker. If he continues to improve, he might turn pro. |
As another competitive mountain biking season comes to an end, Mark McGarity, the nation's top-ranked, expert-class cyclist, finds himself exhausted "both mentally and physically."
For three years McGarity, a senior graphics design major from Peachtree City, has balanced 15-20 hour a week training sessions with school and a social life.
"I have to make a lot of sacrifices," says McGarity. "I rarely go out, and I'm usually traveling to races nearly every weekend."
McGarity started mountain biking for the sheer fun of it at the age of 16. Two years later, his hobby became a passion and he began competing in the first-timer division at local races. Six years later, he sees all his hard work and sacrifices reflected in his No. 1 national ranking.
"I started racing because all my friends were doing it, and it was the trendy thing to do," says McGarity. "But I have an addictive personality, so I just couldn't stop."
It was this "addictive personality" combined with his admitted competitiveness that earned McGarity a position on one of the most successful mountain biking teams in the nation: CDH-Marin.
The local CDH-Marin team consists of 20 members, most of whom are the same friends that McGarity started racing with six years ago. He is one of six team members who competes nationally.
Next season, McGarity will make the move from expert to semiprofessional. At the semiprofessional class the races are faster and the competition more elite.
"For these next two years, I'm thinking I might have to back off and focus on school," says McGarity. "If I could pull it off though, I'd love to keep training and maybe go pro."
Advance man preps for career in politics
Gore corps
When a limousine carrying Al and Tipper Gore arrived at a Minneapolis horse show in June, Scott Butler stepped forward. He told the Gores where they would be sitting and when Gov. Jesse Ventura's daughter would be joining them at the horse show. Butler also pointed out where the vice president could conduct some private business.
A few hours later, after a smooth and successful event, Butler helped the Gores into their limousine and back out on the campaign trail.
"Once they're in the car, you breathe a sigh of relief," says Butler, a Chatsworth senior majoring in history and political science.
As a member of Gore's national advance staff, Butler handled logistics for appearances by the vice presidential couple—and occasionally for President Clinton. He arranged transportation, coordinated volunteers, dealt with the press, and handled last-minute problems.
In February, for example, Butler was preparing for the vice president's town hall meeting in Macon when a tornado struck Camilla. The Macon trip was abruptly cancelled, and Butler and his fellow staffers were dispatched to Camilla to handle logistics for Gore's visit to the tornado site.
"There were no rental cars available in Camilla," says Butler, "so I called the superintendent and asked if he minded if we used the school buses." And that's how the vice president and his staff got around town.
Butler was selected for the national advance staff after years of volunteering at Democratic Party events in Georgia. He plans to run for office in Georgia one day.
In August, Butler and three other UGA students—Asher Rivner, Stacey Godfrey, and Mara Gassman—served as delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. "Exciting—that's the one word to describe it," says Butler. "There were thousands of Democrats and thousands of Gore supporters excited about the prospect of keeping the White House and taking back Congress."
Butler has one more semester at UGA. But if, as he says, "things go well in November," he wouldn't turn down a job at the White House.
Parents Weekend
Parents and family members of current UGA students spent a weekend on campus in September meeting the deans of the 13 schools and colleges, enjoying a picnic lunch on North Campus, working out at the Ramsey Student Center and hearing presentations from students, faculty, and administrators. Among the topics covered: Helping You and Your Student Transition at UGA, Preparing Your Student for Today's Job Market, and Learning Outside the Classroom. The weekend was the first major event sponsored by the new UGA Parents and Families Association. For more information, contact Tammy Gilland (706/542-8180 or tgilland@uga.edu).
'Oompah people' courted like athletes
Band recruiting at fever pitch
As the former top high school tuba player in Maryland, Phillip Walters has heard his share of jokes about tubby musicians and foul-sounding musical notes. "Tuba players are often portrayed as the 'oompah people,'" says the 18-year-old member of the Redcoat Band. "We don't get the big parts. We're just kind of here."
But as far as his music professor is concerned, Walters' tuba playing makes him as hot a prospect for the University as any of the key players on the Georgia football team. "We'd be the center," says professor David Zerkel, comparing tuba players to football players. "We don't do something critical on every play, but what we do is sure critical to the success of the mission."
 Competition for the nation's top high school musicians is regulated by the National Association of Schools of Music, which bars professors from contacting students after they commit to a college. |
Musicians like Walters can make recruiting among college band leaders as competitive as athletic recruiting. So competitive, in fact, that recruiting musicians is regulated by guidelines set up by the National Association of Schools of Music, which bars professors from contacting students after they commit to a school.
"It's really a nationwide recruiting war," says bands director Dwight Satterwhite, who is still snarling over the loss of the state's top high school clarinetist to LSU two years ago. Other exertions toward strengthening the 375-student marching band have produced the state's top oboist and world champion twirler Brandy Martin.
According to Walters, being a band member produces dozens of instant friends, potential access to three different music fraternities, and close, daily contact with their favorite musical instrument. Which is why Walters came to UGA, turning down scholarship offers or letters of acceptance from Maryland, Illinois State, and Northwestern.
"I've been impressed with the tuba program here," Walters says. "There are a couple of guys here who could go pro right now."
A similar story ran in the Athens Daily News/Athens Banner-Herald, which granted reprint rights.