Will Argeros
February 22, 2014
TRT: 2:42
OC: SOQ

Host: Getting in shape has never looked more temping. But as Will Argeros explains, people are writing checks their bodies can’t cash.

NATS Richard Simmonds “Hi everybody, hi! Are you ready to sweat? Are you ready to shout? Well I saved a spot just for you” 12sx

Working out by video is nothing new.  From Jane Fonda to Richard Simmons, home workouts provided an alternative for those who couldn’t make it to the gym.  Today’s version of these videos exists in the form of P-90-X and Crossfit.  

NEDDA WALKER/P90X CONSUMER “I decided well that’s cheaper than going to a gym and it’s something I can repeat.” 6 sx

Nedda Walker has done the P-90-X workout twice. On the first go round, she saw the results she wanted

NEDDA WALKER? P90X CONSUMER “I ended up losing 16 pounds and was in as good of shape as I was in high school” 4 sx

But, unlike Sweating to the oldies, these high intensity workouts, there are serious risks involved.  Athletic trainer Stacey Forget warns that safety is a concern from the get-go.

STACEY FORGET/ ATHLETIC TRAINER “If you don’t have a trainer that’s knowledgeable in the area, they just think they’re knowledgeable in the area, that’s going to pose more risk” 8sx

But the trainers aren’t the only problem. Another issue with the program is rest:

STACEY FORGET/ATHLETIC TRAINER “you can get to the point where your muscle starts to break down because it’s being over trained.” 7sx 

P90X NATS “Keep going find your maximum reps that’s how you get results”

While the videos push limits, Walker never felt like she was in any danger.

INTERVIEW “was there ever a time where you thought this might not be so safe?”—No.” 5sx

But she had a distinct advantage over others who have tried or want to try this regiment

NEDDA WALKER/P90X CONSUMER “I’ve exercised pretty much all my life where I know my personal limitations. I know to watch my heart rate. I know how injuries are caused, so I knew well enough going into it what not to do.” 12 sx

The problem is these workouts are marketed to the people that said getting fit is their new years resolution. And forget says that means one thing.

STACEY FORGET/ ATHLETIC TRAINER “Just have people jumping into a high intensity workout that aren’t trained to be working out at that high of a level yet” 7sx

NATS Keyboard under

A quick search on the Internet returns thousands of testimonies from those who’ve attempted the workouts and doctors who have treated their injuries.  One of those doctors is personal trainer Jarod Carter.

JAROD CARTER/PERSONAL TRAINER “ I love P90X. Not because of any results but simply because it’s created a lot of low back pain patients of me and it’s made me a lot of money. And I wish I was joking. It really has. I’m not kidding.” 14sx

The DVDs encourage people to pause them at any point. But with the beach body goal in mind, they try to power through and it cost’s them more than what they paid for the videos.

For K-J-Z-Z, I’m Will Argeros.

P90X Story Mixdown 1

Will Argeros
March 8, 2014
TRT: 2:48
OC: SOQ

Host: High intensity workout programs offer people the convenience of hitting the gym while at home. But as Will Argeros reports, the cost to consumers is greater than the 120 bucks they spend on the D-V-Ds.

Working out by video is nothing new.  

NATS Richard Simmonds “Hi everybody, hi! Are you ready to sweat? Are you ready to shout? Well I saved a spot just for you” 7 sx

From Richard Simmons to Jane Fonda, home workouts provided an alternative for those who couldn’t make it to the gym.  Today’s version of these videos exists in the form of P-90-X and Crossfit. These are high intensity workouts that focus on muscle confusion. They work to keep the body from adapting to a routine.  

NEDDA WALKER/P90X CONSUMER “I decided well that’s cheaper than going to a gym and it’s something I can repeat.” 6 sx

Nedda Walker has done the P-90-X workout twice. On the first go round, she saw the results she wanted

NEDDA WALKER? P90X CONSUMER “I ended up losing 16 pounds and was in as good of shape as I was in high school” 4 sx

But, unlike Sweating to the Oldies, with these high intensity workouts, there are serious risks involved.  Athletic trainer Stacey Forget warns that not all of the instructors are qualified to teach:

STACEY FORGET/ ATHLETIC TRAINER “If you don’t have a trainer that’s knowledgeable in the area, they just think they’re knowledgeable in the area, that’s going to pose more risk” 8sx

But the trainers aren’t the only problem. Another issue with the program is getting enough rest between workouts:

STACEY FORGET/ATHLETIC TRAINER “you can get to the point where your muscle starts to break down because it’s being over trained.” 7 sx 

P90X NATS “Keep going find your maximum reps that’s how you get results” 3 sx

While the videos push limits, Walker never felt like she was in any danger.

INTERVIEW “was there ever a time where you thought this might not be so safe?”—No.” 5sx

But she had a distinct advantage over others who have tried or want to try this regiment

NEDDA WALKER/P90X CONSUMER “I’ve exercised pretty much all my life where I know my personal limitations. I know to watch my heart rate. I know how injuries are caused, so I knew well enough going into it what not to do.” 12 sx

P90X COMMERCIAL “If you want to get lean and ripped. If you want to get sexy and toned. Then you want a serious training system that actually works” 6 sx

The problem is these workouts are marketed to the people that said getting fit is their new years resolution. And forget says that means one thing.

STACEY FORGET/ ATHLETIC TRAINER “Just have people jumping into a high intensity workout that aren’t trained to be working out at that high of a level yet” 7sx

Thousands of testimonies of people who have tried the workouts and the doctors who’ve treated them can be found on YouTube. One of those doctors is physical therapist Jarod Carter

JAROD CARTER/PHYSCIAL THERAPIST “ I love P90X. Not because of any results but simply because it’s created a lot of low back pain patients of me and it’s made me a lot of money.” 10 sx

The DVDs encourage people to pause them at any point. But with the beach body goal in mind, some may try to power through costing them more than what they paid for the videos.

For The Blaze 13-30 A-M, I’m Will Argeros.

P90X Story Blaze Mixdown

Will Argeros
March 8, 2014
TRT: 2:48
OC: SOQ

Host: High intensity workout programs offer people the convenience of hitting the gym while at home. But as Will Argeros reports, the cost to consumers is greater than the 120 bucks they spend on the D-V-Ds.

Working out by video is nothing new.  

NATS Richard Simmonds “Hi everybody, hi! Are you ready to sweat? Are you ready to shout? Well I saved a spot just for you” 7 sx

From Richard Simmons to Jane Fonda, home workouts provided an alternative for those who couldn’t make it to the gym.  Today’s version of these videos exists in the form of P-90-X and Crossfit. These are high intensity workouts that focus on muscle confusion. They work to keep the body from adapting to a routine.  

NEDDA WALKER/P90X CONSUMER “I decided well that’s cheaper than going to a gym and it’s something I can repeat.” 6 sx

Nedda Walker has done the P-90-X workout twice. On the first go round, she saw the results she wanted

NEDDA WALKER? P90X CONSUMER “I ended up losing 16 pounds and was in as good of shape as I was in high school” 4 sx

But, unlike Sweating to the Oldies, with these high intensity workouts, there are serious risks involved.  Athletic trainer Stacey Forget warns that not all of the instructors are qualified to teach:

STACEY FORGET/ ATHLETIC TRAINER “If you don’t have a trainer that’s knowledgeable in the area, they just think they’re knowledgeable in the area, that’s going to pose more risk” 8sx

But the trainers aren’t the only problem. Another issue with the program is getting enough rest between workouts:

STACEY FORGET/ATHLETIC TRAINER “you can get to the point where your muscle starts to break down because it’s being over trained.” 7 sx 

P90X NATS “Keep going find your maximum reps that’s how you get results” 3 sx

While the videos push limits, Walker never felt like she was in any danger.

INTERVIEW “was there ever a time where you thought this might not be so safe?”—No.” 5sx

But she had a distinct advantage over others who have tried or want to try this regiment

NEDDA WALKER/P90X CONSUMER “I’ve exercised pretty much all my life where I know my personal limitations. I know to watch my heart rate. I know how injuries are caused, so I knew well enough going into it what not to do.” 12 sx

P90X COMMERCIAL “If you want to get lean and ripped. If you want to get sexy and toned. Then you want a serious training system that actually works” 6 sx

The problem is these workouts are marketed to the people that said getting fit is their new years resolution. And forget says that means one thing.

STACEY FORGET/ ATHLETIC TRAINER “Just have people jumping into a high intensity workout that aren’t trained to be working out at that high of a level yet” 7sx

Thousands of testimonies of people who have tried the workouts and the doctors who’ve treated them can be found on YouTube. One of those doctors is physical therapist Jarod Carter

JAROD CARTER/PHYSCIAL THERAPIST “ I love P90X. Not because of any results but simply because it’s created a lot of low back pain patients of me and it’s made me a lot of money.” 10 sx

The DVDs encourage people to pause them at any point. But with the beach body goal in mind, some may try to power through costing them more than what they paid for the videos.

For K-J-Z-Z, I’m Will Argeros.

P90X Story KJZZ Mixdown

Buckeye Growth 
March 18, 2014 
Will Argeros 
TRT: 2:24
SOQ 
 
Host: Eight-thousand 71. That was the population in the town of Buckeye 14 years ago 
according to the U-S census. The section of interstate ten that passed by the town was lined 
with gas stations and fast food restaurants. Today, it has a much different look. Will 
Argeros has more. 
 
Thirty-eight miles west of Phoenix, off interstate ten sits Buckeye, a city that looks like every other in the metropolitan area.  In the years after the recession, Buckeye and other West Valley cities have seen rapid 
growth and development. A report from RL Brown shows the West Valley accounted for 42 percent of all home sales in the Metro-Phoenix Area. That’s good news for businesses like  Sally Beauty in Buckeye’s Watson Center. The aisles are lined with make-up, hair care products, and nail polishes, but assistant manager Jordan Hamilton has struggled to keep 
these items on the shelves. 
 
JORDAN HAMILTON/SALLY BEAUTY “It’s been a lot busier this year. It started around Christmas time and we’ve been getting more and more people shopping here.” 
 
Buckeye’s population grew to more than fifty thousand since the two thousand census, a nearly six hundred percent increase. And that kind of spike is what attracted shops likeSally Beauty and restaurants like Native New Yorker. 
 
KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE “There’s no Natives out here.” 
 
Kyle Weltsch, manager of the Native New Yorker here, says the franchise, known for its buffalo wings, opened out of optimism. 
 
KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE "We figured to get in early, because we’re really hoping Buckeye is going to take off and grow. We wanted to get our foot in the door before anyone else got here." 
 
But not everyone’s business has been fortunate to see an increase in customers. Palermo’s pizza has been in business in the Watson Center eight years, well before the boom. The suites next to the pizzeria sit empty, but the Jack-In-The-Box drive thru is bustling. Vincent Palmi who runs Palermo’s says business has gone down since the growth picked back up. 

VINCENT PALMI/PALERMO’S "When we first opened we were the only ones here. But now it expanded and a lot of businesses opened up and it actually went down" 
 
Because much of the area still needs to be developed, and construction is almost a constant as new houses and shops start to appear on farmland. The newer stores and restaurants east of the Watson Center are the most affected by the building. 
 
KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE “We had a real slow period here because of the 
construction where we lost all of our parking.” 
 
The construction has been vital for the city, however. In the first quarter of the 20-14 fiscal year 218 new homes were sold in Buckeye according to reports from A-S-U’s W-P Carey School. Data from the information market shows the median home value went up from one hundred 21 thousand to one hundred 56 thousand dollars between 20-12 and 20-13. Those numbers are projected to increase again this year. 
 
For the Blaze 13-30, I’m Will Argeros. 

Buckeye Growth Mixdown 1

Buckeye Growth
April 3, 2014
Will Argeros
TRT: 2:42
SOQ

Host: Six thousand five hundred 37. That was the population in the town of Buckeye 14 years ago according to the U-S census.  The section of interstate ten that passed by the town was lined with gas stations and fast food restaurants. Today, it has a much different look. Will Argeros has more.

Fifty four thousand five hundred 42. That’s how many people live in Buckeye today. The town 38 miles west of Downtown Phoenix looks nothing like it did over 10 years ago. Now it’s pretty cookie cutter.

WILL ARGEROS/STAND UP "Driving south on Watson road, we’ve go Fry’s; There’s a Wal-Mart…Peter Piper…” 15 sx

In the years after the recession, Buckeye and other West Valley cities have seen rapid growth and development. That’s good news for businesses like Sally Beauty in Buckeye’s Watson Center. The aisles are lined with make-up, hair care products, and nail polishes, but assistant manager Jordan Hamilton has struggled to keep these items on the shelves. 

JORDAN HAMILTON/SALLY BEAUTY “It’s been a lot busier this year. It started around Christmas time and we’ve been getting more and more people shopping here.” 4 sx

A report from RL Brown shows the West Valley accounted for 42 percent of all home sales in the Metro-Phoenix Area. Buckeye’s population grew to more than fifty thousand since the two thousand census, a nearly six hundred percent increase. And that kind of spike is what attracted shops like Sally Beauty and restaurants like Native New Yorker. 

KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE “There’s no Natives out here.” 2 sx

Kyle Weltsch, manager of the Native New Yorker here, says the franchise known for its buffalo wings opened out of optimism.

KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE  "We figured to get in early, because we’re really hoping Buckeye is going to take off and grow. We wanted to get our foot in the door before anyone else got here." 8 sx

But not everyone’s business has been fortunate to see an increase in customers. Palermo’s pizza has been in business in the Watson Center eight years, well before the boom. The suites next to the pizzeria sit empty, but the Jack-In-The-Box drive thru is bustling. Vincent Palmi who runs Palermo’s says business has gone down since the growth picked back up.

VINCENT PALMI/PALERMO’S "When we first opened we were the only ones here. But now it expanded and a lot of businesses opened up and it actually went down" 10 sx

Because much of the area still needs to be developed, and construction is almost a constant as new houses and shops start to appear on farmland. The newer stores and restaurants east of the Watson Center like Native New Yorker are the most affected by the building.

KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE  “We had a real slow period here because of the construction where we lost all of our parking.” 4 sx   

The construction has been vital for the city, however. In the first quarter of the 20-14 fiscal year 218 new homes were sold in Buckeye according to reports from A-S-U’s W-P Carey School. By 20-20, when the next U-S census is taken, the population of Buckeye is expected to grow to more than four hundred thousand. The Buckeye Chamber of Commerce says the Verrado developments is already working on becoming it’s own town.

For K-J-Z-Z, I’m Will Argeros.

Buckeye KJZZ Mixdown

Buckeye Growth
April 3, 2014
Will Argeros
TRT: 2:42
SOQ

Host: Six thousand five hundred 37. That was the population in the town of Buckeye 14 years ago according to the U-S census.  The section of interstate ten that passed by the town was lined with gas stations and fast food restaurants. Today, it has a much different look. Will Argeros has more.

Fifty four thousand five hundred 42. That’s how many people live in Buckeye today. The town 38 miles west of Downtown Phoenix looks nothing like it did over 10 years ago. Now it’s pretty cookie cutter.

WILL ARGEROS/STAND UP "Driving south on Watson road, we’ve go Fry’s; There’s a Wal-Mart…Peter Piper…” 15 sx

In the years after the recession, Buckeye and other West Valley cities have seen rapid growth and development. That’s good news for businesses like Sally Beauty in Buckeye’s Watson Center. The aisles are lined with make-up, hair care products, and nail polishes, but assistant manager Jordan Hamilton has struggled to keep these items on the shelves. 

JORDAN HAMILTON/SALLY BEAUTY “It’s been a lot busier this year. It started around Christmas time and we’ve been getting more and more people shopping here.” 4 sx

A report from RL Brown shows the West Valley accounted for 42 percent of all home sales in the Metro-Phoenix Area. Buckeye’s population grew to more than fifty thousand since the two thousand census, a nearly six hundred percent increase. And that kind of spike is what attracted shops like Sally Beauty and restaurants like Native New Yorker. 

KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE “There’s no Natives out here.” 2 sx

Kyle Weltsch, manager of the Native New Yorker here, says the franchise known for its buffalo wings opened out of optimism.

KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE  "We figured to get in early, because we’re really hoping Buckeye is going to take off and grow. We wanted to get our foot in the door before anyone else got here." 8 sx

But not everyone’s business has been fortunate to see an increase in customers. Palermo’s pizza has been in business in the Watson Center eight years, well before the boom. The suites next to the pizzeria sit empty, but the Jack-In-The-Box drive thru is bustling. Vincent Palmi who runs Palermo’s says business has gone down since the growth picked back up.

VINCENT PALMI/PALERMO’S "When we first opened we were the only ones here. But now it expanded and a lot of businesses opened up and it actually went down" 10 sx

Because much of the area still needs to be developed, and construction is almost a constant as new houses and shops start to appear on farmland. The newer stores and restaurants east of the Watson Center like Native New Yorker are the most affected by the building.

KYLE WELTSCH/NATIVE  “We had a real slow period here because of the construction where we lost all of our parking.” 4 sx   

The construction has been vital for the city, however. In the first quarter of the 20-14 fiscal year 218 new homes were sold in Buckeye according to reports from A-S-U’s W-P Carey School. By 20-20, when the next U-S census is taken, the population of Buckeye is expected to grow to more than four hundred thousand. The Buckeye Chamber of Commerce says the Verrado developments is already working on becoming it’s own town.

For the Blaze 13-30 A-M, I’m Will Argeros.

Buckeye Blaze Mixdown

Youth Sports Concussions
April 12, 2014
Will Argeros
TRT 2:30
SOQ

Host: there has been an increased awareness in pro and college sports around head injuries. The N-F-L and N-H-L have made stricter rules regarding hits to the head. There are better tests to determine if a player has sustained a concussion. Now, youth sports are starting to take steps to minimize the risk. But as Will Argeros found, it’s not so easy.

Alex Petrowski is a senior at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. But he’s not actually at the school anymore. He’s taking classes online now. He had to stop going because of severe brain trauma he suffered. But his parents didn’t know he had sustained the injury until…

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “The first thing we noticed the first couple weeks of school was that he was really falling behind. Things weren’t normal.”

Alex played hockey and was training in mixed martial arts. His dad says the martial arts was the cause…

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER  “He had mentioned he got a couple of shots to his head while doing mixed martial arts. I don’t remember anything specific in hockey that he would have got.”

Alex had been complaining of constant headaches and when they wouldn’t go away, his parents took him to the doctor.

GERG PETROWSKI/FATHER “You could see white spots and he said at your age, late 40’s early 50’s, you’re going to start having these spots but someone who’s 17 years old shouldn’t have them.”

Greg was insistent the injury did not happen during hockey. He coached the high school team and received training on how to detect concussions from the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Aamal Starling at the Mayo Clinic has been working closely with the high school hockey league to help their coaches keep the players safe.

DR. STARLING/MAYO CLINIC “There is a lot of concussion prevention education that’s given. There’s a lot of baseline testing that’s mandated. But that has not been translating into down into the youth. And we’ve been working really hard and trying to do that.

Dr. Starling warns there is no surefire way to prevent a concussion, even in non-contact sports like baseball or swimming, but there is a surefire way to treat them.

DR. STARLINE/MAYO CLINIC “The most important thing is the athlete get pulled out of any further physical activity and even cognitive activity or thinking skill activities like going back to school immediately, until they’ve been evaluated.”

After Alex Petrowski was evaluated, his dad says recovery was slow.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “The first month we did very little online school. Then we gradually got him up to the point now where he’s able to take a couple classes.”

In the months since the diagnosis, the Petrowskis have been sending their son to Utah to receive treatment and assessment. Greg compared his son’s circumstances to a hip injury sustained by Bo Jackson during a playoff football game.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “You could have seen it 100 times and thought I don’t understand why he’s not getting up. This is kind of the same thing with head trauma.”

Fortunately for Alex, he will be able to graduate in May and he still plans to attend college, though he hasn’t decided where yet.

For the Blaze 13-30 A-M, I’m Will Argeros

Concussions Story 1

Blacksmiths
Will Argeros
April 25, 2014
TRT 2:56
SOQ

Host: The saying goes close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. But as Will Argeros found, for two blacksmiths, close isn’t good enough.

At a classic car auction you’re bound to hear people tooting their own horn, bit of this…getting their motor running…and even speaking unintelligibly…but it’s probably the last place you’d expect to hear metal hitting metal.

BROCK PHALEN/BLACKSMITH “My name is brock Falign I’m a blacksmith farrier which is also a horseshoer. I started working with metal when I was in my early teens working with horses and making horseshoes and I’ve been doing it ever since then. I evolved into doing more of the artwork and the blacksmithing, as I got older just to have a second thing that I could do that wasn’t working with the horses, that was more exhibiting my artistic talent…My father is a blacksmith horseshoer also. Both my brothers are so I’m a second generation into blacksmithing and horseshoeing.”

To Phalen blacksmithing is more than just a tradition…

BROCK PHALEN/BLACKSMITH “The blacksmithing is more of a hobby and the horseshoeing is how I pay for it all…I like to make horsehead horseshoes. I try to make a lot of stuff out of recycled materials. Right now I’m kind of all over the place. I make bells. I make junk art. I make forged ornate items…I got my wife and children come help me do the shows. I have an assistant apprentice who comes and works with me and is learning the blacksmithing right now.”

AUSTIN BLACKMAN/ APPRENTICE “My name is Austin Blackman. I’m a farrier apprentice and blacksmith apprentice. I’ve been an apprentice about eight months now…My favorite part is just working outside. It’s just nice not being in an office or anything. Just having fun creating new things that open your mind and figure out what’s the next best thing people want to buy and the most creative thing people want to buy…One day I hope to be a horseshoer and a blacksmith and broaden my creativity.”

Unlike his teacher, Blackman’s desire to create horseshoes and other metal items is not family oriented.

AUSTIN BLACKMAN/APPRENTICE “The fire. I like working in the heat and all the tools and the history behind it, the old anvils, the old tools.”

Blackman has even developed his own knick-knack to sell.

AUSTIN BLACKMAN/APPRENTICE “I make little mini cowboy hats. I make them as magnets.” 

Brock Phalen says his son is even getting excited about learning to blacksmith. But he also says his wife worries because of the serious risks involved with the trade. Agencies don’t track the number of blacksmiths injured each year but Phalen says he’s been injured several times. In fact at the time of the interview, Phalen’s right hand was broken. And it’s not the first time he’s broken it. As far as Phalen is concerned, there is only one obstacale. 

BROCK PHALEN/BLACKSMITH “The only thing that’ll stop me from blacksmithing is injuries and that probably won’t stop me either.”

With no end in sight, master and apprentice hammer on.

For the Blaze 13-30 A-M, I’m Will Argeros

Blacksmith Feature 1

Youth Sports Concussions
April 26, 2014
Will Argeros
TRT 2:25
SOQ

Host: there has been an increased awareness in pro and college sports about head injuries. The N-F-L and N-H-L have made stricter rules regarding hits to the head. There are better tests to determine if a player has sustained a concussion. Now, youth sports are starting to take steps to minimize the risk. But as Will Argeros found, it’s not so easy.

Alex Petrowski is a senior at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. But he’s not actually at the school anymore. He’s taking classes online now. He had to stop going because of severe brain trauma. His parents didn’t even know he was hurt

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “The first thing we noticed the first couple weeks of school was that he was really falling behind. Things weren’t normal.” 7 sx

That’s Greg Petrowski. His son played hockey and trained in mixed martial arts.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER  “He had mentioned he got a couple of shots to his head while doing mixed martial arts. I don’t remember anything specific in hockey that he would have got.” 10 sx

Alex had been complaining of constant headaches and when they wouldn’t go away, his parents took him to the doctor, who ordered a CAT Scan.

GERG PETROWSKI/FATHER “You could see white spots and he said at your age, late 40’s early 50’s, you’re going to start having these spots but someone who’s 17 years old shouldn’t have them.” 8 sx

Greg insisted the injury did not happen during hockey. He coached the high school team and received training from the Mayo Clinic on how to detect concussions. Dr. Aamal Starling at the Mayo Clinic has been working closely with the high school hockey league to help their coaches keep the players safe.

DR. STARLING/MAYO CLINIC “There is a lot of concussion prevention education that’s given. There’s a lot of baseline testing that’s mandated. But that has not been translating into down into the youth. And we’ve been working really hard and trying to do that. 14 sx

Dr. Starling warns there is no way to prevent a concussion, even in non-contact sports like baseball or swimming, but there is a surefire way to treat them.
DR. STARLINE/MAYO CLINIC “The most important thing is the athlete get pulled out of any further physical activity and even cognitive activity or thinking skill activities like going back to school immediately, until they’ve been evaluated.” 11 sx

After Alex Petrowski was evaluated, his dad says recovery was slow.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “The first month we did very little online school. Then we gradually got him up to the point now where he’s able to take a couple classes.” 8 sx

In the months since the diagnosis, the Petrowskis have been sending their son to Utah to receive treatment and assessment. Greg compared his son’s circumstances to a hip injury sustained by football and baseball all-star Bo Jackson during a playoff football game.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “You could have seen it 100 times and thought I don’t understand why he’s not getting up. This is kind of the same thing with head trauma.”

Alex will be able to graduate in May and he still plans to attend college, though he hasn’t decided where yet.

For K-J-Z-Z, I’m Will Argeros

Concussion KJZZ Mixdown

Youth Sports Concussions
April 26, 2014
Will Argeros
TRT 2:25
SOQ

Host: there has been an increased awareness in pro and college sports about head injuries. The N-F-L and N-H-L have made stricter rules regarding hits to the head. There are better tests to determine if a player has sustained a concussion. Now, youth sports are starting to take steps to minimize the risk. But as Will Argeros found, it’s not so easy.

Alex Petrowski is a senior at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. But he’s not actually at the school anymore. He’s taking classes online now. He had to stop going because of severe brain trauma. His parents didn’t even know he was hurt

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “The first thing we noticed the first couple weeks of school was that he was really falling behind. Things weren’t normal.” 7 sx

That’s Greg Petrowski. His son played hockey and trained in mixed martial arts.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER  “He had mentioned he got a couple of shots to his head while doing mixed martial arts. I don’t remember anything specific in hockey that he would have got.” 10 sx

Alex had been complaining of constant headaches and when they wouldn’t go away, his parents took him to the doctor, who ordered a CAT Scan.

GERG PETROWSKI/FATHER “You could see white spots and he said at your age, late 40’s early 50’s, you’re going to start having these spots but someone who’s 17 years old shouldn’t have them.” 8 sx

Greg insisted the injury did not happen during hockey. He coached the high school team and received training from the Mayo Clinic on how to detect concussions. Dr. Aamal Starling at the Mayo Clinic has been working closely with the high school hockey league to help their coaches keep the players safe.

DR. STARLING/MAYO CLINIC “There is a lot of concussion prevention education that’s given. There’s a lot of baseline testing that’s mandated. But that has not been translating into down into the youth. And we’ve been working really hard and trying to do that. 14 sx

Dr. Starling warns there is no way to prevent a concussion, even in non-contact sports like baseball or swimming, but there is a surefire way to treat them.
DR. STARLINE/MAYO CLINIC “The most important thing is the athlete get pulled out of any further physical activity and even cognitive activity or thinking skill activities like going back to school immediately, until they’ve been evaluated.” 11 sx

After Alex Petrowski was evaluated, his dad says recovery was slow.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “The first month we did very little online school. Then we gradually got him up to the point now where he’s able to take a couple classes.” 8 sx

In the months since the diagnosis, the Petrowskis have been sending their son to Utah to receive treatment and assessment. Greg compared his son’s circumstances to a hip injury sustained by football and baseball all-star Bo Jackson during a playoff football game.

GREG PETROWSKI/FATHER “You could have seen it 100 times and thought I don’t understand why he’s not getting up. This is kind of the same thing with head trauma.”

Alex will be able to graduate in May and he still plans to attend college, though he hasn’t decided where yet.

For the Blaze 13-30 A-M, I’m Will Argeros

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