Schools across Lake Orion were empty last week, but that didn’t stop a couple hundred students from learning plenty.
Only these lessons came on the basketball court and baseball diamonds, as summer camps invaded.
‘We put 120 to 125 kids through camp,? Dragon Basketball Coach Jim Manzo said of his two weeks, noting the numbers have really increased in the past few years.
This year was the first time that Manzo put his two programs (upper elementary and middle school) in separate weeks, as the strain of two sessions in one day became too much.
‘The team’s success and the Sunday program have helped,? he said of the camp’s popularity.
The Sunday program takes place in January and February and Manzo said this is the third year he’s overseen those outings.
‘I know that program is helping,? he said. ‘The skill level of our younger kids has really developed.?
This summer was also special for Manzo, who’s been instructing in summer camps for the past 18 years, because his son was able to participate for the first time.
On the baseball diamond, 70 players turned out for the first of Coach Andy Schramek’s two sessions (the second comes next week).
Schramek led the camp along with some past and present Lake Orion players.
‘The connection between some of the guys in the past down to the eight-year-old kids now, I really want it to be a family,? Schramek said. ‘There’s some sort of camaraderie, they all have something in common–they’re Lake Orion baseball players.?
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Everyone wants to be a Dragon
For Schramek, the road to a state title began nine years ago, when he first met with some of his team’s current stars at summer camp.
‘It’s been great over the last nine years, because guys like Josh Deeg, Chris Lum, Brandon Riggsbee and Mike Musary were at our first camp when they were eight, and now these guys are coming back to work,? Schramek said.
‘I can’t imagine that there’s a baseball camp that’s staffed with only former and high school players the way ours is,? Schramek said.
The success of the team only helps when it comes to getting interest in the camp.
‘Being in the newspaper as much as we have been, these kids are reading about people in their neighborhood, and I think that helps,? Schramek said.
On the basketball court, Manzo said the younger players? attachments with the high school players are obvious.
‘We had one camper today wearing a Drew Maynard jersey,? he noted. ‘These kids look forward to the opportunity to work with the high school players.?
With the recent success of the school, everyone is stressing that hard work is what makes a champion.
‘We have to convince them that it’s not the suit that makes Superman,? Schramek said. ‘You can’t just put a uniform on and expect to win.?
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Coaches can learn, too
When it comes to scouting, both Manzo and Schramek said there’s only so much that a coach can do within a particular camp, particularly with younger players.
But, by middle school, the coaches are quite familiar with all of the players in the community.
‘At that level you start to say, ‘I need to keep my eye on this kid,? or ‘This kid could be something special,?? Manzo said.
But with the size of Lake Orion’s district, there still are plenty of unknown players coming out for the teams each year.
For the coaches, though, next year has already started.
There are still open spots for next week’s Dragon Baseball Camp. For more information, visit www.oriontownship.org or call (248)391-0304, ext. 143.