Left-Handed Athletes Stand Out in Chrisman Athletics
By: Kishon Ho Chee
Left handed people are a rarity. While they may bump elbows with righties when eating or writing, lefties may hold an unusual athletic advantage.From sports like baseball, to boxing, to tennis, to golf, many southpaws may have the upper hand.
According to Huffington Post, 10 percent of the population is left handed. Yet somehow with that small percentage, up to thirty percent of baseball players are left handed. This may show that left handed people tend to be more athletic showing the greater percentage within one sport compared to overall percentage.
Lefties provide problems for numerous teams defensive and offensive patterns, due to the fact that left handed people are hard to find, coaches plan for mainly right handed competition.
For example, much of this year’s football success was due to the play of Western Illinois commit, James Bailey, who just so happens to be a left handed quarterback.
James is one of the most decorated football players in the state, being named the all-area player of the year,
“In a way it provided us with an advantage,” says new head coach Mr. Perry, “Not many teams expect a left handed quarterback, so we could run our offense and almost mess with other teams defensive alignments.”
Having a lefty play quarterback also provided some defensive changes for Chrisman’s own football team as well.
First team all-conference and second team all-area award winner, Cameron Watters, learned a new position as right tackle this season.
“The changes were hard at first,” says Watters, “I eventually grew into it and got better at it because I knew it was my job to protect his blind side, which was his right side, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to run the offense we needed to.”
James Bailey echoes Watter’s thoughts on the change. “I think the changes helped us, because I was left handed, my back sided needed protection so that I could run the offense.”
The changes Watters made worked to his advantage, leading the Bears to a conference winning season.
“The changes helped my team and paid off because it got me the postseason awards that I received,” Watters said.
Football isn’t the only sport where southpaws have a spotlight, they’re often given the advantage when it comes to the basketball court and volleyball courts.
Senior standout, Bri Burns is one of Chrisman’s most decorated athletes who just so happens to also be a southpaw herself.
Having started on varsity since her freshman year, Bri Burns has some talent on the court.
“I think being left handed gave me an advantage because most defenses are prepared for right handed shooters or players so I would catch most defenses off guard when I go up to shoot with my left hand or dribble around them if they’re guarding my right side.” says Chrisman’s starting shooting guard.
Burns’ abilities on the court was a struggle in the beginning when learning the basics of the game.
“Learning certain things was hard, especially dribbling. Most of the coaches I had tried to teach me to dribble with my right hand which was my weaker hand.” says Burns, “Looking back, of course, it did help me now to learn to dribble with both hands to be just as comfortable dribbling with my right hand than with my left.”
Burns talent was even recognized by Stephen F. Austin and will play basketball at the NCAA Division I school next year.
Left-handed athletes also have an advantage on the volleyball court as well. This year’s bears volleyball team featured two left-handed starters in key roles. Senior captain and setter, Destiny Farmer is the starting setter for the past two years and is a lefty.
“It gives her an advantage, as well other setters to throw off other teams defenses.” says Coach Dean Rausch, “When setters are in the front row, they have the option of setting up the offense for one of their hitters, or they can choose to attack the ball over on two.”
Farmer had that option many times throughout her volleyball career. She has even had experience hitting instead of setting as well this year.
“I felt as though it gave me a setting advantage so I could trick the defense.” says Farmer “But sometimes I had a disadvantage because my right hand isn’t as strong and if I was hitting on the left side, it was harder for me.”
Right side hitters, or opposites, have a significant advantage as a lefty. Just as right handed players hit better on the left side, lefty’s have the same effect on the right because they don’t have to wait for the ball to cross their body and they can hit it with their inside hand.
Part of the Bears success in volleyball was the addition to left handed right side Seila Tali as well.
“It wasn’t too hard to learn, in any sport, growing up because most of the time, I would mirror the coaches.” says Tali “I felt as though it was good for me being left handed and hitting on the right side, because some blockers would block my right side and I could hit around them.”
Tali also holds the school's javelin throwing record, as well as the aforementioned and fellow lefty, James Bailey, who is a State CHampion discus thrower and an All-State shot putter and award-winning football player..
Whether or not being left handed directly leads to an athletic advantage, that is still unknown.
However, there definitely seems to be a connection, considering here at Chrisman we do have some stellar athletes who just so happen to be left handed.
Left handed people are a rarity. While they may bump elbows with righties when eating or writing, lefties may hold an unusual athletic advantage.From sports like baseball, to boxing, to tennis, to golf, many southpaws may have the upper hand.
According to Huffington Post, 10 percent of the population is left handed. Yet somehow with that small percentage, up to thirty percent of baseball players are left handed. This may show that left handed people tend to be more athletic showing the greater percentage within one sport compared to overall percentage.
Lefties provide problems for numerous teams defensive and offensive patterns, due to the fact that left handed people are hard to find, coaches plan for mainly right handed competition.
For example, much of this year’s football success was due to the play of Western Illinois commit, James Bailey, who just so happens to be a left handed quarterback.
James is one of the most decorated football players in the state, being named the all-area player of the year,
“In a way it provided us with an advantage,” says new head coach Mr. Perry, “Not many teams expect a left handed quarterback, so we could run our offense and almost mess with other teams defensive alignments.”
Having a lefty play quarterback also provided some defensive changes for Chrisman’s own football team as well.
First team all-conference and second team all-area award winner, Cameron Watters, learned a new position as right tackle this season.
“The changes were hard at first,” says Watters, “I eventually grew into it and got better at it because I knew it was my job to protect his blind side, which was his right side, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to run the offense we needed to.”
James Bailey echoes Watter’s thoughts on the change. “I think the changes helped us, because I was left handed, my back sided needed protection so that I could run the offense.”
The changes Watters made worked to his advantage, leading the Bears to a conference winning season.
“The changes helped my team and paid off because it got me the postseason awards that I received,” Watters said.
Football isn’t the only sport where southpaws have a spotlight, they’re often given the advantage when it comes to the basketball court and volleyball courts.
Senior standout, Bri Burns is one of Chrisman’s most decorated athletes who just so happens to also be a southpaw herself.
Having started on varsity since her freshman year, Bri Burns has some talent on the court.
“I think being left handed gave me an advantage because most defenses are prepared for right handed shooters or players so I would catch most defenses off guard when I go up to shoot with my left hand or dribble around them if they’re guarding my right side.” says Chrisman’s starting shooting guard.
Burns’ abilities on the court was a struggle in the beginning when learning the basics of the game.
“Learning certain things was hard, especially dribbling. Most of the coaches I had tried to teach me to dribble with my right hand which was my weaker hand.” says Burns, “Looking back, of course, it did help me now to learn to dribble with both hands to be just as comfortable dribbling with my right hand than with my left.”
Burns talent was even recognized by Stephen F. Austin and will play basketball at the NCAA Division I school next year.
Left-handed athletes also have an advantage on the volleyball court as well. This year’s bears volleyball team featured two left-handed starters in key roles. Senior captain and setter, Destiny Farmer is the starting setter for the past two years and is a lefty.
“It gives her an advantage, as well other setters to throw off other teams defenses.” says Coach Dean Rausch, “When setters are in the front row, they have the option of setting up the offense for one of their hitters, or they can choose to attack the ball over on two.”
Farmer had that option many times throughout her volleyball career. She has even had experience hitting instead of setting as well this year.
“I felt as though it gave me a setting advantage so I could trick the defense.” says Farmer “But sometimes I had a disadvantage because my right hand isn’t as strong and if I was hitting on the left side, it was harder for me.”
Right side hitters, or opposites, have a significant advantage as a lefty. Just as right handed players hit better on the left side, lefty’s have the same effect on the right because they don’t have to wait for the ball to cross their body and they can hit it with their inside hand.
Part of the Bears success in volleyball was the addition to left handed right side Seila Tali as well.
“It wasn’t too hard to learn, in any sport, growing up because most of the time, I would mirror the coaches.” says Tali “I felt as though it was good for me being left handed and hitting on the right side, because some blockers would block my right side and I could hit around them.”
Tali also holds the school's javelin throwing record, as well as the aforementioned and fellow lefty, James Bailey, who is a State CHampion discus thrower and an All-State shot putter and award-winning football player..
Whether or not being left handed directly leads to an athletic advantage, that is still unknown.
However, there definitely seems to be a connection, considering here at Chrisman we do have some stellar athletes who just so happen to be left handed.