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Trying to turn the corner
North Babylon's record-breaking back needs to change diet and do more cardio to be able to finish games

BY GREGG SARRA
STAFF WRITER

October 14, 2004

Jason Gwaltney checked into the clinic at Elite Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation late Saturday afternoon looking for answers. The senior halfback, who is just 73 yards shy of setting Long Island's career rushing record, is battling more than just opposing defenses these days. Gwaltney, who owns almost every Long Island rushing and scoring record with 5,769 yards, 101 touchdowns and 614 points, has suffered from severe cramping, headaches and exhaustion for three weeks. He said he feels worn down and out of energy.

"When I needed my body the most, it quit on me," Gwaltney said. "My mind is telling my body to do things and it's just not responding. I've been feeling very weak and slow - especially in the second half of games. Some people thought I had mononucleosis. I'm always tired. I didn't know what was bogging me down."

Now he does. After an evaluation by Dr. Frank Segreto, Gwaltney was found to have nutritional deficiencies. North Babylon coach Terry Manning, concerned over his star's inability to get through a full game, ordered Gwaltney to see Segreto.

"He put on a tremendous amount of muscle mass in the offseason and didn't do enough cardiovascular training," said Angelo Rizzi, the physician's assistant at Elite. "He's disproportionate. He has incredible core strength in his abdominal muscles and quadriceps. But his eating habits need to be totally modified and the school trainer is going to have to monitor his hydration and make sure he stretches."

The first four games have also taken a toll on the 6-2, 233-pound halfback, who weighed 220 last season. He has been gouged, scratched, bruised and hit by defenses that use nine and 10 players to stop the run.

"He carries an unbelievable workload," Manning said. "He's doing the same things on the field that he did last year - just in a bigger body. And the best players in the division are trying to drill him every play. We give him the rock 30 to 35 times a game and he plays defense and specials. He trains harder than anyone, but his diet is terrible. He eats well, but it doesn't mean he eats right. His diet doesn't include fruits and vegetables and he eats too much junk food. He needs to change his diet."

There have been signs that something was wrong. Gwaltney has been forced to leave the field with severe cramps in both calves. In Saturday's 29-27 loss to West Babylon, Gwaltney crawled to the sideline and rolled onto his back in discomfort.

North Babylon strength coach John Rowland said Gwaltney is the strongest player on the team. He bench presses 400 pounds, squats 405 and dead lifts 600.

"We're going to put him on the bike for 30 minutes in every gym class and cover at least 10 miles each day for the next week," Manning said. "And then we'll take the extra conditioning and go to the next level with it."

After a brief workout, Gwaltney said he was feeling a little better and will travel to Newfield for a 1:30 p.m. Suffolk Division II game Saturday. He wants to put Jerone Pettus' rushing mark of 5,841 yards behind him.

"I want to feel good at the end of games," Gwaltney said. "I have to cut out the fast food. You know, Chinese, pizza, deli, and all the salt. It's going to be tough."