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Gym rats can run the court day and night Superior revitalizes defunct soccer site with basketball, volleyball courts By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN After growing up on the basketball courts of Los Angeles, Manny Crump loves being around the game. He's a 39-year-old kid who can't get enough. Crump says that after his background, he's been waiting for his chance to bring competitive and recreational basketball to the Rogue Valley. It's finally happening. Crump, a former prep All-American for Duarte High School of Los Angeles and an ex-Oregon Institute of Technology and Southern Oregon University player, has been named Basketball Director of Superior Gym & Fitness of Medford. The facility, located at 886 Chevy Way, has been open for nearly a month. It was Superior Athletic Club General Manager Jim Kusnerik's idea to convert the former indoor soccer arena, Valley Floor Arena, into an indoor facility for basketball, volleyball and weight and fitness training. Superior Athletic Club bought the facility approximately two months ago. The new gym, which has two basketball courts and three volleyball courts, also offers a strength and athletic training center, just adjacent to the courts. "The basketball part of this has already taken off," says Crump, who says he has nearly 250 kids and adults playing for 26 teams in six leagues, based on age and ability. "This is just the beginning," says Crump, who has run Manny's Basketball Association, spring and summer leagues for high school-age players and adults at Southern Oregon University's McNeal Pavilion for nearly 15 years. Crump feels with the new gym area, and the possibility of expanding from two basketball courts to three or more in the future, he has the facility he needs to promote the game and make it appealing for kids and adults to play. "I've got kids coming in here almost every day to play," says Crump. "When I see a kid I don't know, I try to get him to play on a team, if he's not already on one. "All they have to do is ask, or call, (774-1070)." Cost is $20 to play in the summer basketball league. Volleyball leagues will also be formed soon, according to Kusnerik. Initiation fees are $50 for individual, couple, family, senior and senior couple memberships. Monthly dues range from $27 to $70, depending on whether an individual, couple or family wants to make a one-or two-year commitment to the memberships. The volleyball program is run by Ron Hegeman. Sam Pecktol, a six-time national powerlifting champion and two-time world champion, runs the fitness and strength training portion of the gym. All weight-training equipment and fitness equipment are located at the west end of the gym. Kusnerik says if basketball interest continues to soar, he may move the fitness center to another part of the building and construct a third basketball court, which can also be used for volleyball. "It depends on the interest in basketball," says Kusnerik. "If it's big, like Manny says it will be, we'll probably construct a third court. "But I want to wait and see what happens. So far, I'd say Manny is right about how much interest in basketball there is in the valley. "Recreation leagues, kids AAU leagues, and summer leagues will play here. "We plan to be able to host some regular-season high school games, or playoff games, too." Pecktol says he has 48 members, and selected other athletes and kids, working out in the fitness area. "I have varsity wrestlers, football players, basketball players and others working out. I have stars who are going on to play in college on full scholarships, and I have others who are just trying to make their high school teams working out. "It's a nice cross-section," says Pecktol. "I take each person, including adults, and give them individual workouts to do based on what I think is best for each of them. "For the first time in my career as a fitness instructor, I'm stressing lighter lifting and plyometric exercises to promote quickness and athletic ability. I used to stress powerlifting much more." Dan Carter, a former North Medford High basketball player, says he joined the club for the summer to get him shape and prepare to play for the University of Montana next season. Carter, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, says he needs conditioning and strength work after undergoing shoulder surgery following the 1999 basketball season. "I'm out of shape right now," says Carter. "I sat around for a while in rehab (rehabilitation). I got a little heavy. "But I know Sam (Pecktol) and Kevin Dixon (one of his former coaches at North Medford High) will have me ready to go to Montana by fall." Also working out in the fitness center this summer is Travis DeManby, a former South Medford High basketball player and current player for Fresno State. "I've gotten a lot stronger, and I need any more strength I can get this summer will help me have have a better chance to play next season," says DeManby, a redshirt freshman. "One of the reasons my game has improved is that I've gotten stronger," says DeManby. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.