August 23, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 47 20th Poor Girls’ Open A Big Success By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR OCEAN CITY – The 20th Annual Captain Steve Harman Poor Girl’s Open last weekend was once again a huge success with a record number of boats and lady anglers participating, nearly $100,000 in prize money doled out to the winners in several categories and perhaps most importantly, thousands more raised for breast cancer research and awareness. The tournament, which typically falls the weekend after the White Marlin Open, was founded by the late Captain Steve Harman and his wife Pam to provide a ladies-only fishing event with the proceeds donated to a local charity. A decision was made a few years back to make the American Cancer Society the beneficiary as a kick-off sorts for a series of “pink ribbon” events held in and around the resort area. In the years since, the Poor Girl’s Open has raised well over $100,000 for the organization and this year was no different. A record total of 97 boats and 447 lady anglers participated in the annual tournament last weekend and $91,840 in prize money was awarded to the winners in several categories. Just 20 boats went out on the tournament’s first day last Thursday, but produced remarkable results. On Friday, 49 boats ventured out, followed by 28 more on Saturday. In the Billfish Release Division, the team on the “Absolute Pleasure” took first place with two blue marlin and two white marlin releases and earned a tournament-high $32,000 in prize money. The crew on the “Knot Tellin” was second with one blue marlin and three white marlin releases and earned $19,200. The “Fin-Ness” crew took third place in the Billfish Release division with two blue marlin and one white marlin releases and earned $12,800. In the Tuna Division, the “Jade II” crew swept the top two spots with the first place winner as 261pounder caught by angler Stacy Thomas worth $7,710. Angler Holly Melson, also on the “Jade II,” took second place with a 228-pounder worth $3,726. Angler Michelle Blanchard on the “Osprey” was third with a 210-pounder worth $2,484. In the Dolphin Division, it was angler Christina Wells on the “Absolute Pleasure” taking first place with a 20-pounder worth $7,710. Angler Steff Ostriski was second with a 16pounder worth $3,726. Lily Phipps on the “Aqua Dance” was third with a 13-pounder worth $2,484. The 13year-old Phipps was also named Top Junior Angler. The big winner in the tournament, however, was the American Cancer Society, which received a check for $67,500 from tournament officials during the awards ceremony. New Rules Limit Contact In Fall Prep Sports By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR OCEAN CITY – With fall high school sports teams in the area hitting the fields over the last week or so in preparation for the upcoming season, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) last week issued a series of recommendations to limit contact in certain “collision” sports such as football to reduce concussions for student-athletes. Following a recent trend in student-athlete safety, the MDSE issued recommendations on practice limitations to varying degrees for all sports, particularly those referred to as collision sports. Football is the only fall sport defined as a collision sport, while boys’ lacrosse is also defined as a collision sport. Other fall sports, including boys’ and girls’ soccer, are considered contact sports under the guidelines, while other sports are listed as limited contact or non-contact. The new recommendations limit the number of contact practices in collision sports including football. In football, no live hitting is allowed until the sixth day of practice. During the season, teams should limit live hitting drills and live game simulations to two practices per week. In boys’ lacrosse, after the first play date, schools should be limited to a maximum of one full-contact practice per day. In addition, there should be no live checking in prac- tice on the day before a game. Several other high school sports are listed as “contact” sports and have different sets of recommendations than those of the collision sports. For example, in the fall, soccer and field hockey are listed as a contact sports and the list of winter contact sports includes basketball and wrestling. Contact sports are defined as activities during which athletes routinely make contact with each other or inanimate objects, but typically with less force than in collision sports. In those sports, coaches are advised to limit contact during practice and instruct athletes on proper techniques to avoid head injuries and concussions. The new recommendations were prompted by regulations adopted last spring by the MDSE. The MDSE is also recommending improved instruction by coaches in collision and contact sports. The recommendations were developed by the MDSE Concussion Implementation Advisory Panel, a group of leading medical professionals and athletic officials from all over the state. “Student safety is our paramount concern and our desire is to keep our athletes on the field and in the classroom,” said State Schools Superintendent Lillian Lowery. “These recommendations follow those put in place by leading college and university athletic organizations and we believe they will work well in Maryland schools.”