Shamereal Johnson
Staff Writer
You may have seen him near the Administration Tower walking the dog or possibly in the student center rocking the baby. He is Harold Owens III, a Jackson State University student, and what he is walking and rocking is a yo-yo.
Owens, an Indiana native, recently took first place in the 1A Division of the USA National Yo-Yo Contest. The contest is held annually in Chico, Calif.
Competitors qualify to compete in the National Yo-Yo Contest through nine regional contests held throughout the United States in five different divisions. There are five divisions, ranging from a traditional yo-yo, used to perform intricate tricks on the string, two yo-yos, to one that doesn’t even have a finger loop at all, but rather a counterweight at the other end. All of the division players are given one minute to show their best tricks.
Q. What do they call you in the Yo-Yo circuit?
Owens: I do have a nickname. It is Yo-Yo Gotti.
Q. How has your time at JSU been?
Owens: I love JSU. It has a homey feeling to it and nice people.
Q. What kind of feedback are you getting on campus about your skills?
Owens: Since I’ve been doing some tricks on campus from my perspective it has drawn positive feedback and also made me a little more confident to be myself and I have more friends from it.
Q. How long have you been yo-yo(ing)?
Owens: I have been yo-yo(ing) since I was in the seventh grade. I started because one day I was bored and picked up the yo-yo and learned that I’m pretty good at it.
Q. How did it feel to win the National Yo-Yo competition?
Owens: To win Nationals was an awesome feeling. There was a lot of competition there and it wasn’t easy but my parents were there to support me so that also played a big part.
Q. Finally, have you taught anyone else your craft?
Owens: Yes, I have taught my little brother some basic tricks.
Q. Who is your sponsor?
Owens: My sponsor is the YoYoFactory. This is my first year with them and I have enjoyed them thus far.
Q. Can you tell me about the YoYoFactory?
Owens:. The YoYoFactory was founded in 2003 by USA based International Yo-Yo superstar YoHans Hans Van Dan Elzen. Elzen’d focus was on creating unique patented technology that would actually make playing with a Yo-Yo a more enjoyable experience.
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