Gymnastics Sports: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

“Men’s gymnastics a target for college athletics cutbacks” plus 1 more

Men’s gymnastics a target for college athletics cutbacks

Posted: 31 May 2010 06:53 AM PDT

Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

Men's gymnastics a target for college athletics cutbacks

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Scott Dochterman.

Iowa's Jacques Bouchar competes in the still rings Friday, April 7, 2006, during the NCAA men's gymnastics championships in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Jerry Laizure)

IOWA CITY — Tom Dunn jokes that it will take the rest of his tenure as Iowa's men's gymnastics coach just to clean out his desk.

For 31 years Dunn, 60, led the Hawkeyes, once taking them to a second-place finish at the NCAA championships. He will retire next month, witnessing his sport change dramatically over his tenure. And that's no joking matter.

Since 1988, 49 colleges have dropped men's gymnastics, and just 17 teams compete annually for a combined NCAA title, including one Division III school. It's a sport where expenses soar past revenues, and the combination of gender-equity and economic issues have made it vulnerable on the chopping block.

"We did obviously lose a ton of teams over the 20 years, but recently it hasn't been an epidemic by any means," Dunn said.

"We've kind of stopped the bleeding, but of course the challenge is to add programs. We're working on it, but that's tough, especially in this present economic situation. With gender equity rules, it's hard to add a men's team anywhere."

Federal Title IX legislation mandates public institutions that receive state or federal funding must provide equal scholarship opportunities for men's and women's athletes based on enrollment. Many universities have been required to either add women's sports or cut men's sports. Once a football's 85 scholarships are figured into the balancing act, men's scholarships are quickly dried up. That made men's gymnastics a convenient target.

"While everybody supports the ideals of Title IX and gender equity, the reality is the economic situation has made it a situation where schools have found themselves unable to add," said Dennis McIntyre, men's program director for USA Gymnastics. "The only way they can come into compliance is by dropping programs, which everyone feels is unfortunate.

"The thing we've tried to do, wherever we can, is to help and encourage athletics departments and certainly gymnastics programs to look for ways they can fund themselves and become more self-sufficient."

From 1988 through 1998, 36 men's gymnastics squads were at the NCAA level. Wrestling, track, golf and tennis also were hit hard in that time frame.

In recent years, the problem is economically rooted. Iowa, for instance, has spent more than $2.75 million on men's gymnastics from 2005 through 2009, according to numbers the school submitted to the NCAA. During the same time frame, it earned $151,255 in revenue, but only $7,925 from ticket sales.

Those numbers are similar among their competitors. All six Big Ten schools competing in men's gymnastics spent at least $487,000 in 2008, according to numbers supplied to the U.S. Department of Education. The schools' combined losses — revenues subtracted from expenses — exceed $3.26 million.

"I would tell you nationally, and this is something I've told Tom and said to others, I'm concerned about the sport nationally," Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said. "At this point we haven't had any discussions about changing our number of sports at Iowa. But nationally, when you only have 17 teams, certainly you wonder how it's going to do in the long run."

Iowa has advertised its opening to replace Dunn, and Barta said men's gymnastics is "one of our teams."

Most college gymnasts come from private clubs rather than school-sanctioned athletic activities which distorts the public's gauge on interest, McIntyre said. He said boys' participation in private gymnastics clubs is growing, partly because of the Olympic Games.

"That certainly helps to raise the awareness," McIntyre said. "The average age of male gymnasts that make our world and Olympic teams are collegiate-age athlete. There's definitely a heightened look at our college programs during those years and the contributions they make to our Olympic team and our world championship teams.

The Big Ten's threshold for competitive teams is six, which means the sport remains league-sanctioned. The collegiate club movement continues to grow with 84 schools boasting men's club teams, including four Big Ten schools. That gives McIntyre hope for the future if the economy rebounds.

"Many clubs are working to find ways to fund themselves, to make themselves an integral and important contributor to university programs," McIntyre said. "So that in the future, as the situation gets better or warrants, those can become varsity programs. So that's another avenue."

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Agreement reached on moving 2 London sports venues

Posted: 26 May 2010 09:05 AM PDT

Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

LONDON (AP)—An agreement on a change of venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics that organizers of the 2012 London Olympics hope will save tens of millions of dollars was reached after months of negotiations.

Olympic organizers said Wednesday the two sports approved of a move to Wembley Arena in north London. They were originally scheduled to compete at a temporary venue in Greenwich near the athletes' village and Olympic Park in east London.

Due to the economic crisis, London organizers decided last year to scrap the temporary facility in a move that will save about $28 million.

"It is sensible during these difficult economic times to make use of an existing and well-established facility," Sports and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson said. "Wembley Arena will be an excellent venue for fans and participants of both sports."

Officials for the two sports were concerned about the travel time between the athletes' village and Wembley, but organizers have offered to house the athletes in hotels within walking distance of the venue and find ways of shortening the journey.

A preliminary agreement on the move was announced last year, but final approval required ratification by the two sports federations' governing boards.

London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe thanked the federations for the change.

"We will now work through all the detailed arrangements with them and Wembley Arena to put on first-class events," he said. "This is a big boost to north London, which will be a hub for the London 2012 Olympics."

The move also was welcomed by the International Olympic Committee.

"(The organizing committee) will be able to advance full steam ahead with its planning," said Denis Oswald, head of the IOC's coordination commission for London.

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

“BOE considers reinstating gymnastics” plus 1 more

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

BOE considers reinstating gymnastics

Posted: 18 May 2010 09:43 AM PDT

Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

The Newton school board, after about an hour's discussion Monday night, decided to delay a decision on reinstating the Newton High School gymnastics program until its next meeting.
The gymnastics program was eliminated from the budget last year along with diving as a part of $50,000 in cuts from the athletics program.
Gymnastics is the most expensive of the NHS' offerings per student at $1,520 per athlete.
After being approached by parents and students last spring, the board allowed an $11,000 fund-raising campaign to support the program. The funds were raised, and the team went on to host the state tournament and be named co-state champions.
In December, parents and students returned to the board to ask the program be reinstated.
Four students have expressed a desire to go out for gymnastics next year.
"Gymnastics is not in the budget," board president Carol Sue Stayrook Hobbs said. "If we put it back in, we would have to cut something else."
Athletic director Brian Engelken said he would only recommend a reinstatement of the gymnastics team if it was fully funded by the board without cutting elsewhere from the athletic budget.
"I think the district should fund it or it should not be carried at all," he said. "I think if we have the community fund it, we set a dangerous precedent.
"What happens a year from now when the budget numbers look very bad and and an individual approaches us again to fund football or track or C teams or freshman sports. Are we going to let that happen because two years ago we let gymnastics fundraise. We will have a line out the door based on past practice."
Gary Jantz, assistant superintendent for business, said the only way more money could be gleaned for the budget to reinstate the gymnastics program was to increase the pay-to-play fee schedule, which already was increased for next year.
Board member Renee Erickson voted against letting the gymnastic program fund-raise last spring because she said she thought all sports should be supported equally. She echoed those thoughts again Monday.
"I think the gymnastics athletes are as deserving as any other, and the cuts should be equal," she said. "I do not think we should single out a single program."
Esau said he agreed.
"I have a real problem picking on one sport," he said.
The board was split not only on whether to reinstate the program, but the philosophy on how to decide which sports programs are funded.
Esau said he thought a maximum of funding per student should be set. The board also discussed only offering sports that had enough students out to field a team.
Bunting said she thinks the school district should set a limit to the number of students it would continue a program for.
"If we had one student out for tennis or one student out for gymnastics, would we still have that sport," she said. "It doesn't seem to be a good policy when some sports have such few people at such great cost."
Bunting also said she thinks the decisions on the athletic program should be left to administrators.
"We have to trust our employees to make administrative decisions," she said. "We have had a lot of time to think this through. I think we should support the athletic director, who knows more about the programs.
"There is a face, a heart and child behind every dollar we have cut. We have had a 10 percent cut in base aid. It would be difficult for me to go to a classroom teacher and say we have to change their salary so we can continue to pay coaches."
Deb Palacioz, board member, said the gymnastics athletes knew they were only getting one more year for their program.
"I don't like the idea of micromanagement," she said. "When that $50,000 was cut, it was a done deal."
Stayrook Hobbs said she would have known then what she knows know.
"We have had tough times. We have had to tighten belts. We have had to make cuts," she said. "Students have not lost all their opportunities for things to do. Those students do take part in other sports. If I would have known about the conversations we have had on this, I would have said no."
Randy Zohn said the district could cut in other places. He said he thinks $50,000 was too great of a cut to levy on athletics.
"I know it has been lean," he said. ... "But not funding a program for kids is not right. Programs for kids is why we are here."
Board member Darrell Conrade was absent from the meeting Monday so the board will vote on whether to keep gymnastics at its meeting June 7.
The board also:
• Approved a change order for $25,840 for the NHS academic addition.
• Approved a bid from Pryor Electric of Newton for $133,414 for NHS auditorium lighting upgrades. Theatrical Services Inc. of Wichita will be the theatrical lighting subcontractor on the project.
• Approved revisions for the 2010-11 NHS agenda.
• Approved a resolution terminating the Channel One agreement.
• Approved a change in contract for Tobie Loewen from half-time Reading Recovery teacher to a to full-time second-grade teacher at Slate Creek Elementary School, and a change in contract for Tarrah Geraci, third-grade teacher at South Breeze Middle School, from full time to half time.
• Accepted the resignations of Heath Elliott, physical education teacher at NHS, and Jim Hoffman, counselor at Chisholm Middle School.
• Approved hiring of Kurt Herrel to a special education position at Eby Learning Center; Heidi Claassen as a fourth-grade teacher at Slate Creek Elementary School, Jeff Comer as a social studies teacher at NHS, Nonni Wagner as a vocal music teacher at Chisholm Seventh/Eighth Grade Center, Carmen Goering as a vocal music teacher at Santa Fe Fifth/Sixth Grade Center, Lowell Ely as a Vo-Ag teacher at NHS and Brad Cooper as a counselor at Chisholm Seventh/Eighth Grade Center.

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Losing sports centre would be horrendous

Posted: 19 May 2010 06:51 AM PDT

Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

The Tele can reveal talks are under way between the city council and Scottish Gymnastics over the future of Lynch Sports Centre on South Road.

The local authority has confirmed an approach has been received from the body, with what is understood to be a proposal to create a regional gymnastics centre on the site.

The council and Scottish Gymnastics have made a joint funding application to SportScotland, which controls Lottery funding for such developments.

The centre offers a variety of sporting and fitness activities and sessions, such as five-a-side football, badminton, carpet bowls, aerobics and karate.

However, the council is remaining tight-lipped on the implications of the proposed move, and it is not known if the gymnastics body would be looking to secure exclusive access.

SportScotland confirmed a stage one application has been submitted providing outline plans for the project.

Dundee Gymnastics Club 2k currently uses the centre as its training base, offering a range of adults and children's classes.

However, the club offered no comment on the proposal.

Graeme Clark, who books the centre for five-a-side football every Monday night, said losing the venue would be "horrendous", due to the demand for indoor facilities in Dundee.

He added, "I can understand the need for Scottish Gymnastics to have somewhere to train and I would be all in favour of it as long as we are not getting thrown out.

"I know for a fact the Lynch is booked out all week for five-a-sides, and it's just not fair to offer facilities for one group and not for another.

Lochee councillor Tom Ferguson said, "There will need to be a consultation on the plans to ensure that provision for the people of Lochee remains a key factor in the whole jigsaw.

Despite numerous attempts to make contact, Scottish Gymnastics was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 2 more

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports
Williams going to Alabama
Gymnastics: Senior Susan Jackson wins Honda Sports Award

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports

Posted: 28 May 2010 05:31 AM PDT

[fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content]

MADISON - The Madison Area YMCA's gymnastics, sports and dance departments are holding mini-camps for boys and girls to kick off the summer.

Williams going to Alabama

Posted: 29 May 2010 09:10 PM PDT

Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

HUNTINGTON — After more than a decade of flips, twists and Rudis, Kayla Williams has added a new roll to her arsenal of aerial gymnastics moves.

It is called a Roll Tide.

Williams, the world vault champ from Huntington, verbally agreed to compete in collegiate gymnastics with the University of Alabama on Friday.

"I've been smiling non-stop for the past two days," Williams said. "Its importance is up there even with the Olympics and the world championship. Getting a college scholarship out of the 11 or 12 years not only helps my family, but it also gives me a couple of extra years to compete before I have to retire."

Earlier this year, Williams narrowed her college choices to five schools — Alabama, Georgia, UCLA, Michigan and West Virginia.

In January, she visited the campus during the time of a meet between Alabama and Georgia — two of her final five schools.

Not only did the Crimson Tide win the meet, they won over Williams.

"The entire atmosphere of the competition was great. It is always going to be intense, but they made it fun," Williams said. "I loved the team, loved the coaches and I told my Mom 'If I could commit right now, I would.' We talked a little bit more about it and went over other schools, but in the end it was 'Bama."

When many people think of Alabama, they think of Paul "Bear" Bryant and the football program, which won the 2009 BCS National Championship over Texas.

However, the gymnastics program might be one of the most storied sports programs in the nation.
In gymnastics, Alabama has built a powerhouse that includes 25 NCAA Region Titles, 20 top-two finishes in the Southeastern Conference and 19 top-three finishes in the NCAA Championships.
In 2010, the Tide finished No. 3 in the NCAA Championships at the University of Florida. The Super

Six appearance came after Alabama had won the NCAA Lexington Regional and NCAA Semifinals following a regular-season that included a 9-2 mark with all 11 meets coming against top-25 competition.

It is all part of a tradition that drew Williams to the school.

"I'm just so happy and excited to say that I'm going to be an Alabama gymnast," Williams said. "They are always up there in (NCAA) rankings and the SEC is the best gymnastics conference."

Not only is Williams happy to be a future Alabama gymnast, she is also excited to have the decision out of the way so she can focus on other tasks currently at hand.

One of those other tasks is getting prepared for the U.S. Cover Girl Classics, which take place in July.

Such a scenario was not likely at this time last month after a fallout between her family and former coaches Bozhi Russev and Hrabrina Spencer left her without a gym to train in for three months.
Earlier this month, Williams hooked up with legendary coach Mary Lee Tracy, who runs Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy.

Now, Williams is trying to make up for lost time as quickly as possible.

"It's been pretty brutal. Three months off from gymnastics is an eternity," Williams said. "I've just really been trying to do a lot of cardio, vault, beam and floor. Now, I think I'm back in the shape I was before, so I'm going to keep up and not get back down."

In addition to preparing for the Cover Girl Classics, Williams is finishing up her junior year at Huntington High School through online classes.

After making her college decision this week, she said she can't wait to get started on her senior year — so she's not.

"Next Friday, I will officially be a senior, but I am taking two classes over the summer to graduate early," I still want to graduate a Highlander."

Last year, Williams took the gymnastics world by storm when she became the first female gymnast in U.S. history to win a world Vault title when she won Gold at the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships in London.

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Gymnastics: Senior Susan Jackson wins Honda Sports Award

Posted: 05 May 2010 08:39 PM PDT

Message from Five Filters: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

The awards keep coming for LSU senior gymnast Susan Jackson.

Jackson was awarded the Honda Sports Award for gymnastics as the nation's top female college gymnast Wednesday.

Jackson is the first LSU gymnast to win the award and the second to be a finalist for the award after Ashleigh Clare-Kearney was a finalist in 2009.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to win the Honda Sports Award," Jackson said in a news release. "To be recognized among such a talented group of gymnasts is very gratifying. The outstanding level of support from my teammates and coaches has been instrumental to my success both inside and outside of the gym."

Jackson was the first gymnast in LSU history to win the NCAA all-around national title. She won three national titles in her career — the all-around and beam titles in 2010 and the vault in 2008.

Jackson also won 2010 Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year.

While Jackson is still getting awards for the 2010 season, the returning members of the LSU gymnastics team are getting right back to work.

The Tigers are already participating in voluntary workouts attempting to reach the 2011 Super Six, a goal the 2010 squad just missed on April 22.

Sam Engle, the lone rising senior on the team, said the Tigers are focusing on their strength and conditioning.

"For now, we're pretty much working on getting in shape," Engle said. "We want to be in the best shape we can and be as healthy as we can, and hopefully that helps us a lot for next year."

But the 2011 gymnastics team will have a much different look.

LSU must fill the void of the four departing team members — Jackson, Sabrina Franceschelli, Summer Hubbard and Kayla Rogers.

But the Tigers will have two returning All-Americans in Engle and junior Ashley Lee.
"You can't replace people like that, but we just have to go out and try to fill their shoes," Lee said. "They did an awesome job last year keeping us together and making us want to work hard."

The two All-Americans know they must take the reins and lead the team.

"I'm excited," Engle said. "It's kind of nerve-racking because I'm the only senior, but I know I've got two juniors and all the sophomores to help me out. I'm excited, though, because it's going to be a new challenge for me."

Lee said Engle has already stepped up and filled the leadership role.

"Sam is quiet, but she's learning how to speak her mind," Lee said. "She's already stepping up. I think between us three upperclassmen, we're going to work together to keep everyone positive and upbeat. And if we can do that, I think we're going to have a good season."

The Tigers will also have a solid crop of new freshmen joining the team in the fall.

Headlining the class for the Tigers will be Sarah Zoldos and Maliah Mathis.

Zoldos, a Clearwater, Fla., native, is a level-10 gymnast from LaFleur's Tampa Gymnastics in Tampa, Fla.

She is also a two-time Junior Olympic National Qualifier.

Zoldos won the all-around title at the level-8 regional in 2006 and won the level-9 regional in 2007.

"We are looking forward to her coming to LSU, growing and getting better," LSU coach D-D Breaux said in a news release after LSU signed Zoldos. "She is one of those kids you recruit and project that they will make improvements. We have built our program around those kinds of kids, so I think she will do really well here."

Mathis is also a level-10 gymnast and hails from Aerial Athletics in San Antonio. She captured the vault title in the 2009 regionals and finished second in both the floor exercise and the all-around.

She has also scored a perfect 10.00 on the vault in 2009.

"Maliah has an outstanding foundation and will come in and get better and better," Breaux said. "Vaulting and tumbling are her real strong points. She has competed level-10 and has had a lot of success, and we feel like she will only get better when she steps on campus at LSU."

____
Contact Rob Landry at rlandry@lsureveille.com

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 1 more

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports

Posted: 27 May 2010 04:50 AM PDT

Wembley Arena to host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at 2012 Games

Posted: 26 May 2010 11:41 PM PDT

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has made agreement with the world governing body of badminton and gymnastics on using the Wembley Arena as the competing venue of badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

A media release stated by LOCOG on Wednesday read: The sports of badminton and rhythmic gymnastics were initially earmarked during the bid phase to take place at a temporary venue in Greenwich, but Wembley Arena, which became available after the bid phase, has now been selected as the most suitable venue.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said,"We are delighted to have reached this agreement with the BWF and FIG and I would like to thank them for their full co-operation and support. We will now work through all the detailed arrangements with them and Wembley Arena to put on first class events. This is a big boost to north London which will be a hub for the London 2012 Olympics with the football finals happening at Wembley Stadium."

Denis Oswald, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the London 2012 Olympic Games, commented, "This is an important milestone in London 2012's planning for the Games. With the venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics confirmed, LOCOG will be able to advance full steam ahead with its planning."

The World Badminton Championships will also take place at Wembley Arena in 2011.

Source:Xinhua

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 3 more

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports
Agreement reached on moving 2 London sports venues
Agreement reached on moving 2 London sports venues
Agreement reached on moving 2 London sports venues

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports

Posted: 26 May 2010 05:14 AM PDT

Agreement reached on moving 2 London sports venues

Posted: 26 May 2010 09:05 AM PDT

Due to the economic crisis, London organizers decided last year to scrap the temporary facility in a move that will save about $28 million.

A preliminary agreement on the move was announced last year, but final approval required ratification by the two sports federations' governing boards.

London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe thanked the federations for the change.

The move also was welcomed by the International Olympic Committee.

"(The organizing committee) will be able to advance full steam ahead with its planning," said Denis Oswald, head of the IOC's coordination commission for London.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Agreement reached on moving 2 London sports venues

Posted: 26 May 2010 09:26 AM PDT

Due to the economic crisis, London organizers decided last year to scrap the temporary facility in a move that will save about $28 million.

A preliminary agreement on the move was announced last year, but final approval required ratification by the two sports federations' governing boards.

London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe thanked the federations for the change.

The move also was welcomed by the International Olympic Committee.

"(The organizing committee) will be able to advance full steam ahead with its planning," said Denis Oswald, head of the IOC's coordination commission for London.

Agreement reached on moving 2 London sports venues

Posted: 26 May 2010 08:38 AM PDT

LONDON -- An agreement on a change of venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics that organizers of the 2012 London Olympics hope will save tens of millions of dollars was reached after months of negotiations.

Due to the economic crisis, London organizers decided last year to scrap the temporary facility in a move that will save about $28 million.

A preliminary agreement on the move was announced last year, but final approval required ratification by the two sports federations' governing boards.

London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe thanked the federations for the change.

The move also was welcomed by the International Olympic Committee.

"(The organizing committee) will be able to advance full steam ahead with its planning," said Denis Oswald, head of the IOC's coordination commission for London.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 3 more

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports
Jury deliberating on former Brookfield gymnastics coach's child rape case
Sports groups gather May 29 in Saanich for festival
Sports briefs

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports

Posted: 25 May 2010 04:49 AM PDT

Jury deliberating on former Brookfield gymnastics coach's child rape case

Posted: 25 May 2010 05:33 PM PDT

Closing arguments were heard in a Woburn, Mass., courtroom Tuesday in the child rape case of Steve Infante, a former Brookfield gymnastics coach.

Infante, 54, formerly of New Milford, is facing three counts of statutory rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in Middlesex Superior Court.

According to police documents, one of the alleged victims, a Massachusetts woman now 34 years old, told police she was 14 in 1991 when Infante began sexually assaulting her.

The other alleged victim is a woman from Connecticut who said she was 16 when Infante allegedly made sexual advances toward her, according to official documents.

The alleged assaults were not reported until 2007, when a multistate investigation began.

The jury trial in Woburn began nearly three weeks ago. Jurors began deliberating Tuesday, according to the court clerk.

In 1998, Infante was banned for life from coaching by USA Gymnastics, the sport's national governing board, after sexual misconduct claims surfaced from three former gymnasts he taught at Olympic Sports Academy in Brookfield, which he owned. He lived in New Milford then, moved to Massachusetts, returned to Connecticut, and now lives in Milford.

According to officials, because all those girls were 16 when the relationships allegedly began, no criminal charges were brought against Infante.

Attempts to reach Infante's attorney, Kenneth Mello, have been unsuccessful.

Middlesex County District Attorney Thomas O'Reilly's office said he would not discuss a case now in trial.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Sports groups gather May 29 in Saanich for festival

Posted: 25 May 2010 12:28 PM PDT

[fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content]

From field hockey and gymnastics to curling, rowing, and even a zipline, the Island Savings Family sport and recreation exhibition will have it all. More than 40 sporting organizations will gather May 29 to strut their stuff at the grounds of the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.

Sports briefs

Posted: 25 May 2010 12:18 PM PDT

Rome Sports HOF opens for season Wednesday

The Rome Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will open for the 2010 season on Wednesday.

Hours are Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Located at 5790 Rome New London Road, parking is now available at the New London Road end of the museum on a newly prepared hard-surfaced area. The museum is accessible for the handicapped. Donations are always welcomed.

The Hall of Fame will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on June 19 at 2 p.m. to showcase its renovated NASCAR wing.

Zakala second at state gymnastics meet

ROCHESTER — Ten-year-old Valley Gymnastics representative Jenna Zakala of Rome took second in an event and finished in the top ten in two others during the New York State USGA Level 5 State Championships held over the weekend at Victors Gymnasium.

Zakala finished second in the vault competition with a 9.5 score, was ninth in the uneven bars competition with a 9.2 score and eighth in the all-around with a 36.55 score.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Monday, May 24, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 2 more

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports
Community Education to take over junior high sports programs
Sports Briefs

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports

Posted: 24 May 2010 09:08 PM PDT

Community Education to take over junior high sports programs

Posted: 24 May 2010 08:24 PM PDT

NEW ULM - When coaches, parents and the community in general hears the word cuts, they cringe.

What's going to be cut? How will that affect my child? What will it do to sports in the community?

When the District 88 school board requested that New Ulm Activities Director Steve Worm look into where he could cut costs, he looked into several options and brought one particular scenario to the school board.

Using the way Hutchinson has been running their junior high programs as a model, Worm proposed to the school board that - starting with football and volleyball in the fall - New Ulm have Community Education take over the program.

"The school board directed us to find the means to cut some dollars, save some money, and they didn't want to cut programs," Worm said. "Essentially we took the Hutchinson model, they gave me the information, and when you look at the program, for instance, they have been pretty successful in both football and volleyball. So they must be doing something right."

Now it will go through Carol Davis at Community Education. Worm and the school district will continue to monitor it.

"We will continue to do the paperwork here," Worm said. "We will collect the fees, all the forms that are necessary like we have always done and then the money will be transferred from this account to community services. Their role, conceivably is to eventually take over the program. If and when this becomes successful down the road. This is just a baby step for us."

The two varsity coaches affected by the change, New Ulm football coach Rob Bute and New Ulm volleyball coach Chris Otto, had reservations at first but now are both for the move.

"My No. 1 concern was about the coaches," Otto said. "Along with that is our players and them getting their money's worth. Really when I looked at what he had for us, it didn't really seem like a big deal. There isn't a huge change in the program. There are definitely fewer days, and a few less matches. But the girls get a couple tournaments and jamborees and they get more playing time in those things anyways. When it comes down to it, it's not a dramatic change."

Bute wasn't sure what to expect at first either.

"Any time you are talking about a change you are apprehensive," he said. "We started talking about the model and a philosophy and the significant changes. I think that it will grow our numbers and that is what I think is most important in seventh and eighth grade. Some people think it's the competition and winning that is important but I feel in those grades it's more important that the kids play and have fun doing it."

Otto has talked to concerned parents and have tried to set them at ease.

"Initially, the information wasn't out there for them," he said. "I would guess rumors went around as to what was going to happen. Was the whole program getting cut? People just didn't know. I have talked to them and expressed my thoughts, that I don't think it's a huge impact on the program."

The savings of the plan comes down to approximately $6,000 in savings by moving the programs into Community Education. And those savings come from the fact that they will reduce the number of days in the season from 41 to 33 in both sports. Plus there will be a reduction in transportation costs. Instead of driving to Blue Earth for a game, they will play teams closer like Sibley East, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop and Dakota Meadows in Mankato.

As for the reduction of days, traditionally, football has started about two weeks prior to the beginning of the season. Because of that, some students - especially the rural ones - haven't been able to make it to practice because of transportation issues.

"Then when the first day of school comes around, we have a stream of boys and girls come into the office to sign up for football and volleyball, who weren't at the previous weeks' practices," Worm said. "They missed that time and now the coaches literally had to re-do the teams."

The first day of school in the fall is Sept. 7 and the first day of practice is Sept. 1.

"In an essence it's condensed," Worm added. "We've eliminated what we thought was a waste in that first week, some of the kids were there, some weren't. I think that when school starts we will get more kids because they realized they didn't miss too much and can go out."

They may have reduced the number of days of the season but it shouldn't really affect play in the season.

In 2009, for eighth grade football there were seven games, this fall that number will be reduced by one. The seventh graders played six games, which will be reduced to five. But both seventh and eighth grade will be hosting a jamboree.

For volleyball, the scheduled events in both seventh and eighth grade will go from 13 to 10. But both will participate in at least two tournaments and each will have a home jamboree.

A jamboree is when a group of teams come together and they play for set amount of time. It's kind of a scrimmage for multiple teams and scores are important. They may play for 30 minutes and wherever they are in the match, they stop and switch opponents. The varsity coaches and players help out and officiate.

"It's a nice opportunity for the girls to get lots and lots of playing time," Otto said. "They get a lot of touches on the ball and scoring doesn't matter. You are looking for maximum opportunity to play the sport and touch the ball. Events like that give the girls that opportunity."

Worm has talked to his winter sport coaches about the possible move but nothing has officially been decided yet.

This doesn't affect sports that are and have traditionally been a seventh through 12th-grade program. Meaning sports like, soccer, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls hockey, track, gymnastics and golf won't fall under Community Education because they don't have junior high programs anyway.

"We got the official go ahead from the school board a couple of weeks ago so now everything is a go," Worm said. "The goal is to have all the other sports fall under this. We are looking at football and volleyball in the fall, boys and girls basketball in the winter and baseball and softball in the spring."

If numbers improve and the quality of coaching in the junior high ranks stays high, Bute is fine with the district's decision.

"I think the No. 1 priority is that we continue to have good coaches working with our younger kids," Bute said. "I think that who is going to be hired will continue to fall under the school district and that is pretty important because you don't want to just open that up to anybody working with our kids."

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Sports Briefs

Posted: 24 May 2010 09:44 AM PDT

Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 11:49:31 am PDT

Nelson fourth in league gymnastics finals

Lacey Nelson of Half Moon Bay High School finished fourth in the North Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Varsity Gymnastics Finals on May 13.

Nelson was second on beam, sixth on vault and bars, and seventh on the floor. Nelson qualified for Thursday's Central Coast Section finals along with teammate Anita Oettel-Flaharty. Oettel-Flaherty finished tied for 18th in the all-around competition. She was 12th in the beam.

Montara resident Kayla Strom, a student at Mercy High School in Burlingame, was third all-around. She was second on the bars, fourth on the beam, tied for fifth on floor and ninth on the vault.

Remillong, Farrell go 1-2 in horseshoe tournaments

Terry Farrell and Foa Remillong traded first and second at two different horseshoe tournaments held May 6 and 8.

Farrell won the Group 1 title in the May 6 Pat McGowan Tournament. Remillong took second.

Gino Rinaldi won Group II with Pat McGowan second. Joe Sciarra was first in Group III with Ron Grenier second.

On the May 8 Memorial Open, Remillong won Group 1 with Farrell second. Sciarra won Group II with Grenier second.

Opening Day for HMB Girls Softball Saturday

The Half Moon Bay Girls Softball League begins its 38th season with Opening Day Ceremonies beginning at 8 a.m., Saturday, at the Half Moon Bay High School softball field.

Nearly 200 Coastside girls, between the ages of 7-18 have signed up. The league goes to the end of July.

Sea Crest golf team finishes second and fourth in tourney

The Sea Crest School golf team of Dean Ambrosi, Morgan Drobnick, A.J. Morrell and Sean Koenig combined to shoot a 41 to finish second at the Small School Independent League Tournament, held May 5 at the Crystal Springs Golf Course.

A second Sea Crest team, consisting of Parker Lovett, Ryan Stefko, Liam Goldstein and Will McCahon combined to shoot 46 to finish fourth.

McCahon was allowed to compete for the Seals though he is a student at Pescadero Middle School.

Corte Madera won the seven-team tournament with a 39.

Marshall lowers school record

Logan Marshall lowered his Cunha Intermediate School record in the 1,600 meters, winning the May 7 race in 4 minutes, 53 seconds.

The win was one of several for the Cubs at the final regular season meet. The eighth-grader also won the 800 in 2:19. In both those races, he was followed by Chris Jacobson and Corey Cilia.

Khalil Droubi won the sixth-grade boys' 1,600 meters. Jasmine Shaff won the eighth-grade girls 800.

Becky Stoloski won the sixth-grade girls' discus.

Three Cunha wrestlers win titles

Three wrestlers from the Cunha Intermediate School wrestling team won titles at the Peninsula Middle School League Wrestling Championships, held May 8.

Evan Marschall claimed the title at 77 pounds. It's his third straight title. Cody James claimed his second straight title, winning at 86 pounds. Jimmy Claitor won at 88 pounds.

Luke James (55), Tristan Keller (68), Juanito Baragas (86) and Spencer Boling all were second in their respective divisions.

Anthony Klingele (96) and Luis Vasquez (118) finished third in their respective divisions.

Will Fullerton took fourth at 77 pounds, as did Ricardo Camacho at 120 pounds.

The showing helped the Cubs take third place.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Gymnastics Sports

Monday, May 31, 2010

“Men’s gymnastics a target for college athletics cutbacks” plus 1 more

“Men’s gymnastics a target for college athletics cutbacks” plus 1 more

Men's gymnastics a target for college athletics cutbacks

Sunday, May 30, 2010

“BOE considers reinstating gymnastics” plus 1 more

“BOE considers reinstating gymnastics” plus 1 more

Saturday, May 29, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 2 more

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 2 more

Thursday, May 27, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 1 more

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 1 more

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 3 more

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 3 more

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 3 more

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 3 more

Monday, May 24, 2010

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 2 more

“Madison mini-camps beckon for summer in gymnastics, dance, sports” plus 2 more

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

Popular Posts