NOVEMBER INDUSTRY NEWS
INDUSTRY
B.A.S.S. Makes Pledge Toward Fisheries Habitat
BRISTOL, Conn.—The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) has pledged $15,000 to the Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership to address the declining habitat of U.S. reservoirs. Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership is a cooperative group committed to improving fisheries and addressing such issues as water quantity and quality; control of invasive species of plants and animals; sedimentation; shoreline development; and management of upstream and downstream waterways.
B.A.S.S. helped found the partnership that includes federal agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies, local governments, property-owner associations, federal and reservoir-controlling agencies and other industry representatives.
Sports Commission Recognized For Contributions To Wrestling
CLEVELAND—The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission has been named 2008 National Events Organization of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling. The award recognizes a volunteer or organization’s contribution to USA Wrestling’s regional and national championship events.
In 2008, the sports commission hosted USA Wrestling’s University Nationals and the FILA Cadet Nationals, setting entry records in several categories and featuring the addition of Women’s University National Championships.
Wachovia Complex’s Godsey Promoted
PHILADELPHIA—Officials with Global Spectrum, which operates the Wachovia Complex’s Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum, have promoted Dustin Godsey from marketing manager to director of marketing for the two facilities. In his new role, Godsey will oversee the day-to-day marketing for events, premium seating and amenities of the facilities.
The Wachovia Complex is the home facility for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball and Philadelphia Flyers and Phantoms hockey teams, but also hosts concerts, special events and other sports events.
YOUTH
USA Rugby To Hold Youth Conference In December
BOULDER, Colo.—USA Rugby’s 2008 Youth Conference on the Game is scheduled for Dec. 5-7 at Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale, Colo. The conference is the largest gathering of the youth and high school rugby communities, giving them the opportunity to interact with leading coaches, referees and administrators. Topics will include efforts to lower the age of introduction to the sport, as well as other presentations and exhibits. Complete details and registration are available at www.usarugby.org/goto/youth_conference.
EVENTS
Clash Of Champions Will Return In April
GREENDALE, Wis.—The Clash of Champions, a U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC) event that debuted this year in Kansas City, Mo., will return in 2009. The 2009 tournament will take place April 30 at the USBC Convention at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev. Eight men and eight women will compete for $100,000 in total prizes, including the $50,000 first-place prize.
Clash of Champions will be taped for broadcast on May 9, 2009, on CBS Sports.
VENUES
Construction To Begin In January On Recreational Facility
CHANDLER, Ariz.—A 30,000-square-foot meeting and recreational facility is planned in Chandler, Ariz., on a 2.75-acre site adjacent to the Chandler Municipal Airport. The facility will offer a variety of rooms for sports events, meetings and special events. The Noah Corp. purchased the site for $1.5 million; construction is set to begin in January 2009.
Gymnasium To Be Part Of Multi-Use Sports Facility
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted in September to approve a multi-use sports and recreation facility in Little Tokyo. The project will include a four-court gymnasium and, possibly, a parking structure.
Renovations Planned For Tennis And Swimming Club
PALO ALTO, Calif.—The Foothills Tennis and Swimming Club in Palo Alto, Calif., will begin renovations to the club’s locker rooms in December. Work includes partial demolition and renovation of 1,120 square feet of space, including interior finishes and structural upgrades. The projects’ completion date is set for April 2009.
Construction Of Archery/Recreation Center Under Way
NEWBERRY, Fla.—A groundbreaking for the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex Regional Archery/Recreation Center in Newberry, Fla., was held in October. The center will be built at Newberry’s recreation complex and will include an indoor archery range, office space, meeting rooms and an adjacent gymnasium with a basketball/volleyball court. Other facilities associated with the center will include a fitness trail and an outdoor range with 3-D archery targets.
New Bowling Complex By 2010
PEABODY, Mass.—Brunswick Zone XL, a 50,000-square-foot bowling alley and entertainment complex, is set to open in Peabody, Mass., by the end of 2009 or January 2010. The facility will include 36 lanes, a lounge, an arcade, pool tables, three banquet rooms and a two-story laser tag arena.
Ice Rink To Expand
HUNTINGTON, N.Y.—Construction of a 79,786-square-foot ice rink, a new parking lot and a new septic system at Dix Hills Ice Rink is estimated for completion in 2010. The new rink will be attached to an existing rink that will be renovated, and the new rink will include a concession stand, locker rooms, a skate/pro shop, skate rentals, two party rooms and changing areas.
GOVERNING BODIES
USA Water Polo’s Guy Baker To Lead New Olympic Development Program
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Guy Baker, head coach of USA Water Polo’s women’s silver medal-winning team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has retired from coaching and begun a new position as USA Water Polo’s director of Olympic Development. Baker was named national coach of the year in 2007 by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
In his new role, Baker will plan and administer USA Water Polo’s system of elite athlete development, including improving performance; fostering a culture of service to the sport with new resources and professional development opportunities for coaches at all levels; and building a progressing program that teaches fundamental skills and basic tactical precepts that establishes a clear learning sequence within all levels of the organization. Another focus on younger age groups will emphasize training over competition, expanding the number of athletes in training, and providing longer time spans for younger athletes to mature.
In addition, Baker will review the current competitive framework and propose new elements to promote optimum development of age-group talent, including a new matrix of regional training centers for elite athletes, and work to strengthen the relationship between USA Water Polo and collegiate water polo programs.
USFS Promotes Newcomer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Juliet Newcomer has been promoted from manager of coaching programs to director of technical services at U.S. Figure Skating (USFS). Newcomer’s new duties include ensuring technical interpretation and compliance of official USFS and International Skating Union (ISU) rules by U.S. judges, officials and athletes; acting as the primary contact for ethics and grievance issues; assisting USFS members and staff in the management, understanding and compliance of USFS rules; assisting committee chairs in preparing requests for rules changes and writing rules for the Rulebook; coordinating materials for the annual publication of the Rulebook and directory through the marketing and communication department; and maintaining detailed records of required officials’ activities related to competitions, tests, exams, schooling and ratings.
Newcomer will continue her duties as manager of coaching programs until a replacement is found. She has been with USFS since 2003.
U.S. Lacrosse Names Coach For 2010 Men’s Team
BALTIMORE—U.S. Lacrosse has announced that Mike Pressler will serve as head coach of the U.S. men’s lacrosse team. The men’s team is scheduled to compete in the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship in Manchester, England.
Pressler is head coach at Bryant University and a former U.S. team assistant coach for the 2002 U.S. team that won the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championship in Perth, Australia. The ILF is one of two organizations that merged to form the FIL.
Pressler’s collegiate coaching record is 229-102 in 22 seasons.
New High Performance Director at US Sailing
PORTSMOUTH, R.I.—Kenneth Andreasen has been named the new high performance director of US Sailing’s Olympic Sailing Program. Andreasen, who most recently coached Zach Railey in his silver-medal win in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, will manage on-the-water elements of the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Programs, guide sailors to optimum performance based on their individual strengths and skills, and foster a team atmosphere in which sailors and coaches share information and ideas openly.
Andreasen will replace Gary Bodie, who is retiring this fall after 10 years as high performance director. Bodie will remain a delegate to the International Sailing Federation and will continue to organize US Sailing’s Rolex Miami OCR, held each January.
Garber Assumes New Role At USBC
GREENDALE, Wis.—U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC) Silver Coach David Garber will oversee three areas at USBC, including directing the high performance program for Team USA, USBC Coaching and the International Training Center. In these roles, Garber will manage all activities and staff for high-level training, competition and research areas for the sport of bowling.
Garber, a three-time Team USA member, previously directed the Team USA program and was co-director of USBC Coaching.
