College basketball brackets revealed

The NCAA men’s basketball championship brackets were revealed on Sunday afternoon and that means the beginning of  March Madness. Millions of people in the US will now start to take part in bracket pools in the hopes of proving they have top knowledge of the sport.

It’s been a busy day in women’s college basketball as well as conferences finished up post season tournaments and more teams learned that their season is not over. Here’s a list of who earned automatic bids to the to the 2010 NCAA women’s college basketball tournament:

TEAM -CONFERENCE -DATE -LAST BID
—- ———- —- ——–
East Tennessee State (23-8) Atlantic Sun 3/6 2009
Austin Peay (15-17) Ohio Valley 3/6 2009
Princeton (26-2) Ivy League 3/6 none
Marist (26-7) Metro Atlantic Athletic 3/7 2009
Duke (27-5) Atlantic Coast 3/7 2009
Ohio State (30-4) Big Ten 3/7 2009
Tennessee (30-2) Southeastern 3/7 2009
Gonzaga (27-4) West Coast 3/8 2009
Chattanooga (24-8) Southern 3/8 2008
Xavier (27-3) Atlantic 10 3/8 2009
Middle Tennessee (25-5) Sun Belt 3/9 2009
South Dakota State (22-10) Summit League 3/9 2009
Connecticut (33-0) Big East 3/9 2009
Tulane (26-6) Conference USA 3/12 2002
Lamar (26-7) Southland 3/12 1991
Bowling Green (27-6) Mid-American 3/13 2007
UC Riverside (17-15) Big West 3/13 2007
Louisiana Tech (23-8) Western Athletic 3/13 2006
San Diego State (21-10) Mountain West 3/13 2009
Hampton (20-11) Mid-Eastern Athletic 3/13 2004
Portland State (18-14) Big Sky 3/13 none
Lehigh (29-3) Patriot League 3/13 2009
Southern (23-8) Southwestern Athletic 3/13 2006
Vermont (26-6) America East 3/13 2009
James Madison (26-6) Colonial Athletic 3/14 2007
Cleveland State (19-13) Horizon League 3/14 2008
Texas A&M (25-7) Big 12 3/14 2009
Liberty (27-5) Big South 3/14 2009
St. Francis, Pa. (17-14) Northeast 3/14 2005
Northern Iowa (17-15) Missouri Valley 3/14 none
Stanford (31-1) Pacific-10 3/14 2009

Millionaire coach supports prep girls hoops team

This story is pretty awesome.

A USA Today feature profiles Coach Jim Justice who, over the past  25 years, has coached more than 1,000 games — from AAU teams to West Virginia’s Greenbrier East girls high school team, which he took over 10 years ago.

What makes the 58-year old coach different from most high school basketball coaches is the fact that for him, it’s much more than just a job. He’s a millionaire who owns coal mines, farms and the nearby Greenbrier Resort.

He’s a coach whose generosity directly benefits his players. He paid $300,000 to have a parquet floor installed in the Greenbrier East Gym. At every game, the players run through an inflatable tunnel to the court when they’re introduced, and a video screen flashes their pictures.

When two feet of snow threatened to postpone a game against Huntington Spring Valley in late December, Justice hired a contractor to plow the parking lot.

Jeff Bryant, principal at Greenbrier East, admits there might have been cynics when Justice took the job. After all, why would a wealthy businessman want to coach? And how would he have time?

“That’s so pitifully easy to explain,” Justice says. “I love the game.”

He says he thinks he makes $3,300 to coach but doesn’t  know for sure because he gives the money to his assistant coaches.”

“There’s a lot more to him than what’s in his pocket,” wrote Alexis Hornbuckle, a former Justice pupil, in an e-mail. “He has a great heart and is a very loving and forgiving man.”

Hornbuckle played on one of his AAU teams before leading South Charleston to victory vs. Greenbrier East in the 2004 championship game. She played on two NCAA championship teams at Tennessee and now is with the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock.

For those who believe that wealth transcends dollars, Justice is an example of someone who has gotten way more back from life than he’s been able to give.
Video

Sun announces second annual Women in Sports essay contest

The WNBA’s Connecticut Sun is inviting Connecticut students in grades 4-8 to participate in the Second Annual Women in Sports Essay Contest in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD).

All Connecticut students  interested in participating in the project may submit a one-page essay answering the question: “Who is your favorite female athlete and why?” All essays must be received by the Connecticut Sun front office by Fri., April 9. Sun players, along with members of the organization, will judge the essays.

NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women’s sports. It has evolved into a day that acknowledges the past while recognizing current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.

One grand prize winner in the Sun contest will receive an exclusive school assembly with Sun mascot Blaze and/or players to recognize the winning student, essay and school. The winner will be recognized at a Sun pre-season game, receive four tickets to a pre-season game and have their essay posted on the team’s web site. Five runners-up, one from each grade level, will receive four tickets to a Sun pre-season game and their essays posted on the team’s web site. The first 50 entrants in the contest will receive a special gift from the Connecticut Sun as well as two complimentary tickets to a Sun pre-season game.
Entry forms are now available on www.connecticutsun.com.

Join the Women’s Sports Foundation in Washington

February 3, 2010 marks the 24th annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day to celebrate and promote girls’ and womens’ participation and excellence in sports.

NGWSD is marked annually with events around the country and on Capitol Hill to commemorate the achievements of girls and women in athletics. It is also an important day to promote the continued expansion of opportunities for girls and women to play sports and live physically active lives.

While we have made significant strides towards equity in athletics, we have a long way to go to realize the law’s promise. High school girls still receive 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play sports than high school boys. Federal law requires colleges to make gender equity in sports information publicly available each year, but high schools are not required to disclose these data, making it difficult to ensure fairness at the secondary school level.

If you’re in the Washington, D.C. area, come learn how bills requiring high school athletics data collection would help close this gap and why this legislation is needed.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Russell Senate Office Building, Room 485

Washington, D.C.

Agenda

Welcome and Overview: Details of the High School Data Collection Bills – Neena Chaudhry, Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center

Background on NGWSD and the Importance and benefits of Sports – Jessica Mendoza, Women’s Sports Foundation President, Two-Time Olympic Softball Medalist

On the Ground Need for Legislation – Peg Pennepacker, Assistant Principal & Athletic Director, Susquehanna Township School District (PA)

Q & A

*Please RSVP to Karen Kranitz at KKranitz@WomensSportsFoundation.org or 516-307-3930 by Friday, 1/29/10

Seven UNC soccer players turning pro

If you want to play women’s professional soccer,  there is one collegiate programs that seems to do a particularly good job prepping players for the big show.  In the recent 2010 Women’s Pro Soccer Draft,  seven Tar Heels were selected, including four of the first eight picks.

Tobin Heath was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Beat. Defender Whitney Engen was selected fourth by the Chicago Red Stars.

Two teammates will stick together. Midfielder Nikki Washington will once again set goals up for forward Casey Nogueria. The two were drafted by my local team – the Los Angeles Sol.

Forward Jessica McDonald was chosen in the second round. She’ll join Engen with the Chicago Red Stars. Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was also taken in the second round by the St. Louis team, Athletica.

On top of that, defender Kristi Eveland was taken in the fourth round by the DC Freedom.

Led by legendary coach Anson Dorrance this graduating Tar Heel class won three national championships in four years. Dorrance has been the head coach of the North Carolina women’s soccer program since its inception in 1979 and has won 20 NCAA titles.

Following North Carolina, Santa Clara had the next largest group of players picked in the recent draft with five players selected.

Defender Jordan Angeli was picked by Boston in the second round. In the third round, forward Kiki Bosio was picked by the LA Sol and midfielder Amanda Poach went to the St.  Louis Athletica.

Defender Katherine Reynolds will join Santa Clara teammate Angeli in Boston and forward Meagan Snell is heading to Sky Blue FC.

Other college programs that are sending multiple players to the WPS include UCLA (Lauren Cheney, Kristina Larsen, Lauren Wilmoth), Wake Forest (Kaley Fountain, Jill Hutchinson, Caitlin Farrell) and Boston College, Boston University, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Portland, Rutgers, Stanford,  Washington State and West Florida.

Playing in college isn’t a prerequisite for a WPS career, but it certainly provides a great opportunity to develop as a player and be seen by the pro coaches and managers.  If your goal is playing professionally, be sure to check out the colleges mentioned here to see if any are a good athletic and academic match.

Sporty Saturday Spotlight 1-16-10

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on fourteen-year-old BMX racer and road cycling mountain biker, Mary Mae Duarte. Check out Mary’s interview below where she shares her fave BMX moment, how she balances school and sports, and much, much more.

Name: Mary Mae Duarte

Age: 14

Sport(s): bmx racing and freestyle road cycling mountain biking

Hometown: Riverside, California

High School: Citrus Valley High School

What’s your fave sport? bmx racing

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

My favorite moment while racing bmx was when I finally jumped for my first time.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

Never give up! And once that gate goes down keep it pedaling!

What have you learned about teamwork?

When you’re all together we all equal as one person. Nothing will be able to happen if one person doesn’t get along with someone else.

How do you balance school and sports?

My dad makes me finish all my homework before I can go anywhere or do anything!

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

My favorite male would have to be Brian Deegan and my favorite female is Danica Patrick! (:

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature

question)

HA OMG! The girliest “things” I LOVE to do are get my nails done, go shopping, make sure my makeup is perfect! haha (:

Thanks, Mary! I agree. Danica Patrick is amazing. Best of luck with your sports career.

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Stanford’s Kelley O’Hara wins Hermann Trophy

Senior forward Kelley O’Hara became the first Stanford player in history to the win the MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s highest honor.

O’Hara was one of three finalists – North Carolina midfielder Tobin Heath and UCLA forward Lauren Cheney were the others — invited to Friday’s ceremony, with the award decided by a vote of coaches. O’Hara received the women’s honor and Akron’s Teal Bunbury received the men’s.

“It’s a great way to end the college season,” O’Hara said. “I’m so thankful, and blessed. But the reason I was able to get the award was because of my teammates. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

O’Hara, who hails from Fayetteville, Ga., shattered Stanford season records for goals (26) and points (65) this season while leading the nation in both categories. She also dished out 13 assists in 2009, the third-best mark in school history. The senior captain led Stanford to its first NCAA championship final and its’ best-ever record (25-1).

O’Hara earned Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year and NSCAA first-team All-America honors. She also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-America honors.

O’Hara completed her collegiate career with 57 goals and 156 points, No. 2 in Cardinal history in both categories. O’Hara is the first player in Stanford history to claim the MAC Hermann Trophy. Last month, she was one of 24 players named to a December training camp for the full U.S. national team. O’Hara has played internationally from the under-17 to the under-23 age groups.

O’Hara had been nominated three times for the award, but had never been a finalist until this year, joining Julie Foudy (1991 and ‘92) as the only finalists in Stanford history.

Stanford and O’Hara had a fairy-tale season that included a Pac-10 title and a perfect record heading into the College Cup final, which ended with a disappointing 1-0 loss to North Carolina and a (questionable?)  red card for O’Hara in her final collegiate match.

“This is a great honor,” O’Hara said. “But I would give it up to win a national championship. That’s not to downplay the trophy. To be honored like this is incredible. I’m so excited.”

A 2009 NSCAA first-team All-America, O’Hara was the Pacific-10 Conference’s Player of the Year and an ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American.

The Hermann Trophy has been awarded since 1967 to men, and since 1988 to women. Michelle Akers was the first women’s winner, and Mia Hamm won it twice. O’Hara becomes just the third winner from a Bay Area school: Mani Hernandez of San Jose State won the men’s award in 1968 and Santa Clara’s Aly Wagner won the women’s in 2002.

Click here to read the Missouri Athletic Club press release.

Sporty Saturday Spotlight 1-09-10

Not sure what you want to do after you hang up your cleats, board, glove, shin guards, sneaks, or stick? This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on Trish Bare Grounds, an athletic trainer from Bare Essential Sports Medicine. Check out Trish’s insightful interview below where she shares her amazing career and fave sporty moments.

Name: Trish Bare Grounds

Age: 44

Sport(s): Dance, Equestrian, Track, Cheerleading, Soccer, Marital Arts — Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) for just about every sport there is at some point during my career but I focus now mainly on action/extreme sports, martial arts, cheer & dance

Hometown: (Just since January) Rebersburg, PA

High School/Middle School/College: Linton Stockton High School, Linton, IN; BA from DePauw University, MS from University of Miami; Yet to finish 2nd MS & PhD at University of Florida

Number: 10

Position: Nowadays Certified Athletic Trainer & Owner of Bare Essentials Sports Medicine Co LLC

What’s your fave sport?

Everything!  My favorite sports to cover as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) for the past decade and more have been BMX (freestyle & Racing), Skateboard, Motocross (FMX & Racing), Snowboard, Skiing (Freestyle), Taekwondo, MMA, & Cheerleading …you know very similar sports!  I tend to drift towards the non-traditional sports with more adrenaline these days although I have worked and loved everything from football, basketball, baseball, soccer,  & track among many other of the more traditional sports.

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

I have been an ATC for over 20 years and see no signs of slowing down yet; in fact I thinking I am working more now than I did even 10 years ago.

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

My favorite moments come after I have helped an athlete return from an injury, especially injuries that could have been detrimental to their sporting careers (or that thought were career ending), climb up on the podium.  Just seeing them reach their dreams are the best moments of all, and I have many from pee wees to high school, to college to Olympic to Pro, and they all mean a lot to me! It is especially cool when that athlete steps down off of the podium and hands me their flowers in thanks for helping them get there, or after their sporting career they return to school to become an ATC themselves!

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

Patience and persistence no matter how frustrating things gets…and always look ahead with a glass half-full mentality no matter what!

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

Same…patience & persistence win the game even when people try to knock you out, and always have a glass half-full…and always, always, always respect everyone no matter who they are.

What have you learned about teamwork?

Teamwork is amazing!  Things get done so much better and quicker when you work together and let others help you…everyone can contribute to make it all happen.  When someone thinks they are all that is needed that is when things go terribly wrong.

How do you balance school and sports?

For me it is balancing motherhood and sport coverage, and as a single mom that can be rough, but my daughter travels with me to whatever sporting event I am working and she gets to meet some really incredible people…some day I will tell her how famous the athletes she hangs out with were!  I have to keep things in perspective, family is always first for me, although I have many sons and daughters out there, just come to an event and you will hear them scream MOM!!  Love it!  But I have learned over the years that I have to make time for me as well as for family, friends and my athletes, otherwise I go crazy.  Since I love my work this is very often a hard concept for me to remember.  School, research, and writing take a back seat but somehow seem to get done.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

NATA Service Award given to a select few ATC’s each year who have volunteered and given back to sport and community over a period of 15 years or more; NCA Trainer of the year for the past 12 years; I have been priviledged to have worked some really cool events from World Cups, to World Championships to Olympics, to Dew Tour & Winter Dew, to local and state events in just about every sport, but the greatest award/reward I have received are the thank-you’s I get from my highly appreciative athletes every day.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

Hmmm, rough question there are so many!  I think Donna Vano (snow & skate) would have to be one of my all-time favorite females, but so is Diana Lopez  & Kay Poe (TKD) and so many more that I have worked with over the years…as for the guys wow I work with so many incredible people who are also amazing athletes, including Daniel Dhers, Chad Kagy, James Foster, Drew Bezanson, Brandon Dosch, Anthony Napolitan (BMX), Austen Seaholm, Ryan Sheckler, Christian Sereika (SKB), Steven Lopez, Jason Neville, Josh Coleman (TKD)…..I could go on for days!

Tell us about your profession.

Athletic Training for me is a way to still be a part of sports I love, especially action & extreme sports, where what I do can mean the difference between being able to compete or not.  I can honestly say I love what I do.  I get to go to work everyday and simply watch some tremendously talented athletes play the sports they love, and in the process meet some pretty awesome individuals.   I give them the added support for development and care of their mind and body that often helps them reach their highest dreams

Why did you choose this profession?

I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, originally thought I wanted to be a surgeon but also wanted to be there when the injury happened all the way until the athlete returned to full participation in the sport they loved, so it had to be Sports Medicine, and I kind of fell into Athletic Training as a means to be there, and not just the office, but actually working on-stie with athletes.  When I first joined this profession I was told girls would never do well and to make sure I had a “back-up” profession, which only made me want to prove them wrong, so I set on a path to work to the highest level of sport and hopefully make a difference in athlete’s lives, as well as hopefully open the door for other girls who wanted to do the same. If it were up to me I would work for free for all the sports and athletes who appreciate the care I provide if only I had no bills or at least more sponsors that reduced that burden since so many athletes I work with do not have health insurance, so they often go without care unless it is free.

What kind of schooling did you have to complete?

You only have to have a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine but I went onto get my Master’s and trying to finish up a PhD so that there are never any excuses from my education not being high enough to be hired.  When I sat for my Board Exams you also had to have completed 1800 hours of practical work with athletes, after working with over 50,000 athletes during my career I have lost track of how many hours I have put in to this point!

What’s your day like?

Depending on if I am at an event or just checking on the athletes while they are training, I have to be prepared to handle any kind of injury that can happen at anytime, and of course I tend to work those sports which have a greater chance of serious injury even in training.  Event coverage usually is anywhere from 10-14 hours/day, while training is generally less than 6 hours of work. I also have to spend time on the computer and phone trying to get events to work, staff to cover the events, supplies for the events, and sponsors and/or donations to cover the cost of traveling to and covering events as most of the sports I cover have little to know budget for medical care among athletes who probably need it the most.  I work anything from charity events to help support a local skatepark all the way up to highly televised events, and love caring for all the athletes no matter what age or ability level, they all have their own place in the sporting world.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I loooooove pedicures!  And since I wear flip-flops or sandals anytime I am not working the toes have to look good!

Thanks, Trish!!

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Women’s Basketball’s Next Superstar?

Brittney Griner has been in the news a lot lately, dunking regularly as a member of Baylor women’s basketball team and helping to redefine the college game.

But basketball’s next superstar may be playing for a girls’ prep school team in New Jersey. Even more surprising – she just took up the sport.  As CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod reports, this teenager is remarkable in more ways than one.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

It’s not every day a Bubbles Anderson comes walking through your door (after she ducks her head, of course).

That’s especially true if you’re a basketball coach.

“Once in a lifetime, 6-10, 6-11 comes your way,” said Mary Coyle-Klinger, Anderson’s high school coach.

Six-foot, ten-inches would make this 16-year-old tied for the tallest girl in the world.

Anderson wears the number 23 in a tribute to basketball legends Michael Jordan and LeBron James. “They’re so good,” she said.

But Anderson is taller than both – nearly half a foot taller than Jordan and two inches taller than James. And she’s still growing.

Her doctor says she’ll reach at least 7-foot-1 Asked how she feels about that, Anderson said, “I don’t know. It just feels normal.”

She came here this summer from Jamaica, looking for a better life and ended up at Rutgers Prep in New Jersey – on the basketball team – even though she had never played before.

She’s a natural, Pat Coyle, a former WNBA coach and NCAA star Pat Coyle and the sister of the Rutgers Prep coach Coyle-Klinger.

“If she continues to grow as a player the way she has the last three months she’s going to redefine the game because of her size and her athleticism,” Coyle said.

Establishing an identity can be the toughest part of a teenager’s life and when you’re just under seven feet tall an identity would seem to be ready made. But ask her classmates about what makes Bubbles so special. You might be surprised at the answers.

We asked a dozen classmates to describe her in one word. Among the answers: “hilarious,” “lovable,” “friendly,” “outgoing,” and “loud.”

Not one said “tall,” which is something considering that Bubbles Anderson is head and shoulders above the crowd.

NCAA Volleyball Tournament Final Four tonight

Where the elite meet: Be sure to catch tonight’s national volleyball semifinals when they take place in Tampa, Florida.

Thursday’s semifinals: Minnesota (28-8) vs. Texas (28-1), 6 p.m. • Penn State (36-0) vs. Hawaii (32-2), 8 p.m. • St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, Fla.) • TV: ESPN2

Championship: Saturday, 7 p.m. • TV: All matches on ESPN2.

Gophers at a glance: Captain Lauren Gibbemeyer is 11th in the nation in hitting percentage (.393) and blocks (1.45 per set). … Freshman Tabitha Love, a 6-6 outside hitter, was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Minneapolis Region after collecting 22 kills in the semifinals and 21 in the final. … Senior setter Taylor Carico played in the Final Four on Southern Cal’s team two years ago. … Libero Christine Tan is returning home; her family lives in Safety Harbor, Fla.

Longhorns at a glance: 6-4 Destinee Hooker was the Big 12 Player of the Year (4.95 kills and 2.31 digs per set). … The Longhorns’ only loss was at Iowa State 3-2 on Nov. 4. … Jerritt Elliott, 41, has a 213-63 record in nine seasons at Texas.

Nittany Lions at a glance: Penn State, which has won 100 matches in a row, has a chance at an unprecedented threepeat. The No. 1 seed, Penn State has lost only five sets this season. … Russ Rose, in his 31st season, has 999 career victories. … Megan Hodge, the Big Ten Player of the Year and a two-time Final Four MVP, is averaging 4.75 kills per set and hitting .399. Setter Alisha Glass is averaging 12.02 assists per set.

Rainbow Wahine at a glance: Kanani Danielson of No. 12 seed Hawaii is averaging 4.25 kills per set and Aneli Cubi-Otineru 3.08. … David Shoji is in his 34th season and has 1,016 career victories, second among active D-I coaches (behind UCLA’s Andy Banachowski). … The Rainbow Wahine has won 28 consecutive matches.

( b/g via StarTribune)

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