NEWS
RELEASES
Sept. 1, 2010
University of Saint Mary Expands Athletics Offerings to include Track & Field, Cross Country, and Dance
New Squads Will Take the Field in 2011
(Leavenworth, Kan.)—The University of Saint Mary will expand the ranks of its Spires student-athletes starting in the Fall 2011 semester with the addition of track & field, cross country, and dance teams.
USM Athletic Director Rob Miller projects that the addition of cross-country and track & field will bring about 25 to 30 new student-athletes to the Saint Mary campus. The dance squad will add a dozen or so more students. The dance squad will be associated with, but distinct from, the existing USM cheerleading program.
As with all USM sports, the cross country and track & field teams will compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The KCAC does not sponsor competitive cheerleading or dance, and as such, USM’s dance squad will be non-competitive.
Currently, the new programs are under development, and the university hopes to hire coaches by December of 2010 so they can begin recruiting during the Spring 2011 semester. Cross-country and dance would begin in Fall 2011. Track & field is a spring sport, and will get underway the following semester.
“We’ve heard a lot of interest in these programs from prospective and current students,” Coach Miller said. “This helps our athletic program grow, gives us the opportunity to expand our recruiting, and allows us to better serve and meet the demands of our student-athletes.”
For facilities, USM has an indoor track at Ryan Sports Center that could be used for indoor practices. The university will likely rent a facility from a neighboring public school for outdoor practices and meets.
USM currently offers eight varsity sports—football, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball—along with a cheerleading team.
June 23, 2010
Hit the Links for Student-Athletes at University of Saint Mary
Annual Golf Classic
11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, Leavenworth Country Club
(Leavenworth, Kan.)—Swing away for University of Saint Mary student-athletes at USM's annual Golf Classic, 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, at GreatLife Golf & Fitness at Leavenworth Country Club.
This year's edition of the annual charity event benefits the university's athletic department, and participants have the chance to enhance the college experience for Saint Mary student-athletes, and help USM improve its sports facilities and better support its athletic department.
More>>
Register for USM Golf Classic
May 10, 2010
Two USM Spires Baseball Players Honored by KCAC
(Leavenworth, Kan.)— The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference named its All-Conference baseball teams this week, and two University of Saint Mary baseball players were among those honored for their performance on the field during the recently-completed 2010 baseball season. More >>
April 9, 2010
University of Saint Mary Hires Conan Salanoa
as New Head Volleyball Coach
Conan Salanoa |
(Leavenworth, Kan.)—The University of Saint Mary has named Conan Salanoa as its new Spires head volleyball coach. Salanoa is a former assistant volleyball coach with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Kangaroos, USM Athletic Director Rob Miller made the announcement Friday, April 9.
Salanoa will replace former Head Volleyball Coach Paul Lawson, who left USM last month to become head coach at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wis.
"We are very pleased with the addition of Coach Salanoa to lead our volleyball program," Miller said. "His passion and desire to build a program while teaching and directing fundamental skills is very appealing." More >>
Feb. 10, 2010
University of Saint Mary Spires Guard Lands National and Conference Player of the Week Awards
(Leavenworth, Kan.)— The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has recognized the strong play of Spires basketball player Eric Avant, naming him Division II Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his performance last week.
Avant, a 6’5” guard out of Olathe, Kan., also notched his second men’s basketball player of the week award for the season from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
In securing the awards, Avant averaged 30 points a game over three contests last week, while also averaging nearly 12 rebounds per game. Avant recorded four assists, two blocks, nine steals, and three double-doubles over the stretch while also connecting on 55 percent of his field goals. More >
Jan. 25, 2010
University of Saint Mary Spires Guard Named KCAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
(Leavenworth, Kan.)—USM sophomore Eric Avant has been named men’s basketball player of the week by the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) for his standout performances for the Spires in two conference games last week.
Avant, a 6’5” guard out of Olathe, Kan., averaged a double-double over those two games, scoring 25.5 points and grabbing 10.5 rebounds per game. Avant also chipped in three steals, shot 53 percent from the floor, and was 4 for 11 from three-point range last week.
The Spires lost the first of those two KCAC games—66-56 at Bethany College on Thursday, Jan. 21—and won the second, a 90-88 home victory over Southwestern College on Saturday, Jan. 23.
“Eric’s proved himself this year to be one of the better players in the league,” said USM Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jon Bishop. “He’s one of the main reasons why we’ve been successful this year and were successful last week.” More >
Jan. 22, 2010
University of Saint Mary Men's Basketball Program To Hold Additional Boys and Girls Hoops Clinic
9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; Registration Now Open
(Leavenworth, Kan.)—Building off the success of December's offering, the University of Saint Mary will hold another children's Basketball Skills Clinic from 9 a.m. to noon. on Saturday, Feb. 13. The clinic, which is intended for children ages 5 to 14, is hosted by the Spires Men's Basketball program and Head Men's Basketball Coach Jon Bishop. More >>
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