SMU to host two volleyball camps

Saint Mary’s University will host two girls’ volleyball camps July 18-29 for students entering grades six through 12 in the fall.

This first camp, “Session I,” is for girls entering grades six through eight and will be held Sunday, July 20, through Thursday, July 25. The second camp, “Session II,” is for girls entering grades nine through 12 and will be held Sunday, July 27, through Thursday, July 31.

These camps provide a great experience for players who want intense work in a competitive atmosphere. Seventy-five percent of the focus will be on individual skills, and the other 25 percent will be on team play. Mike Lester, SMU’s head volleyball coach, will lead this camp with the assistance of SMU women’s volleyball team members.

For commuters, rates are $375 before April 15 and $400 after April 15. Residential rates are $425 and $450. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/camps by June 27. This registration fee includes lodging and meals, as well as access to the Recreation and Athletics Center, indoor pool, weight room, dance studio, hiking trails, disc golf course, track and soccer complex, ropes course and more. For more information, call Ext. 6921.

SMU offers ‘Tri-Swimming’ clinic March 4 – June 8

Saint Mary’s is offering “Tri-Swimming,” an individual open-water swim training clinic, March 4 through June 8. This clinic is for beginning or advanced swimmers who are looking for a swim clinic to complement their triathlon training goals.

Athletes must be able to swim one length of the pool without the assistance of a flotation device.

Tri-Swimming is geared toward bringing people together to train and learn proper swimming skills and techniques. Whether training for the next Trinona, or setting different goals, swimmers are welcome to join — or try out the clinic for one week for no cost.

The group meets three days a week, Mondays from 6 to 7:15 p.m., Wednesdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 9:15 a.m. The clinic will be held at the eight-lane Jul Gernes Pool at Saint Mary’s. The instructors are Jami Severson, a former competitive swimmer with open-water swimming experience, and Mark Ross, a current SMU swim team member.

While the weather is cold, participants will swim in the pool to build confidence and endurance. As the weather gets warmer, the class will transition to Lake Goodview and Lake Winona for open-water practice.

The course fee is $200 ($150 for SMU community members). Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/triswim. For more information, call Ext. 6921.

SMU offers ‘Tri-Swimming’ clinic March 5 – June 9

Saint Mary’s is offering “Tri-Swimming,” an individual open-water swim training clinic, March 5 through June 9. This clinic is for beginning or advanced swimmers who are looking for a swim clinic to complement their triathlon training goals.

Athletes must be able to swim one length of the pool without the assistance of a flotation device.

Tri-Swimming is geared toward bringing people together to train and learn proper swimming skills and techniques. Whether training for the next Trinona, or setting different goals, swimmers are welcome to join — or try out the clinic for one week for no cost.

The group meets three days a week, Mondays from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 9:15 a.m. The clinic will be held at the eight-lane Jul Gernes Pool at Saint Mary’s. The instructors are Jami Severson, a former competitive swimmer with open-water swimming experience, and Mark Ross, a current SMU swim team member.

While the weather is cold, participants will swim in the pool to build confidence and endurance. As the weather gets warmer, the class will transition to Lake Goodview and Lake Winona for open-water practice.

The course fee is $200 ($150 for SMU community members). Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/ageless. For more information, call Ext. 6921.

Summer camps bring in more than 1,000 youth

SMU’s summer camps — including volleyball, girls’ and boys’ basketball, and boys’ and girls’ diving will bring about 300 youth this summer. SMU also hosts the Mid-States Swim Camp, PDP Hockey School and NIKE Boys’ Basketball camps and the Lasallian Youth Gathering, drawing another 765 youth. For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/camps.

SMU to host boys’, girls’ diving camp July 11-15

Saint Mary’s is hosting a boys’ and girls’ diving camp on Sunday, July 11, through Thursday, July 15, for students entering grades six through 12 in the fall.

This camp will consist of four days of intense training. Each day will include both dry and wet training programs. Sessions will also include extensive stretching, conditioning and spotting courses. JJ Jackson, SMU’s head diving coach, and Rob Murray, head coach and director of KidSport Gymnastics Center, will coach these sessions.

The boys’ and girls’ diving camp will feature video analysis, professional and individual coaching, instruction on 1-meter and 3-meter boards, a low athlete-to-coach ratio, training on required and optional dives, daily pool sessions, dryland and dryboard training, supervised recreational activities, gymnastics training and a final dive exhibition. Recreational activities will include float-in movie nights, free night at the gymnastics club, a dance, bowling, time at the ropes course and more!

Rates are $375 before May 1 and $395 on and after May 1, and the final deadline to register is June 11. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/camps. This registration fee includes lodging and meals, as well as access to the Recreation and Athletics Center, indoor pool, weight room, dance studio, hiking trails, disc golf course, track and soccer complex, ropes course and more. For more information, call Ext. 6921, or (507) 457-6921.

SMU hosts Girls’ Basketball Camp July 11-15

Saint Mary’s University is hosting a Girls’ Basketball Camp July 11-15 for students entering grades five through 10 this fall.

This instructional camp gives special attention to the fundamentals of shooting, ball handling, passing and defense. Time is spent developing team concepts, as well as offensive and defensive game plans. Girls in each age group are challenged to compete and improve their skills against other campers their age. 75 percent of the focus will be on individual skills during the camp, and the other 25 percent will be on team play.

Saint Mary’s women’s basketball coach Mandy Pearson will lead this camp, assisted by SMU women’s basketball team members. Campers will have the opportunity to play in the Cardinal’s home gym as well as have daily access to the Recreation and Athletic Center.

Rates are $375 before April 15 and $395 after April 15. These residential camps include lodging and meals from the evening of Sunday, July 11, through breakfast Thursday, July 15. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/camps. For more information, call Ext. 6921.

SMU offers ‘Tri Swimming’ clinic March 1 – June 9

Saint Mary’s is offering “Tri Swimming,” an open-water swim training and triathlon clinic March 1 through June 9. This clinic is for beginning or advanced swimmers who are looking for a swim clinic to complement their triathlon training goals.

Many people are hesitant about triathlons because they lack confidence in their swimming abilities. This course is designed to complement the already-training tri-athlete’s workout, and also to encourage those who are intimidated by swimming, especially in open water. Participants will build skills, techniques, confidence and endurance for their next triathlon or open-water experience.

Specific open-water swimming drills, activities and simulations are planned. Participants will have an opportunity to see themselves through the use of an underwater video camera. As the weather gets warmer, the group will go outside for an open-water swim.

Every other Saturday, participants will learn about the running, cycling and transition portions of triathlons. Also during the Saturday clinics, self-maintenance and bike maintenance issues will be discussed. Participants will also have the opportunity to ride the Trinona course and run outdoors.

Athletes must be 18 or older and able to swim one length of the pool without the assistance of a flotation device.

The group meets three days a week, Monday from 6 to 7:15 p.m., Wednesday from 6 to 7:15 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Every other Saturday, the clinic runs 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Out-of-pool time may vary according to the activity. The clinic will be held at the eight-lane Jules Gernes Pool at Saint Mary’s. Instructors are Jami Severson, assistant swimming coach at SMU with competitive and open-water swimming experience, and Robyn Wangberg, professor of physics and an IronMan Hawaii qualifier and participant.

The course fee is $300. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/ageless. For more information, call Ext. 6921.

Sign up now for summer camps

The Winona campus is filled with camp activities all summer long including:

• Learn to Lead camp from July 12-16. Learn to Lead is a new four-day on-campus experience for girls entering grades six, seven and eight in fall 2009. Participants will focus on the discovery of the leader within through fun activities, outdoor adventures and leadership skill development. The camp is being developed in conjunction with the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women. The cost is $375.

• Girls volleyball camps for girls in grades six through eight July 19-23, and for grades nine through 12 July 26-30. Develop as a player and as a person during this residential athletic camp, which focuses on both individual skills and team play. The cost is $375.

• Girls basketball camp for girls in grades five through 10 July 12-16. This instructional camp gives special attention to the fundamentals of shooting, ball handling, passing and defense. Time is spent developing team concepts as well as offensive and defensive games plans. Each age group is challenged to compete and improve their skills against other campers their age. The cost is $375.

• PDP Hockey School for girls and boys ages 8 through 18. Squirts, ages 9-10, meet June 28 through July 2; pee wees, ages 11-12, meet June 28 through July 2; boys goalies, ages 8 through 12, meet June 28 through July 2; U-10/U-12 girls meet July 5-9; U-14/high school girls meet July 5-9; and girls goaltenders, ages 8 through 18, meet July 5-9. The five-day residential camp cost is $595 ($575 by April 15). Contact Bill Moore or pdphockeyschool@comcast.net.

• Mid-States Swim Camp June 14-18 and June 21-25. The five-day residential camp is $540. Contact midsts@nconnect.net.

• “Turning Point” Figure Skating Camp July 19-22 and 20-21. The cost for the four-day residential camp is $575. For the day camp, the cost is $125 per day or $225 for both days. Contact John Meier at 452-5305 or winonafigureskating@charter.net.

*Registration for PDP Hockey, Mid-States Swim and Turning Point Figure Skating must be done through these individual camps. Although the camps are hosted on the SMU campus, SMU is not handling registration or payment.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/camps. Register and pay online, or call Ext. 6921.

Internationally known coaches to lead figure skating camp

Three internationally known figure skating coaches will lead “Turning Point 2008,” a figure skating camp hosted by the Winona Figure Skating Club July 27-31 at Saint Mary’s. The camp, the first of its kind in the area, will feature:

• Evelyn Kramer (“The Spin Doctor”), an Olympic and World International coach who has worked with Peggy Fleming and Michelle Kwan, to name a few.

• Scott Brown, a national, world and Olympic choreographer who has worked with athletes from more than 18 different countries. He also starred in the Ice Capades and is best known for his innovative and authentic choreography.

• Janet Champion, a Master-Rated coach in school figure, freeskating and group instruction, as well as “moves in the field,” which is the national testing system for figure skaters that she helped originate.

Besides on-ice instruction, campers will have off-ice training, such as ballet classes, Pilates, nutrition, strength training and injury prevention classes. Residential campers will stay in the SMU dorms and eat meals on campus. Day camps — for those who do not wish to stay overnight will be offered — as well.

For more information or to register for “Turning Point 2008,” go to the Winona Figure Skating Club website, www.winonafigureskating.org.

Saint Mary’s announces baseball/softball skills camps Feb. 3-March 2

Saint Mary’s will host 2008 baseball/softball pre-season skills camps for boys and girls in grades seven through 12 on Sundays between Feb. 3 and March 2.

Boys baseball players meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; boys baseball and girls fastpitch softball pitchers and catchers meet from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and girls fastpitch softball participants meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. – all in SMU’s Gostomski Fieldhouse.
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Participants will practice pitching, hitting, catching, throwing and fielding, depending on which clinic you sign up for. Catchers will need to bring equipment; all others are asked to bring a glove, and no cleats are allowed.

The hitting, throwing, and fielding camp costs $60 per person; the pitching and catching clinic costs $40; and the cost for both clinics combined is $90. The registration fee includes a T-shirt and individual instruction by SMU staff and players including Nick Whaley, head men’s baseball coach, and Jennifer Miller, head women’s fastball coach.

Though the registration deadline has passed, faculty and staff can still register their families. Register online at www.smumn.edu/sportscamps. For more information, call Ext. 6973.

Plans for summer camps are now under way. Check the website for updated information on hockey, volleyball and basketball summer camps. Additionally, SwimAmerica swimming lessons are going to be scheduled for spring.

Saint Mary’s announces baseball/softball skills camps Feb. 3-March 2

Saint Mary’s will host 2008 baseball/softball pre-season skills camps for boys and girls in grades seven through 12 on Sundays between Feb. 3 and March 2.

Boys baseball players meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; boys baseball and girls fastpitch softball pitchers and catchers meet from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and girls fastpitch softball participants meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. – all in SMU’s Gostomski Fieldhouse.
Read more...

Participants will practice pitching, hitting, catching, throwing and fielding, depending on which clinic you sign up for. Catchers will need to bring equipment; all others are asked to bring a glove, and no cleats are allowed.

The hitting, throwing, and fielding camp costs $60 per person; the pitching and catching clinic costs $40; and the cost for both clinics combined is $90. The registration fee includes a T-shirt and individual instruction by SMU staff and players including Nick Whaley, head men’s baseball coach, and Jennifer Miller, head women’s fastball coach.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 30. Register online at www.smumn.edu/sportscamps. For more information, call Ext. 6973.