LSC Roundup 7-28

Student-Athletes meet for LSC SAAC Summer Retreat
LSC Office

Nearly forty Lone Star Conference student-athletes and athletic administrators met in Commerce, Texas, July 25-27, for the league’s fifth annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Summer Retreat.

The three-day event, which took place on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus, is intended to help improve communication amongst LSC SAAC groups and to help energize student-athletes with ideas and “best practices” to be implemented during the academic year.

“The retreat was a success due to the outstanding student-athletes that participated,” said Jay Poerner, LSC assistant commissioner who oversees the conference SAAC efforts. “They voiced their thoughts on a variety of important issues, and were able to connect in an enjoyable environment. I’m looking forward to next year’s event.”

The participants arrived on Sunday and met before having dinner, which was hosted by Dr. Dan Jones, President of A&M-C, at his house.

The retreat continued on Monday with a Strength Quest Seminar and a team-building activity at the ropes course. Then, the group had a Hawaiian themed cookout at the campus recreation center.

The event concluded Tuesday morning with meetings. Topics discussed during the retreat included Make-A-Wish fundraising, community service month, NCAA SAAC, the Division II SAAC website, LSC SAAC Cup, the conference championship experience, summer school financial aid, needy student athletic fund and the degree completion scholarship program.

The LSC SAAC Cup was awarded to Texas A&M-Kingsville for their efforts during 2009-10. The purpose of the cup is to encourage participation in conference SAAC initiatives. Kingsville totaled 12,543 points to earn the second-ever cup along with customized t-shirts. Abilene Christian (7,880) and Tarleton State (7,587) rounded out the top three schools. The award is based on involvement in six categories: LSC SAAC meetings, Campus SAAC meetings, Make-A-Wish, Community Service Month, other community service and the NCAA Legislative grid.

Thirteen of the LSC’s 16 member institutions were represented at the meeting, with ACU’s Emery Dudensing, a football player, serving as chair. Trey Mays, an Angelo State basketball player, serves as the group’s vice-chair, while ACU football player David Pillen and Kingsville track & field athlete Robert Guzman represent the LSC on the NCAA Division II National SAAC.

Other student-athlete's who attended the Summer Retreat were ACU’s Molly Dudensing, ASU’s Megan Schaffer, Cameron’s Carrie Harvey, East Central’s Whitney McDaniel, Midwestern State’s Kiara Jordan, Northeastern State’s Kyle Fouts and Shelbi Bowin, Southeastern Oklahoma’s Will Robinson and Taylor Clinebell, Southwestern Oklahoma’s Todd Nix and Krishna Henderson, Tarleton’s Shelby Adamson, Texas A&M-Commerce’s Cairo Thornton and Morgan Moeller, Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Kassie Anderson, Texas Woman’s Megan Warren and Kyli Morgan and West Texas A&M’s Jadiah Riley and Hector Rodriguez.

Also attending as advisors were ACU’s Ann Varner, ASU’s Jaci Brindus, CU’s Keith Vitense, MSU’s Kurt Portman, NSU’s Rylee Williamson, SE’s Cherrie Wilmoth, SWOSU’s Bo Paglaisotti, Tarleton’s Mary Schindler, A&M-C’s Judy Sackfield, TAMUK’s Breanne Flores-Contreras and Miguel Paderes, TWU’s Lisa Bowerman and WTAMU’s Courtney Lee.

Some basketball scheduling news....
UCO Releases Women's Schedule
Tough Schedule Awaits Bronchos
Greyhound Basketball to Visit University of Texas-El Paso for Exhibition
Men's Basketball to Play UTEP-TAMK
Exhibition Slated at Minnesota - NSU