Sports in brief . . .
Fit and Fun Day
Local kids will unknowingly be getting exercise while taking part in fun activities during the Fit and Fun Day, to be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 2 in Gentile Hall at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
The event is sponsored by the university’s Physical Education Majors Club. For the past several years, the club has organized the free play day for area children in grades 1 through 5 to teach them about health and fitness in a fun environment. Activities will include cooperative games and team building activities.
The multi-purpose court in Gentile Hall will be set up for the various activities. Children will spend about 20 to 30 minutes at one of four stations before moving on to another activity. UMPI physical education and athletic training students will facilitate the activities and help children throughout the day.
Dr. Chris Standefer, professor of Physical Education, said the event provides wonderful benefits both to college and elementary students.
“The biggest benefit is that kids can do fun activities and realize that fitness isn’t just about exercise. It’s also about playing and just being a kid,” she said. “And our university students get the opportunity to work with school-age children.”
This year, the climbing wall and swimming pool will be open to all Fit and Fun Day participants immediately following the event, from noon-1 p.m. Parents will need to sign a release form in order for their children to use the swimming pool and rock wall.
Parents who would like to be active while keeping an eye on their kids will have the opportunity to take part in a walking club that will be making loops around the elevated track that overlooks the gym where children will be playing. Coffee and tea for parents will also be provided.
Athletic training staff and students will be on site as first aid helpers. Registration for this event will begin at 9 a.m. If the weather is nice, organizers may include some outdoor activities during the event, so participants are urged to bring a jacket and dress for the outdoors.
For more information, call Standefer at 768-9457.
Hemphill is PVC all-conference selection
Erica Hemphill of the Presque Isle varsity swim team has made the Penobscot Valley Conference all-conference girls’ swim team in the 50-yard freestyle.
Hemphill had placed third in the event at the Class B state meet with a time of 26.35 seconds. She was second in the PVC meet at 26.42 seconds.
Athletes of the week
The Presque Isle High School Varsity Club and Big Cheese Pizza have announced that volleyball players Caleb Mathers, Ben McKenna and Courtney Colligan have been selected as athletes of the week for the week of March 14-19.
All three led their teams to championships in the 2011 Aroostook League Volleyball Tournament.
Student-athletes selected as athletes of the week receive a large one-item pizza, courtesy of Big Cheese Pizza.
Track and field rules clinic slated
The Maine Association of USA Track and Field will conduct a track and field officials’ clinic on Sunday, April 10 at the Orono Municipal Building.
Registration for the free clinic is from noon-12:45 p.m. and the clinic will be held from 1-4:30 p.m.
Contact Mary Cady at 866-5674 or by email at mary.cady@umit.maine.edu for more information.
University to host women’s climbing night
The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host a women’s climbing night on Tuesday, April 5 from 6-8 p.m. at Gentile Hall.
Members of the community are invited to come in and enjoy climbing on UMPI’s 37-foot climbing wall. Gentile Hall members and UMPI students will be able to participate for free; non-members must pay the $7 day pass fee at the front desk upon arrival.
For more information, contact Kim McCrea at 768-9401.
