Liberty University

LIBERTYUNIVERSITY CLUB SPORTS NEWSLETTER

Issue 1, Spring 2010 Upcoming Events Liberty gymnasts are Texas bound April 8-11, Paintball National Tournament, Clearwater, Fla. April 10, Dew Games: ski/ Few sports combine grace and power as equally as The meet is being hosted by the NAIGC and Texas snowboard open tournament, gymnastics. At the April 8-10 National Association of State University in San Marcos, Texas. Lynchburg, Va. April 15-18, Triathlon Intercollegiate Gymnastics Club (NAIGC) competition, six Although all members of the nationals-bound group met Nationals, Lubbock, Texas Liberty gymnasts will attempt to strike this precise balance pre-set requirements, Liberty’s club gymnastics team is a while competing against more than 100 other teams for diverse group of students. national and individual titles. “Some students come in just to work out and learn the Rachel Steel and Megan Muller will be competing in all sport,” said Darter. “Some were competitive gymnasts their four events held at nationals: bars, beam, floor and vault. whole lives and miss it and want to stay with it. There are Christiana Crauch will be competing on the beam, floor all different types of people on the club team.” and vault, and Amber Zeller and McKenzie Clay will be The team practices at the Lynchburg Academy of competing on floor and vault. On the men’s side, Steve Gymnastics and Power Tumbling, where Darter is the Lucia will compete on floor, high bar and vault. owner. An informational meeting will be held at the “This is our very first year, so we don’t know what to beginning of the Fall 2010 semester for students who expect,” said head coach Lori Darter. “We’ve progressed are interested in joining the team. Check Liberty’s web so much from September untill now.” announcements in the fall for more information.

The women’s hockey team won a bid to the Lady Flames hockey ACHA Division I nationals in Minnesota in mid-March, entering as the No. 5 seed. finishes strong “We were seeded up against the third- place team [Rhode Island], and then the second-place team [Robert Morris],” said head coach Paul Bloomfield. Both games were close, but ended in losses for the Lady Flames. “We battled hard,” said Bloomfield. “I am so happy with what our team was able to do.” The team finished the season ranked seventh nationally and with an overall 16-8 record. Bloomfield hopes to recruit five or six players for next year’s squad and to make a return trip to nationals. Men’s volleyball dives into nationals

The Liberty men’s club volleyball team made its debut at the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Tournament March 31-April 3 in Louisville, Ky. The Flames competed against hundreds of other schools for the national

championship title. MENS

“This is probably one of the best teams we’ve had in the past four to five Ice Hockey Div I years,” said head coach Jonathan Willis of his 10 players. Ice Hockey Div II Ice Hockey Div III The team placed third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Paintball

South Conference Championships in March this year. Willis, an LU club Ice Hockey WOMENS Archery Synchronized Figure Skating Volleyball volleyball alumnus, said this is the first time the team has ever competed at the Crew Taekwondo Triathlon Crew national tournament. Gymnastics Triathlon “I think we will do very well,” he said. “We are a very young team, with only Equestrian Gymnastics Taekwondo Freestyle Ski & Snowboard two seniors.” Freestyle Ski & Snowboard SOAR Dunk Team The men’s club volleyball team will hold open tryouts in the fall for students who are interested in joining the team.

From the Director of Club Sports ... I am so excited for a great year at COMING LU! We have expanded the club sports department to 20 teams SOON: (12 men’s and 8 women’s) with more than 300 student athletes. Five New Club Teams! We have also added two new Next year, club it up with one (or more) of facilities, a conference room Liberty’s four new club sports! For the 2010-11 school year LU will be adding ultimate frisbee, and a workout room, and have broomball, men’s lacrosse and singles figure completed many new additions to skating to its club sports repertoire. Look for more information on these new sports soon the club sport facilities. I anticipate at www.ultimatelu.com. a great year for the coaches and student athletes. New & Improved Website!

Stay tuned for our new and improved website Kirk Handy at www.liberty.edu/clubsports.