COACHES SHOWCASE SET FOR SEPTEMBER 15 LUNCHEON / Pg. 2 NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE Booster Club News AUGUST 2015 Fei Gao returns to the NIC campus this summer. Left Assistant Athletic Trainer Quin Mariano, center Gao, and right Athletic Trainer Randy Boswell. Where Are They Now? ei Gao came to the United States in the As a sophomore Fei continued to blossom, and 38-0 in the Golden State Athletic Con- fall of 2009 from Qingdao, China, to helping the Lady Cardinals win the Scenic ference, with the program’s first two GSAC Fplay college volleyball. Fei arrived on West Athletic Conference on the Cardinals championships. In 2011 the Eagles were the NIC campus as a talented, but raw 6’1 home court, earning NJCAA All Region and ranked #1 in the nation for the first time in outside hitter, with a delightful smile and All-Tournament honors. Fei closed her ca- school history. quiet demeanor. reer as a Cardinal in style, helping NIC finish As a junior Fei’s team lost in the NAIA It was difficult to have a lengthy conversa- 5th in the nation, the second highest finish in volleyball championship, but they ran the ta- tion with Fei as a freshman, primarily because NIC history. ble in 2012, winning the championship with she was uncomfortable speaking the English After earning her NIC degree with aca- a perfect 38-0 record! language, although her comprehension was demic honors, Fei was recruited by several Despite missing part of her senior season more than passable. In the early years Fei let large universities but decided to attend Con- due to an ACL injury, Fei recovered in time her game do the talking, and she helped the cordia College, an NAIA school in Irvine, to help her team dominate down the stretch, Cardinals reach the NJCAA national tourna- California. In Fei’s career at Concordia, the ment as a freshman. Eagles’ two-year record was 75-2 overall - Continued on Page 3 - LUNCHEON SCHEDULE: 8/25: Noon: Cd’A Resort • 9/15: 11:30: Cd’A Inn - Coaches Showcase • 9/29: Noon: Cd’A Resort BOARD OFFICERS Tradition of Excellence Summer is still on-going so #1 in the final NWAC poll and PRESIDENT I’m not quite ready to call this #18 nationally, and lost a lot of Jon Parson a back to school issue! Summer key personnel, including con- travel took me back to home- ference MVP Adam Talley and town Chicago, to celebrate the six additional all-region play- VICE PRESIDENT 10 year anniversary of the White ers. The cupboard is not bare Roger Stewart Sox World Series Champion- though. Check out the roster in ship. The AD photo is a tribute to the men’s soccer report on Pg. 4. TREASURER Chicago and the Sox, and cour- Second year volleyball head tesy of long time NIC Booster coach Kelsey Stanley had a Mark Hampe Club member Alan Golub. tough run in the SWAC last sea- The days of summer in Coeur son, but look to improve upon SECRETARY d’Alene have been busy for the the 4th place conference finish. entire staff, and much has hap- The current roster appears to Rann Haight pened since our last Newsletter have significant depth over last at the end of the school year. Our year’s squad. Coach Stanley is BOARD Scott Hague Memorial Cardinal Photo Courtesy of Alan Golub confident they have the athletes Classic had a record turnout of to be a contender in the always MEMBERS teams, and Outback Steakhouse supplied an out- competitive SWAC, as the Cardinals hope to earn standing meal of grilled salmon and steak for the that bid to national tournament in their final year Robert Cliff tournament players. Our fall tournament, the Rolly in the NJCAA. Good luck ladies! Williams Cardinal Classic, is scheduled for Friday Tom Messina September 18 at Avondale, so get your spot re- LUNCH IS SERVED John Marcheso served on the NIC website. The summer season also The NIC Booster Club luncheons will resume Jon Berger means the return of camps. NIC was host to camps with the start of the school year, following the sum- Frank Darlington for wrestling, boys and girls basketball, volleyball, mer break. The first luncheon is scheduled for Au- cheerleading, karate, mixed martial arts, youth ju- gust 25 at noon at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The Patty Stewart jitsu and futsal. As a result we attracted over 1,000 September schedule is slightly different with lun- Rich Dussell kids to the NIC campus and our facilities, including cheons on September 15 and 29. We will resume JJ Jaeger the use of the campus dorms. Great marketing of our normal schedule of luncheons on the 2nd and our campus! last Tuesday, beginning in October. Al Williams (ex-officio) Our Fall sports will have a new look, sort of. NOTE: September 15 is a special luncheon- The [email protected] The Eisenwinter Field, home field of our men Annual NIC Coaches Showcase! This year the and women’s soccer team, got a new overhaul Showcase will be held at the Coeur d’Alene Inn- PHOTOGRAPHS this spring to level the playing surface. As we Best Western on Highway 95 & Appleway Blvd. go to print the field is looking green with natural The special Showcase begins at 11:30am with Tom Greene grass and should be ready for the home openers season previews from the entire Cardinal coach- on September 1. Both soccer teams got a taste ing staff. The luncheon is open to the public and CONTACT of playoff action in our return to the NWAC last includes a 2014-15 highlight video, raffle and give- season. Men’s Head Coach Ken Thompson hopes aways. Patty: 208-769-3348 to make that one final step to success after losing Check out the luncheon schedule on page one of P.O. Box 492 in the men’s conference final. The Cards finished the newsletter and the NIC Website. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816 [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT The North Idaho College Booster Booster Club supports all NIC rec- our athletic Cardinal Kids outreach Club is a nonprofit organization, ognized intercollegiate athletics as a programs. The Booster Club holds committed to providing financial lifelong learning experience that will various fund-raising events through- support to all recognized intercol- enhance the value of sportsmanship out the year including an annual legiate athletic programs at NIC and provide a positive experience for auction, awards banquet, 3-on-3 bas- through various fund-raising and student athletes, students, and fans. ketball tournament, and golf tourna- endowment activities for student The club also recognizes the commit- ments. It also co-sponsors the Coeur athlete grant-in-aid and team ben- ment our athletes make to the young d’Alene Crossing and operates a efits. Organized in the 1960s, the people of our community through concession stand at all home events. PAGE 2 NIC CARDINALS HOME EVENT SCHEDULE DATE TIME EVENT DATE TIME EVENT Aug. 22 12:00 p.m. W. SOCCER vs NIC Alumni Sept. 16 4:00 p.m. M. SOCCER vs Columbia Basin College Sept. 1 4:00 p.m. M. SOCCER vs Whitworth University (Exhibition) Sept. 19 12:00 p.m. W. SOCCER vs Yakima Valley Community College Sept. 1 6:00 p.m. VOLLEYBALL vs Whitworth University Oct. 2 6:00 p.m. VOLLEYBALL vs Utah State University - Eastern Sept. 12 11:00 a.m. W. SOCCER vs Treasure Valley Community College Oct. 3 1:00 p.m. VOLLEYBALL vs Colorado Northwestern C.C. Sept. 12 4:00 p.m. M. SOCCER vs Treasure Valley Community College Oct. 11 & 12 M. & W. GOLF - NIC Invitational @ Avondale NEW FOR 2015- COACHES TELEVISION SHOW This season the NIC Athletics Department SAVE THE DATE will host The Cardinals Coaches Show. The Aug. 22-23 Coeur d’ Alene Shoot-Out half hour Coaches Show will be hosted by the NIC Marketing Department, with coaching Sept. 9 Booster Club Cruise staff and player interviews, as well as high- Sept. 15 Coaches Showcase lights and previews of upcoming Cardinal Sept. 18 Rolly Williams Cardinal Classic events. Stay tuned for more details! Dec. 9 WINTER CARDNIVAL CRUISE TIME Save the date of September 9, 2015 for the annual Cardinal Cruise! The double boat float departs Independence Point in front of the Coeur d’Alene Casino, with boarding be- ginning at 6:00. The two-hour cruise begins at 6:30 and includes music, a no-host bar and refreshments. See an NIC Athletic depart- ment coach or staff member for tickets, or contact www.nic.edu for more details. It’s a great time to meet fellow Boosters, coaches and team captains. The public is welcome. Good weather is guaranteed! WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Continued from Page 1 - culminating with her selection to the NAIA Championships All-tournament team. At the conclusion of year senior year Fei was honored as an Academic All-American with a GPA of 3.85. On her recent return to the NIC campus this summer, Fei stopped by Christianson gym- nasium to see old friends and check out this year’s Cardinal volleyball team. Despite the invitation to join in workouts with the current Cardinals, Fei respectfully declined. Not be- cause she couldn’t compete, but because she is now a wise veteran! Speaking in fully fluent English and exud- ing the confidence of a champion, Fei is on her way to earning her MBA from Concordia, and completing the CPA exam. Congratulaions to Fei on an excellent vol- leyball career, continuing on the strong Athletic Tradition of a Cardinal for Life! If you have an interesting story on former NIC Athletic Director Al Williams presents a framed jersey from the Idaho Statewide High School NIC athletes, contact the NIC Athletics De- Basketball games to Time Warner representative Coreen Stauffer.