Around the NCAC

* The Denison SAAC will host a free Sports and Games Clinic in celebration of National Student Athlete Day on Sunday. Kindergartners through sixth graders are invited to join Big Red student-athletes for a day of games, relay races, sportsmanship and teamwork. Children will also receive a snack and certificate of participation at the end of the day. Registration will take place on the day of the event from 1:15-1:50 pm. The clinic will begin at 2:00. Parents do not need to stay for the clinic unless they want to. Pick up is at 4:30 pm. For more information, please contact Lynn Schweizer.

** The Hiram SAAC and Baseball team are joining together to sponsor a collection drive for new and used baseball or softball equipment during all home games during this spring. SAAC reps will have a table to collect equipment and uniforms for all ages, such as helmets, bats, pants, belts, gloves, baseballs and more. All donations will be distributed directly to schools, neighborhoods and Nicaraguan Rotary clubs by Hiram College students. Please contact Joe Trela at with any questions, comments or willingness to help.

** Former Oberlin football star Chris Schubert caught a touchdown pass in his professional debut for the Mahoning Valley Thunder of af2. His fourth quarter score helped the Thunder come-from-behind to upend the Albany Firebirds 44-34 on Friday night on March 27. (boxscore)

** Sisters Rita and Sarah Cook are both members of the Ohio Wesleyan softball team. The two, both chemistry majors, also paired up to attended the American Chemical Society (ACS)’s national conference in Salt Lake City last week to present projects they have been working on since last summer. According to the ACS’s Web site, more than 10,700 scientists and exhibitors attended the event.

Rita says the conference includes an undergraduate program, but she and Sarah missed the undergraduate presentation because of a softball game. They presented their projects among what Rita calls the “big kids” of chemistry. They began their work at a 10-week research group program in Minnesota called Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). REU is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Rita’s project was in environmental chemistry. She studied a groundwater pollutant and its effects on water supplies. Sarah worked on synthesizing a luminescent potassium sensor, which she said can be used to measure levels of potassium in the blood to better prevent seizures and strokes.

** Former Kenyon basketball player Shaka Smart was named head coach of the men's basketball program at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a three-year captain during his days in purple and white, he set the Kenyon single-season (184) and career (542) records for assists. During his senior season he was named the team's MVP, was selected to the All-NCAC team, and was an NCAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He also earned a position on the 1999 USA Today All-USA Academic team and received a NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Last season, he worked for the University of Florida and helped head coach Billy Donovan guide the Gators to a 25-11 record. Before that, Smart worked at Clemson University for a couple of seasons that included a combined 49 wins and back-to-back postseason appearances. Smart also had stops at the University of Akron, Dayton University, and at California University of Pennsylvania, where he worked under former Kenyon head coach Bill Brown.

** Wittenberg has cheerleading tryouts for the 2009-2010 season on April 23 & 24. For more information, click here.