I know, I was surprised as well. Things are just crazy busy this summer it seems, we are already rolling into the middle of July. Where does the time go? My daughter just turned 5 last week, and it seems like she is already making college plans (that’s not really happening, just seems like it is). I took my “little girl” to see the new Pixar movie Brave. Any parent with a girl should see this movie, yes that includes you too dads! The movie is about a princess and a family that is coming to terms with their girl coming of age. As usual mom the queen is grooming her to be a queen, yet daughter feels she is not ready for the responsibility. I do not want to give anything away, so just go see it.
UND Flying Team takes second at national Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference
The University of North Dakota Flying Team took second out of 28 schools at the recent National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON). The competition was hosted by Kansas State University-Salinas.
“The team was strong and gave a good fight at this air meet,” said Lewis Liang, assistant professor of aviation and the team’s faculty advisor. “We worked hard—I am proud of the team’s accomplishments.”
Major achievements at this year’s SAFECON: first place in ground events; third place in the flight events; second place in Judges Trophy (a strong indication of team strength and depth).
Tyler Van Heel won individual first place in the aircraft preflight event.
The UND Flying Team consists of volunteer aviation students who have made significant time and effort commitments. The team participates in two competitions annually: a regional qualifying competition and the national meet.
Team members who competed this year were as follows: Matthew McGrath, captain; David Edmonds, captain; and, in alphabetical order, Jack Foley, Josh Garner, Paul Hering, Kevin Kelm, Jacob Lange, Brian Lee, Scott Meyer, Christian Mohan, Lauren Peterson, Paul Valenstein, and Tyler Van Heel.
The UND Flying Team is a member of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, the sanctioning body for the regional SAFECON competitions. SAFECON places a special emphasizes on safety of flight operations. The team has won 16 national titles and placed second nine of the last 29 national competitions.
Story courtesy of UND Aerospace Sciences and UND Media Relations
UND Football Players Honored
Ross Brenneman going after a QB during the 2011 season.
Seniors Ross Brenneman (Omaha, Neb.) and Brett Cameron (Winnipeg, Manitoba) have picked up some preseason accolades this week as those honors continue to filter in for the North Dakota football team.
Brenneman was one of six FCS defensive linemen named to the Beyond Sports College Network Preseason All-America third team, while Cameron was the fourth UND football player to be named to a College Football Performance Awards preseason watch list. Brenneman enters this season only 8 sacks away from the UND sack record.
Cameron found his name on the punters’ watch list. The 2012 season will be his third as a starter for UND. He joins Brenneman (Defensive Line) and fellow teammates Zeb Miller (Ankeny, Iowa; Place Kicker) and Jake Miller (Bismarck, N.D.; Running Back) on CFPA preseason watch lists.
UND bolsters 2012
roster with defensive trio
The North Dakota football roster will have three more defenders for the 2012 season as head coach Chris Mussman announced the addition of a trio of players to his program on Thursday.
The three new additions include linebacker J.D. Allen (Amarillo, Texas), who signed his NLI earlier this spring, and junior college safeties Will Lewis (Pittsburg, Calif.) and Clordion Kennedy (Antioch, Calif.), who signed their respective NLI’s this past week.
Allen wrapped up an impressive prep career at Canyon Randall High School in 2011 as he led his squad to the third round of the Class 4A Texas State playoffs for the second consecutive year. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound linebacker registered 150 tackles during the regular season en route to earning first team Class 4A All-State honors by the Associated Press. Allen was also a two-time District 3-4A Defensive Player of the Year and will play in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game at the Alamodome on July 31.
“J.D. is a player that we were fortunate to be able to get into our program,” Mussman said. “We feel like he was overlooked by a lot of schools, but we’re excited to get a player of his caliber to add some versatility to our linebacker depth. He can play multiple positions for us in our 3-4 defense and that was important to us.”
Both Lewis and Kennedy are coming off sophomore seasons at the Junior College ranks where they were named first team All-Conference performers. Lewis earned his accolade in the Golden Gate Conference after leading his Los Medanos College team in tackles (72) and interceptions (five). He also added six pass break-ups and three forced fumbles.
“These two safeties add great depth for us at a position where we needed to add some bodies going into fall camp,” Mussman said. “We have followed these two guys since the beginning of the spring semester and were fortunate enough to get them on campus. Both Clordion and Will have the ability to make an immediate impact in 2012 and we’re excited to have them join the program.”
Kennedy was named to the Bay Valley All-Conference first team after also leading his Contra Costa College team in tackles with 55, including 41 solo stops. He also added a sack and 6.5 tackles for a loss. As a freshman, Kennedy ranked second on the team in tackles with 50 (29 solo) and added four tackles for a loss.
Stories and photo courtesy of UND Athletics media relations
So what is going on in the Grand
Forks area this weekend?
The correct question would be what is not going on this weekend? Besides the Farmer’s Market downtown on Saturday, we have an awesome Spa production of Oliver.
Jul 12-15 bring the whole family out to Red River High School for the Summer Performing Arts Company’s production of the musical Oliver. Tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for seniors/students. Show times are 7:30 PM (Thur-Sat); 2 PM (Sunday). For more information contact: Allison Peterson at 701-746-2407.
Grand Forks Gospel Song Festival
If you are a fan of gospel music, we have a great concert for you this Saturday. The Theme of the Gospel Sing is “To God Be The Glory.” There will be groups from North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and Missouri. Featuring the Rusty Chords Trio, Allen Family, Roy Hope, For His Glory, Overtones and the Glen Schmidt Family. Food will be served all day with a Free will offering. Concert starts at 10 am and runs until 5 pm.
Frank White-Roger
Snortland Golf Tournament
The first-ever Frank White-Roger Snortland Golf Tournament set for July 14 at the Walhalla (N.D.) Country Club, the list of participants now includes former UND hockey player Matt Greene. Others scheduled to attend are UND hockey coach Dave Hakstol and as many as 10 University hockey alums. They are Jay Panzer (1995-1999), Andy Kollar (1998-2002), Andy Schneider (2001-2005), Nick Fuher (2001-2005), Lee Marvin (2002-2006), Robbie Bina (2003-2008), Matt Watkins (2005-2009), Chay Genoway (2006-2011), Jake Marto (2007-2011) and Brett Hextall (2008-2011).
The event begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 13, with a social at Chizzy’s Bar in Leroy, N.D., approximately 12 miles east of Walhalla. The four-person, invitation-only scramble tournament will get under way at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, at the Walhalla Country Club. A meal and raffle will be held after the tournament at Chizzy’s.
The tournament includes a silent auction for sports memorabilia being donated by former UND athletes, including an autographed jersey from retired Minnesota Viking Jim Kleinsasser and a Los Angeles Kings jersey from Greene signed by the NHL champion Kings. Autographed jerseys have also been donated by Jonathan Toews, captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Genoway, a Minnesota Wild prospect who plays for the Houston Aeros.