North Charleston students experience athletics at The Citadel

Over the next 6 weeks, The Citadel Athletics Department and the City of North Charleston are partnering to give participants in North Charleston’s 14 afterschool programs The Citadel Athletics experience. The experience coincides with North Charleston Recreation Department’s fall curriculum for afterschool programming, focused on leadership, dedication, goals, and positive life choices.

Approximately 150 children between the ages of 5-12 years old will visit The Citadel and observe the Bulldogs football team at practice while they prepare for the weekend’s game. Additionally, they will take tours of McAlister Field House and Johnson Hagood Stadium and will become familiar with The Citadel campus.

Visits will be made to The Citadel every Wednesday from 4:00pm to 5:15pm until October 24.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the children of North Charleston. It gives exposure and firsthand experience of The Citadel and the opportunities available after high school graduation,” said North Charleston Recreation Program Director Trish Elsie.

“This is a perfect partnership for The Citadel Athletics Department. Community outreach and involvement has been something we have been focusing on recently and we could not have asked for a better partner than the City of North Charleston Recreation Department,” said The Citadel Athletics Marketing Coordinator Ryan Powell.

Adult fall sports now open for registration

The North Charleston Recreation Department is accepting teams for the upcoming 2012 fall adult season.

Sunday Co-Ed Flag Football - $475 team entry
Accepting the first 8 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapston Park

Sunday Co-Ed Softball - $475 team entry
Accepting the first 16 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapstone Park

Women’s Recreation Softball Weeknight League - $600 team entry
Accepting the first 9 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at MeadWestvaco/Kapstone Park on Monday and Thursday evenings

Men’s Over 40- 3 on 3 Basketball - $250 team entry
Accepting the first 12 teams to pay their entry fee
Games played at the Sterett Hall Gymnasium on the Old Naval Base.

The managers’ meetings for the leagues will be held August 15, 2012 at Felix C. Davis Community Center in Park Circle.
7:00 p.m. for Softball
7:45 pm for Flag Football
8:30 pm for Basketball
All interested teams are urged to have a representative present at this meeting.

For more information call Cindy Dambaugh at 843-740-5801, or e-mail cdambaugh@northcharleston.org.  For information on all North Charleston Recreation Department Programs visit our website at www.northcharleston.org or for a monthly update of programs and events offered, call our 24-Hour Information Line at 843-740-2699.

18th Annual Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic

Tips Off Great High School Basketball on December 27, 28, 29, 30

The Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic is a Lowcountry tradition that showcases dynamic boys’ high school basketball. Traditionally, local teams vie for the event’s Championship against some best national and international players.

Besides providing exciting sports action at a new venue, North Charleston High School, on December 27-30, 2010, the tournament benefits Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area, Inc. and the Rotary Club of North Charleston’s Scholarship Fund. Since the event’s inception in 1993, dozens of Division I prospects, many of whom eventually play for major college programs, have participated in the Roundball Classic.  “Lowcountry basketball fans have a chance to see future college all-stars from high schools across the country, including some of our finest local talent,” said Tom McTighe, tournament director.

 “The Rotary Club of North Charleston is excited about its fifth year to partner with Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company, a Charleston business with more than 100 stores throughout South Carolina and southeastern Georgia, and with Communities In Schools, which helps nearly 6,000 local at-risk students stay in school and graduating on time,” McTighe added.

This year’s tournament features 16 teams, including ten local or other South Carolina schools: Bishop England High School, Charleston, SC; Charleston Collegiate School, Johns Island, SC; Don Bosco Preparatory School, Ramsey, NJ; Fort Dorchester High School, North Charleston, SC; Franklin County High School, Carnesville, GA; Gainesville High School, Gainesville, FL; Goose Creek High School, Goose Creek, SC, James Island High School, Charleston, SC; Manning High School, Manning, SC; North Charleston High School, North Charleston, SC; Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA; Pinewood Preparatory School, Summerville, SC; Robert A. Taft Information Tech High School, Cincinnati, OH; St John's College High School, Washington, DC; Wando High School, Mt Pleasant, SC; West Ashley High School, Charleston, SC.

Communities In Schools is a nonprofit drop-out prevention organization that addresses factors outside of school which directly impact classroom performance. It serves both Charleston and Berkeley counties. “Our community is confronting a dropout crisis that affects us all,” said Jane Riley, Executive Director of CIS of the Charleston Area.  “The Roundball Classic has become a highly-anticipated treat during the holiday season, and knowing the North Charleston Rotary Club’s commitment to education, we are thrilled to be part of this tournament,” she added.

The North Charleston Rotary Club will celebrate its 65th birthday as the year ends, and the Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic is one example of the club’s commitment to service. Proceeds from the tournament enable the Rotary Club to award college scholarships annually to area high school students. Other projects adopted by the club include distributing dictionaries to students in local elementary schools, raising money for national and international Rotary initiatives, and contributing to disaster relief efforts.

For more information on the Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic, please visit the tournament website at www.RoundballClassic.com.  For information on how to provide volunteer or financial support for Communities In Schools, call (843) 740-6793 or visit www.cischarleston.org.