SMU to host two volleyball camps

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University will host two girls’ volleyball camps July 20-31 for students entering grades six through 12 in the fall.



This first camp, “Session I,” is for girls entering grades six through eight and will be held Sunday, July 20, through Thursday, July 24. The second camp, “Session II,” is for girls entering grades nine through 12 and will be held Sunday, July 27, through Thursday, July 31.



These camps provide a great experience for players who want intense work in a competitive atmosphere. Seventy-five percent of the focus will be on individual skills, and the other 25 percent will be on team play. Mike Lester, SMU’s head volleyball coach, will lead this camp with the assistance of SMU women’s volleyball team members.



For commuters, rates are $375 before April 15 and $400 after April 15. Residential rates are $425 and $450. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/camps by June 27. This registration fee includes lodging and meals, as well as access to the Recreation and Athletics Center, indoor pool, weight room, dance studio, hiking trails, disc golf course, track and soccer complex, ropes course and more. For more information, call (507) 457-6921.

SMU offers ‘Tri-Swimming’ Clinic March 4-June 8

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s is offering “Tri-Swimming,” an individual open-water swim training clinic, March 4 through June 8. This clinic is for beginning or advanced swimmers who are looking for a swim clinic to complement their triathlon training goals.

Athletes must be able to swim one length of the pool without the assistance of a flotation device.

Tri-Swimming is geared toward bringing people together to train and learn proper swimming skills and techniques. Whether training for the next Trinona, or setting different goals, swimmers are welcome to join — or try out the clinic for one week for no cost.

The group meets three days a week, Mondays from 6 to 7:15 p.m., Wednesdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 9:15 a.m. The clinic will be held at the eight-lane Jul Gernes Pool at Saint Mary’s. The instructors are Jami Severson, a former competitive swimmer with open-water swimming experience, and Mark Ross, a current SMU swim team member.

While the weather is cold, participants will swim in the pool to build confidence and endurance. As the weather gets warmer, the class will transition to Lake Goodview and Lake Winona for open-water practice.

The course fee is $200 ($150 for SMU community members). Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/triswim. For more information, call Ext. 6921.

Former Olympic soccer coach coaches Winona youth groups

Tony DiCicco, former head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Olympic Soccer Teams, is pictured with the WYSA girls.

WINONA, Minn. — Winona-area girls soccer players scored some personal coaching from Tony DiCicco, former head coach of the U.S. women’s national and Olympic soccer teams. DiCicco coached a portion of the SoccerPlus camp, held June 16-22, on the Saint Mary’s University campus.

The CEO and founder of SoccerPlus, DiCicco also brought in soccer coaches with international experience to work with approximately 20 residential campers. He also worked with a group of Winona Youth Soccer Association girls June 17 at the Saint Mary’s campus.

DiCicco is the former head coach of the U.S. women’s national and Olympic soccer teams and the head coach of the U.S. U20 women’s national team. In 2008, in his return to international soccer, he coached the U.S. to the FIFA U20 World Cup championship in Chile. He also led the full national team to the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship, the largest women’s sporting event in history. And in 1996, he coached the U.S. women’s Olympic team to the first-ever gold medal in women’s soccer.

DiCicco plans to return to Winona next year to continue training young Winona-area athletes.

SMU offers ‘Tri Swimming’ clinic March 5 – June 9

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is offering “Tri Swimming,” an individual open-water swim training clinic, March 5 through June 9. This clinic is for beginning or advanced swimmers who are looking for a swim clinic to complement their triathlon training goals.

Athletes must be able to swim one length of the pool without the assistance of a flotation device.

TriSwimming is geared toward bringing people together to train and learn proper swimming skills and techniques. Whether training for the next Trinona, or setting different goals, swimmers are welcome to join — or try out the clinic for one week for no cost.

The group meets three days a week, Mondays from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 9:15 a.m. The clinic will be held at the eight-lane Jules Gernes Pool at Saint Mary’s. The instructors are Jami Severson, a former competitive swimmer with open water swimming experience, and Mark Ross, a current SMU swim team member.

While the weather is cold, participants will swim in the pool to build confidence and endurance. As the weather gets warmer, the class will transition to Lake Goodview and Lake Winona for open water practice.

The course fee is $200 ($150 for SMU community members). Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/ageless. For more information, call (507) 457-6921.

SMU hosts ‘Learn to Lead’ camps for girls June 17-24

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is hosting three Learn to Lead camps June 17-24 for girls entering grades five through 10 in the fall.

Girls entering grades five through six are invited to the camp “Embark” June 17-19; girls entering grades seven through nine are invited to the camp “Lead On” June 20-24; and girls entering grades eight through 10 are invited to the camp “Take 2” June 20-24.

“Embark” will allow girls to explore how to become a leader in and out of the classroom, how to deal with bullies and the leadership skills they already have and those they have yet to develop. “Lead On” will give girls the opportunity to discover the leader inside of them. Participants will solve mysteries and work together on strengthening their leadership skills. “Take 2” is for girls who have already attended a leadership camp; these girls will have the opportunity to volunteer in the Winona community to expand their leadership skills.

Each camp will end with a special lunch and tribute to a woman who has made an impact in every camper’s life. Peg Winters, director of the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women at Saint Mary’s, and women of the institute will teach these camps.

Registration for “Embark” is $240 before Thursday, April 15, and $260 after April 15. Registration for “Lead On” and “Take 2” is $375 before April 15 and $395 after April 15. This fee includes lodging and meals on campus, as well as access to the Recreation and Athletics Center, indoor pool, weight room, dance studio, hiking trails, disc golf course, track and soccer complex, ropes course and more. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/camps. For more information, call (800) 635-5987, Ext. 6921, or (507) 457-6921.

SMU offers ‘Tri Swimming’ clinic March 1 – June 9

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is offering “Tri Swimming,” an open-water swim training and triathlon clinic March 1 through June 9. This clinic is for beginning or advanced swimmers who are looking for a swim clinic to complement their triathlon training goals.

Many people are hesitant about triathlons because they lack confidence in their swimming abilities. This course is designed to complement the already-training tri-athlete’s workout, and also to encourage those who are intimidated by swimming, especially in open water. Participants will build skills, techniques, confidence and endurance for their next triathlon or open-water experience.

Specific open-water swimming drills, activities and simulations are planned. Participants will have an opportunity to see themselves through the use of an underwater video camera. As the weather gets warmer, the group will go outside for an open-water swim.

Every other Saturday, participants will learn about the running, cycling and transition portions of triathlons. Also during the Saturday clinics, self-maintenance and bike maintenance issues will be discussed. Participants will also have the opportunity to ride the Trinona course and run outdoors.

Athletes must be 18 or older and able to swim one length of the pool without the assistance of a flotation device.

The group meets three days a week, Monday from 6 to 7:15 p.m., Wednesday from 6 to 7:15 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Every other Saturday, the clinic runs 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Out-of-pool time may vary according to the activity. The clinic will be held at the eight-lane Jules Gernes Pool at Saint Mary’s. Instructors are Jami Severson, assistant swimming coach at SMU with competitive and open-water swimming experience, and Robyn Wangberg, professor of physics and an IronMan Hawaii qualifier and participant.

The course fee is $300. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/ageless. For more information, call (507) 457-6921.

Earlybird deadline is April 15 for summer Saint Mary’s camps

WINONA, Minn. — Take advantage of discounted rates through the earlybird deadline by registering April 15 for Saint Mary’s University’s summer camps. The Winona campus is filled with camp activities all summer long including:

• Learn to Lead camp from July 12-16. Learn to Lead is a new four-day on-campus experience for girls entering grades six, seven and eight in fall 2009. Participants will focus on the discovery of the leader within through fun activities, outdoor adventures and leadership skill development. The camp is being developed in conjunction with the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women at SMU. The cost is $375 ($350 by April 15).

• Girls volleyball camps for girls in grades six through eight July 19-23, and for grades nine through 12 July 26-30. Develop as a player and as a person during this residential athletic camp, which focuses on both individual skills and team play. The cost is $375 ($350 by April 15).

• Girls basketball camp for girls in grades five through 10 July 12-16. This instructional camp gives special attention to the fundamentals of shooting, ball handling, passing and defense. Time is spent developing team concepts as well as offensive and defensive games plans. Each age group is challenged to compete and improve their skills against other campers their age. The cost is $375 ($350 by April 15).

• PDP Hockey School for girls and boys ages 8 through 18. Squirts, ages 9-10, meet June 28 through July 2; pee wees, ages 1-12, meet June 28 through July 2; boys goalies, ages 8 through 12, meet June 28 through July 2; U-10/U-12 girls meet July 5-9; U-14/high school girls meet July 5-9; and girls goaltenders, ages 8 through 18, meet July 5-9. The five-day residential camp cost is $595 ($575 by April 15). Contact Bill Moore at (651) 442-7306 or pdphockeyschool@comcast.net.

• Mid-States Swim Camp June 14-18 and June 21-25. The five-day residential camp is $540. Contact midsts@nconnect.net.

• “Turning Point” Figure Skating Camp July 19-22 and 20-21. The cost for the four-day residential camp is $575. For the day camp, the cost is $125 per day or $225 for both days. Contact John Meier at (507) 452-5305 or winonafigureskating@charter.net.

*Registration for PDP Hockey, Mid-States Swim and Turning Point Figure Skating must be done through these individual camps. Although the camps are hosted on the SMU campus, SMU is not handling registration or payment.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/camps. Register and pay online, or call 800-635-5987, Ext. 6921 or (507) 457-6921.

Register now for SMU youth sports camps

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is now taking registration for its residential boys and girls hockey camps, boys and girls basketball camps, and girls volleyball camps.

BOYS & GIRLS HOCKEY
SESSION (Ages) CAMP DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Squirt (8-10) June 15-20* June 2
Pee Wee (11-12) June 15-20* June 2
Bantam (13-14) June 22-27 June 9
Bantam/Midget (13-16) July 6-11 June 23
Youth Girls (9-12) July 13-18* June 30
High School Girls (13-16) July 13-18* June 30
*Camps run simultaneously but separately.

RATES
Residential (by April 1), $570
Residential (after April 1), $595
Commuter, $495
Goalie Rate Residential, $475
Goalie Rate Commuter, $375

BOYS & GIRLS BASKETBALL
SESSION (Grades) CAMP DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE
GRADES 5-10 (boys and girls) July 13-17 June 30
*Camps run simultaneously but separately.

RATES
Residential (by April 1), $325
Residential (after April 1), $350
Commuter, $300

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
SESSION (Grades) CAMP DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE
SESSION I (Grades 6-8) July 20-24 July 7
SESSION II (Grades 9-12) July 27-31 July 14

RATES
Residential (by April 1), $325
Residential (after April 1), $350
Commuter, $300

SMU youth sports camps offer outstanding facilities, professional coaching, good food, and innovative and creative instruction within a well-supervised environment.

Students will work on individualized skills, as well as team play. Athletic trainers are on site, and all camps are run by SMU coaches and players. Rates include instruction, housing, meals and a shirt.

Register and pay online: www.smumn.edu/sportscamps or call 800-635-5987, Ext. 6973, or (507) 457-6973. Space is limited. Register by April 1 and receive the early bird discount! Information regarding SMU youth sports day camps will be announced soon.

Saint Mary’s announces baseball/softball pre-season skills camps Feb. 3-March 2

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University will host a 2008 baseball/softball pre-season skills camp for boys and girls in grades seven through 12 on Sundays between Feb. 3 and March 2.

Boys baseball players meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; boys baseball and girls fast-pitch softball pitchers and catchers meet from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and girls fast-pitch softball participants meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. – all in SMU’s Gostomski Fieldhouse.

Participants will practice pitching, hitting, catching, throwing and fielding; depending on which clinic you sign up for. Catchers will need to bring equipment; all others are asked to bring a glove, and no cleats are allowed.

The hitting, throwing, and fielding camp costs $60 per person; the pitching and catching clinic costs $40; and the cost for both clinics combined is $90. The registration fee includes a T-shirt and individual instruction by SMU staff and players including Nick Whaley, head SMU men’s baseball coach, and Jennifer Miller, SMU head women’s fastball coach.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 30. Register online at www.smumn.edu/sportscamps. For more information, call (507) 457-6973.

Conservatory wraps up successful summer

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts concluded a successful summer of programming for youth and adults.

MCA served 145 students this summer with dance and theatre programming. Programs included three week-long day camps (Dance Me A Story, Dance The Day Away, and Pied Piper Theatre Camp), adult and specialty boys workshops, and a three-week boarding intensive for intermediate and advanced students.

Theatre students had the opportunity to study with MCA faculty, as well as professional actors from Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre and Missoula Children’s Theatre. Dance students had the opportunity to study with MCA faculty, as well as visiting guest artists from around the country. Guest Artists included: Deborah Elias, Allen Fields, Stephanie Milling-Robbins, Tammy Schmidt Perry and Tony Smith.

In addition to many local students participating in MCA summer programming, the MCA Summer Intensive attracted students from as far away as Mexico and Bulgaria. This summer MCA had another record-breaking summer boys program enrollment as well.

“We are especially proud of our thriving tuition-free boys program,” said Christine Martin, MCA managing director. “As we reported to the community last spring, our boys programming is at its largest enrollment ever. Bringing in quality male guest artists to instruct our young men is an important part of the MCA Boys Program experience.”

For more information about MCA and upcoming fall classes and performances, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Gilmore Creek, Conservatory team with Missoula for summer theatre camp

Gilmore creek Summer Theatre actors Danny Pancratz (Dubuque, Iowa) and Mariah Ciangiola (Rushford, Minn.) are photographed with 6- and 7-year-old mask-makers from this summer’s theatre day camp, hosted by the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts.


Samuel and Nathan Graff of Winona show off their finished wounds from the make-up workshop, lead by company manager and SMU theatre arts professor Dr. Gary Diomandes.




WINONA, Minn. — The Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts teamed up with the Missoula Children's Theatre this week to offer Winona kids a summer theatre experience they won't soon forget. Youth entering grades one through nine were invited to participate in a six-day theatre day camp that covered basic theatre techniques both on stage and off July 30 through Aug. 4. The children rehearsed with the Missoula Children's Theatre to put on the "Pied Piper," and at the same time took classes with Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre actors and Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts faculty. Classes included acting, singing, dancing, costuming, mask-making, scenery, storytelling, technical theatre, and make-up. The camp concluded with two performances Saturday. The Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre is Saint Mary’s University’s professional summer theatre company, and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s.

Conservatory announces summer schedule

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts at the Valéncia Arts Center will offer summer programming June 4 – Aug. 4.

Community classes and camps are offered for anyone ages 4 through adults and include:

Dance Day Camp - Dance Me a Story

June 11-15; 1 to 4 p.m.; Ages 4-8; tuition, $100
Includes ballet, jazz, creative movement, and performing in a final showcase

Dance Day Camp - Dance The Day Away

June 18-22; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Ages 9-12; tuition, $150
Includes ballet, jazz, modern, choreography, theory courses, and performing in a final showcase

Teen/Adult Workshops

June 4, 11, 18, and 25; tuition varies
Class offerings will include: dance fitness, piyo, and clogging

Intermediate/Advanced Workshops

June 11-22; tuition varies
Class offerings will include: ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, modern, and hip hop

Boys Workshops

July 23-26; 11 a.m. to noon; Ages 8-16; tuition, $40.
Study with visiting guest artists Allen Fields and Tony Smith

Theatre Day Camp – “The Pied Piper”

July 30-Aug. 4; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; for children entering grades one through nine; tuition, $150.
Includes: acting, voice, movement and performing in “The Pied Piper”
Study with professional actors from Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre and Missoula Children’s Theatre

"Summer dance and theatre camps are a great extracurricular activity for youth, helping them build self-esteem, creating a daily venue for movement and exercise, and offering a great place to meet new friends," said Christine Martin, managing director of MCA.

The Conservatory summer dance classes also offer excellent opportunities for adults. All adult classes are held during the evenings. Additionally, workshops in ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, modern, and hip hop for intermediate and advanced teens and college-aged students are available.

Tuition for summer classes varies depending on class length and level. Dance Technique for Boys can be registered for at no charge through MCA’s tuition free boys programs.

Registration for summer classes, workshops and camps is currently being accepted at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at Vila and Howard streets, Winona.

For more information and registration materials, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

SMU hosts SwimAmerica swimming lessons

WINONA, Minn. — School-aged children (ages 5 and older) are invited to take swimming lessons this spring at Saint Mary’s University through SwimAmerica, a national learn-to-swim program operated by the American Swimming Coaches Association.
Read more.

Session I will meet March 6, 8, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29.
Session II will meet April 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, May 1 and 3.
Session III will meet May 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29 and 31.

Lessons are from 6 to 6:30 p.m. or 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. in SMU’s Jul Gernes Pool.

The cost is $70, and a session swimsuit is included with the initial registration (one time only). Each child also receives a certificate with stickers for each level passed.

All participants must wear the provided SwimAmerica Finish suit. Girls will be provided a one-piece suit while boys will be provided a jammer suit. Additional suits are available for purchase. Suits will be handed out the first day of class; children should bring an extra suit on the first day to avoid any sizing problems.

Staff will include Eric Lindquist, the SMU men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach, and members of the SMU Cardinal Swim Team.

REGISTER and pay online at www.smumn.edu/sportscamps. For more information, e-mail smusportscamps@smumn.edu, or call (507) 457-6973 or 800-635-5987, Ext. 6973.