Aquatic Club swimming class
Emporia Aquatic Club will be offering a developmental swimming class through March 12 at the Emporia High School pool. Classes will run from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and will focus on developing technique for the competitive strokes. Swimmers are grouped according to ability level. Beginners have little or no swim lessons, intermediate swimmers have had some swimming lessons, and advanced swimmers have passed most swimming lessons. Cost is $60 for the six-week session and is due the night you register. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Melissa Williams at 341-0127 or Nikki Metz at 481-1346.
Baseball Factory tryouts in El Dorado
Baseball Factory will hold its Under Armour National Tryout for Kansas high school baseball players on Feb. 22, at El Dorado’s McDonald Stadium at 1 p.m. All players ages 13-18 are encouraged to attend. Baseball Factory is rated the nation’s No. 1 college recruiting service by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association.
The tryout is an opportunity for players to be evaluated by Baseball Factory’s pro scouts and learn how to improve their game, while also having fun on the field. The Baseball Factory staff of scouts, former professional players and former college coaches will make evaluations and lead a question-and-answer session on college recruiting. Attendees will learn about the recruiting process and what they should do in order to increase their chances of playing in college and receiving scholarships. Top players from the tryout may be selected for the Under Armour Southwest Tournament, the Omaha Pro Select Training & Tournament event, the Pirate City World Series or the USA Baseball 16U Championships.
Players are asked to report to the McDonald Stadium field at noon for registration. The registration fee is $99. To enroll, contact Josh Sunday at 1-800-641-4487, ext. 143.
Lady Spartan Spring
Basketball League
Entry forms are being accepted through March 6 for the Lady Spartan Spring Basketball League. Entry forms are available at Emporia High School and at the other district schools. Age divisions include kindergarten through eighth grade. For more information, contact EHS girls basketball coach Bill Nienstedt at 341-2365.
Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi classes
Family Martial Arts Center, 1009 W. 12th Ave., is forming classes now for Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi.
Tae Kwon Do classes will be held Monday through Thursday evenings and are open to all ages. Participation in the Tae Kwon Do classes doesn’t require physical sparring, but sparring classes are available for those who wish to participate.
Tai Chi is a low-impact, non-combat art form used to reduce stress and benefit the cardiovascular system. Classes are open to all ages and being formed for Monday through Wednesday. For more information, contact Master Troy Hobelmann at 343-7575, visit the center or e-mail to fmacinfo@yahoo.com.
Spartan Spring Basketball League
Registration is now available for coach Rick Bloomquist’s Spartan Boys Spring Basketball League. The league will feature 12 to 15 games of transition basketball in a competitive atmosphere, concluding with a league tournament during the first week of May.
Games will begin March 30 and will be played on weekdays. The league will be divided into five divisions: first grade and under; second and third grade; fourth and fifth grade; sixth and seventh grade; and eighth and ninth grade. Entrants may play up one division, but not down. With permission, some entrants may play in two divisions; in case of schedule conflicts between divisions, the lower division will be given priority.
Registration costs $50 per individual, or a family rate of $20 for each additional son. T-shirt and uniform are not included. Registration will be held at the Emporia High School cafeteria commons on March 2 and 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. You can also register by picking up a form at Mike’s Sporting Goods, 507 Commercial St., or Jock’s Nitch Sporting Goods, 912 Commercial St., or by visiting www.emporiabasketball.net. Forms can be mailed to Coach Rick Bloomquist, Emporia High School, 3302 W. 18th Ave., Emporia, KS 66801. For more information, contact Bloomquist at 341-2365 or 343-5102.
Turkey hunting clinic
The eighth annual Spring Turkey Hunting Clinic will be held March 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Camp Alexander in Emporia. The event is free and open to anyone interested in learning how become a safe and successful turkey hunter, especially youth.
The clinic will include sessions on turkey calling, scouting/roosting, shotgun hunting, safety and other topics. Bluestem Farm & Ranch will display the latest turkey-hunting equipment available at the store. Lunch will be provided, and Bluestem will sponsor a drawing for a fully equipped turkey vest. Other prizes will also be given away.
For more information on the clinic or to reserve a spot, contact Gib Rhodes at (620) 437-2012. Please RSVP by March 12 with the total number of children and adults attending, as well as T-shirt sizes. The clinic is sponsored by the Flint Hills Gobblers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Hunter Education Program.
Openings for
softball players
The Emporia Energy is looking for players for the 2009 fast-pitch softball season. The team is looking mainly for U-10 and U-14 players but would be interested in players of all ages. Winter practices started Jan. 6, so please call or e-mail soon to express your interest. You may contact the Emporia Energy by e-mail at emporiaenergy@yahoo.com or by calling Ron Olson at 620-412-2552.
Spring soccer
Register now for the spring recreational soccer season. The league is available for all children ages 4 to 14 (must be 4 by Aug. 1, 2008). Games will begin March 21. The cost is $45 per player for new players and $40 for returning players from last fall. The registration deadline is Feb. 15. You can download a registration form at www.trysasoccer.org or come to the Flinthills Mall on Feb. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. to sign up. For more information, call TRYSA at 343-6970.
Jeff Boschee
Basketball Clinic
Former Kansas basketball player Jeff Boschee, now head coach at The Barstow School in Kansas City, Mo., will be holding a basketball clinic in Emporia on July 21-22 for players entering grades 3-9 in the fall of 2009.
The clinic will emphasize shooting, passing and dribbling in a fast-paced, educational and fun environment. A current KU player will assist with the clinic; past Jayhawks who have helped out include Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur and Russell Robinson.
Entry into the clinic costs $75 per player, which includes instruction, a backpack, a T-shirt, a basketball and an autograph session with players and coaches. Maximum capacity will be 65 players. To receive an application or more information, contact clinic director David Devaney at (816) 941-2623, or go to www.jeffboscheebasketballclinics.com. Those interested in sponsoring the clinic may also contact Devaney.
• Sports Shorts run each week on Thursday. If you have a sports-related announcement that you would like to see in Sports Shorts, e-mail your announcement to sports@emporiagazette.com or fax it to 342-8108 attn: sports. Please include how long you would like your announcement to run.