Photo By Martin Egnash | The Marine Corps Air Station New River athletics department is changing its sports...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. -- Marine Corps Air Station New River Marines are putting down their footballs for the season. As the pigskins fall from their fingertips, Marine athletes may have intense feelings of sadness, and a profound sense of “what do I do now” may take hold.
The athletics department aboard the air station is here to help.
Football may be over, but racquetball, softball and basketball will give air station athletes a new way to compete.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day racquetball tournament started Jan. 16 and will go until Jan. 20. This is an annual tournament designed to give the air station’s natural talent a chance to compete. Because racquetball is played indoors, it picks up popularity during the winter months.
“We have our regulars that come in and play racquetball every week,” said Nancy Stankowski, air station athletics director. “But during the winter, it gets almost crowded in there. The tournament gives them a chance to have some real competition.”
Stankowski said the racquetball tournament has been featured at the air station for more than 10 years. An even older tradition, the Snowball Softball tournament, will be held at the air station starting Jan. 29.
The Snowball Softball tournament, which has been going on for more than 20 years, is the first softball tournament of the year for Jacksonville, N.C. It is open to everyone age 18 and older.
“The whole town loves it,” said Stankowski. “All the teams from the area come to play at this one. The police department, the civilian teams and all the Marine teams get together and play very early in the year.”
According to Stankowski, snowfall during the game is not unheard of, hence the name. Teams need to have 15 players including a coach, and a registration fee of $170 per team. Marines who are interested can find registration forms at Marine Corps Community Service Activities. Trophies and awards will be given out to the top teams and individuals.
Another sport dribbling its way to the air station is intramural basketball.
The basketball organizational meeting was held Jan. 10 for teams and coaches to discuss rosters and who’s playing when.
Stankowski estimates there will be approximately seven teams playing this year, consisting of active duty Marines and Department of Defense civilians assigned to the air station.
Marines with the appropriate skills are encouraged to participate on the court. The anticipated start date for the season is Jan. 30.
Regardless of which sport you choose, the air station athletics office is there to let you compete, even when the season is freezin’.
To sign up visit the athletics office or call 910-449-5844
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2012 09:37 |
| Story ID: | 82708 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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