21st WISL Conference Set for Feb. 2-3
January 7, 2014
The first, largest and longest-running program of its type in the country, the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Women In Sports Leadership Conference will take place Feb. 2-3 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West, formerly the Lexington Lansing Hotel.
The 21st edition of the conference will feature three keynote speakers and a variety of workshops. The program annually attracts upwards of 500 participants, most of them high school female student-athletes. High school students, coaches and administrators are invited to register on the MHSAA Website.
Cost is $50 for students and $60 for adults, not including lodging for those intending to stay overnight in Lansing. A registration form for lodging also is available on the MHSAA Website. Registration closes Jan. 17.
The theme for this WISL Conference is #JustLead, and Dr. René Revis Shingles will focus on leadership in her opening address. Revis Shingles is a certified athletic trainer and sport sociologist and currently serves as a professor and the director of athletic training at Central Michigan University. Revis Shingles has earned degrees from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Illinois State University and Michigan State University, and CMU annually presents a leadership award in her name to a student in its athletic training education program.
University of Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins will speak on “The Importance of Leadership” at the WISL Banquet during the evening of Feb. 2. Hutchins, a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame, has led the Wolverines to more than 1,300 wins and the 2005 NCAA championship during her 29 seasons as coach. She holds a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Indiana and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State.
MSU women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant will speak on “Leading Through Vision, Values, Voice” during the morning of Feb. 3. Merchant is in her seventh season at MSU after previously coaching at Eastern Michigan University and Saginaw Valley State University and serving as a captain while a player at Central Michigan. Merchant led the Spartans to the Big Ten Conference title in 2010-11 and finishes of third place or higher in each of the last five seasons. She earned a bachelor’ degree at CMU and a master’s at SVSU.
Workshops offered during the conference include topics on coaching, teaching leadership, officiating, sports nutrition, college preparation, multi-sport participation, cultural awareness and the roles and responsibilities of captains. A complete itinerary is available on the MHSAA Website.
The WISL Banquet will include the presentation of this year’s Women In Sports Leadership Award. The winner will be announced later this month.
Follow the #JustLead hashtag on Twitter to learn more about the conference’s activities.
Ind. Wrestling Ticket Sales Underway
January 14, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Fans wishing to purchase advance reserved and group general admission tickets for the 2014 Michigan High School Athletic Association Individual Wrestling Finals, Feb. 27-March 1 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, may now do so exclusively through The Palace Box Office.
The advance reserved ticket sales program allows the discounted purchase of all-tournament tickets, giving the bearer admission to all five sessions of the event, reserving the same seat. Advance all-tournament reserved tickets are $40 each; the ticket price includes in and out parking privileges at The Palace, and there is no limit on the number of seats which may be purchased in a single order. There is a $5 handling charge for each order.
Spectators ordering reserved seat tickets must designate the wrestling division they prefer to watch, which will result in their ticket assignment being in full view of the mats being used for that competition. For Divisions 3 and 4, the seats will be on the side of the arena opposite the mat placement, providing an unobstructed view of those mats.
Group seating is available on a general admission basis in the upper level of The Palace for all sessions. A minimum purchase of 10 tickets per session is required. Group tickets are $4.50 when purchased in quantities of 10 per session, with the price including in and out parking privileges at The Palace. A $5 handling charge will be applied to each group order.
Orders must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31 to qualify for the advance reserved seat discount. Group general admission sales orders must be postmarked no later than Feb. 14 to qualify for that discount. Order forms may be found on the Wrestling page of the MHSAA Website.
General reserved seat ticket sales will begin Feb. 3 exclusively through The Palace of Auburn Hills Box Office. Only all-session reserved seat tickets will be sold at a cost of $45 each, plus applicable Palace Box Office handling charges.
Remaining single-session reserved and general admission tickets will go on sale Feb. 26, exclusively through The Palace of Auburn Hills Box Office. Single-session reserved seat tickets are priced at $10 each, and general admission seats in the upper bowl of the arena are priced at $9 per session, which include in and out parking privileges.