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| Issue: # 022 |
February 11, 2009 |
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Wenatchee Valley Sports Council News
 Greetings!
If you missed our 4th Annual Coaches of Inspiration Awards January 28th, you REALLY missed out. A huge thank you to Dr. Ed Farrar and his wife, Cindy, for gracing us with their presence.
As our economy continues to slip towards who-knows-what, we brace for a year of unknowns in the Wenatchee Valley Sports world as well. You'll see in this issue that sports tourism means an incredible amount to our economy. We'd hoped with Town Toyota Center opening, it would mean even greater impacts in 2009, but it's a wait and see attitude.
Meanwhile, we were turned down by W.I.A.A. in our bid for State Volleyball. While extremely disappointing, it was a lesson learned and valuable experience.
So we venture forth into the shortest month with the most apprehensive expectations of what's to come. The good news is that sports seems to be a mainstay, no matter the pocketbook. So events and tournaments and games are still being planned and we're still here to help in any way possible.
Happy Trails
Eric Granstrom - Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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Dr. Farrar Highlights Coaches of Inspiration Awards Night
Dr. Ed Farrar brought a unique perspective to the 4th Annual Coaches of Inspiration Awards in January. The Wenatchee orthopedic surgeon was nearly killed in a bicycle/car crash last October and is paralyzed from the chest-down. He told the gathering of nearly 200 at the Wenatchee Convention Center, "statistically, I'm a dead man."
His gripping account of his accident, battle for survival and return home was the highlight of a night set aside to honor coaches throughout North Central Washington. 30 coaches were recognized for their efforts by players who nominated them. Dr. Farrar related his ordeal and the teamwork it took to keep him alive to the lessons learned in the realm of sports. Dr. Farrar also used the pulpit to share the word of health. He said, "had I not been in good physical shape, I would have died...Lord forbid something like this should happen to you, but if it does, the one thing that gives you any chance for survival is your physical health."
Dr. Farrar's wife, Cindy, was given a Wenatchee Wild jersey complete with her name embroidered on the back and #1. Emcee Eric Granstrom said she "was equally a hero for being so strong at Ed's side, holding her head up with grace and poise."
Four coaches were singled out with Exceptional Coaching Awards while another 26 were given Coaches of Inspiration Awards.
Exceptional Coaching Award Winners
Louise Kapeikis - Figure Skating
Steve Mongeon - Basketball
TJ Owen - Cross Country Skiing
Corey Van Lith - Baseball
Coaches of Inspiration Award Winners
Renee Baum - Soccer
Deanna Bollinger - Soccer
Kelly Boyd - Softball
Jeff Carlson - Baseball
Larry Cordes - Softball
Brent Darnell - Basketball
Mike Franza - Basketball
Todd Gilbert - Softball
John Graf - Wrestling
Mike Grimm - Soccer
Paul Kapeikis - Figure Skating
Elise Kriskovic - Figure Skating
Donnie Lane - Soccer
Bill Leiber - Soccer
Craig Lukens - Soccer
Marni McMahon - Volleyball
Heidi Monroe - Basketball
Ken Murtagh - Football
Eric Slife - Soccer
Erik Sundet - Soccer
Jeff Tyree - Baseball
Jim Van Assche - Soccer
Don Whipple - Football
Aaron Young - Hockey
Enrique Zaldivar - Soccer
DVD's of the event, including Dr. Farrar's speech are available for $20 at M&M Productions, you can call 665-3850 or email Malcolm today. |
 Ridge to River Update - Alcoa Stays On Alcoa will remain as the title sponsor of Wenatchee's Ridge to River Relay Race. Meanwhile, a shakeup has occurred in race management, according to a press release from race headquarters.
Longtime participant and volunteer Sheila Salmon has been hired as race director and perennial race photographer Al Neace has been hired to help market the event.
Alcoa-Wenatchee Works public relations director Sharon Kanareff said she met with Salmon, Neace and Brian Ropp, Executive Director of Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the management company hired to run the race. Kanareff said the meeting was very "productive and Alcoa is proud to continue supporting this great community event."
The race itself, slated for Sunday, April 19th, will maintain its traditional course. According to the press release, the race will..."retain its traditional six-leg relay course involving a cross country skiing leg, a downhill skiing/snowboarding leg, a run leg, bike leg and kayak/canoe leg with the final portage and run to the finish." Racers will also have the choice of the shorter "Columbia Course" and the teenage race is back for its second year, "The Eco Boomer Course."
Registration is underway for both the adult race on April 19th and the Wenatchee World Junior Ridge to River Relay Race (April 4th) for kids 5-12 years of age at www.r2r.org. |
Sports Tourism Up Ten Percent in 2008
Over 42,000 sports tourists came to the Wenatchee Valley in 2008 to either participate in, coach or watch 135 events, according to research by the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council.
The estimated direct economic impact of these sports tourists to the Wenatchee Valley economy is over $6.1-million, up nearly ten percent from the year before.
"There's a couple things at play here," said Director of Marketing Eric Granstrom. "We began tracking events in early 2007 and continued to refine the research and get better results in 2008," he continued. According to Granstrom, a portion of the 10% increase can just be attributed to more groups hosting sports events providing feedback, "but I did see a nice bump toward the end of the year when the Town Toyota Center opened."
Adding hockey and indoor soccer to the mix helped fourth quarter numbers increase 14% over 2007. Breaking it down per sport, Granstrom says multi-sport events bring in the most people, and as a result, the most economic impact. "Multi-sport events such as Special Olympics Winter Games and Ridge to River brought in over 9,000 people," said Granstrom. This resulted in an estimated economic impact of over $900,000.
Bicycling events such as the criterium and stage race, Dam2Dam and Rotary's Century Ride enticed 5,347 people into an overnight stay in 2008, resulting in approximately $529,000 additional economic impact to the area. Even though these numbers are huge, when combing men's, women's, co-ed and girl's softball, the diamond dwellers are still tops when it comes to impact on Wenatchee Valley's sports tourism economy.
Over 13,000 softball enthusiasts
graced the Wenatchee
Valley with their presence
over the past year, participating in 18 tournaments.
With the October opening of the Town Toyota Center, it's expected to balance any possible downturn in sports tourism due to the overall economy. For a complete copy for the 2008 Sports Tourism report, contact Eric Granstrom at the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council. |
 AppleSox Coaching Clinic Offered The Wenatchee AppleSox will host a "hot-stove" coaches clinic over two dates in February. Designed to help coaches, parents and players at all levels, the two-session clinic will work with participants on planning a successful practice, skill teaching and development and confidence-building.
Slated for February 16th & 23rd at Eastmont Junior High School's gymnasium from 6-9pm, the coaches clinic will be run by Gary Van Tol and Rob Hippi. Van Tol is an assistant coach with the Boise Hawks (Chicago Cubs) and former assistant at Gonzaga University. Hippi has been the pitching coach for the AppleSox since 2004 and is also the pitching coach at Lower Columbia Community College.
Registration fee is $30 for the 2-part clinic, $35 at the door. For more information, contact the AppleSox at 509-665-5900 or on-line at www.applesox.com. Registration available via Visa or Mastercard over the phone. The AppleSox begin its 10th season of baseball June 5th at Moses Lake. Wenatchee will host 30 home games at Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium, including a 14-game consecutive homestand July 3rd-19th. The entire 2009 schedule is available on the AppleSox website. |
 Rams Announce 2009 Schedule The Rams' 10-game schedule includes five home games at Wildcat Field in East Wenatchee (Eastmont High School). For more on the Wenatchee Valley Rams, check out their website. Non-League Schedule
March 21 - @ Okanogan Commandos
March 28 - vs. Snohomish County Thunder
Regular Season Schedule
April 4 - @ South Sound
April 11 - vs. Columbia Basin
April 18 - @ Eastern Washington
April 25 - vs. Hells Canyon
May 2 - Bye
May 9 - @ Okanogan
May 16 - @ Blue Mountain
May 23 - vs. North Sound
May 30 - vs. Yakima |
 Utley Foundation Announces Grant AwardsShepherd Center Foundation, Atlanta ($25,000) for its outdoor agility course to help train patients.
University of Washington, Seattle ($24,681.20) for its Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine.
Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Detroit ($10,800) for Mike Utley Center Scholarships to help fill insurance gaps.
Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colorado ($9,000) for patient's with gaps in insurance coverage and their Adventure Outdoor Program.
The largest fundraiser for the Mike Utley Foundation is the Dam2Dam Thumbs Up! Bike Tour. This year's ride is scheduled for September 26th. To register or simply donate to the Mike Utley Foundation (based in Orondo, Washington), go to their website today! |
 Yahoo! Providing Dollars for Good Grades Kuntz says Yahoo! is offering ten dollars for every A grade earned by athletes in various sports at Wenatchee High School. The 931 A's were collected by student-athletes in the 1st semester of classes this year. |
 FEE COULD BOOST AVAILABILITY IN UPPER COLUMBIA According to Dave Graybill The Fishin' Magician, fishing enthusiasts have been told by Fish & Wildlife that funding doesn't exist to properly gage fish runs, returns and collect catch data in the region. Because of which, the Feds won't allow certain waters to open. As a solution, anglers suggested the fee to develop a fund to help offset the costs of providing fish checkers to help open seasons.
Graybill suggests you contact your local politician to help push the measure because it's finding a fight from, of all people, the Department of Fish & Wildlife. According to Graybill, a memo was sent from the Department to a legislative fiscal committee saying the fee would not cover the expenses of running the entire fishery. The suggestion here, of course, is that fisherman don't want to fund "the whole fishery", just providing funding to cover "extra" fisheries, should they be allowed. We'll keep you up to date on the latest.
(photo provided by Dave Graybill - Beautiful steelhead caught on Columbia River near Bridgeport in December) |
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February Sports Calendar
14-15 - 12tn Annual Leavenworth Cascade Classic AAU Basketball Tournament for boys 6-8grd 16 - Wenatchee AppleSox Coaching Clinic - Part 1 at Eastmont Junior High, 6p 18, 20-21 - Wenatchee Wild vs. Kenai River Brown Bears at Town Toyota Center, 7p 19 - Men's Apple Valley Softball Association mandatory meeting for all coaches, 7p at United Steelworkers Local 310A at 180 Rock Island Road in East Wenatchee 20 - Blue Mountain Community College at Wenatchee Valley College, 6p & 8p 23 - Wenatchee AppleSox Coaching Clinic - Part 2 at Eastmont Junior High, 6p |
 Visitors Guides Now Available For your complimentary copy, stop by our Visitors Center at 25 N. Wenatchee Avenue next to the Owl Soda Fountain or at our Visitors Center at the Apple Commission Office at Olds Station. You can also request a copy via email at info@wenatcheevalley.org.
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Thank you for being part of the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council on-line community. If you'd like more information about the Sports Council, go to our website!
Sincerely,
Eric Granstrom
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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