As athletic director at Northland College, I’ve been heartened to watch my coaches and student athletes find so many ways to connect to the Ashland and surrounding community.
One of our priorities this past year was to bring back youth camps and clinics on campus. This fall our coaches organized a youth softball clinic and basketball camps for middle school and high school girls (October 6 and 13). And this past summer, we hosted two volleyball camps (one here and one in Hayward), more than seventy kids at our June basketball camps, and the continuation of our youth soccer camp. Our Hockey programs also host a free clinic for youth in the regional area every October.
Many of you have cheered on your local football team in the Ponzio Stadium—just this fall hosting Ashland, Washburn, and Mellen high school games. We’ve also welcomed Duluth FC soccer for the past two years and created a family soccer event for the Chequamegon Bay Soccer Club. And this weekend, we’re hosting our first-ever three-on-three basketball tournament for kids and adults.
The bottom line—Northland wants to play a role in keeping kids active and engaged on the field and off.
We have fourteen sports teams and they are all engaged—from student athletes volunteering in the classroom to organizing a food drive through the Halloween scare in the ravine to shoveling snow for the elderly, you can count on us to continue our community involvement.
As the staff and leadership within the Athletic Department continues to develop, I expect this connection will also grow. We have redesigned our partnerships with the school district and our relationships with youth organizations and non-profits.
I’d personally like to invite the community to take in a game. Volleyball and soccer are in full swing with basketball and hockey right around the corner. An afternoon or evening out catching some fantastic competition is not only supporting the student athletes, it also promotes health, wellness and togetherness in our community.
I also invite you to think about giving back to Northland College Athletics. Consider becoming a member of our Varsity Club to support our work with you. For more information please call me at 715-682-1395 or join Varsity Club online.
Seamus Gregory is interim athletic director and head hockey coach at Northland College.
