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TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE
(We're pleased to kick off this Tuesday with our columnist Sandy Walker's offerings. We're sure
you'll find her articles noteworthy, informational and timely. Take it away, Sandy!)
CHEERLEADING, SOFTBALL, GOLF, TENNESSEE ATHLETICS, WEBSITE CHALLENGE, HALL OF FAME AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAME TO MIND
For a period of time this summer Paul and Sonja has turned a few of the interns loose to write about any subject of our choosing (G rated if we want to see it in print) so it might turn out to be an interesting time. Tuesdays are to be my weekly contribution so please have patience and don't abandon the site as Paul and Sonja will keep the sight interesting.
Last week I was letting my TIVO search for viewing suggestions when I found a CBS Sports Network event showing the World Cheerleading Championships. An unknown to me World of Cheerleading Competitions and Oversight exists with information available at http://cheerunion.org/Content.aspx/Championships.
This year’s event was held at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL. On April 26-27 over 200 teams from 87 countries congregated at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in a competition sponsored by the International Cheer Union (ICU) All-Girl Premier Division.
For the 4th Consecutive championship Team USA once again are the Gold Medalist World Cheerleading Champions. USA team captain, Amanda Scripture was asked how each year they are able to perform stunts and skills that are more often seen being performed by co-ed teams to which she replied with a smile that it was because they were better than the co-ed teams.
Beyond the recognition of a USA team I chose to spotlight this sport due to the local University of Louisville and City of Louisville connections to this national championship team.
See http://usacheer.net/Content.aspx/TeamUSA/Coaches
which provides specific information but of note is that one of the two All Girls Cheer Coaches, Misty Hodges, is a Louisville, KY resident, former UL cheerleader and current cheerleading coach for the University of Louisville. See “UofL coach helps Team USA win world cheerleading championship”
Finally, 12 of the 28 Championship team members have a Louisville Connection.
Aisha Brandon Attends: University of Louisville From: Louisville, KY
Katie Loos Attends: University of Louisville From: Louisville, KY
Kaysie Hanle Attends: University of Louisville From: Shalimar, FL
Kelly McGrory Attends: University of Louisville From: Hanson, MA
Lexie Skipper Attends: University of Louisville From: Louisville, KY
Lindsey Sitzlar Attends: University of Louisville From: Louisville, KY
Maria D’Addeo Attends: University of Louisville From: Lockport, NY
Megan Klein Attends: University of Louisville From: Louisville, KY
Michelle Woodward Attends: University of Louisville From: Louisville, KY
Molly Harrold Attends: University of Louisville From: Louisville, KY
Meghan Jones Attends: University of Louisville From: Hamilton, OH
Madeline Jenne Attends: Morehead State University From: Louisville, KY
SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2 OF 3 FINAL TONIGHT
“Oklahoma (54-8) is now one win away from the program’s second national championship, while Alabama (58-8) must defeat the Sooners on both Tuesday and Wednesday in order to capture the title.
Tuesday’s game is scheduled for a 8:06 p.m. ET first pitch on ESPN2.”
I personally want to express my appreciation to ESPN for broadcasting all of the University of Louisville Regionals, the Super Regionals and World Series games. Here in this 40th anniversary of Title IX, it is not the time to take this type of exposure for granted.
Reader question: Does Intercollegiate Women’s Softball play slow or fast pitch ball? Easy, Right? Try this one. Without searching the internet, what were the circumstances that caused Louisville High School Softball to change from Slow Pitch to Fast Pitch Softball and why?
My research showed the answer as the change occurred when Kentucky State Rep. Steve Riggs, sponsored a 1996 law that changed girls’ softball from slow pitch to fast pitch rules. Prior to this change, KY female softball athletes were at a disadvantage when competing for college scholarships but unfortunately it apparently took a law change for a surprisingly controversial change to occur. If you find more accurate information or personally know the history of this change please submit as a comment for without knowing where we have been we will never appreciate where we are now.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Courtney Trimble, formerly of University of Central Florida has been hired as the head coach for the University of Louisville Women’s Golf Team.
See http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/w-golf/spec-rel/060412aaa.html .
She played at Auburn from 1998-2002 and is one of Auburn's most decorated players. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and is married to Billy Trimble.
CARDINAL COUPLE WEBSITE CHALLENGE
It is past time for every Cardinal Couple reader to take the challenge and pledge that no later than the beginning of Volleyball Season – each reader should find one University of Louisville women’s sports fan and introduce them to this website. I continually am surprised at the number of avid UL women’s sports supporters who are not aware of the only website specifically dedicated to women’s sports at the University of Louisville. Time for each of us to our part as the awareness of timely information will directly lead to greater fan interest.
KENTUCKY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME NEWS
On this Thursday, June 7 The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame 2012 inductees includes Angel McCoughtry. The Reception, banquet and ceremony will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel beginning at 6 PM.
See http://www.kyathletichalloffame.org/index.html
UT WOMEN’S ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT DEMISE
Without Pat Head Summitt at the helm, the University of Tennessee Athletic Department quickly enacted massive changes in the Athletic Department which had been announced last year shortly after their awareness of her medical condition. For a published savings of 1.3 million dollars UT has collapsed the men’s and former women’s athletic departments into what is for all intents and purposes, one unit. Obviously this is only my opinion but it looks as if adding the combined department “savings” to another million or so from the savings of a lower salary for new coach Holly Warlick and it looks like UT is attempting to balance their Athletic Department check book on the backs of the Women’s program. It would be interesting to see what savings are being received from other Athletic Department changes but more recent revelations of UT’s handling of these changes makes it appear possible that those savings may instead be spent on local attorneys.
Time will tell and with the writing of others of the announcement and ongoing news with much better research and reporting ability than I, please take a look at current articles beginning with these hyperlinks. See the May 17, 2012 ESPNW article written by Mechelle Voepel Jennings retires after 35 years
http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7941922/debby-jennings-retires-tennessee .
I have asked that you expand your reading of this news as it is a sad day that the University of Tennessee has raced from the starting gate at the first opportunity after Pat’s power structure is gone to eliminate a department with a resulting “merged” group which appears to primarily be represented by those who earlier held parallel positions in the men’s athletic department and one position which is now held by a person that Debby Jennings trained. Recent news of the ongoing details which occurred behind the scenes are emerging. See the May 23, 2012 Associated Press Article Lawyer: Lady Vols' media director forced to retire article as reprinted by ESPNW.
See http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncw&id=7965215
Details will surely become public over time and with an attorney now hired I believe we have come to see the beginning of the end to Tennessee’s dominance in the women’s basketball world. Bad for Tennessee, good for Louisville as recruits will quickly become aware of the decline of the ending of a Sports World Dynasty.
Intern in training - Sandy W.
It is a bit surprising not to see UK's Stallworth on the lists...she can be the game's best center when she is on...and I probably would have put in on the second team to replace Dolson. Being out with knee trouble probably didn't help her case. And...it is a ESPNW listing and we all know how much the four-letter network is in love with Geno's Girls. 
That's all the runs Louisville needed and it was all the runs that they got. 'Good Carl' got the win in relief after Rachel LeCoq started and Maryssa Becker closed for the save. 
We mentioned radio earlier in today's column and CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO will be on the air from 11-noon at Crescent Hill Radio. We'll review a busy week of UofL women's sports and look ahead to the events that the Cards will participate in. Have a listen!
Or hit up the PAYPAL on the right side of the site. Be somebody. Stand out in the crowd. Buy a shirt for that kindly, old lady who walks that cute, little dog up and down the sidewalk and always cleans up after the dog is finished doing his business. $12 bucks. A lifetime of joy. Do it. 