CYC Sports

Boys and Girls, if you like to run, Big River Running is looking for YOU!  They are sponsoring a charity event called the Festival of Miles.  This event will be held at St. Louis University High School on Saturday May 22nd beginning at 6:30pm.    The events that evening are as follows:

6:30 Kids Mile Race
7:00 National Anthem
7:05 Introduction
7:20 Boys 8 & Under 100 meter dash
7:30 Girls 8 & Under 100 meter dash
7:40 Women’s Mile
7:50 Master's Men’s Mile
8:00 Invitational Boys Mile
8:10 Invitational Girls Mile
8:25 DASA Wheelchair Mile
8:40 Celebrity 100 Meter Dash
8:56 Saint Louis Track Club Elite Men’s Mile

This charity event is to support the family of Mike Rathman, a 2008 St. Louis University High School graduate, who was paralyzed from the waist down just weeks after finishing sixth at the Missouri State Track Meet in the high jump.  Admission to the night is only $5 and EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR goes to the Rathmans.

So how do you sign up to run?  Go to the Big River Running website, http://www.bigriverrunning.com/FestivalofMiles/kidsraces.php for all the details.  If you want to sign your under 8 year old for up, do it quickly, only 8 spots available for boys and 8 for girls!  Plenty of spots available for the kids mile. 

St. Clement's Basketball coach Bart Sullivan shared this story as a way of showing his heartfelt appreciation for Ascension coach Matt Schwarz and his 8th grade boys basketball team.  Below is the story of how this Random Act of Sportsmanship unfolded in a league basketball game this season.

St Clement's has a player on their team who has myotonic muscular dystophy and a number of other neurological challenges, his name is Jack.  Jack has been on the team since 3rd grade, but because of his limitations does not play a lot and has only scored one basket in his grade school career, that back in 3rd grade.  Although the St. Clement's players try to get him shots, he has a hard time catching and shooting the ball, even against the lightest defense.

It was late in the game, the outcome had already been decided, at a time out coach Sullivan went to the Ascension coach to see if his team would be willing to allow Jack to get a shot, and possibly the last basket of his basketball career.  Coach Schwarz immediately said he would take care of it.  When play resumed, the St. Clement's players got Jack the ball close to the basket.  The Ascension players gave Jack plenty of room to shoot.  Nevertheless, he missed the shot.  A teammate rebounded the ball and gave it to Jack, he shot again and missed.  This time an Ascension player got the rebound and passed it to back to Jack.  He shot again.  This time he didn't miss!

The fans in the stands for both teams grasped what was going on immediately and the entire crowd exploded in applause and cheers for Jack as the clock ran out.  In the line after the game, as the teams shook hands, many of the Ascension players took an extra moment to congratulate Jack and tell him "Nice Shot."

The sportsmanship shown by coach Matt Schwarz and his team was remarkable.  The parents of the St. Clement's team have been pulling for Jack all these years, and after the game, they came up to coach Sullivan with tears in their eyes saying what a great moment it was.  Coach Sullivan, his team, the Ascension team and everyone in the gym that night will not forget that moment, but most importantly, Jack will never forget it either.

Mark your calendar, put a note in your Blackberry, save the date of Friday, June 11th so you can attend   CYC Night at the River City Rascals game at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, MO..  There is nothing quite like minor league baseball for family fun.  You can participate in the CYC Parade on the field at 6:30pm, game starts at 7:05.  There will be an autograph session for CYC players in attendance, and a chance to take photos of you with your favorite Rascal.  Infield Reserve Tickets are only $5 for CYC players, family and friends.  Use this as a great night to have a your softball or baseball team party!!!  Contact Buzz Swanston at 314 353-8911 ext13 or e-mail him at buzzswanston@archstl.org and reserve your ticket today.  Plus CYC players can sign-up for a drawing to see who will throw-out the first pitch and to be bat boys/girls.  First pitchers and bat boys/girls will be drawn on Monday, June 4th.     

St. Louis University Women's basketball coach, Shimmy Gray-Miller and members of her Billiken team will conduct a FREE Basketball Clinic for CYC Girls on Friday April 30th, from 6pm to 8pm at 

                        ***  There has been a change of locations due to a scheduling conflict    ***

                  The new location is the side gym at Chaifetz Arena on the campus of SLU. 

The Clinic is FREE, but you must reserve a spot.  Individual players, groups or teams are all welcome to participate.  Call Buzz at 314 353-8911 ext. 13 to reserve your spot.  The clinic is for the first 50 players that call.  You must call by Friday April 23rd!  This is a rare opportunity to be instructed by a college coach and college players for FREE.  Don't wait any longer, call TODAY!