Davidson football players watched teammate Lewis McAlister get knocked in the dunk tank by Luke Foster of Davidson. (Rachel Goldstein/DavidsonNews.net)

Dozens of Davidson Wildcats sports fans headed for the Village Green Saturday for the annual Meet the Wildcats Fan Day, with Davidson coaches and athletes from five fall sports: football, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball.

Players and coaches signed autographs, offered sports tips at special “skill stations” and volunteered a dunk tank. Children played in a Kids Zone, bounced on inflatables, and got their faces painted. Read the full story

Some of the world’s top wheelchair athletes will be in the Lake Norman area over the next four days for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s first-ever International Tournament of Champions. From Wednesday to Saturday, Aug. 10-13, more than 250 elite players will play at gyms from Huntersville to Mooresville, with championships games Saturday. Chris Hunt has a preview, along with a “Wheelchair Basketball 101″ primer on the sport. In SPORTS »

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

A $250,000 sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Automotive Group will allow Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to offer a complete program of middle school sports for the 2011-12 academic year. Read the full story

The DC Force White, an all-star team of 13- and 14-year-olds from Cornelius and Davidson, lost twice Wednesday night and was eliminated from the 2011 East Zone South Region PONY tournament at McEver Field in Davidson. Two Virginia teams – Western Branch and Henry County – will play for the regional championship Thursday night at 6 p.m. Full story in SPORTS »

Centerfielder John Goss (left) was clean as a whistle while shortstop Brooks Carroll was covered with dirt after the DC Force White's victory over Jamestown (Va.) Monday in the PONY tournament. (Andi Carroll photo)

DC Force Gray, one of two Davidson-Cornelius all-star teams playing in this week’s PONY baseball regional tournament at McEver Fields, was eliminated Tuesday night. Meanwhile, DC Force White, the local No. 1 team, will continue its quest for the regional championship Wednesday afternoon. Details in SPORTS »

Davidson is playing host this week to a major youth baseball competition, the East Zone South Region PONY tournament. Five teams from around the region – including two all-star teams from Cornelius/Davidson – are vying for a chance to advance to the PONY East Zone championships next month in Manchester, N.H.

A one-hour and 20 minute rain delay didn’t stop play in Monday night’s opening round at McEver Fields on South Street, where the Davidson-Cornelius Force White team beat Jamestown, 15-11.  Read more about the first round and find out who’s playing Tuesday, in SPORTS»

Games are open to the public.

The tournament is hosted by Davidson Youth Baseball Association and Cornelius-Lake Norman Youth Athletic Association, in partnership with Davidson Parks & Recreation.

Robbie Parks, 45, glides, jumps and flips through the wake on his board when he’s in the water. But when he’s on land, it’s a different story – Mr. Parks has been in a wheelchair for almost 30 years. This summer, Mr. Parks is training to compete on the World Team for adaptive water skiing, through the adaptive sports program at Carolina Rehabilitation. Meet him and other “adaptive” skiiers in this video by Christina Ritchie Rogers.

RELATED STORY

July 22, 2011, CorneliusNews.net, “Adaptive waterskiing offers new opportunities, independence.”

Carol Quillen

When Carol Quillen officially takes up her new job as Davidson College’s 18th president on Aug. 1, she’ll bring with her a commitment to liberal arts education, a global perspective, and strong support of the college’s Division I athletics program. In an interview with editorial page editor Taylor Batten published Sunday in The Charlotte Observer, she said she hasn’t set any priorities for her first year. “My most urgent priority is to listen to other people. Davidson has a strategic plan, I need to listen to people talk about the strategic plan.

RELATED COVEARGE LINKS

July 24, 2011, The Charlotte Observer,  “Quillen brings global view to Davidson.”

May 26, 2011, DavidsonNews.net, “Davidson College picks Quillen as its 18th president.”

Read and listen to remarks by Dr. Quillen from May 26 when she was introduced to the college community.