Around The USCAA – 9-19-2018
Around the USCAA is a weekly article that highlights current happenings, key matchups, and relevant news stories from across the association. If you have a relevant news piece that you would like considered for inclusion please send it to info@theuscaa.com.
Supporting Cameren Cousins
MOODY, Maine— The family and friends of Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) student-athlete Cameren Cousins will be holding a mini-golf tournament fundraiser to benefit Cameren’s cancer treatment costs. The decorated Wells High School graduate was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma over the summer.
The details of the fundraiser are as follows:
Where: Wonder Mountain—270 Post Rd. Moody, Maine 04054
When: Sunday, October 14
Tournament: Entry $25/person
The tournament is accepting sponsorship in the form of four levels to include:
Tournament Sponsor—$1,000
Platinum—$750
Gold—$500
Silver—$250
In addition, t-shirts will be sold at the tournament in support of Cameren. The t-shirts will read “Together We Fight” and “Team Cam” on the reverse. T-shirts will be sold for $15 and bracelets for $5.
Interested teams and/or individuals should register at the event. Those wanting to sponsor or donate are advised to message the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/loveisgreattherapy/
Cameren intends to enroll at SMCC in the spring semester and participate as a duel-sport student-athlete in men’s basketball and baseball. In his senior seasons at Wells, Cameren was a finalist for both the Bob Butler Most Outstanding Basketball Player Award and Dr. John Winkin “Mr. Baseball” Award.
*Article Courtesy of Southern Maine Community College
Former Christendom Rugby Star Makes Waves on National Team
After back-to-back trips to the Collegiate Rugby National Championship, it is safe to say that Christendom has solidified itself as one of the top small rugby colleges in the nation. That fact is thanks in large part to alumnus Patrick Audino, a 2016 graduate who helped guide the Crusaders through an incredible period of growth, cementing it as the force it is today. The leadership skills he developed at the school have helped him continue to thrive afterwards, with Audino now a part of the USA South rugby team, which just captured the 2018 Rugby Americas North Men's Championship against the Cayman Islands.
Audino was one of the Class of 2016's two Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Scholarship honorees, after showing skill and character as a member of St. Gregory the Great Academy's rugby team in high school. Upon arriving at Christendom, Audino earned spots on the college's varsity soccer and rugby teams, competing hard against talented teams. On the rugby pitch, especially, Audino was a force to be reckoned with, exploding through defenses and making his own great tackles.
Christendom is one of the smallest rugby schools in the nation, but this fact did not hold Audino and others back. As fly-half (effectively rugby's quarterback), Audino became a natural leader for the team, eventually taking on the role of captain. He helped the players, many of whom had never played rugby before, learn and excel at the sport, leading them to an undefeated season, a win over Duke University, multiple tournament victories, and finally an invitation into conference play — something that eventually led to Christendom's 2017 National Championship. This final achievement, amongst the others, helped Audino earn the college's Leadership Award his senior year for his contributions to athletics at Christendom.
While he was finished with college, Audino felt he had more to offer to rugby. He coached rugby for a time at Ave Maria University, but eventually was offered an even bigger opportunity: to join the USA South rugby team. USA South features many of the best rugby players in the southern region of the United States, from professional rugby players, to DI college athletes. That Audino, an alumnus of the smallest school in the NSCRO (the league Christendom competes in) was invited to represent the team and compete in international rugby was remarkable. That he played in Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Atlanta, helping them win the 2018 Rugby Americas North Men's Championship in Atlanta? An even greater achievement, amongst an already long list.
"I really enjoyed the unique character-building aspects that the Christendom Rugby program fostered," says Audino. "The players themselves learn to run the show on and off the field. For me, this opportunity for leadership helped me in countless ways and prepared me to take my talents elsewhere after college and make an immediate impact. From boarding school to Christendom to international rugby, I have many people to thank who helped me get where I am today. I'm extremely grateful for my time at Christendom and hope to represent Christendom well going forward in my career."
Audino is back in Front Royal, Virginia, now, and is helping coach the Crusaders with the rest of the National Championship-winning coaching staff. He aims to help train this next generation of rugby players to be even better than the last, competing against top talent all for the "love of the game and the glory of God." It may be a tall order, considering the Crusaders' past achievements, but so was the idea of such a small school thriving so well on the national stage. Audino cannot wait to see what comes next.
*Article Courtesy of Christendom College
Former Cager Named to UD Board of Trustees
IRVING, Texas – Former Crusader Megan Smith has been named to the University of Dallas Board of Trustees. Smith played women's basketball at Dallas during the 1998-99 and 99-00 seasons.
Smith appeared in 33 games with the Crusaders. She ranks fifth all-time in the program with a 44.6 field goal percentage (91-204). Smith also shot 49 for 76 from the free throw line, and 1 for two from the 3-point line. The native of Keller, Texas, totaled 232 points (7ppg), 19 blocked shots (.57 per game), and 133 rebounds (4.0 per game). Her career game-high was 25 points and 11 rebounds against Southwestern Assemblies of God on February 16, 1999.
*Article Courtesy of University of Dallas
Key Weekly Matchups
Men’s Soccer
9-19-18 – NHTI at Southern Maine CC 4:00 P.M. EDT
9-20-18 – Florida National University at Barry University (FL) 6:00 P.M EDT
9-22-18 – University of Maine Fort Kent at University of Maine-Machias (Homecoming) 2:00 P.M. EDT
9-23-18 – SUNY ESF at Paul Smith’s College (Barkeater Cup) 2:00 P.M. EDT
Women’s Soccer
9-19-18 – Florida National University at Southeastern University (FL) 7:30 P.M. EDT
9-19-18 – University of Maine-Machias at Marine Maritime Academy 7:30 P.M. EDT
9-22-18 – Valley Forge at Pratt University 4:00 P.M. EDT
9-23-18 – Cincinnati Clermont at Penn State Schuylkill 12:00 P.M. EDT
Women’s Volleyball
9-19-18 – Penn State DuBois at Penn State Greater Allegheny 7:00 P.M EDT
9-20-18 – Carlow University at Penn State Beaver 7:00 P.M. EDT
9-21-18 – University of Maine-Machias at Great Bay C.C. 6:00 P.M. EDT
9-23-18 – University of Maine Fort Kent at Unity College 3:00 P.M. EDT