SMSU Athletics

March 27, 2014 – Hoof Prints Article
 
Hello Mustang Fans!

The NCAA along with the T.E.A.M. Coalition and the NSIC have announced the winning schools in the second annual "It's a Slam Dunk Don't Drive Drunk" pledge campaign. SMSU collected the most overall pledges for the second straight year, while the Upper Iowa University collected the highest percentage of pledges from fans in attendance.

Southwest Minnesota State collected 1,262 pledges from their fans the weekend of February 21-22, 2014. More than 10,000 pledges were signed across the league. Upper Iowa University had 64 percent of their fans in attendance sign a pledge card. Both SMSU and Upper Iowa will receive checks in the amount of $500 that will be donated in their name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Concordia University, St. Paul had the winning video in the campaign. Schools were asked to create short (30-60 second) videos to underscore the theme - "It's a Slam Dunk - Don't Drive Drunk". After the videos were submitted they were judged on Overall Impact, Creativity, Memorable Content and Delivery and Clear Message. The Concordia-St. Paul video was featured during the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball semifinals and championship. Submissions from all NSIC schools are available to view on the Slam Dunk Face Book page at: http://www.facebook.com/NSICSAAC

TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. A big thank you to the NSIC, NCAA and TEAM Coalition for their support of this very important campaign against drinking and driving.

The SMSU Baseball Program along with the Vs. Cancer Foundation has joined forces to help the fight against cancer. SMSU has set a goal to raise $5,000 by April 19 to help cure childhood cancer. The Mustangs will be shaving their heads after the game against Augustana on April 19 at Alumni Field in support of the cause.

SMSU is looking for donations and/or support on or before April 19 to help raise awareness to childhood cancer. Childhood cancer is becoming a bigger threat every year. Each year in the United States, approximately 13,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer.  That's more than a classroom of kids a day. Many SMSU players and members of the SMSU coaching staff have been or know of someone that has been affected by this terrible disease.

Once individuals are on the SMSU Vs. Cancer team page, they'll be able to choose how much to donate to this cause. Any amount small or large will help. Individuals can either choose to make a one-time donation or set up a monthly donation to the fundraiser. Either way you choose helps a great cause!

After entering the amount, you will be taken to the page where you will be asked to enter your payment information. At this point you will be able to write a message and tell us why you are donating to this fund.  You can also opt to make an anonymous payment. Once you have filled everything out you click "Send Gift".

Individual gifts will be split two ways. One half of the donations collected will go the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, which will aid in funding new research for childhood cancer. The other half will go to the Vs. Cancer Foundation.

SMSU is one of numerous teams from across the country participating in the fundraiser for childhood cancer research.

Save the date! The 29th annual David and Carol Drown SMSU Golf Classic will be held Friday, June 20 at the Marshall Golf Club. The Golf Classic is the next Mustang Booster Club fund raising event, and the Golf Classic Committee will be convening in the next couple of weeks to begin the planning for this great event.
  
For all your information on Vs. Cancer, the Mustang Booster Club and SMSU Athletics, go to SMSUmustnags.com.

Upcoming SMSU Athletics Events

The SMSU Women's and Men's Indoor Track and Field teams will be back in action this Saturday as the Mustangs outdoor season begins at the Dakota State Open in Madison, SD.

The SMSU Tennis team (3-11, 1-5 NSIC) lost to the University of Mary last Sunday 8-1 this past Sunday in NSIC action. The Marauders took all six singles matches and two of the three doubles contests. Crystal Overbaugh and Katie Kienitz teamed up to defeat Sarah Janes, and Catherine Gibbens 9-8 in No. 1 doubles for SMSU's lone point. The Mustangs will hit the court again this Saturday, versus Minnesota Duluth at the Lifetime Fitness Oakdale in Minnetonka, MN.

The SMSU Baseball team (10-10, 1-3 NSIC) went 1-3 last weekend against MSU Mankato in Sioux City, IA. The Mustangs won game two of the NSIC series 7-4 while losing game one, 1-3, game three, 1-3 and game four, 4-10. SMSU is idle this week and is scheduled to be back action on April 2 at St. Cloud State, weather and field conditions permitting, for a doubleheader with the Huskies.

The Mustang Softball team, 3-13 overall, competed in their first NSIC doubleheader yesterday in Sioux Falls, SD, against the University of Sioux Falls at 3:00 p.m. SMSU is scheduled to be at home this weekend hosting two NSIC schools. On Saturday, Minot State University will be in Marshall, MN to play a doubleheader with a scheduled start time of 1:00 p.m. On Sunday, SMSU will host the University of Mary in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. Please be checking the SMSU Athletics website for any changes due to weather or field conditions.

The SMSU Women’s Golf competed last Sunday and Monday in the Missouri Western State Spring Invite held at the St. Joseph Country Club in St. Joseph, MO. The Mustangs battled cold temperatures on Sunday recording a score of 376 to finish in 15th place at the 16-team invite. Round two of the invite was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. SMSU will return to action on April 12-13 at the Augustana Invite at Prairie Green Golf Club in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Good luck to all of our SMSU Teams competing this weekend!

Go Mustangs!

Congratulation to Brian Brynes who provided the correct answer to last week’s Mustang Hoofprint’s Trivia Question: Who was the last SMSU Softball pitcher to throw a no hitter? On March, 8, 2012, Chelsey Evans threw a no-hitter versus Holy Family (PA) leading the Mustangs to a 9-0 victory.

Hoofprints Trivia Question (please put this in a box with the title on top)

How many SMSU Women’s Golfers have taken 1st Place at the NSIC Championships?

The first person to email me at MustangHoofPrints@SMSU.edu with the correct answer to this question will receive an SMSU t-shirt.