Club gives SMC althetes a chance to give back
By SARAH RYKOWSKI
Saint Mary's News Editor
Soon Saint Mary's campus will be ringing with the sounds of little belles — members of the new Belle Ringers kids' club formed to support Belles athletics. The program was the brainchild of athletic director Lynn Kachmarik, assistant athletic director Gretchen Hildebrandt, and new head and assistant basketball coaches Suzanne Smith and Sherry Donnelly.
"We've been toying with a couple of ideas as to how to get the community involved," Kachmarik said. "They brainstormed and came up with the idea."
The Belle Ringers program is offered for area K-8 students, giving them an opportunity to get to know Saint Mary's athletes and become familiar with the different programs offered at the College. Participants receive a T-shirt to wear to the games, chances to meet the athletes and get autographs, and opportunities to attend clinics run by Saint Mary's coaches and athletes. They also get to participate at the games. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade can work as water assistants or towel assistants at the games. Those in grades 5-8 can help shag balls or be bat girls or boys.
"Since this is a Division III program, they can get great exposure," Kachmarik said. "It's great for our students, because it's another way for our students to get involved in the community."
Games coming up that members of the club can participate in include a home soccer at 5 p.m. on September 12 against Kalamazoo volleyball the same night at 6:30 p.m., volleyball against Hope on September 16 at 4 p.m., and soccer again against Manchester at 5 p.m. on September 20.
"Our goal is to be the best women's athletic program in the country," Kachmarik said. "We're building to be a strong program. [This program] will give the kids something to strive for academically."
While a similar club already exists at Notre Dame, Kachmarik believes that both programs are separate and necessary.
"It goes both ways because it's the best of both worlds," Kachmarik said. "We've got a great Division I program next door. We can walk in and see the best. Over here, you have Division III, where there's a place for everyone. Each school has so many great things going on. I think it's so phenomenal that we are so different athletically — we really can enhance each other."
Kachmarik and Smith hope that the existence of this club will help to further the connection between Saint Mary's athletics and the South Bend community.
"We've distributed fliers at every parochial school [in the area]," Kachmarik said.
The Belle Ringers program is part of a large effort on the part of Saint Mary's to connect with the local community and boost Saint Mary's pride in athletics.
"Everyone is not going to be a Division I athlete," Kachmarik said. "In Division I, the win-lose intensity is higher. The role of Saint Mary's can be different. This can open people's eyes, tell them `There's a place for me.'"
All News Stories for Wednesday, September 6, 2000
