The Price of Athletics...

I'm going to reference Tony Doughtie's Blog from May 7, when he reported that the NCHSAA cut down the football season by a week in order to cut costs. This is supposed to save money on transportation. I'm not sure I get that as a cost savings measure, when most teams will probably give up their bye week and still play eleven games anyway.

Another thought that came across my mind on this measure is that we're talking about eliminating a football game to save money. Really? Football and Basketball seem to be the two sports that actually might make money.

The reason I bring this up is that the cost to high schools and school districts supporting athletic programs has to be increasing at a pretty alarming rate. Any way they can save would probably help. It probably won't be popular, either. Cutting out a week of football season or having girls and boys, jay-vees and varsity teams all playing on the same night at the same school saves money on travel expenses. Not popular, but cost saving.

I was talking with my dad about high school sports and how schools are trying to save money. He told me he could remember there being whispers of possible pay-to-play being put into place during my freshman year at Rocky Mount High. Gas prices back then were probably less than half of what they are now.

While scrolling through my e-mail, I find one from pops that sends me to www.detnews.com. An article on pay-to-play up in Michigan. The article sites several school districts and plans to increase their charges to participate in high school athletics.

Increase the charges? Yes, it seems most are already charging to play high school sports. According to the article, Birmingham School District is proposing raising their charges from $130 to $140. It does not say if that is per sport or for unlimited participation. Farmington Public School District proposes an increase from $100 for unlimited sports to $300.

If that seems like a lot of cash for one of your children to play high school sports, just imagine if you had two or three - at the same time. The article sited no discounts for a second or third child.

Then, of course, there is the Oakland County District. They will vote this month on tripling it's rates. If your child is in Middle School, it would cost $210 to play one sport. (I'm guessing it would cost the same for a second and third sport.) If you are unfortunate enough to have a child in high school, you'll need to come up with $450 for one sport.

As mind-boggling as some of those fees are, there are some fairly grim numbers cited that makes these fees a necessity. The Rochester District is facing a $14.6 million shortfall next year. Birmingham Schools is facing an $8 million shortfall, but says they are committed to sustaining the 53 varsity sports and over 100 teams.

53 varsity sports?

Let's hope the folks from Rocky Mount High don't have to start dolling out that kind of cash for their children to participate on an athletic team. I think most parents would probably rather see $1 increase in ticket prices first. Or have to watch the Freshman basketball game, then the JV Girls, then the JV Boys, then the Varsity Girls before finally getting to the Varsity Boys.

Yes, not the most popular decision, but I'm thinking it still beats paying $450 to participate in one sport.

UNCP tennis unites from around the globe

By Nick Phillips
Asst.Sports Editor
April 29, 2010

Photo by Nick Phillips
Tennis players Maricel Quintero Prieto, Madeline DiNunzio and Mia Winterbottom (left to right) all came to UNCP as international students, and are three players of the seven total players on UNCP’s roster.

When students look at colleges and universities to attend, many look at schools within their state. When students also have athletic potential and are looking at the possibility of an athletic scholarship, the distance and location of the colleges and universities tends to play a less significant role. But coming to an entirely different country?

Madeline DiNunzio, Maricel Quintero- Prieto and Mia Winterbottom are three members of the seven-member UNCP tennis team, and each took an extraordinary approach to arrive in Pembroke.

All three are international students, coming to campus from three different parts of the globe. For one, their first time in America was coupled with stepping on UNCP’s campus, while another frequented Florida several times a year and the third came to Pembroke by way of community college.

Helpful advice
Quintero-Prieto has two years of experience with the Braves under her belt, coming to UNCP from Bogota, Colombia. The junior attended Cowley County Community College in Kansas before moving on to Pembroke.

In two seasons, Quintero-Prieto has compiled a 22-24 record in singles play, while her doubles record stands at 10-34.

This season, Quintero-Prieto also played the role of big sister to DiNunzio and Winterbottom. Having been through the same trials as the two freshmen were experiencing, both freshmen agreed that Quintero-Prieto was a huge help as they transitioned to college and America.

From Down Under
When Winterbottom came to UNCP last fall, it was not only her first time on campus, but her first trip to the United States. The Sydney, Australia, native said she was both nervous and excited in anticipation of coming to school.

“I was nervous and sad to leave my family and friends, but the excitement took away those feelings because I’ve always wanted to study in America,” Winterbottom said.

To be able to do something I love, tennis, at the same time, is icing on the cake,” she added.

While in college, all students have certain moments and experiences that stand above the rest. For Winterbottom, she recalls her first collegiate tennis match as a favorite, yet laughable moment.

“I was so nervous, as a freshman and an international student, with my outfit that was twice the size of me. I was running around everywhere and jumping up in excitement the whole entire match,” Winterbottom said.

Winterbottom won that first singles match, 6-2, 6-0, before her doubles team lost 8-3. She finished with a 10-15 record in singles competition, and a 7-17 overall doubles record in her freshman campaign.

Winterbottom also listed Relay for Life as one of her favorite memories in her short time here, as well as going to Wal-Mart for the first time.

“I took a video camera and plenty of pictures. I’d never seen pizzas so big, or that many flavors of Oreos,” she added about her Wal-Mart trip.

Winterbottom was quick to say that DiNunzio and Quintero Prieto are her “two closest friends here” and that they all “get along really well, it’s the three foreigners that do things a bit different.”

Northern neighbor
DiNunzio hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but is a frequent visitor of Florida and has also been to Georgia, New York, South Carolina and Virgina.

DiNunzio said that it was an honor to be recruited by UNCP, knowing that she was “about to start my new future studying at a great school, but also thrilled knowing how privileged I was to have this opportunity.”

The Taddlecreek Academy graduate was redshirted this year but gained valuable practice time while adjusting to college.

She was nervous about being away from home, family and friends, but also was excited to be on her own and having to take responsibilities on that she never thought about before.

DiNunzio echoed Winterbottom’s opinion of the trio’s friendship.

“We all get along great. It’s hard to find a relationship with someone that you spend from morning to night with and not get sick of them, but with these girls it’s very unique. We are all very close,” she said.

DiNunzio added that “although we were all raised in different environments, with different cultures and morals, we are very similar. We all share similar personalities with a great sense of humor,” she said.

The town of Pembroke and the local community was different for DiNunzio, calling it a ‘culture shock.’

“I never really pictured myself living outside of the city but I needed a change. When I came here as a recruit I knew Pembroke was the right choice for me.”

Another agreement was that a major difference in America is that there are tons of fried food options.

“I’ve never seen so many things fried, and the size of everything. Back home, you could only get fried chicken at KFC. Here, they fry everything from pickles to mushrooms,” Winterbottom said.

DiNunzio added that “Canadian and American culture is quite similar,” but that she had to get used to all the fried food. While their accents remain intact, the three are becoming ‘Americanized’ every day they are on campus.

Winterbottom’s Australian lingo peeks through when she said that she’s “gained heaps of friends,” adding that “everyone is really nice and welcoming here.”

Tennis teammates and other students are all friends that DiNunzio has gained, saying that her “teammates are like sisters” and that she has also “made friendships with many people outside the tennis team” who she is close with.

If you are walking around campus one day, chances are you will run into DiNunzio, Quintero Prieto and Winterbottom somewhere.

Take time to talk and get to know them. You will gain new friends while learning about their culture. More importantly, they will be exposed to another aspect of American culture in their journey as international students here at UNCP.