Thursday, June 01, 2006
USI softball staff to coach in Australia
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USI softball head coach Sue Kunkle and assistant coach Annie Medico ’06 have been selected to coach a USA Athletes International squad in Sydney, Australia this summer. The two will coach a team of players from the United States to compete in the Invitational Friendship Softball Series June 30- July 12. It marks the second straight summer that Kunkle and Medico have teamed to direct a USA Athletes International Squad. In 2005, the two led a USA Athletes International squad to the championship of the Robur ’58 Softball Tournament in Holland. “Our first experience with USA Athletes International was amazing,” Kunkle said. “We were able to coach athletes from all over the country, while seeing new and exciting parts of the world.” The experience benefits USI. “Coaching with this organization helps boost the image of USI as a whole,” Medico explained. “It brings exposure to the University and the softball program. “It is an honor to coach other athletes overseas, and to be an ambassador for the sport of softball and the United States,” Medico said. “In doing so, I think it brings positive attention to USI.” The experience of coaching overseas is not limited to the USI coaching staff. USI’s involvement with Athletes International started two years ago when former USI standouts Brooke Biggs ’05, Shannon Emmons ’04, Kristen Houseworth ’05, and Nichole Pike played in the 2004 Belgium Softball Open. “It is definitely appealing to prospective recruits that USI student-athletes have the opportunity to play all around the world,” Kunkle said. Other USI athletes that have competed or will compete include softball’s Sunny Oelling ’05 (Holland, 2005/Australia, 2006) and Krista Nugent (Australia, 2006); in addition to volleyball’s Laura Ellerbusch (Italy, 2006). Emmons also competed in Aruba in 2005 and will coach the same team in 2006. The experience is not all business. “The best part is the memories and relationships formed among the players and coaches,” Medico explained. “It is a chance to fulfill two dreams at once; play or coach softball and visit a beautiful part of the world.” Established in 1991, USA Athletes International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving amateur athletes the opportunity to experience the competition, history, and culture of other countries on an international level. |
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