2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games honors athletes
July 28th, 2008
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By Matt Pocket
Celebrating Junior Athletes
From its founding, the Amateur Athletic Union has served to introduce America’s youth to discipline, teamwork and persistence. The public can show their support and enjoy a chance to meet some of the athletes, coaches and visiting families at the Celebration of Athletes.
Held on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, the Celebration of Athletes is one of the most memorable nights of the 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games. The Celebration of Athletes also will feature entertainment and sport demonstrations, as well as the Finals for the 200 Meter Hurdles for Sub-Youth and Youth Boys and Girls in Track & Field.
Marching Band World Tour
Headlining the event will be the Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. High School marching band, which will be performing for the final time in the United States before traveling to Beijing to perform for the Summer Olympics. The marching band, which has also performed at Ford Field for the MHSAA State Football Playoffs in 2007, raised over $250,000 to travel with the Olympians this summer. The Celebration of Athletes begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Olds-Marshall Track at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti. Tickets are $5 for the ceremonies.
Hoop de jour
Boys basketball wrapped up on Sunday at Lutheran Westland High School, with the Men With Vision from Washington D.C. bringing home the title. After marching their way to an undefeated 5-0 record through pool play, the D.C. team faced New York’s Riverside Hawks in the final match, defeating them 40-29. In the bronze medal game, the Detroit Elite tipped off against the Kazoo Blues, in a rematch of Saturday’s action, when the Blues won 40-24. The score was the same this time around, but it was the Elite who came out on top, celebrating their bronze medal victory.
The TN Elite White faced the MI Shock on Monday at Lake Orion High School for the chance to go play for the gold medal in girls basketball. Both teams entered the matchup with one loss in the double elimination tournament. The Elite White defeated the Shock, 90-63, sending the Tennessee team on to face the WI Select, in a rematch of Monday morning’s game, which the Select won 85-78. The championship game be played on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Lake Orion High School. If the Select lose, one more game will be played on Tuesday, at 1:30 p.m. However, if the Wisconsin team wins, they clinch the gold medal.
Preview
Field hockey players from all over the country will begin practicing for competition on Tuesday at Ocker Field at the University of Michigan. Two local field hockey players, Emy Guttman and Grace Wilson, will be playing in the tournament. Both athletes hail from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich. A total of 123 other field hockey players from around the nation will begin play on Wednesday, hoping to lead their teams to the gold medal on Saturday. The action begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday at the University of Michigan’s Ocker Field.
