Expansion to begin in spring 2021

Yavapai Community College is expanding its sports programs significantly over  the next two years.  It is adding eSports, which involves computer competition to its program.  It is claimed that this is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. The College is working with a “couple of private firms” to raise funds to cover the cost of the sport. (Location probably Prescott Campus but no word yet to confirm that is the case.)

A women’s soccer team will be created on the Prescott Campus and functioning by the spring 2021.  The Community College had hoped to announce a new coach in October, but Covid-19 interfered with that decision.

The goal is to recruit 80 to 90 percent of female athletes from County high schools for the soccer team.  However, unless the current men’s soccer team is composed of athletes from the County in the same percentage, legal issues may arise under Title 9.  Those issues were not addressed.

The College also intends to kick off Men and Women basketball on the Prescott Campus in the fall 2022.

The total costs of adding all the new programs to the Prescott athletic offering was not disclosed.

You may view a portion of the discussion regarding the new athletic programs below.

Scrimmage and practice possible in small groups  in the fall; responding to Board member  Chevalier, VP Jenkins says College will not have spring sports if doing so poses a danger to students

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board was provided a detailed explanation at its August meeting for the reasons fall sports were moved to spring 2021.  Vice President Rodney Jenkins explained that the decision was made because “every scenario we looked at, there was a percentage of student athletes and or coaches and staff who would contract” Covid-19.

 In addition to the recommendation by the Yavapai coaches, staff and Jenkins made to the President about closing,  all of the Arizona community college presidents agreed on their own to move fall sports to spring. The NJCAA also recommended the move.

Third District Representative Paul Chevalier raised a question about operating the sports program in the Spring if there had not by that time been an effective vaccination program in place.  Vice President Jenkins assured Mr. Chevalier that the Community College would not place student athletes in danger of the virus in the spring.

You may view the six minute report and discussion on the video clip below.

Community College adds batting cages and bull pens to center field area

With the cancellation of the softball season, Yavapai Community College has been making improvements to its baseball and softball fields.  An earlier Blog outlined improvements made to the baseball field.

Regarding the softball field, Athletic Director Brad Clifford told radio station KYCA that “we’re going to be putting some batting cages in center field” with coverings. It is also putting some “bullpens in the outfield as well.”

According to Clifford, this makes the softball field “more conducive to what we are doing with our softball program.”

Source:  Sports Director, KYCA.

Must have grade point average of 3.0 or above to qualify

Fifty-seven of Yavapai Community College’s athletic team members made the Athletic Director’s Honor roll in spring 2020.   In order to qualify, a student athlete must have attained a 3.0 grade point average or above.

According to Community College President Lisa Rhine, nineteen of the student athletes scored a perfect 4.0 grade point average. In addition, 23 student athletes received National Junior College Athletic Association Academic student athlete awards.

The Women’s Volleyball team lead team averages with an outstanding 3.77 GPA.  That team was followed by the Men’s Soccer team with a 3.59 G.P.A., the baseball team with a 3.32 average, and the softball team with a 3.27 average. 

You may view a short video clip of Dr. Rhine reporting on student athlete academic success on the video below.

BlueFrame  will video stream sporting events on BlueFrame’s sports network; part of exclusive Prescott based athletic department’s long-term vision for the department

The Yavapai Community College Athletic Department announced  that BlueFrame Technology will be its official streaming partner starting on July 1, 2020.  The company will produce live and archived broadcasts through Yavapai’s ‘channel’ on BlueFrame’s Team1Sports network.  The network  is available on Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. Broadcasts will also be accessible on www.goroughriders.com/.

Kelsey English, Assistant Athletic Director-Operations, said that “Streaming is an important part to connect with our alumni, fans, and supporters. We have worked hard during this downtime of athletics to improve our athletic experience. This partnership, along with our recently named Adidas apparel agreement, are just two more things to help with our long term vision of the department.”

It is noted that all of the major athletic programs are operated from the Prescott Campus.  In addition, all events associated with the programs are played in either Prescott or Prescott Valley.  None are involved in the Verde Valley.

Issue of recruiting County players for County Community College teams remains; less than 5% recruited from Yavapai County high schools

The Yavapai Community College Roughriders volleyball team is making a strong showing this year with a 13-2 overall record along with seven straight victories.  They have an overall 5-0 record in their conference as of October 4.

The soccer team has lost three of its last five games.  It is now 9-3 on the season and 2-2 in conference play.  They turned around their losing streak October 3 with a victory over Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

The persistent issue of recruiting athletes for the Community College team from outside Yavapai County remain. Data shows that the two teams are dominated by players outside the County.  The Volleyball and Soccer teams field a total of 42 athletes.  Of those, only two are from Yavapai County.

The Volleyball team has 16 members, none of whom are from Yavapai County. Eleven team members are from Arizona; five from other states.

The Soccer team has 26 members.  Of those, two are from Yavapai County, two from outside the United States, eleven from outside Arizona, and eleven are from Arizona.

Fee is $175 for campers ages 10-18; fee for those staying overnight in Yavapai College housing is $400

Yavapai Community College will hold its annual baseball overnight camp July 14-17 in Prescott.  The fee for campers who commute to camp is $175. The  fee for campers staying overnight in Yavapai College housing is $400. Meals and activities are included in the camp fee and campers are under adult supervision at all times.

The camp is for players between the ages of from 10 to 18.  Campers will be placed in a group matching age and ability.  

The introduction for the camp will be on July 14 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The camp will take place for the next three days from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

For more information contact Yavapai College Assistant Baseball Coach Kyle Wise, (928) 776-2292 and kyle.wise@yc.edu or visit the Yavapai College Athletics Summer Camp Website at www.goroughriders.com/summercamps/.

First time ever  Clinic to be held Wednesday, July 17 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Building 19 on Verde Campus

The Yavapai Community College Coach and Staff will host a free soccer coaching clinic on July 17 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on the Verde Valley Campus.  The clinic will take place in Building 19, Room 215.  The event is free. No prior registration is required.

The Community College coaches are  seven-time national champions. The College in its press release urges readers to “Introduce a new fan to the sport. Bring a friend. Meet Yavapai’s first and only head soccer coach, Mike Pantalione. All levels of coaching experience welcome.”

To the best of the Blog’s knowledge, this is a first for the Yavapai Community College soccer team bringing a coaching clinic to the Valley.

• Wednesday, July 17, 2019
• 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
• Yavapai College, Verde Campus (Building 19, Room 215)
• No registration is required. Free admission.

Soccer Coaching Clinic will include—

• Team Management
• Developing Technique and Skill
• Tactics & Strategy
• Attacking & Defending Set Plays
• Laws of the Game

For more information, visit www.goroughriders.com.

Scholarships for out-state students should be used to support County Community College students

The two East Region Community College Representatives on the Governing Board, Paul Chevalier and Deb McCasland, urged President Dr. Lisa Rhine to consider focusing the current athletic program on students from Yavapai County.  (According to Blog analysis, in 2018-19 all but one athlete on the four College teams came from outside Yavapai County.)  Chevalier said he had no difficulty with supporting an athletic program, however, more athletes should be chosen from Yavapai County because the Community College is a County facility and heavily supported by County property taxpayers. 

Representative McCasland commented that she was uneasy with tuition payments going to out-state athletes in order to persuade them to join Yavapai College rather than use the tuition  for residents of the County. She also surmised that Maricopa County may have restricted out-state recruiting, however, a Blog check on several baseball rosters in that County indicated that there is still out-state recruiting occurring in that District.

The comments by Mr. Chevalier and Ms. McCasland following in the video below.