Wingate, N.C.----Bulldog fans can enjoy a full slate of Wingate athletic events this week.

This Week in Wingate University Athletics

Monday, October 12, 2009

Women’s Golf at Patsy Rendleman Invitational (hosted by Catawba) (all day)

Men’s Golf at Queens Invitational at TPC Sawgrass (hosted by Queens, N.C.) (all day)

Men’s Soccer at Belmont Abbey (4 p.m.)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Women’s Golf at Patsy Rendleman Invitational (hosted by Catawba) (all day)

Men’s Golf at Queens Invitational at TPC Sawgrass (hosted by Queens, N.C.) (all day)

Volleyball HOSTS Catawba (7 p.m.)

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Women’s Soccer HOSTS Chowan (4 p.m.)

Men’s Soccer HOSTS Chowan (7 p.m.)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Cross Country HOSTS WU Pre-Conference Invitational (4 p.m.)

Friday, October 16, 2009

Volleyball HOSTS Tusculum (7 p.m.)

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Volleyball HOSTS Mars Hill (5 p.m.)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Volleyball HOSTS Pfeiffer at Carolina Courts in Indian Trail (7 p.m.)

Monday, October 19, 2009

Men’s Soccer at Mount Olive (7 p.m.)

CONNELL MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNEY IS OCT. 16

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Athletic Foundation will host the 34th annual Bill Connell Memorial Golf Tournament Friday, Oct. 16 at Eagle Chase Golf Club in Marshville (registration 8 a.m., shot-gun start 9 a.m.). The tournament is a part of Wingate’s Homecoming weekend. The Bill Connell Memorial Golf Tournament is a captain’s choice event. Interested participants can enter as individuals or put together a foursome.

“The Bill Connell Memorial Golf Tournament is a staple of Homecoming weekend,” Director of the Wingate University Athletic Foundation and assistant athletic director Bill Nash says. “Gladly, we see many of the same faces…and the same slices…each year. It is equally enjoyable to see different alums that have heard of the good times…and make this a part of their Homecoming weekend plans.”

The event honors the memory of Bill Connell (class of 1953), a cornerstone at Wingate for almost five decades. A member of the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame, Connell was a standout baseball and basketball player during his Bulldog playing days. His baseball and basketball teams posted a combined record of 53-10 overall during his two-year tenure as a Wingate student-athlete.

During his time as a Bulldog coach and administrator, Connell was head coach for football, men’s tennis, men’s and women’s basketball and men’s golf. He earned Coach of the Year laurels on nine separate occasions. Connell was an assistant coach for the state champion and Pine Bowl participant Wingate football team in 1958.

Connell was Wingate’s athletic director during the school’s transition from junior college to senior college status. He was NJCAA Region 10 director for 10 years. The NJCAA gave Connell a meritorious service award in 1982. During Wingate’s NAIA days, Connell served as the chair of NAIA District 26 from 1985-88.

Connell’s Wingate golf teams will always be remembered for their tenacious play. He led the Bulldog linksters to 49 consecutive dual match victories during the team’s heyday. In a fitting tribute, Wingate University honors his years of dedication to Bulldog athletics by hosting the Bill Connell Memorial Golf Tournament each year during Homecoming weekend.

The cost for this year’s event is $80 per golfer. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Bill Connell endowed golf scholarship and the Wingate University Bulldog Club. Hole sponsorships can be secured to recognize a professor, classmate, fraternity, team or event. For additional information, contact Bill Nash at 704-233-8121 or bilnash@wingate.edu.

“I hope alumni and friends will consider the hole sponsorship opportunity…to recognize someone, some group or some great event from Wingate,” Nash notes. “What if we had a hole sponsorship to honor an Airband group...or a W’International class? It would be great to see folks honor a former professor or coach as well.”

PEP RALLY SLATED FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

Wingate, N.C.----On Friday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m., a Homecoming pep rally will be held in Jefferson Quad. The event is sponsored by the Student Activities office. There will be free food, live music, the announcement of Homecoming King and Queen and recognition of the fall sports teams. For more information, please contact Sarah Smith at 704-233-8482.

BULLDOG SPORTS AIRS ON WUTV

Wingate, N.C.----Fans can catch this week’s edition of Bulldog Sports on Wingate University Television. The show will air Wednesday through Monday at 12:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. WUTV can be found on Time-Warner Cable channel 22, available for Union County cable subscribers only. The host for Bulldog Sports is Wingate University junior Mike Shaw (Indian Trail, N.C.).

DID YOU KNOW?

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University is number three among NCAA Division II schools producing ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® winners during this millennium...

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past three years.