Elite WNBA player and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings will be leading a basketball clinic this Saturday in the Kerr-Pegula Field House (KPFH). According to a Houghton College press release, Catchings will also speak at a luncheon following the clinic.
The clinic is open to girls ages 8-18. According to Head Women’s Basketball Coach Alicia Mucher, the women’s basketball team will participate in the clinic. “They will help lead drills, work through skills with different college coaches, high school coaches and Tamika Catchings throughout the 4 hour time period. They will serve as demonstrators as well,” she said. Mucher stated that local high school teams will also participate in the clinic.
The event came into being through Athletic Director Harold Lord’s communication with Catchings at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) convention in June, Mucher said. “ (KPFH facilities and events coordinator) Marshall Green has put in a ton of work to be sure we found a date to get her on our campus. I foresee Houghton being a hot spot for many stand-out professional athletes, who are faith based, (in various sports) to come and provide Elite Clinics,” she noted.
“I am actively looking for high level athletes who are both at the top of their game and are also outspoken followers of Christ,” Green said.
Lord said inviting elite athletes, such as Catchings and Jenny Finch who ran a clinic last semester, is done with the goal to use the KPFH in the best way possible “in ways that are both missional and also draw prospective students.” This means, he said, bringing in individuals and programs which are not only popular but also “fit” the goals and mission of Houghton College and the Highlander Athletic Department.
Lord called the Jenny Finch softball clinic a “home run”- and said he hopes to continue hosting similar events to fill up programming slots during the off seasons. The clinic is self funded through the entrance fees paid by attendees. “[Revenue from the clinic] is part of our net missional revenue goal” he said.
Lord feels that Catchings fits well with the Athletic Department philosophy. “Tamika spoke at the NCAA inclusion forum as a deaf athlete,” he said, “and she is a very strong believer.” He also acknowledged Catchings’ work with less-privileged youth in Indianapolis.
Lord said the Athletic Department desires to run two to three such clinics each year, featuring high-level athletes across various sports. He said Finch will return in 2017, and also noted possible clinics run by athletes from the US Women’s National Soccer Team. A baseball clinic is also in the early planning stages.
“We are also bringing in two time Olympian and USA record holder of the ½ marathon, Ryan Hall for a running clinic, 5K and dinner/keynote speaking event on June 17,” Green said.
Catchings is slated to speak at a luncheon at 1:30pm following the clinic. She will speak on her journey as a professional Christian athlete, as well as her experience as a hearing-impaired person, according to Lord. A Houghton College press release stated the cost of the luncheon is $40 for those who also attended the clinic, and $50 for those who did not. Mucher said the luncheon is open to the public, who may register online. Space is limited to 100 people.