SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

FLORIDA‘FACE-OFF’

Top lacrosse teams come to Clermont

STORY: MICHELLE CLARK PHOTOS: PROVIDED

Spring break is when most college students head to Florida, usually for the beach, but for many student-athletes it means heading to warm weather and high-tech training facilities like the one in Clermont. The National Training Center (NTC) at South Lake Hospital attracts top collegiate lacrosse teams every year. Men’s and women’s teams from both Division 2 and Division 3 come to the facility to train and compete with games open to the public.

In 2011, there were 19 teams participating in the program. Now, the NTC is hosting 39 teams, all ranked within the top

50. Some notable teams include Trinity College, ranked women’s No. 3, and Salisbury College, which came in at No. 8. These teams come to the NTC because of what our community offers.

“There are other Florida options for these teams, but they choose to come here,” said Kate Powell Wojciechowski, the center’s sports business coordinator. She believes the center offers a level of convenience that’s hard to beat.

The NTC itself is top notch and game management is outstanding with its use of digital recording methods. The center also brings in local company Vidoou to do the required game recording in HD. This gives teams the freedom of attending without having to lug their own equipment and staff.

The center partnered with local housing options to give teams a variety of lodging options. Some restaurants also participate in the partnership and grant discounts to the teams. This draws business and recognition to the Clermont community.

Another great reason to welcome these teams to town is the games themselves. Because these are top competitors, games tend to be exciting and rowdy. Kate says a lot of alumni come out because these games count toward their offi cial season and ranking. Games run from Feb. 28 to March 23, and it is only $5 at the gate to attend.

March 15 and 17 are the biggest days with six intense scrimmages each day. Food trucks will be at the fi elds on these days. Expect some local favorites like Kona Ice. Philly’s Best will be there on the 15, and Big Hot Box will be serving up Mexican on the 17. Others are still in the works.

For the women, you don’t want to miss Trinity vs. Salisbury. With a healthy rivalry, they were matched at fi nals last year, and will meet again at the NTC fi elds. In addition, for the men’s, be sure to see Springfi eld vs. Bowdoin and Bowdoin vs. Stevens Institutes of Technology. These matches are sure to be high energy and are a load of fun for spectators.

2016 LACROSSE NTC SPRING GAMES

DATE TIME HOME GUEST

Mar. 2 11 a.m. Capital Saint Vincent Mar. 3 7 p.m. Saint Vincent Johnson and Wales Mar. 5 6 p.m. Roger Williams Methodist Mar. 7 4 p.m. Methodist Franciscan Mar. 8 7 p.m. Nazareth Emerson Mar. 10 10 a.m. Emerson Roger Williams Mar. 10 12 p.m. Methodist Nazareth Mar. 14 10 a.m. RPI Endicott Mar. 14 12 p.m. Babson Ithaca Mar. 15 9 a.m. WNEU Rowan Mar. 15 9 a.m. Trinity Salisbury Mar. 15 11 a.m. McDaniel Amherst Mar. 15 11 a.m. Mt. Holyoke Fitchburg State Mar. 15 4 p.m. Skidmore Westfi eld State Mar. 15 6 p.m. Goucher Babson Mar. 16 2:30 p.m. Springfi eld (Men) Bowdoin (Men) Mar. 17 9 a.m. Westfi eld State RPI Mar. 17 9 a.m. Endicott Trinity Mar. 17 11 a.m. Babson McDaniel Mar. 17 11 a.m. MCLA Goucher Mar. 17 3 p.m. Amherst Dickinson Mar. 17 6 p.m. Fitchburg State WNEU Mar. 18 12 p.m. Rowan SUNY Fredonia Mar. 18 3 p.m. Ithaca Skidmore Mar. 20 11 a.m. Eastern Conn. MCLA Mar. 21 11 a.m. RIT Williams Mar. 22 11 a.m. Buffalo State Farmingdale State Mar. 22 5 p.m. Bowdoin (Men) Stevens Inst. of Tech. (Men) Mar. 23 12 p.m. Williams Union Mar. 24 10 a.m. Farmingdale State RIT Mar. 24 12 p.m. Williams Buffalo State

PARTNERS FOR SUCCESS

Business & education come together

STORY: LEIGH NEELY

Current and future business leaders will come together Tuesday, April 19, at Lake Reception for the second annual Partners for Success. A coalition of business and education in Lake County, this networking event will be an evening of dialogue intended to highlight jobs and the workforce.

Nancy Muenzmay, director of the Business Opportunity Center at LakeSumter State College, said, “Many of our students think there’s nothing available for them in Lake County that could be a career, and I want them to know there are good jobs available right here.”

Sponsors of Partners in Success include the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, Lake County Schools, Lake-Sumter State College, Lake Technical College, and the Lake County Chamber Alliance.

“We have it in April so the students have the school year to prepare projects or work on different software or different pieces of equipment,” Nancy said. “It’s sort of a reverse business expo. The students are displaying what they’ve learned during the course of the year—from the culinary departments to auto collision to graphic design to cosmetology—then we bring in the

PARTNERS

FOR SUCCESS

LAKE RECEPTIONS TUESDAY, APRIL 19 5 – 7 P.M.

business community, and that’s why we partner with the county and the chamber alliance.”

The perception of education is not always positive, and Nancy hopes this event will create a change of perception for students, local businesses, and even parents.

“We all work in a vacuum, so when we don’t get together,” Nancy said, “it’s easy to get tunnel vision. You’re just working day to day to day, so you are too centered on your own business. You’re thinking this isn’t working well and we don’t have the workforce for this.”

By putting students, parents, and business representatives in one room, Nancy will be able to highlight the training offered at the various schools, the businesses looking for qualifi ed employees, and students who have the skills needed to meet those qualifi cations. Parents are encouraged to attend to see what local schools and colleges have to offer their children, and higher education offers a number of options.

“We’re working with the county, and the county is trying to bring in new businesses. Two things prospective business owners always ask are what is the work pool like and where will my children go to school. If their only source of information is news articles or any other type of press, they don’t get the whole story.”

Representatives from Goodwill Industries, CareerSource Central Florida, and the Lake County Public Library system will also be on hand to provide information a how they can aid career choices.

There will also be demonstrations of projects and work done by the students in various programs, including refreshments prepared by culinary students.