Miami Rowing Club

The Miami Rowing Club won three silver medals and a bronze at the U.S. Club National Championships in Camden, N.J.

For the first time in history, MRC sent 14 elite athletes, under the direction of Head Coach Cesar Herrera, to the event, held in a 2,000 meter course. There were 100 clubs from more than 70 cities with 4,000 athletes. Some events totaled as many as 54 boats.

The MRC contingent, mostly lightweight underclassmen, gave an outstanding performance.

The Junior (high school) 8 placed second of 34 boats in 5 minutes 57 seconds, missing the gold by 0.4 seconds. They beat several crews from the U.S. development program. The 8 was crewed by Brandt Roen (cox), Nicholas Montalvo, Kyle James, Frankie Aguilar, Luciano and Leo Mercenari, Harrison Shure, Bernie Ramirez and Dominic Prego.

The Junior double (under 17) with Carlos Tornell and Dominic Prego finished second of 32 teams in 7:20.

The Junior 4, crewed by Emily Schwartz, Nick Montalvo, Kyle James, Harrison Shure and Luciano Mercenari, captured silver in 6:40, missing the gold by 0.7 seconds. That event included a record 54 boats. A second Junior 4, with Brant Roen, Frankie Aguilar, Paul Harary, Bernie Ramirez and Jose Bared, was sixth in the final.

The senior lightweight 8 with Nick Montalvo, Frankie Aguilar, Kyle James, Bernie Ramirez, Harrison Shure, Dominic Prego, Leo Mercenari, Jose Bared and Emily Schwartz (cox) won bronze in 6:06.

MRC’s men’s group finished sixth of 100.

The Miami Rowing summer elite athletes resume practice at the City of Miami Rowing Center at the Marine Stadium as they prepare for the Royal Canadian Henley in St. Catherines, Canada.

Football

Team Canada, the second seed, upset top seed Team USA 23-17 to capture the gold medal at the International Federation of American Football Under-19 Championship in Austin, Texas.

Team Canada jumped out to a 10-0 first half lead and never looked back, recovering an on-side kick late in the game to seal the victory.

Team USA featured Hialeah’s Ike McDonald (6-5, 210, LB, Champagnat Catholic HS); Miami’s Chris Merritt (Coach, Christopher Columbus HS); Homestead’s Jesus Wilson (5-10, 170, WR, Christopher Columbus HS); and Miami’s Lorenzo Woodley (6-0, 210, RB, Christopher Columbus HS).

• USA Football, the sport’s national governing body in the United States, hosts more than 100 football training events annually offering education for coaches, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners.

The independent nonprofit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and provides more than $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies.

Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football www.usafootball.com is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.

Triathlon

Laura Jorgensen, 26, won the women’s overall title during the Independence Day Triathlon at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek.

She completed the 0.25-mile swim, 10-mile bike and three-mile run in 53 minutes 30 seconds. Miami’s Marianne Curtis, 26, was fourth in 57:27.

Silver Deutch, 27, of Miami Beach was first in women 25-29 in 1:02:11.Caron Schiffman, 57, of Miami won the women’s 55-59 division in 1:04:35. Homestead’s Leonora Gonzalez, 50, was second in women 50-54 in 1:07:59.

On the men’s side, Aventura’s Miguel Tellez, 41, won in 48:14. Miami’s Lee Zohlman, 40, was the runner-up in 50:09, followed by Carlos Dolabella, 51, of Key Biscayne in 50:41.

Miami’s Serafin Dominguez Cid, 14, took second in boys’ 10-14 in 1:04:31. In men 55-59, Pablo Gonzalez, 58, of Doral placed second in 1:04:20. Carlos Abreu, 69, of Miami Beach was runner-up in men 65-69 in 1:15:54.

Miami’s Daniel Penengo, 38, was second in Clydesdale 185 0-39 in 1:11:46.

Visit www.multirace.com.

Duathlon

Linda Kelly, 60, of Miami finished first in women’s 60-64 during the Independence Day Duathlon at Tradewinds Park.

She covered the 0.75-mile run, 10-mile bike and three-mile run in 1 hour 11 minutes 6 seconds. In women 30-34, Ellen Shipley, 32, placed second in 1:15:26.

Miami’s William Denight, 11, was first in boys’ 10-14 in 1:02:05. Michael Ashworth, 30, of Miami topped the men’s 30-34 age group in 51:34. In men 35-39, Cutler Bay’s Arturo Martinez, 39, was runner-up in 55:11. Arturo Perez, 66, of Miami finished second in men 65-69 in 1:17:43.

Visit www.multirace.com.

Tennis

If you saw Florida resident Sloane Stephens compete in the women’s main draw at Wimbledon or noticed up-and-comer Sachia Vickery in the Wimbledon junior girls’ draw, you saw the fruits of the annual USTA Florida Multicultural Camp A.C.E. (Achieving through Coaching and Education).

Stephens, Vickery, rising junior Victoria Duval and University of Florida player Sekou Bangoura are just some of the success stories that have benefited from the unique camp experience that not only prepares young players for the rigors of junior competitive tennis on and off the court, but involves parents and families in the process.

The eighth annual camp was at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. The camp was initially created to provide players age 11-15 of ethnically diverse backgrounds the opportunity to improve their tennis skills and have access to some of the top USTA national coaches and trainers, such as former pros Rodney Harmon and Chanda Rubin. The camp also features video analysis, fitness and nutrition, college preparation, parent/student/coaches orientation, life skills, and daily tennis instruction.

“It is a tremendous opportunity for me to work on-court with the youngsters, speak to the parents in the classroom concerning the variety of issues confronting their children as they progress in the game, including selecting a coach and/or training program, and putting together a tournament schedule and the importance of focusing on development over results,” said Rodney Harmon, the former US Open quarterfinalist, former director of men’s tennis for the USTA High Performance program, and 2008 U.S. Olympics tennis coach in Beijing. “Shelly [Licorish] and the USTA Florida Staff do such a great job putting on this event each year.”

2012 camp participants included Miami’s Jamara Alonso, Nevilisha Francis, Marquiese Johnson, Larry Pye, Stephanie Rojas and Kayla Rojas.

For information on the USTA Florida Multicultural Camp A.C.E. and USTA Florida multicultural grants, go to www.florida.usta.com/CommunityTennis/multiculturaldiversity_tennis.

More tennis

South Miami-Dade teams (Women’s 3.0 with captain Jennifer Cameron and Men’s 4.0 with captain James Moore) won the USTA Florida Adult League Southeast Regional Championships in West Palm Beach.

For information on the USTA Florida League Championships, go to http://www.florida.usta.com/usta_adult_senior_leagues/championship_info or e-mail Dona Garcia at garcia@florida.usta.com.

Me Gusta El Tenis

USTA Florida’s four-stop ’Me Gusta El Tenis’ tour will hit the Greater Miami-area, spotlighting the popularity of tennis in the Hispanic community in South Florida.

Hispanic communities can celebrate families playing tennis together at the four events, which will feature the 10 and Under Tennis short court format for learning the game.

Oct. 20-21: Gables Hispanic Festival, Coral Gables.

Nov. 11: Founders Day Festival, Aventura.

Visit http://www.ustamiami.com/.

Participants registering will be entered into a drawing to win four tickets to either the 2013 Sony Open men’s and women’s pro tennis tournament on Key Biscayne or the 2013 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships men’s pro event in Delray Beach.

The Gables Hispanic Festival is organized by the Gables Hispanic Cultural Foundation, a not-for-profit organization for charitable and educational purposes, including the undertaking of programs and activities designed to enhance the cultural Heritage and social well-being of families, children and youth of Miami-Dade County.

“We are looking forward to reaching out to the roughly 70 percent of Florida Hispanic players who are in the Miami area,” said USTA Florida Tennis Program Coordinator for the Miami area Cathy Nordlund. “Area pros will be out at the events, where parents can ask questions about local programming for kids and adults, and families can play the 10 and Under Tennis format together.”

Tennis participation numbers in Florida for small children of all demographics have increased exponentially since the introduction of the 10 and Under Tennis format. 10 and Under Tennis is designed for children, featuring smaller court sizes, racquet sizes, foam and decompressed balls, a simple scoring system, and net heights adjusted to ease kids into the sport.

Similar mini-tennis formats have long been popular in Europe, where current stars such as Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters first learned the game with age-adjusted racquets, balls and court sizes. To see a video of 10 and Under Tennis in action go to: http://10andundertennis.com.

For information on USTA Florida Hispanic community events, go to USTA Florida’s Spanish language website at www.ustaflorida.com/espanol. For specific information regarding Miami-area events contact Cathy Nordlund at nordlund@florida.usta.com.

Tennis PlayDay

From USTA PlayDays to kids tennis and 10 and Under Tennis, there are a number of opportunities to get involved in tennis events this summer in Miami.

North Miami-Dade Summer Junior Round Robin Series events include three divisions: 10 and under (orange ball/60-foot court), 12 and under, and 14 and under.

Summer Event

Aug. 26: North Miami-Dade Summer Junior Round Robin Series at Diplomat Country Club, 501 Diplomat Pkwy (4th Avenue), Hallandale Beach, (954-465-7606).

10 and Under Tennis is designed for children featuring smaller court sizes, racquet sizes, foam and decompressed balls, a simple scoring system, and net heights adjusted to ease kids into the sport. Similar mini-tennis formats have long been popular in Europe, where current stars such as Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters first learned the game with age-adjusted racquets, balls and court sizes.

To see a video of 10 and Under Tennis in action, or to see where 10 and Under Tennis leagues are offered in your area, visit http://10andundertennis.usta.com.

For information on South Florida events, go to www.USTAMiami.com.

More tennis programs

Tennis classes and programs for all ages are at the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center at Sans Souci, 1795 Sans Souci Blvd., North Miami. Call for information on group lessons, annual passes, court rates and private lessons. Tennis pro is Ross Dubins. Call 305-893-7130.

EVENTS, TOURS, TRYOUTS

Marlins Tours

The Miami Marlins offer behind the scenes tours of Marlins Park. The tours are open to the public on non-event days for $10 a person.

The tour includes visits to the field (behind home plate), home clubhouse, home batting cage area and Diamond Club, Promenade Level featuring the art in the facility, the bobblehead museum and the premium areas including the Suites.

Tours operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except when the Marlins play at home or when other major events are scheduled at Marlins Park. Group tours, accommodating between 10 and 25 people, are available by appointment.

For information, fans can call 1-877-MARLINS or e-mail tours@marlins.com. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows on Felo Ramirez Drive (NW 6 Street between NW 14 Avenue and NW 15 Avenue) and are for the time and date specified.

Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

HOF baseball

Hall Of Fame Baseball is sponsoring travel baseball teams for 11-12, 13-14, 15-18 (high school) for the fall season.

Hall Of Fame Coach Rich Hofman and his staff will coach the teams which will practice and play in tournaments and leagues. Register for a tryout at www.hofball.net or call David Hofman at 954-804-5600 or Ed Tisdale at 803-463-2591.

Health program

Stand Up! For Those Who Can’t, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children, families and communities through (w)holistic programs in education, culture and the arts, and as fiscal agent for the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative, has received a $50,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to implement “Sunshine Fit for Tots,” an obesity-prevention program developed by SCWC for 3-year-old children.

“One in five preschool-age children in the United States are overweight or obese. We recognize the need to start prevention at the earliest age possible to promote lifelong habits of health and wellness,” said Mary Rae Smith, president and founder of SCWC. “We want to bend the curve on childhood obesity and are grateful to the Aetna Foundation for this opportunity to enhance obesity prevention through exercise and nutrition programming.”

Through March 2013, 60 children from four early childhood centers in Miami-Dade will receive nutritional education and obesity-prevention activities through art classes and dance lessons. The centers selected to receive the program are Fantasyland Learning Center in Westchester; Happy Kids in Miami Beach; Happy Children of Overtown; and Alberto’s Dream Childcare in North Miami.

“We thank the Aetna Foundation for awarding us this grant,” said Jeannette Egozi, president of SUFTWC. “In the United States, low-income families are the most affected by the alarming obesity trend. With these funds we can teach children how to eat healthfully and be physically active throughout their lives.”

For information about “Sunshine Fit for Tots” call the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative at 305-807-5229 or Stand Up! at 305-864-5237, e-mail jeannette@ecqc.biz.

Ironman 70.3

The City Bikes Ironman 70.3 Miami is Oct. 28, starting at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. Registration is underway. http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1995048.

The event supports the Blazeman Foundation for ALS. Through this partnership, athletes who are participating in the race can make a contribution to the foundation when registering. The Blazeman Foundation will also be featured at the EXPO. To find out more about the Blazeman Foundation for ALS, visit www.waronals.com.

Miami Shores soccer

The Miami Shores FC under-12 girls’ travel soccer team participated in the Disney Memorial Day Soccer Shootout at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista.

They competed in the highest division in their age group, earning silver medals. For tryout information for the 2012-2013 season, contact David Ocampo at david.ocampo23@gmail.com.

More soccer

South Kendall Sun Blazers (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Miami Dade Soccer League (miami-dadesoccer.com) at Three Lakes Park, 13375 SW 136 St. (786-488-5216).

Soccer 5 (ussoccer5.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (1-888-575-2976).

Club Atletico De Miami (camsoccer.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (305-764-5783).

Soccer Academy of the Americas (socceraa.com) at Tamiami Park, 11201 SW 24 St. (786-486-3804)

Pinecrest Premier Soccer (pinecrestpremier.com) at Deerwood Bonita Lakes, 11511 S. Dixie Hwy. (305-255-3422).

Optimist Club of Westchester (tropicalsoccer.org) at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St. (786-370-4222).

Coral Estates Soccer Club (coralestatessoccer.org) at Coral Estates Park, 1411 SW 97 Ave. (305-279-2328)

South Kendall Soccer Club (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Southern Soccer Coalition-AYSO (kendallsoccer.com) at Millers Pond Park, 13350 SW 47 St. and Westwind Lakes Park, 6805 SW 152 Ave. (305-965-0083).

South Florida Eagles baseball

The South Florida Eagles 13-and-under travel baseball team seeks dedicated, experienced travel team players with supportive parents.

The team will play in the Premier Spring League as well as numerous tournaments including the Cal Ripken Experience in June. For information or for an individual tryout, contact Coach Gonzalo Morales at 305-753-9065 or gonmorales87@comcast.net.

Muscle Milk Grant Program

CytoSport, the largest sports nutrition company in the United States and maker of Muscle Milk, announced the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program which will provide up to $250,000 in grants to help rebuild and revitalize high school athletic programs around the country.

Submissions for high school programs will be accepted on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk now through Nov. 30.

“High school athletic programs are critical to the overall development of student-athletes, and we are dedicated to helping them succeed,” CytoSport Chief Marketing Officer Nikki Brown said. “The Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program is a great way we can provide financial resources to programs in need in local communities around the country.”

Grants will be awarded up to $25,000 per submission to programs that show a financial hardship outlined in the application process. Applicants must be at least 14-years-old and can nominate the high school of their choice on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk where they will be required to submit a written statement outlining their program’s needs, provide photos that support their request and will have the option to upload a video link to help further tell their story.

Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30 and recipient programs will be selected in January 2013.

In conjunction with the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, Muscle Milk will also launch limited time packaging that includes a red, white and blue theme. A portion of sales from the patriotic packaging will go toward funding the Recovery Grant Program.

For information on the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, visit www.facebook.com/musclemilk.

Wendy’s High School Heisman

Wendy’s is accepting applications for the annual Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, a program honoring outstanding high school student-athletes for its commitment to academic achievement, community service involvement and athletic prowess.

More than just a shining star on a college résumé, the Heisman mystique touches students at every level of the program. In addition to recognition at school and state levels, six female and six male national finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to attend the Wendy’s High School Heisman Awards Ceremony and college Heisman Memorial Trophy Award presentation with their families in December 2012.

Beginning now through Oct. 2, eligible students can apply at www.WendysHeisman.com for a chance to win the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award and the prestige of joining an ever-growing family of distinguished past winners. A partner award with college football’s acclaimed Heisman Memorial Trophy, Wendy’s High School Heisman has received more than 350,000 applications and honored more than 216 national finalists and 36 national winners since its inception.

Each year, nearly 50,000 young male and female scholar-athletes from across the country who embody leadership, academic excellence and athletic skill in their schools and volunteerism in their communities apply for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. These applicants are then narrowed down in four phases:

School Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from every school will be selected as a “School Winner”

State Finalists Phase – 20 finalists—10 senior males and 10 senior females—from every state and the District of Columbia will advance to “State Finalists”

State Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as “State Winners”

National Finalist Phase – A judging panel will select “12 National Finalists” from the 102 State Winners

“I was thrilled to have made it so far in the competition,” said Selena Pasadyn, the 2011 Wendy’s High School Heisman female award winner and first in her class at Brunswick High School in Ohio. “It’s an honor to represent my community and to be part of such an exceptional group of people who I now call my Wendy’s High School Heisman family.”

The one male and one female Wendy’s High School Heisman Award winners will each earn $10,000 for their high school and a $500 Wendy’s gift card. They will also be highlighted during ESPN’s live national broadcast of the college Heisman Memorial Trophy Ceremony in early December 2012.

Eligibility

Eligible high school seniors, slated to graduate in 2013, may submit an application online through Oct. 2. The first 25,000 students with completed applications will receive a Wendy’s gift card valued at $10. From the completed applications, one male and one female winner will be chosen to receive the WHSH Award.

For information, students can visit www.WendysHeisman.com, call 800-205-6367 or contact their local high school principal, guidance counselor or athletic director. Participants can also “like” Wendy’s Heisman on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WendysHighSchoolHeisman for additional program details.

Got Milk

The National Milk Mustache “got milk?” campaign recently launched the call for entries for the 15th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards.

The SAMMY scholarship recognizes 25 student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, community service, leadership and who fuel their daily success with milk.

Milk Mustache celebrity judges will help select 25 winners from across the country who will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, an awards ceremony at Walt Disney World and an opportunity to appear in their own special Milk Mustache ad.

For complete contest rules and applications log onto facebook.com/MilkMustache where visitors can also learn more about the exclusive SAMMY awards weekend and view behind the scenes footage.

MVP of the Week

Dick’s Sporting Goods MVP of the Week program is a promotion that recognizes amateur athletes for moments of greatness on the playing field and in the arena.

Fans can vote online each week to determine the top amateur sports moment with the wining video being rewarded $500 in Dick’s Sporting Goods gift cards — $250 to the individual who submitted the winning entry and $250 to the featured players’ choice of qualified school, team or athletic organization.

The entry process:

Go to www.DicksMVP.com.

Upload your compelling sports videos.

Encourage friends, family and the local community to vote for your video.

Orange Bowl donations

One thousand South Florida children will receive a pair of sneakers.

In its ongoing campaign to inspire kids to stay active and participate in sports, the Orange Bowl will donate 1,000 pairs of shoes to children at the YMCA of Greater Miami.

The donation is part of the Orange Bowl’s Kicks for Kids program and is the culmination of its 2011 launch campaign.

Orange Bowl mascot Obie will pass out the “kicks” at the Allapattah YMCA Family Center and create a giant “Kicks for Kids” logo mural with the kids using their footprints.

The Orange Bowl also will announce an expansion of the Kicks for Kids program for the 2012 college football season. It is the Orange Bowl’s mission to make sure every South Florida child has a good fitting pair of sneakers or cleats so they can participate in and reap the rewards of sports and exercise.

The Orange Bowl is a 352-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. The Orange Bowl Festival features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Discover Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2013 and the Discover BCS National Championship on Jan. 7, 2013.

Other Orange Bowl core events include the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance presented by Sports Authority, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series and Orange Bowl Paddle Championships. For information on the 2012-13 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, log on to www.orangebowl.org.

Jai-Alai

Jai-alai is open to anyone, age 10 to 80.

With a rubber ball and cestas, the amateur jai-alai facility is at 1935 NE 150th St. in North Miami, near FIU’s north campus.

It is indoors, air-conditioned and open to all. Contact Luis at 305-389-2313 or Bob at 786-556-3574.

More Jai-Alai

Who said you have to be a male to play Jai Alai? Just as many females play the sport in Spain, France and Mexico, and gals can play it in South Florida at an amateur indoor air-conditioned fronton.

There are also leagues for males and children. Rubber or plastic balls used with free lessons by former pros. Cestas and balls also provided free with a nominal court fee.

Open everyday. Email admanUSA@aol.com or call Brucio 786-629-5428. The American Amateur Jai-Alai Academy is a not-for-profit organization.

Rebelle volleyball

Rebelle Athletics Club offers girls’ volleyball tryouts at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School, 4949 NE 2nd Ave.

The volleyball club, a member of the United States Volleyball Association, is under the direction of Mandi Tate, Dee Rey and former Barry University player Kelly Dantas. They are former coaches with South Florida Volleyball Club and currently coach at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School in Biscayne Bay.

Rebelle Athletics is dedicated to providing developmental and participatory athletic sports programs beginning at the youth development level. It offers a progression of sports activities for persons of all ages, races and creeds. It strives to enhance the physical, mental and moral development of amateur athletes at all levels, promoting sportsmanship and active citizenship.

Visit www.rebelleathletics.com.

CB Sports Leagues

CB Sports Club offers Youth Basketball, Flag Football, Youth Soccer, Adult Soccer and Adult Basketball. Visit cbsportsclub.com. Call 786-273-5639.

Physically Challenged

Miami-Dade Parks welcomes children with disabilities in its youth leagues. If you need accommodations to participate, call 305-735-7847 (V/TDD).