36 Tsunami swimmers qualify for Games of Texas
By Bridget Russell, Aquatics Supervisor
The College Station Tsunami Swim Team had 36 athletes punch their tickets to the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s Summer Games of Texas at last week’s regional meet in Bryan. More than 2,400 swimmers will compete in the Games from July 25-28 at the Texas A&M Natatorium.
Tsunami Games of Texas Qualifiers
| Stone Ahrendt | Brianna Fogle | Cory Majid |
| Dylan Breese | Brett Hyman | Caleb Noynaert |
| Elizabeth Breese | Brooke Hyman | Connor Noynaert |
| Maggie Breese | Zoe Hyman | Evellyn Peacock |
| Peter Breese | Matthew Johnson | Will Peacock |
| RJ Breese | Evan Lacefield | Mark Poage |
| Travis Castro | Gloria Lacefield | Kate Primrose |
| Ella Coker | Liliana Lacefield | Elizabeth Quast |
| Emerson Coker | Emilian Landrock | Samantha Quast |
| Isabel Conrey | Milana Landrock | Emily Stevenson |
| Pam Criscitiello | Benjamin Locke | Jason Watkins |
| Sofia Criscitiello | Logan Locke | Daniel Wilson |
Other events in the Games of Texas are archery, boxing, flag football, golf, judo, lifeguard competition, pickleball, sand volleyball, skateboarding, soccer, tennis, track and field, and Ultimate Frisbee.
For more information, visit taaf.com/gamesoftexas or call 979-764-3486.
About the Blogger
Bridget Russell has been with the City of College Station since 2012 and has served as aquatics supervisor since 2017. She was a lifeguard at Texas A&M for almost three years after serving as an administrative clerk for the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005-11. Bridget earned bachelor’s (2011) and master’s (2012) degrees in sport management from Texas A&M.
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Sewer work will impact Lick Creek Park trails
Click the map to enlarge
By Kelly Kelbly, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director
In a growing city, new and expanded sewer lines are a necessity. Unfortunately, the work involved also can create inconveniences and bring other changes.
That’s the situation we face at popular Lick Creek Park, which is located north of the Lick Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant near Rock Prairie Road. Work on a new sewer trunk line that runs across the park started Wednesday and will take a couple of months. The good news is that when the project is finished, you’ll notice significant trail surface and drainage improvements.
We deeply regret the inconvenience this necessary work will cause. We recognize that countless joggers, dog walkers, families, track teams and cyclists use the many miles of trails, especially those that tie into the Lick Creek Hike and Bike Trail in the northeast part of the park.
During construction, parts of the prominent Raccoon Run and Deer Run trails will be subject to intermittent closures. The entrance/exit for the Lick Creek Hike and Bike Trail will also have to be temporarily shut down at some point.
We encourage you to continue using the park — accessible from the Lick Creek Nature Center — but please respect the barricades and heed the warning signs. They are there for your safety.
Lick Creek Park’s beautiful trails exist because of the treatment plant, which began operating in 1987. Sewer lines were trenched toward the plant before the city developed the trail system years later. The new trunk line will run through the established public utility corridor from Fitch Parkway to the treatment plant.
For more information, please call us at 979-764-3486.
About the Blogger
Assistant Director Kelly Kelbly is in her 18th year with the College Station Parks & Recreation Department. A native of Gilmer, Kelly is a 1998 graduate of Texas A&M.
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Parks and Rec offers many ways to get your game on
By Kelly Kelbly, Parks & Recreation Assistant Director
Those of us who work in the Park and Recreation industry know it isn’t always fun and games, but since July is National Park and Recreation Month, we want to celebrate everything that makes our field fun and full of joy and excitement.
Since 1985, America has celebrated this as Park and Recreation Month. This year’s theme is “Game On!” A game is defined as a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.
The College Station Parks and Recreation Department offers everything from summer camps to sports leagues to special events, so there’s a chance for anyone of any level to get in a game.
For example, kids can stop by the Lincoln Recreation Center to test their skills at knockout, ping-pong, or hula hooping. Those in Lick Creek Nature Center programs are often found playing chase or tag. Older kids can drop by the Southwood Community Center, Meyer Senior & Community Center, or Lincoln Recreation Center to play 42, bridge, and mahjong.
If you’re interested in competitive sports, we offer youth basketball and flag football leagues throughout the year, and swimmers can join the Tsunamis, our summer swim team. We also partner with several organizations to ensure that soccer, baseball, and softball options are available.
Adults can compete in Ultimate Frisbee, spike ball, softball, kickball, basketball, and volleyball leagues.
But the fun doesn’t end there.
Throughout the year, we host dozens of tournaments that showcase outstanding athletes in a variety of sports. If you don’t want to compete, we invite you to drop by as a spectator.
For more information, check out our Summer Parks Guide or website, or call us at 979-764-3486. We have endless opportunities to get your Game On.
Put me in coach; I’m ready to play!
About the Blogger
Assistant Director Kelly Kelbly is in her 18th year with the College Station Parks & Recreation Department. A native of Gilmer, Kelly is a 1998 graduate of Texas A&M.
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Patron’s dream fulfilled with Meyer Center’s opening
Editor’s Note: The grand opening ceremony has been postponed until Tuesday, June 18, at 10 a.m.
By Hallie Hutchins, Parks & Recreation Marketing Assistant
As a university town, College Station offers a variety of attractions for millennials, but we’re also home to a substantial number of senior citizens. For more than a decade, the demand has grown for a new senior-focused center to expand community programming.
The wait is finally over.
Programs at the Bob and Wanda Meyer Senior and Community Center begin Monday, with the doors opening at 8 a.m. On Wednesday, we invite you to join us for the grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. We’ll serve light refreshments and dedicate a plaque in the Meyers’ honor.
Initially the Arts Council Building, the structure was redesigned and renovated with seniors in mind. The facility complies with ADA standards and offers three multipurpose rooms equipped for arts, crafts, and ceramics. The warm color tones provide a comfortable setting for classes, dances, games, fitness, and educational presentations.
At the heart of the center’s mission is the Meyer family. The redesign includes a personalized café style entrance that provides a welcoming and enjoyable place to socialize with friends. We designed the area specifically with Mr. Meyer in mind.
After his beloved wife, Wanda, passed away, Bob would come to the Southwood Community Center daily for a cup of coffee and a visit. Periodically, he would participate in the programs, but more than anything, he craved the social benefits. That’s why the lobby is filled with cozy furniture and, of course, coffee, providing an ideal gathering place.
Mr. Meyer was not only a devoted Southwood Community Center member; he also enjoyed learning about our city government. He participated in Citizens University and volunteered for the Citizens Advisory Committee, serving as chairman from 2004-2007.
He immediately became involved when the city council asked the advisory committee to develop ideas about how a dedicated senior activities center might look. He worked tirelessly on the project and traveled with other committee members to cities across Texas to explore architectural approaches and review successful programs.
Although the dream of a dedicated senior center didn’t come true in his lifetime, he continually expressed an appreciation to the city for its efforts to provide quality programming and a place for seniors to meet and participate in programs.
After more than 50 years as a College Station resident, Mr. Meyer passed away in 2013 at the age of 81. In his will, he left 25 percent of his sizable estate to Parks and Recreation programs that benefit senior citizens.
The grand opening of the center marks a bright, new beginning while honoring the Meyers’ aspirations and sincere passion for seniors.
The Summer Parks & Recreation Guide includes a complete listing of our senior programs and activities.
For more information, visit cstx.gov/MeyerCenter or call 979-764-2670.
About the Blogger
Hallie Hutchins is in her fourth year as a marketing staff assistant in the Parks & Recreation Department after graduating from Texas A&M in 2014 with a degree in sports management. She has previously worked with the Dallas Sidekicks professional soccer team and Texas Team Junior Golf. Originally from White Oak, Hallie also attended Kilgore College and was a member of the famed Kilgore Rangerettes dance team.
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Join the Spikeball roundnet craze this summer
By Logan Cornelius, Texas Association for the Sport of Roundnet
A rapidly growing new sport called Spikeball roundnet is emerging in College Station this summer.
What does the name Spikeball roundnet mean? Spikeball is the name of the company that makes the product; Roundnet is the name of the sport. The Texas Association for the Sport of Roundnet runs and grows the game in the state, and we’re excited to bring it to College Station through our partnership with the College Station Parks and Recreation Department.
The game is similar to 2-on-2 volleyball, but instead of hitting the ball over a net, you hit it into a net that looks like a small trampoline. Some say that if volleyball and Foursquare had a baby, it’d be named Spikeball Roundnet.
Teams can consist of as many players as possible, but only two are allowed at a time in a match. Divisions include competitive and recreation. The competitive division plays by official Spikeball Roundnet Association rules, while the recreation division is more relaxed and focuses on skill development.
Registration ends June 5 with the league running from June 5-July 17. Register online at cstx.gov/sports, by calling 979-764-3486, or stop by the Parks and Recreation office at 1000 Krenek Tap Road. The cost is $80 per team, and equipment is provided.
TASR is doing all we can to grow the self-proclaimed next American sport with hubs across the state to give people a chance to get connected with communities and athletes with a passion for roundnet. For more information on TASR Spikeball roundnet and tournaments, visit TexasRoundnet.com.
About the Blogger
Logan Cornelius (@Logan_Cornelius) is senior operations manager for Spikeball and co-founded the Texas Association for the Sport of Roundnet in 2018. He graduated from Texas A&M in 2016 after establishing the Texas A&M Roundnet Club. A resident of Dallas, he plays competitively and was a member of one of the nation’s top roundnet teams in 2018.
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Get in summer shape fast with an Aqua Fitness pass
By Hallie Hutchins, Parks & Recreation Marketing Assistant
Summer is almost here, and whether you like to head to the pool or beach, it’s time to suit up. What better way to get in shape and feel great in your swimsuit than to work out in it?
Take a break from the gym and dive into the City of College Station’s Aqua Fitness classes to build cardio, strength, and resistance in a cool and relaxing atmosphere. It’s easy on the joints while providing a tremendous workout, regardless of your fitness level.
The Parks & Recreation Department offers a variety of aqua fitness classes for ages 15 and up at Cindy Hallaran Pool, a 25-yard, zero-depth swimming pool with a beach entry that gently slopes to a depth of four feet. Classes begin Tuesday and run through Aug. 16.
Eager to try one of our aqua fitness classes but not sure where to begin?
It all starts with getting an Aqua Fitness pass, which is good for water fitness, aqua barre, and aqua boot camp. You can sample a drop-in pass for $3 a class and once you’re hooked, buy an unlimited pass for $100.
Passes can be purchased at the Cindy Hallaran Pool or online at rectrac.cstx.gov.
Aqua Fitness Classes
Water Fitness, Weekdays, 9-10 a.m.
These classes provide an enjoyable and effective exercise that increases cardiopulmonary capacity, strength, and flexibility. Physically fit, pre-natal, post-natal, post-operative, those with arthritis, those with muscle injuries, or sedentary individuals are invited to join.
Aqua Barre, Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30 a.m.
The hottest trend in group exercise goes aquatic with a moderate-intensity workout that uses the buoyancy and resistance of water to enhance exercises designed to build strength, promote cardiovascular fitness, and increase flexibility. Participants use noodles and the pool wall in place of the traditional ballet barre.
Aqua Bootcamp, Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Take your fitness to the next level with a vigorous workout that brings intensity without the impact with a combination of high-intensity interval training, steady-state cardio, and resistance exercises.
Get your Aqua Fitness pass today and get in summer shape!
About the Blogger
Hallie Hutchins is in her fourth year as a marketing staff assistant in the Parks & Recreation Department after graduating from Texas A&M in 2014 with a degree in sports management. She has previously worked with the Dallas Sidekicks professional soccer team and Texas Team Junior Golf. Originally from White Oak, Hallie also attended Kilgore College and was a member of the famed Kilgore Rangerettes dance team.
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