College World Series Committee notes

Leroy Swedlund and Jim Stewart, co-chairs of the College World Series Committee, wish to thank all the Rotarians who helped make this year's CWS another success. Our committee sold 664 ticket books this year, second only to one other service club. Thanks to Gretchen Bren, Brad Burklund, Tim Cavanaugh, John Mock, and Leigh Sittenauer who were responsible for selling a good portion of those books. Other Rotarians selling books included Jim Bemis (West), Phil Monaco (West), and Dan Reeder (Suburban). A special thanks goes to all Rotarians who purchased books to be donated to charities. The children at Girls and Boys Town were especially appreciative of the opportunity to attend a game.

Our club hosted the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, who finished second in this year’s tournament. We met them at the airport upon their arrival on June 13 and used Brad Burklund's Walker Tire trailer to transport all their equipment to the Marriott. Jim Stewart made arrangements to have the CWS patch sewn on to their uniforms (4 sets!) and Leroy Swedlund delivered ice and water to the team daily for games and practices. Our club hosted the team at Oak Hills Country Club on June 16 with nearly 200 people attending (a number of whom were Rotarians) It was at this event where the team may have set a new CWS record for broken golf clubs in the driving contest! We were also were able to take them to the Nebraska Medical Center where the entire team visited with a number of children oncology patients, courtesy of Rotarian Mike Geis. With the loss to Oregon State on Sunday, June 24 the team left bright and early on Monday the 25th, again with the assistance of Brad and his trailer.

It should be noted that this team, including the coaching staff and administration, was one of the nicest teams we have had the pleasure to briefly get to know. Even after a loss, they were polite, accessible and sincerely friendly to everyone to whom they came in contact. Beth Miller, the Senior Associate Director of Athletics, contacted us once she returned to North Carolina. Her e-mail included the following: “I really appreciate all you did to help our players, coaches and staff for the entire 12 days. It was reassuring to know that you were always available to assist us ….your hospitality was wonderful. If we are so fortunate to get back to the CWS next year, I hope to see you and have a chance to visit ….even if you aren’t our ‘official’ host.”

Rotary has been an important part of the CWS for over thirty-five years going back to when Rotarian Don McGonigal was chairman of this committee. This is a great opportunity for our club to assist in hosting (and keeping) this great event in Omaha! Thank you once again and let’s do it again next year!