ESPN RISE Games Returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports July 13-27
June 16, 2011
ESPN RISE Games Returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports July 13-27
ERG Expected to Host Nearly 14,000 Student Athletes
ESPN RISE and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort announced today that the ESPN RISE Games’ elite and competitive events have grown for the third straight year and will host nearly 14,000 student athletes during its 2011 event at the sports complex in suburban Orlando, Fla. The ESPN RISE Games will take place over a two week period, July 13-27.
“The mission of the ESPN RISE Games is to provide resources and recognition for the student athletes who participate,” said Glenn Rosenbloom, vice president and general manager, ESPN RISE. “The games will be a high profile stage for them to test their skills as well as receive inspiration and life skills coaching from former athletes– which is invaluable for them as they prepare to play at the next level.”
The ESPN RISE Games, which debuted in 2009, are a two-week long elite and competitive level student-athlete focused event and are anchored by four elite high school sports events: Champion® All-American Showcase, a US Lacrosse boys and girls event; the AAU 11th Grade Boys Basketball Super Showcase presented by Champion®; the Under Armour High School All-America Softball game; and the elite 7 on 7 high school football event Champion® Gridiron Kings.
In addition to its elite events, the ESPN RISE Games will include the following competitive youth sports: boys and girls lacrosse: US Lacrosse U15 National Championship, presented by Champion®, softball: USSSA Fast Pitch World Series (U15, U16 and U18); football: the Florida Premier 7s, an invite only, 7-on-7 event to feature 32 Florida high school
teams; baseball: USSSA Baseball World Series (U13, U14, U18), basketball: AAU Super Showcases (8th grade, 9th grade and 10th grade) and AAU 8th Grade National Championship, field hockey: Disney’s Junior Field Hockey Showcase, a USA Field Hockey Event and track & field: AAU National Club Championships (13-18). The ESPN RISE Games has grown from hosting 4,000 student athletes in 2009 to nearly 14,000 expected student athletes for the 2011 event.
ESPN RISE GAMES ELITE EVENT DETAILS:
Champion All-American Showcase, a US Lacrosse event is the “National All-Star Game” of high school lacrosse featuring the top high school players from across the country. The event is set up in a final four format, with two semifinal games, a third place game and a championship game. All of the teams are guaranteed practice and scrimmage time. Girls: July 17-19 Boys: July 20-22
Under Armour High School All-America Softball game will feature 30 of the top high school players in the nation divided into two squads. Players are selected by a committee of high school softball experts from ESPN RISE. July 18 – 19
AAU 11th Grade Boys Basketball Super Showcase presented by Champion® is part of the AAU National Championships held at the ESPN sports complex and features marquee 17-under club teams from across the country. The event includes two days of pool play and a single-elimination tournament. The tournament is a breeding ground for future NBA stars including Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Tyler Hansbrough and JJ Redick. July 23-27
Champion® Gridiron Kings is an elite high school football event that features 64 of the best players in the game’s seven skill positions – quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback and safety. The event includes performance training, position specific training, skills challenges and a 7-on-7 competition. July 23-24
Under Armour High School All-America Softball Game, Champion Gridiron Kings, AAU 11th Grade Boys Basketball Super Showcase presented by Champion® and Champion All-American Showcase, a US Lacrosse event (boys event) and some competitive events will be presented on ESPNU and ESPN3.com live and as pre-recorded shows.
ESPN RISE GAMES COMPETITIVE EVENT DETAILS
AAU Basketball Showcase Series (8th grade, 9th grade and 10th grade)
The AAU basketball showcase involves as many as 360 teams competing in various age groups, including 8th grade, ninth grade and 10th grade. The event takes place along with the AAU Super Showcase elite event.
US Lacrosse U15 National Championship, presented by Champion
This US Lacrosse event will host the top national U15 boys and girls lacrosse competition. The tournament features teams representing the best in the country competing in pool play and bracket play for the title of US Lacrosse U15 National Champion.
USSSA Fast-Pitch World Series (U15, U16 and U18)
More than 110 of the top U15, U16 and U18 teams in the nation will qualify for this year’s USSSA Fastpitch World Series. Teams will play a minimum of five games and will be seeded based on current USSSA ranking points and play a round robin. All teams will be seeded into a double elimination championship bracket following pool play.
USSSA Baseball World Series (U13, U14 and U18)
The USSSA Baseball World Series is expected to draw over 100 teams in three age groups. Teams must qualify for entry through a local or state qualifying event. Teams compete in pool play and then move to bracket play before crowning the World Series Champions in each age group.
Disney’s Junior Field Hockey Showcase
Disney’s Junior Field Hockey Showcase, a USA Field Hockey event, features four days of competition, plus a USA Field Hockey High Performance Coaches clinic, to help players and teams elevate their skill levels.
AAU National Club Championships – Track & Field
The AAU Club Championship will attract the top track & field athletes, ages 13-18, and involve more than 3,200 track & field athletes. This five-day event serves as the final qualifying event for the AAU National Junior Olympics.
Florida Premier 7s
The Florida Premier 7s is an “invitation-only” high school 7-on-7 competition featuring the top Class 2A – 6A high school football programs in Florida. This 7-on-7 football event involves 32 teams.
Opening ceremonies for the ESPN RISE Games will be held Saturday, July 16 at 8 p.m. ET at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
A complete television schedule will be released closer to the event. For more information, please go to: www.espnrise.com/erg
About ESPN RISE
ESPN RISE represents ESPN’s commitment to engage and elevate high school student-athletes by providing them with recognition, resources, information and inspiration to improve their skills and achieve their goals. ESPN RISE assets include ESPN RISE Guy and Girl magazines, with special issues for football, basketball, track and recruiting; ESPNRISE.com; mobile and social media products (Facebook.com/ESPNRISE and Twitter @ESPNRISE); and more than 160 high school events including Elite 11, Elite 24, ESPN RISE Games, ESPN RISE National High School Invitational, Area Code Baseball, ESPN RISE Girls Showcase, and ESPN RISE Nike Football Combines/Nike Football Training Camps. ESPN RISE is uniquely positioned to provide high school student-athletes and the company’s core fans with compelling high school sports content across multiple ESPN platforms. To follow ESPN RISE Girls on Facebook, please visit www.Facebook.com/espnrisegirl.
About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which hosts more than 300 events a year, is the leading multi-sport venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States, accommodating 70 different sports and athletes from more than 70 countries. Designed to take youth sports to the next level, the 230-acre facility features the ESPN Innovation Lab, a real-world testing ground for the ESPN Emerging Technology Group to develop ground-breaking on-air products like Ball Track and ESPN Snap Zoom, as well as development of its new 3-D television channel. In addition, the complex features 56 high-definition cameras (42 robotic, 10 hand-held and four studio) and 40 high-definition video screens, including three jumbo screens, that can capture and display footage from any event taking place at the complex. The camera and video screens, as well as a 20-zone audio system, are controlled through the state-of-the-art HD and 3-D Broadcast Center that features eight edit bays and links to ESPN facilities in Bristol, Conn., New York and Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.wdwnews.com for press releases, photos and videos. Follow us on Twitter at @DisneySports.
Champion®
Since 1919 Champion athleticwear has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men and women including sports bras, activewear, team uniforms, sweats and accessories. Champion athleticwear can be purchased at most sporting goods and department stores. For more information please contact us at 1-800-999-2249, visit www.championusa.com or at www.facebook.com/champion or follow us on Twitter @Championusa. Champion is a brand of Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI)
Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand’s moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.underarmour.com.
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To request media credentials or additional information:
Colleen Stack Lynch, ESPN. [email protected] or 860-766-4235
Diane Lamb, ESPN, [email protected] or 860-766-2245
Tony Morreale, Disney Sports Public Relations, [email protected] or 407/566-5339
