SOUTHEASTERN FAN ZONE

Southeastern Lions News, Stats and Pictures

BEIJING, China - On the eighth day of competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Southeastern Louisiana University's track and field representatives will make their first appearance of the games. Erica Bartolina, a volunteer assistant coach and American pole vaulter, and Christine Amertil, a Class of 2000 Southeastern alumna and Bahamian 400 m sprinter, take to the track of the Beijing National Stadium for the preliminaries of their respective events.

BEIJING, China - When the curtain rises on the 2008 Summer Olympics following Friday night's Opening Ceremonies, the Southeastern Louisiana University track and field program will be well represented as volunteer assistant coach Erica Bartolina prepares for her Olympic debut and Lady Lion alumna Christine Amertil returns to Olympic competition for the third time.

Southeastern volunteer assistant track coach and first time Olympian Erica Bartolina will check in, periodically, from Beijing. In her first entry on www.LionSports.net, the 28-year old pole vaulter describes life in training camp and how a minor accident will keep her out of the opening ceremonies

HAMMOND - On a day that was more reminiscent of early October, the Southeastern Louisiana University football team opened fall drills Monday evening with a solid workout on the Southeastern Practice Fields.

HAMMOND - Just over three weeks after clinching a spot on the 2008 U.S. Track and Field Olympic squad, Southeastern Louisiana University track and field volunteer assistant track coach Erica Bartolina will head off to Beijing, China for her first career Olympic games. The 28-year old pole vaulter earned her trip to the 29th Summer Olympiad with a personal best 14 ft. 11 in. vault at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. on July 6, and according to her husband and coach Michael, also an assistant track coach with the Lions, Erica is ready to go.

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Former Southeastern Louisiana University lefthander Wade Miley, who became the highest drafted student-athlete in school history when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him with the 43rd overall pick in last month's Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, has signed with the team and added to the roster at Yakima, Wash. the National League West club announced on Saturday.

NORMAN, Okla. - With one academic award already in hand, Southeastern Louisiana golfer Matthew Carvell earned his second in the last month as he was one of 96 Division I student-athletes named as a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar in an announcement by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Carvell, who was named the Southland Conference Golf Student-Athlete of the Year in June, completed his junior year at Southeastern with five top-10 finishes while posting a 73.97 scoring average in 13 events during the season.

HAMMOND - Southeastern Louisiana University Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann announced Tuesday the addition of two senior staff members, each with ties to the state.

Joining the Athletic Department is Baton Rouge native David Lichtenstein, who will serve as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, and Hope Williams, who worked at UNO and will serve as Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Success.