The NCAA national office was chosen as a recipient of the United Way of Central Indiana’s Most Agency Involvement award for 2006.

The national office was one of nine winners honored during the United Way’s annual meeting March 14 in Indianapolis. The honor recognizes the assistance the national office provided through community relations to more than 20 United Way agencies last year.

National office assistance to United Way agencies took a number of forms, including staff donations to the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society and Second Helpings through fund-raisers and food drives; sponsoring agency events; hosting events in the national office; providing volunteers; and distributing “goody bags” for auctions and door prizes.

Maribeth Smith, chair of the United Way of Central Indiana board of directors, praised the NCAA for its involvement with United Way agencies not only during the campaign in the fall but throughout the year. “Whether it’s mentoring students, using its Intranet to post volunteer opportunities and publish impact messages, hosting United Way workshops in its facility or dreaming up creative ways to support partner agency fund-raisers, there’s not a month on the calendar that the NCAA is not doing something to improve lives and build a stronger community through the United Way,” she said.

The annual week-long national office United Way campaign will begin in late August.

Coaches marathon trip becomes Samaritan sprint

Jeff Bolles, strength and conditioning coach at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and his wife Dena are reluctant to accept the title of heroes. However, thanks to their selflessness. a 3-year-old boy is safe with his family after nearly being abducted.

The Bolles were en route to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, February 17, where Jeff was scheduled to compete in a marathon. Just before 8 p.m., though, the couple saw a young child dropped from an SUV alongside a busy two-lane highway and watched as the boy began to run.

Jeff and another witness pulled off the freeway, and Jeff ran after the child, who came directly to Bolles.

According to Myrtle Beach police and news reports after the incident, the child had been abducted from a nearby hotel earlier that evening when his father put him into a running vehicle that was then stolen while the father was inside the hotel getting another child.

The Bolles called 911 to report they had found the child. After emergency personnel determined the child matched the description of the abducted youth, he was returned unharmed to his father.

The stolen vehicle was found abandoned later and a man was charged with grand larceny and kidnapping in connection with the incident.

As for Jeff Bolles and his original mission of participating in a marathon, he and his team won their division.

Opposites attract crowd during Iowa State event

The Iowa State wrestling and gymnastics squads recently found a winning combination when the teams hosted their first “Beauty and the Beast” promotion.

Last month, 3,141 fans packed Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum to watch the Cyclone wrestling and gymnastics teams compete simultaneously against the wrestling and gymnastics teams from conference rival University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Iowa State head gymnastics head coach K.J. Kinder borrowed the concept from another university.

“My athletes fed off the wrestlers and it improved their performance,” Kinder said. “It energized the athletes and captivated the audience. I didn’t get one negative comment from my team or from the visiting team. All the feedback was positive.”

The Iowa State gymnastics team defeated Nebraska, 196.025-195.600. The Husker grapplers, though, won an equally close meet, 22-21.

Both programs are interested in teaming up in a similar fashion in the future.