SPORTS BRIEFS

AQUATICS

LV Aquatics wins national award

The city of Las Vegas Aquatics unit, part of the Leisure Services Recreation Division, was awarded the National Recreation and Park Association's 2005 National Excellence in Aquatics Award. The award honors agencies and institutions that demonstrate excellence in planning, managing and programming these diversified aquatic services.

There are six classes based on population and another five classes for educational institutions. Class I, in which Las Vegas is a member, services the largest population.

The unit received its award at the National Aquatic Conference held from Mar. 2-7 at the Riviera Hotel Convention Center.

The city of Las Vegas won three National Aquatic Program Awards last year from the United States Water Fitness Association.

MOTORSPORTS

LVMS unveils Thursday night street wars

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway introduced another program to combat illegal street racing on Mar. 17. Dubbed Thursday Night Street Wars, the new program will go head-to-head with illegal street racing on what has become its busiest night.

The Strip's scheduled Friday night Midnight Mayhem will not be affected. Like Midnight Mayhem, Thursday Night Street Wars will be open to any licensed driver with proof of insurance. All cars and motorcycles must be street legal, driven to the track and pass a safety inspection.

As an added incentive, Thursday Night Street Wars will award $100 and a trophy to the drivers running the fastest speed and lowest elapsed time.

Thursday Night Street Wars will be conducted from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Gates will open at 7 p.m. Entry fee is $200 to race. Spectator admission is $5. Alcohol is not allowed at events.

Thursday Night Street Wars will be held Mar. 31, May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 15. More events may be added to the schedule to meet demand.

For more information, call LVMS at 632-8213 or visit www.lvms.com or www.lvmsstrip.com.

MacCachren leads SCORE point standing

Veteran Las Vegas desert racer Rob MacCachren has found himself in a familiar position -- on top of the Overall and Class 1-2/1600 point standings after two rounds of the six-race 2005 SCORE Desert Series. MacCachren, 39, has once again bolted to the top of the world's foremost desert racing series with help from Las Vegas' Bryan Freeman, currently in his first full season racing with SCORE.

MacCachren and Freeman had 131 points after the two events and were followed by Kash Vessels of San Marcos, Calif., with 124 points.

FOOTBALL

X-treme Bowl IV set for April 30-May 1

Adult wheelchair football teams from all over the United States and Canada will converge on April 30 and May 1 for competition in the Xtreme Bowl IV tournament at the city of Las Vegas Wheelchair Sports Park, located inside Freedom Park at Pecos Road and Washington Avenue.

Teams will compete in a round-robin format on Saturday, followed by a single-elimination tournament on Sunday in Nevada's only wheelchair sports park. Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams. There is no charge for spectators.

Tournament entry fees are $250 per team (up to 12 people) or $30 for an individual, and include continental breakfast and lunch April 30 and May 1 as well as an April 29 opening reception and dinner before the event.

Football games will begin at 9 a.m. on April 30 and May 1. The event is sponsored by the Nevada Paralyzed Veterans Association and the Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services Adaptive Recreation Division.

To register, or for more information, contact Jonathan Foster at 229-4796.

Gladiators participate in Reading Week

During the week of February 28, the Las Vegas Gladiators visited several schools throughout Southern Nevada in conjunction with Nevada Reading Week. Karl Bates, Wilky Bazile, Coco Blalcok, Thaddeus Bullard, Joe Burch, Rick Cunningham, Joe Douglass, T.J. Hill, Mark Lewis, Junior Lord, Donald Malloy, Troy Mason, William Mayes, Marcus Nash, Dameon Porter, Ricky Ross, Chameion Sutton, Marvin Taylor and Jeremy Unertl were among those who read to elementary school students.

The Gladiator players attended Beatty, Bruner, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic, Kahre, Hollingsworth, Martinez, McMillan, Paradise Professional, Roberts, Vegas Verdes and Tom Williams elementary schools.

BASKETBALL

Faith Lutheran players lauded

Faith Lutheran's Cameron Done was named the Most Valuable Player in Class 3A Football this year in a vote of area coaches while his coach, Bret Walter, was named Coach of the Year.

Done's teammates Tyler Norman (first team) and John Onyema (second team) also were recognized by the coaches.

Making the All-State team from Faith Lutheran's girls squad were Genesis Lightborne (first team) and Jenna Benko (second team).

Champs youth sets basketball sign-ups

Champs Youth Basketball is currently taking registration for its upcoming youth basketball league for youth ages 8-18. Champs offers both a recreational league (Game Time) and a competitive league (Prime Time) for all age groups on both sides of town.

Sign up with a team, an individual or with some friends. Practice times and games are scheduled at local high schools.

All games are announced and include trivia contests and halftime shoot outs. There also will be a post-season tournament for all teams.

To register, log on to www.champsbasketball.net or call Rob Pisano at 528-5420 for Henderson or east Las Vegas, Julie Partain at 656-0082 for west of Interstate 15 or Steve Boyack at 871-1617 for team registration.

Competitive league looking for teams

The city of Las Vegas is taking registrations for its competitive spring basketball league. All games will be played at the new Station Casinos Sports Center near Interstate 15 and Sahara Avenue.

The cost is $560 per team and includes officials. League play begins April 2.

The league will have divisions for boys grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and high school and girls grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and high school. Teams will play a minimum of eight games.

For more information or to register, call Rob Riley at 358-5305.

Registration under way for tournament

Advance team registrations are under way online for Sonny Vaccaro's 11th annual Reebok Big Time Tournament, a boys prep basketball event in Las Vegas.

This year's Championship of the Summer is set for July 22-26 and will feature 336 teams from around the nation and overseas.

Registrations are being accepted and processed on a first-come, first-served basis at www.reebokbigtime.com.

For more information, contact the tournament office in Las Vegas at 373-7007.

SOFTBALL

Senior women's softball sign-ups

Senior Women's Softball continually recruits players for year-round play in the 40-, 50-, 55- and 60-year-old divisions. Depending on experience and skill level, there is both competitive tournament and recreational play.

The various teams practice and play at different times and places. For more information, call Trish at 251-9784.

HOCKEY

Senior league plays at Fiesta rink

Seniors age 50 and over are invited to play nonchecking pick-up hockey at the Fiesta Ice Arena from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. every Wednesday. Interested players will not be committed to a league. For information on the required equipment and other details, call Jim Millen at 459-3719 or e-mail him at millenj@cox.net.

GOLF

Group schedules charity tourney

The Calvary Community Assembly scheduled its second annual charity golf tournament for 7 a.m. June 4 at Highland Falls Golf Course in Summerlin. The cost for the tournament is an $80 donation per person. Company sponsorships are available per holes in $100 (Silver), $500 (Gold) and $1,000 (Platinum) amounts. Advertisement signs also are available.

The tournament also will feature door prizes and a raffle. All proceeds go to the Men's Ministry & Royal Rangers.

For more information, call Lonnie Wilborn at 656-9942 or 277-8552.

Tuscany to host charity tournament

Tuscany Golf Club is hosting Birdies Fore Books, a monthlong charity golf tournament to help raise funds for Clark County READS, a literacy initiative of The Public Education Foundation. From March 1-21, participating golfers will raise funds to support the local program that provides books to students, classrooms and school libraries and recruits and trains volunteers to work with struggling readers.

Throughout the tournament, golfers who chip in shots will double their donation. Club owners Jim and Glynda Rhodes will match entry fees to support the literacy programs of Clark County READS.

Individual sports for the tournament are $125, twosomes are $250 and foursomes are $500. To register, call 799-1042 or log on to www.clarkcountyreads.org.

Red Cross to hold annual Golf Classic

The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross plans its fourth annual Golf Classic for April 18 at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin, 1700 Village Center Drive.

The tournament is set to begin at 6:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast for players and celebrity guests. Golfers are scheduled to tee off in a shotgun start at 8 a.m. A luncheon and awards program is set for 1 p.m. at the clubhouse, with television personality John Daly serving as master of ceremonies.

The cost for foursomes is $1,500, while individual players can register for $400. All proceeds will be used to fund local Red Cross programs.

For more information, call the Red Cross at 791-3311.

SOCCER

Fox launches soccer channel

Fox Soccer Channel has launched in Las Vegas, as well as across the nation to more than 20 million viewers. Customers that formerly had access to Fox Sports World on Cox Digital Cable channel 320 will now see the Fox Soccer Channel in its place.

For more information, or to subscribe to Fox Soccer Channel on the Cox Digital Cable Sports & Information Tier, visit www.cox.com/lasvegas or call 383-4000.

TENNIS

Tournament set for junior novice players

The Nevada Tennis Association plans to conduct a novice tournament April 15-17 at the Lorenzi Racquet Club.

The entry fees are $27 for singles and $22 per team for doubles. Players ages 18 and under are eligible to compete.

For further information or to register, call 792-8384.