Posted on Thursday, April 18, 2019
Studying the sports practices and traditions of a country can provide insight into the overall national culture, said Dr. Caleb Williams, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Graduate Program Coordinator at LaGrange College. He aims to demonstrate that with his lecture, “Moving in Morocco,” which will close out “The Magic of Morocco” 3D Journeys travel/lecture series for 2019.
Free and open to anyone with an interest in learning, the lecture is set for 10 a.m. Monday in Turner Hall’s Dickson Assembly Room.
“Sports promotes a sense of community and unifies people as they gather to cheer on or root against a team,” said Dr. Williams. “That’s not just true of this country, but all around the world.”
A Florida native whose passion for sports took an academic turn during his undergraduate years at North Florida, Dr. Williams has relished the opportunity to step outside his traditional roles and examine sports from a global perspective as he prepared for the lecture. Some of his findings are “kinda cool,” he said, smiling.
“In my research on Morocco, I found the ancient sport of tbourida, which combines the art of horseback riding and ancestral weaponry, so I plan to share some of the history of this sport that is still performed today.”
Equine sports are a rich and colorful tradition in Morocco, and equine festivals and competitions are among the high points of the country’s calendar.
Morocco’s North African location, with both Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, makes it a top international destination for surfing, another topic Dr. Williams will explore.
And, like much of the world, Moroccans are passionate about soccer, with hiking (trekking) and golf gaining ground as popular pastimes.
Now completing his first year on the LC faculty after finishing his doctoral degree at the University of Mississippi last year, Dr. Williams’s academic focus is sports biomechanics and human performance.
In addition to teaching graduate courses in strength and conditioning, Dr. Williams is on campus most mornings by 5:30 a.m., working with athletes during pre-class training. The goal is to use exercise science to help them perform as effectively and efficiently as possible.
“I have the best of both worlds,” he said of his dual roles as teacher and trainer. “I enjoy developing athletes and also teaching them things outside the realm of sports.”
His education and work experience have taken him to large schools in major conferences – including the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his master’s; Florida and Tennessee, where he worked summers in strength and conditioning; and Ole Miss, where he did his doctoral work.
He’s grateful for his experiences at big time sports programs, but appreciates the “teaching first” philosophy at LaGrange College and said, with a big smile, “We have something big schools don’t have. We can really communicate with every kid. No one is just a name on a sheet of paper here. I’m working 14 to 15 hours a day and loving what I do.”
He’s also putting down roots.
“I call LaGrange home now,” said the young professor, who bought a house in LaGrange just in time for his March marriage to Kristy Simmons, a radiography technician who hopes to find work in the medical field here.
About the 3D Journeys series: Lectures are free and held at 10 a.m. on the fourth Monday of January through April in the Dickson Assembly Room in Turner Hall. Parking is available at Sunny Gables Alumni House, 910 Broad St., with shuttle service to the door. An optional Dutch treat lunch is available in Pitts Dining Hall following each lecture.
On Tuesday, Pouncer did the honor of cutting the ribbon for the newest section of the Thread. This portion of the community trail runs from Vernon Street to Price Theater, then behind Lamar Dodd Art Center and Cleaveland Field.
The USA South Spring Sports Festival returns to LaGrange, beginning Thursday. Teams will be competing in baseball (Cleaveland Field and West Point Park), softball (Shuford Softball Complex), men’s and women’s tennis (LC varsity tennis courts), men’s and women’s lacrosse (Callaway Stadium) and men’s golf (Highland Country Club). All games are free of charge. Competitions will continue through April 28.
Musical Theatre students will present their showcase, “A Story to Tell,” at 8 p.m. April 26, 7 p.m. April 27 and 2:30 p.m. April 28 at Price Theater. The production is conceived and directed by Tim Fitz-Gerald, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre. Admission is free and reservations are not required.
The Wilkinson Family Servant Scholars will present their Scholars Colloquium, “Project Tribe,” at 11:15 a.m. Thursday in Dickson Assembly Room. This senior capstone project is dedicated to mental health awareness.
A total of 15 Theatre and Musical Theatre students will be working professionally this summer as a result of successful auditions and interviews at the Southeastern Theatre Conference, New England Theatre Conference and the Outdoor Theatre Auditions. They are:
Seniors – Leigh Anne Hamlin, Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival in Manheim, Pennsylvania: Eli Grant, Playhouse in the Square in Memphis, Tennessee; Kaylee Drake, Norwegian Cruise Lines; Alaina Germain, Utah Shakespeare Festival; and Thomas Prater, master’s Shakespeare Studies program at Mary Baldwin University. Ellie Boykin is waiting to hear back from University of Louisville and University of Southern Mississippi to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts in performance.
Juniors – Abigail Young, The Prizery in Virginia; Bailey Crawford, Des Moines Metro Opera; Kyle Hildebrand, opera fellow at Georgia State and intern at the Alliance Theater; and Devin Fourqurean, The Prizery.
Sophomores – Landon Bell, Peach State Summer Theatre in Valdosta; Cole Reihing, Liberty Mountain Theater in North Carolina; Hayden McCullough, The Lost Colony in North Carolina; and Savanna Hicks, Camp Mini Stars at Florida Repertory Theater; and
Freshmen – Colby Bell, Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
Tuesday
Thursday
LC alumni, remember how special your days on the Hill were? How you had professors who cared and classmates who became family? Consider giving back and helping students through donor-funded scholarships and campus resources. Help reach this year’s goal of 1,100 alumni by making a gift before June 30. Any amount helps.
Softball
The Panthers (15-15) finished the regular season with a split of a non-conference doubleheader at Judson (Ala.). LC won the first game 5-4 in eight innings and lost the second game 5-3. Junior Taylor Long had two home runs and four RBIs in the doubleheader.
Friday, April 19
Baseball vs. William Peace, Cleaveland Field at Williamson Stadium, 7 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s Tennis at Piedmont
Saturday, April 20
Baseball vs. William Peace (doubleheader), Cleaveland Field at Williamson Stadium, 2 and 5 p.m.
Women’s Lacrosse vs. Methodist, 11:30 a.m.
Golf at Emory Invitational
Women’s Tennis at Agnes Scott
Sunday, April 21
Golf at Emory Invitational
Thursday, April 25- Sunday, April 28
USA South Spring Sports Festival – Teams and times to be announced
State history competition comes to LaGrange College – LaGrange Daily News, April 12, 2019
Circles holds successful Empty Bowl fundraiser – LaGrange Daily News, April 12, 2019
Circle K of LaGrange College packs 60 baskets for local children – April 15, 2019
Ribbon cutting held for third segment of The Thread – LaGrange Daily News, April 16, 2019
Category: Community, Global engagement, Arts and Culture
Keywords: 3D Journeys, Morocco, Musical Theatre
