The Fallon softball team won its third Division I-A state title in four years with a 4-1 win over Fernley in Reno in May.
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Army National Guard is set to team up with the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and become one of the association’s partners for the 2014-2015 academic year, the Nevada Guard and NIAA officials announced last week.
The NIAA is the non-profit organization of secondary schools in Nevada that acts as the governing body for high school athletics and activities.
The Nevada Army Guard will be one of the NIAA’s general corporate partners along with the Nevada Dairy Council and Lifetouch Photography. General corporate partners support the NIAA with $10,000 for the designation. The Nevada Army Guard is the first military organization to enter into a partnership with the NIAA.
“We’re excited to receive this opportunity to support Nevada schools’ athletic programs,” said Capt. Lydon Grossi of the Nevada Army Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “We welcome the chance to increase our involvement in local communities.”
As a general corporate partner, the Nevada Army Guard will receive signage and publication advertising space and Guard representatives can attend NIAA meetings, banquets and special events. Also, the Army Guard may place informational booths at NIAA events.
NIAA assistant director Donnie Nelson said the pairing of the NIAA and Army Guard would allow high school athletes to learn about various opportunities to continue their secondary education.
“The focus of the partnership is to inform young men and women on how they could carry on their education at the college level and actually get paid for it by committing to Guard education programs,” Nelson said.
Also, Nelson said Army Guard soldiers could potentially attend NIAA sanctioned practices and present military curriculum concerning theories and techniques on training and fitness.
The NIAA title sponsor for the 2014-2015 is Station Casinos. Station Casinos supported the NIAA with $75,000 for its designation. Other primary regional sponsors include Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers in southern Nevada and Les Schwab Tire Centers in Northern Nevada.
The Nevada Army Guard has more than 3,100 soldiers in its ranks and offers soldiers educational opportunities and training in more than 50 military occupational skills. Nevada Army Guard soldiers usually serve with their respective unit one weekend per month and perform two weeks of annual training.
For information on joining the Nevada Army Guard, call (775) 884-8428. Information on every 2014-2015 sponsor will be available at www.niaa.com before the start of the fall sports season, Nelson said.