Inside RecSports | Fall 2020

INSIDE RECSPORTS FALL 2020

covid-19 comeback Welcoming Longhorns Back to Campus

INSIDE RECSPORTS FALL 2020

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 02 04 06

alumni spotlight Katie Cope Welcoming the UT community back to recsports Reopening Roadmap

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INNOVATIVE THINKING: Program areas adapt to covid-19 staff spotlight CIECIE Leonard your recsports story

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From Fitness Studio to the Frontline of COVID-19 Care

Katie Cope Manager of Emergency Services at St. David’s Medical Center

What does it feel like to be in charge of a hospital emergency room during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic?

For Katie (Standefer) Cope, ’08, manager of Emergency Services at St. David’s Medical Center, she considers it a privilege to be able to use her skills and training to care for the Austin community. Yet when it comes to battling COVID-19, she says, “it feels like the worst marathon I’ve never wanted to run.”

St. David’s Medical Center, the flagship hospital of St. David’s Healthcare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, is situated within walking distance of the UT Austin campus where Katie was once a carefree, yet diligent student. Now Katie oversees 81 healthcare employees, including nurses, nurse externs, paramedics and patient care technicians. Katie began her career at St. David’s in 2011, working in inpatient rehabilitation and brain and spinal cord injury. After two years she made the switch

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

to Emergency Services and “got ‘voluntold’ into being a supervisor/charge nurse,” she says in jest.

Raised in McKinney, Texas, Katie moved to Austin in 2005 to pursue a degree in business administration. After earning her degree, Katie pivoted to earn a bachelor of science in nursing in fall 2010 at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. While attending UT, Katie found on campus employment with RecSports to help pay college expenses. She also found a way to learn career-transferrable skills while working for RecSports. She became a TeXercise instructor, personal trainer, Fitness & Wellness program assistant and interim program coordinator, and also worked for Sport Clubs.

Today as she manages staff who work with COVID-19 patients and those potentially infected with the disease, she has had to dramatically change the daily routine of Emergency Services and the way in which she does her job. She must maintain constant communication between hospital leadership and staff for the latest in COVID-19 information, ensure that every person entering the hospital is screened for the virus, ensure the safety of patients and staff alike, share case numbers across Travis County to health officials, report on the availability of PPE including N-95 masks and ICU/ventilator availability, and much more.

All while managing a large diverse staff and making sure to set aside time to listen to them.

Magdiel De La Rosa, DNP, and Katie in the ER.

“Listening is a big one. The frontline nurses have so much to say and their perspectives are so valuable and unique; it can’t be garnered from anyone else. They are the heartbeat of the unit and above all else, my job is to listen and advocate for them,” she says.

Not surprisingly, Katie says she “absolutely” derived preparation for this lifesaving career while working for RecSports. “From teaching group fitness, I learned how to be comfortable and have confidence in front of a crowd.

From personal training, how to make that one-on-one connection with people and how to really listen and help individuals meet their goals,” she notes.

“I was fortunate to have so many wonderful mentors at RecSports. Each one of them taught me different things,” she says. She recalls that her office was right across from one program director who was constantly visited by students concerned about work and non-work-related issues. Katie particularly noticed the large number of students who

seemed to want to discuss non-work issues. “They knew it was a safe place to go because she (the program director) cared about them as a person. This made her employees loyal and want to do a good job for her,” she says.

Witnessing that the real key to employee loyalty is listening has helped Katie manage her 81-member staff at St. David’s Medical Center during this unprecedented time in modern U.S. history. And it’s made her job all that much more rewarding.

Home life for Katie is all about family. Her husband, Jacob, offers unconditional support and words of encouragement. On days off they enjoy time with their two-year-old daughter Cameron (a Mickey Mouse fan!) and infant daughter Callie, born March 14, 2020, just one day after the COVID-19 warning released by local, state and national officials. Their home is rounded off with two dogs and four goats! One day soon, post-COVID-19, Katie hopes to get back into the habit of running, just for fun!

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Welcoming the UT community back to RecSports Our facility operations team recounts what they had to do in order to get RecSports ready to reopen.

Our facility operations team worked diligently over the spring and summer months to prepare our nationally recognized facilities for a fall semester reopening.

“Our number one goal was to ensure the safety of our employees and participants,” said Director of Facility Operations Pete Schaack. “Building trust with the UT community is vital to their return to our programs and services,” he added.

Toward this goal, all spaces have undergone a transformation with the addition of plexiglass barriers, signage to educate participants on safety guidelines, enhanced cleaning protocols, additional hand sanitizing stations and contactless check-in.

Participants are now asked to plan ahead before they visit a RecSports facility using MyRecSports, a web-based app that allows participants to make advance reservations for the weight room, swimming pools, and In-person TeXercise classes.

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All participants are now required to wear a face mask at all times while indoors, bring their own towel to clean shared equipment before and after each use, bring a water bottle to fill up at water filling stations while drinking fountains remain unavailable, maintain a safe social distance, and wash their hands frequently.

The RecSports experience may look a little different since we were last open in March, however, we are confident that we’ll continue to build community, promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle, and do our best to support the needs and interests of every Longhorn. “ Despite the challenging circumstances, our team became more adaptable and we learned to work through a difficult time as a team to support each other.”

CLIFTON MURPHY, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

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Reopening Roadmap How RecSports navigated a campus closure and prepared for a fall reopening.

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MARCH 12

“There was no existing playbook, yet our team came together and worked to produce innovative solutions that allowed facilities and programs to safely reopen and resume.”

The last day of “normal” campus operations. UT suspends travel through April 30. RecSports issues communication to members and the campus community about safety protocols being implemented to prevent the spread of the virus including enhanced cleaning protocols, sanitization of towels, staggering of equipment, and furniture re-configuration. RecSports cancels all programs and organized activities through March 29 and all travel for sport clubs through April 30.

PETE SCHAACK Director of Facility Operations

MARCH 18 RecSports closes all facilities through the end of the spring semester.

MARCH 15 UT extends spring break for students through March 30. City of Austin issues order banning mass gatherings.

RecSports professional staff begins working from home until further notice.

MARCH 17 MARCH 13 The first COVID-19 case identified within the UT Austin community. UT closes operations and cancels classes for the day. RecSports facilities are closed until further notice. Governor Greg Abbott declares statewide emergency.

MARCH 11 The World Health Organization officially describes COVID-19 as a pandemic.

UT moves all spring semester classes online beginning March 30.

MARCH 16 RecSports announces facility closures to be in effect through at least the end of March.

MARCH 24 City of Austin issues a Stay at Home-Work Safe Order to be in effect until April 13, directing individuals to remain home with the exception of essential work and activities.

Non-essential businesses close. Students are instructed to not return to campus unless approved for temporary emergency housing.

MARCH 23 Longhorn Run announces switch to all-virtual race.

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“I will remember how this team rose to the challenge and created even better programming for participants now and in the future.”

ADRIENNE MACKENZIE Associate Director for Fitness & Wellness

APRIL 20 RecSports forms the Facilities Reopening Committee to begin developing reopening plans for RecSports.

MARCH 25 APRIL 13

UT announces graduation ceremonies and commencement are postponed and virtual commencement will take place.

RecSports launches virtual fitness/weekly TeXercise workout videos delivered on YouTube, social media, and via email.

City of Austin extends the Stay at Home-Work Safe Order.

APRIL 30

MARCH 31

APRIL 14

TeXercise program holds first-ever virtual auditions for instructors.

Governor Greg Abbott issues executive order and closes schools until May 4.

UT announces that summer orientation will take place online.

RecSports Recess goes virtual for the first time.

APRIL 9 Intramural Sports launches two seasons of Esports tournaments - FIFA 20, MADDEN NFL 20, NBA 2K20.

MARCH 30 UT spring classes resume; first day of remote learning.

“When we meet via Zoom, it is an exciting part of the day where I get to interact and see my colleagues that I deeply respect and miss seeing in person!”

AMANDA PHARES TeXercise Instructor, UT Class of 2022

MAY 6 UT announces fall reopening decisions will be made by the end of June.

APRIL 1 RecSports launches Stay Home Stay Active initiative featuring new ways for the UT community to stay active while they are learning or working from home, including at home workout plans, and guides on finding adventure from home.

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APRIL 18 The first all-virtual Longhorn Run takes place with 977 participants throughout the United States and abroad.

“One positive memory from this situation might be reflecting on the resilience of our student staff when faced with this monumental challenge.”

JUNE 10 Summer intramural Esports tournaments take place-FIFA 20, MADDEN NFL 20, NBA 2K20.

DIXON HANKINS Associate Director for Outdoor Recreation

AUGUST 25 Over 600 students participate in the Back to School with RecSports virtual week-long event.

SEPTEMBER 14

MAY 23 UT holds virtual Commencement.

AUGUST 12 RecSports announces gradual reopening of facilities.

RecSports programming resumes and facility hours expanded with fall semester hours in effect through November 24.

AUGUST 20 The Recreational Sports Center reopens.

JUNE 6 Over 700 new freshman and transfer students participate in RecSports’ summer orientation programming.

AUGUST 17 Caven-Clark Field and Gregory Gym reopen with modifications and new safety protocols.

MAY 12 RecSports holds Final Stretch online to provide a study break during final exams.

AUGUST 26 AUGUST 15 MyRecSports web-based app launches for weight room, pool, TeXercise, and Climbing Wall reservations.

All RecSports facilities reopen with reduced hours. First day of fall semester classes at UT with in-person and virtual classes.

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innovative thinking Program areas had to quickly develop new ways to deliver their programming to participants regardless of where they were working or learning from.

Intramural Sports Added new sports such as foot golf, disc golf, and soccer tennis (you read that right!), and expanded cornhole offerings.

Fitness & Wellness Launched TeXercise on Campus featuring 35 in-person classes per week at indoor and outdoor locations.

Created TeXercise on Demand, a digital option with 30+ livestream classes per week and a library of 70+ pre-recorded classes.

Increased participation in pickleball, 2v2 sand volleyball, three-point basketball contest, and tennis.

Offered 30 total inperson leagues, special events, tournaments and skills contests.

Sport Clubs Resumed practice with new safety protocols despite travel being suspended through the end of 2020.

Fundraised over $110,000 during the fall 40 Hours for the Forty Acres campaign.

Outdoor Recreation

Instructional

Resumed local trips at Lady Bird Lake.

Resumed swim and tennis lessons with private and buddy options only to maximize participant safety.

Reopened the Climbing Wall for indoor climbing and the Outdoor Center for all outdoor gear needs.

Launched a new workshop series focused on the outdoors that offers valuable training.

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CieCie leads a group Zumba class during the October 2019 RecSports Recess.

S TA F F S P OT L I G H T

Xiomara ”CieCie” Leonard Assistant Director, Fitness & Wellness Passionate. Professional. Creative. Encouraging. Innovative.

These are but a few of the words chosen to describe Xiomara “CieCie” Leonard by those who know her best.

“She is professional, committed and passionate about her work and has a dedication to quality that ensures excellence in programming while staying in tune with the latest fitness trends,” says Adrienne MacKenzie, associate director of Fitness & Wellness and CieCie’s supervisor.

CieCie came on board as assistant director for the Fitness & Wellness program in June 2019. Prior to that, she served as the fitness and wellness graduate assistant at Texas A&M–Commerce where she earned her Master of Science degree in Kinesiology, Sports and Health Studies. The Florida native received her bachelor of science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida.

One of her main goals at RecSports has been to provide cutting edge classes and programming for participants and staff.

Since her start just over a year ago, she added Barre, POUND®, and Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga to the TeXercise schedule. She taught a free outdoor Zumba

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class in conjunction with RecSports Recess to over 350 student participants. She led the Longhorns to victory over the Aggies in the Texas Fight Cycling Challenge that took place last fall.

“These measures not only keep the Fit/Well programs competitive and current, but also helps us keep up with the changing needs of our participants,” MacKenzie said.

One of her most important accomplishments to date has been working with the team to develop the TeXercise on Demand virtual program and the modified TeXercise on Campus program in response to COVID-19.

“CieCie was able to pivot programming to a virtual platform, facing challenges with quick and effective solutions, all the while staying laser focused on the job at hand, in a strong display of grit, determination and professionalism,” MacKenzie said.

Despite being one of the youngest full-time RecSports staff to serve on the management team, CieCie has leveraged her experience and education to supervise a diverse team of 70 group fitness instructors and assist in overseeing 20 personal trainers.

Shannon Briggs, a group fitness instructor and personal trainer who’s been practicing in the field of fitness for 30 years, admits to being a bit skeptical when she learned that she would report to CieCie. After all, Briggs has children CieCie’s age.

“Wow, was I wrong! I grossly underestimated her skills, talent, vision and leadership….(CieCie) works to build up each one of the instructors under her leadership to be the best they can be. This past year has been the most fun I have had at UT, the most challenging, too!,” Briggs said.

CieCie also manages the highly specialized F45 Training Studio and trains, develops and evaluates all of the instructors and coaches. Her other major responsibility is instructing curriculum for the ACE Group Fitness and Personal certification course for 10 weeks each semester.

“CieCie brings a breadth and depth of fitness knowledge and her expertise has been vital to the training of instructors and continuing to grow our staff development opportunities,” noted senior director Jennifer Speer, who once upon a time filled the position CieCie now holds.

While it’s easy to peg CieCie as only a hardworking, dedicated professional and always on the job, she’s the epitome of playfulness and fun, on and off the clock.

Members of the Fitness & Wellness team at the 2020 TexFit competition.

She loves to laugh, is known to practice her aerial skills (yes, she’s trained in Circus Arts), and enjoys hiking with her boyfriend Michael and dog Drishti (which in Sanskrit or in yoga terms means “focused gaze”).

let us tell your recsports story!

WHAT’S YOUR CONNECTION TO RECSPORTS? WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THESE DAYS? Let us know so we can share your story with other RecSports alumni. Contact us online by visiting utrecsports.org/mystory or by email to friends@utrecsports.org.

Marisa Cantu, B. S. Nursing ‘11 While Marisa was working toward her nursing degree at UT she held two jobs at RecSports. She says leading group fitness classes and working in the Programs office in Gregory Gym were “the ‘funnest jobs’ I ever had. I really enjoyed getting to know the fellow instructors and trainers and interacting with class participants.” After graduating Marisa worked in women’s health

Scott Hill, BBA Finance ‘90 Scott dreamed of playing major league baseball but settled for intramural softball with fellow residents of Goodall Wooten dorm. “Ironically called Gus’ Rejects,” he says. The teammates became great friends, spending far too much time after games at a bar named Nasty’s. Soon Scott signed on as an intramural official and went on to form some of his best memories and friendships on the outdoor fields. Scott married his high school sweetheart, Hilary, and followed her to UT. They’ve celebrated 30 years of marriage

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in Dallas before heading west to California where she now makes her home. She works as a clinical consultant for Becton, Dickinson and Company, a medical device company where she uses the “presenting” skills she acquired from teaching fitness classes for RecSports. Marisa looks forward to resuming her wedding plans next year, having had to postpone them due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking even further ahead, she plans on having a child whom she can eventually send to the Forty Acres!

and have raised two children–Jacob and Sophie. Jacob is pursuing a master’s degree at Oxford and Sophie is a rising high school senior and four-year starter on the varsity basketball team. Scott and Hilary, who have lived in Georgia, North Carolina, Connecticut, New York, Paris and Tokyo, are making plans to make Austin home again and continue their involvement in campus activities and with the McCombs School of Business where Scott earned his degree. In 2008 the couple established a foundation at the McCombs business school and Scott is currently serving on the McCombs Advisory Council.

Rudy Metayer, B.A. Government & Philosophy ‘03, JD ‘06, MPAff ‘16 When asked about his involvement with RecSports, Rudy, a School of Law alumnus, was unambiguous, befitting his profession as an attorney. His reply: “Loved officiating.

Loved playing the variety of sports and winning championships…. Loved the Legal Eagles.” (The law school’s intramural flag football team in which he played.) Rudy also loved learning about leadership and setting an example for others, which he

Chris Ricks, B.A. History ‘13 Chris, a former Sport Clubs participant, is a lawyer and co-owner of Traeger & Ricks, PLLC, a law firm specializing in real estate, oil & gas, and estates. While at UT, Chris enjoyed competing and visiting with friends in the Texas Trap & Skeet student organization. The organization later gained recreational club status thanks to the efforts he and other students put forth. “It made a huge impact on my life,” he said, citing as his favorite

Roz Jones, M. Ed. Exercise Physiology ‘09 Roz, a master instructor with the workout franchise SPENGA under her own personal brand (ROZ Fit. Life. Style), served as a graduate assistant for the Fitness & Wellness program while working toward her degree.

Former Assistant Director Sarah Jordan became a life-changing mentor that helped her succeed professionally. Roz realized she was meant to be at RecSports during her first Fitness & Wellness team meeting

credits learning from Associate Director for Intramural Sports Darci Doll. Darci’s mentorship must have made a lasting impression given Rudy’s luminary standing in the community. He’s an accomplished litigator, noted advocate for at-risk children and veterans, City of Pflugerville council member, board member of The University of Texas School of Law and Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, recent appointee to the Supreme Court of Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals and much more. He and his wife, Letisha, live in Pflugerville and have three daughters.

memory a championship win by the club at an ACUI individual national championship in 2013. “That same year our team won the ACUI Division II National Championship,” he recalls, adding that those two wins were possibly the first national championships won by Texas in clay events. He still shoots for sport and serves as director of the newly-founded Texas Trap & Skeet Alumni Foundation. Chris and his wife, a Texas State Bobcat alumnus whom he met prior to his Longhorn days, live in New Braunfels, Texas, and are raising two daughters.

where she was welcomed with hugs, hi-fives and a fine-tuned organizational process.

Her last week at RecSports was equally memorable. She recalls that the RecSports staff marched into her final class dressed in their finest 80s attire. “Honestly, I still cry and cherish that moment today,” she said, adding, “I have come full circle with coming back to developing instructors and couldn’t be happier.” Roz lives in Houston, Texas, with a family that includes “the best dog” Jack Damon, and a supportive and loving boyfriend who shares her feelings about OU! #HookEm

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Development Corner Take a look at the projects your development team worked on during the spring and summer months, and what we were able to accomplish with your support!

Raised over $7,000 for the Excellence Fund from over 300 student donations. As a thank you, we sent each student an unawarded 2019-2020 Intramural Champion T-shirt.

Awarded over $35,000 in scholarships to 17 deserving student employees.

Donors received personalized thank you videos from recipients in lieu of the traditional in-person recognition event. Check out these and more stories at utrecsports.org/blog.

Congratulated over 100 graduating seniors by sending them celebratory RecSports gift packages. Included was the first-ever RecSports graduation stole.

Started our Wall of Fame facelift! To continue protecting and preserving these legacies, we have sent the boards for the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s to be reimaged and reinstalled.

Check out the progress on your next visit to Gregory Gym!

Save the Date APRIL 29, 2021

Hall of Honor Awards Cocktail

APRIL 30, 2021

Friends of RecSports Annual Bob Childress Golf Classic

want to give?

Each gift provides direct financial support to RecSports programs, scholarships, and facilities.

These gifts ensure that future generations of Longhorns have access to the most advanced recreation programs available.

Learn more at utrecsports.org/give.

STAY IN TOUCH WEBSITE: UTRECSPORTS.ORG/FRIENDS EMAIL: FRIENDS@UTRECSPORTS.ORG PHONE: 512.471.1155 /UT RECSPORTS @TEXASRECSPORTS @UTRECSPORTS

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