Shreveport, La. – AdvoCare V100Independence Bowl officials announced on Friday that Dr. Kyle Pierce has been named the bowl’s 2011 “Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year.”
Pierce is the director of the USA Weightlifting Development Center, located at LSUS and serves as an associate professor of Kinesiology and Health Science. In 2006, Pierce was named as the recipient of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Doc Counsilman Science Award for 2005. Named for the legendary Indiana University swimming coach and instituted by the USOC in 2003, the Counsilman Award honors coaches who conduct and use research along with developing innovative training methods.
Pierce, a native of Hollywood, Fla., is widely published and sought after internationally to make presentations on sports science. Kyle coaches Kendrick Farris, a Shreveport native who placed 8th in the 85 kg weight class at the 2008 Olympics for the United States. He was named the USOC Weightlifting Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2010 and will coach the Women’s National Team in the Pan-Am games this fall.
“I am honored and humbled to be chosen for this award,” said Pierce. “There are a lot of worthy individuals locally and so I thank the staff at the AdvoCare V100Independence Bowl for choosing me.”
Pierce made his first visit to Shreveport in 1987 as assistant strength coach for the Tulane football team as the Green Wave, led by head coach Mack Brown, faced Washington in Independence Bowl XII.
Dr. Pierce is a very well known and recognized international weight training expert, who reflects great credit upon our community,” said 2011 Bowl Chairman Fred Sexton, Jr. “He has been closely involved with our youth as his students have consistently excelled on the national and international competitive stage. The Independence Bowl is pleased to honor his commitment to our community and particularly to our youth.”
The USA Weightlifting Center for High Performance and Development is located in the Health and Physical Education Building on the LSUS campus. There are 15 platforms available for training. Biomechanics capabilities available at the Center fare V scope, 3-D video analysis, 2 force plates, Dartfish and frame-by-frame analysis by I-Mac video.
Pierce joins an impressive list of past recipients such as Hal Sutton (1983), Tim Brando (1992), David Toms (1997), Meredith Duncan (2001), Brock Berlin (2004), and Scott Baker (2007). Matt Brown of Sportspectrum received the award last year.
Pierce will be honored at halftime of the the 2011 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl on Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. The game will kickoff at 4 p.m. from Independence Stadium and will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
TICKET INFORMATION
Individual ticket prices in 2011 are $47 for sideline seats and $37 for south end zone seats. Military tickets can be purchased by active military personnel in person at the Bowl Office for a special discounted price of $32 for south end zone and $42 for sideline bench seats. Those wishing to donate tickets to the military can do so at those same prices.
New to all ticket buyers in 2011 is the “I-Bowl Loyalty Card”. If fans renew tickets or purchase new tickets prior to the July 1 renewal deadline they will receive one Loyalty Card for each ticket they purchase. The “I-Bowl Loyalty Card” will save fans money at participating businesses that are “Loyalty Partners” such as Cascio’s Market Bistro, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hilton Shreveport, Johnny’s Catfish and Seafood, The Dough Basket and Creative Cakes and many more. New “Loyalty Partners” will be added throughout the year as well. Fans can go to www.independencebowl.org to see what deals are being offered and which ones change throughout the year. Loyalty cards are valid from Oct. 15, 2011 to Oct. 15, 2012 and will be shipped with game tickets.
The AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl has revised several of its ticket packages this year. The “Johnny’s Catfish and Seafood Family FUN Pack”, Touchdown Club, Patriot Pack, and Bowl Backer offer fans a chance to save money for their group outing to the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl.
The “Johnny’s Catfish and Seafood Family Fun Pack” is a ticket package which includes four south end zone tickets, four hot dogs, four soft drinks, and a Blue Lot parking pass all for only $175. The ticket package also includes a “Johnny’s Catfish Family Pack”, a $20 value. This saves fans more than $40 off of the regular price.
The Touchdown Club is a ticket package specially designed for larger groups. This package includes 10 south end zone tickets, and 10 shuttle tickets for $380, which saves fans $50 off the normal price.
The Patriot Pack and the Bowl Backer include 20 seats in the south end zone and sidelines respectively plus shuttle tickets and recognition at the game for your business or large group. Stay tuned for more information on ticket packages throughout the year.
The Kid’s Corner Youth Ticket Initiative allows businesses and individuals the opportunity to donate 25 or more tickets to a youth-oriented non-profit organization of their choice, such as the YMCA, Volunteers of America, or Boys and Girls Club. This program is also a great way for youth groups to sit together at the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in a fun and safe environment.
Information on becoming a member of the Independence Bowl Foundation or a corporate sponsor of the bowl is also available at the Bowl Office located on the ground floor of the American Tower in downtown Shreveport at 401 Market Street, Suite 120. Those interested may also contact the Bowl Office at 318.221.0712 or toll free at 888.414.BOWL (2695) or visit the bowl’s official website at www.independencebowl.org.
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