Two Mitchell Student-Athletes Selected for NCAA National Leadership Conference

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Two Mitchell College student-athletes have been selected to attend the 2009 NCAA Student-Athlete Development Conference May 24-27 in Orlando, Fla. at the Walt Disney World Coronado Spring Resort. Mike DePaolo (Asbury, N.J.) of the men's basketball team and Kelly Reynolds (Waterford, Conn.), a softball player, were chosen to represent Mitchell College at the conference which will have participants from all three NCAA divisions.

DePaolo, a junior for the Mariners, started in 25-of-26 games this season and averaged 12.0 points per game. The shooting guard also contributed with 30 assists and 23 steals on the season. Mitchell finished 8-18 overall and qualified for the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tournament. He is a Criminal Justice major and attended North Hunterdon High School.

Reynolds plays third base for Mitchell and is a Waterford High School graduate. The Human Development & Family Studies major hit .242 with nine runs scored and ten RBI's a season ago. The Mitchell softball team enters the 2009 season with high hopes as they return eight players from last season. The Mariners begin play in the newly formed New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) on Thursday, March 26 when they host Daniel Webster College for a doubleheader starting at 3:00 pm.

The annual NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills. The National Student-Athlete Development Conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The four-day conference consists of daily color team sessions, exercises, speakers and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to society.