The Global Genes Project is a grassroots effort to raise awareness and support for literally millions of children and adults who suffer from various rare genetic disorders - diseases with fewer than 200,000 reported cases worldwide. In all, 7,000 rare diseases have been identified, affecting more than 30 million Americans.

The basic idea behind the campaign is to make jeans and jeans ribbons synonymous with rare gene disorders in much the same way pink is associated with breast cancer awareness. For diseases that literally have only hundreds of reported cases like Joubert Syndrome or Niemann-Pick Type C, it's incredibly difficult for parents and others to make their voices heard. By rallying around jeans and jeans ribbons, this will hopefully change in the future.

Sunday, February 28th, was World Rare Disease Day 2010 and two Milwaukee Sting teams - 15 Gold and 16 Black - joined the Global Genes Project effort by wearing jeans ribbons on their warm-ups. Coaches Doug Hext and Pat Houk also wore jeans as they coached. The sign that the players are holding says, "Hope - It's in our genes."

Last weekend, a number of Milwaukee Stings 15 and older teams took part in the JVA Showcase in the Wisconsin Dells. When it was all said and done, 5 of our 10 teams finished in the top five of their respective divisions:

18 Gold - 2nd
18 Black - 11th
17 Gold - 3rd
17 Black - 13th
17 White - 19th
16 Gold - 2nd
16 Black - 15th
16 White - 12th
15 Gold - 3rd
15 Black - 5th

The accolades didn't end when the final whistle blew on Sunday. Milwaukee Sting landed 7 players on the All Tournament teams:

18's Division
Erica Reetz - 18 Gold
Catie Fredrich - 18 Gold

17's Division
Kate Acker - 17 Gold

16's Division
Sara Blaiser - 16 Gold
Alyssa Dawson - 16 Gold

15's Division
Ciara Capezio - 15 Gold
Geneva Yee - 15 Black

Congratulations, everyone. The club is very proud of all of you!

Sting 18 Black DS Korina Yee, has verbally committed to join the Red Storm of St. Johns University. In the class of 2011, Sting 17 Gold MB Emily Yanny, is flying west to join the Iowa Hawkeyes. Congratulations to both of you!

Congratulations to Sting 16 Gold setter, Sara Blaiser and Sting 15 Gold outside hitter, Ciara Capezio. Both players received Most Outstanding Player awards for their respective divisions (16 Open - 15 Open). Moreover, Milwaukee Sting had a great showing at the GLC President's Day Event.

18 Gold - 9th
17 Gold - 5th
16 Gold - 2nd
15 Gold - 3rd

Great job to all teams!

Thank-you to everyone (players, coaches & families) that attended our event in the Wisconsin Dells. The dome was full of great matches in all divisions during the weekend.

Congratulations to all teams that put on an exciting show for the many spectators that attended our 3 day event.

The following teams finished 1st & 2nd in the Gold Division.
18's Division
1st Place: Iowa Rockets 18R
2nd Place: River City 18 Gators
16's Division
1st Place: Wisconsin Select 16-1
2nd Place: Milwaukee Sting 15 Black
15's Division
1st Place: Adversity 15 Black
2nd Place: East Troy Heat 14-1
14's Division
1st Place: Club Fusion 14 White
2nd Place: Wisconsin Ice 14 Purple

Complete tournament results can be found at Advanced Event Systems.