• In case you missed it, today's top post shares some highlights from last night's opening ceremonies at Houston's Downtown Aquarium. Included in the post are interviews with Ferris State Director of Athletics Tom Kirinovic, St. Edward's softball coach Amy Coulter, West Florida golfer Federico Damus, Valdosta State tennis player Otto Lenhart and Metropolitan State President Stephen Jordan, who chairs the Division II Presidents Council.

• There was some outstanding dancing last night, but most interesting was that student-athletes from different teams got their boogey on together. You have to love that.

• The only Division II player on the U.S. Women's Developmental Team, C.W. Post senior Mallory Poole took time out of her night to share some thoughts in a guest blog about the trip to Houston and the opening ceremonies at the Downtown Aquarium. C.W. Post is seeking its second straight national championship in women's lacrosse.

• While the opening ceremonies were held last night, competition actually began yesterday morning, as the Division II Women's Golf Championship got underway. First-time participant Nova Southeastern shot 4-over par and currently holds a one-stroke advantage over four-time champion Rollins. Fredrika Hakansson (Nova Southeastern) and Heather Burgner (Florida Southern) are tied atop the individual leaderboard at 1-under par.

• Yesterday afternoon, NCAA President Myles Brand and Stephen Jordan were on hand at Houston's City Hall to join Mayor Bill White, who proclaimed this week "Division II National Championships Festival Week."

• I guess nobody asked this white tiger how he felt about Division II. It seems like he just wanted an invite to the buffet line upstairs.

• For each of the next three days, more than 1,500 elementary and junior high school students will take part in youth clinics aimed at educating kids about the importance of fitness, education, teamwork and healthy habits. Each participant will have a chance to be part of "Team Awesome" - a life-skills curriculum that will inspire and educate youth on how to be awesome and confident in all facets of life. To learn more about the event, listen to this podcast with NCAA intern Kat Krtnick, who planned the clinics.

• The DII Festival gets going in full force this morning as the remaining five championships begin play. The first round of the men's golf championship started at 7:30 and the women's tennis round of 16 began at 8. Softball action begins at 10 and the second round of the women's golf tournament resumes at the same time. Men's tennis action will begin at 1:30.

• In 1996, Methodist won the first-ever Division II Women's Golf Championship. The Monarchs went on to win again in 1998 and 1999 before Division III got its own championship in 2000. Methodist has won each DIII crown since and when play began at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa yesterday, the Monarchs were going after their 11th consecutive national championship. Last year, Methodist finished an all-divisions record 88 strokes ahead of second-place DePauw, but it looks like 2008 may prove to be more of a challenge. After 18 holes, Methodist leads Southwestern by just two strokes.