Listen Here
By: Olivia Wile
Twitter: o_wile
Email: wileo@findlay.edu
Though heavy snow was enough to cancel classes last Friday, Jan. 12, it wasn’t enough to discourage the Findlay community from coming out to participate in the University of Findlay’s annual All Sports Day.
While many students enjoyed their day off from classes on Martin Luther King Day last Monday, Jan. 15, the athletes at UF spent the day assisting eager kids ready to play, swim, and interact with some of their favorite players.
Sulli Sanders, a freshman tennis player at UF, says that she enjoyed the day.
“It gave us as athletes something to do on our day off,” said Sanders. “It was a really good experience in general. “
Athletic Director Brandi Laurita explains what All Sports Day is all about.
“All Sports Day is an opportunity for youth in grades K through five to try sports,” said Laurita. “It is definitely not a skills day, really just a day to expose kids to sports.”
Laurita says this event has been ongoing since before her ten years as Head Athletic Director at the University. As numbers were down this year at approximately 110 in attendance compared to last year’s 190, Laurita suspects the snow might have played a factor. “The snow days in schools may have prevented communication,” she said.
Tommy Schmock, a freshman basketball player at UF, explains what his team did during All Sports Day.
“Our team had our freshman work the basketball part of the All Sports Day,” said Schmock. “It was the five players, myself, Anthony, Brady, Ethan, Corbin, and our manager Owen. We each worked a station for six minutes at a time of a different aspect of basketball and then rotated groups.”
Laurita explains how All Sports Day benefits everyone involved. “So this event is two-fold, said Laurita. “One, it is a fundraiser for the department. Two, I think that interaction is positive not for kids but also student athletes. It is a good way to give back.”
Schmock agrees with Laurita as he says enjoyed his first All Sports Day at UF.
“I loved it. It was great seeing kids you’ve never seen before admire you just for the sport you play and it was very humbling,” said Schmock. “It was also great to give back to the kids and help them out because we too were kids those days looking up to athletes wanting to learn the game. I had a blast doing it!”
