Herkimer Men's and Women's Basketball Teams Visit WCV

Members of Herkimer County Community College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams visited middle and elementary students at West Canada Valley Central School on Wednesday, November 18.
     The visit was part of a community outreach effort spearheaded by HCCC Director of Athletics Don Dutcher, Men’s Basketball Coach Matt Lee, Women’s Basketball Coach John Campagna and West Canada Valley Principals Frank Sutliff and Ann Maher. Dutcher said, “Our goal is to help students at local primary schools realize that now is the time to start their study habits, respect their school, friends, teachers, parents and self.”
     The HCCC staff led a morning program for students in kindergarten through second grade with calisthenics, light exercises and a question and answer session. Coaches and student-athletes demonstrated key elements of the basketball game to 120 middle school students who were then divided up into groups to hone and develop their basketball skills. Members of the high school and college basketball teams discussed what it takes to make it at the college level as a student-athlete. The value of a college education and the commitment it takes to succeed on the basketball court and in the classroom were emphasized. The day concluded with the coaches and their teams visiting kindergarten through fourth grade classes. The student-athletes read to the students and participated in question and answer sessions in each classroom. One lucky class got to make turkey hats.
     Throughout the visit, the most common theme was academics. Dutcher stressed, “It starts now for you. Do well in school and respect everyone helping you achieve each and every personal goal you have. Every day you wake up, set a new goal to do better than the day before in school, at home, on the basketball court and for yourself.”
     Dutcher said, “This was a win-win situation for Herkimer County Community College and West Canada Valley Central Schools. It was a great opportunity for our student-athletes to give back to the community. If we influenced one student to improve their academic achievement and respect for school and athletics, our visit was well worth it.”
     A second visit to West Canada Valley is being planned for the spring.