The men鈥檚 Fighting Squirrels basketball team has volunteered at Bessie Weller Elementary School for years, and those efforts have only grown with the arrival of first-year Head Coach Daniel Eacho.
香蜜影视鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball team has continued its tradition of volunteering at Bessie Weller Elementary School, a cherished community connection that began under the leadership of former Coach Matt Griggs. This year, despite a coaching transition, the volunteer effort has not only persisted but thrived under new Head Coach Daniel Eacho.
During a recent visit to the school, the team’s presence was immediately felt. The basketball players gathered on the playground with excited students, eager to play games and interact with their athletic role models.
First-grader Iris Hodge, one of the many enthusiastic students, expressed her excitement: “It’s just really fun. I like playing basketball at home, but playing with the basketball players is even better.”
For Eacho, community service has always been a key component of his vision for the program.
鈥淭he service portion for an athletics program has always been huge for me. From my time as a player to an assistant coach and now a head coach, I knew I wanted it to be a big part of the program,鈥 Eacho said.
When he took over as head coach, he was thrilled at the opportunity pioneered for him by Griggs. Eacho quickly worked with the school administration to continue the team鈥檚 involvement at Bessie Weller, organizing a schedule for weekly volunteer efforts.
The players do much more than just play games with the children.
Principal Sandra McGrath shared the impact of their presence in both the gym and the classroom: 鈥淭hey help with math games, practice reading, and generally make the kids feel more comfortable. The message that really resonates with the kids is, 鈥榠f you put the work in, you鈥檒l get the results.鈥欌
Zach Sloan 鈥26, who plays forward for the team, is one of the players who volunteers regularly. Reflecting on his experience, he said, 鈥淚t means a lot. I never had anything like this when I was young, I never had a chance to interact with older athletes that I could look up to. These kids look up to us, and it feels good to be able to come out and put a smile on their faces. We had a lot of support from the kids and their families last season, so it鈥檚 great to give back.鈥
The children鈥檚 admiration for the players is clear. On the playground, they eagerly lined up to meet their basketball heroes, with some players receiving hugs from the moment they arrived. Quentin Hart 鈥24, one of the players and now a graduate student in Mary Baldwin鈥檚 MBA program, was particularly popular 鈥 swarmed by kids and even carrying one student in a hug onto the playground.
While the volunteer efforts are already making a significant impact, Eacho has plans to expand them further.
鈥淲e鈥檝e kicked around ideas of free clinics, trash clean-ups 鈥 anything we can do to make sure this team makes the biggest possible impact on the community,鈥 he said.
As the basketball season progresses, the bond between the team and Bessie Weller鈥檚 students will only deepen. The high-fives, smiles, and shared experiences are proof that the relationship is about much more than basketball 鈥 it鈥檚 about leadership, mentorship, and community building.
The men’s basketball team is excited to make another run at the tournament, and their season is right around the corner. and plan to support your Fighting Squirrels this season.