Utah State athletes hold event for Cache Valley youth at Fieldhouse
On Monday night, the Pals program teamed up with Student Athlete Mentors (SAMS) to give local Cache Valley children a special night.
Student athletes, volunteer students in the PALS program and local children spent two hours in the Fieldhouse for what will be a memorable night for all that were involved.
Junior Jared Blonquist organized the event and said this event was planned during Service Week to “help people become aware of the programs that are offered.”
“The purpose of the PALS program is to provide positive role models for these kids,” he said. “I know that when I was a kid this would be the coolest thing that I could do. Kids really look up to college athletes. It’s really great of the athletes to take the time to do something like this.”
Spending time up close with the athletes was a real thrill for the kids, who are all from Cache Valley and see Aggie sports on TV and in person. Among the words used by the kids when asked what they thought of the evening was “fun,” usually while they were trying to catch their breath from all of the running they were doing.
Even though the event was planned for the kids, they weren’t the only one’s enjoying it.
Aminifu Johnson, a former football player, said, “Seeing kids having fun, seeing a smile on their face, that’s what this is all about. Hopefully, it will light a spark for them and get them interested in some of these sports.”
Junior soccer player Lyndy Goodsell said, “You don’t think that they will really care, but you get there and they are just so excited. It just shows you what kind of impact you can have.”
Senior football player Jess Schuck said he grew up looking up to his older brother and knows what kind of impact an older person can have on someone younger who looks up to them.
“The kids get a lot out of it,” he said. “It’s great for the community and it gives these kids someone – not necessarily to be their hero – but just someone to look up to.”
Freshman soccer player Heather Arnell said, “The boys are just so rough and aggressive, but all of them just want to play with you. It’s a lot of fun.”
Aaron Myers, a 7-year-old boy, was asked if he thought the experience was even more fun than playing Nintendo and he said, “Definitely, but it makes me more tired.”