MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University Champs Life Skills Organization and Student Athlete Advisory Committee celebrated National Student-Athlete Day by hosting the kindergarten and first grade classes from Warren L. Miller Elementary School in Mansfield for a fun-filled day of sports and activities at Decker Gymnasium.

“We've been doing this for several years now and it's a great opportunity for the athletes to give back to the community” explained Deb Rotella who is the Chair of the Department of Academic & Human Development and Liberal Studies & Athletic Mentor. “It's a lot of fun for both the kids and the student-athletes.”

Decker Gymnasium was split into five stations: football, field hockey, basketball, softball and soccer. Students also had a chance to tour the coaches' offices, locker rooms and sports information office inside Decker.

At the football station, students practiced throwing the ball, jumping over obstacles, and doing the ladder drill. Junior linebacker Eudene Parson showed the students one of the Mountaineer's defensive drills, which was a big hit. One thing the football players on hand learned was once a first grader starts backpedaling, it's hard for them to stop.

The field hockey station gave the youngsters a chance to learn how to handle a hockey stick and even take shots at goal. The Mansfield Mountaineer stepped in as a goalie, but his save percentage took a major hit as several students were successful in finding the back of the cage with their shots.

Sophomore Kevonte McClain and junior Julia Stevenson led the basketball station where students learned how to pass, dribble, and shoot. Head coaches Rich Miller and Ruth Hermansen were on hand preparing for their 2024 recruiting classes.

At the softball station, the kids honed their swings and practiced how to field ground balls. Mansfield home run record holder Kate Pratt gave advice on perfecting your home run trot around the bases.

Students worked on dribbling, passing and shooting the ball while at the soccer station. Junior Amanda Quinn said she remembered playing sports when she was that young and it made the event a little more special. “The kids having fun made it even more fun for me and my teammates” said Quinn.

Sammy, a blonde-haired first grader said he was having a really fun day and he liked the football station the best so far. Ella, who wants to play soccer when she gets older, really liked kicking the soccer balls.

After the students completed each station, it was lunch time. The kids were treated to lots of pizza, apple juice and rice krispy treats before boarding the buses to head back to school.