“It was fun I learned that there could be flag or tackle football. We played football together.” -Chase Thomas
“They showed us how to be a leader with respect.” – Landon Huber
“It was fun, I got to play with my football teammate.” Charlize Fernandez
Talk about a lucky group of kids!
For the past three years, the Army West Point Sprint football team has chosen to make a visit to the CONNECT program at the Highland Falls Intermediate School as one of the team’s annual community service events. That visit took place on a recent Friday.
It makes sense, because CONNECT is a program created, and run by, the West Point Association of Graduates. For the obvious reason, Sprint football coach Mark West is a graduate of West Point and thus supports the AOG. But he’s also a long-time resident of West Point, Highland Falls and, now, Fort Montgomery as he first married into a ‘local’ family and then raised his family here.
But there are other reasons too.
“I make this event a priority every year for a few reasons.” West said last week, just days after his cadets spent the afternoon of March 28 with CONNECT’s kids at the HFIS. He was unable to be at the event, but the team was accompanied by its other coaches.
“First, I think it is important for our cadet-athletes to understand the positive impact they can have on young people. By modeling what right looks like during their interaction with the students in the CONNECT program, it will hopefully inspire these young kids to reach for the stars and be the best they can be.”
Secondly, he said, as a local resident, he sees first-hand the importance of a strong community relationship between West Point and the Town of Highlands.
“This community service event allows Sprint football to do its share to strengthen that relationship,” West said.
All of that said, the coach said reason number three is just as important.
“Our guys look forward to this every year because it is a lot of fun!” West said. “I hope other teams or clubs from West Point get involved so they can experience first-hand how awesome the CONNECT program is.”
Cadet Josh Baskerville, who grew up on West Point, enjoys the activity.
“It means a lot for me to be able to interact with these kids, because as a kid, I saw these older players as great influences, and being on the other side and being the great influences, it just means a lot,” Baskerville said. “These kids brought a lot of energy today and that just made me happy, just being around them and being able to bond with them.”
CONNECT Director Christine McDonald said the Sprint Football team’s annual visit is one of our most favorite events.
“I saw kids who rarely engage hanging with their USMA buddies, learning to kick the ball, playing catch, enjoying ‘gaga ball’ and even hanging on the monkey bars,” McDonald said. “It is a day that every time touches my heart. When Army Sprint Football visits there are smiles everywhere!” (From the News of the Hudson Highlands)