The day in photos at Spring Garden Middle School
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- From answering questions about keeping up their grades to leading the way in a spirited cheer, the Seattle Pacific Falcons met some big fans in small and medium sizes on Monday afternoon as they prepared for the start of the NCAA Division II women's basketball Elite Eight.
As part of an activity-packed day in the host city of St. Joseph, Mo., the entire team and coaching staff paid a visit to Spring Garden Middle School on the outskirts of town. They were greeted by the school's Trojan mascot and by the pep band as the SPU vehicles pulled into the semicircular drive at the front door.
From there, the Falcons dispersed in pairs to different classrooms, where topics of discussion ranged from basketball to training to studying.
One group of students gathered in the school's smaller gymnasium got a unique perspective on some of those topics from SPU freshman Rachel Murray, a native of New South Wales, Australia.
In addition to the usual challenges facing all college student athletes, Murray talked about not being at home or seeing her family since last summer, given the 17-hour plane ride between Eglington and Seattle, and how when she does return home when the Seattle Pacific academic year ends, it will be winter in her country south of the equator just as summer is getting started here.
The entire student body of 7th- and 8th-graders then gathered in the main gym to meet the whole team. It wasn't the usual standard introductions, though. With fun-loving sophomore guard Chanel Smith leading the way, each Falcon introduced herself in rap music style, which generated as many laughs among the players as it did among the students.
The day ended with some autographs and the throwing of T-shirts into the crowd. But the connection will continue on Tuesday when the Falcons tip off their Elite Eight quarterfinal game against Fort Lewis College of Durango, Colo., at 10 a.m. PDT.
As part of the community engagement project, each of the St. Joseph-area middle schools were assigned one of the eight regions represented in the tournament. Spring Garden got the West Region, and as such, its students have been studying different aspects of the Western U.S., such as history and geography. Those students also have been following the regional women's hoop rankings all winter to see who might be paying them a visit.
A group of 100 students and staff will be seated behind the SPU bench on Tuesday, armed with maroon-and-white pom-poms, and carrying “Go Falcons” signs. If Seattle Pacific wins and advances to Wednesday night's semifinals, an even larger group will be there in support, as would be the case on Friday should the Falcons move all the way into the championship game.
