STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WAOW) – Over 1,500 elementary students were supposed to be at the UW-Stevens Point women’s basketball game for the start of a new tradition called ‘Education Day’
The weather however threw a wrench in the numbers, but despite the closures, hundreds still showed out to support the team and stay active.
“We got almost 2,000 kids signed up, and I was like, oh boy we got a lot of work to do then,” said Education Day Chair, Brenna Steinagel.
Both school looking to make this a tradition, and were worried with the school closures, but the community had their back even in unfavorable weather.
“Starting a tradition here,” said Steinagel. “I’m overwhelmed with the amount of people that showed up. It’s awesome. I didn’t think we’d have this awesome turnout.”
Assistant Professor at UWSP, Ann Hockett, saw this as a fantastic opportunity to get the kids out of class for a day to get active and enjoy some local basketball and the UWSP campus.
“What a great opportunity, especially for women’s sports, to get students in, enjoy a game, see our campus, and a really great day of movement and activity,” said Hockett.
Plenty of activities were planned in between timeouts and end of the quarters.
“Hopefully get them active, moving, we have cheers planned for the crowd and we’re actually doing a chuck-a-duck as well,” said Hockett.
Hockett says she was impressed by the community’s turnout.
And hopes to keep the ball rolling into future years.
“Even though this year is year one, and it’s a modified education day, that is something annually that can take place in the future,” said Hockett.
Even with having to simplify the event, plenty of students and families showed their support.
That makes what’s to come next year, all the more exciting.