Team addresses and interacts with nearly 1200 fifth and sixth graders

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 3, 2014) – On Friday afternoon, several members of the ETSU women’s basketball team – as well as head coach Brittney Ezell – participated in an assembly attended by nearly 1200 fifth and sixth graders inside the gymnasium at Indian Trail Intermediate School.

The school – which eight different elementaries in Johnson City feed into – aims to integrate communities and cultures to foster appreciation of diversity through a strong home-to-school connection to enable students to achieve their personal best. Indian Trail health teacher David Nutter felt that having ETSU student-athletes address and interact with the students was a great way to help deliver the messages he, and his fellow teachers, try to instill every day.

“It’s an invaluable lesson to have these young student-athletes come and talk about the importance of academics, leadership, character, and perseverance,” said Nutter. “What better way to present these four areas to the kids than to have someone they admire and dream to see in real life talk to them about it?”

The afternoon’s events started with each Buccaneer being introduced to the students through a cloud of smoke and lights. A highlight video of the team then aired on the big screen before coach Ezell introduced herself and each of the student-athletes to the fifth and sixth graders. Following, a few of the players took to the mic to explain more about themselves and the values and lessons that they live by that have helped them get to where they are.

A question-and-answer portion with the group of students then occurred where topics ranged both on and off the court before select students took to the hardwood to challenge the basketball Bucs in various on-court competitions.

The sessions ended with high fives exchanged between the team and the students as the kids exited the gym to return to their classrooms.

“Inviting the Bucs to our school,” said Nutter, “is just one of many ways that we are using to help carry out our mission at Indian Trail Intermediate.”

For more information on ETSU women’s basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s hoops link. Season tickets can be purchased here.

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