Always working as a unit, sports teams move in tandem towards a common goal, but, for some, the goal hasn’t only been scoring more points. Many sports at Jesuit recently have sought to make a difference in the community with projects that the whole team can participate in. A few examples include Hockey’s Little Stars Camp, Varsity Basketball’s work with the Ronald McDonald House, Rugby’s Scrum for a Cure, and Soccer’s trip to the North Texas Food Bank.
Many hockey players were able to teach disadvantaged children how to play the sport at the Little Stars Camp, including sophomore Nick Gibbs. “It was fun when we helped out all the kids – the look on their faces when they got on the ice for the first time and when they put their gear on for the first time. They all had really big smiles on their faces,” he recounted. “It made everyone feel really good about themselves.” On the first of a couple of days, they ran the camp, the hockey players helped kids get their equipment fitted correctly before getting on the ice. After that, the next day, they skated with them, and the children were able to “feel the puck with their stick for the first time,” according to Gibbs.
The members of the varsity basketball team also made a difference, cooking a spaghetti meal for people currently staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. As it says on its website, the RMHD “serves as a ‘home-away-from-home’ for families of seriously ill or injured children who are hospitalized or receiving treatment in Dallas area hospitals.” Marcus Hill ’18 said that “it felt good to help those in need as a team. It was a good team bonding experience.” He was proud of the chicken spaghetti that he and the rest of the team cooked for the residents of the Ronald McDonald House, saying, “If I do say so myself, it was very delicious.”
Rugby raised awareness for cancer and money for Micaela’s Army Foundation in their Scrum for a Cure. With the friendly match, in the past two years, they have raised over $11,000. “The boys raise money in order to shave my head,” said rugby coach and Assistant Director of Community Service and Social Outreach Mr. Mattacchione. “Service can be a good team building opportunity because it brings guys together…for a common good,” he continued. “Sometimes through service, you get to see a different side of guys.”
Finally, soccer lent a helping hand to the North Texas Food Bank, which distributes much-needed food to people in Dallas that can’t afford it. Carson Christensen, a sophomore who participated, said, “It made me feel very good to give back to the community, and it was fun to do it as a group with the…team and friends.” At the food bank, they split into 4 groups, each doing a different job, including packing food for senior citizens or sorting good items from spoiled ones. It was a worthwhile experience as all these projects were for all those involved. A sports team is an excellent group to do a lot of good with, and service can bring you closer to your teammates as many members of the Jesuit community have found.
