Courtesy of Lake Superior State Sports Information
SAULT STE. MARIE – While most Lake Superior State students enjoy their three-week winter break at home, LSSU's winter sports athletes return early to a desolate campus to resume their competitive seasons. LSSU is completely shut down during a week or more of their mid-season training.
To keep busy during what can be a long and quiet week, the Lakers take advantage of community outreach opportunities. One of their favorite activities is Reading Day, when they canvass the area elementary schools and visit classrooms.
"Spending time with the students at Lincoln Elementary helped remind us of the responsibility that we have to the community to be good role models," said junior Mike Smutny, who is a center on the men's basketball team. "It was humbling to see how kids that had never met us before were excited to just sit down and listen to us read them a story. All of us didn't make it to Lake State without the help of at least one person who took the time to mentor us and show us the way, so we enjoy playing similar roles when we get the opportunity to."
"We know that kids look up to our athletes because of their physical skill, but we want the public to know what great people they are," noted Kris Dunbar, LSSU director of athletics. "There was a time when someone went out of their way to make a difference in their lives, and they look forward to doing the same for others. There's no better way to connect with kids than in the classroom."
Lincoln School Principal Sheri McFarlane welcomes the Laker athletes back any time. While the students were in awe of the athletes, the staff was equally impressed with the men's basketball team's willingness to make an extra effort with the kids.
"Every single one of those basketball players was absolutely amazing with those kids," McFarlane said. "They hung around for a good 45 minutes in the lunch room. One of our special education classes has a lot of needy students, and a couple guys helped feed them. Other players sat on the benches and chatted with kids."
"I enjoyed reading to the kids but I had the most fun talking with the kids during lunch," Smutny added. "It was funny talking about how similar my life as an elementary school kid was to theirs. We talked a lot about Harry Potter books. They were pretty amazed that I was their age when they came out."
The Lakers bonded with one special needs student, who, with some extra help from Lincoln staffers, is playing basketball for the first time and falling in love with the sport.
"I invited him to maybe come play video games with some of the guys in our locker room before a game," said sophomore Akaemji Williams, a guard on the men's basketball team. "The experience we get from reading to the elementary students is a great feeling, knowing that just a little of our time can make a kid's day. They really enjoy seeing us and many look up to us."
The women's basketball team spent an afternoon at Soo Township School, and the hockey team visited Washington School and St. Mary's.
Sault Ste. Marie has a bounty of kids who aspire to be professional hockey players. Elementary teachers and staffers try dutifully to inspire the desire to be well-rounded students in hopeful athletes who think they can punch their golden ticket on ice skates. LSSU hockey players, who are among the best students at LSSU, know what message they need to send.
"We come in contact with all different kids, not just hockey players," said Laker hockey captain Austin McKay. "This gives us a good chance to interact with them. One of the main things we tell them is how important school is, how important it is to play different sports, to do different things in school. It's so important to their overall growth. This was a great chance to talk to them and hopefully make a positive impression, and let them know school is the right place to start their dreams."
One popular question the hockey players are asked is whether they could beat the Detroit Red Wings.
"We have to answer 'unfortunately no,'" McKay said. "But we do impress on the kids that even for us, playing at a high level, if we don't maintain a certain GPA or don't go to class, we're not allowed to play…To be a role model is something you don't think about on a day-to-day basis, but (these school visits) let you realize that you are a role model to kids in Sault Ste. Marie."
Community service experiences will benefit LSSU student-athletes throughout their lives and give them the tools to make a difference in their hometowns.
"The women's basketball team had a great time reading to the kids at Soo Township Elementary," said Megan Manninen, a senior guard on the women's basketball team. "A concept that we talk a lot about within our team is giving back and making a positive impact in the community. It was great to be able to go to the classrooms and see how excited the kids were to see us. It feels good when you know that the kids look up to you and want to support our team when we play."
LSSU athletes engage in several community activities throughout the year, including the Madrigal Dinner, Avery Square Christmas Party, Special Olympics events and the Sault International Half Marathon.
