by Bea Peterson
On Wednesday, January 5, members of the Siena College Mens and Womens basketball teams visited four Capital District schools as part of the College’s annual Adopt-a-School program. This year, thanks to the efforts of SMA Board President Margaret Restino, St. Mary’s Academy was one of the schools selected.
The players, junior Kyle Downey, 6’2″, guard, from Fairport, NY, junior Brandon Walters, 6’9″, center, from Staten Island, NY, sophomore Jonathan Breeden, 6’5″, forward, from Harrisburg, PA, junior Maja Gerlyng, 5’11”, guard/forward, from Horsholm, Denmark, freshman Allison Mullings, 5’8″, guard, from Bloomfield, CT, freshman Clara Sole Anglada, 6’1″, forward, from Barcelona, Spain, and freshman Ciara Stewart, 5’7″, guard from Pomfret, MD, along with Assistant Coach Michelle Collins, entered the gym amid boisterous cheers. The players introduced themselves to the assembled school and shared a little of their backgrounds with the students.
There was a question and answer time when the students asked about balancing sports and school work, some basketball statistics and, for the foreign players, what the transition from their homes to here was like for them. After the assembly the students broke into small groups for basketball drills, some games and, of course, collecting autographs. All the while the Siena players emphasized the value of hard work and staying in school.
The project didn’t end with two hours at the school. SMA students will attend a Siena Mens home game and a Womens home game in the near future. The Siena students/players will keep in touch with the SMA classes throughout the remainder of the school year via email. Hoosick Falls is the farthest the Siena athletes have ever come to visit a school. It appeared to be a worthwhile trip all the way around.
