GSW Canes athletes celebrate D2 Day

by Jackson Carlstrom, Staff Writer

D2 Day, as stated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, serves as an opportunity every year for all people associated with division II sports teams to “celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on their campus and community.” The NCAA encouraged all DII athletic programs to use D2 Day to engage with their local communities and show the benefits athletes get from being a part of a division II team.

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

“For me, tennis gives me an opportunity and a reason to make friends, to meet people,” Nina Thomet, a freshman on the GSW Women’s Tennis team, said. “You can feel a connection when we work and play together.”

For D2 day this year, several of GSW’s sports teams went to Sumter County’s primary and elementary schools to read children’s books to the kids and talk to them about what they do as athletes at GSW. Alongside reading, the Canes talked to the children about D2’s slogan, “Make it Yours,” and what it means for those in division 2 sports teams.

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

The NCAA’ “Make it Yours” slogan, as outlines by their website, focuses on several goals for student athletes such as “having an experience in which you can be an active participant,” as well as several academic goals outside of sports like “making graduation a priority,” “having a campus that is tight-knit enough to respond to individual student’s needs,” and “having coaches who help athletes develop their resumes as much as their athletic skills.”

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

Reading and talking with the children allowed the Canes to build connections with the children, many of which could become Canes athletes in the future, as well as the staff and faculty of Sumter County’s schools.

“It was a nice experience.I got to go to a kindergarten class, and we read books to the children there,” Pilar Becerrat, a freshman on the GSW Women’s Tennis Team, said. “They were all very passionate and excited to listen to us. I felt really loved.”

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department

Photo provided by GSW Athletics department