University of Delaware Basketball Teams Take Part in Send-Off Pep Rally with Students at West Park Place Elementary
March 3, 2011
Photos Courtesy of UD Photo Services
NEWARK, Del. -- Nearly 200 students at nearby West Park Place Elementary School gave the University of Delaware men’s and women’s basketball squads an enthusiastic send-off to the upcoming Colonial Athletic Association tournaments as part of a Pep Rally Tuesday afternoon at the school’s gymnasium.
Players and coaches from both Blue Hen teams, as well as UD cheerleaders and mascots YoUDee and Baby Blue, were greeted by screams and thunderous applause. The event was coordinated by the UD Office of Athletics Marketing and moderated by WRDX Sports Director and Voice of the Blue Hens Mike Corey.
Delaware men’s head coach Monté Ross along with assistant coaches R.C. Kehoe and Saul Rafel-Frankel were on hand along with UD players Edwin Santiago, Hakim McCullar, Jamelle Hagins, Tommy Williams, and Kaleb Clyburn. For the women, head coach Tina Martin was joined by assistant coaches Jeanine Radice, Tiara Malcom, Mark McCaleb, and Allie Fedorowicz along with players Meghan McLean, Vanessa Kabongo, Chelsea Craig, Jaquetta May, and Kelsey Buchanan.
Ross and Martin each addressed the students, urging them to work hard in school, listen to their teachers, and stay active. Delaware players also passed along positive messages to the students and led them in several cheers.
“I really enjoyed the time with the students,” said McCullar, a junior forward from Cincinnati, Ohio. “The Pep Rally was a great event and the kids were so energetic. This really embodies what the Delaware experience should be about. I hope we get the chance to go back in the future.”
Many of the elementary school students and their families attended a Delaware men’s game vs. Towson back on Feb. 23 as well as last night’s women’s game vs. Towson as guests of UD athletics.
The Delaware men will begin action at the CAA Tournament this coming Friday, March 4, where the Blue Hens are the No. 7 seed and will take on No. 10 seed Northeastern in a first round game at 6 p.m. the Richmond (Va.) Coliseum. The tournament continues through Monday.
The Blue Hen women will also be the No. 7 seed when they take part in the CAA Tournament beginning Thursday, March 10, at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. The Blue Hens will take on No. 10 seed Northeastern in a first round game at 5 p.m. The tournament will continue through Mar. 13.
The winners of each tournament will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
