By Kyle LoJacono
The Wesley Chapel High football players took a break from offseason workouts to encourage reading at two area elementary schools to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday March 2.
Damian Garvey, Alex McGough, Keegan Tanner and Hunter Robinson, along with their coach Ben Alford visited New River and Quail Hollow elementary schools.
“It shows those kids that there is more to football than just football,” Alford said. “You see these kids light up today when they’re being read too. Just something simple like reading a book is the world to them. So being able to give back like this is not just great for us, it’s great for the community of Wesley Chapel.”
Robinson, a sophomore, read Great Day for Up to the students.
“I remember when older kids would come into my classroom and read to me,” Robinson said. “It’s good to give back.”
Tanner, a junior, read And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and I can Read With My Eyes Shut.
“I have both books in my house right now,” Tanner said. “I used to read them both, but my favorite Dr. Seuss book was Green Eggs and Ham.”
The day seems to have been a hit with the students.
“It makes it really special for the football team to read to us for Dr. Seuss’ birthday,” said New River fourth-grader Andrew Casdaneda.
Alford approached his players about two weeks ago to see if they would be interested in reading to the elementary school students.
“Our principal Ms. (Carin) Nettles has done a terrific job promoting literacy at the high school, and I thought this would be a good way to continue that in the lower grade levels,” Alford said. “We want to show them how important reading is. You want them to start early and if they see football players reading, hopefully they’ll want to read too. I think it can do wonders for the kids.”
The students had questions for every player about the books, but they also wanted the football player’s autographs. Two even had Tanner sign their hats.
Despite the adoration showered on them, the football players so accustomed to the bright lights on Friday nights were a little anxious about reading to the kids.
“I was a little nervous,” Robinson said. “I didn’t think I was going to be that nervous.”
Tanner said of the anxiety, “I could feel my hands shaking. Once I got used to it, I was fine. … In football, the pressure is focused on the team. Here it was just on me. It was different, but a good kind of different.”
The reading event is just one in a long line of community service projects for the Wildcats football program since Alford took over last spring. The squad also went and painted the old San Antonio Boys Village.
“We’ll continue to do those things,” Alford said. “They mentioned to me here at New River about us coming out and helping with their fair day. We’re going to do whatever we can. If someone calls and asks for help, we’re going to do what we can.”
The players think it will also help the program’s unity in the long run.
“It’s good for the community,” Robinson said. “We want to become closer to the community. They are the ones who show up for our games and show us support. It’s all about just reaching out to let people know we’re here.”
