Community Sports Day feeds public with food and close games

Pat Gareau

Editor-in-Chief

Hundreds of dollars in prizes, two close basketball games, one not-so-close hockey game and free food was offered at the fourth annual Community Sports Day on Saturday.

“What we want to do is get the campus community and the Capital Region community to come out and support Hudson Valley athletics,” said director of Student Life Louis Coplin.

A buffet of burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies and assorted beverages welcomed visitors as they entered the McDonough Sports Complex. To the left, Vikings Ice Hockey was playing and straight ahead the men’s and women’s basketball teams were keeping fans on the edges of their seats (see articles below).

At half-time of both basketball games, tickets were drawn for an opportunity to win a $500 gift card to the Vikings Cove Bookstore by making a half court shot.

All four participants missed their shots, but each won a free movie pass for participating.

Caleb Ducharme, civil engineering technologies major, was one of the lucky students to try and take a shot. He airballed it, and afterward said, “It was pretty sad. I was pretty upset I missed it… I get a free movie ticket, so that’s pretty cool.”

Ducharme said he hadn’t played basketball since sixth grade so he knew it was a longshot.

Joe Bender came the closest of anyone to making the shot. The physical education major is no stranger to athletics, and is a captain of the baseball team at Hudson Valley.

“I thought it was money, but it wasn’t,” said Bender. Despite the missed shot, he thought the event went well. “I guess it’s good for the community to come out here and enjoy the games and get free food,” he said.

“The goal of Community Sports Day is to bring the community to are games and have support for our Hudson Valley athletes. It’s been a great day. In general, I think it’s been a good turnout,” said Student Senate president Grace Harrison.