This past weekend I got the chance to travel up to Belfast and help work the Belfast Classic. The event was the first of its’ kind in Northern Ireland and has been a focus of Sport Changes Life ever since I was accepted into the program. Needless to say, I was really excited.
The event exceeded even my expectations. A near-capacity crowd filled the arena and were treated to some excellent basketball, including a final that couldn’t have been scripted better and ended with Towson hitting a last second shot to beat Manhattan. I didn’t really have a set role so I helped out wherever I could, and it was really rewarding. I got a front row seat to pre, post, and during game speeches, shoot arounds, the referees, and entertainment during breaks of the game. That type of access to four legitimate D1 teams is really tough to come by and was great to enjoy.
All in all it was a great weekend. Seeing Belfast, my fellow Scholars, and some great basketball was tough to beat. Seeing how hard everyone in the organization works behind the scenes, and especially during the event, made the event even more meaningful. I wasn’t surprised it was a huge success and can’t wait to see how it grows in future years!
