Hey guys,

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays as much as I did. It was a pleasure to get home and spend time with family and friends which you learn to appreciate greatly after living in a different country. Since being back in Northern Ireland, I have taken my finance/accounting exam with marketing and economics still to come (yea I know, exams after the holidays?!). Anyways it feels great to be back! As I had mentioned to a few folks the other day; when I firsted arrived back and was walking around I had felt like I never left. It was a good feeling for this place to feel like home. That feeling comes from the supporting cast around me here.

It was back to the fun of coaching the Junior Elks girls last night at practice. This was the first session back for the girls since Christmas and everyone was anxious and excited to see each other. Obviously, one of the main focuses for practice was to just get everyone back into the swing of things and run off some of that good ol’ holiday eating. As I had mentioned in previous blog postings, I have to deal with a wide range of talent. This can make for a difficult practice schedule. Now that I have been able to spend plenty of time with these girls coaching them, I have found ways to engage everyone equally while staying competitive. 

We have a girl on our team now who is younger than most of the girls and is naturally intimidated when playing in practice. Although she is one of our better players, I find her sometimes holding back against the older girls. Dealing with this problem has been challenging, but I constantly encourage her good plays. This gives her confidence along with making the others become aware of the respect she has on the court. Earlier in the year, I would have not been able to detect this problem and now through some experience working with the girls I can see where talent or skills are not being maximized. 

Time has flown by since first coming to Northern Ireland and I can say truly that this has been an amazing experience thus far. Through the time being here, I have grown as a leader, basketball player, and an overall person. Quite frankly, that is the main reason I came over, which was to build character. I have been able to attain these different characteristics because of the activities and people I am involved with on the daily basis.

PS. I met David Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, over the holidays when I was back home. I would love to one day be “The Commish”.

I will continue to share my experience with you guys. 

Happy New Year! 
Darryl

What’s up?

It’s March! Which means that its the most exciting time of the year for basketball. Anyone unfamiliar with March Madness, it is the time of the year when all the college basketball conferences hold their respective tournaments to then see who goes dancing in the Big Dance. The Big Dance is comprosided of the best 68 Division 1 basketball teams in the country. All these teams compete in a single elimination tournament for the ultimate college basketball achievement which is the national championship. Ironically enough, I will be playing in the All-Ireland college finals this upcoming week. So technically, I will be competing for a national championship against Dublin Business School.

Although March Madness is an American phenomenon, we had a taste of it here in Northern Ireland! The 14U Junior Elks girls team that I coach played in a thriller against Towers from Dungannon earlier this week. The double overtime game went back and forth with great play on both ends. With every bucket scored, the bench erupted and the atmosphere was electric. Some big plays were made at the free throw line and on the defensive end that allowed us to pull off the victory. 

Also, the Ulster Elks senior team will be competing this upcoming week in the first round of the playoffs for the Premier League. We will host the 8th place team who has yet to be determined for a 3 game series (1 home, 1 away, 1 home). We finished the season off strong with a home victory against Letterkenny, who could actually end up as an 8 seed.

As you can see, in March everything takes a back seat to basketball… well at least in theory. There are other important things still going on including the never-ending school work and also the eHoops program. Pictured below is the group of kids I work with weekly to help better their paths in life. As much of an impact that I am trying to have on their life, they have returned the favor. In future posts, I will share my experiences that I have with these great kids.

Peace!

What’s up guys?

Hope everyone enjoyed a great Easter with family and friends! As promised, I am coming to you with the results from Varsities…. and we won!! It was a great experience to be part of the 3 day event that took place at the University of Limerick. The journey started at 5am in the morning on Friday packed with myself and 4 other teammates in a tiny car. Considering we had a 4 hour journey before our game, we played quite well. Each and every game was a total team effort, which is the main reason we won the tournament. The weekend involved much more than playing basketball. It was a chance to meet players from all the other universities in Ireland with social events in the evenings. Victory scholars Tim and Will also competed in the tournament and it was great to chance up with them. Getting a chance to chat with them was great just to see how different our experiences have been with them in Galway and myself in Belfast. Even with the differences, the overarching theme was the differences we are making in the communities.

Speaking of making a difference in the community, this past week at eHoops I got to speak to the kids about the Trayvon Martin situation. I told them that it was a very serious problem and that the perception of young kids is not always great. Trayvon Martin could of been them. It’s important for them to know that there are problems not only in Northern Ireland, but is a global issue. The picture below is a sign of solidarity and unification among all young people.

The U14 girls will be competing in All-Irelands tournament this weekend, which hosts all the teams that have won their respective leagues. It will be great competition for our girls and they are up for it! We have trained hard since winning the league championship to tweak our game and improve our skills. Wish us luck as we compete this weekend!

As mentioned last week, I am currently on a two week Easter break. Although classes resume on Monday, I will be away to Nottingham, England to compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sports event. A team representing Northern Ireland will compete against Wales, Scotland and England. From what I’ve heard, the teams are very strong and will be a highly competitive tournament. I am looking forward to the challenge, as is the rest of the team.

With the semester of classes quickly coming to an end, there has been a dense amount of coursework. I have 4 presentations due the week I get back from England, which means I need to have them done before I head over. Having said this, time management has been essential in me meeting with group members and completing assignments. Let’s just say that I am ready for this semester to be over! 

Look forward to talking next week!

Darryl

What’s up?

Here I am embarking on another solid week in Northern Ireland. Since my last post a lot has taken place, which I am excited to share with you guys. Over the past week, I spent a weekend in London, coached a Junior Elks game, played in two Premier League games, and started coaching in a primary school. Also, I can’t forget to mention that classes have started up! I told you, it has been quite an eventful week. The wide range of activities that I mentioned are all part of my decision to be here in Northern Ireland, which has enhanced my character in many different ways.

This week the Junior Elks U16 girls played against Queens, which unfortunately resulted in a loss. The girls faced a zone defense which we rarely see in the U16 league and is not even allowed in the U14 league. As I have mentioned before, majority of the girls playing on the U16 team are on the U14 team. Both age groups practice together on a single night a week, which left me as a coach in a dilemma. I found myself drawing up a offensive play during the game to combat the zone defense that we were facing, then realizing that we have never worked against a zone defense in practice. As the coach who only has 2 hours a week to practice, I have to make a decision on whether or not it is worth working on a zone offense that we will most likely not see the rest of the year. This situation could be applied to any aspect of life, where under certain constraints you have to be able to make the most effective and efficient decision. In this case, I decided rather than working against the zone offense, we will work on developing our skills against man to man pressure. Nonetheless, the girls put up a good fight and our continuing to improve weekly.

Ironically, the Premier League team also had a set back loss against Queens. They came out firing on all cylinders and we’re able to maintain the lead throughout most of the game. The great thing about basketball is that there is always another game. We were able to bounce back with a win against North Star, who we had previously lost to in Derry. Being able to bounce back after being knocked down is always a great characteristic to have as a team (long as you don’t get knocked down too many times).

As for London, it was an eye-opening experience. The city was vibrant, lively and full of diversity. I was able to take lots of picture and learn more about the history of London. My favorite part of the trip was being able to see the changing of the guards at Buckningham Palace. Let me inform you that this process takes place every other day and as you can see by the picture below there are still thousands of people out to witness this take place. Amazing.

Peace!

What’s up?

An upfront apology, but I will be talking all basketball in this week’s post!

This has been a great week for the Ulster Elks basketball club. Firstly, the U14 girls won their final last Sunday against a strong Donagh team to become league champions for the second year in a row. From the start, the girls were very amped up to play and as a coach I had to deliver a pregame message that would strike a balance. I told the girls, while it is acceptable to get psyched up and have butterflies before the championship game, it is also important to realize this is just another game. If we continued to play we have throughout the undefeated season, we will be fine. The game was sloppy, with more than usual amount of silly turnovers which were mostly due to nerves. Brilliant play by our youngest player allowed us to open up the game in the beginning of the fourth quarter. She made all the smart plays down the stretch with steals, rebounds, and passes that led to easy points for us. Deservingly so, she received MVP of the game!

Also more exciting news, the Ulster Elks senior men’s team capped off the season with a championship! The semi-final game against Kilkeel Knights and the final against Dungannon Cavs were both played yesterday. Both teams were all-Lithuanian, bringing drums, horns and a load of supporters making for a great atmosphere. Against Kilkeel, we struggled to finish layups and defend shooters. We found ourselves down 11 going into the fourth quarter. The intensity level was raised and the Knights folded under the pressure allowing us to capitalize on a few turnovers and a technical foul. Our team showed resilience and character during the huge comeback that would not of been there earlier in the season. The championship game was won because of ability to learn from our mistakes in the previous game, turning those negatives into positives. We knew we would have to play our best against a Dungannon that split regular season games with us. A total team effort was displayed that defined our entire season. 

Both the U14 girls and senior men’s team will compete in one more tournament. For the U14 girls, it will be the All-Irelands, where the girls will get to compete against the winners of all the different leagues around Ireland. The senior men’s will compete in a similar tournament at the end of the month.

Looking forward to this upcoming weekend, as the college team will compete at varsities. Universities from across Ireland will be represents in the tournament. Current Victory Scholars, Will and Tim, will be in participating with NUIG. Updates and results will be posted next week!

Later,
Darryl

Hey guys,

I know its been awhile since I lasted posted a note.  It’s crazy to know that its already December and the first semester is coming to an end quickly.  With lots of coursework and other obligations as a USNI scholar, it has been difficult finding time for posts!  Just to update you on how Thanksgiving was… it was an amazing time with great food.  The entire Premier League team showed up (not sure if was to support my American holiday or the food) anyways we had a good time.  Everyone came dressed as an “American”.  Although, I think it’s been a few years since some of them have been to America by what they were wearing.  I also got a surprise Skype call from my parents and girlfriend which was great.  Nonetheless, it was great time with great people.

Lately, I have been doing a lot of coaching.  Yesterday, I participated in two different coaching sessions.  The makeup of the basketball players I was coaching in each session was completely different.  First, I was coaching 9-11 year old boys in a local school.  All of these kids had never played basketball before.  I have now been with them for 10 weeks now, and I have seen massive improvements.  I have been trying to teach them basic skills such as passing, dribbling, and shooting.  Along with these fundamental skills, I also try to teach them the strategies of the game by playing 2v2 or 3v3.  This gives them a visual concept of how to play offense and defense.

The other group I coach on Monday is the Ulster Elks Junior team.  This is all girls between the ages of 8-16, with at least a basic understanding of the game.  Here with the girls, I try to focus on a lot of team drills rather than individual because we play in a local league.  These girls must know how to play 5v5 effectively together. It is sometimes difficult to coach this group because of the age and skill disparity.  This forces me to be creative with drills that will keep the focus of the most skillful ones, while not scaring off those ones who might be challenged by the drill.  This team has a game this weekend against Anderstown, a team that beat us earlier in the season.  The Elks girls have made huge improvements since then and we’re excited for the rematch.

PS. Northern Ireland weather has quickly turned to freezing and wet!

Peace

Darryl

Hi folks,

Thank God it’s Friday! Not to mention the weather is great (knock on wood). This has been a quite busy and stressful week.  As I mentioned last week, I have my first assignment for my Managing the Digital Enterprise class due today.  When I thought I was done, I was actually not close to being done.  I have learned that at the graduated level, there is a lot more involvement and editing that goes into writing a paper.  With that being said, I think I’ve done pretty well on the assignment.  So with that behind me, the load has lightened… but only for the moment! The MBS is heavily weighted with assignments all due in December.

Also good news was announced yesterday, that myself and Gary Connolly have been named captains of this years Ulster Elks Premier League team.  It is great to have the support of the team and also have another opportunity to enhance my leadership skills.  After all, the purpose of being a USNI scholar is to broaden my perspective on life and experience things that I might not otherwise had been able to.   We have another challenge ahead of us tomorrow against Northstar on their home court.

As promised, I would tell you about my first Irish Halloween experience (which I found out originated here).  It was a last minute decision to dress up and enjoy the night, so I had to go with my limited option of being a golfer.  On the bright side, I got to hang out with Santa Claus (Paddy McGaharan) and Superman (Mark McColgan).  It was entertaining to say the least seeing some of the costumes out that night.

Until next week.

Peace!

I thought I’d just share some of the laughs I’ve had from the kids this week (and it’s only Tuesday). These are direct quotes from Irish children aged 8-12 J:

“Do you get a new jersey every day since you’re from New Jersey?”

“Was New Jersey named after the first guy to make a jersey?”

“Are you happy you chose basketball or do you sometimes feel your life has gone terribly wrong?” (What?!!!)

“Do you know how to twerk? I do.”

“Are corn dogs good?”

“What do twinkies taste like?”

 In other news, we had some team training with the Meteors basketball club this weekend. It felt great to get on the court with the new team. We got to have some fun with some team bonding and a team dinner as well. Zip lining was awesome! Lots of laughs and good times… Is it weird that I can’t wait for class to start?! I’ll be on the Trinity campus in just a couple of weeks!!!

Victory Scholar: Meghan McGuinness

Present University: Trinity College Dublin

US League Partner: MAAC

Club/Community Partner: Meteors Ladies Basketball

Alma Mater: Niagara University

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

Teamwear Ireland

I woke up early on Saturday morning to plan out my first day of coaching the younger girls in the Waterford Wildcats program, or as I like to think of them, the Wildkittens. Jazmen Boone (Boonie) and I were to have three sessions of one hour each, with girls around eight to thirteen years of age. We tried to plan out the drills so that they would challenge each age group yet still allow them to have fun. Even after all the years I have been playing basketball, I have never really stopped to think about the time and effort that my coaches have put into planning each and every practice session I’ve ever had. So, to any of my past coaches who may be reading this, thank you!

Anyway, the youngest group was up first. They were an adorable bunch of eager little Wildkittens. In fact, they were so eager that when I called them into a huddle, they crowded around me so closely that I felt like I was Justin Bieber at a teenybopper concert. Then, when I stepped back to give myself some room to breath, they crowded right up to me again, faces beaming enthusiastically up at me. I couldn’t find it in my heart to tell them about people needing their personal space because of their nearly tangible excitement, so instead I quickly explained the first drill and off they went.

The second and third groups were each a little older than the previous ones. While neither of these groups mobbed Boonie or I in our huddles, they were equally eager to play basketball. We had to split these groups up into stations because there were more of them than the first group, so I ran the shooting station. First, I taught them B.E.E.F., which was not as they thought, a type of meat, but an acronym for the proper shooting technique standing for Balance, Elbow, Eyes, and Follow through. A lot of the oldest girls were already proficient shooters, but many of the younger ones did not have a fundamentally sound shooting form; a number of them still shot with two hands instead of one. I found that sometimes just explaining and demonstrating B.E.E.F. wasn’t enough. For the more tactile learners, I placed the ball in their shooting pocket properly and had them practice the correct shooting form as I watched. There was a definite improvement in most of the girls’ shooting immediately after I helped them, but a lot of them would revert back to their old ways when I later had them play some shooting games. However, as the weeks pass I am confident that Boonie and I will eventually have all the Wildkittens shooting and playing like superstars!

I am already looking forward to next Saturday morning, when I will get to see a sea of shining, excited, beaming young faces looking up at me again, ready to do my favorite thing in the world: play basketball. As a coach, there is nothing more that I could ask for!

Victory Scholar: Katie Fox

Present University: Waterford IT

US League: NEC

Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats

Alma Mater: St. Francis College

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

In what was becoming the norm for me in Ireland, the days after I left Dublin were remarkably busy. We departed from Dublin on Monday night and stopped in Clonmel and Kilkenny before Jazmen Boone, or as I call her, Boonie, and I were dropped off in Waterford on Wednesday night to settle in for the year. Once again it was an extremely eventful few days, which included attending a horse race and coaching a number of sessions. The days went pretty smoothly, except for the bizarre instance when I stepped on a fire extinguisher that was tucked under my seat in the van, and accidentally shot fire extinguisher fluid up into Aimee’s face and all over the windshield. Aimee had been doing an amazing job of taking care of all us Victory Scholars and driving us to wherever we needed to go for the past week and a half, so she easily could have gotten very frustrated that I’d covered her in fire extinguisher fluid. However, after the confusing moment had passed in which Aimee and I were trying to figure out, What just happened?, and we realized what I’d done, she could not stop laughing about it. It is a tribute to her lovely personality that she took it so lightheartedly, and the whole instance was really reflective of how nice the people at Sport Changes Life, and the Irish people in general, have been to us.

Needless to say, I apologized superfluously and was extremely careful with my footing whenever I got in and out of the van from then on. Then, in no time it seemed, my final van ride had come. I said goodbye to the other Victory Scholars and left with Boonie for Waterford. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone who I had become so close with, but the excitement of arriving in at my home for the next year made it a lot easier. As Boonie and I were dropped off in Waterford, I realized that there was nothing to be sad about, because our adventure was just beginning. And at least now I know that when I make a few silly mistakes along the way, if all of the people in Ireland are half as kind as Aimee was, I’ll be just fine. 

Victory Scholar: Katie Fox

Present University: Waterford IT

US League: NEC

Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats

Alma Mater: St. Francis College

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 I have now been on the Emerald Isle for two weeks and I am loving every second of it. The first two weeks have been action packed with classroom sessions, coaching sessions, and extra activities like attending a horse race and playing Gaelic Football. We’ve stayed in Belfast, Dublin, and Clonmel and traveled up and down the coast of Ireland…..and when I say “we” I mean the Sport Changes Life staff as well as the other Victory Scholars.

I was nervous about moving to another country but spending the past two weeks with the Scholars has made it an easy transition. It has been nice to go through the same experiences with other Americans that are in the same boat as me. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know everyone and I am proud to be included in this batch of Victory Scholars. 

It is now time for each of us to head to our separate universities and I am excited to finally be in Limerick. I am going to miss being with the other scholars and it’s amazing how I feel like I have known them my whole life, instead of just two weeks. We are already planning a trip to meet in Dublin when everyone gets some free time and I cant wait to hear about everyone’s experiences at their universities. A good thing about Scholars being in different cities is I will now have a free place to stay when I travel around Ireland! 

Victory Scholar: Staats Battle

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: ACC

Club/Community Partner: UL Huskies

Alma Mater: North Carolina State University

Sponsored by: Team Ireland

Today was the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, for all the Americans, I would equate it with being as big as the Super Bowl.

Before continuing, I am sure there are people reading this confused as to what hurling is (when I first heard of it, I definitely was). Hurling is a very physical sport consisting of a long wooden paddle, and a ball similar to a baseball. The object is to hit the ball into the goal, or hit it through the goal posts, similar to the field goals in American football.

After attempting to play hurling last week, I was very interested to see the experts play. Needless to say, they looked far more coordinated, and made all the plays look effortless. It made me appreciate the sport far more knowing how difficult it was firsthand. I struggled making contact with the ball, let alone smacking it 50 yards down the field at 80-90 mph.

Not only was it very difficult technique-wise, but also incredibly physical. Watching how intense the hits and tackles were, with hardly any foul calls, made it extremely interesting to watch. Comparing it to American sports, I can’t say there are any that are as physical as this one.

Above all else, the best part was that the stadium was filled to capacity with over 80,000 people… for an amateur game. No one in the game of hurling is paid to play; they all do it for fun and for the love of the game. It is definitely refreshing to see athletes play the game they love with no strings attached. 

After watching a phenomenal final, it is safe to say, that I have found a new sport to follow; one that I will remain a spectator in.  

I would also like to give my awesome UL Huskies teammate, Gillian, a shout out for watching the game with me and dealing with my rapid fire of questions!  

Victory Scholar: Sarah Benedetti

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: NEC

Club/Community Partner: UL Huskies

Alma Mater: St. Francis College 

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

I love studying religion. I am fascinated by how religion has shaped the course of history, and I enjoy observing how religious faith has structured societies. The very breadth of religious belief among human beings is astounding to me, and studying these beliefs in the classroom has been a major highlight of my time in college.  

When I visited Belfast, I was amazed to witness for myself the way that religious division has shaped the city. Our visit to the Peace Wall inspired a lot of reflection; it made me think about how the Wall’s imposing height represents the enormity of the city’s history of divisiveness.

            I was lucky enough to sit in on a cross-community conversation among E-Hoops participants. A fellow scholar asked an interesting question about the religious division; he addressed the mixed group of E-Hoopers and asked about the difference between a Catholic and a Protestant.          

My academic background – being a double major in Religion and History at Davidson – prepared me for a very specific answer to this question. I began thinking about the history class I had taken in college titled “The Explosion of Christendom” about the reformation and counterreformation. I thought of Martin Luther and indulgences, of theological debates and the Thirty Years’ War.

But the answer that a young Northern Irish man gave was not what I was expecting. He explained that those doctrinal differences are not what people focus on anymore. The conflict is history being lived in everyday life; a conflict rooted in the past, branching into the present.

I loved being challenged to think beyond what I have been taught. In this case, I was challenged to think beyond religion as I have read about it in countless books and articles, and instead witness its effects in everyday life. This brief exchange at an E-Hoops meeting has given me such a greater appreciation for what Sport Changes Life does, especially in Belfast. Sport really does bring all sorts of people together and encourages them to work together. My time in Belfast was really incredible; the more I learned about the SCL foundation, the more excited I became for this upcoming year.

Victory Scholar: Lillian McCabe

Present University: IT Carlow

US League Partner: Atlantic 10

Club/Community Partner: IT Carlow Basketball

Alma Mater: Davidson College

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

As I sit here at my coach’s house thinking of what to blog about, I continue to hear his fire alarms that are on low battery. The continuous beep makes me think of my heartbeat and just being alive in all aspects of life.

I continue to remind myself that I am in a different country and frequently laugh out loud randomly because I would never imagine being in this position.

The beep signifies my life in school, the community, and basketball. I am still alive academically because I will get my Master’s degree in the fast approaching year. I believe that if I were back home I would be content with living at home and obtaining a job. I know that to get where I want to be in life, I need my Master’s degree. 

I am also well alive in the community here. There are hundreds of kids that will learn a bit about basketball in the next year from our scholars. This makes my heart race because it’s a sport that is close to my heart and is wonderful to share with kids who are interested.

Lastly, I get to continue to play basketball at a high level. This past weekend I was able to travel to Galway to see Carlow’s girls team. It got me really excited to get out and play again. After my senior year I thought I would be done playing forever and now I get goosebumps thinking about playing another year.

This opportunity truly gets my heart racing in all aspects that Sport Changes Life has arranged for me.

Victory Scholar: Harrison Deyo

Present University: IT Carlow

US League: MAC

Club/Community Partner: IT Carlow Basketball

Alma Mater: Alvernia University

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland 

School starts this upcoming Tuesday so why not take a little adventure outside of Waterford before our schedules become hectic?  Now you are probably think, how does two Waterford Wildcats already know their way around Ireland? During Katie and I’s time in Waterford, we befriended our first Irish friend who is also in the graduate business program at WIT, yet our new Irish friend, Stanka, is actually from Croatia. Stanka is a tall, beautiful, and genuine girl who quickly showed Katie and I the tricks and trades of Ireland’s system. On our free Sunday, Katie, Stanka, and I took the bus to explore the city of Kilkenny around 1 p.m. The game didn’t start until 3:30 p.m. so us girls visited the Kilkenny Castle and walked the streets in to random stores to pass the time. Visiting a castle in person was on my bucket list coming to Ireland because in my opinion, castles remind me of royalty and romance and are a protective barrier from enemies. What’s more breathtaking than admiring an entity that symbolizes so much power and the Kilkenny castle was definitely more than I fantasized. 

After our brief exploration, we decided to watch the game in a small pub with “grand” Kilkenny fans. Out of us three girls, not one of us knew the rules of hurling or has seen a hurling match in action before but there is always a first for everything. Hurling, a traditional Irish sport, is comparable to lacrosse except the players do not wear protective padding. The competitive match was intense entailing a lot of physicality and action. I will admit I do not know much about hurling, but it seemed that Galway controlled the tempo of the game for majority of the game implying that they would win the match, a first time in 27 years. Unfortunately, the Kilkenny Cats, historically known powerhouse in the hurling championship matches, unexpectedly got the upper hand and won the game. Instantly, two American girls and a Croatian felt the waves of exhilaration in the pub from the die-hard Kilkenny fans and couldn’t help but join the madhouse joy. With one city fully explored in Ireland down, “silanche” (cheers) to many more Ad-Friend-Tures to come…

Victory Scholar: Jazmen Boone

Present University: Waterford IT

US League: CAA

Club/Community Partner: Waterford Wildcats

Alma Mater: The College of William and Mary

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

My first experience with Irish orange juice didn’t go so well. I tried some juice that Aimee bought for all the scholars the first week and it was pretty bad. It was carbonated, all I could think oh man no OJ for me in the mornings this year if all juice is like this. Later I found that the joke was on me, we went for burgers at the Maguire residence and the girls offered us some juice. They pulled out the same bottle and added some tap water too it. I loved it!! I didn’t realize that the bottle was actually a mix for juice and you were supposed to add water too it! Turns out to be some great juice really sweet (similar to Tang or Hi C in the States). This made me feel so foolish. There is a great product that bottle and I would have not ever known that if someone didn’t show me how to use it. This may be the same case with some of the ideas and talents that we all posses. There is greatness that exists in all of us, it may just take someone else to show us how to use our ideas and talents. That’s what is so beautiful about sports changes life we can inspire all to embrace their talents and ideas through sport! 

Victory Scholar: James Zuccaro

Present University: Ulster University

US League: Skyline Conference

Club/Community Partner: Ulster Elks

Alma Mater: College of Mount Saint Vincent

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland 

Our trip to the peace wall was a moving experience. Looking at all the beautiful murals and what they stood for was so eye-opening, the wall was huge and filled with signatures of people from all over the world that believed in peace. During our walk along the wall we stopped at a painting of all the hunger strikers who refused to eat during their fight against they way they were treated.