My parents made a trip to Dublin! They have been planning to come visit in the springtime, but decided they couldn’t make it that long! They got here early in the morning and met me after class on campus in the afternoon. They tried fighting the jet lag but after a short while I spent describing my classes, and apparently not very exciting life here, they began nodding off! After taking the defeat and a short nap we went to dinner and walked around Grafton Street a bit.

           

It was so nice to have my mom and dad here after a couple months of being away and learning how to adapt here. They brought me along an entire 50lb suitcase with boxes of Cheez-its, sweaters and other favorite things I couldn’t fit when I came over, hot sauce, grape jelly, a few scarves and some more photos…oh, and how could I forget the ten pounds of Mac and Cheese for our late night snacks! To say the least, I was pretty excited to have an early Christmas.

 

My mom has been practicing her computer and research skills just in time to plan this trip! (We are very impressed by her.) She found a great hotel right on the Liffey River where we got the real “Irish experience” watching Celtic dancers and listening to live music. We took a bus trip to the Cliffs of Moher, which were breathtaking yet almost blew us over if we did not hold on to each other! We had the best clam chowder my mom has ever tasted, amazing fudge, and listened to an inprov musical group at the pub.

           

Another highlight of the trip was playing tennis on the courts outside our apartment on campus. My dad and I played on a beautiful morning together where I managed to not hit any homeruns (over the fence), and he took it easy on me.

 

In the six days we spent together laughing on the top floor of the Guinness Factory, having ice cream and berry smoothies and finding the perfect Aran wool sweaters in Galway, it was a great to have spent time with my parents. As much as I miss them, my sister, and the rest of my family and friends back home, I know this time here is significant. Thus far I’ve met great people, experienced new and challenging things in school and within community work, and am constantly learning things about myself.

 

…And some news – my Uncle Gary will be on his way home from Afghanistan soon! 🙂

 

Victory Scholar: Jennifer Morabito

Sport League: MAAC League

Present University: Trinity College Dublin

Alma Mater: Canisus College

With college still out of session, the wonderful Sarah Deegan took Kelsey, our friend Niamh, and myself to Kilkee, a small coastal town in the County of Clare, about an hour away from UL. “Limerick on wheels” is what Sarah likes to refer to the town as. The explanation for such a creative name is that Kilkee is the destination where majority of Limerick travels to spend their summer holidays.

 

The fact that it was the middle of January definitely did not make it feel like summer while we were there. The wind nearly blew us away while we were visiting! However, it was very easy to envision how great of a place Kilkee would be in the summer. The views were absolutely amazing. From the seaside cliffs, the Pollack Holes used for outdoor swimming, the great beach area, to all the cute little restaurants and pubs scattered throughout the town; it was very easy to see how this town would be packed in the summer months.

 

Not only did we get to explore Kilkee, but we also got to hear about Sarah’s time and memories in Kilkee. It made it that much more special to explore different parts of the town when they’re relatable to people I know. I loved hearing Sarah talk about her childhood memories as well as her favorite spots in the area when she comes down for the summer. Hearing recalled events like that made the place come to life. I definitely want to make a trip back to Kilkee when it gets a little warmer to experience the atmosphere!        

 

Not only were there significant spots for people that I know, but also for the Hollywood star, Richard Harris. For those who don’t know who he was, Richard Harris was Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies! Prior to this adventure, I had no idea that Richard Harris had such a background in Ireland.  

 

After our morning in Kilkee, we traveled a bit further out to visit the Loop Head lighthouse. The significance of this lighthouse was the feeling it gave me when we got to the edge of the land and looked outward onto the sea. I had never felt so secluded in my life. I really felt like I was at the edge of the world looking out onto the Atlantic. In fact, we passed a pub with a sign that said “last pub until New York City…” that was a great indication as to how far on the outskirts of Ireland we were.

 

It was another great day of exploring, with even better people. Every day that I am in Ireland, is another day to try something new. It reminds me of the amazing opportunity I was given, and how I want to make the very most of it.  

 

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

 

Hey y’all, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to blog, so my apologies. School, ball, coaching, and training has gotten the best of me, but its cool because I have been enjoying every minute of it…even school surprisingly!

 

I haven’t really blogged about college since I been here in Ireland, so I thought I would “give it a go” because it has been an extremely awesome experience! I am so glad that I got placed at NUIG to do my graduate degree because this school has been a great fit for me so far. I was thinking the other day about my undergraduate school (Belmont Abbey) versus my current graduate school here in Ireland (NUIG) and how fortunate I was to get the opportunity to experience both a bigger and smaller college environment throughout my studies in college.

 

For those who don’t know much about Belmont Abbey, it’s a quite small school located in Charlotte, NC with only approximately 2,000 students enrolled. Being at a small school I always felt that it would benefit me based on the type of personality I had. Coming out of high school I gave up going to some bigger schools because I wanted to attend a smaller school where I felt I could get a better sense of community and unity. At the end of my four years at Belmont Abbey having this personal connection did seem to be a key factor that led to my successes at Belmont Abbey, so I am very thankful for it.

 

But on the other hand, now I’m at a very different school in terms of size. NUIG is one of the biggest schools in the country with close to 20,000 students, and I’m just one of many. Before I got here I was a little nervous about attending because I never attended a big school (which I’ve always told myself I wanted to do after being at Belmont Abbey). After a few weeks of being at NUIG I realized that being here has been a huge benefit for me because it has helped me develop, not only academically, but as a person. I can truly say that now I am a much more of a well-rounded person than before I got here. It has also put in the position where I have had to come out of my inner shell and open up to different people, places, and things. In the beginning I doubted whether or not this would be a good change for me personally, but now I have realized that this change was the best outcome for me!

 

Victory Scholar: Darryl Durham

Sport League: Conference Carolinas

Present University: National University of Ireland Galway

Alma Mater: Belmont Abbey College

The winter break adventures continued this Sunday as myself, Kelsey, my teammate Avril, and Niamh traveled to Macroom for the UL Huskies U14 match. Let me tell you, it was an adventure from the start of our trip, to the very end. Google Maps decided to take us the scenic route, which included very narrow, winding roads over the mountainous Cork terrain. The uncertainty of getting to the proper destination did not end until we physically made it through the door of the sports hall.

 

After the match was over, we decided to do some traveling of our own. Since we were already in Cork, we took a little detour on the way home to see the historical Blarney Castle and Stone. Being the tourist that I am, I was excited to see this historical landmark. Fortunately, Niamh and Avril, the two locals, hadn’t seen the Castle either, so it was a new experience for everyone! It really is true; locals never see the tourist attractions of their own country, until one of their foreign friends asks them to go. Hope you don’t mind guys 🙂

 

It was a typical winter day in Ireland. It was cold. It was wet. And yep, you guessed it, it was rainy. The rain didn’t stop us though; although, it did make climbing the steep, narrow, spiral staircase of the Blarney Castle a whole lot more interesting… and by interesting, I mean terrifying. The entire way up we were all practically crawling up the stairs in fear of slipping and falling.

 

Nothing but smiles and sighs of relief when we finally made it out of the stairwell and saw the beautiful scenery that the castle looked out onto. From there we made it over to the Blarney Stone. The Blarney Stone is known for giving the “gift of the gab,” or bestowing the gift of eloquence to anyone who kisses it. The catch is, in order to kiss it, you have to lean backwards over the edge of the castle, while holding onto a railing, as you lower yourself down and kiss the stone behind you. To say the least, it is a bit scary.

 

To make it even more interesting my faithful photographer, Kelsey, missed me kissing the stone. Yep, that’s right she missed the entire thing! As if it weren’t terrifying enough the first time, I had to flip upside down again to get a picture! After all, did it really even happen if you didn’t take a picture or blog about it? 😉 

 

After we all took our turn giving the Blarney Stone a big smooch, we explored the Castle grounds, which included waterfalls, caves to venture through, as well as awesome gardens, which I’m sure look even cooler when it isn’t the dead of winter.

 

We ventured around until we were completely soaked. At this point, it was our cue to leave. The fun didn’t stop there though; we went back to the car to find a flat tire. Fortunately enough, the car was able to make it to the nearest gas station where we could refill the tire with air. Thankfully, the tire wasn’t completely flat; we made it the entire way home without having to make a tire change on the side of the road. To say the least, it made the ride home pretty interesting, hoping that the tire would make it.

 

If these past few weeks of adventures are any indication of what this next semester will be like, I am in for an exciting couple of months! It is without a doubt that 2016 has started out with a bang, and I am so excited to see what else is in store. 

 

 

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

 

This past week my two friends from home, Kelly and Caroline, visited Dublin! After walking laps around the arrivals area at the airport I found them standing on the bridge headed toward the parking lot where I so fondly remember once again doing laps when I arrived trying to find Aimee and Pat in the Sport Changes Life van, oh the memories! I had a pretty full class load for the week so they were able to visit the Guinness Factory and the Kilmainham jail while I was busy stimulating my mind. This is very typical of me but my favorite part of their visit was being able to go to new restaurants with them around Dublin, and then of course taking them to my coaching session Friday night at Kubs!

 

First things first, Dublin has some great restaurants. We were all dying for Buffalo wings, which are not very popular across the pond. So thankfully Caroline had her handy dandy Yelp app that brought us to Elephant & Castle. It is an American style restaurant, and it has real Buffalo wings! The other place we went that was amazing was the Crackbird. It only serves chicken (GAINZ) and we got the Soy Garlic full bird (double gainz) and crushed it. Along with eating we also got to walk around the city and I showed them the cool spots to hang out.

 

I really enjoyed bringing them to Kubs. They were able to meet the U11 and U12 boys who Jen and I have been working with all year and participated in some of the drills. Most importantly they guarded the basketballs that were not being used. I think this could be a full time job as there is nothing more appealing to an 11 or 12-year-old boy than a bouncing ball.

 

Now they are gone (I’m crying inside) and I have to get back to work! We have 3 weeks left of class, a revision week, and then exams and then it’s Christmas time! As they say, time flies when you’re having fun!

 

Victory Scholar: Christine Ganser

Sport League: Patriot League

Present University: Trinity College Dublin

Alma Mater: College of Holy Cross

 

With the new year here, two teammates and I were looking for something new and challenging to try. There has been a huge buzz going around lately about Yoga so we decided to give it a try. We heard it would help us with our core strength and flexibility but we didn’t exactly know how it would help us. I don’t know much about Yoga and I figured the class would be an hour of stretching….but I was extremely wrong.

 

The first class was a couple of days ago and I am still sore from the exercises.  My teammate and I are in pretty good shape but about halfway through the class I looked over at him and his face was as red as a tomato, he was dripping in sweat, and he wasn’t even close to being in the correct Yoga position. I immediately started laughing at him until I realized I was drenched in sweat too and wasn’t flexible enough to get in the right Yoga position either. At the end of the class, the other people looked very calm and relaxed, and my two teammates and I looked like we had just run a full marathon. Yoga is definitely a lot harder than I thought and I am looking forward to continuing the class and hopefully becoming flexible enough to actually get in the correct Yoga positions.

 

Stay tuned to hear about our progression through the semester!

 

 

 

 

Victory Scholar: Staats Battle

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: ACC

Club/Community Partner: UL Eagles

Alma Mater: North Carolina State University

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

 

Although I love Cork and the basketball environment, I cannot say I love the long car ride from Northern Ireland to the very south of Ireland. The basketball gods decided to send us back to Cork (where we played our preseason tournament) for the first round of the National Cup; therefore, after pulling an all-nighter to finish a paper (as I did many a time at Davidson) I quickly packed my bags and headed to Cork.

Luckily, this time we got to stay at the stately Montenotte Hotel, which was a giant step up from the hostel on our last trip. When I arrived here, I realized I would get my own room with a king-sized bed, which is one of the benefits of coaching girls’ basketball and being the only male on the trip. Even better, there was a large breakfast buffet which was reminiscent of the breakfasts we would get on Davidson road trips. Naturally, I got my money’s worth and enjoyed a glutinous breakfast as any American would.

 

After enjoying the initial luxuries of the trip, it was time to go coach! The gym was surrounded by cow-filled farms, as any Irish basketball court would and should be, and we were ready to play. We won our first game handedly (70-33 against Marre), but unfortunately, we struggled in our second pool game against an experienced team and lost 65-52 to Templeogue. We let our nerves get the best of us, but we still have a chance to bounce back tomorrow and continue on in the Cup!

 

Victory Scholar: Ryan Ansel

Sport League: Atlantic 10

Present University: University of Ulster

Alma Mater: Davidson University

 

 

 

On Wednesday night we had our first ehoops session of the new year, it was a blast. We went to a place called We Are Vertigo, there were all different trampolines and different activities with flips and jumps even dodgeball and basketball on trampolines.

 

It was awesome to see the Short Strand group having fun and bouncing around, everyone was all smiles. I learned something pretty valuable last Wednesday night though. I learned that sometimes we can place limitations on ourselves due to fear of failure. Something as simple as jumping on a trampoline brought out fear in myself and some of the ehoopers.

 

There was a section with a trampoline and a box that was twice the height of most of the girls in our ehoops program. At first they couldn’t clear it because they had the fear of failing and falling but after some encouraging words from peers and a little faith they were able to jump on top of the box. It was beautiful to see, even though it was small thing, they achieved something that they didn’t believe was possible.

 

I myself was scared to dunk on the basketball section, I had failed a few times and fell on my butt. After a few inspiring words from the ehoopers, my teamattes and a little faith I jammed one and after that I couldn’t stop.

We were able to inspire each other and we showed ourselves that faith can overcome fear. That’s just it folks…. sometimes you just have to get out of your own way and let go of the fear and believe! Thanks for reading.

 

Jimmy

 

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

 

While the other four victory scholars were spending the day with the Elks club in Jordanstown this Sunday, I had my coaching debut with the Tigers U14 girls team in a friendly match against Dungannon in Andersontown. Some of the girls that showed up to play had not been to a training yet and I didn’t know them. We had about half the amount of girls as the other team and a lot less height. I figured we would probably get beat, but I would try to keep my focus on maintaining the girls happiness and making sure they have fun.

 

In the first quarter, we were winning 12-2.  I found that as a coach, I really didn’t have to do much. I made sure we had a subbing rotation that made sense and provided encouragement from the sideline. The girls worked together extremely well, and we continued to pull away as the game went on, entering the last quarter at a score of 28-12. I think I’m the next John Wooden.

 

One girl on my team, named Eimear, has shown up to every training and is always in the gym with her older brother. She’s only 9 years old, and as I found out, her participation on Sunday marked the first game of her entire little life! I can still remember being around her age, in the same boat; nervous, anxious, and younger than all the other girls. Even now, I can recall games at the college level where I would be anxious all day up until the first minute of play. Most athletes would agree that it’s almost instantaneous… as soon as you jump in and become a part of the action, the nerves just evaporate, even if they’d been building up for days or weeks.

 

I knew that Eimear would have the same realization once she started to play. When I told her to head to the table, I watched her walk timidly to where her mom was working the clock, and I knew that she would remember this feeling and this moment long into her journey with basketball. As I suspected, by the end of the first quarter, she couldn’t wait to get back in.

 

When I think back to the years of basketball that really gave me an edge and made me better, it was undoubtedly those years that I found toughest at the time. Playing with my older sister’s age group in my first couple years put me ahead of the girls my age. Playing my first year of AAU at 13 I still credit to being the most stressful year of basketball of my life. I came out of it, however, with most of my refined skills that I still use to date. All of the stressful experiences I’ve had in sport have made me better in some fashion, and while I’d like to think sport is all for fun, the not-so-fun times are beneficial too. Those are the times where an athlete’s character is built. 

 

This game was the first chance I got to acknowledge that process unfolding within another person. Eimear absolutely loves basketball, and I’m sure she was confused by the sick feeling she was getting in her stomach at the idea of playing it all of a sudden. I know it took a lot of bravery for her to check into the game, and it won’t be easy for her to play with the older age group all year, but she’ll reap the benefits of it all later. I know this was just one of many hurdles she’ll have to overcome in basketball, but I’m happy I got to see a little bit of myself in one of my players. 

 

Victory Scholar: Ashley Montecchio

Present University: University of Ulster

Alma Mater: Rosemont College

I’d say it’s almost common knowledge that I play basketball, with my shoes consistently strung from my bookback and my affinity for my college sweats. 😉 But it was still quite a shock to me when– during an ‘LL.M-Welcome-Back-To-Galway’ Monday night out– a few of my colleagues inquired about the chance of any upcoming home games. In turn, I reported that they were in luck if they’d like to stop by Kingfisher on Saturday, though I hardly expected them to turn up. No expectations = No disappointments. ‘Things come up’. Off-handed suggestions don’t generally garner much thought once the new day dawns. Honestly, there would have been no hard feelings either; it’s all part of the game.
So you could imagine my shock when Ismini messaged me to confirm the location and start time. Ismini, being a recreational swimmer, and Gerry, aside from snooker and a fondness of Minnesota sports, weren’t big on sports let alone avid basketball fans. I grew a bit nervous. It felt like I was about to share a part of myself with my classmates that I hadn’t yet, something deeply personal. I had hoped that I would have a good game and that we would win. But overall, I just hoped they would enjoy themselves and would be glad that they decided to come.

I noticed when they made it through the doors shortly after tip off and tried to stay focused on the floor. In the end, I need not have worried. I played well–notching 18 points, 19 rebounds & 9 blocks–and most importantly Mystics got a home win. When I caught up with them to thank them for coming, they said they were ‘delighted’ to be there. It was a great feeling to be able to share my world with them, knowing that I enjoyed having them there as much as they enjoyed being there.

 

 

 

Victory Scholar: Marritta Gillcrease
Present University: NUI Galway
US League: MAAC
Club/Community Partner: Galway Titans
Alma Mater: Rider University
Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

This weeks Ehoops session was one to remember for the Ehoopers and myself.  The young people I am sure will not forget all of the fun we had at vertigo this past Wednesday.  I will never forget it, since it was my first time.  I am really glad I had the chance to experience it with the Ehoopers; they brought the child out of me with all of the bouncing around.  It was a really an uplifting experience to start our first Ehoops session of the year off with non-stop laughter and fun.   After an hour of bouncing around we ordered pizza, now this was a challenging moment for me.  Wednesday was day 3 of my fast so I had not ran into any real tempting situations to break my fast.  I withstood the small test of temptation to break my fast.  The fact that pizza is something I am very accustom to eating is what made it some what of a challenge.  My fasting experience thus far has been very beneficial from a mental and spiritual aspect.  I can feel myself growing with more mental discipline each day.  I truly believe that if we can take control over our thoughts and the outside influences that contribute to how we think then controlling the body becomes easier.  Spiritually I have been more focused on ways that I can strengthen my relationship with God.  I have even been thinking of extending my fasting experience, but for now I will focus on the six days I have coming up and see how I feel then.  Thanks again for reading my blog look out for more updates on my fasting experience.  “To God Be The Glory”   

Victory Scholar: Jonathan McNair

Present University: Ulster University

US League: East Coast Conference

Club/Community Partner Ulster Elks/ Andersonstown Tigers

Alma Mater: St Thomas Aquinas College

Sponsored By: Teamwear Ireland

“Let’s not call it my last game. Let’s call it my first collegiate game.”

 

Those were the words of Lauren Hill as she played her first collegiate basketball game on Sunday in front of thousands of people at the sold out Xavier University arena. Lauren currently has an inoperable brain tumor from a rare cancer called DIPG, and raising awareness around the world for the rare disease. She was only diagnosed with the disease about a year ago, two months after she had committed to play collegiate basketball at Mount St. Joseph. She has a love and a passion for basketball like none other – and I had actually first heard about her story a couple months back as she was being honored during WNBA games. Her doctors now predict that she has months left to live, and her one wish is to play in a collegiate basketball game. Mount St. Joseph’s even asked the NCAA to move their first home game up a couple of weeks (to November 2^nd) to make the wish come true: and the NCAA obliged!

 

I was so happy to have been able to watch her game this past Sunday on a livestream feed provided by numerous television stations. I don’t think I had a dry eye the entire game, especially when Lauren’s name was announced with the starting line up AND scored the first points of the game! It was great to see various sport legends supporting the game as well: from current and former WNBA players to THE PAT SUMMITT, who presented Lauren with an award at halftime.

 

Needless to say, Lauren is a source of inspiration for people to live their lives to the fullest and to pursue what they love. From hearing her parents and teammates interviewed, they all say that Lauren has a “never give up” attitude. For someone who has all the right in the world to give up – if she chooses not to, then why should anyone else? Her story will be with me forever, and I’m so thankful that I was able to watch and witness her first collegiate game this past weekend. If you haven’t heard of Lauren Hill’s story, check out the website http://www.1more4lauren.com.

 

Victory Scholar: Kelsey Harris

Sport League: SOCON Sports 
League

Present University: University of Limerick

Alma Mater: Elon University

 

One of the classes this past semester was New Enterprise and Venture creation. Not considering myself as the entrepreneurial-type prior to the course, I wasn’t sure how this class was going to go for me. But Enterprise turned out to be my favorite courses so far this year. The semester-long assignment of starting your own business from the ground up revealed the ups and downs of business that I could have never learned sitting in a lecture.

It was challenging setting up a business to be trade-ready in 10 weeks, and one of the biggest challenges was thinking of something worth selling! When my team was brainstorming and racking our brains for a product to sell, an observation I had in the early weeks here came to mind.

Back at Holy Cross many of my friends had a small pocket that attached to the back of their phones to hold things like student ID cards and bank cards. I made the small observation in my first week of classes that no one had the accessory on their phones at UUJ. As it turned out, my small observation evolved into a business. My team liked the concept and just like that MPP, short for Mobile Phone Pocket, was born.

The experience was truly learning by doing. I discovered that it is one thing to know how to work with 4 other people to put a ball in a hoop, but working with others to start a business is another. At the end of the day, MPP broke even and broke up with the conclusion of the course. We were all a little bit richer but the experience we gained was priceless.

 

Victory Scholar: Clare Sullivan

Present University: Ulster University

US League Partner: Patriot League

Club/Community Partner: Ulster Elks

Alma Mater: The College of the Holy Cross

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland 

 

This week SCL brought the Short Strand shehoops group to a night at the trampoline park We Are Vertigo. Playing football and other sports with the girls every week and UUJ is always a great time, but spending time with the girls outside the university was a treat. We all had a great time on the trampolines and playing-my personal fave- trampoline dodgeball.

The impact that I make as a Scholar is not always obvious in the day-to-day. But breaking away from the normal Ehoops routine revealed in my mind the friendships and connections I’ve made with the girls since your first session back in September.

Wednesday nights have become something I really look forward to and enjoy. Shout out to the girls for being such an awesome group and making Wednesdays such a blast!

 

Victory Scholar: Clare Sullivan

Present University: Ulster University

US League Partner: Patriot League

Club/Community Partner: Ulster Elks

Alma Mater: The College of the Holy Cross

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland 

 

This blog is a little different from all my previous ones. I’m not going to talk about things that’ve happened over here in Galway.  This blog is about someone and something much bigger: Lauren Hill. Some many know this name and her story, but for those who don’t, she is a freshman basketball player at Mount St Joseph’s. Lauren committed to Mount St. Joe’s in October of 2013 and just a month later and a few days shy of her 18^th birthday, she was diagnosed with DIPG (an incurable form of brain cancer). Because of her rare condition and the 0% survival rate, she isn’t expected to make it past this December. About a year ago, Lauren was preparing for college and her collegiate basketball career like any other freshman, and now all she wants is the opportunity to set foot on the court in her Mount Saint Joseph’s uniform and play the game she loves. She has one dream: to play the game one more time! Thanks to enormous support worldwide, Lauren Hill got that chance Sunday when their November 15^th game against Hiram College was moved to November 2^nd so she could get the chance to step onto the court for her first collegiate game. The day finally came and her dream came true! Not only did Lauren play, she scored twice to standing ovations of a sold-out crowd of 10,250. I got goose bumps just watching it! Her post game quote summed it up perfectly, “It was awesome in every way. It’s a dream come true. To play on a college court, to put my foot down on the floor and hear the roar of the crowd – I just love it so much. I love basketball. Everything that happened today was amazing. I’m truly happy.” Hearing this made me absolutely speechless.

 

Lauren’s story touched me and moved me in so many ways. Her determination, enthusiasm, passion, and fight is a constant inspiration. For someone with terminal cancer, she remains positive and continues to fight for her dreams. She never gave up and made her dream come true! She positive attitude and determination is evident in her words: “I’ve never felt so good in my entire life… Let’s not call it my last game. This is my first collegiate game.” This kind of attitude and outlook is something that everyone can learn from. If a college student with terminal cancer can think like this, why can’t we all? I think a lot of times we get caught up in all the little things going on around us and take the opportunities and things we have for granted. We forget what is really important. Through her story, we can gain valuable life lessons…Never give up! Fight for your dreams! Lauren Hill is an inspiration to us all.  #1More4Lauren

 

Click here to hear her interview and watch her score!!

This past weekend was one of the rare opportunities for a Victory Scholars reunion. Despite not being a full reunion, it is always great to see some of the other Scholars that are located throughout the country. The venue was Cork. The occasion was the national cup semifinals. There were six scholars in total that made the weekend trip to Cork. Marritta playing for the Mystics, Jazmen and Katie with Wildcats, and Emily and Meghan playing for the Meteors all earned a chance to play for a spot in the cup finals. And I got to spectate all of this. In packed gyms, I got to see all three games. For some of the scholars I was watching them play for the first time. It was great to all my friends in action and even better to spend some time with all of them before, during, and after the games. Congrats to all the Scholars who made it that far (and Marritta who won!) I can’t wait for the next scholar reunion.

 

Victory Scholar: Cory Starkey 

Present University: NUI Galway

US League: Patriot League 

Club/community partner: Galway Titans 

Alma Mater: Bucknell University 

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland 

Last week I was able to take a trip to Spain to visit one of my former NC State teammates. Class has not started back yet and I also had a bye week in basketball and no coaching so the timing worked out perfect for me to make the journey. My former NC State teammate, Scott Wood, now plays basketball professionally in Spain for a team in Murcia. He plays in the top division in Spain and his league is considered the 2^nd best basketball league in the world, behind the NBA. He let me tag along to his practices and it was amazing to see how high the skill level was. He also had a home game while I was there so it was a perfect chance for me to see him play. There were around 10,000 people at the game and the fans were very loud and passionate.

 

I have many former NC State teammates playing professionally all around Europe and I have always wanted to visit them and catch one of their games. It was always to expensive for me to fly from the United States to see them but now being part of the Victory Scholar program, I was able to easily fly down from Ireland to Spain. The trip was one of the coolest experiences of my life and another way that basketball has impacted my life. I spent a week in Spain with one of my best friends and saw him play live in one of the best basketball leagues in the world. That’s a pretty neat opportunity that I am extremely grateful to have experienced. I am hoping once my season ends that I’ll be able to visit another teammate in another country!

 

 

Victory Scholar: Staats Battle

Present University: University of Limerick

US League: ACC

Club/Community Partner: UL Eagles

Alma Mater: North Carolina State University

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

Halloween Banter!

 

‘Tis the season for pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating! Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays, and I’ve been pleased to discover that it’s no less celebrated on the Emerald Isle than it is at home. Ever since I heard they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here, (quite possibly the best holiday), I’ve been a little paranoid. There are some little quirks and differences, but the main points are the same; candy, facepaint, and a thousand college girls dressed up as cats.

 

As Gareth and Deirdre Maguire set off to South Africa on business, I stayed at their house with Pippen and the girls for the week. We searched through their stash of old Halloween costumes and tried them all on. Erin (their youngest daughter), and I carved pumpkins and set them up on the front doorstep. The girls told me stories of Halloweens past, and explained to me the differences in trick-or-treating. Here, there’s a wee bit more effort expected from the trick-or-treaters than at home, as they’re expected to actually sing a song at people’s doorsteps, where a simple “trick-or-treat” doesn’t cut it. In return, it’s common to receive money instead of “sweets”, which is definitely unheard of in America. It doesn’t seem as though trick-or-treating is quite as popular here, and almost no houses decorate for the holiday at all. At home, the streets will be decorated at a level only second to Christmas, and I have neighbors that prepare for weeks… creating intricate, spooky mazes in their front yards and booby-traps for trick-or-treaters to get past. Aside from the occasional pumpkin or two, only public places had any kind of decoration.

 

We were invited to a few Halloween parties by teammates and staff members and we had a good time putting together some last-minute DIY costumes each night. We ended up celebrating the holiday three nights in a row! The most fun was definitely hitting the town Halloween night and admiring the creativity and effort that some of our Irish peers put into their ensembles. Face paint is HUGE here, and we saw some pretty intense… artwork. I’ve never gone into a city and celebrated Halloween before, so I found it hilarious to be walking around city center Belfast as the social spots let out and watching all kinds of zombies, monsters, movie characters, and random dead people lining the streets, getting into cabs, and eating takeout.

 

All in all, I’m satisfied with an Irish Halloween… almost enough to make up for the fact that they don’t do Thanksgiving. Actually I wouldn’t go that far, but it was definitely good craic. We needed a few days to let loose before November hits us hard! Grad classes are getting pretty intense, basketball is starting to pick up, and we’ve added a few new ehoops sessions per week!  But if there’s anything I’ve learned from this Halloween it’s that the people will take any excuse to go out and have a good time, so I’m confident we’ll always have an opportunity to balance the work and play. 

 

Victory Scholar: Ashley Montecchio

Present University: University of Ulster

Alma Mater: Rosemont College

I was especially excited to visit Amsterdam because I have some Dutch background (my great great grandparents on my dad’s side came from Holland). However, I experienced a slight hiccup upon arrival when I dropped my phone at the train station platform on our way to the hotel and realized it too late.

 

By the time I figured out my phone was missing and went back to look for it, it was gone. I’d pretty much given up all hope of finding it again when my friends Sarah and Eilidh—who I was traveling with—received a message from someone that a random person had contacted her about finding my phone! I immediately jumped on the subway and took it to the suburbs of Amsterdam to pick up my phone from the Dutch woman’s house. I brought her some chocolates to say thank you for returning my phone to me; I was not expecting such kindness! I have an iPhone 6, and it was unlocked with no passcode, so she easily could have used it or sold it for a good bit of money. I’m so lucky my phone was picked up by such a kind and honest person!

 

After that experience, I felt like it was only fair to pay that woman’s kindness forward. So, I gave the change in my pocket to the homeless every time I passed one of them for the rest of my travels; I helped a woman carry her stroller and baby down the crowded subway steps; and I even donated to a foundation for the deaf and mute.

 

The Dutch woman’s kindness spurred me to be more thoughtful with my actions and help those in need with what little I could. I’m thankful for her kindness in returning my phone, but more grateful that her honest act forced me to think critically about the different ways I could brighten someone’s day—even a stranger—with a small act of kindness, whether it be giving some change, holding a door open, or even just a genuine smile. 

 

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 line with my last blog post, I tried out a new dish at dinner last night! You know, I really feel like I was not sufficiently warned about the tragic lack of Mac and Cheese in this country. Gone are the days of EasyMac and driving to Panera for my fix. I had to resort to the most drastic of measures – making some Mac and Cheese from scratch!

 

I was very skeptical when my skillset was full of an unappetizing amalgam of butter, flour, milk, and chicken broth. But surprisingly it was more than merely edible, even bordering on tasty. I look forward to perfecting this dish, mainly so I can cure my Irish friends of the void that fills their diet and so I will never again be asked the question, “you mean just noodles covered with cheese?” Oh no my friends, mac and cheese is so much more than that. 

 

 

Victory Scholar: Lillian McCabe

Present University: IT Carlow

US League: Atlantic 10

Club/Community Partner: ITC Basketball

Alma Mater: Davidson College

Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland

This weekend, I found out that one of the 6 year olds I coach on Saturday mornings is a diabetic. After speaking with him more, I literally felt as if I were looking directly into a time machine of myself from 16 years ago. As most people who know me are aware, I have been an insulin-dependent diabetic since the age of three. Developing this chronic condition from such a young age came to be an advantage for me, as I cannot exactly remember the lifestyle transition period. Therefore, all I know is life with diabetes.

 

All of the positive skills and attributes that the presence of this condition has helped to instill have always been a part of me, in my mind at least. One of the parents of one of the under-7 Baby Blues that I coach offered me a ride back to campus. On this ride, I was chatting with Les about various things such as business in Ireland, his support for Tottenham, and my love for Arsenal (obvious topic of discussion), when he saw me pull out my insulin pen to give myself an injection.

 

He immediately recognized what I was doing and mentioned that his son Darragh, who was riding in the back seat, was a Type 1 diabetic as well. Darragh proceeds to pull out his insulin pump and casually begins chatting with me about his diabetes in relation to soccer. What is crazy is not the fact that Darragh is a diabetic, but the fact that I would have never have made this amazing connection if not for Les offering me a ride back to campus.

 

We all began discussing my journey as an athlete and a footballer and how I have dealt with the ailment from such a young age, and I was delighted to be able to provide some valuable information to a young athlete who is into both his personal health and the game of football. Les and I then exchanged information, and he assured me that if I ever needed anything in general, but specifically in relation to my diabetes (supplies, medicine, etc.), that he is right down the road.

 

Like I have said before, you would be surprised by the connections that can arise out of seemingly nowhere. I am really excited to continue coaching Darragh and seeing what we can both learn from each other! 

 

#inspire #victory

 

Victory Scholar: Jonathan Nelson

Sport League: ATLANTIC 10

Present University: University of Limerick

Alma Mater: Dayton University