University of Northern Colorado Athletics
@UNCBearsSoccer tackles Special Olympics Camp before Colorado Cup Action
8/20/2016 9:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Westminster, Colo – For five years, the Colorado Cup has showcased the Rocky Mountain State's Division I soccer programs. For another year, all six school have partnered with the Special Olympics to provide a unique camp Saturday in Westminster.
The original mission of the Colorado Cup was to provide an experience that the players wouldn't forget. With the addition of the Special Olympic Camp, the 2016 version will certainly produce a myriad of memories for each athlete.
"This is a great event from all perspectives," said head coach Tim Barrera. "It's great for the participants to come out and have some fun. It's great for the girls to get out here and get their minds off the competitive nature of the sport for awhile and they get to interact with all the rest of the Division I programs in the state as well."
Athletes from each of the six Colorado Cup teams in the state (Northern Colorado, Air Force, Colorado State, Colorado College, Colorado and Denver) were divided into six separate stations, each with a different emphasis in the game of soccer.
There were certainly a number of drills and procedures, water breaks and even a scrimmage at the end, but it wasn't like a typical practice that these elite athletes might have been used to. No one kept times, clipboards were left on the sideline. Today, it was about the pure joy of the sport.
"I love seeing these kids smile," said Mariel Gutierrez. "For us to be able to bring a smile to their faces and a little joy today is truly something special."
Every UNC athlete echoed the same sentiments throughout the afternoon.
"I absolutely love this day," said Alyssa McGuire. "I think that on a certain level, it brings out the girl who picked up the game in the first place out in all of us."
"It's not about winning or losing. It's about having fun while you still have the time to play. I think that as Division I athletes we tend to forget that from time-to-time and days like today bring it all back."
By days end, both the athletes and the participants of the Special Olympics Camp left with a bank full of memories and little more perspective on the game before the schools take the pitch tomorrow in Boulder.
The original mission of the Colorado Cup was to provide an experience that the players wouldn't forget. With the addition of the Special Olympic Camp, the 2016 version will certainly produce a myriad of memories for each athlete.
"This is a great event from all perspectives," said head coach Tim Barrera. "It's great for the participants to come out and have some fun. It's great for the girls to get out here and get their minds off the competitive nature of the sport for awhile and they get to interact with all the rest of the Division I programs in the state as well."
Athletes from each of the six Colorado Cup teams in the state (Northern Colorado, Air Force, Colorado State, Colorado College, Colorado and Denver) were divided into six separate stations, each with a different emphasis in the game of soccer.
There were certainly a number of drills and procedures, water breaks and even a scrimmage at the end, but it wasn't like a typical practice that these elite athletes might have been used to. No one kept times, clipboards were left on the sideline. Today, it was about the pure joy of the sport.
"I love seeing these kids smile," said Mariel Gutierrez. "For us to be able to bring a smile to their faces and a little joy today is truly something special."
Every UNC athlete echoed the same sentiments throughout the afternoon.
"I absolutely love this day," said Alyssa McGuire. "I think that on a certain level, it brings out the girl who picked up the game in the first place out in all of us."
"It's not about winning or losing. It's about having fun while you still have the time to play. I think that as Division I athletes we tend to forget that from time-to-time and days like today bring it all back."
By days end, both the athletes and the participants of the Special Olympics Camp left with a bank full of memories and little more perspective on the game before the schools take the pitch tomorrow in Boulder.
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