By Michael Bernaschina Staff writer
Earlier this month, Susquehanna senior and captain of the men’s basketball team Steven Weidlich attended the Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona. He was honored for his volunteer work in the Allstate Good Works Team.
The Final Four is the end of the March Madness tournament that is held by the NCAA each year. The tournament includes 68 college basketball teams that each play in single elimination games in order to reach the championship title game.
“It’s a cool thing to be a part of,” Weidlich said. “Everyone watches the Final Four, and people pay a ridiculous amount of money for tickets, so just to get to be there was awesome.”
Weidlich, a life-long basketball fan, was one of 10 players selected to be a part of the Allstate Good Works Team, a group which performed volunteer service during the weekend of the Final Four.
According to Weidlich, there were a number of factors considered in the selection process including GPA, prior basketball success and a history of community service.
Coaches nominate players and eventually the selection is narrowed down to a series of finalists. From those finalists, 10 are chosen and those 10 make up the Good Work Team. Out of a pool of 181 nominations, Weidlich was one of five Division II and III NCAA basketball players to earn the honor, with the other five players coming from Division I colleges.
As a member of the team, Weidlich had the opportunity to attend an event called the Guardians of the Game. It is an award ceremony that looks for four core values: advocacy, leadership, service and education.
It honors coaches whose peers feel they have exemplified these qualities in their contributions to the lives of their student-athletes and their community.
Weidlich also got the opportunity to work with Steve Nash, a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association, and participate in a basketball clinic associated with the Special Olympics.
“It was cool,” Weidlich said about being honored. “It was kind of awkward being out there. There were 77,000 people there, which was the second most ever. And it was during time-out, so everyone was still there. So it was pretty cool standing out there on the floor but it was kind of weird at times too.”
“It was a great experience,” he added. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m really grateful for everything they did for me. I’d say looking back on it, I’m really grateful that they have this in place.”
