Red Wolves - IU East

The Red Wolves shared the importance of reading with a pack of area youngsters this past week.

Indiana University East basketball and volleyball players met in the IU East individual workout gymnasium with youngsters in the local Third Grade Academy.

The basketball players spoke with the youngsters on July 19. The volleyball players served up some advice on July 22.

Click here to view photos from the visit.

"Do you like money?" junior basketball player Terry Weathers (East Chicago, Ind./Oakton Community College) asked the youngsters, grabbing their attention.

The answer, of course, was yes. More money means more candy, according to the students.

"Well if you like money, if you like candy, you need to go to college!" Weathers said. "The higher level degree you get, the more money you get, and the more candy you get!"

The students had a chance to match a shot made by IU East freshman Matt Trimnell (Seymour, Ind./Seymour High School). The visit concluded with some dunks and alley-oops by the Red Wolves.

All-conference volleyball players Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School), Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School) and Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle High School)  visited with the students on July 22.

The Red Wolves discussed the importance of education and how volleyball is a big part of their college experience.

All of the youngsters then took turns hitting a serve as far as they could.

The Red Wolves athletes fielded questions such as, "Does it take a lot of practice to be a basketball/volleyball player," and "How many years have you been playing."

Many of the IU East athletes started their careers at about the same age as the Third Grade Academy students.

The Third Grade Academy is an intensive summer program designed to boost reading and other learning skills for third-graders in the Richmond area.