Former NY Liberty Players Visit Salt Brook Students

Students at received a special treat when former NY Liberty players Sue Wicks and Kym Hampton, the NY Liberty Mascot Maddie and other representatives from the WNBA organization visited their school this month to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of Title IX and National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

Title IX, which came into effect in 1972, required schools and colleges that received federal funding to provide equal opportunities for girls and boys.

“We were very fortunate to be selected by NY Liberty to get a special visit from Kym Hampton and Sue Wicks, former players of the NY liberty,” Principal Jeannie Maier told the students before handing over the microphone to Hampton. “So they were actually at one point students just like you, sitting in elementary schools, watching assemblies and getting involved in sports.”

After Hampton got all students energized with some fun basketball drills and activities, she explained a little bit about her life growing up.

“When I was in high school, Title IX had just been in existence for a few years but I did get an athletic scholarship to Arizona State University and when I graduated college, there was no professional basketball in America but now there is. I played in Europe for 12 years, I played 6 years in Spain… I played 4 ½ years in Italy,” said Hampton, who also said a few words in each country’s native language. “I also got a chance to play a year in Japan and then I played a year in France. So then the WNBA started and I was drafted to play for the NY Liberty, the team we hope you get a chance to come and see.”

While Hampton said basketball is the preferred sport for her and Wicks, she encouraged the girls in the gymnasium to play any sport they want to play.

“See basketball is just one of those awesome sports us girls have a chance to participate in and it just happens to be our game,” she said. “I don’t care what sport it is, girls, that you participate in, as long as it’s something.”

Hampton asked the students to name some of the sports girls can play. The gymnasium roared with students shouting out various sports, including: “Soccer! Swimming! Lacrosse! Ice Skating! Volleyball! Rugby! Football! Wrestling! Water Polo!”

Hampton went on to talk to students about their Character Education Program, which the school

“I understand that you guys have an amazing theme for this year. I know that you won an amazing award last year,” she said. “Out of all the schools in the nation, that’s pretty cool.”

Hampton brought up three students who volunteered to answer some questions, which included naming the school’s Character Education theme this year, which is “Stand Up!”

Hampton asked the students what the theme means and some of the responses were, “To do the right thing," "to stand up for your friend," and "to help other people.”

Next, Hampton turned over the assembly to Wicks, who complimented the students on what a beautiful school they have to learn in.

“The artwork in the hallway, how clean it is, I’ve been to some of the classrooms and everyone in there was so quiet and listening to their teachers and it is really something you should be proud of,” Wicks said. “It sounds like something small, but I’ve been to other schools and they’re not doing as good a job as you guys so give yourselves a round of applause.”

Wicks said the NY Liberty Mascot, Maddie, wants to play basketball but Maddie's hands are just too big. So, Wicks suggested the students help her teach Maddie how to do Yoga, which Wicks said she does on a regular basis to give her energy.

Wicks taught the students how to do Yoga poses, such as “Downward Facing Dog,” which was fitting since Maddie the Mascot is a dog.

“That is like a cup of coffee for me in the morning. I feel so awake and I really appreciate you going through that with Maddie and I,” Wicks said.  “So congratulations on all of your success. You should be very proud of yourselves.”

Wicks said the students’ Character Education theme, “Stand Up,” is all about standing up for what’s right and she explained how standing up for what's right can be a very difficult thing to do.  

“Sometimes it feels like the whole world is against you when you see something wrong and I just encourage you, even if you stop and pause for that one second and say, ‘what can I do to make this situation better.’ Just that pause is so important and if it’s something you can do, you’ll be so proud of yourselves for the rest of your lives if you take that step toward doing the right thing,” Wicks said. “So have a fantastic rest of your day, do great things in school and thanks for being so awesome. You really made my day today.”

Maier wrapped up the assembly with words of encouragement for the students, noting that Wicks and Hampton had their own dreams when they were elementary school students and that perhaps their dreams included becoming a professional basketball player some day.

“Think about what your dream is. Maybe it has to do with sports. Maybe it has to do with a career. Maybe it has to do with being a good friend. Think about what your dream is. Where do you see yourself when you’re out of college? Then think about the steps you need to take to achieve that dream,” Maier said. “There’s a lot of steps in between and when you take those steps, each step you take, you’re going to have to stand up. In order to be successful, you’re going to have to stand up, you’re going to have to do the right thing, you’re going to have to work hard. That’s how Sue and Kym got where they are today. That’s how you’re going to get where you are when you’re older.”

Before Hampton and Wicks left, they asked the students some trivia questions — testing how much they learned from the assembly — and gave out NY Liberty gear to the winners.