Cougars Host Annual Sports Hero Day

PROVO, Utah -- More than 1,000 sixth graders from schools throughout Utah Valley converged on the campus of BYU Thursday to celebrate the Cougars’ annual Sports Hero Day. Student-athletes from every team as well as volunteers from BYU’s Center for Service and Learning offered the students a chance to interact with and learn from their heroes.

The students took tours of many of the BYU facilities and attended mini workshops hosted by BYU athletes, who demonstrated the basics of their sports and shared their thoughts on life lessons such as sportsmanship, goal-setting and hard work. The students then had the opportunity to attend a Power Rally in the Smith Fieldhouse and hear from some of BYU’s most celebrated heroes Jake Heaps and Jimmer Fredette.

Both athletes recalled the hard work they poured into their athletic pursuits growing up that allowed them to attain their goals of playing at BYU. They also expressed gratitude for the support they received along the way from family and friends and encouraged the students to work hard at whatever they choose to be involved in.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re good at,” said Fredette. “The important thing is that you work hard to achieve your goals. You can do anything you want to do if you surround yourself with the right people and work hard.”

Heaps, who had to travel long distances to train, talked about priorities.

“Sometimes I had to give up things, like hanging out with my friends. But I just stayed focused on my goals and tried to remember that it would all be worth it in the end. And it definitely has been.”

Sports Hero Day is an opportunity for many student-athletes to get involved in their community and inspire younger generations to reach for the stars.

“It’s really humbling to get to talk to these kids and realize how much they look up to you,” said BYU men’s basketball star Noah Hartsock. “We all love being able to give back to our community and help these kids realize that they too can be anything they want to be.”

Cougar volleyball player Heather Hanneman echoed those sentiments.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be here, playing at BYU and setting an example for these kids. These are the kinds of things we get to do here, and it makes me love being a Cougar even more. I want to share that with them.”