Varsity Athletes Mentor Elementary Students via Cazenovia Jersey Day

Cazenovia Central School District’s “Jersey Day” is a special event held each year, where varsity athletes volunteer their jersey to a fourth-grade student to wear for the day.
 
Varsity students are paired with a fourth-grader, and the pairs get to know each other as well as spend time with the team as a whole during the assembly.
 
“The fourth-graders love getting to know a high school athlete,” said Burton Street Elementary Physical Education Teacher Sean Condon, who assisted in coordinating the event. “They wear their jerseys with pride and enthusiasm throughout the school day.”
 
Members of the Cazenovia lacrosse, baseball, softball, track and field, golf, tennis and unified basketball teams participated in the event, providing fourth-graders with an actual Cazenovia Lakers varsity jersey.
 
Varsity team captains speak about topics such as proper nutrition, how to balance school and sports, being a part of a team, representing the community with your actions, trusting your teammates, sportsmanship, responsibility and more.
 
“The public speaking opportunity has served as a valuable educational and leadership moment for the varsity students over the years,” said Coordinator of Athletics and Communications Mike Byrnes.
 
Condon shared that several of the high school students remembered being in fourth grade themselves participating in the event, and he loves seeing that come around full circle as they give back to the current fourth-graders.
 
Participants expressed thanks to the Cazenovia Athletic Association (CAA) and the High School principal’s office, who funded the refreshments for the event. Jersey Day has been an annual event at the school for many years promoted by members of the CAA partnering with the school athletic department, coaches and school administrators.
 
“The concept was to have older high school student-athletes give back to the younger generations at CCSD, and perhaps inspire future participation,” said Byrnes. “The tradition quickly became an annual staple within the program.”