West Valley players help with story time at Anderson Library

COLORING: West Valley varsity football players help children color footballs at story time at Anderson Library.

The Anderson Library hosted special guests for story time in honor of the big game this weekend. Coach Greg Grandell, 15 members of the West Valley football team and one cheerleader acted out "The Football that Won the Game," while Marty Mautz, a West Valley administrative assistant, read the story aloud to the children.

After the main story, Eagle players read to the children in small groups, helped them with football themed name tags, color and create their own football, and color training cards. Whenever a child seemed to be lost with an activity or want to move on and try something new, there was always a willing West Valley athlete there to help.

"This is our third or fourth time doing this," said Mautz. "The player's can act it out and be a part of the story."

According to Grandell, the athletics department at the high school has done this at both Cottonwood and Anderson libraries in the past. The athletes are put onto teams in the weight who can score points for their team by volunteering, explained Grandell.

"I don't make them come they want to. Lots of other guys wanted to come but had sports after school," said Grandell.

He said the community sees athletes on the television and how arrogant some can be or the trouble some of them get into, and they just want to show the community that they are good guys. Grandell added that it's a few athletes that act out and get attention that give everyone a bad name.

Grandell said that there has been a push for collegiate athletes to be more involved in the communities to tear down misconceptions and build ties. It is a positive for both the athletes involved and the community they serve.