Bucknell Athletics Participates in 2023 Kaupas Camp, Continues Partnership with Mount Carmel
6/30/2023 3:49:00 PM | Student-Athlete Enrichment
LEWISBURG, Pa. – When June rolls around the Bucknell campus is largely devoid of student-athletes, but the fun, competition and instruction remains constant for Bison coaches. Throughout the past month, Bucknell Athletics programs partnered with the Mother Maria Kaupas Center and the Mount Carmel Area School District for the annual Kaupas Camp.
Bucknell Athletics has participated in the Kaupas Camp since 2016. In an effort to revitalize the nearby Coal Region town of Mount Carmel, the camp encourages middle school aged students to get involved in extra-curricular activities while building leadership and social skills. A once-thriving borough in the heyday of anthracite coal mining, Mount Carmel and many other nearby Coal Region towns have fallen on hard times economically over the last several decades. The Bucknell community has taken a keen interest in reviving these communities while celebrating their past
This year, coaches and current student-athletes from Bucknell's men's and women's tennis teams, track & field team, wrestling team, field hockey team, and men's basketball team all spent time conducting clinics. Some events were held on the Bucknell campus while others took place in Mount Carmel. Head women's tennis coach Tammy Cecchini and head men's tennis coach Jason Cohen kicked things off with a two-day session held in the Gerhard Fieldhouse.
"It was two action-packed and fun-filled days of teaching tennis and playing games with the kids at the Kaupas Camp," Cecchini said. "It was my fourth year helping, and the best parts are seeing familiar faces and hearing how much they enjoy tennis and being at Bucknell."
The field hockey staff led kids through a fun and informative session that included stick-handling drills and other activities that they also use with Bison student-athletes. The opportunity allows Mount Carmel's youth to see and experience future educational and athletic possibilities, teaches competition and sportsmanship, and provides exposure to college athletics.
"Our priority is making the game inclusive and accessible to all. We want to keep spreading the love and passion for this game," said assistant field hockey coach Ali McEvoy. "Growing the game in our community is where it starts, and spending time with a high-energy, highly-engaged Kaupas Camp was a really great stepping stone for that." Throughout the month of June, Bucknell Athletics programs partnered with the Mother Maria Kaupas Center and the Mount Carmel Area School District for the annual Kaupas Camp. Here's a look at the camper's time with the @Bucknell_FH program.
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Bucknell's track & field program has been a consistent participant at the camp over the years and has had notable alumni from the Mount Carmel area make appearances, including NCAA All-American javelin thrower Maura Fiamoncini '21, who dropped in during the 2018 camp. During this year's camp, Bucknell throws coach Ryan Protzman spent time with the kids practicing their shot put, while head track & field coach Kevin Donner taught speed development drills.
"We broke them up between boys and girls and spent about 40 minutes with each event for each gender. I love working the Kaupas Camp because I know it means a lot to the community, and I love promoting the sport of track & field," Donner said. "After coaching at the collegiate level for over 35 years, it gets me back to the grass roots of training kids and teaching them proper technique. It gets me back to the basics and it gets me fired up to start coaching again after a little break from our collegiate season. The kids were a blast."
Among the current Bucknell student-athletes that helped out this year was EIWA Championship runner-up and NCAA qualifier Dylan Chappell of the wrestling team. He, along with head wrestling coach Dan Wirnsberger, led the kids in a session on the mats.
"Our program's continued commitment to the Kaupas Camp and the youth of the Mount Carmel community is truly a highlight of our summer," said Wirnsberger. "As long as there is a Kaupas Camp, the Bucknell Wrestling Family will be there."
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