Image 1 of 6

Winona State Junior Warrior Club Coordinator A.J. Blazek runs through the day's schedle with WSU athletes for the Warrior Rally Feb. 5 in Winona, Minn. (Photo by Katie Ditmarson/Winona360)

 
The bleachers were filled with fans at the Winona Family YMCA on a Saturday in late January, as Mary Morgan jogged onto the court with her ponytail bobbing to meet her team for the start of their basketball game.

For Mary, 9, basketball has been a part of her life since she was a baby. So when she was picked to have a recess party with any Winona State athletics team, she knew exactly whom she wanted on her playground—the WSU women’s basketball team.

“It was really hard to keep it a secret,” Mary said, giggling. “Everyone was really surprised I didn’t tell.”

Mary is one of more than 40 kids in a new program called Winona State Junior Warrior Club. The program offers Mary and other children the chance to personally interact with WSU athletes in a number of settings. The members get free admission to all WSU athletic events, as well as other benefits.

Kristi Smith and A.J. Blazek, working with the university's athletic program, put the club together two years ago in hopes to get community children more involved with Warrior athletics. Blazek said they would like every child in Winona to be involved with the club.

Mary's father, Paul Morgan, said as soon as the program came out, his daughter was one of the first to sign up.

“I’m an advocate to get kids into watching WSU athletics,” Paul said. “I think it’s a great program, especially for kids like (mine).”

Besides getting to watch their favorite college team, children in the Junior Warrior Club are given opportunities to play with the athletes through a program called Warrior Rallies that's offered throughout the year and incorporates seasonal sports. The WSU athletes teach the members about their sport with drills and warm ups, giving children a chance to experience a variety of sports and giving the athletes a chance to make an impact in the kids’ lives.

“These athletes can be role models,” Paul said.

Even though Mary is busy during the winter months with her own basketball games, she and her family attend as many WSU women's basketball games as they can to support the club.

“The Junior Warrior Club allows it to be really affordable for the family,” Paul said. “It can be a great family thing.”

At a recent WSU men's basketball game, Mary's little sister read a book as her little brother walked back and forth in front of her. Mary and her parents sat together on the bleachers, focused on the game. It's was just another typical Friday night with the family for Mary, and soon the Warriors team scored against their opponent, and Mary and her family cheered them on.