Gardner’s champion FF Tiger team
attends President’s speech
Sports Editor
FORT FAIRFIELD — The rewards continue to pile up for the Fort Fairfield girls basketball team.
Nearly two months after winning the Class D state championship, the Tigers had another amazing opportunity when the team was presented with tickets to participate in President Barrack Obama’s visit to Portland last Thursday.
Tiger coach Larry Gardner contacted the office of Congressman Mike Michaud, who helped make sure that the Class D state champions were able to attend the President’s visit.
“Being able to see and hear the President of the United States was the most amazing experience ever,” said Danielle Tracy, a sophomore on the team. “I wish everyone could have this opportunity, as words just can’t describe this amazing event.”
“I think the trip was awesome,” added freshman Kellyn McGillan. “Getting the chance to see President Obama was amazing. And getting to sit as close as we did was great. It was a great once in a lifetime deal to see the President.”
“The trip was a great experience for myself because it was an opportunity of a lifetime,” said senior Courtney Churchill. “Who just gets to go to a Presidential speech? Especially from the County. I learned a lot more and things that I didn’t know about the health care bill. I especially liked the student loans only being 10 percent part since it will be affecting me next year and six years to follow.”
Churchill added she thought it was “clever” of Obama to describe how it will take some time for this bill to work and he used planting seeds as an example.
“He related to us,” she said. “I felt very out of place on the protesters side. I couldn’t believe how people could turn against our nation’s leader and be that harsh. Some of those signs were very offensive. I’d like to see some of them get in the position of the President of the United States of America and do better.”
“I bet the team could give the President a run for his money on the court,” said Michaud. “I am thrilled that these student athletes have such a strong interest in attending the event. The Tigers had a great year on the court and tomorrow’s event will be another day to remember for them.”
“On Sunday before our trip I sent an e-mail to Ed Gilman, Rep. Michaud’s communication person in Washington asking for tickets to see the President,” Gardner said. “That set the wheels in motion for our two day trip which was certainly packed full of educational learning experiences.”
Michaud’s office was given a limited number of tickets to disburse for the President’s visit. Coach Gardner was excited to hear that the team would be able to attend the event at the Portland Expo.
“The Fort Fairfield Tigers basketball team, winners of their first State Championship basketball title in school history, is extremely excited to have the opportunity to attend President Obama’s health care speech in Portland,” said Gardner. “The team from northern Maine will travel five hours to attend the event and hopes to be able to present the President with a State Championship autographed team basketball. The Tigers know that it takes preparation, hard work and commitment to be successful, not only on the court, but in real life as well and certainly can only imagine the type of hard work and commitment the President has put forth to pass this health care plan.”
According to Gardner, the Tigers recently saw a video of President Obama playing in a 2008 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Kokomo, Ind. and said, “Wow he’s really good!”
The team, in addition to being state champions, boasts the State Free Throw Champion in Amanda Hotham, only a sophomore, who won the event by hitting 49 of 50 free throws.
The Tigers left for Portland early Thursday morning since the team had to be at the Portland Expo by noon to pick up their tickets, Gardner said.
“We were given blue tickets, which meant we got to be first in line and in the front section where the President would be speaking,” he said. “After going through metal detectors and scanners by the Secret Service we were finally in the building. The team got to see first hand how well protected the President is and the amount of personnel needed for him to appear at any event. The security and attention to detail was amazing.”
Gardner said once the team was inside the building, the Tigers were selected to be seated five rows behind the President during his speech,
“This was certainly was an honor and a great view of the whole speech,” Gardner said. “Before he came into the building Governor Baldacci came up to our seats and shook hands with the players and congratulated us on our championship President Obama was well received by those in attendance and was very personable in his remarks about the State and its citizens. He certainly was very impressive and kept the audience very attentive.”
The team was also invited to the State Capitol Friday morning.
“We went into the Senate where the team was introduced and received a standing ovation and followed that with an appearance in the House Chamber where they recognized the team as well,” the coach said.
After a tour of the Capitol and lunch in the cafeteria the team met with Governor Baldacci in his office where the Governor again congratulated them on their outstanding season and hard work. The team then presented him with an autographed team picture and State Championship sweatshirt.
“The Governor talked about his job and gave them a little history on the State Logo and some of the memorabilia in his office followed by a picture taken session with the team,” Gardner said.
Friday night the team was back in Portland at the Maine Red Claws home game at the Portland Expo. Over 3,000 people were in attendance as the Tigers were introduced and honored for their individual and team accomplishments. The team then headed back to Fort Fairfield arriving home at 1:30 a.m.
“We certainly want to thanks Rep. Mike Michaud and his staff, especially Barb Hayslett in the Presque Isle office for all their help in making this happen,” Gardner said. “Also, a special thanks goes to State Rep. Tyler Clark for his help in getting us in the State Capitol and being recognized as well.”
Contributed photo
WHIRLWIND TRIP — Members of the Fort Fairfield girls basketball team had the opportunity to attend President Barrack Obama’s visit to Maine last Thursday. The team also toured the State Capitol building and visited with Governor John Baldacci.
