Broncos share talents in the community

By Cecile Nguyen

Both on and off the court, the Santa Clara women's basketball team works together to improve their skills as athletes, as well as positive role models in the community.

The team is currently working closely with the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative.

BAWSI was founded back in 2005 by Santa Clara alumna Brandi Chastain, along with fellow U.S. soccer star Julie Foudy and Marlene Bjornsrud, the general manager of the short-lived San Jose CyberRays women's professional soccer team. According to its Web site, BAWSI is a non-profit organization whose goal is to create programs and partnerships through which female athletes bring health, hope and wholeness to their community.

"Being involved in the community is a priority for us and offers us a chance to interact with the people around us," Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. "We want to make a positive impact and be good role models for our community."

Other Santa Clara women's sports involved with BAWSI include crew, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis and water polo.

"Marlene first made contact with us about three years ago, and we jumped on board immediately," said Bento-Jackson. "It was an opportunity for us to work with young kids and be positive role models."

Before the season started, as part of BAWSI, the Broncos took part in the American Cancer Society's annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Their initial goal was to raise $2,500 for breast cancer research, but they were able to exceed those expectations, raising over $3,000.

Over winter break, the team volunteered at multiple locations, including St. Clare's School. According to senior guard Chandice Cronk, the team read books to children and also held a basketball clinic.

"The class was great and gave everyone an experience to remember. The children are so well behaved, and are very eager to learn," the senior said on the Broncos' Web site. "Overall, the experience was absolutely incredible, and I know that I speak for every single one of my teammates when I say that."

Cronk and teammate Kathy Willinsky read to the kids about animals and snow, and when the two asked the class about the students' personal experience and informed them that Cronk was originally from Alaska, the students were all astonished.

"When I told them I was from Alaska, I thought their eyes were going to pop out of their heads," Cronk said. "I was asked questions about sled dogs, igloos and snow pants."

The women's basketball team is also the only team at Santa Clara to hold autograph sessions after every home game, a big attraction for some of the younger Bronco fans.

"These autograph sessions are a big hit with the kids," Bento-Jackson said. "We love the opportunity to interact with the community."

The team also volunteered at Sacred Heart Community Service, where players and coaches helped pack and allocate food to families during a break between games near Christmas. The Broncos also unpacked all the donated toys and organized them to be distributed.

"The team helped with the distribution of food and gifts for the holiday to underprivileged families in the area. I was amazed at how grateful the staff was for our help," Liz Doran stated on the Broncos Web site. "This truly was a rewarding experience for me to be able to help hundreds of people have a good meal for the holidays."

Sacred Heart Community Service is a non-profit, independent organization that serves thousands of families in need around Silicon Valley.

"The holidays are one of our busiest times of the year," said Staff Leader Evelyn Low of Sacred Heart. "We have more customers, but the holiday is also when we get the bulk of our donations and more volunteers."

BAWSI and the Broncos are teaming up once again on Feb. 16 for the "BAWSI B-Ball Night with the Broncos," when the Santa Clara women's basketball team takes on Loyola Marymount.

"It was an awesome feeling at the end of the day, being involved in the community like that," Bento-Jackson said. "We were able to put smiles on faces of those we helped, and it's a win-win because we had smiles on our faces as well."

Contact Cecile Nguyen at (408) 551-1918 or cnguyen5@scu.edu.