FRESNO, Calif. – No one understands the importance of healthy living more than competitive athletes. That is why Fresno State baseball assistant coach Pat Waer, senior shortstop Pat Hutcheson and junior catcher Austin Wynns stepped off the diamond and into the classroom to speak about living drug and alcohol-free lifestyles.
“I think it’s important for kids in the Fresno and Clovis community to hear from Bulldog student-athletes about the importance of living a life that is free of drugs and alcohol,” said Waer.
The Bulldogs visited Red Bank Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 19 as a part of the Clovis Unified schools Red Ribbon Rally and spoke to first through sixth graders.
“It is really important for these kids to learn at a young age that they need to find the right people to hang out with so they keep themselves out of trouble and get into school and get an education,” Hutcheson said.
Red Bank has been observing Red Ribbon Week for 20 years.
“I think this is great,” said Wynns. “It is good for the kids and the community. It’s good to be a positive role model to the kids.”
This is the first time the baseball program has been a part of the school’s rally. They have spoken at similar events consistently over the past few years.
Other sports that have participated in Red Ribbon rallies include: football, women’s basketball, soccer, softball, equestrian, women’s golf and track and field.
Red Ribbon Week is celebrated nationally Oct. 23-31. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, it is “the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program reaching millions of Americans.” It was started in 1988 by the National Family Partnership who now estimates more than 80 million participants in the event.
