Big victory for big fans

From the beginning, the game never had the chance of being close. The Columbia College women’s basketball team held Illinois-Springfield without a field goal past the 10 minute mark of the first half. The Cougars led 19-3 and the Prairie Stars didn’t even have a field goal.

Fans in the stands were chatting with each other while working on homework, eating and even crocheting.

Few seemed to be focused on the game, a first-round matchup of the American Midwest Conference Tournament at the Arena at Southwell Complex.

When the Cougars stretched the lead to 29 at halftime and to as much as 43 during the second half, some true fans stepped up to cheer for their favorite players.

The special fans at the game, Talon Aguilera, Reanna Dietzel, and Fernando Jimenes are kindergartners from Field Elementary School. They were there with their teacher Cindy Boyer enjoying the other end of the Partners in Education Program.

“I’ve been doing it for close to six and a half years,” Boyer said. “It has been amazing to have (Cougars players) reading with us.”

The children soaked up every second of the game from the first tick on the clock. Three players tossed shirts up to them, and they immediately put them on. They were reading the programs and shouting for Mandy Jorgenson and Jessica Wilson, their favorite players, between mouthfuls of Skittles and popcorn. They danced to the music and waved to another favorite at the game, Scooter, the team mascot.

After the game, they had the chance to meet up with their readers, Jorgenson and Wilson. They beamed with admiration, sure the 83-44 victory was the greatest sporting moment in history.

Although the program was started to help the children learn to read by third grade, both sides said they feel they have gained much more from it.

“I love interacting with little kids because they are so adorable,” Jorgenson said. “They always say the funniest things. I read to two little boys who like to read about dinosaurs.”

Talon, who enjoys seeing Jorgenson run around and slide on the court, confirmed that dinosaur books were his favorite.

“I like them,” he said, “because she can’t say the names.”

Boyer said she has seen the results of this program first-hand while working at Field for the past seven years.

“We set the reading program up with Faye Burchard (the Columbia College Dean of Campus Life),” she said. “Fernando just came here from Mexico in July and look how well he’s doing already.”

While Jorgenson waves goodbye to her giddy readers out a window of the arena, she and the team hope it will not be the Cougars’ last victory of the season. A loss would almost certainly end the season for Columbia College (18-12, 12-3).

But if they do lose, there will be at least an eager few waiting for them back in Field Elementary. After all, Fernando can’t wait to read about Batman again tomorrow.