Walker Basketball Players Show Their Stuff on the Big Stage

Basketball season is in full swing in Michigan, and National Heritage Academies (NHA) schools recently partnered with local teams to give students a big-game atmosphere. 

Vanguard, Walker Play on College Stage

The Vanguard Charter Academy and Walker Charter Academy boys basketball teams met in December for a game that had the feel of a college showdown.

Vanguard and Walker teamed with Grand Valley State University to play at the GVSU Fieldhouse in a collaboration between the sports management program and the GVSU Charter Schools Office. With pre-game introductions that included an inflatable arch, music, and a spotlight, the game had all the pomp and circumstance of a GVSU home game.

GVSU students in the Sport Facility and Event Management class coordinated the festivities and activities for the game, giving students the opportunity to play on the bigger stage and perhaps inspire them to strive to play at the next level.

“The students were extremely excited,” said Robert Durr, Vanguard family liaison and athletic director. “In the weeks headed up to it, that’s all I heard every day is that how they were looking forward to getting to play on a real college basketball court and really shoot the 3-pointer from college range.”

While Walker won 57-53, Durr said Vanguard players were still buzzing about the stage and were already looking forward to the prospect of next year’s game.

“It was a wonderful opportunity,” Durr said. “We are grateful for that opportunity and we’re hoping to expand to get more students participating in these events.”