Mark Sanchez spends time at his old elementary school on Friday morning to give back to the community
By Ben Malcolmson
USCRipsIt
PeteCarroll.com
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — It’s just four days before the biggest quarterback competition in the country gets started, and Mark Sanchez is taking some time to reach out to his community.
The junior USC quarterback spent Friday morning at his old elementary school, Trabuco Mesa in Orange County, and hung out with the teachers and students on the school’s “Sports Day,” a themed fundraiser that included a jog-a-thon to raise money for the PTA.
It was as if the Pope was in town, as Sanchez — wearing his No. 6 cardinal jersey — was swarmed by the students throughout the morning, visited with old teachers who gushed over him and signed autograph after autograph.
“It’s a big deal when he comes,” Trabuco Mesa principal Suzanne Westmoreland said. “The teachers love him and the kids get so excited.”
Sanchez spoke to several classes, offering his wisdom to fourth- through sixth-graders. He even helped with a personification lesson for some sixth graders.
“We’re so proud that these kids have someone like him to look up to,” said Sherry Ballantyne, Sanchez’s fifth-grade teacher who still teaches at Trabuco Mesa. “He’s such a great example.”
Sanchez said he loves returning to his elementary school at least once a year to give back to the teachers that gave so much to him.
“I always liked it when former students came back to Mrs. B[allantyne]’s class,” Sanchez said. “It meant a lot to me, so I like coming back for these kids.”
It wasn’t all business at his morning-long visit to the school, though. During recess, Sanchez snuck in an epic game of handball against a sixth-grader in front of 100 awe-filled kids, who wildly cheered for their hero at every hit of the ball. The 21-year-old college student escaped with the win after a saving a tough shot from the wily sixth-grader.
“Did you see that shot?” an animated Sanchez said after the game as if he were back in elementary school. “He hit it so hard, I almost lost.”
Recess ended with the sound of the bell as Sanchez finished signing another round of students’ shirts, shoes, pictures and hats. “Go to class,” he exhorted the students. “Don’t be late!”
“This fall, when they see him on TV, it’ll mean a lot to them,” said recently retired teacher Valerie Galaz, who said she has intently followed Sanchez’s ascent since he attended the school more than 10 years ago.
To cap off the morning, Sanchez cheered the kids through the jog-a-thon, helping record the laps they ran while signing more autographs and taking pictures with the students and their parents.
“The kids here really look up to him,” Ballantyne said. “He really is a hero to them. The best part is he always says the right things to them and really makes a difference.”
Check out some images from Sanchez’s morning at Trabuco Mesa Elementary School:
Sanchez gets introduced to a class of fourth-graders by his former teacher Mr. Edmonds.
At morning recess, Sanchez gets followed by a swarm of students.
Sanchez waits in line with elementary school kids for a game of handball during recess.
Sanchez winds up to hit the ball in his intense game of handball against a sixth-grader.
As recess winds down, a horde of students swarm Sanchez for autographs.
Kids ask Sanchez to sign everything from hats to shirts to shoes.
Sanchez gives a high five to a student during the jog-a-thon fundraiser.
Sanchez poses with the school mascot and his former fifth-grade teacher Sherry Ballantyne.
• Ben Malcolmson is the Director of Online Media for USCRipsIt/PeteCarroll.com. You can contact him at Ben@PeteCarroll.com.
