GREAT FALLS — From October to March, basketball teams in the Frontier Conference battle for wins and league supremacy on the court.
But this Saturday, rivals will come together for a purpose.
The McLaughlin Center at the University of Providence will host the second annual “Hoops for a Cause” basketball camp for boys and girls entering grades K-8. All proceeds from the camp will go toward the #BuckleUpBlue4Lauryn scholarship program in memory of Fairfield teenager Lauryn Goldhahn who lost her life in a car accident nearly two years ago.
MSU-Northern women’s basketball coach Chris Mouat started the camp last year with former Skylights all-American Natalee Faupel, and it didn’t take long for coaches and players from the rest of the Frontier to jump on board.
“Every school has been represented and I think that is really unique,” Mouat said. “Our coaches genuinely get along and care about each other, and when it comes to supporting something bigger than all of us, everybody is really, really good about that.”
The camp is set for Aug. 11 beginning with kindergarten through fourth-grade boys and girls from 10 a.m. to noon, fifth- through eighth-grade boys will participate from noon to 2 p.m., followed by fifth- through eighth-grade girls from 2-4 p.m.
Registration is $20 in advance online or $25 at the door. Campers will receive a tote bag from Adidas, lunch from McDonald’s and a T-shirt from Universal Athletic. Mouat expects around 25-30 players, coaches and team personnel from every Montana Frontier conference school in attendance helping coach the campers.
At 4:30 p.m., Lauryn’s father Pat Goldhahn will present the #BuckleUpBlue4Lauryn campaign to attendees. The public is welcome, as well.
“I just hope a lot of people stick around and understand the importance of seat belt awareness,” Mouat said. “In my car right now, I have the blue ribbon on my steering wheel, and it’s such a simple and important reminder. If it can save one kid or more, then awesome. Pat’s message is just really good. And it’s something we can all learn from.”
The Goldhahn family, including MSU-Northern sophomore Allix, will be helping with the camp.
“I think it’s absolutely admirable that coaches that are competing in the conference can come together for such a great cause,” Pat said. “And the athletes that are coming to coach, we’re looking forward to see them come and do what they’ve done all their life, just play and teach basketball. I’m anxious to tell Lauryn’s story and hopefully I can impact one person during the presentation that will change their ideas about seatbelts.”
