Stony Brook University faculty and staff participated in a Fantasy Camp hosted by the women’s basketball team at Stony Brook Arena on October 10. The event, which lasted two hours, aimed to strengthen connections between the university community and its athletics program.
Participants began with a casual shootaround before moving into stretches and skill stations that focused on ball handling, passing, and shooting. Each station was led by three or four players from the women’s basketball team.
“This was really about connection,” said head coach Joy McCorvey. “We wanted to continue to bridge that gap between the university and athletics. What better way than to invite our faculty and staff into our space? We have some unbelievable young women doing amazing things in the classroom and community, and this was a chance for people to really get to know them.”
The camp took place one month before the Seawolves’ first home game of the season against Molloy on November 7. Coaches, including McCorvey, guided participants through various activities.
Junior guard Janay Brantley said, “The idea was to connect with the staff. It’s fun to get to know them and show them more of who we are.” Sophomore guard Ionna Giannopoulou added, “It’s nice to see professors in a totally different way.”
Faculty and staff also expressed their appreciation for the opportunity. Amy Vitale, assistant vice president for business and operations, attended for “tips from the best athletes on campus” as well as the chance to be active. Chanel Jones, executive assistant to the assistant vice president, said, “I just did a Zumba session with the basketball girls, so when they invited me, I had to show up. I even skipped my morning workout because I knew this was going to be a good one.”
The evening concluded with high-fives among participants as they celebrated Seawolves spirit beyond traditional athletic events.
