The atmosphere inside the new Firestone Community Learning Center was electric Friday afternoon.
Students gathered in the gymnasium for a scheduled pep assembly that turned into a celebration of new Nike uniforms courtesy of the LeBron James Family Foundation, which donated green, gold and white jerseys and shorts to the Firestone High School cross country and track and field teams.
Falcons athletes Justin Moore, Ciara Gisstand, Claire Moritz and Kade Peets ran out of the auditorium and into the gym where they modeled the jerseys on the basketball court.
“This was a surprise. This is really exciting. We love him,” Gisstand said of James with a smile.
Added a giddy Moritz, “Everyone is super-excited and screaming about these uniforms.”
James, an Akron native who led the Cavaliers to the NBA championship in June, posted a video on his Facebook and Twitter pages Friday morning indicating that Firestone would be receiving a gift of some kind.
“Uniforms are nice, but the message is more relevant and resonates,” Principal Larry Johnson said. “Strive for greatness, make sure you’re exhibiting good sportsmanship on and off the floor and make sure you’re a model student-athlete to your community is what LeBron James always talks about.”
Tim Carroll, who coaches boys cross country and boys and girls track at Firestone, and girls cross country coach Malia Tschantz each applied for new uniforms with the foundation in March but didn’t know their teams would be receiving Nike clothing until Friday’s assembly.
“I heard they were looking for applications from different teams to give out uniforms,” Carroll said. “The application was sent to me and I filled it out. I put in the application that we have gotten more athletes recently to the regional and state meets, and that we have a lot of athletes currently competing in college.
“I tried to promote our teams as much as I could and say that we have been working to live up to what LeBron James always says: ‘Nothing is given, everything is earned.’ We have had lot of kids that are working hard. ... I wasn’t sure if this was going to happen, but it is nice that they came through today.”
James’ foundation has contributed several educational and athletic gifts to his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary, and to various Akron Public Schools students and teams.
“They are absolutely the most generous community of people I have seen,” Peets said of James’ foundation. “It is really great that they come out to support Akron Public Schools. We feel really lucky. These uniforms represent Firestone very well.”
Moore described the donation as “very nice” and said, “I appreciate LeBron James doing this for us. The Firestone track and field and cross country teams are very grateful.”
Firestone Athletic Director Brian Fuller said he didn’t know the foundation was coming to the school until Thursday, and he didn’t know until Friday which teams were getting gifts.
“I forwarded an email in the spring to all of our coaches and I told them to fill this out and maybe you will get some uniforms,” Fuller said.
Stephanie Rosa of James’ foundation said Akron Public Schools gives recommendations “on schools, teams or a group of students that have done something positive that should be recognized.” The uniform drops are part of the foundation’s “earned, not given” initiative.
“This is LeBron’s and the foundation’s way of encouraging sportsmanship, leadership and setting a good example in school,” Rosa said. “This is part of a broader strategy where LeBron is trying to get more mentors and role models for the younger kids.”
Carroll said the uniforms are “real nice” and said he is appreciative of James and his foundation.
“We have a lot of kids out every year for track and field, and we needed to get new uniforms,” Carroll said. “They cost a lot of money, so this is a big help to us.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.