Swarthmore College Basketball Player Builds Connection with SPNDS Kindergarten
Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School kindergarten students and alumni attended a Swarthmore College basketball game to cheer on senior Nate Shafer, #40. Front row (l to r): Penelope Melvin, Ramsay Kadlec, Cohan Kadlec, McKinley Moots, Katerina Christodouleas, Casey Moots, Adeline Berley, Abigail Garfinkel. Second row (l to r): Ford Melvin, Mitchell Christodouleas, Chloe Zeserson, Jack Garland, Benny Goodstein, Leah Jasner, Azilee Cleland, Jack Cocos, Sam Cullen. Third row (l to r): Callum Smith, Joseph Burkhart, Brooks Tharan, Nate Lin, Parker Jenkins, Samuel Grant. Adults in the back: Reisa Mukamal, Kristin Cardi, Nate Shafer, Sheri Carney. Photo: Donna Shafer
At their home game against Franklin & Marshall College on February 8, the top-ranked and undefeated Swarthmore College men’s basketball team was surprised to see a crowd of young fans decked out in matching Swarthmore College T-shirts cheering them on. It was not a school-organized event, just the effort of one passionate kindergarten teacher, her enthusiastic students, and their parents in support of No. 40, Nate Shafer ’20.
Shafer started visiting Sheri Carney’s kindergarten class at Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School during his sophomore year, as part of an Introduction to Education course. He was only supposed to be there for one semester, but Shafer found himself inspired by Carney’s skill and her excitement for teaching.
“She’s a phenomenal person,” says the economics and psychology major from McLean, Virginia, who plays forward for the Garnet. “It’s really impressive how Sheri works with her kids who have a wide variety of needs and are at different skill levels.”
At the end of the term, Shafer asked if he could keep coming after his college class had ended. Ever since, he has visited the kids one morning a week to help with math assignments and reading lessons, lead morning circle, and play board games and basketball (on a low rim, of course).
Carney thinks Shafer’s decision to continue coming was natural. “There was a real connection, so it made sense,” she says. “He just so enjoys the kids, and they enjoy him.” Whenever he told a story, like describing his latest game, you could hear a pin drop. She thought she would express her gratitude by taking a few students to watch the Garnet play. Pretty soon, as more kids and parents took part, that few became dozens.
“Literally, they look up to him,” Carney says of the 6-foot-6 Shafer. “But they look up to him in their hearts, too. We’re definitely going to miss him next year.”
For now, however, the students can still enjoy Shafer’s company, as they did at the Franklin & Marshall game. When asked if he thought the kids had anything to do with the Garnet’s 85–68 win, Shafer said, “It was definitely a good psychological weapon. Got into the other team’s head.”
Published in cooperation with Swarthmore College.
The undefeated Garnet are the top seed in the Centennial Conference championship tournament, which they will host for the fourth straight year. The tournament begins Tuesday, February 25, at Tarble Pavilion at Swarthmore College.
