Freshman Cassidy Rowe appreciates coach Kyra Elzy wanting to do something to help eastern Kentucky flood victims. (Twitter Photo)
When Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler announced at last week’s open practice that the annual Blue-White Game was moving from Lexington to eastern Kentucky, it didn’t take long for Cassidy Rowe’s social media to “blow up.”
Rowe is a freshman guard on the UK women’s team from Virgie in eastern Kentucky. Coach John Calipari wants his team’s annual preseason intrasquad scrimmage to be in eastern Kentucky to honor recent flood relief victims.
“This means the world to eastern Kentucky,” said Rowe. “Almost everybody in eastern Kentucky is a Kentucky fan. You go into a store back home you will find at least five people wearing UK shirts. These people bleed blue. When he mentioned bringing the game to eastern Kentucky, my social media absolutely blew up with people in my area.”
What about a Blue-White doubleheader with the women also going to eastern Kentucky, especially with the game likely to be played in Pikeville.
“That would be great, especially for me. It would really mean a lot to me,” Rowe said. “I don’t know exactly what our schedule looks like but that would be a great opportunity.”
She said coach Kyra Elzy told the team last week they would do something to help with flood relief.
“We have about 10 or 11 days off. When we come back from break, we will do something,” Rowe said. “She is trying to think of something to do to help and that means a lot to me having a coach that cares about our state that way.”
Rowe is convinced when the team, which has 10 newcomers, is totally healthy that it can be “really good” this season.
“I have seen some amazing things in practice,” she said. “I am so excited knowing I completed my first summer and had no injuries thankfully. This is something I have worked for all my life and I am really living out my dream. I couldn’t ask for better teammates and coaches. We have the best facilities. It truly has been a dream come true.”
