By Jack Dougherty, GoPSUsports.com student staff writer
UNIVERSITYPARK, Pa. - Penn State women's soccer has always been at the forefront of the fightto cure childhood cancer through its THON involvement.
From raisingawareness throughout the season to participating in the annual SAAB lip syncbattle and the THON pep rally, those are just a few ways the Nittany Lions haveopted to get involved.
This year,the team is stepping it up a notch.
PennState women's soccer will represent two of the five Student-Athlete AdvisoryBoard (SAAB) student-athletes participating as dancers during THON weekend,which kicks off Friday at the Bryce Jordan Center. Senior Megan Schafer andjunior Sarafina Valenti will be on their feet for 46 hours straight dancing fora cure.
Eachyear, SAAB selects student-athletes to represent their organization, withSchafer and Valenti among five dancers this year.
Schafer,as she did on the soccer field all year, will serve as the veteran in the groupalongside second year SAAB dancer Charlie Shuman (football). She danced in THONlast year and has been giving Valenti and her fellow first time SAAB dancerssome advice leading up to the weekend.
"Everyonesays you don't truly understand THON until you're actually a part of it andthat's absolutely true," Schafer said.
One ofthe main reasons Schafer got involved in THON in the first place was because ofher young cousin, Mary. Mary was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago andSchafer got to witness first-hand the impact it can have on families.
Thankfully,Mary is cancer-free today, but that won't stop Schafer from continuing to fightfor a cure.
Somemight say standing for 46 hours with no sleep is insane, but Schafer can't waitto get back inside the Bryce Jordan Center for round two. She said immediatelyafter THON last year, even though she developed some serious "cankles," shewished she could go right back.
"When Itold my trainer I was dancing again she called me crazy but clearly I'm crazyand passionate enough about THON that I want to do it again," Schafer said.
Schafersaid her favorite parts of dancing in THON were the pep rally and learning theline dance. She said even though it was an exhausting experience, there wasnothing she'd rather do on any given weekend.
"When youstart to get tired and your feet start to hurt you just put it into perspectiveand realize that you can do this because people are going through a lot morethan you are that weekend," Schafer said.
Valentiwill be dancing at THON for the first time this year. She spent more 30 hoursat the BJC last year, but she said she loved the energy so much she couldn'twait to get more involved. That's when she decided to dance with her teammate.
"Thisyear I wanted to make a bigger impact and get down on the floor to reallyexperience what THON is all about," Valenti said.
Valentisaid she's excited to dance for SAAB's THON families, the Messina's and theBuckley's, who the team has only grown closer with over the last few years.
Valentisaid she expects to be prepared physically because of the tough spring workoutsthe team has already started. She said being a student-athlete will help herimmensely with the physical fitness needed to complete a 46-hour dancemarathon.
Schaferhas also offered Valenti some friendly advice as THON weekend approaches, to enjoythe experience and don't take it for granted.
For thetwo teammates, it will be a weekend they will never forget.