MARQUETTE– Seven U.S. Olympic Education Center athletes volunteered at Father Marquette Elementary School’s Jump Rope for Heart, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

            “Our goal this year was to raise over $2,000, which we were able to do,” said Father Marquette Elementary School teacher Noelle Tiziani. “The kids were really excited to have the athletes here with them while they jump for an hour.”

Every year the elementary students learn about the importance of a healthy heart and what it means to exercise. Jump Rope for Heart is incorporated into their school year as a part of their service learning curriculum to give the students some hands on experience.

            The USOEC athletes led the first through fourth graders in warm-up stretches, twirled the jump ropes and challenged the students in double-dutch.

            The athletes who took part were weightlifters Vanessa McCoy (Wichita Falls, Texas), Mat Fraser (Colchester, Vt.), Chris Lenahen (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and Brennen Jaquint (Evansville, Wis.); Greco-Roman wrestlers Patrick Budd (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Jonathan Drendel (North Aurora, Ill.); and freestyle wrestler Hayley Kinney (Temecula, Calif.).

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