The Colorado Springs Stars, a basketball team made up of local high school girls, will be traveling to Hawaii this July to play in the World Youth Basketball Tournament. David Verdu of Falcon and assistant coaches Sean Verdu and Tammy Cook are the coaches. Verdu, in 2000, organized the Colorado Springs Stars after a life threatening experience.While coaching at Grace Christian Academy, Verdu was standing in the middle of the athletic field when he was struck by lightning. “I should have been dead,” he said. The experience inspired Verdu to create the team he first named the Colorado Lady Lightning. They later switched to the Colorado Springs Stars.The team is comprised of high school girls from all over the area: four from Falcon High School, three from Calhan High School, three from Rampart High School, one from Kiowa High School and one from Dougherty High School. Most of the girls play on the basketball teams at their own high schools as well.Kelsey Smith, a senior at Falcon High School, is in her first season with the Colorado Springs Stars. “I like it a lot,” she said. “Playing with girls from other schools, you get to meet other people and play more basketball, which is fun in and of itself.” On the value of playing with girls from other schools, Smith said, “During the regular season, they’re your opponents, you don’t really get to know them. Now we’re teammates, working together, so it gives you a different perspective on the game.”On July 25, the team will travel to Kona, Hawaii, staying at the Royal Kona Resort, for the six-day World Youth Basketball Tournament, which was co-founded by NBA Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton. The Stars will play a minimum of six games, nine if they continue winning.The team is raising funds for their trip, so during May there are several fundraising events planned. On May 20 and May 21, they will be selling hot dogs, chips, and drinks in front of Farmer’s State Bank. A spaghetti dinner is also planned in May, and tax-deductible donations are accepted.The team also is selling butterbraids – a frozen pastry filled with a choice of apple, cherry, cream cheese or maple nut. To buy a butterbraid, talk to a team member or call Verdu at 495-8509.The team wishes to express their gratitude to their many local sponsors and donors, in particular Mountain View Electric. Verdu said, “They have been fantastic.”
