The Fort Lewis College basketball programs have announced the return of the Nike N7 Games to Whalen Gymnasium, scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday versus Northern New Mexico College.
Since its creation in 2009, the Nike N7 Fund has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants to 259 Native American and Aboriginal communities and organizations, reaching more than 500,000 youths. The N7 Fund supports organizations that provide sport and physical activity programming to the youths.
This year’s Nike N7 Games mark the fourth time Fort Lewis College has been selected as one of only 15 institutions nationwide to participate in the games, which are held in November in celebration of Native American Heritage Month.
The FLC women’s basketball team features four players with Native American backgrounds, including Destiny Kessay (White Mountain Apache), Ember Cervantes (Mescalero Apache), Charlize Valdez (Southern Ute) and Tayla Nez (Navajo).
Both Skyhawks teams will proudly sport turquoise Nike N7 uniforms during Sunday’s contests as the color represents harmony, friendship and fellowship in the Native American culture.
“The focus for Sunday is the Nike N7 Games, and they are such important games for Fort Lewis College considering our Native American traditions that we honor and respect, so we’re looking forward to that and the festivities that go along with that,” said FLC men’s head coach Bob Pietrack. “Also, we’re looking forward to the fact that we’re going to have our women’s team play before us. In Division II basketball, we’re so use to the women playing before us and the atmosphere be there. We’re looking forward to watching coach (Taylor) Harris’ team before us and getting used to playing after them and having the whole crowd going.”
Fort Lewis College Athletics also thanked Johnny Valdez and All Assets Global Management LLC for serving as the game sponsor.
