Marshwood High School athletes who have drew millions of views for their hacky sack videos returned to Jerry Burnell Great Works School on Oct. 8 to share the game with fourth- and fifth-graders.
The idea came after the South Berwick Fire Department planned to distribute hacky sacks for Fire Prevention Week, Principal Sara Allis said. A Great Works teacher suggested inviting the high school baseball players whose videos had gone viral last spring.
Allis contacted Marshwood High School Principal Richard Gowers and athletic director Rich Buzzell, who connected the school with the players, who previously posted videos that drew 5.2 million views and 196,000 likes, according to Buzzell.
Buzzell said the visit was a chance for the high school students to “have some fun and come down to their school to interact.”
At Great Works, the older students helped the children learn to play with the hacky sacks they had received. The game involves keeping a small footbag off the ground using feet, knees and other parts of the body.
Allis said the younger students worked hard to learn, while the high school students emphasized teamwork, patience and practice.
“We love having our past students come and visit.” Allis said. “Definitely a proud hawk moment.”
The high school students also reminisced about their time at Great Works and remarked on how small everything looked now, Allis said.