President Trump hosted the National Collegiate Athletic Association champion sports teams at the White House on Friday – or most of them, that is. The event began with the student athletes meeting President Trump in the Rose Garden for photos.
“A lot of great athletes,” Trump told the press pool.
The Marine Corps Marching Band played nearby from the South Lawn, as President Trump joked with athletes, meeting them in groups. When talking with the Ohio State men’s volleyball team, the president was seen jokingly smacking a volleyball in the air. While interacting with the West Virginia rifle team in the White House’s Red Room, Trump said, “Second Amendment, right? We saved the Second Amendment!”
Most of the teams came with keepsakes for the president. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was also in attendance.
According to a list released by the White House, the following teams were present:
- Texas A&M women’s equestrian team
- Texas A&M men’s indoor track and field team
- Penn State men’s wrestling team
- Penn State women’s rugby team
- University of Maryland men’s lacrosse team
- University of Maryland women’s lacrosse team
- University of Washington women’s rowing team
- Ohio State men’s volleyball team
- University of Oklahoma men’s golf team
- University of Oklahoma women’s softball team
- University of Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team
- University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team
- McKendree University women’s bowling team
- West Virginia University (co-ed) rifle team
- University of Virginia men’s tennis team
- University of Florida men’s baseball team
- Arizona State women’s triathlon teams
- University of Utah skiing team
The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team was among the teams to win a 2017 NCAA championship but decline the president’s invitation. Head coach Dawn Staley released a statement on Thursday saying, “We did hear from the White House about attending tomorrow’s event, but we will not be able to attend … As I’ve been saying since our practices for this season started, all of our focus is on the season ahead. The only invitation we are thinking about is to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.”
Another NCAA championship team, the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team did not attend citing scheduling conflicts. Also, Trump hosted the Clemson Tigers, the winners of the 2016 NCAA football championship, at the White House in June.
Earlier this year, the Golden State Warriors rejected an invitation the the White House and President Trump uninvited Stephen Curry to the White House and said the invitation given to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been rescinded after the NBA player said he did not want to join his championship-winning team’s visit to the White House.
Michael Moates is the Executive Director of the Narrative Times.
