Once the spotlight hit center stage, Shippensburg University’s athletes turned into performers — but a little outside of their comfort zone.
Aside from their daily routines on the field, Shippensburg University athletes were asked to exercise their other talents at the first “Athlete’s Got Talent.”

With all proceeds going toward the Make-A-Wish foundation, team members of each sport came to show support on Tuesday night at Memorial Auditorium. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted this year’s talent show, in hopes of raising $8,000 to grant a wish at SU.
Each sports team from the university was asked to participate in the event and both male and female teams were featured in the show.

A multitude of songs were chosen by all the different acts, and different dances and skits were performed. A few of the acts included N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” by the baseball team and Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” by the women’s soccer team.

The Dance Troupe and men’s cross-country team both featured a song from the movie “Frozen” in their skits.

All athletes certainly stepped out of their shell for a good cause and it made for a successful fundraiser.

Casey Rightmyer of the women’s soccer team said her team was flying by the seat of its pants.
“We put it together in one night,” Rightmyer said.
“It was a really fun experience and I would do it again if I was asked,” soccer player Steph Allshouse said.

After each act, audience members voted for their favorite act up until that point by placing tickets that they purchased into a designated bucket. At the end of the night, the team with the most tickets would win “Athlete’s Got Talent.”

By the end of the night, the women’s softball team won first place with the most votes. A close second was the men’s cross-country team and third place went to the women’s basketball team. Overall, the voting was close for most of the acts.

Baseball player Jimmy Spanos, co-chair for the event, said “I’m pretty pleased with the event. We raised more than $4,000 and had a very good turnout.”

Spanos had teammates who performed in the talent show, who he gladly watched and supported. “Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves,” Spanos said.

“It was a fun way to bring all the teams together and have a couple of good laughs while raising money. Overall, I feel we had a great turnout,” said SAAC representative Carolyn Smith.

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