Cincinnati Bengals rookies visit WPAFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jack Gardner
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Oh -- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hosted the Cincinnati Bengals rookies for a football clinic for Wright-Patterson youth Friday, June 3.

22 Bengals rookies arrived to the base United Services Organization where they were greeted by Col. Patrick Miller, 88th Air Base Wing and Installation commander, as well as others from the 88th Air Base Wing leadership team.

Col. Miller shared his excitement to have the Bengals rookies at Wright-Patterson and the impact they can have for the military children on base.

“You all being here is exciting,” said Miller. “There are many adults that are probably jumping for joy right now for the opportunity to meet all of you, but they aren’t the ones we as a installation are excited for. Instead we are excited for all of the children to meet you, who look up to you, who will watch you play every Sunday and want to be just like you.”

Players arrived to Jarvis Field where a group of eager and excited children greeted them with cheers and Bengals chants.

Children then ran with Bengals rookies out to their activities to begin participating in football related drills.

From running back drills, running routes, and putting on Bengals pads and helmets, the children had many opportunities to interact with each of the players. An interaction that the players were honored to be a part of.

“This is just special to be out here seeing their smiling faces,” said rookie Bengals Wide Receiver Jack Sorenson. “It’s extremely humbling to see how these kids look up to you just because you play a professional sport, we definitely don’t take that for granted.”

Several parents stood close by watching their children enjoy their time with the rookies, including Master Sergeant Stephan Dimando, Air Force Material Command, Logistics and Communication. Who stood by and watched his son Austyn interact with his favorite team.

“It is so cool to see him out there having fun,” said Dimando. “He loves football and he told me he wanted to be a Bengals fan so I made him a deal that if the Bengals made the Super Bowl I would get him a Joe Burrow jersey, sure enough I lost my bet.”

Austyn dawned that Joe Burrow jersey on his time out on the field.

The rookies spent time seeing other aspects of Wright-Patterson, with a tour of one of the C-17s from the 445th, a visit to Honor Guard to see a demonstration, and finally to Explosive Ordinance Disposal to see EOD gear and witness their capabilities.

The players wrapped up their time at Wright-Patterson signing some autographs and saying their goodbyes as families waved the buses off.