Young athletes are always searching for a role model. In a small community, it is an even bigger challenge to find a local person to admire. Look no further.
Josh Almanson, a former key player on the Bowling Green State University basketball team, may be the role model everyone has been waiting for. The recent University graduate is the creator of a basketball camp for boys and girls in grades two through eight. He designed the camp so basketball players could have fun, make friends and learn skills for their future careers.
“I’ve always liked the idea of younger kids learning how to play basketball.” Almanson said. Before Almanson’s collegiate career started, he played at Bowling Green High School where he still holds the all-time high scoring record and was recognized for various honors as a senior.
“If you start kids practicing at a young age they will build themselves up as better basketball players for high school and later on,” he said. Almanson has appeared at several high school games and is undoubtedly an icon among BGHS basketball players. He gets a lot of attention but always appears humble and very amicable.
Jacob West, a freshman basketball player at BGHS said, “When Josh went from the high school to BGSU, he gave all of us a huge confidence boost. Josh Almanson leads by example. He shows that someone from a small school can be good if they want to.” Almanson graduated from BGHS in 2000.
In general, the community benefits from the camp.
Rob Wells, the sports coordinator at the Community Center said, “The Josh Almanson camp is a great partnership and hopefully this event will draw in more kids. It’s always a great way to get kids to be more active.”
The camp takes place June 19-22 at the Bowling Green Community Center. This is the first camp the Community Center has hosted since its opening. Almanson’s camp allows kids a chance to meet and work with college athletes, and even though Almanson has had very successful college and professional experiences, he still sees this camp as an important part of his career.
“This is my way of giving back to the community. I went to college to teach, and now I can,” he said.
