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Three University of Tampa teams visited Washington, D.C., in July to participate in NCAA Sports Day.

Men鈥檚 swimming, women鈥檚 lacrosse and the baseball team were among the 90 teams from colleges and universities nationwide invited to celebrate their respective NCAA national championships at the White House.

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University of Champa

Two Spartans, swimmer Caleb Brandon 鈥�24 and lacrosse player Mary Kate Person 鈥�26, had an additional honor, as they were selected to be on stage during the ceremony where Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the student-athletes.

It was the first speech from Harris after she announced her presidential run.

鈥淚t was a massive shock walking out, seeing all the news teams and all the photographers,鈥� Brandon said. 鈥淵ou realize as you鈥檙e walking down the stairs overlooking the crowd, that, like, 鈥橶ow! This is a legitimate historical moment,鈥欌�� he said.

The awe followed an almost missed chance to participate, he said, since he hadn鈥檛 been expecting the opportunity, and he hadn鈥檛 been checking his email. Then, an hour before the ceremony, he was stopped by 鈥渁 man with a binder鈥� who told him his coach, Jimi Kiner 鈥�01, had nominated him to be a part of it.

Brandon rushed to get ready, and he said there was some excitement and confusion about what the student-athletes were supposed to do. But they got lined up and marched out in time.

鈥淟ike, regardless of politics, or where anybody falls on the political spectrum or who鈥檚 in office, it鈥檚 an amazing experience, regardless,鈥� Brandon said.

Person agreed. 鈥淚t was just the coolest thing.鈥�

Despite being in the spotlight, Person said she didn鈥檛 feel nervous. Her team had her back.

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to get nervous when your entire support system is in the place that you鈥檙e getting nervous in,鈥� she said.

Brandon and Person both expressed gratitude for their teams and the culture they have built together.

鈥淭his is a team thing,鈥� Brandon said. 听鈥淚 would have not gotten the opportunity to stand on stage if we did not have these 11 guys that grind it hard.鈥�

Brandon is pursuing a graduate degree in exercise, physiology and nutrition and will swim again for the Spartans this season. He said he 鈥渨ouldn鈥檛 be surprised鈥� if the team repeats as champs and gets to visit the White House again next year.

Person feels the same. 鈥淭his is just the beginning,鈥� she said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the 鈥榙-word.鈥� We鈥檙e creating a dynasty.鈥�

In her speech, Harris sounded similarly inspired. 鈥淲hen you play, you inspire people across our nation,鈥� she told the athletes.

鈥淵ou remind all of us what can be achieved with hard work and ambition.鈥�