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ROCK HILL, SC--Senior Days are always an emotional time as fans say thanks and farewell to players who are making their final home appearances, but Saturday's occasion in the Winthrop Coliseum took on even more emotion as the family of Chase Kowalski, a 7-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting spree, attended the game as guests of head coach Pat Kelsey.

After more than 14 months, since the Winthrop head coach used an opportunity during a postgame press conference at Ohio State to express his feelings about the tragedy and urge everyone to "step up" so that nothing like what happened in Newtown, CT can ever happen again, he finally had the opportunity this past weekend to meet the Kowalski family in person.

"From the first time they reached out to me, it was a life changing experience," said Kelsey before a packed media room following Saturday's 82-60 win over Presbyterian College

The friendship that had developed via email and telephone conversations was initiated by Chase's mom, Becky, who reached out to Kelsey a few weeks following his impassioned plea a week after the mass shooting that took the lives of 20 children and six adults challenging our leaders that "everyone needs to step up. This has to be a time for change."

Meeting Kelsey and his family for the first time in person over the weekend was "like coming home to family," she told the media gathering on Saturday. "We already had a bond," said her husband Stephen.

For Becky, Stephen and their two daughters Brittany and Erin, their mission now is to turn tragedy into triumph by keeping the memory of Chase alive and growing by the establishment of the CMAK (Chase Michael Anthony Kowalski) Sandy Hook Elementary School Memorial Fund. Through the memorial fund and other ventures such as the Race4Chase which promotes fundraising events involving youth sports activities that Chase loved and Chase's Place, a center that has been built in Connecticut that promotes opportunities for families to grow and become closer.

So on a day that is held to give a meaningful send off to the senior members of the team, Saturday was a day that Winthrop fans will long remember. Instead of their names, each member of the Winthrop team came out wearing the names of the young victims on the back of their jerseys. Senior forward Joab Jerome wore Chase's name on the back of his No. 4 uniform. Many of the other players had multiple names on the backs of their shirts.

For Jerome, who has a young daughter of his own, he said he felt honored to wear Chase's name on his back. "He (Chase) was out there with me today," he said following his final home appearance. For Becky Kowalski, the moment of standing at midcourt and seeing the names of the children was a bit tough.

"It's hard when you see 20 kids' names," she said fighting back the tears. "It kind of brings it back, but it/s amazing to see those 20 kids being remembered."

The Kowalskis said they enjoyed their trip to Rock Hill, a town they had never heard of until getting acquainted with Kelsey. "Everyone here has opened their arms and made us feel so welcome and part of the community. The campus is beautiful and the facilities are unbelievable. Our 13-year-old daughter Brittany has fallen in love with the school and says she wants to come back to Winthrop," said Becky.

Saturday's visit may be just the first of many for the Kowalskis.

To find out more about the CMAK Sandy Hook Elementary School Foundation, or to discover how to get involved with a Race4Chase fundraising activity, visit www.chasekowalskifund.com.