Penn State athletes took an hour from their busy practice schedules to play hockey, soccer and duck-duck-goose with Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) kids in the South Gym on Saturday.

With Thon kids on their teams, members of the women's volleyball team challenged the men's hockey team to a volleyball game.

"We're not keeping score," hockey player Brent Tranter said. "We're just hitting it around and trying to get the kids involved. They've been really into it. It feels good to see how happy they are."

Thon child Haley Gehret of Harrisburg said her favorite part of athlete hour was playing soccer with members of the men's varsity team.

"I score a few goals on the goalie," Gehret said. "I also liked having my picture taken with the cheerleaders."

Golf team members set up a putting green and played golf with the Thon kids.

"I got beat pretty bad by one of the kids. He was good," Christin Pacacha, golf team member, said. "It's great to see them having fun, but it's also a little sad I lost to a kid."

Golf team member Amber Weinerth said she wished she could play with the kids more often.

"It's a great opportunity to share the sport we love," Weinerth said.

The Penn State football team also came out to meet and play with the kids during the athlete hour.

"This is really cool," Nittany Lions kicker Kevin Kelly said. "It's great to see all the little kids."

Members of the football team signed autographs and posed for photographs as Thon kids tried on the helmets, pads and uniforms of the Orange Bowl champions.

"They're a little shy at first, but once you get talking to them, they start to open up. They're just like any other person," Nittany Lions wide out Patrick Mauti said.

Taking a break from tossing footballs with Thon kids, another football player Ross Muir said he enjoyed interacting with the kids.

"I'm just as excited to meet them as they are to meet me," Muir said. "They're so inspirational. We take so much for granted."

Muir said he also talked to many Four Diamonds families. "I think it's just as important to talk to the parents," Muir said. "They're going through just as much as the kids."

Thon child Xandra Moyer said this year is her third visit to Thon but her first time meeting varsity athletes.

"I liked playing basketball," Moyer said. "It was really cool when they lifted me up to dunk a basket."