Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak and the Make-A-Wish Foundation surprised Dalton DeVore Tuesday afternoon at the Huntsman Center. They informed the future University of Utah student, who has lymphoma currently in remission, that his wish to "swim the sharks" in the Bahamas had been granted.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions, will send DeVore and his family on the trip this summer.
"I've wanted to swim with sharks my whole life and so this is like a dream come true," said DeVore, who attended Olympus High School. "I'm pretty excited."
Krystowiak got involved when he heard that DeVore was a big U. fan. He presented him with a couple of t-shirts and an open invitation to attend a basketball practice this fall, where he'll receive an autographed basketball and a pair of shoes.
"I would to love to have somebody join our team that's an avid fan. He has been. He loves basketball and I just think it's a great story all the way around," Krystkowiak said. "This thing is a lot bigger than basketball and winning basketball games. It's about making relationships and I hope this is the start of a little friendship here."
Swimming with sharks, though, won't be a common bond. Krystkowiak said there's "not a chance" he'll do so when the Utes visit the Bahamas for a tournament in November.
"I'm already swimming with sharks," Krystkowiak joked.
Krachel Greenwood of the Make-A-Wish Foundation said matching Dalton with Krystkowiak was a no-brainer.
"Dalton has been a Ute fan his whole life and he grew up playing basketball," she explained. "This was the perfect way to let Dalton know that his wish had come true."
