University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Take Part In Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
September 11, 2025 | General
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Hundreds of Tar Heels – including many Carolina student-athletes and coaches – participated in the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, hosted by the University of North Carolina AROTC in Kenan stadium on Thursday morning. Participants climbed 2,071 stairs to commemorate the bravery of firefighters and other first responders who ascended the World Trade Center towers to save lives on Sept. 11, 2001. The message of the attendees: Never Forget.
"Being able to do this with my teammates is obviously awesome, but there is a bigger purpose," senior men's lacrosse attackman James Matan said. "It is an absolute honor to be able to honor those who lost their lives, especially the first responders and all of the families that were affected by the tragic events."
"It feels really special to come out here to honor our country, the people who have fallen for our country and serve our country," said wrestling graduate student Charlie Darracott. "We are so grateful to be able to live in such an amazing country that offers us freedom. The immense amount of gratitude that we have and the brotherhood that we experience while taking part in this event is really an amazing experience."
The event drew its largest crowd to date and included director of athletics Bubba Cunningham, football coach Bill Belichick and many others from across the university and Carolina Athletics.
"The event is a massive undertaking that we are so proud to do, and it is so amazing to see the cadets with such a sense of purpose planning such a spectacular event, but it is even more amazing to see how the community comes together to support us," Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Klekowski said. "Carolina Athletics has been an incredible supporter of letting us use Kenan Stadium every single year and its incredible sound system. All of the sport programs and coaches are so supportive of this event and we could not be more grateful."
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