On occasion, a collegiate athletics team has the opportunity to enjoy a special outing during its regular travel schedule. In addition to practice, preparation for competition, study, meals and rest, sometimes teams are able to make side trips for educational enrichment or entertainment.

After playing in the Mar. 10 opening round at the UNLV Spring Invitational, coach John Crooks and the Campbell University women's golf team had the opportunity to visit the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds museum and hanger at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

Campbell sophomore Mary Mattson is the granddaughter of retired Air Force general Dick Edel, who is also a former national president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The two-time defending Atlantic Sun Conference champion Lady Camels finished ahead of two top-50 ranked schools in the UNLV Spring Invitational, where they recorded their best season team scores for 18 (293), 36 (590) and 54 (883) holes. Mattson and Maite Ortiz de Pinedo each recorded their low round of the year.

The Thunderbirds are the Air Demonstration Squadron of the United States Air Force. As such, they tour the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially-marked USAF jet aircraft.

Officers serve a two-year assignment with the squadron, while enlisted personnel serve three to four. Replacements must be trained for about half of the team each year, providing a constant mix of experience.

The squadron performs no more than 88 air demonstrations each year and has never canceled a demonstration due to maintenance difficulty. In addition to their air demonstration responsibilities, the Thunderbirds are part of the USAF combat force and a component of the 57th Wing.