Family of Sandy Hook Elemtary shooting victim visits Winthrop coach who spoke out

Winthrop basketball players Carlin Bremner (2), Hunter Sadlon (33), Brandon Vega (1) and Christian Farmer (3) wear the first names of children killed in the Newtown, Conn., school shooting on their jerseys during ceremonies before an NCAA college basketball game against Presbyterian in Rock Hill, S.C. on Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) (The Associated Press)

Winthrop basketball player Joab Jerome (4), wearing the name Chase on his jersey, hugs Brittany Kowalski as parents Becky, left, and Stephen Kowalski look on before a basketball game between Winthrop and Presbyterian in Rock Hill, S.C. on Saturday, March 1, 2014. Seven-year-old Chase Kowalski was killed in the Newtown, Conn., school shootings. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) (The Associated Press)

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Becky Kowalski wiped tears from her eyes as the crowd at Winthrop stood and cheered to honor and remember her 7-year-old son, Chase, who died in the Newtown, Conn., massacre in December 2012.

Kowalski, husband Stephen and seventh-grade daughter Brittany attended the Eagles' game Saturday. The family came down to visit with Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey, who less than a week after the mass shooting that took the lives of 20 children and six adults challenged leaders from the White House to the classroom that "everybody needs to step up. This has to be a time for change."

Family friends showed the Kowalskis Kelsey's comments at Ohio State and they soon reached out to the Winthrop coach.

The family and Kelsey hadn't met in person before this weekend.