Alumni Attend 1st Annual Dinner and Hoops Event

More than 100 alumni met on campus on January 30 for the first annual Dinner and Hoops. Thirteen alumni teams squared off in the morning’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament, while others cheered on the Trolls in an afternoon double header against Cardinal Stritch University and ended the day with dinner at Sam MacGuire’s in Orland Park.

This event replaces the alumni sports weekend held in the fall and still gives alumni a chance to get together during the winter season now that Homecoming officially has been moved to October.

“It was great to see so many alumni on campus,” said Travis Bandstra ’06, director of alumni relations. “The turnout at all three events was great, and the atmosphere at the double header was electric. We hope this will become a new winter tradition for Trinity alumni.”

For the 3-on-3 tournament, alumni played in two divisions—recreational (5 teams) and advanced (8 teams). This was the biggest turnout ever for this tournament, according to Bandstra. It was also the first time an all-women’s team won the recreational division.

“It was exciting to compete again, see some familiar faces, and recall the good old days at Trinity,” said Barbie Heerdt ’06, a member of the winning team in the recreational division. “Being back on campus reminded me of how much I enjoyed my years at Trinity.”

AdvancedWinning teams and their players included:

Advanced Division Winners
Kurt Gruppen ’09
Bryon Ritzema ’97
Ross Stuursma ’09
Peter Zigterman ’08

Recreational Division Winners
Janet Bruinsma ’06
Kara Bruxvoort ’03
Barbie Heerdt ’06
Jessica Hoekstra ’06