Catie Fairfield – Lincoln, Nebraska … Union College held their annual basketball tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska, February 14-18. Eight academies, including Campion Academy, played in the tournament. After three days of both intense and friendly competition, Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs, Michigan, took first place for both boys and girls teams. On the evening of February 14, both Campion Varsity teams won their first game. February 15, the teams fought hard, but unfortunately lost the two games they played.

Union held shooting competitions that evening. From the Campion Academy girls team, Grace Garman and Catie Fairfield were chosen for the free throw and three-point contest. Ekenna Nwankwo and Shawn Ferguson shot for the Campion Academy boys team.

On February 16, the teams played their first official bracket game. The boys game was extremely close until the last fifty seconds, when Sunnydale Adventist Academy in Centralia, Missouri, scored and pulled ahead. The girls were set against some of the harder teams and lost as well. Overall, Campion Academy players displayed some incredible skill, teamwork, and positive sportsmanship despite the losses. Union’s Black Choir performed songs before introducing the speaker for a Vespers program. After the speaker, Campion Academy students led out in a spontaneous “Vespers Deluxe” which is an after-glow featuring worship music. Students from all the participating academies gathered together and worshiped God through their music, and thought it was a great way to open the Sabbath to be united as Seventh-day Adventist Christians after a hard day of games.

On the afternoon of February 17, Union College hosted an oasis community event consisting of snacks and board games. It gave participants a way to relax and experience community in a college setting.

The final games were played on the evening of February 17. Both Campion Academy teams played exciting games against Maplewood Academy in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and both won, taking fifth place overall. At the end of the evening, there was an awards ceremony where Campion students Dominic White and Catie Fairfield were both awarded the All-Tournament Award for their teams.

While the teams may have gone into the tournament hoping to place higher, everyone still enjoyed their time spent at Union College, both on and off the court.

Ekenna Nwankwo, a Campion Academy senior, expressed, “I enjoyed the tournament because I was able to meet new people. I got to see a lot of basketball games that were close scores, and I even got to play in some myself. It was a good last tournament experience with my friends.”

Watch the recorded games at https://www.youtube.com/@unioncollegeutv

—Catie Fairfield, Campion Student News Team. Photos supplied.