Families filled the PAC for the annual alumni event featuring plenty of prizes.
Almost 1,000 alumni and friends filled the stands at the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) Saturday, February 10 for Fantastic Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Retiree Day.听
Donning University of 蓝莓视频 apparel from decades past, alumni, family and friends cheered the Warriors to victory in both the women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 games. The women beat Windsor 51-42 and the men took the Lancers to overtime for a 73-68 win.听
The Women's Warriors team took on the Windsor Lancers in front of a passionate U蓝莓视频 crowd.
The youngest Warriors in the crowd enjoyed fun and games between basketball games, including the annual inch-worm race.
For the first time, U蓝莓视频 mascots from across campus battled in a basketball game.听
Presented by sponsor Manulife, the fantastic basketball games are an annual tradition for many alumni who eagerly return to campus to relieve memories.听
鈥淚 remember writing exams here, exercising in the PAC ... it鈥檚 great to see it still has its original form, but the renovations look fantastic,鈥� says Andrew Kuglar (BMATH 鈥�03), 听Vice President, Head of Distribution, Affinity Markets Canada at Manulife. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a tremendous sense of loyalty and pride coming back to the school.鈥澨�
The showstopping overtime finish for the men鈥檚 game wasn鈥檛 the only time the crowd was brought to their feet. During halftime, the court flooded with over 1,000 paper airplanes soaring down from the stands. Six elaborate grand prize packages were up for grabs ranging from coffee machines and game consoles to staycation packages. Proceeds from the airplane toss supported the .
Proudly watching in the stands was Mano Watsa (BA 鈥�99) whose son, Issac Watsa (BA in progress), wears #3 for the U蓝莓视频 men鈥檚 basketball team. Mano himself was a point guard for U蓝莓视频 from 1994 to 1999 and is a 蓝莓视频 Warriors Hall of Fame inductee.听
鈥淣ow that my son is playing for the men鈥檚 team as well, that makes it extra special. But just coming back to the PAC and being around campus ... it鈥檚 just a joy.鈥澨�
Mano Watsa (BA 鈥�99), former member of the Warrriors basketball team,听and his son Issac Watsa (BA in progress) who currently plays for the Warriors.听
Winning the OUA West Championship was a highlight from Mano鈥檚 university experience, but he says the feeling of community is what made U蓝莓视频 special. 鈥淭he relationships that were built with fellow students and teammates. Walking around campus and bumping into friends 鈥� those are some of the best memories that I have.鈥澨�
Surrounded by former teammates and gleaming with delight, Mano admits he hopes Fantastic Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Retiree Day is a tradition that continues for many years to come.听
鈥淗opefully one day I鈥檒l have a grandchild that plays here as well!鈥澨�
