Hoops Classic, now in its 28th year, recently hosted its annual tournament, offering a competitive platform for Adventist schools. Coach Tyler Wooldridge, SWAU's athletics and facilities director, shared insights into the essence of these games.
The Hoops Classic is a yearly basketball tournament featuring various Adventist schools competing against one another. The games take place over three days, and this year, SWAU hosted 46 teams competing for victory. Coach Tyler emphasized the tournament's dual purpose — not only providing a competitive environment for participating teams but also incorporating a spiritual aspect for youth fellowship. Over the years, Hoops Classic has grown significantly, establishing itself as a premier basketball event for many Christian athletic programs. Coach Tyler expressed the hope that its reputation will continue to attract more teams.
Reflecting on the impact Coach Tyler aspires to leave on student-athletes, he shared, "We always want Hoops to be a positive experience. Each year, it's exciting, and we want students to leave with great memories." The games offer students the chance to enjoy themselves and compete in a Christian environment, while for SWAU, hosting the tournament becomes a ministry, familiarizing the young athletes with an Adventist college experience. Coach Tyler emphasized the desire for student-athletes to use the tournament not only to improve their basketball skills but also to do so while reflecting Christian values. Students who portray a high level of skill and sportsmanship might also be approached by Coach Tyler directly with a discussion about someday playing for the Southwestern Knights. "I keep an eye out for any athlete who I think could benefit from our program," he shared.
Preparations for next year's tournament have already begun, and organizers are planning some new additions to make it even better. One of the top priorities for SWAU is to livestream the games so that families and friends who can't make it to the tournament can still support their athletes from home. One idea being considered is to have a play-by-play announcer commenting on the games, which will add a new layer of engagement and keep the viewers connected. Another development that was introduced at this year's tournament was to have the awards ceremonies after each round instead of announcing the awards all at once. The gym still buzzed with excitement as the trophies were presented, although the ceremonies were spread out.
For those interested in participating in the future, Coach Tyler's advice to student-athletes is to "embrace the fun environment, stay humble, and don't let sports define their identity." He emphasized the importance of being in the moment and just enjoying the games. SWAU is proud of the value the Hoops Classic Tournament offers its participants and plans to continue improving the event experience in the coming years.