By VICTORIA ADDISON
Sports Editor
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MidKnight Madness consumed campus on the night of Thursday, Oct. 16 as students gathered together in the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium for the annual rally that introduces the members of the men and women’s basketball teams for the upcoming season. The event was such a success that the gym was packed to its maximum 1,000-person capacity.
Starting at 8:40 p.m., the gym was opened to the line of students that stretched out the Events and Athletics Center and into the quad. After receiving their free T-shirt, students packed the bleachers as DJ Patrick Burke provided music to complement the already growing crowd noise that would soon be amplified as hosts Myles Clendenin and CJ Joseph began the festivities.
Fear the Knight was the first to perform, with a dance routine that had the crowd laughing and dancing along the entire time.
The cheerleaders performed second and were in charge of picking audience members to participate in events throughout the night, the first being a shooting contest. The winners of each contest were lucky enough to receive their very own Saint Rose lunchbox.
The Golden Knights Dance Club was next on the list of performers, who put on a show that was met with many cheers from the crowd.
“Performing at MidKnight Madness was such a fulfilling, exhilarating, and unreal experience. Barely being able to hear the music over all of the cheering for all of the hard work you put into the countless rehearsals is so rewarding,” said sophomore dancer Kathleen Kassian. “I can’t stop thinking about how awesome it felt to do what I love in front of the whole school with an amazing group of people.”
Left to perform was the ALANA Steppers, who had the crowd’s full attention with a tribute to the hit Netflix TV series Orange is the New Black; the dance group Knightz in Motion; and lastly the men of Groove Phi Groove. The performances were intertwined with a variety of challenges, including a game of dizzy bat, a dance contest, and musical chairs.
Of all the performances the night had to offer, junior Shannon Friel mentioned her favorite was by the Knightz in Motion.
“It is cool seeing such a big group of the St. Rose community performing so well and accurately,” she said.
Once the performances concluded it was time to bring out the men and women’s basketball teams. The women’s team was introduced first, and treated the crowd to a Beyoncé-inspired dance routine after each player was announced.
Head coach Karen Haag mentioned that MidKnight Madness is one of the best events the campus has to offer, and also that it is a wonderful way to bring the St. Rose community together. Senior forward Mariah Lesure also expressed her excitement in regard to the success of the event.
“MidKnight Madness is a really special event for me as a basketball player because it shows the support that the Saint Rose community gives to its athletes,” she said.
The crowd was then introduced to the members of the men’s team, who skipped the dancing and instead conducted a mini-practice session to show off some of its shooting and dunking abilities. Forward Chris Dorgler, a junior, of the men’s team was also thankful for the support from the many students that were present.
“Watching everybody coming out here, all the students supporting us, supporting all the other clubs, it was just such an adrenaline rush being out there in front of the whole student body. It was awesome,” he said.
As for the students, they had their fair share of fun at MidKnight Madness. McKenzee Greene, a junior, could not express her excitement enough.
“I love the school spirit and that it brings everybody together. I love getting excited about something so wonderful,” she said.
“St. Rose has been such a blessing in my life and I love being excited about it.”
The event concluded with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee announcing the winners of its week-long raffle, the proceeds of which went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The women’s team opens its season away from home against Chestnut Hill College on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. Its first home game is on Tuesday, Nov. 25 against Adelphi at 5:30 p.m. The team ended last season with a record of 11-15, finishing 6-14 in the Northeast-10 Conference.
As for the men’s team, it will open its season at home as hosts to the Northeast-10 Challenge, presented by the Hilton Garden Inn-Albany Medical Center. Its first game is against Wilmington College on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The next day the team plays Bloomfield College at 5:30 pm. The men’s team ended last season with a record of 13-14. It finished 10-10 in the NE-10.
Both teams look toward success in their upcoming 2014-2015 seasons.
