By ALEX HORTON
Sports Editor
If you just so happened to pass by the Events and Athletics center last Thursday, Oct. 15 around 9 p.m., then you were in the midst of The College of Saint Rose’s annual MidKnight Madness. People lined up as early as 8:15 to make sure that they were among the first 500 students to enter the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium. And who wouldn’t line up early to receive a free shirt for this year’s event?
This year’s MidKnight Madness had plenty of excitement and performances from different on-campus clubs. The event included performances by the Saint Rose Cheerleaders, Golden Knights Dance Club, ALANA Steppers, Groove Phi Groove, Phi Swing, and Knightz in Motion. All of them got plenty of love from the students in the stands watching, especially when the songs the performers were dancing to changed to something that the fans knew.
“It was a fun experience to have everyone come together like that and have a good time as a school,” said Frank Jempty, a freshman at the College.
Thanks to emcees CJ Joseph and Kevin Wood, there were plenty of chances for people to come together as a school community. The duo stood around center court throughout the event, and with a little help from the Saint Rose cheerleaders, students were picked from out of the crowd and came down to compete in games with the athletes, a dance contest and the always-competitive game of musical chairs.
Whether it was dancing around in the stands to the music provided by DJ Pat Burke or cheering along the various dance performers throughout the night, there was plenty of entertainment for all students. But if you were looking for something a little extra, former Golden Knights All-American and Hall of Famer Ilze Luneau was there to provide that special entertainment. Luneau went out at half court and did some very impressive dribbling. Starting with two basketballs, then four, she eventually added two more and made it six basketballs. She even did a few tricks while spinning the ball on her finger, imploring the help of her daughter while she spun a ball on the end of a large serving spoon and fed her daughter a snack pack pudding.
The night was topped off by announcer and alumni Jim Malone introducing the 2015-16 Saint Rose men’s and women’s basketball squads.
“It’s a good time for athletes to celebrate the start of the season, and a good way to create energy for the start of our season and get good crowd turnouts for our home games,” said Tyler Sayer, a senior on the men’s basketball team. However, it isn’t only basketball players who recognize the spirit around campus for their teams.
“I think this year was the best, personally,” said Mike Benson, a senior on the Track and Field team. “I feel like the school spirit vibe was at an all-time high, like when the teams were being called out everyone was showing love to each player.”
School spirit is what the athletics department has been trying to raise across the campus all semester long. Starting off in the athletics department where those in the department, coaches, and student athletes wear the school’s colors to try and show support for one another. And after some conversation, Josh Jennings, assistant athletic director for external relations, implemented a plan to promote school spirit throughout campus and extended the initiative to other students and faculty.
For students who need to grab some Saint Rose gear, the bookstore is a great place to start. The goal for Jennings is to do whatever he can to get people to wear the black and gold in support of the athletes.
“The whole goal is when we are driving people there, people aren’t buying Saint Rose gear just to buy it but they’re buying it for a purpose,” Jennings said.
The men’s basketball team starts their campaign at home on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15. Saint Rose will meet Bloomfield on Saturday at 7 p.m., and will then face East Stroudsburg on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The women’s basketball team will begin its season on the same weekend away at the Conference Challenge hosted by Le Moyne. The Golden Knights home opener is set for Wednesday, Nov. 18 and is a part of a double header against American International College.
