January 27, 2022
News Campus
PAGE 7
Valuable Experience outside of the classroom Several Sports Managment students played a pivotal role in organizing and managing the 2022 Hoophall Classic.
ensure the success of the event. Junior Sophia Bucal was one of two head supervisors this year, and her experience gave her a chance to be involved in event planning, which helped her to see a similar path for her future. In 2020, as a freshman, Bucal was on the staff as a volunteer. She was a part of the media crew and also an usher, working in the bleachers to help file people in. The 2020 Hoophall Classic brought in some big names, with schools A group of Sports Management students posing with President Cooper and staff at the 2022 like Sierra Canyon Spalding Hoophall Classic.(Photo courtesy of Springfield College) making the trip all the way from California to play. There were huge crowds piled into Blake Arena, something no__ By Cait Kemp __ body is used to seeing @caitlinkemp09 anymore with COVID. “It was definitely harder, as a first-time real look at how to plan As the new semester presented by Eastbay volunteer in events and organize a profeskicks off, students are was back at Springfield working a huge event eager and excited to College from Jan. 13-17, sional event. like that,” said Bucal. “I The Sport Managefinally be back on Alden after a year-long hiatus never expected I would ment program has the Street and return to due to COVID. be able to work that privilege of gathering classes and activities. A This event, put on event until I got here.” handful of students are by the Naismith Memo- about 90-100 students As head supervisor to work the event. already settled in and rial Basketball Hall of for 2022, Bucal had Their roles vary from have been on campus an Fame, heavily involves many responsibilities extra five days. Springfield College stu- volunteers, liaisons and The 2022 Spalddents and provides them supervisors who all have over the weekend. She and her co-supervisor, vital responsibilities to ing Hoophall Classic an opportunity to get a
Grady Short, had to train all of the staff, which dwindled to around 85-90 students after issues with COVID. The lesser manpower made everyone’s jobs a little harder, but with good communication, they were still able to maintain a smooth experience. Sophomore Aiden Reilly had the opportunity to be a liaison, where he was responsible for certain teams over the course of the event. This included greeting them and leading them to where they needed to be. It was his first year at the Hoophall Classic, and he worked through the new situation of making sure everyone, even the coaches, listened and followed him. “It’s tough to tell a 45-year-old man that they have to stay with you, a 19, 20-year-old… that was a difficult thing, trying to overhead those guys. All the coaches were amazing, they were so respectful, See Sports Management continued on Page 8
