THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 46, NO. 15 | NOVEMBER 22, 2024
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Sister Diane Steele, SCL, president of the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, gets set for a non-jump shot. There’s no running or jumping in Granny Basketball.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The Sisters of Charity kazoo band made for fun entertainment during the game. From left are: Sisters of Charity Marie Noël Bruch, Rita McGinnis, Peg Johnson, Mary Lex Smith and Elizabeth Skalicky.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Sister Melissa Camardo, SCL, delivers a Granny-style free throw during the inaugural Granny Basketball game at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth.
GRANNY BALL
Sisters of Charity take the court in Granny basketball fundraiser By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org
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EAVENWORTH — University of Saint Mary president Sister Diane Steele, SCL, hadn’t laced up her basketball shoes since high school. But that didn’t stop her, or her fellow Sisters of Charity, from holding a fundraiser — Granny Basketball-style — for the Leavenworth school’s Guardian Angel Fund on Nov. 3. Sister Diane said the idea came from a member of the Kansas Meadowlarks, Elaine Alexander, who is a USM alumna herself (class of 1979) and served as the Sisters’ opponent for the event. But Alexander said the idea initially came from the team’s head coach, Holly Jessen, who is a 1998 graduate and played for the school’s Spires from 1994-98. “Our coach initially said it would be cool if the Sisters of Charity had a team,” Alexander said. “I liked that idea, too, but I didn’t know what we would play them for. Then, I went to the reunion a few years ago and that’s when I found out about the Guardian Angel Fund they had started. I knew that would be the perfect opportunity to get a Granny Basketball game together.” A total of $4,826 was raised for the fund, which is an earnings-matching program of up to $2,500 a semester to help students with financial need bridge the gap to achieve their educational dreams. Most of the funds were raised the day of through donations and the 50/50 drawing. People were also able to donate online if they were not able to attend in person. Alexander said she proposed the idea to Sister Diane a year ago, but it took some time to agree on details. Sister Diane noted that one of the hurdles was getting the Sisters into the gym to learn the rules of Granny Basketball, since many of them had never played before. “We’ve been working on it for a year because it was a challenge to agree on dates,” Sister Diane said. “A lot of it was learning the rules because they are very different. Then, it was also about figuring out when we could get everybody in the gym.”
LEAVEN PHOTOS BY JAY SOLDNER
s Sister Rosie Kolich, SCL, puts up a shot over a defender from the Kansas Meadowlarks team. Rules allowed for two dribbles per possession and no physical contact. Women under 50 need not apply. u Sister Paula Rose Jauernig, SCL, celebrates nailing a shot and the crowd behind her erupts in appreciation.
There was a lot of excitement going into the game according to Sister Eileen Haynes, who happened to miss the team’s only practice due to a prior commitment. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “We Sisters of Charity have been talking about it. I had lunch at our motherhouse and they were all talking about it and collecting money to support the cause. >> See “GRANNY” on page 10