October 26, 2007
Tenth Annual Hoopla Frenzy a Success
Event dedicated to Chris Ryan with sons Caleb and Joshua pictured right

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  The Methodist University basketball teams, cheerleading and dance teams as well as the Student Activities Committee sponsored their annual Hoopla Frenzy Thursday night. Student-athletes and fans had the opportunity to participate in games to win prizes. The night culminated with both teams running a ten minute scrimmage.

Hoopla Frenzy is dedicated to Chris Ryan, the former Director of Student Activities at Methodist University for over 16 years. He was a much-loved member of the campus community before he passed away unexpectedly. He cared for, and made a difference in so many lives of Methodist students, faculty, and staff. To honor Chris’ memory, the campus named the student activities house after him. And because Chris was a big supporter of Monarch Athletics, the annual Hoopla Frenzy Night is dedicated to him.

One of the new additions to Hoopla Frenzy was a Faculty/Staff versus students basketball game. The Faculty/Staff team was comprised of Monica Cheek, Recruitment and Internship Coordinator, Resort and Club Management Program, Wylie Crisanti, Women’s Lacrosse Coach, Lois DeVico, Assistant Director of Student Development & Services, Tyrone Jones, Football Co-Defensive Coordinator, Jennifer Mish, Director for Physician Assistant Program Admissions, and Jonathan Mitchell, Director of External Events and Administrative Services. It was a tightly contested game with Mish hitting the game-winning three-pointer for the Faculty/Staff.

Students in attendance competed in a three-point showdown, scooter obstacle course, knock out and other games in search of prizes. The final contest was named the Chris Ryan Memorial with the winner receiving a $50 Best Buy gift card. Two students had the opportunity to score a basket in three seconds beginning at half court.

The Methodist men's and women's basketball teams will open the regular season on the road the weekend of Nov. 16-17. The men host Kazakhastan in an exhibition Nov. 8 at 7 pm while the women will host their annual CrossCreek InnKeeper Turkey Shootout Nov. 24-25.