UWSP Alumni Gather for Annual Basketball Game
Pointer basketball alum Brant Bailey lays the basketball in the hoop during the annual alumni exhibition game at UW-Stevens Point. Following a professional basketball career in Europe, Bailey returned to Stevens Point and now serves as an Asst. Coach for the Pointers.
Story and photo by Robert Whitmire
The UWSP Men’s Basketball team welcomed its alumni back to the Quandt Fieldhouse and Bennett Court on the UWSP campus January 18, where 20 former Pointers participated in an afternoon exhibition game.
“It is so impressive to see 20 former Pointers come back to play in the Alumni game,” said Steve Menzel who played at UWSP from 1974-1978. “It says something about the long tradition of excellence that UWSP has developed over the last few decades.”
Menzel was also a standout player at Stevens Point Pacelli High School in the early 1970s.
Returning players included, Mike Paynter (1993-97), Gbenga Awe (2004-06), Don Kottke (1957-61), Kyle Grusczynski (2001-05), Vinny Ritchay (2007-11), Pat O’Donnell (1970-71, Shawn Lee (2004-07), Matt Moses (2006-10), Kevin Flynn (2007-09), Dan Tillema (2009-12), Scott Hoelzel (2006-11), Khalif El-Amin (2005-09), Louis Hurd (2007-11)Brant Bailey (1996-2000), Nick Krull (2007-11), Ross Foreman (2009-10), Jordan Giordana (2009-13).
“This is a very special day for our program,” said Pointer Head Coach Bob Semling. “We honor the many great players who have made their mark on Pointer Basketball and are grateful to our many alumni who stay connected to the program. It means a great deal to our current players and fans.”