BY EMMA PRESBURG – STAFF WRITER
You might have seen the fliers posted around the athletic buildings –Athletes in the middle with the words “Centre Game of the Week” written across the top.
This new promotion is an attempt to increase attendance at home athletic events, encouraging students to come out and support their fellow Colonels.
The Game of the Week are selected by the college’s External Relations Committee.
“We picked the games at the beginning of the spring based on opponents, promotions surrounding the games, as well as the dates and times the games would occur,” said Director of Athletics Communications and Multimedia Services, Liam Halferty.
There have been seven Games of the Week so far this semester with the final being Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Twilight Meet, happening Friday, April 14. This will be track and field’s last meet before the SAA conference tournament.
This promotion started off the season with women’s lacrosse’s opening game versus Piedmont on Friday, February 17, which the Colonels won 16-6.
“To have women’s lacrosse be the first game of the week meant a lot,” said junior goalkeeper Natalie Marek.
“It definitely helped with getting a lot of fans out for our home opener. I know that my team personally was excited to see our game being advertised throughout campus but also throughout town,” she continued.
Baseball has been featured as the Game of the Week twice, once on February 25 against Defiance where they won both games 10-6 and 6-1 and again March 18 against Birmingham Southern. They split the first two games with a 9-0 loss and then a 1-0 victory and they concluded the series on a high note winning the final game 3-0.
Men’s and Women’s Tennis were featured on March 4th, facing Covenant and Campbellsville. The men’s team beat Covenant 5-4 but lost to Campbellsville 9-0. The women also bested Covenant 8-1 but fell to Campbellsville 7-2.
Softball faced Wilmington on March 8, beating the Quakers 2-1 and then 11-3. Then, on March 30, the Colonels faced local rival Transylvania, losing 13-3 in the first game with the second game getting rained out.
“It’s exciting to see our games advertised across campus,” said senior outfielder Brittany Sears, “It reminds people during their crazy school weeks of a study breaker and draws in more students,”
Men’s lacrosse also faced Transylvania in a Game of the Week, falling 11-6 after the game was postponed for a day due to inclement weather.
By coming out to Centre’s Games of the Week, students and fans can also participate in the Colonels Loyalty Rewards Program, with the chance to win free Colonels gear at the end of the season. Simply attending home meets and having the royalty rewards card punched is required for this program.
Take advantage of this opportunity by coming out to support the men’s and women’s track and field athletes as they compete in the final Game of the Week on April 14, and then be sure to stay tuned in the fall for more Game of the Week promotions.