As the buzzer went off, members of Longwood University’s faculty gazed at the score board with satisfaction, showing a substantial double-digit win. Longwood Hearts Basketball (LHB) is an annual game held in Willett Hall, where a team of the school’s faculty members faced off against a team of students this past Wednesday, March 21. The students ultimately lost, but put up a good fight until the end.
Each year, LHB is set up by the ARC Quad residential community as their campus-wide event. The Office of Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) requires that residential communities come up with various events for serving the wider Longwood community. The campus-wide event is an annual activity done each year by each residential community. LHB is also used to raise awareness about bullying and dating violence.
The game was commentated on live by TJ Wengert, the sports director of Longwood’s student radio station (WMLU 91.3 FM) and a staff member of the Rotunda’s video department, Rotunda Studios. His co-host was Halle Parker, the Rotunda’s editor-in-chief. Wengert often fulfills the same role during the Lancers’ Division I games, which are broadcast on the Big South Network, but he enjoyed the creative liberties that he was able to express during this game.
“If you want to do it for the Big South, it's a lot more serious,” he said. “Tonight I was able to crack some jokes … So, it allows me to kind of just be a little more goofy (sic), and mess around with some of the players.”
Parker was also able to give her own humorous commentary.
“Halle was able to crack some jokes, so seeing her in an element I've never seen her before, that was fun,” Wengert said.
Wengert wasn't surprised by the faculty’s victory. Whenever the faculty and staff had played against students back in high school, the former had always won. He said while the students fought hard, the faculty were just too strong in the end. He enjoyed seeing Dr. Ryan Stouffer, an assistant professor of communication studies, airball two free throws into the basket.
“That made my night,” said Wengert. “Dr. Stouffer, my final answer is definitely Dr. Stouffer.”
Mikah James is the head resident assistant (RA) of ARC Quad and a member of the class of 2018. He has previously helped run the LHB game, which involves being in the background to help the rest of his team with whatever they needed. Being in this position has shown him just how valuable his staff is.
“You know, I couldn't have done this without them,” said James. “I was really just there helping them and assisting them wherever I could … we really pulled it together, and I appreciate that.”
