Each year Menlo hosts various sport tournaments among the more tournament driven sports such as volleyball, Baseball and Water Polo. Some of the reasoning behind Hosting tournaments like the Amanda Macdonald and Tim Keener tournament is to honor past Menlo alums or faculty members who have made a difference within the particular sport or in addition to make use of Menlo’s Facilities. Both Athletic director Craig Schoof and previous girls water polo coach Kyle Utsumi agree that these tournaments allow the current players to grasp deeper understanding of the history of the sport at Menlo and the Honored person to which it is named for. “The tournament is important because it teaches the girls in the water polo program about its history and remembers a beloved member of the Menlo community” said Utsumi.
In both baseball and girls water polo, the Honored people were both Menlo Alums who had passed away in an Accident. Amanda Macdonald class of 1993 was co-captain and one of the original members of the girl’s water polo team. When girl’s water polo became a CCS sport in 1996 Menlo also decided to host the new Invitational that year. The current players at the time wanted “to remember her as a friend and as someone who impacted their experience at Menlo by starting the water polo team” said Utsumi.
But not only are these tournaments a way to honor Influential members of the Menlo Community but to also help improve a team and be able to gather strong competition for the Menlo teams to compete against. “It is nice to play at home instead of having to travel” added Schoof.
In the case of volleyball, not only does its new Invitational honor Chris Chandler who was an avid supporter of the Menlo girls’ volleyball team, but made use of the recently installed gym. “Hosting a tournament is not something every school has the opportunity to do, so I am grateful to have the beautiful athletic center we have at Menlo with 4 courts. I think hosting our own tournament brings a lot positive local support to Menlo and helps build a strong reputation for our volleyball program” remarked head volleyball coach Atlee Hubbard.
Overall these competition’s allow these “tournament driven” sports to not only continue to excel but to remember and honor passed members of the community who made a difference within the sport whether it be attending and supporting every game or participated and inspired while playing.
