Vol.54 -- Issue 8
Seven teams were ranked, a round-robin bracket was drawn and two handfuls of Trinity International University (TIU) business majors jumped into bumper-carts to compete in an aggressive whirly ball tournament that lasted until midnight Wednesday, Mar 21.
The free event was student picked, organized, marketed, and managed by the Trinity Council on Business (TCB), a club lead by Business Professor Sidney Yeomans and elected Officers. It is open to business majors, minors and undecided students, and convenes once a month in lower Melton on Wednesday nights.
This year TCB has alternated between fun and serious events; from an Executive Advisory Board (EAB) Panel Discussion and a bowling outing with the Business Professors in the Fall, to an Alumni Business Forum, where alumni were invited on campus to share about their business experience, and a Business Etiquette Dinner in the Spring.
Because TIU is a small campus, building relationships is key and networking is helpful for business students to find a job after graduation, according to TCB, who’s mission is to provide a conducive environment for spiritual, academic, and personal growth in preparation for Christ-centered leadership in the business world.
“Our main purpose is to facilitate relationships between current business students, faculty and alumni,” said TCB Senior Co-President, Student Government Association Treasurer, Accounting major and men’s soccer player Tim Jeanson. And whirly ball is an unconventional, yet entertaining and active way to cater to that vision.
“It was a good time of fellowship and competition,” said TIU sophomore, Business-Accounting major and men’s basketball player Jason Kofroth. The activity was fitting for a business club event, since nearly half of all business majors, a male-dominated major, are involved in Trinity Athletics.
The whirly ball court was similar to the size of a basketball court, but it included a collection of elements from several different sports. Hoops were flat against and smack-dab in the middle of the backboards that suspended from opposite walls. The absence of out-of-bounds was similar to ice-hockey, and the use of a miniature quasi-lacrosse stick was the means by which a softball-sized whiffle ball was scooped from the ground, passed from teammate to teammate and shot against the target.
Each shot that ricocheted against the backboard earned 1 point, while a shot hitting the target earned 2. In the championship game, Jeanson scored a 1-pointer with under 10 seconds to break the 2-2 tie and secure a tournament win for his team.
“It was a very sweet experience to get together with my fellow business majors and win,” said TIU junior Business-Human Resources major Jonathan Ott. These kind of activities are important because it helps the students spend time with their business classmates and professors outside of the classroom, according to TCB.
Just before TIU’s Spring Break, Jeanson and TCB Senior Co-President and men’s basketball player Josh Antioho invited Professor Yeomans over for dinner at their off-campus house, also the residence of several male TIU students. They made side dishes while Professor Yeomans brought 9 steaks to grill.
“Having fun is a key part of keeping our Christian faith real and exciting,” said Professor Yeomans, who also competed in the whirly ball tournament.
“He is definitely one of the coolest professors,” said Jeanson. Jeanson has made the most of his involvement with TCB, which may reflect his successful job-placement to be fulfilled shortly after graduation. On June 29 he begins a 4-year program in the Financial Department of the Boeing Company in Huntington Beach, CA.
Whirly Ball Champions: Chrissy, Bryan, Tim, Mike, and Jon
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