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Home Features CUNE Hosts Concordia Invitational Tournament This Weekend

Concordia students get ready for CIT at Tuesday’s pep rally. Photo by Adam Christiansen.

 

by Taylor Roby

 

 

Concordia University, Nebraska is hosting the 66th annual Concordia Invitational Tournament (CIT) this weekend.

The Concordia University men’s and women’s basketball teams will join teams from three other schools within the Concordia University System: Concordia Ann Arbor, Concordia Chicago and Concordia Wisconsin. The teams will compete against each other in an effort to claim the title and receive the CIT traveling trophies, one for the women and one for the men.

The tournament was created in 1951 by Eldon Pederson of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He dreamed up a tournament where students of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s universities would gather to compete against each other and entertain fans as they cheered for their respective schools. The four original schools included Concordia seminaries of Springfield, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, as well as teacher colleges of River Forest, Illinois and Seward.

About 15 years after the men’s tournament was introduced, the women’s basketball inaugural tournament featured a single game between the Seward Lady Bulldogs and the River Forest Kittens in 1965. Although schools’ appearances have been slightly modified over the years, CIT maintains a similar structure.

Due to the overwhelming success of the tournament, the Concordia University System decided to make it an annual event. The schools determined that each involved university would have the chance to serve as the host, and they would rotate with each respective year.

“Everyone on the team is ready to play for the opportunity to win CIT in front of our fans,” senior basketball player Seth Curran said. “This is my last CIT and hosting senior year is going to be special. Playing in three CIT’s where the home crowd isn’t cheering for you is going to make it a lot more fun to finally play at home in front of our fans.”

The two-day event kicks off Friday, Jan. 27 with an opening chapel service in Weller Auditorium that all teams attend. After the service, the teams head over to Walz Arena and prepare to compete. Each school’s dance and cheer squads and pep bands also travel to participate in the weekend.

The women of Concordia University Chicago and Concordia University Ann Arbor play first at 1 p.m. The men of Concordia University Wisconsin and Concordia University Ann Arbor face off at 3 p.m.

Then, both Bulldogs’ teams are scheduled to play consecutively. The women’s team faces Concordia University Wisconsin at 6 p.m., and the men’s team follows against Concordia University Chicago at 8 p.m.

After the games, students from all schools can head to the CIT carnival.

“It is a tradition for the Student Activities Council at each host school to have an event for all students, and we decided to partner up with the alumni office to offer this experience for everyone,” Director of Student Development Rehema Kavugha said. “This is a great opportunity to celebrate the fellowship of our University system and the fellowship we have as brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter who wins.”

The carnival is from 8 p.m. to midnight in the P.E. Building. The carnival has adult-sized games, inflatables, live music, a photo booth and more lined up for the students. The goal of the event is to have students connect in fellowship with one another and enjoy the night.

“The Student Activities Council really strived to put on a fun event that would bring students from all of the Concordia schools together for fellowship,” SAC member Samantha Bessey said. “I think it will be an awesome atmosphere, fun time, and a great way to connect with other students.”

Despite the packed events of Friday, fans and players must be prepared for a full day on Saturday, Jan. 28 with the consolation and championship games being played. The women’s consolation game is scheduled to be at noon, followed by the men’s consolation game at 2 p.m.

Between the consolation and championship games, Concordia alumni can head to the Bottle Rocket Brewery to enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. This event is an opportunity for alumni, parents of students, and friends of all four participating Concordia’s to come together and celebrate CIT weekend.

“During events with students, I share that you will be a student for four years, but you will be an alumni and member of the Concordia family for life,” Director of Alumni and University Relations Jennifer Furr said. “From personal to professional networking the connections are invaluable. The Concordia family supports each other through prayer, love, kindness, caring, servant leadership and more.”

The largely anticipated championship games are later Saturday evening. The women’s championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. and the men’s championship game is to follow at 7 p.m. Both Bulldog teams are seeking to defend last year’s title.

Following the games, there is an award presentation where the winning teams receive their trophies to bring home. The trophies are engraved with the Concordia athletics mantra: “Inaugurated to sponsor the highest ideals in competitive athletics, in fullest conformity with the Spirit of Christ and its demand in the lives of Christian men.” In addition to the trophy presentations, an MVP and all-tournament team are announced.

Finally to wrap up the weekend, there is a closing devotion on Saturday night. After the devotion, the IMROVables plan to put on a post-CIT show.

“The students and fans should expect first and foremost, to be entertained,” junior IMPROVables member Michael Duffy said. “It’s a ton of fun for the people in the audience, and the people performing, and who knows, maybe some lucky audience members will even get a chance to be in a scene!”

For the participating schools, the atmosphere and school spirit of CIT make this event a highlight of each year. So get to Walz Arena this weekend to cheer for the Bulldogs!

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