Annual Memorial Basketball Games Return to Campus
By Gabi Vasquez
By Gabi Vasquez
The Chris Bush tournament was an overall success this year. Students were able to commemorate the former Mustang and ultimately defeat their teacher peers in the last match. The two week long tournament invited all students to participate by watching or playing in it and was promoted and organized by leadership with decorations and posters around campus.
Christopher Bush was a 16 year old student at Pioneer in 2012 when he passed away from his battle with Leukemia. He was a 4.0 student whose passions included sports such as baseball and basketball. Since his death, the school has honored the tradition of hosting a two week long basketball tournament in his name that any student can apply to play in.
“Usually I have students who have organized the Chris Bush tournament in previous years, have played basketball or know people on the basketball teams to decide the bracket,” said leadership teacher Michelle Mayhew.
Mayhew and her students are responsible for promoting the tournament and encouraging students to wear orange in support of Leukemia awareness on Friday, April 8. They also handed out orange ribbons in the gym for students and teachers to pin to their clothes and bags.
“We do the Chris Bush tournament to live on his legacy and keep his love for basketball alive,” said Mayhew.
During the last tournament, the winning student team went up against teachers and staff in a full court match. PE teacher Francisco Villarreal was one of the participants on the teacher team.
“Chris Bush is an individual that represents the Mustang Way. I was honored that I was asked to play in this exhibition,” said Villarreal.
In the last match of the tournament, student participants played against Pioneer teachers and members of the staff.
“Mr. Gividen and Mr. Krail are some of the best athletes on our Pioneer teaching staff,” said Villarreal. However, Villarreal says the highlight of the tournament was “our staff getting crushed on the court. Those seniors are great athletes.”
Student participants, such as Daniel Splane, 12, were able to enjoy many different aspects of the tournament and allowed them to show their school spirit.
“I am enjoying the tournament so far. I got asked to be on a team for the Chris Bush classic by some of my friends, and I didn’t have a team yet so I joined,” said Splane. “The best part of this tournament is the fans, and being able to have everybody hyped up in the crowd.”
Not only did the athletes enjoy playing in the games but the rest of the students had fun cheering on their peers. Students who weren’t participating in the games were able to show their support throughout the span of two weeks by attending the tournament.
“I went to most of the games and the tournament was really exciting to watch,” said Angelina Silva, 10. “Even for those of us that didn’t know Chris Bush, it’s really unique to see how his legacy continues to leave an impact on this school by bringing joy to the students on campus with basketball.”
The tournament ended on April 8, with the student team successfully beating the teachers and staff. Chris Bush’s legacy was celebrated by students all around the school and has a promising future at Pioneer.
Christopher Bush was a 16 year old student at Pioneer in 2012 when he passed away from his battle with Leukemia. He was a 4.0 student whose passions included sports such as baseball and basketball. Since his death, the school has honored the tradition of hosting a two week long basketball tournament in his name that any student can apply to play in.
“Usually I have students who have organized the Chris Bush tournament in previous years, have played basketball or know people on the basketball teams to decide the bracket,” said leadership teacher Michelle Mayhew.
Mayhew and her students are responsible for promoting the tournament and encouraging students to wear orange in support of Leukemia awareness on Friday, April 8. They also handed out orange ribbons in the gym for students and teachers to pin to their clothes and bags.
“We do the Chris Bush tournament to live on his legacy and keep his love for basketball alive,” said Mayhew.
During the last tournament, the winning student team went up against teachers and staff in a full court match. PE teacher Francisco Villarreal was one of the participants on the teacher team.
“Chris Bush is an individual that represents the Mustang Way. I was honored that I was asked to play in this exhibition,” said Villarreal.
In the last match of the tournament, student participants played against Pioneer teachers and members of the staff.
“Mr. Gividen and Mr. Krail are some of the best athletes on our Pioneer teaching staff,” said Villarreal. However, Villarreal says the highlight of the tournament was “our staff getting crushed on the court. Those seniors are great athletes.”
Student participants, such as Daniel Splane, 12, were able to enjoy many different aspects of the tournament and allowed them to show their school spirit.
“I am enjoying the tournament so far. I got asked to be on a team for the Chris Bush classic by some of my friends, and I didn’t have a team yet so I joined,” said Splane. “The best part of this tournament is the fans, and being able to have everybody hyped up in the crowd.”
Not only did the athletes enjoy playing in the games but the rest of the students had fun cheering on their peers. Students who weren’t participating in the games were able to show their support throughout the span of two weeks by attending the tournament.
“I went to most of the games and the tournament was really exciting to watch,” said Angelina Silva, 10. “Even for those of us that didn’t know Chris Bush, it’s really unique to see how his legacy continues to leave an impact on this school by bringing joy to the students on campus with basketball.”
The tournament ended on April 8, with the student team successfully beating the teachers and staff. Chris Bush’s legacy was celebrated by students all around the school and has a promising future at Pioneer.