HK Club’s Hoops 4 Hunger raises money, canned goods for community

Students make a play for the basket during Hoops 4 Hunger April 9 in Lambert Fieldhouse.Tim Brouk

Written by: Tim Brouk, tbrouk@purdue.edu

March Madness spilled into April as 24 teams competed in Hoops 4 Hunger, a basketball tournament held by the Purdue University Health and Kinesiology (HK) Undergraduate Club April 9 in Lambert Fieldhouse.

Teams of three played half-court basketball throughout the afternoon with friendly competition and fighting hunger in the Greater Lafayette community in mind. Teams paid $15 or nine canned food items, which all went to the St. Ann Food Pantry in Lafayette.

“We just wanted to get people on campus active,” said senior Ryan Thometz, president of the HK Club. “Come play on a Saturday after March Madness while it’s still fresh. It’s just getting active while helping a great cause.”

After winning four games each, Bromingo Broitos clashed with Slicker Rippers with Mad Mushroom and Silver Dipper gift cards on the line. The Rippers came out on top after a close game. Purdue Pete was guest scorekeeper, who had a difficult time keeping up with all the layups and 3-pointers the teams sank.

In the early rounds of the tournament, six games were going on at once, which meant many HK Club members refereed and kept score during the frenzied action. Each game consisted of two eight-minute halves with a three-minute halftime in-between.

The real winner was St. Ann’s Food Pantry as Hoops 4 Hunger raised $83 and 286 cans of food to be distributed to the needy this spring.

Carole DeHaven, senior lecturer in the Purdue Department of Health and Kinesiology, attended the event but let her students organize and run the entire event. She was impressed with what she saw on and off the courts.

“It’s been an amazing effort,” DeHaven said. “They’ve been planning this for eight weeks. It’s just been extraordinary.”

The HK Club officers hope to bring Hoops 4 Hunger back for 2023, possibly with an expanded tournament format of 32 teams.

“It’s really cool to see how intense everyone is and how excited they are for playing basketball,” said junior Karleigh Derleth, vice president of the HK Club. “I’m so thankful to this community to be willing to help out with this.”

Hoops 4 Hunger was the prelude to the spring 2022 edition of Health and Kinesiology Week, which is held every spring by the Department of Health and Kinesiology. Students and faculty members will be encouraging their fellow Boilermakers to get moving on campus through Friday, April 22. Here are some highlights:

Tuesday (April 19)

• Research Showcase. Health and kinesiology graduate students will present their research with interactive presentations from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Lambert Fieldhouse lobby.
• Smoothie Day. Complimentary pedal-powered smoothies will be served from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Lambert Fieldhouse lobby.

Wednesday (April 20)

• Distinctive Service Recipient Day. Meet and speak with HK’s Distinctive Service recipients from 12-1 p.m. in the Lambert Fieldhouse lobby. HK’s Distinctive Service recipients will take questions and discuss issues and challenges in the field of kinesiology from 4-5 p.m. in Hampton Hall, Room 1144, hosted by the HK Majors Club.
• EIM Walking Challenge. Meet at 12:10 p.m. at the “Unfinished Block P” sculpture north of Stewart Center for a mile walk through campus.

Thursday (April 21)

• Athletic Training Lunch and Learn. Featuring Walter Jenkins, professor of physical therapy and rehabilitation sciences atGeorgia Southern University, this event will occur from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Lambert Fieldhouse, Room 108. Refreshments will be provided.

Friday (April 22)

• Fitness at the Fountain. Play spike ball, cornhole, ladder ball and more from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Class of 1939 Water Sculpture (commonly referred to as the Purdue Mall fountain).

Members of the Purdue Health and Kinesiology Club pose with Purdue Pete during Hoops 4 Hunger.Tim Brouk