Moonlight Madness: Yellow Jacket Basketball is Back!

By: Maggie Fipps

“It comes but once a year on a foggy night in October,” the announcer rumbled in an ominous tone. The gymnasium quivered in excitement as Cedarville students readied themselves for the biggest show in town. Well, let’s be honest, the only show in town on a Friday night in the middle of October. Students holding candy apples and dressed in Halloween costumes from the Alt Night earlier gathered for the beginning of the Cedarville men’s and women’s basketball season. 

Wedged between Alt Night activities and the Halloween dance, Moonlight Madness may seem like just another entertaining event for students. And while there were plenty of dance battles, griddying coaches, and somehow a Pillsbury Doughboy, this was the kickoff to a new season with high hopes for both Cedarville basketball teams. 

Tytist Dean, Cedarville’s rapper-in-residence and basketball player, returned with his new single “Wait on Me.” He returned on the court with Jacob Drees, Grant Whisman, Noe Enoumedi, Jayvon Maughmer, Timmy Jones and Bryan Vander Have, who led last year’s squad to the playoffs. This year, they hope to make it further into the conference tournament.

Their effort will be bolstered by transfer students Matthew Veen from Eastern Wyoming, and Chris Rogers from Trevecca. The team exhibited their chemistry on the court, laughing as teammates dunked and drained threes.

The women’s team took a funnier approach to the night, creating wild antics on the court for the crowd to enjoy. Guard Lydia Sweeney even brought out a hard hat and ladder to assist a teammate to dunk. 

On a more serious note, she’s looking forward to a team that constructs stronger bonds. 

“We’re in our second year with Coach Smith, and the team is really gelling,” Sweeney said. 

Although the team lost key upperclassmen, Emily Chapman and Isabelle Bolender to the transfer portal, they hope to build on their young roster and grow into the coaching by Jason Smith. He has high hopes for the season. 

“I’m excited to see our full squad back,” Smith said. “We have a fun team to coach this year.”

Both teams have their first home games on Saturday, November 12. The men take on Boyce College at 2:00 p.m. and the women will host Ferris State at 6:00 p.m.

Maggie Fipps is a sophomore journalism student and the sports editor of Cedars. She enjoys playing the piano and thrifting, and you may spot her around campus sporting Packers gear head to toe.