Hanscom plays host to youth basketball players

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Last weekend Hanscom played host to more than 500 local youth basketball players and their families during the second annual Hanscom Air Force Base President's Day Basketball Tournament at the Fitness Center and the Youth Center for boy's teams in the seventh and eighth grades.

Teams from ten communities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts participated in the tournament, which gave families a firsthand look at life on an air force base and the professional people that work here.

"I am thoroughly impressed by the facilities and the professional staff who work here," said John Penkala, a parent from the Nashua seventh grade team. "It was an enjoyable experience for our players and families to talk to military members and get a sense of their commitment to our nation."

Vic Hayes, the newly assigned 66th Force Support Squadron director, was also impressed by both his staff from the Fitness Center and the Youth Center and by the level of basketball performed by each team.

"The opportunity to open our doors and showcase our first-class facility and talented people is important," Mr. Hayes said, "but the real opportunity is being able to provide our youth an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of us."

Ann-Marie Ely, the Youth Sports and Fitness director, who also served as tournament director, was responsible for scheduling the thirty games played in the two divisions in two days. The tournament culminated with championship games between the Nashua Nighthawks and Goffstown Rebels in the seventh grade division and the Chester Gladiators and Wilmington travel team in the eighth grade division. Each played on Sunday afternoon.

66th Air Base Group Commander Col. Stacy Yike was on hand to present the Nashua Nighthawks and Wilmington travel clubs championship coins and T-shirts for winning their respective divisions.

The people responsible for organizing the tournament were pleased with its success and hope to continue to host other tournaments for years to come.