During the full swing of the basketball season, an alumni event called “Jam the Gym” is going to take place.

Alumni events are an important part of sports. Each sport does a different type of alumni event to encourage former players to come back and still be part of Madison College Athletics.

According to Jason Verhelst, the associate athletic director, coaches help come up with ideas what they would like to do with their past players.

“A big benefit of alumni events is to give our current student athletes some alumni that they can talk to and know that there is a continuum to the program,” said Verhelst.

“Jam the Gym” is an alumni event to promote the Madison College basketball teams. This event goes back to 2006. Every year the athletics department changes different aspects of the event to make it better than the year before and to bring the alumni back.

Former men’s and women’s basketball players come together to play a game. This allows these players to be involved with the teams and come back to the college and play another game just like old times.

They get to see their former coaches and even old teammates.

They play the alumni game,and then stay for the women’s and men’s game to reconnect with friends. During the halftime of each of the games, the athletic department honors each member of the alumni in attendance.

“Jam the Gym” takes place on Saturday, Feb. 9. The alumni check-in is at 9:30 a.m. then the game starts at 10 a.m. The women’s game is at 1 p.m. and the men’s game is at 3 p.m.

All students, staff, families, and community are welcome to this event.