Students battle staff in Hoopfest match.
On Oct. 1, Hoopfest was held at Haddix and became a true highlight of homecoming festivities, bringing together students, faculty and staff for a night full of energy, laughter and school spirit. From start to finish, the event captured what makes Doane’s community so special.
The evening began with free Hoopfest T-shirts for the first 75 students, Runza sandwiches and ice cream sandwiches, which quickly created a line of excited students. Haddix got packed, buzzing with anticipation as everyone got ready for a night full of fun. The event also held raffles, giveaways and the basketball teams scrimmaged, giving fans a sneak peek at what’s ahead this season.
Before the games began, Brian Stutz, coach for the students team, shared his pre-game thoughts with his trademark humor, “Tonight we steal the moon! Just kidding—we plan on using our youth to take down the staff and faculty. I hope Doane students support Doane students and stay loud tonight.”
And the students were loud. Coach Stutz came prepared with hilarious poster boards filled with messages to keep the crowd cheering, and it worked perfectly—students were laughing, chanting and waving their signs the whole night.
The highlight for many was President Roger Hughes, coach of the staff team, who arrived dressed as “Ted Lasso”. The crowd was full of laughter and applause—it was one of the night’s funniest moments.
After a tight, exciting match, the student team pulled off the win by a small margin. Both teams gave it their all, leaving the crowd with unforgettable memories and plenty of laughs. Hoopfest truly reminded us what school spirit and community are all about.
President Hughes makes a disguised appearance at Hoopfest.
