Renewed rivalries re-ignite school spirit

The men’s and women’s basketball games against Azusa brought energy, thrill and DBC to Chase Gymnasium.

Austin Green, Carter Baumgartner, and Sasha Terry • February 4, 2018

Renewed rivalries re-ignite school spirit

Photo courtesy of Caitlin Blackmon / THE CHIMES

For the first time since 2012, Azusa Pacific University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams visited Biola’s campus for conference games on Feb. 3, the most anticipated day in the athletics calendar. While promises of free food, souvenirs and a carnival-like atmosphere helped draw students and alumni to Chase Gymnasium, the games themselves rewarded the large crowd with two classic battles between Biola and APU, re-igniting the storied rivalry back to its full force.

Several alumni made their first trip back to campus in years for the games. Some, like alum William Demberecky, enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere he could bring his children to. Others enjoyed the chance to contribute to a heightened sense of school spirit.

“I think it definitely… draws everybody together—more people coming out to support the team,” said alum and accounts payable clerk Thom Davis. “If they were just another team, nobody would really care, but with a rivalry, everybody wants to come and see.”

The recent absence of meaningful games between the two schools meant that most of Biola’s undergraduate population was getting their first taste of the rivalry, and many of them enjoyed the chance to unite as one student body and cheer on the Eagles.

“It’s great to see Biola’s community come together like this. I think it just brings us together for sporting events a lot more than usual,” said sophomore intercultural studies major Colton White. “It’s just giving us all something to kind of unify behind.”

The crowd had plenty of energy through surprising and heartbreaking moments during both the women’s and men’s games. Several attendees already had a sense of the rivalry’s history and were excited to add to it.

“Everyone knows APU,” said sophomore psychology major Jonathan Shaw. “I think a lot of people when picking their college choose between these two schools, so to see your school beat the other one’s a big deal and it’s…a lot more neat to win against APU than it would be against Holy Names.”

The gym was packed by the beginning of the men’s game, with fans standing for most of it due to the full bleachers. The home crowd sparred with a vocal APU contingent as baskets on both ends received loud roars.

“The place was electric, everybody had a lot of respect, and they wouldn’t calm down,” said Biola president Barry Corey. “They believed in [the] team the whole way through.”

The energy did not just stay in the stands, as it would spill onto the court too. Players were animated early and often throughout the game and could feel the energy of the crowd.

“[The atmosphere] was great,” said head men’s basketball coach Dave Holmquist. “I had forgotten how fun it was, the Azusa-Biola rivalry. So it’s great to experience that again.”

Others who experienced the rivalry in the past were also reminded of how amazing a great game in front of two passionate fanbases can be.

“It reminds me of playing, the excitement, the enthusiasm,” said former men’s basketball player and current Talbot Christian apologetics professor Sean McDowell. “This is what I love about being at Biola and small college basketball, there’s no better rivalries than this.”

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About the Contributors

Austin Green, Managing Editor

Austin Green is a junior journalism major who was first among his friends to predict that LeBron James would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. When not focused on school or work, he enjoys watching sports, going to the beach or coffee shops, and hanging out with the guys on his dorm floor. [email protected] I laughed the first time I heard a former editor-in-chief use the line “once you join the Chimes, you never really leave.” Now in my third year here, it turns out the joke’s on me. After two years in the sports section, including last year as sports editor, I’m thrilled to be serving this year as managing editor to help build upon the legacy of such a great publication. My aspirations remain in sports journalism, but experience has deepened my love for dedicated local news reporting and its importance in communities. Much of my appreciation for that type of journalism came through working as a digital production intern for NBC Los Angeles last summer. There I helped cover stories such as the Trader Joe’s hostage crisis, the Cranston and Holy wildfires, and the Lakers’ overhaul of their iconic uniforms. I am so excited to help build this next chapter of the Chimes as we become a web-first publication with a deeper, dedicated focus on the communities in and around campus. I also contribute a print sports column, “Everything Eagles,” which provides a deeper look into Biola Athletics.

Sasha Terry, Copy Editor

Sasha Terry is a senior journalism major who is known for her positivity and passion. She enjoys writing, playing sports, watching movies, traveling, shopping and spending time with friends and family. After traveling from Auburn, Washington which is about 40 minutes south of Seattle, to Biola University, I declared to major in journalism with an emphasis in broadcast. I came to Biola University with a strong passion for being involved in activities on campus that would demonstrate my artistic and writing abilities. The Chimes caught my eye the first semester of my freshman year and I decided to work with the staff as a freelance sports writer. I enjoyed attending the games, interviewing the coaches and players and writing game recaps. The next semester, I applied for the sports staff writer position and was accepted, which strengthened my writing drastically. During my sophomore and junior year, I worked as a Web Editor and innovated the Chimes website and social media pages. This year, I am stepping into the Copy Editor position and I aim to continue working towards my goal of being a broadcast journalist by reporting stories and challenging myself to learn more about AP Style. I will also continue to write for the sports section to strengthen my writing even more. I’m so glad to be a part of the staff and I’m excited for what’s to come next.