Meadowview Christian welcomed back alumni for a fun night of basketball, where they got a chance to show that they haven’t been out of school too long to shoot a few hoops or perform cheerleading routines.

The Trojans held their first annual alumni basketball game Friday, Nov. 1, bringing back former students to play basketball against the school’s current varsity boys and girls basketball teams. Alumni cheerleaders also participated, showing their Trojan spirit by performing during the games.

“I never dreamed it would be as big as it was,” Meadowview Christian headmaster Renee Callen said. “All of the stands were packed. There was an air of excitement. I wasn’t an alumni but even I had a great time. It was just like a holiday spirit.”

The alumni teams didn’t just show up, but they also came to play. Both of the teams filled of former students won, with the guys team beating the current varsity boys team 55-40 and the girls team dominating the current varsity girls team 47-23.

To be fair, neither the guys or girls basketball teams had practiced very much this year before the game.

“Our present day basketball teams had not played a ballgame before and they had only practiced about five times but the alumni teams, both male and female teams played us and won,” Callen said.

A little under 40 former alumni participated in the game.

Fourteen alumni cheerleaders also performed during the game.

The event was organized by former alumni Kasey Burton and current Meadowview teacher DeDe Aultman.

“Mostly it was the turnout that was so exciting,” Callen said. “The amount of people that wanted to come back. It was a time where they could come back and do something that really did take them back to their high school days. “

All proceeds went to the school’s general fund. Callen said through the event the school raised around $2500.

During halftime of the games there were other events to get fans involved.

“There were cake walks for the children between quarters and there were raffles for caramel cake and cakes made by caterers,” Callen said. “There were raffles for hand made items such as painted crosses.”

Aultman said Facebook is how the event became popular, but even she was impressed by how many alumni wanted to return to support the school. She said that she hopes the school can do it again next year.

“We put first annual [in the title] so hopefully we will have second annual next year.”Aultman said.

Callen said she thinks the turnout at the event shows that people believe Meadowview is on the rise.

“I think people are excited about Meadowview,” Callen said. “It’s on the up and up and on the rise. I think word is getting out and I think the spirits are rising. It was evident in that ballgame. It was a really fun event.”