The Southern University women’s intramural basketball team is in high hopes of hooping at their National Championship tourney in Orlando, Fla., but faces setbacks due to a low travel budget.
The team is scheduled to travel to Walt Disney World on May 8-11 at the cost of $2,800.00. Because of financial setbacks, the team will have to sacrifice the state tourney scheduled next week in Monroe in order to have enough money to attend the tourney in Florida.
“We need $200.00 to finish paying for the bus to travel and hopefully we can raise the money,” said Melvin Robinson, intramural sports director.
All participants are required to buy their own food on the trip, but tourney sponsors will furnish hotel rooms for the team and vouchers to purchase items at Disney World.
Other teams are invited, but the participants are required to pay their way. This will be the first time the ladies will not compete for the national title because there was never enough money to attend.
“I expect great things from this group of ladies who are former SU basketball players and original intramural players to lead us to the national championships,” said Robinson.
According to Robinson, the former Lady Jags expected to stand out are: seniors Angela Bullock, Tommie Walden, Sophia Gordon and graduate student Cassandria Woods.
“People don’t understand that although this is an intramural organization, we have a chance to go to a national championship,” said Woods. “This is like the NCAA Final Four…Every year, people expect to see us and yet we don’t have the funds to go.”
He said that the players have earned their tickets to the national championship and they deserve a lot more support and recognition than they have received in the past.
He also said that this would be a great opportunity for the athletes to expose their abilities and enjoy themselves at Disney World.
According to Robinson, the Intramural Sports Department is left with a $4500 budget after the rest of the budget has been expended. The remaining money is allocated to cover supplies, travel and operating services. This year, the department has fallen short of operating within the budget.
If there is anyone interested in assisting the team in their journey to the national tournament at Walt Disney World, contact Robinson at (225) 771-3212.
