The Chowan University Athletic Department hosted its annual cancer awareness basketball game on Wednesday, February 14th. The Chowan men’s and women’s basketball teams played host to Conference Carolinas rival the University of Mount Olive in a thrilling doubleheader that saw the Hawks come away with two decisive victories. 

Not only did the Hawks celebrate two key victories over conference opponents, the community came together to celebrate victory over cancer. For the last 15 years, the athletic department has hosted a cancer awareness game. The women’s team decked out in pink to raise awareness around breast cancer. Other athletic teams, like women’s lacrosse, women’s tennis, and women’s soccer joined the fight wearing team colors to represent other forms of cancer. The teams joined in a halftime cancer survivors walk to celebrate those who have beaten cancer and honor those who have lost the battle here on earth. 

Longtime athletic department photographer, Charles Revelle, was this year’s commemorative ball tosser for the women’s game.  Mr. Charles, as everyone knows him, recently finished up treatment for prostate cancer. During the survivors’ walk at halftime of the women’s game, he shared that he has been declared cancer-free after his treatment. Other community members shared their stories about how cancer had affected their families. These stories shared with everyone are told in order to bring awareness to the types of battles cancer patients fight each day. 

The athletic department gave away Chick-fil-A to fans and collected toys during the game, which will be distributed to kids fighting cancer in our area. 

While the cancer promotions and games went into the men’s game, the athletic department got to celebrate four members of the Chowan men’s basketball team. Skyler Davies, Chieck Traore, Head Coach Rob Burke, and Head Athletic Trainer Brenna Schuler were honored with a plaque just before the tip-off of the men’s game. Earlier this season, these four individuals were commended for an act of sportsmanship while on the road at Belmont Abbey College. A Crusader men’s basketball player suffered a serious injury in front of the Hawks bench. Immediately Burke and Schuler rushed to assist Belmont Abbey medical staff. Davies kneeled beside the injured player to pray with him. Traore consoled and prayed with the injured player. The act of selflessness in the heat of a basketball battle showed the true character of the Chowan basketball team and staff. The act garnered positive attention from many in attendance that night. 

Director of Athletics, Patrick Mashuda, presented the four with plaques before the tip-off on Wednesday night and shared with the crowd an email he received from a Belmont Abbey College parent who witnessed the event. The email was just one of many that were shared with him in the days following the road trip. “It is not every day we receive emails of this nature,” stated Mashuda. “Typically, we receive emails with unsportsmanlike behavior, so this email is special. We felt it was necessary to draw attention to the type of student-athletes that attend Chowan, and to the type of staff who work at Chowan.” 

Mashuda went on to read one of the emails that he received to the crowd. The email that he read gave a compelling perspective of how one small act of sportsmanship and kindness can shift the focus from a season ending injury to the spirit of camaraderie in the heat of a basketball battle. 

Following Wednesday night’s pregame ceremony, the Hawks went onto take a crucial home court win over the University of Mount Olive. Local star, Daylan Askew, netted his 1,000 career point during the game. The junior from Ahoskie scored 20 in the game as the Hawks rolled to their 16th season win. 

Kashara Simpson, CU’s S.A.A.C. President, led the games and contests during the event while many from the campus community contributed to the success of the night. Simpson got the audience involved through trivia contests and giveaways as well as assisted in organizing the event with the student body. 

“Our annual cancer awareness game is about more than basketball,” said Meredith Long, Deputy Athletic Director. “We see this as an engagement event for the Chowan community in which we can use sports as a platform to spread awareness about this vicious disease. For me, the personal stories give a face to community members who have battled this disease. The halftime survivors’ walk with our teams is very special to watch and I always look forward to it.” 

The Hawks are in the home stretch of basketball season. They host two more regular season games at home, including the annual Chowan Alumni game on February 17th. For information about Chowan basketball, the Alumni Appreciation Day, and our in-season competing sports, log onto the athletics website at www.gocuhawks.com