... again. Not to be like Alexander, who wept for there were no more worlds to conquer, the Gentlemen resolved not to stand down. With the annual Battle for the Shadow 3 on 3 basketball tourney with Zahm Hall forever won, the Gentlemen searched for the next conquest, challenge... the next chapter, really... to add to their long and storied history. Confounded for a bit, an epiphany was eventually had in the Red Room which gave birth to the Steds Invitational. A 3 on 3 basketball tourney with whomever is residing in "Swing Hall," the designation now given to Zahm Hall as it houses residence halls who are undergoing a year long renovation, the Steds Invitational is the new "golden fleece."
The inaugural Steds Invitational was held with Alumni Hall, current residents of Swing Hall, with teams vying to take any and all glory from the court for themselves and more important for their halls. Given Alumni's size, the talent was deep, but never backing down, the Stedsmen rose to the challenge. As the tourney progressed, a lone trio of Gentlemen found themselves in the final, battling a very talented Alumni team. With the hopes and dreams of the entire Hall resting upon them, Steds seniors, Michael Lynch, Brian Gonzalo, Will Dieterich, channeled their basketball inspirations onto the Steds court, sinking two pointers and three pointers too, in a flurry so quick and fast that it dazed and confused their opponents and onlookers alike. Suffice it to say, it was over before it started, with Steds winning by a score of 11 to 4.
On winning the inaugural Steds Invitational, Gonzalo stated, "Life is about getting buckets,” while Dieterich shared, "Michael Jordan said he never lost a game, he just ran out of time... we just never lost.”
Finally, Lynch added, "There are those life-defining moments that you’ll never forget. Your graduation, your wedding, the birth of your first child.. and for us, the inaugural 2022 Steds Invitational. The competition was fierce and the doubters were vocal. Some worried about our age, some worried about Will’s abroad absence from the interhall team last year, and others worried about my effort. We were fueled by these concerns. I was also fueled by 3 chicken sandwiches consumed right before tip off. If the Steds Invitational showed us anything it’s that old men can still hoop and Steds will always perform. It was a great win for the new administration and the only way to start the Steds Invitational.
BUT THERE'S STILL MORE...
