Annual tourney honors deceased ND student
By LAURA ROMPF
Assistant News Editor
Justin Brumbaugh loved basketball. As a senior living in Knott Hall, Brumbaugh would gather groups of boys, walk to Rolfs and shoot hoops. But one day, the basketball games stopped.
Sitting in the computer lab in the then-College of Business Amninistration, Brumbaugh died from complications of an enlarged heart.
In honor of Brumbaugh, Knott Hall annually sponsors a three on three basketball tournament with all proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.
"Justin was person who was involved with Habitat for Humanity in his hometown and when he came to Notre Dame," said Brother Jerome Meyer, rector of Knott Hall. "It was his favorite charity that he gave service and we think it is a fitting monument for him from the hall."
The tournament is in its third year and in the past has consisted primarily of Knott Hall teams.
"Our only goal this year was to incorporate the wider campus community," said Brian Price, Knott Hall's Brumbaugh co-commissioner.
"You can't start a fire without a spark," said Ben Gilfillan, Knott Hall's other Brumbaugh co-commissioner. "We're just getting this going."
Price and Gilfillian hope the tournament will serve as practice for teams interested in competing in Bookstore Basketball. They hope to have an A and B bracket for the men, consisting of 16 teams each, and a one 16-team bracket for the women.
"We still need to get a few more teams to round out the tournament," said Price.
Teams can consist of up to four members and there is a requested $15 donation from each team. Trophies and T-shirts will be awarded to the winners and sign-ups will continue through Friday.
Meyer said he has seen the tournament grow over the past three years.
"The tournament started out slow, first just within the Hall," Meyer said. "But it's amazing that now it has spread to be campus wide. We're hoping to have 40 to 50 teams this year."
Meyer said he hopes the tournament will keep Brumbaugh's memory alive.
"Justin was a very calm, directed person," Meyer said. "He had his goals set high ... We want to make this donation to Habitat for Humanity in his memory."
All News Stories for Thursday, February 22, 2001
