Loughborough College has been celebrating an incredible year for basketball – and marked the success with a special presentation.
With seven Loughborough College degree students playing in the first team, the Student Riders not only won their third straight BUCS championship but also took the National Basketball League Division One title.
Taking a leaf from US sport, at a special event each of the basketball team players received a ring to mark their achievement. Loughborough College received its own ring, in recognition of its crucial role, and this was recently presented to Rob Jarram by College Board Chair Audrey Traynor.
“This year has been an incredible year for both our women’s and men’s programmes,” said Rob Jarram, Sport Development Manager at Loughborough College and lead for the basketball programmes.
“A significant achievement was the Loughborough Student Riders men’s team winning the league of the second tier of professional basketball. It’s amazing that our players are studying full time for their degrees with us and have an average age of 20 – and are excelling in a league with players who have an average age of 26.
“This is a young group of special players and I have no doubt that our College ethos of developing successful people has been a contributor to the character and cohesiveness of that group of players to achieve the accolades they have this year.”
Women’s first team coach Krumesh Patel has been selected as assistant coach for Women’s GB U20’s while men’s head coach Mark Jarram has been selected as assistant coach for Men’s GB U18’s.
The BUCS victory for the third consecutive year came after Loughborough’s 97-79 win over Northumbria. Loughborough Student Riders were crowned NBL Division one champions after defeating Manchester Magic 79-75.
Loughborough College men’s first team players: Sam Broughton, Lucien Cristofis, Pak Chingombe, Max Richardson, Josh Ward-Hibbert, Tom Yome, Tim Fava. Women’s first team players: Michelle Bradley, Chloe Compton, Sophie Evans