JACKSON, Tenn. - 11/18/2009 - The Jackson Rotary Club will host their and for the seventh straight season, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University’s Fred DeLay Gymnasium will be the site. The Rotary Classic begins Thursday, Nov. 19 and goes through Saturday, Nov. 21.
The Jackson Rotary Classic will benefit the Madison Haywood Developmental Services, Youth Town of Tennessee, and will also fund scholarships for students from each of the high schools in Madison County.
Year after year, the Jackson Rotary Classic has featured some of the NAIA’s best talent in women’s basketball. The fans of West Tennessee and many from across the nation often get a preview of the same teams that make their way back to Jackson in March for the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Tournament at Oman Arena.
In fact, each of the last six NAIA women’s basketball national champions played in the Jackson Rotary Classic the year they won the title (Southern Nazarene 2004, Â鶹ÊÓƵ 2005, 2006, Lambuth 2007, Vanguard 2008, Â鶹ÊÓƵ 2009).
In each of the four seasons since the classic expanded to six teams in 2003, the entire field of six is ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA preseason rankings. This season, the classic boasts three teams in the top 10, four in the top 25, with all six teams ranked in the top 29. This year’s field includes top 25 teams No. 1 Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Tenn.) University, No. 6 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University, No. 9 Lambuth (Tenn.) University, No. 25 Biola (Calif.) University. The Master’s (Calif.) College and Westminster (Utah) College are receiving votes in the preseason rankings.
Five of the six teams in this year’s classic participated in the 2009 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Tournament in Jackson last March. Masters’s missed the tournament for the first time in four seasons. Freed-Hardeman, Westminster and Biola each advanced to the second round, while Lambuth and Â鶹ÊÓƵ both advanced to the championship game with Â鶹ÊÓƵ winning their fourth NAIA title.
The Rotary Classic field could be on display again in March of 2010 as these teams work to get back to Jackson for the national tournament. This year’s Rotary Classic field has combined for 54 total national tournament appearances, posting a combined record of 93-49 (.655). The field has advanced to 15 semifinals appearances (Â鶹ÊÓƵ 10, Freed-Hardeman 2, Lambuth 2 and The Master’s 1). Included in the 15 trips to the semifinals, the field has also produced five national champions (Â鶹ÊÓƵ 4, Lambuth 1) and three national runner-up finishes (Â鶹ÊÓƵ 2, Lambuth 1).
#UNION#
Thursday, November 19
Friday, November 20
Saturday, November 21
| Steven Aldridge Phone: (731) 661-5027 |
Fax: (731) 661-5182 |
 |
 |
 |
Helpful Links
Employee Directory
Employment
Bookstore
UUAlerts
| Mobile App
Calendar of Events
Contact Us Â鶹ÊÓƵ
Multimedia
Videos | Audio | Photos
Books | Social Media
Â鶹ÊÓƵ
Programs of Study
Catalogues
Summar Library
Prospective Students
Undergraduate
Adult Studies
Graduate
Current Students
Undergraduate
Adult Studies
Graduate
Faculty & Staff
Alumni & Friends
Parents & Families
Visitors & Community