WHS Pennies for Patients Basketball Tournament

The Best Buddies program at Winchester High School (WHS) recently hosted the 3rd annual Pennies for Patients 3-on-3 basketball tournament on March 13. 

This year’s tournament was another big success with $1,241.12 raised. The three year total money raised is at $5,004.11. All of the proceeds went to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

WHS Best Buddies is a club at the high school that connects students with and without disabilities to each other through various events. 

WHS seniors Jack Grassey, Kalin Stoyanchev, Teodor Vitchev, and St. John's Prep senior/Winchester resident Mike Barnabie won the tournament in convincing fashion against WHS faculty Tom Carr, Jason Cacciapouti, John Fleming, and Charlie Kacamburas. The winning team won gift certificates to Gloria’s Pizza and Stone Hearth Pizza.

Grassey, a tri-captain on the varsity basketball team this season, said, “The pennies for patients tournament was a really fantastic time; I think it's safe to say that players across all age groups enjoyed themselves and appreciated competing with one another while supporting a great cause. Tournaments like this are rewarding to everyone involved, simply a wonderful idea and a fun atmosphere.” 

The 3-on-3 basketball tournament consisted of teams of students from the high school, McCall middle school, Winchester High staff, and 2012 WHS alumni team.  22 teams total participated in the coed tournament. Each team was put into groups and played a minimum of three games before teams qualified for the tournament.  Each team donated money to participate in the event.

Special education teacher Jared Huber said, "It's a great event! I'm always impressed to see so many students, faculty and members of the Winchester community come together for a great cause!" Sophomore James Hintlian added that the tournament “was awesome!”

Last year, class of 2011 alumni Garrett Dagle, George Levene, Josh Rodriguez, and Caleb Unni won the tournament. In 2011, George Levene, Cam O’Malley, and David King won the tournament.

Next year we hope to have even more teams enter the tournament – faculty at other Winchester schools, parents, and community members. Keep an eye out for an announcement about the 4^th annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament sometime in early March.

Thank you to the following WHS faculty that played and/or helped out:

Gina Addonizio, Dorothy Ball, Tom Carr, Jason Cacciapouti, Jerry Chapman, Marcy Crowley, Nancy Healy, Jared Huber, John Fleming, Charlie Kacamburas, Craig Mackenzie, Mike Robbat, Kristen Ritchie, Bailey Tighe, Krista Wilcox, Kristen Woollam