44th Annual Pickle Classic

Come out and be apart of Mount Olive College Tradition!

	By Brittany Miller, Campus News

Rapidly approaching is the 44th annual Pickle Classic basketball tournament, a continuing tradition at Mount Olive College. On November 20, Barton College matches up with Virginia Union at 5:30 p.m. Following that game will be the Trojan Men’s basketball team facing Mars Hill College at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday’s tournament will conclude with Barton verses Mars Hill at 5:30 p.m. and the MOC Trojans verses Virginia Union at 7:00 p.m.

The annual basketball tournament began back in 1965 when Mount Olive College struck ground at its present day location on 630 Henderson Street. In the fall of that year the men’s basketball program had its first Holiday Invitational Tournament. At the time Mount Olive did not have a gym on campus, the only building on campus was Henderson Hall. The first tournament had to be held at Mount Olive Middle School. Throughout the early years of the College gyms such as Southern Wayne High School and North Duplin High School played host for the tournament. It was not until 1984 that the Trojan’s finally had a gym of its own to call home.

Gradually over the years the tournament has evolved and adopted the name “Pickle Classic” due to the continued support and sponsorship from the Mount Olive Pickle Company.

Since 1997, the Pickle Classic tradition has been joined with Alumni Weekend. Alumni Weekend is an opportunity for alumni to return to campus and engage in a variety of activities such as the annual golf tournament, lectures, luncheons, chapel services and of course catch up with old friends. With both the Pickle Classic and Alumni Weekend being held at the same time it is a great opportunity for relationships to form between former and present students.

Make sure you check out the all the excitement happening around campus this week. Check out thetrojantimes.com calendar for scheduled student and alumni activities.