On Wednesday afternoons, the Basketball Club at CT State Community College Manchester turns the Great Path Academy Gymnasium into a place to play, move and reset after class. From 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each week, students gather for games and a break from schoolwork with others who share a love for basketball.
Club president Terryn Mahon said the group is designed to give students both exercise and a mental break.
“It’s physical activity and an outlet where people can just distract themselves from everything else going on,” Mahon said.
Mahon stepped into his leadership role after a close friend who previously ran the club decided to step away.
“My friend was going to leave it, and I didn’t want the club to die,” he said. “It meant a lot to me, so I took over so it could keep going.”
Attendance usually ranges from 15 to 20 students per week, Mahon said, with some sessions reaching around 25 to 30 players. Most of the time is spent in full-court runs.
“It’s almost always team-versus-team scrimmages,” he said. “That’s what everyone wants to do, so we keep it that way. Some people warm up on the side, but the main thing is getting everyone in the game.”
Students mostly find the club through word of mouth. Mahon talks about it with classmates and people he meets around campus, and current members often invite their friends. “I just tell people about it in class or when I run into them,” he said. “Then they show up, and usually they bring someone else next time.”
He said the club’s community comes from a shared love of basketball and a no-judgment atmosphere. “We’re all there because we enjoy the game,” Mahon said. “People make friends on the court, and then those friendships keep going outside the club and outside MCC. We try to make sure everyone feels welcome.”
Looking ahead, Mahon’s main goal is that the club continues after he graduates.
“This is my last semester, so I just hope it keeps growing in numbers and in the community,” he said. “I want it to stay positive and non-toxic. Anyone is welcome, no matter your race, religion, creed or gender.”
Students can join by showing up at the GPA Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoons and jumping into a game. You can also email Mahon at [email protected] or the club advisor Leo Jones, who works as the STARS/TRIO Program Specialist at Manchester, at [email protected].
