Lincoln University is proudly backing Canterbury’s young basketball talent by sponsoring the flagship high school competitions this season.
The University has a highly successful basketball scholarship which has produced Tall Ferns and a multitude of elite players, and it already sponsors Canterbury Basketball’s Glory League which provides video highlights for players throughout the divisions to share.
The Thomson Trophy, for boys, and Whelan Trophy, for girls, competitions have been running weekly since 2015 and 2016 respectively for high schools’ “Senior A” teams.
They have been widely lauded for the part they have played in raising the level of competitiveness for Canterbury’s teams on a national stage, and in generating interest in playing basketball locally, evidenced by a big increase in player numbers in high schools over the same period.
Lincoln University Marketing Manager Duncan Stirling said he was excited about the new partnership.
“BASKETBALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING TEENAGE SPORT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN NEW ZEALAND. PARTNERING WITH CANTERBURY BASKETBALL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE SPORT AND ENCOURAGE TEENAGERS TO STAY ACTIVE WHILE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO GROW WITH LINCOLN UNIVERSITY‘S RANGE OF LAND-BASED QUALIFICATIONS.”
General Manager of the Canterbury Basketball Association (CBA), Clive Beaumont, expressed a similar sentiment.
“We are hugely grateful to Lincoln University, for entering into partnership with us in 2023 by sponsoring the Thomson and Whelan Trophies. This will enable us to deliver what is widely regarded as the foremost premier high school basketball competition in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
“At the same time we are able to promote Lincoln University as a first-class destination and environment for tertiary students to pursue both their academic and sporting ambitions.”
A key point of synergy in the expanded partnership between Lincoln University and the CBA is the basketball scholarships on offer each year.
Pete Magson, Lincoln University Sports Scholarship Programme Manager, said Lincoln offered a pathway for players hoping to play at the highest-level through their basketball programme.
“It is great to be able to support young athletes through this partnership, and through our Sports Scholarships, to be able to be play a game they are passionate about and to fulfil their sporting dreams.”
Image; Lincoln University’s Marketing Manager Duncan Stirling, left, and Sports Scholarship Programme Manager Pete Magson with the new competition logo.
