JLIT 48

Tip-off as Bonduel plays
host St. Paul at the JLIT.
2/29/2020 dwm photo

The Janesville Lutheran Invitation Tournament (JLIT) just completed its 48th edition.

It began in 1972.  I was in third grade.  At the time, St. Paul basketball teams were called the Ponies, becoming the Flames a couple years later.

Seven schools were invited each year.  Families at St. Paul were asked to take in players and cheerleaders from the visiting schools.

My parents hosted two or three cheerleaders in our house on the same block as the school.  The big job for the athletic director was finding hosts for up to 15 players and as many as 12 cheerleaders per squad, that's 189 kids.

As hosts, you gave the kids a nice place to stay, breakfast, and take them to church.  Invitations went to three Lutheran schools in Portage and Milwaukee, and three from the Chicago area.

St. Paul's didn't introduce players with music and a light
show when I was playing, I don't think Mr. Schwanke would
have gone for it.  2/29/2020 dwm photo

That tradition ended some time ago.  As more parents came to watch the games, a lot of them wanted to have their kids stay with them at hotels with indoor pools.

Other than that, the flavor of the tournament is the same.  Dozens of volunteers staff the concession and hot food stands while others sell tickets; serve as gate-keepers; or fill other critical roles.

Since moving back to Wisconsin, I try to watch the St. Paul Flames for their Saturday game.  My JLIT career was short, one year, in 1977.

Photo taken from the
St. Paul School - that's the
house where I grew up.
2/29/2020 (dwm)

Only a few of my former teachers make it to the tournament these days.  Because my folks moved out of Janesville in the 1990s, there aren't many familiar faces when I visit.

There was an early game on the court when I arrived.  I found a place in the top row of the bleachers and looked through the program.  It hasn't changed much, students compete each year to design the cover.  My friend Andy had the cover when we were in 8th grade.

As I looked at the court, I was struck by how short the players were.  When I went to that first tournament in 3rd grade, I thought the kids on the court were giants.

It seems the players are something else that doesn't change. Which is why so many of us return year after year.