The Lancers hosted their final regular season game ever in historic Lancer Gymnasium, the only gym Grace has called home for 50 years. Wednesday night's finale pits Grace versus rival Bethel College in Mid-Central Conference action.
Built in 1957, the gym has given the Lancers a home court advantage by providing a small college atmosphere. One side of the gym provides the team benches and the scorers table. On the opposite side, fans are seated in a two-tier bleacher section. Students and fans alike crowd the sideline as the bleachers pull out all the way to the sideline. On one baseline, portable bleachers are brought in right behind the basket while the other baseline is flanked by Lancer cheerleaders, all to provide a close atmosphere rarely seen this day of age.
Lancer Gymnasium has hosted two national championship teams. The 1991-92 men's basketball team brought home the NAIA Division II national championship. Three years later, the Grace volleyball team captured the NCCAA national championship in 1995.
The Turkey Tournament was a staple of Lancer Gymnasium during the early years of existence. This tournament provided much entertainment for the many students who were unable to leave campus for the Thanksgiving holiday. That tournament slowly evolved into what is now the Hoops for Hope Classic. Hoops for Hope is a fundraising tournament to help the victims and their family overcome cancer. All proceeds are donated to the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund.
Also in the earlier years, Lancer Gymnasium hosted the county tournament for high school basketball. At that time, it was the most striking gymnasium in the area for athletes to compete in.
Now, Lancer Gymnasium is primarily used for Grace College athletic home games. Homeschool basketball games, social events and practices also are held in the old gym.
The Grace women's basketball team hosts the final regular season game ever in Lancer Gymnasium on Saturday as Grace hosts Huntington University. The Lancer men may still have one last game in the gym. Grace currently holds the fourth spot in the MCC standings. If the Lancers fend off Bethel and Taylor over the last week of the regular season, Grace may host a first round playoff game in the MCC tournament.
