WINONA LAKE - Chad Briscoe said it didn't take him long to see what Terry Polston means to the community.
"What has been amazing, in the short time that I've been here, is to see what Officer Polston means to the community," said Briscoe, now in his second year as Grace College's Athletic Director. "So many people loved him and respected him. He was a part of so many lives. Just an amazing person."Polston, who was the Warsaw Police Department's DARE Officer since 1992, died last week after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Polston dedicated his life to others, and now Grace College is dedicating its annual Hoops For Hope Holiday Inn Express Optimist Tournament to Polston.
"He did so much for others, we're going to dedicate our basketball tournament to him," said Briscoe. "I think it's something that is very well-deserved."
Grace's annual basketball tournament is centered around raising cancer awareness. Each year a cancer survivor serves as the keynote speaker.
A few years ago, Polston was that keynote speaker.
"We're trying to create cancer awarness," said Briscoe. "This tournament is our way of working with the Optimist Club to try and raise money for the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund."
All proceeds from the tournament will go to cancer research.
Admission to this weekend's games will be $2 for Grace College students and $5 for everyone else.
Briscoe said that even he and the coaching staff will pay to get into the tournament.
The tournament kicks off Friday at the Orthopaedic Capital Center with Missouri Baptist playing Cornerstone at 6 p.m.
The host Lancers will play Notre Dame College at 8 p.m. Friday.
A consolation game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. Friday's winners will play in the championship game Saturday at 3 p.m.
Grace, the defending champion, enters the tournament with an 8-3 record and ranked 25th in the latest NAIA Divsion II poll.
Briscoe said that while this year's tournament is dedicated to Polston, there has been talking of renaming the tournament in Polston's honor.
