Tryouts for varsity basketball team start Sept. 29

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Matthew Varga
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard Senators men's traveling basketball team will be holding tryouts at the Pitsenbarger Gym, 1800-2000, Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. 

The varsity team competes against other Air Force bases in the Southwest Military Athletic Conference. Sheppard will compete against other SMAC basketball teams from Dyess, Goodfellow, Lackland and Randolph Air Force bases in Texas and Barksdale AFB, La. 

Senior Airman Shawn Peterman, 82nd Training Wing, will coach the team this season and will select a team of 10-15 players during tryouts. 

Airman Riley Halliday, 82nd Force Support Squadron, said he has played for the team for three years now and plans to continue trying out for as long as he can. 

"A lot of us who play basketball and joined the military didn't get the chance to keep going through college or even the NBA. This is as close as it gets for us," he said. "It is fun to be able to travel and play other teams, you make connections with people. It's kind of like a brotherhood." 

Leave time for games not in the local area will fall under permissive temporary duty; however, funding will be the responsibility of the team. 

"We are coming up with ideas for fundraisers right now for travel, uniform and hotel costs. Permissive TDY covers leave for away games but not the costs," said Peterman. 

Those eligible for tryouts include all active duty military members and dependants with valid identification cards. 

To sign up for tryouts call Airman Shawn Peterman at 676-7607.