The 2023 Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament is back for its 26th year in Norwich. The tournament will be held at the Norwich High School for the second consecutive year with 256 teams playing among 23 courts. (Photo from 2022 by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – The 3 on 3 Gus Macker Tournament is set to return for its 26th year in Norwich this weekend on July 8 and 9. The event also returns to the Norwich High School for its second year after a pre-planned two-year construction work project affecting the downtown area.

After a lot of changes made last year, including location, the tournament continues to be the same beloved event of the summer, bringing the community together since the start in 1996.

Norwich is currently the largest and longest running tournament in New York State. It is also expected to be the longest running tournament in the nation next year after one host city in Belding, Michigan is ending after 30 years.

Participation

In the tournament’s return to Norwich in 2022, The YMCA and Gus Macker committee welcomed 210 teams, reflecting the first year numbers, and 22 courts were placed among the Norwich High School campus.

This year, there will be 256 teams among 23 courts. 65 percent of this year’s participants range from 14 years of age and under while gender aspects reflect around 63 percent of males over 37 females compete in the event.

Based on these results, there are roughly five to a maximum of 17 teams on each court. Court O will feature females aged 17 to 18 where Court U features males 40-plus. Both courts have five teams on them and will play round-robin style, where everyone will play each other once throughout Saturday with playoff rounds on Sunday.

Court F features 17 teams, which includes females ages 11 and 12. Due to the larger number of teams, the championship will be the latest, taking place on Sunday at 5 p.m. where some courts end around 2 p.m. or at 4:30 p.m.

The Return of the Sportsmanship award

The sportsmanship award was missed from the 2022 tournament, due to the increase in the cost of trophies. However, the award returns for the 26th Macker with Burrell’s Excavating & KMC Sand & Gravel sponsoring, allowing the award to be given at each court.

The YMCA is thankful to be bringing back and highlighting the importance of sportsmanship on and off the court. It doesn’t matter how well you play the game, it’s the show of respect for the game, your teammates, opposing players, and following and respecting the rules that characterizes good sportsmanship.

The Scorekeepers and referees are in charge of collaborating on who earns this valued award. It is likely to go to the team who shows good attitude and tries their best even if they don’t succeed.

Parking

The parking will remain the same this year with changes made in organization.

Parking will be available at Golden Artist Colors nearby as well as at the Norwich Little League field off Hale Street, the NHS baseball field, the Achieve parking lot on Midland and East Main Street, as well as the Chenango County Fairgrounds by the football field. Construction recently finished adding a new parking lot near the varsity baseball field.

While parking wasn’t much of an issue last year, Revoir would like to have volunteers to help out the organization and flow of the parking to maintain proper spacing between cars for easy access in and out of the event. At a recent Macker meeting, Revoir confirmed that the Lions Club of NY will be organizing the parking.

Sponsors

The U.S. Air Force, Stewart’s Shops, Build Block CNY are some of the newest sponsors with Stewart’s acting as a vendor. Media Sponsors, including the Evening Sun, Pennysaver, WCDO radio out of Sidney, WBNG, and TownSquare Media return while other sponsors look to make a bigger statement than in the past.

Center Court will be sponsored by Build Block CNY while Preferred Mutual is proud to represent the Dream Court. All the kids playing on Dream court will receive a special shirt from their kind sponsor.

Excellus Blue Cross/ Blue Shield will be sponsoring the registration center, located in the Norwich High School gymnasium.

Another sponsor is Live Event NY, who returns after making their presence known at other local events throughout the Norwich area. They’ll continue to sponsor the play zone as well as the sound stage, which will be bigger this year. Other sponsors include, but aren’t limited to; The RC Smith Foundation, RTG Rentals to Go, NBT Bank, Nina’s, NYCM, the U.S. Army, Storage Center, Commerce Chenango Tourism and the host hotel of Red Roof Inn. Visitors should check out The U.S. Army’s “show trailer” full of interactive activities for the kids that will be placed near the youth courts and near the kids zone.

The Norwich Family YMCA is appreciative of all sponsors who help fund and support Gus Macker today and for the past 26 years.

Vendors

Also, be sure to check out the variety of vendors at the 2023 Gus Macker tournament. There will be 15 vendors filling the Midland Drive, roadway. For more information look for the “The Culinary Explosion” article in the 2023 Gusette, that will be distributed at registration and among several local businesses in the Norwich area, discusses each vendor and their featured foods.

Special appearance

After a big celebration of 25 years in 2022, Norwich will feature another special moment for 2023. Anielle McEwan-Lomnicki, “AK” will be doing the famous “Do or Die Shot.” AK, a Sidney student-athlete who overcame a devastating injury, as well as the Norwich Macker committee, is thrilled to have her make a special appearance after she’s gone through so much and has made such a remarkable recovery.

“She’s fought so hard to get back, especially getting back into playing basketball,” Revoir said. “She is the living proof that miracles do happen.”

More about her experience and about the explanation on the shot itself can be found in a separate piece in the 2023 Gusette.

While this is a special moment for Macker, AK, and her family, there is no telling what else Revoir and Mullen could be working on to make this 26th year as memorable as the past.

Come out and join the action at the Norwich High School on July 8 and 9, with registration starting at 7 a.m, opening ceremonies kicking off at 8am, and games immediately following at 9 a.m.

More information on this year's Gus Macker Tournament can be found in The Evening Sun's annual special edition, "The Gusette,” all weekend. Good luck to all participants.