Annual Classic Returns to Asbury This Weekend

WILMORE, Ky. – Asbury’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will jointly host the Cecil C. Zweifel and Rita J. Pritchett Classics on Friday and Saturday.  There will be eight teams total taking part in this year’s classic.

The classics are named after two of the most dedicated people to work in the Asbury athletic department.  Coach Cecil Zweifel is widely known as the “father” of Asbury Athletics, and served as the first Athletic Director.  

Zweifel was the coach of the men’s soccer team for 12 years starting in 1972, during his tenure the club won 119 games and went on to the NAIA National Tournament.  The team passed on a bid to the tournament because games were scheduled on Sunday prompting a new rule that prohibits championship play on Sundays.  Zweifel also spent time as baseball and men’s tennis coach, and served in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department.

Coach Pritchett is in her 40th year of service to Asbury.  Currently she serves as a professor in the HPER department but has been an athletic director, volleyball coach, women’s tennis coach, track and field coach and softball coach.

When Coach Pritchett was named athletic director in 1989 she became the first female named to that position in the state of Kentucky.  As a coach, Pritchett racked up 322 career victories as the leader of the volleyball team.  Her 1993 squad finished with a then school record 32 victories, a mark only passed this year.

This year marks the second time the men and women will jointly host the classics, in the past the men would host the Zweifel one weekend while the women would host the Pritchett another weekend. 

Kentucky Christian and Tennessee Wesleyan women will kick start this year’s action at 2:00 pm on Friday followed by the Ohio Christian and Union (Ky.) men at 4:00 pm.  Asbury’s women will battle Cincinnati-Clermont at 6:00 pm with the Asbury men to follow at 8:00 pm against Greenville (Ill.).

Saturday’s action will see Kentucky Christian and Cincinnati-Clermont take the floor at 12:00 pm followed by Union and Greenville at 2:00 pm.  The Asbury women take on Tennessee Wesleyan at 4:00 pm with the men set to host Ohio Christian at 6:00 pm.

“It truly is an privilege to be able to take part in this classic, honoring two of the most influential people in Asbury Athletics,” Asbury men’s basketball coach Will Shouse said.  “Coach Zweifel is even to this day a positive supporter of everything that we do as a basketball team and of the athletic department as a whole.  He’s had a tremendous impact on everyone he comes in contact with and we are grateful to give him this annual recognition.”