Peoria Employees Prepare to Take on Tempe in Hoops

 
It's on! At halftime of the men's basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 22, employees from GCU's Peoria site will take on their counterparts from Tempe.  The Peoria Pride -- that's the name they have adopted for the occasion -- decided to circulate their player profiles in advance of the epic showdown, and here they are (complete with a little trash talking):

● JAMES JACKSON

Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
What he does at GCU: Helps counselors learn and develop.
Favorite basketball player: Kobe Bryant.
Basketball ability: I’m the oldest on the team.
On Tempe’s chances: Zero. Speed kills!

● STEPHEN FRANKE

Hometown: Phoenix.
What he does at GCU: Enrollment manager.
Favorite basketball player: David Robinson.
Basketball ability: I am built like a steamroller, but unfortunately I have the body of a 50-year-old.
On Tempe’s chances: I try to encourage everyone, but the Tempe team should be playing bridge instead of basketball.

● JESSICA BROWN

Hometown: Killeen, Texas.
What she does at GCU: Finance counselor for KBCOB.
Favorite basketball player: Ray Allen.
Basketball ability: Team player, motivator, hustles to the end.
On Tempe’s chances: Losing is not an option for me. In it to win it!

● LUKE EYRISE

Hometown: Brookfield, Wis.
What he does at GCU: I change lives daily as an enrollment counselor for Campus 7.
Favorite basketball player: Toni Kukoc.
Basketball ability: They call me “The Janitor” because I clean up — and usually come in for mop-up duty.
On Tempe’s chances: Even if Tim Tebow and divine intervention were on their side, they would not win.

● KOLBY JONES

Hometown: Chicago.
What he does at GCU: Enrollment manager.
Favorite basketball player: Michael Jordan.
Basketball ability: A raging bull — if the bull were blind, had a bad ankle, was slow on defense and had an inconsistent jump shot.
On Tempe’s chances: Will win only if Peoria has car trouble on the way to the game.

● MIKE McFADDEN

Hometown: Phoenix.
What he does at GCU: Enrollment manager for College of Christian Studies.
Favorite basketball player: Steve Nash.
Basketball ability: Like a cheetah in the ocean (looks fast but isn’t).
On Tempe’s chances: The same as me going to the NBA.

● NOAH GERKIN

Hometown: Phoenix.
What he does at GCU: Enrollment manager for KBCOB.
Favorite basketball player: Michael Jordan.
Basketball ability: Definitely possibly maybe good or bad.
On Tempe’s chances: A win for them would be scoring one basket. So … 50-50.

● GLEN ELLIS

Hometown: Phoenix.
What he does at GCU: Enrollment manager, Campus 6. I help change the lives of people who change the lives of students.
Favorite basketball player: Michael Jordan.
Basketball ability: Jackie Moon on offense, Cable Guy on defense.
On Tempe’s chances: Not too bad. We’re giving them one point for each time they hit the rim or backboard!

● JAMIE FREY

Hometown: Bethlehem, Pa.
What she does at GCU: Enrollment counselor for CONHS.
Favorite basketball player: Michael Jordan.
Basketball ability: Can hang with the boys (former NCAA Division II player). Quick release on shot plus an understanding of the game.
On Tempe’s chances: Slim to none. Peoria has talent, maturity, intellect and skill.

● REGGIE ALFONSO

Hometown: Phoenix.
What he does at GCU: Regional director of operations.
Favorite basketball player: Allen Iverson.
Basketball ability: Scoring guard who hates to get scored on.
On Tempe’s chances: Could be a very embarrassing night for our Tempe counterparts.

● DAVID GONZALES

Hometown: I’m a Martian.
What he does for GCU: What don’t I do?
Favorite basketball player: Allen Iverson.
Basketball ability: A step below the waterboy’s.
On Tempe’s chances: About as good as mine of winning the lottery (and I don’t play). Would a Ford Tempo beat a Dodge Viper?

● MONTAE McFARLAND

Hometown: Los Angeles.
What he does for GCU: Enrollment manager.
Favorite basketball player: Kobe Bryant.
Basketball ability: Smart and sneaky.
On Tempe’s chances: Great — as long as we show up on Feb. 23 instead of Feb. 22.