Hesston College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will take to the court for exhibition games with Goshen (Ind.) College and Iowa Wesleyan College (Mt. Pleasant) during a fall break trip, Oct. 16-19.

The Larks will take on the Goshen College Maple Leafs Friday, Oct. 16, with games starting at 6 and 8 p.m. Alumni office staff will accompany the teams and host a court-side alumni event.

The Hesston teams will tour the Goshen campus earlier on Friday, and will also visit Jefferson Elementary School where they will read to an elementary class taught by 1978 Hesston graduate Lois Landis Oyer. Jefferson Elementary is involved in a program to promote college education.

A morning practice at Bethany Christian School (Goshen) is scheduled for both Hesston teams on Saturday, while Hesston Admissions will sponsor a prospective student luncheon at noon that day, also at Bethany Christian.

The next morning, both teams and Hesston College men’s and women’s head coaches Dustin Galyon and Dan Harrison will be involved in the 10:30 a.m. morning worship service at East Goshen Mennonite Church. Galyon will also lead a Faith and Sports Seminar during the Sunday school hour at 9:30 a.m. Area youth and their parents, as well as area youth groups are also invited to attend. Following the services, the teams will make the 350-mile trip to southeastern Iowa as they continue their Midwest swing.

President Howard Keim will preach in Goshen that morning, as well. He will offer the meditation at College Mennonite Church’s 9:30 a.m. service on the theme, “The Truth Shall Make You Free,” Hesston College’s motto and the 2009-10 campus theme verse.

In Iowa the teams will attend a youth gathering for Wayland, Iowa, area churches on Sunday evening, October 18, and practice and attend chapel at Iowa Mennonite School on Monday morning. The Larks will play exhibition games against Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. An alumni event will take place between games that night as well.

“We are looking forward to being on the road together and bonding as a team while connecting with future Hesston College students and alumni and friends,” commented men’s coach Dustin Galyon. “This is an important trip for us as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

“Our players are extremely excited to take this trip, especially those from the communities we will visit,” added women’s coach Dan Harrison. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Hesston College Alumni and friends of the college to interact with current Hesston student-athletes. Our players will have the chance to meet some of the many people who support the college and our program.”