Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Mike Coleman
Bucknell Athletics Reveals New Court Design in Sojka Pavilion
8/19/2022 4:00:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Sojka Pavilion, the home of the Bucknell men's and women's basketball teams, will feature a brand-new court design starting with its 20th-anniversary season in 2022-23.
The new look is highlighted by a stampeding herd of bison, an enlarged center court logo, and a rustic blue boundary area that was applied with hardwood stain rather than the traditional paint.
"After 20 years of the same design, it was time to modernize the look and feel," said Jermaine Truax, director of athletics and recreation. "The new look was designed with recruits, fans, and our current student-athletes in mind, with the overarching goal of promoting our prominent basketball brand."
Sojka Pavilion opened on Jan. 15, 2003, when the Bison men's and women's basketball teams hosted Lehigh in a doubleheader. Since then, both teams have lifted Patriot League championship trophies in Sojka Pavilion, and legions of devoted fans have witnessed numerous record performances, buzzer-beaters, and other thrilling moments.
In the 20 years since Sojka Pavilion debuted, the Bucknell men's team has captured six Patriot League Tournament championships and 10 regular-season titles. In five of those six championship-game victories, the Bison cut the nets down at home in Sojka Pavilion. The women's team celebrated league championships in Sojka in 2017 and 2019, and in 2020 the Bison were the No. 1 seed when the tournament was halted due to the pandemic.
The men's team has compiled an overall record of 200-70 (.741) and a Patriot League mark of 146-37 (.798) in Sojka Pavilion. The women's team is 183-78 (.701) overall and 118-50 (.702) in league play since the opening of Sojka.
The stampeding herd on the new court design pays tribute to the majestic American bison, which once roamed into central Pennsylvania in great numbers. At the suggestion of Bucknell Athletics Hall-of-Famer Dr. William Bartol, the bison was adopted as Bucknell's mascot in 1923 – 100 years ago this spring.
The five bison portrayed on the court is also an homage to the five Bucknell basketball greats who have had their jerseys formally retired: Hal Danzig '59 (No. 44), Al Leslie '81 (No. 22), Jennifer Walz '89 (No. 12), Molly Creamer '03 (No. 23), and Mike Muscala '13 (No. 31).
"The new design honors Bucknell's proud, century-long association with the 'Bison' nickname, as well as the five greats whose jerseys have been commemorated in Sojka Pavilion," said Truax. "It also represents our lineup of determined student-athletes who leave it all on the court for the Orange & Blue."
Men's and women's basketball season ticket renewals will be mailed out the first week of September and new seats go on sale at the Bison Basketball Fan Fest on Friday, Sept. 23 at 5:00 p.m. To inquire about new season tickets prior to Sept. 23, please click here.
The new look is highlighted by a stampeding herd of bison, an enlarged center court logo, and a rustic blue boundary area that was applied with hardwood stain rather than the traditional paint.
"After 20 years of the same design, it was time to modernize the look and feel," said Jermaine Truax, director of athletics and recreation. "The new look was designed with recruits, fans, and our current student-athletes in mind, with the overarching goal of promoting our prominent basketball brand."
Sojka Pavilion opened on Jan. 15, 2003, when the Bison men's and women's basketball teams hosted Lehigh in a doubleheader. Since then, both teams have lifted Patriot League championship trophies in Sojka Pavilion, and legions of devoted fans have witnessed numerous record performances, buzzer-beaters, and other thrilling moments.
In the 20 years since Sojka Pavilion debuted, the Bucknell men's team has captured six Patriot League Tournament championships and 10 regular-season titles. In five of those six championship-game victories, the Bison cut the nets down at home in Sojka Pavilion. The women's team celebrated league championships in Sojka in 2017 and 2019, and in 2020 the Bison were the No. 1 seed when the tournament was halted due to the pandemic.
The men's team has compiled an overall record of 200-70 (.741) and a Patriot League mark of 146-37 (.798) in Sojka Pavilion. The women's team is 183-78 (.701) overall and 118-50 (.702) in league play since the opening of Sojka.
The stampeding herd on the new court design pays tribute to the majestic American bison, which once roamed into central Pennsylvania in great numbers. At the suggestion of Bucknell Athletics Hall-of-Famer Dr. William Bartol, the bison was adopted as Bucknell's mascot in 1923 – 100 years ago this spring.
The five bison portrayed on the court is also an homage to the five Bucknell basketball greats who have had their jerseys formally retired: Hal Danzig '59 (No. 44), Al Leslie '81 (No. 22), Jennifer Walz '89 (No. 12), Molly Creamer '03 (No. 23), and Mike Muscala '13 (No. 31).
"The new design honors Bucknell's proud, century-long association with the 'Bison' nickname, as well as the five greats whose jerseys have been commemorated in Sojka Pavilion," said Truax. "It also represents our lineup of determined student-athletes who leave it all on the court for the Orange & Blue."
Men's and women's basketball season ticket renewals will be mailed out the first week of September and new seats go on sale at the Bison Basketball Fan Fest on Friday, Sept. 23 at 5:00 p.m. To inquire about new season tickets prior to Sept. 23, please click here.
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