| In
2002, Marissa Maaske and Gene Steinmeyer held the first
event – “The Hoop N Surf Classic” for five NCAA II women’s
basketball teams. The goal was to provide NCAA II women’s
college teams with a venue in which to play competitive
basketball in addition to enjoying all Hawaii has to offer.
The company soon expanded within the women’s ranks to
include an NCAA III/NAIA basketball event bearing the same
name.
After a request from Head
Men’s Coach Bob Chipman of Washburn University, the company
added a Men’s NCAA II Hoop N Surf in 2004. The growth
continued in 2005 as an NCAA III/NAIA men’s classic was also
included.
The company started as Hoop N
Surf in 2002 but incorporated under the Hawaiian name Malika
Sports, LLC in 2004. Hoop N Surf still exists, bringing Jr.
College, NAIA, NCAA II and III women’s and men’s basketball
tournaments to Oahu for November and December classics. The
inaugural Oahu Classic took place in November 2007 and
featured five top NCAA I women’s basketball teams; three of which made it to the NCAA national tournament.
To date, over 120 schools
have competed in events hosted by Malika Sports. Four
women’s teams used the Hoop N Surf Classic as a springboard
to the national championship in their respective divisions
the same year.
2004, 2005, 2009 Morningside College (NAIA
DI)
2005 Washburn University (NCAA DII)
2006 Grand Valley State (NCAA DII)
2009 George Fox University (NCAA DIII)
|