In honor of his return to his home state, his fellow alumni have come together for the seventh year in a row to welcome back NBA Head Coach of the Year, Holbrook Roadrunner Class of ‘88 graduate and Milwaukie Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer for a game against the Phoenix Suns.
The game will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, at Talking Stick Resort Arena. But before gathering at the arena to cheer him on, Holbrook alumni gather for two days of mingling, reminiscing and support. Holbrook Alumni Coordinator Chantilly Snelling, who has been coordinating the event for the past seven years with Budenholzer’s sister Theresa, says that the event is open to any and all Roadrunners. “Here is the perfect opportunity for us all to get together and catch up and remember the good old days in Holbrook. It doesn’t matter if you graduated from Holbrook or not. If you lived in Holbrook and attended any Holbrook school, you’re family. Once a Roadrunner always a Roadrunner!”
Having moved out of Holbrook many years ago, Snelling explained why she still gives it her all to keep the Holbrook alumni spirit alive. “I was born and raised in Holbrook. I have a love for Holbrook. Not so much the town, but the people that made me to be the woman I am today.
“I am a believer and I believe that everyone is my brother and sister in Christ. I look at people in Holbrook as my family. Each one, teach one. As (Holbrook Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Robbie) Koerperich would say, when one Roadrunner is successful, we are all successful. I am here to be an aide to everyone that I know from Holbrook,” said Snelling.
Because there were some concerns expressed surrounding the choice to host the event in the Valley rather than in Holbrook, Snelling took the opportunity to shed some light on why. Snelling explained, “I’m highly aware a lot of people are upset. They think because we do things down here we’re taking business away from people in Holbrook. But my issue is that when we are in Holbrook, most of the events that I do in Holbrook are supported by people that aren’t even from Holbrook,” said Snelling.
Snelling continued, “I go back to Holbrook and I’m grieving (at) what I’m seeing. Everyone says, it’s a great place to be but the people of Holbrook need to do better and take care of that. I’m here in Phoenix and I planned a clean-up in Holbrook, and I can’t tell you where to clean-up, but I know it’s a need.” Snelling said that due to medical circumstances, she was not able to attend but said there were people from other areas who helped. “There were people that came together to do that and a lot of people that came together do not even live in Holbrook. But because that is our foundation, we’ve still got to take care of home. Holbrook is our home. That’s just how I see it,” said Snelling.
Aside from her observations, she clarified that this event is for all Holbrook alumni to enjoy. “Us getting together down here is just a big family reunion,” said Snelling.
“The reason I did it here is I wanted to kind of wrap things around the game so people can come down and make a weekend out of it.”
Because the games fall on different nights of the week each year, the plan accommodates those coming from further locations. “There was probably 40-50 people that showed up for the first one,” said Snelling. From that point forward it continued to grow. They coordinated with the Phoenix Suns and the event was named The Welcome Home Mike Bud event. “The largest crowd we had was on a Saturday night. We had over 300 alumni and their families there.” Seven years later Budenholzer is still amazed at the amount of people who come to support him. Snelling said at one event he noted, “Man, we’ve been going five years, and people still want to come out and see me.”
Festivities will begin Friday, March 6, and continue through the weekend. From 6-10 p.m. on Friday, alumni can enjoy games, join in on happy hour, and the meet and greet to reunite with their fellow Roadrunners at Dave and Busters, located inside the Tempe Market Place.
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, the Alumni Business Expo will be held at the Foothills Golf Club, located at 2201 E. Clubhouse Drive in Phoenix. Snelling explained that the goal is to support and promote each other’s businesses. Not only do they welcome alumni to showcase their business but also to friends of alumni. Snelling said that this is set up to show how other alumni are making their mark in the business world. “Yes, there’s Mike Bud and he’s doing great things, but you know what, there are a lot of other alumni that are doing great things too, so I wanted to take this opportunity to showcase them.”
At 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, the HHS Alumni Meet and Greet Social will also be held at the Foothills Golf Club. Alumni can purchase lunch if they choose and enjoy refreshments at the cash bar. Those interested in the golf tournament can register at 12 p.m. One golfer is $80 and a group of four is $300. Those interested should contact Snelling as soon as possible. Snelling said that volunteers and donations are still needed for that event.
At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, HHS alumni will have the privilege of joining Budenholzer’s team at Talking Stick Resort for a pre-game warm up.
After the warm-up, alumni will get to watch Coach Budenholzer and his team in action during the 3 p.m. game against the Phoenix Suns.
Immediately following the game, alumni will gather in one section of the arena for a more intimate setting with Budenholzer. They’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and mingle more with their fellow alumni and take photos.
A link has been set up where tickets can be purchased up to Feb. 8. But although that was the deadline, Snelling said that in previous years, the link has remained accessible up to game day or until there are no more tickets. The tickets can be purchased at https://groupmatics.events/event/Welcomehome54.
Snelling announced that in order to participate in the pre-game and post-game, tickets must be purchased through the link so the Suns can better prepare their security department. For those who may already have access to tickets, whether it be as a season ticket holder, trade, employment or other means, Snelling said they should contact her as soon as possible to ensure they are counted as part of the group.
Anyone who would like to purchase the all-you-can-eat voucher, which includes hot dog, pretzels, nachos, popcorn, chips, soda and water, that is an additional $14 per person and is separate from the game ticket price. Please contact the HHS Alumni Suns representative Zach Wendel at (602) 379-7802 or zwendel@suns.com to add on the all-you-can-eat voucher.
HHS alumni Lisa Tsosie from the Class of 2000 and the sales director of the Double Tree Hilton Resort advised Snelling that due to it being spring training, a lot of the hotel room rates are high. As a result, special rates will be offered at the resort, located at 7475 W. Chandler Blvd. in Chandler. For more information or to book a room, contact Lisa Tsosie at (480) 961-4444.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Snelling at (480) 294-7787.
