Kessler tourney expands this year

Kessler Tickets for the Dr. Alec Kessler Memorial High School Basketball Invitational went on sale last weekend during the Life’s a Breeze event at Shoreline Park.

The second annual tournament will be held Dec. 28-30 at Gulf Breeze High School to

honor the legacy of Kessler, who suddenly past away in October 2007. Eight boys teams and four girls teams from around the southeast will compete.

Kessler was an All-American basketball player at the University of Georgia, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He was selected as the NCAA All-Sports Student Athlete of the year in 1990.

After college, Kessler was drafted into the NBA by the Miami Heat. He played professionally for four years before pursuing his life goal of becoming a physician.

Upon graduating with honors from Emory University Medical School and completing a residency in orthopedic surgery, Kessler moved to Gulf Breeze to practice medicine with Baptist Health Care and the Andrews Institute

The Andrews Institute has established a scholarship and mentorship program in Kessler’s name. All proceeds of the Basketball Invitational will support the scholarship and mentorship program, which seeks to help Escambia and Santa Rosa County high school athletes overcome social and personal challenges and achieve academic success.

Tournament organizers also are seeking support in the form of sponsorships from local area businesses. For more information about the tournament or for sponsorships, call (850) 916-8650 or visit: www.TheAndrewsInstitute.com.

KESSLER INVITATIONAL

¦ When: Monday, Dec. 28 through Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 ¦ Where: Gulf Breeze High School ¦ Boys Tournament: Gulf Breeze High; Fairhope, Ala.; Catholic; Milton; Navarre; Ooltewah, Tenn.; Roswell, Ga.; eighth team TBA. ¦ Girls Tournament: Gulf Breeze High, Calvary Christian (FWB), Northview (Dothan, Ala.), Robertsdale, Ala. ¦ Cost: $5 per game day. Ticket purchase also qualifies for automatic entry into raffle drawings. Tickets can be purchased at Athletes’ Performance at the Andrews Institute 1020 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze.