NAIT game-day staffer celebrates 18 seasons with the Ooks

By Admin User on December 12, 2019

At an institution like NAIT where students cycle through programs every two, three or four years, the NAIT Athletics game-day crew sees a similar turnover.

One staff member, however, has been running the score clock at NAIT’s basketball games for nearly two decades.

“I love being around people and watching basketball and all the different sports and just enjoying it,” said Atif Farhat.

Atif Farhat, or “Wheels” as he is known in the gym, has seen countless players work their way through the athletics program at NAIT. Farhat witnessed Slav Kornik’s 2003 CCAA men’s basketball national championship and how watches him on the bench as the men’s basketball head coach.

Farhat also watched Sebastian Cava win his 2016 CCAA men’s basketball national championship. Shortly after that, Cava was hired by NAIT Athletics as their promotions & event coordinator, and is now Farhat’s boss.

“He always brings a good vibe. He’s always happy, cheery. I love giving him a hard time because I love seeing his reactions,” said Cava.

One of Farhat’s coworkers has also spent a fair share of his time with the NAIT game-day crew. Sean Szopa has been working with Farhat for the last seven years. He appreciated the energy Farhat brings to the crowd at halftime.

Farhat playing a game at the halftime show in the NAIT gymnasium.

As the longest-serving staff member on the game-day crew, Farhat often jokes about retirement. Szopa, however, is skeptical.

“He keeps saying he’s saying he’s going to retire. I don’t know if there’s a battle between me and him of who’s going to last the longest. I guess we’ll see and see who is the last person standing,” said Szopa.

While Farhat jokes around about hanging up his uniform for good, even he is unsure when that time will come.

“I keep telling people I’m going to retire and I keep coming back. I don’t know if retirement’s in my future yet,” said Farhat. “Just getting back to your original question about why I do this… It’s because of that table behind me, they’re like a family to me.”