GREENSBORO, N.C. — The 47th HAECO Invitational is set for Dec. 19-22, 2023 at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.
► Tournament Venue Upgrade: For the first time in tournament history, the HAECO Invitational will be played in the Novant Health Fieldhouse, home of the Greensboro Swarm, the Charlotte Hornets’ G-League team. After many years of playing the HAECO Invitational only in the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center, the HAECO Invitational will be played on the Novant Health Fieldhouse court and the tournament’s longtime “court 1.” This upgrade is made to enhance the tournament atmosphere and provide players an opportunity to play where professionals play each year.
► New Earlier Tournament Dates…again: After playing before Christmas for the first time ever a year ago, the HAECO Invitational has new dates again in 2023. Because the Guilford County Schools calendar changed prior to the current academic year releasing for the winter break on Thursday, Dec. 21, the Greensboro Sports Council was forced to change the dates again. In order to complete the tournament before most travel for the holidays, the tournament expanded to four days playing the men’s opening round on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 6 and 7:30 p.m. and the women’s opening round on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 6 and 7:30 p.m. This change kept the reason for playing before Christmas in place: allow families more flexibility to rest, relax and enjoy the holidays. Subsequent tournament days will be played using a schedule similar to previous years.
► Championship Game Teams Celebrate at HAECO: As part of its effort to expose Piedmont Triad high school students to their industry and encourage them to discover the available career opportunities in the aviation and aerospace fields, HAECO Invitational championship and runner-up teams will be invited to HAECO for a championship celebration and tour of the facility. The four teams participating in the HAECO Invitational championship games will be invited to the celebration in January at HAECO’s Piedmont Triad International Airport headquarters. Winning teams in the four semifinal games will receive additional information after their semifinal victories.
► Contributions to the Schools: Many things make the HAECO Invitational exceptional, but what makes it unique is that tournament proceeds are donated to charity and the participating schools. Last year, the tournament donated $10,000 to each participating school for a total of $80,000. In recent years, the Greensboro Sports Council made the following donations to the HAECO Invitational participating schools: 2008: $96,000, 2009: $80,000, 2010: $86,000, 2011: $100,000, 2012: $108,000, 2013: $112,000, 2014: $112,000, 2015: $112,000, 2016: $100,000, 2017: $100,000, 2018: $80,000, 2019: $100,000, 2020: $22,000 (no tournament), 2021: $86,000, 2022: $80,000. That’s a total of $1,352,000 since 2008.
► 2023 Women’s Seeds
- Bishop McGuinness High School
- Greensboro Day School
- Smith High School
- Dudley High School
- Page High School
- Grimsley High School
- Ragsdale High School
- Southeast Guilford High School
► 2023 Men’s Seeds
- Smith High School
- Greensboro Day School
- Grimsley High School
- Bishop McGuinness High School
- Dudley High School
- Page High School
- Ragsdale High School
- Southeast Guilford High School
First Round Games
Women's Bracket:
No. 8 SE Guilford vs. No. 1 Bishop McGuinness: 6 p.m. Dec. 20 in Novant Health Fieldhouse
No. 5 Page vs. No. 4 Dudley: 6 p.m. Dec. 20 on Court 1 in Special Events Center
No. 7 Ragsdale vs. No. 2 Greensboro Day: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 in Novant Health Fieldhouse
No. 6 Grimsley vs. No. 3 Smith: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 on Court 1 in Special Events Center
Men's Bracket:
No. 8 SE Guilford vs. No. 1 Smith: 6 p.m. Dec. 19 in Novant Health Fieldhouse
No. 5 Dudley vs. No. 4 Bishop McGuinness: 6 p.m. Dec. 19 on Court 1 in Special Events Center
No. 7 Ragsdale vs. No. 2 Greensboro Day: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in Novant Health Fieldhouse
No. 6 Page vs. No. 3 Grimsley: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 on Court 1 in Special Events Center