Transylvania alumnus and superfan Max Gjerde talked with the men's basketball team earlier in November, shortly before his passing. Transylvania athletics photo

The 3-point shot can be a huge boost to an offense looking for a spark. But this season, when the Transylvania men’s basketball team knocks down a 3-pointer, it will lift the spirits of those who lost a classmate, friend and basketball fan.

Max Gjerde graduated from Transylvania in 2009 and remained a huge Pioneer fan after graduation. He was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare form of cancer – in 2010.

Gjerde lost his battle with the disease Nov. 4, just two weeks before his 27th birthday. But he was able to share a special moment with the Transylvania basketball team before the Pioneers took on the University of Kentucky in an exhibition game Nov. 1.

Gjerde got a chance to talk with head coach Brian Lane and the Pioneers before they took on the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

“We were excited to spend time with Max on FaceTime but we quickly realized that he was in a tough situation. I am amazed that he was so excited about our game when it was clear he was in a much more significant battle,” head coach Brian Lane said. “He was very positive and gave our guys a great pep talk about playing as well as you could on the national basketball stage.”

Lane told Gjerde that the team was dedicating all their 3s to him. And from there the #3sForMax campaign was born.

Through pledges from supporters, a donation in Gjerde’s memory will be made to his favorite charity – 3 Little Birds 4 Life – every time Transylvania makes a 3 this season.

Bryan Conover was a good friend and roommate of Gjerde’s, and has played a key role in beginning the #3sForMax effort.

“Max's last wish was for us to do fundraising and raise awareness for this charity,” Conover explained. “He gave us that as a task to do, and we're trying our best to honor him and his legacy the best we can.”

Conover was with Gjerde when the video call was set up. 

“He looked at everybody and said I guess I need to get my energy so I'm going to take a nap. That was his way of saying this is awesome. I'm really excited about it. I need to make sure I have the energy to do this well,” Conover said. “That all being said, the basketball game and that evening was probably his last lucid moments. So I think it meant the world to him in that time, and he definitely got up for it and gave it his all and gave some fun coach-speak to the team.”

Lane said his players got a lot out of the experience as well.

“The nurses at University of Kentucky set up the chat to lift Max's spirits because he was not able to attend the game but after our five minute conversation I can honestly say that our team got a lot more out of his pep talk to the team than Max got,” the coach said. “We saw a Transylvania alum that was going through an enormous amount of pain and suffering that wanted to spend time with us before we played a huge game versus the University of Kentucky.

“Every player on my team will remember the UK game, but I guarantee you they will also remember our time with Max before we walked down to Rupp arena to play the No. 1 team in the nation.”

Conover left the hospital to go to the game, where there was an empty seat for Gjerde. On the way to the arena, Conover got a message from SID Laura Rudolph, which explained the team was dedicating its 3-pointers.

“I basically retweeted some of her stuff and put the #3sForMax hashtag, and it kind of grew from there,” Conover said. “It was really cool to see some people I knew and some people I didn't know using it and recognizing that it was going toward Max and his cause.”

Because of the attention #3sForMax received via social media, the idea grew to dedicating the team’s 3-pointers throughout the winter.

“We've been taking donations,” Conover said. “Over 100 people have committed and it's over $40 a 3, so there is a hefty price on the line for every time Transylvania makes a shot.”

“When I told the team the next practice that Max had passed away there were a lot of sad faces. Someone passing away is such a tough thing but when a connection had been made like we had to Max it was even tougher,” Lane said. “I am excited we can keep his memory alive by raising money for his favorite charity with every 3-pointer we make this season.”

The money will be donated to 3 Little Birds 4 Life, a charity close Gjerde’s heart.

“I think Max really liked it because it was small scale, but did things that really benefited people,” Conover said, adding that the fundraising mission may include selling T-shirts and other efforts.

Conover fondly recalled Gjerde as a ‘loveable jerk’ who would pick on friends with a good-natured attitude. Conover added that Gjerde was a smart man that was pursuing a career in diplomacy before falling ill.

“He was an incredibly smart, well-read, well-traveled, interesting guy with a very, very bright future,” Conover said. “The only thing we can do that is hope that through our efforts, we can maintain what legacy he would have had.”

Conover said Gjerde fought the disease as hard as he could, but at the same time never used his illness as an excuse.

“It was the hand he was dealt and he was playing it the best that he could,” Conover said.

Likewise, the Transylvania basketball players will play the best they can, sinking 3s to help raise awareness for Gjerde’s cause.

Those who would like to pledge support for #3sForMax can visit www.3sformax.tumblr.com.

Taylor’s big debut

Grinnell’s Jack Taylor scored 180 points in a two-game span last weekend. Taylor scored 71 points in a 144-99 win over Finlandia Nov. 15 and threw in 109 the next night to help the Pioneers top Crossroads 173-123. A year ago, Taylor scored an NCAA record 138 points while competing in the Pioneers’ unique system.

Titans make it rain

The UW-Oshkosh women’s basketball team set a new school record when the Titans buried 14 3-pointers in a blowout win over Northland International. Oshkosh got 10 3-pointers from freshmen in the 95-34 win, which set a new school mark for margin of victory.

Check in

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