By Niki Acton '16

More than 30 alumni and their families returned to campus for the 20th Annual Natalie Veneziano Winter Whiteout Tournament, an event that reunites alumni from across the country as they challenge the student Ultimate Frisbee team to a homecoming game.

"Every February, we come back to Knox to play Ultimate Frisbee and see old friends," said Rob Clark '95, founder of the tournament. The Knox Alumni team attracted players who graduated in the mid '90s through last year's graduates. A special addition to this year's anniversary tournament was the singing of the Knox Hymn by the Knox College Choir before the Knox student vs. alumni game.

The tournament commemorates the life of Natalie Veneziano, a 1998 Knox alumna and passionate Frisbee player who died of leukemia in 2004. For the first time since 2010, the Veneziano family traveled back to Knox for the tournament.

"It means so much to us in the sense that it gives us another way to celebrate my sister's life," said Keith Veneziano, Natalie's brother.

"Ultimate Frisbee was just one of the things that she did here, but she loved the sport, and more importantly, she loved Knox. I think it would put a smile on her face knowing that people are coming back together to celebrate her life in this way."

The Knox A team won its pool, defeating Lake Forest, Totes Magotes, Knox Alumni and Busse. The Knox A team went on to win the tournament, defeating Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Torque in the playoffs.

The Knox Alumni team won three of the five matches it played, defeating Busse, Lake Forest, and Totes Magotes, and losing to the Knox A team 13-2; then losing 10-9 to DePaul in its quarterfinal match.

The tournament commemorates the life of Natalie Veneziano, a 1998 Knox alumna and passionate Frisbee player who died of leukemia in 2004. For the first time since 2010, the Veneziano family traveled back to Knox for the tournament.

"It means so much to us in the sense that it gives us another way to celebrate my sister's life," said Keith Veneziano, Natalie's brother.

"Ultimate Frisbee was just one of the things that she did here, but she loved the sport, and more importantly, she loved Knox. I think it would put a smile on her face knowing that people are coming back together to celebrate her life in this way."

The Knox A team won its pool, defeating Lake Forest, Totes Magotes, Knox Alumni and Busse. The Knox A team went on to win the tournament, defeating Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Torque in the playoffs.

The Knox Alumni team won three of the five matches it played, defeating Busse, Lake Forest, and Totes Magotes, and losing to the Knox A team 13-2; then losing 10-9 to DePaul in its quarterfinal match.

View more photos in the Knox College Flickr gallery.