Students hurling yellow balls at one another filled the Penn State Multi-Sport Complex on Sunday afternoon -- all "For the Kids."
The third annual Thon Dodgeball Tournament was held on Sunday, sponsored by the Penn State men's basketball team. Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon Committee members, greek organizations, independent organizations and other students formed more than
120 dodgeball teams to benefit Thon 2010, Finance Overall Chairwoman Lauren Tucci said.
During the past three years, the Thon Dodgeball Tournament has raised more than $20,000. Assistant Marketing Manager for Athletics Matt Checchio said he expects the tournament to generate about $7,800 this year.
The basketball team is usually on the road for games when the actual dance marathon takes place in February, Checchio said. Team members decided to sponsor the event three years ago because they wanted to get involved and find a way to include all students, he said.
Both the men's ice hockey and volleyball teams also participated in the event, Tucci said, adding that graduate students from the Smeal College of Business also signed up.
Public Relations Overall Chairwoman Elyse Adams said she was glad to see so many students show their support for Thon this early in the year.
"This is awesome," Adams (senior-bioengineering and mechanical engineering) said. "It's a great way to stir excitement within the Thon community and across campus."
Even after being eliminated from the tournament, some students were still excited about the event because of its purpose.
Jessica Meeder, a Thon Communications captain, said she was happy to see the event turn out so successfully, especially right before the first canning weekend.
"I think it's really exciting," Meeder (junior-broadcast journalism) said. "It's great to see so many people come out."
At the end of the afternoon, more than 120 teams had been whittled down to only two. NWO, or "New World Order," was the winner of the tournament.
After the team was given its medals and trophy, Tucci said its prizes included 2009-10 Nittany Lion Basketball season tickets.
