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Dodgeball for a cause

| 25 Jan 2017 | 02:00
    From left, Rich McGinnis, Dylan Bebe, Erich Schroeder, Tyler McGinnis, Joel Delarosa, Kyle McGinnis and Michale Torres of Team Pink Palmers. "We are fighting for pink!" - Rich McGinnis. Photos by Leslie Sullivan
    From left, Rich McGinnis, Dylan Bebe, Erich Schroeder, Tyler McGinnis, Joel Delarosa, Kyle McGinnis and Michale Torres of Team Pink Palmers. "We are fighting for pink!" - Rich McGinnis. Photos by Leslie Sullivan
    From left, Coach Austin Bramley, Garret Stewart, Ryan Rossiter, Billy Lowen, Zach Herbert, Sean Finnegan, Sean McHugh, Kevin Berlin, and Carter Sheridan of Team Wrasslers.
    From left, Coach Austin Bramley, Garret Stewart, Ryan Rossiter, Billy Lowen, Zach Herbert, Sean Finnegan, Sean McHugh, Kevin Berlin, and Carter Sheridan of Team Wrasslers.
    From left, Abby Radler, David Lisboa, Veronica Pollock, Connor Nelms, Jessica Stillwell, Nick Lamonica, and Frank Hoffman of Team Apocalyptic.
    From left, Abby Radler, David Lisboa, Veronica Pollock, Connor Nelms, Jessica Stillwell, Nick Lamonica, and Frank Hoffman of Team Apocalyptic.
    Referees Matt Monahan, Derek Pivko, and Danny Wohlleb.
    Referees Matt Monahan, Derek Pivko, and Danny Wohlleb.
    Team Lumber Jack You Up!
    Team Lumber Jack You Up!
    Even the littlest of dodgeballers showed up for the event. Juliet Geaney, 2 years old, representing team Crossfit!
    Even the littlest of dodgeballers showed up for the event. Juliet Geaney, 2 years old, representing team Crossfit!
    Referee Andrew Lowery lays out the rules of the tournament.
    Referee Andrew Lowery lays out the rules of the tournament.

BY LESLIE SULLIVAN
SPARTA — Pass It Along hosted its 9th annual Dodge Ball Tournament, sponsored by The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. Saturday, January 21 at the Sparta Athletic Club, 30 dodge ball teams gathered to participate in the annual event. The event was complete with cheering fans, music, water breaks, and good, clean, competition. The teams who placed first, The Elusive Butterflies of Love, second The Really Fast Cowboys and third, Tune Squad received prizes.
A unique twist to the tournament was the encouragement that each team arrive to the games in a creative costume/uniform. There were 30 themed teams ranging from Breast Cancer Dodgers to the team that looked like they just walked out of the hit TV series The Walking Dead. The award for the best costume went to Team Lumber Jack You Up and Team Apocalyptic. The prizes were donated by Mountain Creek, Krogh's, Sussex Bike and Sport, and Stryker Airsoft.
All proceeds from the event will go to fund the Pass It Along organization, providing free programs and services to the community, this year the dodge ball event raised $4,700.00 for the organization. The event was organized Program Coordinator Anna Gunderson, and Director of Programs Kailey Denzer-Weiler. “The best part of this event is the feeling of community and energy at the tournament. Everyone dresses up in crazy outfits, we have music blasting and a lot of spectators from the community show up to watch,” Ana Gunderson, program coordinator.
Pass It Along would like to extend their gratitude to the people who made this event possible; Dennis Bivona the photographer for Pass It Along, Andrew Lowery the tournaments head referee, Ryan Pascarella for music and sound, Cathy Reese the dodge ball score keeper, Emcee’s Grace Sander and Tim Jackson, the volunteers at Pass It Along and the Fieldhouse staff.
For more information, or to volunteer with Pass It Along, visit passitalong.org.