The Newman University campus will be closed Friday, Oct. 13 for fall break, but a special activity is planned for members of the Newman community.
A campus-wide kickball tournament will take place at 5 p.m. on the Newman softball field. Teams of students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate.
Ian Lecki, director of residence life, pointed out that “athletes, clubs and the performing arts still have rehearsal/practice, and it really isn’t a break. It is simply a day without class. I wanted to provide the students who either can’t go home or choose not to go home something fun to take part in on their ‘day off.'”
To further encourage participation in the kickball tournament, Lecki worked with food services director Chris Heck of Great Western Dining to coordinate an outdoor cookout.
“Chris thought it was a great idea and has mentioned ways to make this more enjoyable for students who choose to attend whether that is to watch or compete,” Lecki added.
While the tournament itself is reserved for Newman students, faculty and staff to play, Newman alumni and community members are more than welcome to watch. Director of theater Mark Mannette who was highly requested for his booming theatrical voices will commentate the event through the softball PA system.
“We’re very excited, and the goal is to make it something everyone can be a part of in some way,” Lecki said. “I have asked the RAs to each bring a team to compete, Residence life will have a team, tennis has entered a team, and I have reached out to Professor Patrick Nance and Clark and Melissa Castle to help spread the word and form a faculty/staff team that wants to compete. If another area on campus would like to put together a team, they just need to reach out to me.”
Lecki described the first-place prize as “quite nice” for the winning team.
“That will be announced later on,” he said.
How to enter
Rules:
- Teams must be co-ed and consist of at least 8 players.
- 10 will be allowed on the field to play at a time (5 male, 5 female).
- Teams must branch to other areas of campus (i.e., men’s soccer can’t play with women’s soccer).
- The tournament will be composed of 3 inning games. (The number of games depends on how many teams sign up to participate.)
- Teams are required to pick a color for their team and wear only that color when competing.
Interested participants can register their teams by emailing Lecki at [email protected].
Register your team
Email director of residence life Ian Lecki to sign up for the campus-wide kickball tournament Friday, Oct. 13.
