It was another hot and sticky day as 5 area high schools took the field June 24, 1010 to battle it out against one another in a scrimmage/tournament hosted by the Valparaiso Vikings. Wheeler, East Chicago, Boone Grove, and Munster all took part in the competition that benefited the Public Education Foundation of Valparaiso (PEFV). President of the PEFV, Steve Buck said, "All the proceeds and admissions are going to go to the [PEFV], and we supply scholarships to VHS grads and many grants to teachers to do something extra in the classroom that will enhance the educational process here at Valpo."
Not only that, but they were giving away two Jeff Samardzija jerseys: his Notre Dame jersey and his famed Valpo jersey. Trish Sarkisian, Chief Executive Officer of the PEFV, said, "The bidding started at $200 and it's already up to $220 [as of the beginning of the event]. We can get them autographed at some point in time." Some excellent grilling by the Valpo freshman coaching staff was also taking place as one walked through the entrance to the game. It was a great time to just sit back and watch the pigskin being thrown around on a summer day.
All four teams were playing really tough underneath the beating sun. It probably helped that the players weren't decked out in full pads as most players sported athletic shorts and some even half cut-off shirts. But, it was still a hot one as players invigorated themselves with refreshing, cool water right after they came off the field. All the players wanted to show how much they had improved since last season so they were working as hard as they could muster to get that amazing catch, spectacular throw, or jar-dropping tackle.
If you missed this one, there will be another tournament similar to this one hosted at VHS again on July 10th, 2010 against some high schools from around the state including Lafayette Jefferson, Homestead, and Lake Central. Be sure to catch this upcoming one, because for some people, a ball and a stick doesn't satisfy their summer sports appetite.
For photos from this event, click here. For a video of the event, click here.