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BIG LAKE — The annual Big Lake Lions Club Mud Volleyball Tournament drew a sizable crowd Saturday, June 18.
“Another good year,” Big Lake Lions Club board member Bill Haller said.
A total of 48 teams participated in this year’s tournament, according to Haller. He said this is down compared to pre-COVID 19 times. He said they had 71 teams participate in 2019, and he’s sure they will get back to those numbers soon.
‘It’s a good community event. Everybody has a lot of fun,” Haller said.
The Mud Volleyball Tournament is a highly popular summer event that attracts people from across the state each year, according to Haller. He said they even have teams that travel from as far as Bethel.
“They come from all over the place,” Haller said.
According to Haller, this event started over three decades ago. He said it’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Lions Club.
Haller said this particular tournament is the only mud volleyball event in the state that he knows of.
“It’s very unique. There’s nothing else like it,” Haller said.
Teams are composed of friends, family and colleagues from all walks of life. Half the fun of mud volleyball seems to be coming up with team names. Many team titles are puns or innuendos, and many teams even don official looking jerseys with team members’ names on the back as they hurl themselves back and forth through the mud.
The Ballerz won this year’s tournament. This team of friends and family members have participated in this event for over 7 years, and this is their second championship.
“I felt like our team did really good. I trained them up to this point. They deserved it,” Ballerz team coach Mark Shevchuk said.
Ruvim Shevchuk said that it’s always a lot of fun competing at this highly social event. Smiles, laughter, and respectful sportsmanship never seems to be in short supply at these tournaments.
“It brings everyone together,” Ruvim said.
Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com
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