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ARMA —
The mud volleyball tournament has been part of Arma’s V-J Homecoming celebration for at least 15 years, and it’s one of the events that keeps the celebration young.
Hundreds of people young and old turn out for the spectacle, but the younger folks provide most of the entertainment.
“It’s for young kids to have a good time and party and do something athletic in the summertime,” said Bill Kovacic, of the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron No. 182, which is running the tournament for the second year in a row. “There’s a lot of 20-somethings, mainly Pitt State students.”
Kovacic said the tournament usually has about 40 five-member teams.
“There are usually several hundred people that come to watch it,” Kovacic said. “We sold 700 tickets last year, counting the participants and the fans.”
Kathryn Richard, chairwoman of the Arma Homecoming Association, said she thinks Arma’s mud volleyball tournament is the largest in the state.
“It’s because young people like to have fun together and it’s an opportunity to let loose and have fun,” Richard said.
The teams compete in separate divisions for men, women and coed. To reduce the threat of broken glass, no glass containers are allowed in the park. Kovacic said teams were encouraged to keep it clean when thinking about names, too.
“The kids want to get creative with the team names, but we want to keep it family friendly,” he said.
But with team names such as Tequila Mockingbird, The Scoregasms and Stotally Tober, whether teams paid that request much heed is debatable.
Kovacic said he’s attended nearly all of the homecoming celebrations. He said various activities appeal to different groups of people.
“There are many traditional homecoming activities, and various groups go to the things they enjoy,” Kovacic said. “Some folks go do it all, and mud volleyball is appealing to the younger group.”
The reasons the tournament is appealing vary. Pittsburg State University students Kelsi White and Autumn Clark, both of Arma, brought their friend Jeanna Lewis, of Wichita. They said they come to the tournament every year.
“It’s our hometown and we come to celebrate,” Clark said, adding that she had been drinking since 7 a.m. “We’re here to get dirty and drunk.”
Lewis was equally candid.
“We came here to lose at mud volleyball,” she said, beer in hand. “And we’re here to party hard and get drunk. They’ll tell you I’m wrong, but I’m right 100 percent.”
Arma resident Ashley Hittle, of team I’d Hit That, said she also participates every year.
“I come to have a good time and have fun,” Hittle said, covered in mud after a match. “You get to have a good time with your friends, enjoy the weather and get drunk.”
The mud volleyball tournament has been part of Arma’s V-J Homecoming celebration for at least 15 years, and it’s one of the events that keeps the celebration young.
Hundreds of people young and old turn out for the spectacle, but the younger folks provide most of the entertainment.
“It’s for young kids to have a good time and party and do something athletic in the summertime,” said Bill Kovacic, of the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron No. 182, which is running the tournament for the second year in a row. “There’s a lot of 20-somethings, mainly Pitt State students.”
Kovacic said the tournament usually has about 40 five-member teams.
“There are usually several hundred people that come to watch it,” Kovacic said. “We sold 700 tickets last year, counting the participants and the fans.”
Kathryn Richard, chairwoman of the Arma Homecoming Association, said she thinks Arma’s mud volleyball tournament is the largest in the state.
“It’s because young people like to have fun together and it’s an opportunity to let loose and have fun,” Richard said.
The teams compete in separate divisions for men, women and coed. To reduce the threat of broken glass, no glass containers are allowed in the park. Kovacic said teams were encouraged to keep it clean when thinking about names, too.
“The kids want to get creative with the team names, but we want to keep it family friendly,” he said.
But with team names such as Tequila Mockingbird, The Scoregasms and Stotally Tober, whether teams paid that request much heed is debatable.
Kovacic said he’s attended nearly all of the homecoming celebrations. He said various activities appeal to different groups of people.
“There are many traditional homecoming activities, and various groups go to the things they enjoy,” Kovacic said. “Some folks go do it all, and mud volleyball is appealing to the younger group.”
The reasons the tournament is appealing vary. Pittsburg State University students Kelsi White and Autumn Clark, both of Arma, brought their friend Jeanna Lewis, of Wichita. They said they come to the tournament every year.
“It’s our hometown and we come to celebrate,” Clark said, adding that she had been drinking since 7 a.m. “We’re here to get dirty and drunk.”
Lewis was equally candid.
“We came here to lose at mud volleyball,” she said, beer in hand. “And we’re here to party hard and get drunk. They’ll tell you I’m wrong, but I’m right 100 percent.”
Arma resident Ashley Hittle, of team I’d Hit That, said she also participates every year.
“I come to have a good time and have fun,” Hittle said, covered in mud after a match. “You get to have a good time with your friends, enjoy the weather and get drunk.”
