Three on three basketball tournament a success

The NBA season starts tonight, but some Tufts students figured they would get basketball season going a little early. The Sigma Phi Epsilon and Theta Delta Chi fraternities, commonly known as Sig Ep and 123 respectively, sponsored a three on three charity basketball tournament held in Cousens Gym on Saturday afternoon.

Proceeds from the tournament went to the Jimmy V Foundation, a charity named after legendary NC State basketball coach Jim Valvano. The charity's goal is to raise funds for cancer research. The entry fee was $12 per team, and free food and prizes were distributed as well. In addition to collecting cash for the entry fee, the fraternities sold shirts promoting the event in an attempt to raise extra revenue. Overall, $900 was raised, not including sponsor donations.

Team "Celtic Pride" was crowned tournament champion defeating "Ill Sauce" in the finals. Brian Fitzgerald, Jonathan Kluge, and Nishant Mehta formed the winning team. Fitzgerald was a force in the middle, and teams had a difficult time matching up to his size and strength.

"It was a great time," Fitzgerald said. "It was nice getting to play with my friends, and we had a better turnout than expected."

All three players on the winning team were Sig Ep brothers.

"It was especially fun to win with guys from Sig Ep," Kluge said.

Marcus Krupp, a Sig Ep brother, and Todd Walters, a 123 brother, organized the event.

"Our main goal was to help support cancer research," Krupp said. "We are also trying to give back to the campus and provide an event that everyone can participate in. We tried to recruit a bunch of different clubs from around campus to strengthen the ties of the student body."

The organizers were originally hoping for about 30 teams to participate, but the fact that many students were busy with parent's weekend reduced turnout a bit. Twenty-two teams participated in the event, a number that satisfied the organizers.

A wide range of skill level was on display Saturday. About half the teams were not affiliated with any fraternity. There were co-ed teams, teams of all girls, and teams of all men. Even some parents showed up to show support.

"I think everyone had a real good time," sophomore Greg Bonci, a participant in the event and a Sig Ep pledge, said.

The tournament had been held in years past, but this was the first year that these two fraternities joined to host it.

"We hope there will be even more teams competing next year" Krupp said.