The first annual handball tournament will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. in the Nerney Field House, located in the Dixon Center. Hosted by the Math Club, all proceeds collected at the event will go to Operation Santa Claus, an organization that gives toys to children in need.
“As this is our first time holding this event, we really don’t have any expectations,” Cathy Matta, junior mathematics major and president of the Math Club, said. “We’re hoping we’ll have enough teams to play a few games though.”
The Math Club decided that with a larger group involved in the club this year, it was best to hold an event that would get the entire school involved.
“We were bouncing around ideas as a group for our service project this semester and this just seemed like a good idea, so we ran with it,” Matta said. “Operation Santa Claus was brought up by Laura Rucci, an executive member of the club. The organization we chose provides gifts to lower-income children in Philadelphia.”
The Math Club is hoping for a good turnout by students willing to donate their time and talent for this event. Everyone is welcome, students and faculty alike.
“The Math Club is known mainly for holding the Pi Day event in the Spring,” Jessica Hubal, junior mathematics major and Math Club member, said.
“We wanted to create an event for the Fall semester,” Hubal said. “We are hoping that we have a good turn out this year with both the students and faculty members.”
Hubal said the reason why the Math Club chose handball for this event is because everyone could participate in it due to the fact that handball is not difficult to teach players.
“It doesn’t take much skill to play. It is also a sport that not many clubs would think of,” Hubal said. “So we thought maybe it would grab more attention around campus.”
Hubal also said that Christmas is a time when the first thing on everybody’s to-do list should be to give and this event will offer the perfect opportunity for college students on a budget who want to help others.
In a small but positive way, the handball tournament offers students an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of a child who needs it the most.
“We got a really spirited group and we hope lots of people come out and either play handball or support their friends,” Matta said.
