TKE puts on fight night for St. Jude’s

Tau Kappa Epsilon’s annual Fight Night charity event sent fighting contestants head to head Thursday night to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

The event brought in $3,614.33 and drew 250 people for the event’s 30 year.

“No one else does anything like this,” TKE Philanthropy Chair Jordan Hermanson said. “It appeals to a wide variety of people.”

Hermanson said the fighting event draws audience members who like to see action along with others who want a heartwarming, charity related experience.

The event paired 18 fighters in nine fights. Volunteers from the community underwent training to receive certification to participate in the event. In addition, the volunteer fighters had to attend multiple practices, including about 30 hours of training, to participate in the event. Members from the fraternity tabled in the Muenster University Center to recruit fighters, including two female fighters matched up in a fight, for the event.

Members of TKE began setting up for the event at 7:30 a.m. the morning of the fights. Five judges and a time keeper oversaw the event that had been in the planning for more than two months.

“A lot of the unexpected has been expected,” Hermanson said.

Hermanson said the members of the fraternity were looking forward to the event.

“Everyone is excited for it to happen,” Hermanson said. “It’s nervous excitement.”

Sophomore Anshu Chandra, the co-coordinator of the event, said the event’s goal was to raise $4,000, double the goal of last year.

“We set the bar quite higher this year,” Chandra said.

Chandra said last year, an anonymous donor matched TKE’s donation to St. Jude’s. The organization doubled the goal in case the anonymous donor decided to match the funds again.

To increase the amount raised this year, Chandra said the organization utilized technology that allowed credit cards to be accepted this year.

“That helped quite a bit,” Chandra said.

Each fighter received a medal of appreciation for their involvement in the event, and trophies were given for Best Fight an Best Team.

Photo: Dawson Baker faces off against Matt Austergaurd during TKE Fight Night at the Vermillion Armory March 27. (Duane Duimstra/The Volante)