Summit League’s 16 Annual Food Fight Challenge
The Summit League is partnering with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) for the 16 straight year to host the Summit League Food Fight Challenge.
The Food Fight is a friendly donation competition between Universities in the Summit League that works to raise money for non-perishable food items. The Coyotes have set a goal of 10,000 Ibs at the end of the competition. All proceeds will go directly to the Vermillion Food Pantry or Charlie’s Cupboard.
SAAC Vice President Evelyn Diederich shared that she feels this competition is not just about athletics but also about the community.
“We can see the community back us up at our games, but to have them come together for something like this to give back to their community,” Diederich said.
The Coyotes have so far raised the most money on the donation page for the Food Fight as of February 6 at over $300. Athletes are working to take home the Summit League Food Fight trophy for the first time. $5 can buy up to 13 pounds of food.
The winner of the Food Fight competition is determined by the highest amount of food measured in pounds.
Through 15 years of doing the Food Fight the Summit League and its institutions have raised over 1.2 million pounds of food.
Diederich thinks that competing against the other universities makes it easier to grow donation values.
“I think it really helps that we are competing against the other schools because that gives us an edge and makes it a little bit more competitive … so for us to be able to donate and give back to the community and people who are in need it’s really special to see our community all come together to donate and give those items is something really special,” Diederich said.
The Coyotes are taking donations from Jan. 25 through Feb. 7. Athletic Director Jon Schemmel, as well as USD staff members Jordan Bonstrom, Marcus Destin and Aimme Sorensen competed to raise $100 in their donation buckets in the Feb. 3 women’s basketball game against South Dakota State for the Cash for the Cupboard Pie Event.
Schemmel, Bonstrom and Destin all earned the $100 amount in their separate buckets so they received a pie to the face for the Cash for the Cupboard Pie Event during the first half of the game.
Diederich hopes that the Coyotes can win their first ever Summit League Food Fight title against conference rivals.
“Getting that title of winning the Summit League Food Fight would mean we care the most about our community and we care about helping people and it would be really nice to beat the people up north this year,” Diederich said.
