Vermillion Dart League headline Monday night bar scene

In bars across Vermillion, Monday nights are reserved for darts.

Ten teams compete for bragging rights in the Vermillion Dart League at Leo’s Sports Bar, Varsity Pub and Eagles 2421.

Nicholas Haley, captain of the Cat on a Leash team that plays at Varsity Pub, said the teams play games of 501.

“Each player on a team will play five games of two versus two,” Haley said. “We play 501, and shoot down to zero. There are nine total matches, with the last one being a team match and we play 701 for that.”

The players have a good time, said Reda Brewer, captain of the Varsity All Stars and program assistant for USD.

“We have a couple teams that are pretty competitive,” she said. “But most of us go out and shoot darts to have a good time and socialize.”

Brewer said she started the team three years ago, having never played before.

“We were just downtown and there was a team playing and they were looking for additional teams and we just decided to start up a team,” she said.

Haley said he got into darts when a friend needed a replacement and decided to fill in.

“I’ve been in it for four years,” he said. “I came here for college and I had a buddy who needed a replacement. I fell in love with darts. I had never thrown darts in my life. I started playing dart league and practicing all the time.”

The four years of playing and practicing have now helped his team become one of the best in the league.

“We’re 103-59 and we’re in the running for the championship,” he said.

Haley said the season starts in October and wraps up in March, with the championship games played by the teams with the most wins.

“After we find out who’s playing, then we have to find a night that’s good for teams to play,” he said.

While bragging rights have been on the line in the past, a traveling trophy will be added to the championship this year.

“Whoever wins gets their name on it and we pass it from bar to bar,” he said.

Brewer said players don’t have to be good to join because everyone’s there to have a good time.

“When we started our team three years ago, none of us had shot darts before,” she said. “(Playing darts) is just how we get to go out one night a week and have fun and be stress-free.”