Playing in the mud for a good cause at annual mud volleyball tournament in Roscoe

By Jean Seegers

Reporter

ROSCOE = Thirty two years ago the first Mud Volleyball Tournament, benefitting the not-for- profit Epilepsy Foundation took place. It was held in a small field near the Roscoe Library. The fundraising event was the brainchild of Vic Verni, former Executive Director of the Epilepsy Foundation.

Since that time, the tournament has mushroomed far beyond expectations.

For many years it was held at Kelly-Meyers Park in Roscoe. Last year the tournament was moved to the much larger Riverside Park, off Rt. 251 and Roscoe Road,  The new locations can accommodate a much larger crowd and has access to the river: important for keeping the courts muddy.

This year 250 teams in eight volleyball courts battled it out throughout the day, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 8.

Mud-covered Volleyball participants passed the time between rounds tail-gating, playing bag-toss and Frisbee, listening to music, and sipping cold brews.

Nurses were stationed on the grounds to treat minor injuries, as well as water stations for hosing off some of the accumulated mud.

The Epilepsy Foundation is a not for profit organization that helps adults and children with epilepsy and other developmental disabilities become self- sufficient.

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Jean Seegers photo

Team spirit was pretty obvious among the members of the “Block Hawks.”  The Rockford group was among the 250 teams participating in the Epilepsy Foundation Mud Volleyball Tournament at Riverside Park, Aug 8.