UETVMKV Oklv.- On Oct. 26 there will be a costume mushall tournament at the Uetvmkv Indian Community Center. There will be free admission if anyone would like to come watch, however, there is a fee to play in this tournament. There will be a concession on site, costume contest and prizes for the winners. This co-ed tournament is set for eight teams with play beginning at 7 p.m.
Female players may float in this 35 minute per game one strike tournament. Riley Berry (Mvskoke) is helping put on this tournament. Proceeds will go towards the Uetvmkv Indian Community Center. The tournament will serve as a fundraiser for community activities. Everyone is encouraged to come in costumes whether playing or spectating. There will be voting for the costumes throughout the night.
Winners of the tournament will win prizes. First place will win hoodies and second place will be long sleeve tees. For the costume contest winners have a chance to win a lanyard beaded by Berry and $50.
Since this Uetvmkv Indian Community Center only has one field, Berry has arranged space dominoes and wahoo inside the community center for anyone to play while they are waiting for the next game.
Berry has been participating in community meetings and understood a need to fundraise. His team, “Hot Sauce,” will be participating in the tournament.
“I hope they bring the heat,” Berry said. “I figured it would be beneficial for me, getting some experience having mushball tournaments and just giving back to the community.”
“So I’m just trying to have something sports wise, for people that are out of school or in school so they can have something to do on the weekend and kind of bring that back.”
“My biggest thing was I played in a lot of tournaments, so I play a whole lot of basketball tournaments, there might be one every two months or something, not very often,” Berry said.
Berry has spoken to elders who have said back in the day there used to be many tournaments on the weekends in Wetumka, Bristow, Okmulgee, Checotah and Dustin areas.
Elders told Berry there was so much going on they would have to pick which events they wanted to play in. Berry said that’s what gave him the idea to host more and have a mix of sports tournaments.
“It’s just trying to kind of start that back up, the circuit sports like basketball, softball, mushball, just whatever to get the people and give them something to do to have some fun,” Berry said. “I think it’s important that we as the people of the community, we go out and venture and do these different things instead of waiting on somebody else to do it, go out there and do it yourself.”
“And hopefully people show up and have fun, have a good time and get the word out.”
Berry hopes people show up for the fun and spread the word. For further information about this tournament you can contact Riley Berry at 918-319-1697. The location will be at the Uetvmkv Indian Community Center, 608 North Creek Street.
