Dodge, duck, dip, dive ... and donate?

COLFAX – Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge – according to the legendary Patches O’Houlihan, these are the five fundamental D’s people should remember when they hit the court for a good game of dodgeball.

But the Average Joe’s coach from the movie “DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story” forgot one important D – Donate.

Dodgeball lovers will be given the opportunity to showcase the six D’s of dodgeball at the third annual Dodgeball for Dollars at 1 p.m. March 3 at the Colfax-Mingo High School gym.

The tournament, which is hosted by the Colfax-Mingo Scholarships committee, will gather teams of eight to play a few games of dodgeball. With a registration fee of $60 per team, proceeds of the fundraiser will benefit C-M students in their pursuit of a higher education after high school.

“With the throwing and dodging of the balls, I know it is one of my favorite games. It always was in P.E. I think it really targets age groups of everyone,” Colfax-Mingo Scholarships committee member, Jena Teed said. “No matter how old you are or how young you are, everyone can throw a ball.”

The C-M graduate said she hopes about 15 teams will participate in this year’s tournament. As last year’s Dodgeball for Dollars funded two $500 scholarships with 10 teams in participation, the more teams that register, the more the group can help C-M students.

“In today’s world, it is important to go to post-secondary education, whether that be a trade school or a community college or a four-year university. The cost is so large,” Teed said. “It is not possible for a lot people because of how expensive it is, along with the other costs that you have to go along with it. It really helps these kids and pushes them ... Every drop does count.”

Teed said as fourth graders are the youngest age group that can join a team, people young and old are encouraged to participate in the tournament. From fierce grandmothers to college-aged men, Teed said the sport of dodgeball allows a unique opportunity for people of all ages and levels of athleticism to compete for gold.

And if the comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller taught lovers of the sport anything, even a pirate can be a formidable dodgeball opponent.

“Last year, (my team) was taken out by the Hostetter’s. It came down to me and a fourth-grader at the time,” Teed, a former C-M softball and basketball athlete, said. “It was just the two of us out there. I decided to take a throw at him. It was a pretty hard throw and he caught it ... One of the fourth graders took me out.”

With the deadline to register teams Feb. 15, Teed said people who wish to participate should sign up their eight-person team soon. She said each person who participates in the tournament will also receive a T-shirt.

The event organizer said people who do not wish to get in the ring and dodge some balls can still support the Colfax-Mingo Scholarships by coming to watch from the stands. At a cost of $3 for admission, Teed said the fierce, fun and friendly competition between community members also creates an exhilarating spectacle for observers of all ages.

There will also be one dodgeball game held for children in kindergarten through third grade during the fundraiser. The registration fee for the youth game is included with the purchase of admission.

The group will also be hosting its annual Phone-A-Thon Feb. 24. Teed said all C-M seniors who volunteer in the fundraiser are guaranteed to receive a $500 scholarship. In 2017, the Colfax-Mingo Scholarships gave 20 $500 scholarships.

“Even though it might be $60, we want people around the community to look at it as a donation that goes directly to our Colfax-Mingo graduating seniors,” Teed said. “It helps out their education, pushing them forward and seeing that people in the community believe in them. They can move on higher than just graduating from high school here.”

Tournament participants can register by emailing their family-friendly team name, team captain with contact number, team members and T-shirt sizes to colfaxmingoscholarships@gmail.com. Payments can be sent to Colfax-Mingo Scholarships; P.O. Box 116, Colfax, IA 50054. Fee pick-up and drop-offs can be arranged by calling 641-521-0363.

For more information about the group or to join their cause, find Colfax-Mingo Scholarships on Facebook or attend a meeting at 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month at the high school.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@jaspercountytribune.com