132 Exhilarating Physical Challenges Will Raise Money for MTSU Veterans Memorial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 8, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

SCALE THE TOWER AND FEEL THE POWER OF PAINTBALL FOR VETS
Exhilarating Physical Challenges Will Raise Money for MTSU Veterans Memorial

(MURFREESBORO) – Two physically and mentally challenging competitions open to the public as well as the MTSU community are slated for early next month to raise money for the MTSU Veterans Memorial.
The Alpine Tower Challenge is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, and Friday, Nov. 2 behind the Campus Recreation Center. The National Guard Paintball Tournament is set for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Middle Tennessee Paintball, 4215 Kedron Road, in Spring Hill, Tenn. There is no entrance fee for either event, but donations to fund the memorial are encouraged.
In the tower challenge, teams of two persons each will attempt to scale a 55-foot-high wooden structure by using climbing holds, four dangling poles, a wooden “corporate ladder” with several feet of space between the rungs and a cargo net ladder.
“It looks like a big bonfire,” laughs Josh Stone, adventure trips coordinator at the recreation center.
The teams will be divided into a division of male/male and female/female teams and a division of male/female teams. One individual from each team will attempt to climb to the top on each side of the tower simultaneously. The other partners on the team will follow in similar fashion. The best of the two times posted by each team member is the time that will stand for that team for each round.
“The format I’m using is what they use in rock climbing speed competitions,” Stone says.
For safety’s sake, all participants must wear helmets, and they will be harnessed and belayed by trained Recreation Center staffers.
“Any time you have nothing between your butt and the ground but air, it’s kind of scary,” Stone says.
Trophies and prizes will be awarded for the first- and second-place winners in each category. Plaques and prizes will be awarded to the organizations with the first-, second- and third-highest totals of money raised for the Veterans Memorial.
“We would like each organization on campus to have a two-person team and also raise funds for the Veterans Memorial,” Maj. Chuck Giles, assistant professor of military science, says.
The first 100 participants will get goodie bags with free T-shirts, power bars and gift certificates. Free beverages will be provided for all.
Up to 200 combatants will be able to participate in the paintball tournament. Staff Sergeant Julius Santini, a Tennessee National Guard representative at MTSU, says each team must have at least 10 members. Individuals can register and be placed on a team.
The first-place team will win $1,000, and additional prizes will be awarded to the second- and third-place teams. Other prizes will be given away throughout the day. All equipment will be furnished. Free lunch will be provided to all participants.
To register for the tower challenge, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~camprec/outdoors/news.html, then click on “waiver form.” The registration deadline is Oct. 26.
A registration kiosk for the paintball tournament will be positioned in front of the Keathley University Center (KUC) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, and registration desks will be inside the KUC and at the alpine tower challenge from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, and Friday, Nov. 2. Online registration is available at http://www.guardpaintball.com.
The MTSU Veterans Memorial will be dedicated in front of the Tom Jackson Building from 8:30-10:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, prior to the Homecoming football game between the Blue Raiders and Louisiana-Lafayette. For more information about the Veterans Memorial dedication and design, contact Dr. Derek Frisby at 615- 494-8856 or dfrisby@mtsu.edu.
To learn more about the Alpine Tower Challenge, contact Stone at the Campus Recreation Center at 615-898-2104 or jrstone@mtsu.edu. SSgt. Santini is the contact person for the National Guard Paintball Tournament at 615-494-7682 or julius.santini@us.army.mil. For directions to Middle Tennessee Paintball and to view photos of the courses, go to http://themiddletennesseepaintball.com.


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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a color jpeg of the alpine tower at MTSU and color jpeg photos of National Guard paintball competitors, contact Gina Logue at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.