(Stanton) Since 2003, a tradition has taken root each March in Stanton, Iowa.
The event, called March Mayhem, is powered by students and volunteers and brings people together through friendly competition and school spirit. The annual event has been moved up one week to March 20 and March 21.
The money raised for the event has gone to several causes, including a family memorial, the Viking Center, and other community projects, and today it often goes toward decorations for the senior prom, homecoming, a class trip, and other similar school functions.
March Mayhem features a variety of activities for participants and spectators alike. Competitors can take part in 3-on-3 basketball, test their skills in the dunk contest, aim for the top in the 3-point shooting contest, or lace up their running shoes for the 5K. For those looking for another kind of competition, pickleball is also part of the lineup, along with the annual dodgeball tournament. Jeff Grebin is the event coordinator. He says people from all over take part in this annual event in Stanton.
Grebin says this year, an anonymous donor, a former student, is adding an extra incentive to get more teams involved with a generous contribution to support the dodgeball event. The goal is simple: help grow March Mayhem and reward the competitors who bring their best to the court. Thanks to this support, the top teams in the dodgeball tournament will now compete for cash prizes—$500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place.
Behind the scenes, students have been hard at work helping the event grow. They are developing the stantonmarchmayhem.com webpage and building the stantonmarchmayhem Instagram account to share updates and connect with people interested in joining the fun.
The hope this year is to spread the word beyond Stanton and into Atlantic and the surrounding communities, inviting more people to take part in the tradition that has been building since 2003.
Anyone with questions about March Mayhem is encouraged to reach out by calling the Stanton school at 712-829-2162 or the cell phone number 712-621-6954 outside of school hours.
After more than two decades, March Mayhem continues to grow—driven by students, supported by the community, and energized by a former student’s generosity. The next chapter of the tradition is ready to begin.
