Anchor Splash raises $3,000 for the blind

Lisa Pelegrin / contributing photographer Sophomore Ryan Powell, of Theta Chi, plays dodgeball during a tournament hosted by Delta Gamma as part of Anchor Splash.

Anchor Splash, sponsored by the sisters of Delta Gamma, featured synchronized swimming and a dodgeball tournament and raised money for an organization that assists the blind.

Phi Gamma Delta won the week-long competition, in addition to the Mr. Anchor Splash competition. The sisters of Delta Delta Delta won the week’s activities and Zeta Tau Alpha won Ms. Anchor Splash.

The week culminated in the Mr. and Ms. Anchor Splash pageant. "A contestant from each organization is selected and is judged on three criteria," said junior Amanda Gram, Kappa Sigma coach. Best legs, most school spirited and best lip-sync routine are the three areas of consideration.

"We had a lot of support from all of the Greek organizations," said sophomore Heather Dickens, a member of Delta Gamma. Seventeen groups participated this year, and Delta Gamma raised about $3,000.

The JMU chapter of Delta Gamma featured various pool games, a Mr. and Ms. Anchor Splash pageant and a dodgeball tournament. "The pool games are especially fun," said senior Sarah Sample, director of Anchor Splash. Each organization competes in synchronized swimming, relay races on rafts and a clothes race where swimmers must change into a set of clothes underwater.

Delta Gamma chapters across the nation held their 21st annual Anchor Splash competition, said senior Terri Romeo, a member of Delta Gamma.

"Each DG chapter across the country runs the event but is able to put a personal spin on it, so Anchor Splash is different at each college campus," said Romeo, coach to Sigma Chi fraternity.

Each event during the week-long event is worth a number of points and, at the end of the week, the group with the most points wins. The winning organization is given gift certificates from the Biltmore Grill and CiCi’s Pizza.

"Outside of Greek Week, Anchor Splash is one of the only events that organizations can compete against each other," Sample said.