KCs to 'shake' it up at domino tourney
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

It will be "Shake, Rattle and Rock" at the Wharton Knights of Columbus Hall this Sunday with the holding of the 28th Annual Wharton Straight Domino tournament.

Sponsored by the Wharton Knights of Columbus Council No. 3262, the co-chairmen of the event are cousins Bennie Hundl and Dan Tesar, who founded the event along with a third cousin, Ed Koehl, in 1980.

"It was an idea we had to raise money for the KC scholarship fund and to support other community projects," Hundl said.

The registration fee is $12.50 per player or $25 per team. Registration will be from 8 to 9 a.m. with play starting at 9 a.m. and probably lasting until 8 p.m. for the top teams.

"We've had a couple of years when the top teams decided to cut dominoes at the end of the night to determine the winner," Tesar said. "After about 12 hours of play, you can get a little tired."

For those lasting that long, trophies or plaques will be awarded for the first three places with cash prizes, based on number of entries, awarded to the top four teams.

And while there is money to win, Tesar said he's just in it to play the game.

"I'm originally from Shiner and they play a lot of straight dominoes in Lavaca County," he said. "I grew up playing with my dad and granddad and was counting dots before I even learned counting in school. I like it because it's a real memory game. You have to remember what you play and what your partner plays. It's challenging and I enjoy that part of it. I think the challenge is part of why it appeals to older players."

While open to players 18 years of age and older, most of the players in Sunday's tournament will be from the same generation as Hundl and Tesar, now in their early 70s.

"Most of the players are older," Tesar said. "A lot of them will be past 50, but we will get some younger players. And it isn't all men. We have some women that will be playing in the tournament as well."

Each year, the tournament draws around 40 teams with a high one year of 51. Of those teams, Tesar said probably 20 to 25 will be repeaters from the previous year.