SIU is offering great ticket deals for Chester fans wanting to attend the game!
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Wednesday January 28 the Southern Illinois University Salukis host the Northern Iowa University Panthers in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup at the Banterra Center on the campus of SIU-C. The contest will be an early start at 6:00 p.m.
The Chester High School Dance Team, under the direction of Head Coach Adrianne Kern, will perform Wednesday January 28 at Southern Illinois University when the Salukis host the University of Northern Iowa Panthers. The team will perform at halftime of the game. Pictured are team members Hayden Cartwright, Annah Helvey Ahring, Southern LaChance, Megan Zimmer, Aubrey Petrowske, Macy VanZandt, Katie Werner, Jden Bert, Grace Irose, Justice Mattingly, Peyton Moll, and Kennedy Nortin. Coach Kern is assisted by Bailey Misuraca and Emily Roth. Tickets to the event are now available online for those interested in going along to support the team and/or the Salukis. Photo provided by Coach Kern
Some time ago, the Chester High School Dance Team, under the direction of Adrianne Kern, agreed to perform at halftime of the game, as they have done for the past several years. This gives the CHS dancers the opportunity to perform on a much bigger stage in addition to experiencing performing for a Division I basketball crowd.
The CHS Dance Team includes seniors Annah Helvey-Ahring, Hayden Cartwright, Megan Zimmer, and Southern LaChance, juniors Aubrey Petrowske, Macy VanZandt, and Katie Werner, sophomores, Jaden Bert, Grace Irose, and Justice Mattingly, and freshmen, Peyton Moll and Kennedy Nortin. The Dance Team is coached by Head Coach, Adrianne Kern. She is assisted by Bailey Misuraca and Emily Roth.
Recently the Dance Team finished 1st in the Belleville East Open Pom Competition and 1st in Jazz at Herrin. Coach Adrianne Kern said, “The girls have been competing extremely well and are improving at every competition. Our seniors are showing amazing leadership and our underclassmen are really stepping up.”
“We are still working towards qualifying for the State Competition in both Jazz and Open Pom. The team will compete in the IHSA Sectional on January 24th in Herrin. In that competition Chester will take the floor at 10:00 a.m. The girls will also return to CHS Colbert Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court on Tuesday January 27th when the Chester YellowJackets host the Carterville Lions.”
It turns out that the Chester High School Boys Basketball team has also scheduled a team trip to SIU on Wednesday January 28 to watch the Salukis take on the UNI Panthers. This trip was planned independently prior to knowing that the CHS Dance Team would be performing at halftime if that game.
Numerous supporters of the CHS Dance Team and YellowJacket Boys Basketball Team have already arranged to travel to Carbondale to watch the Salukis play Northern Iowa and help support both the Dance Team in their halftime performance and to support the basketball program trip.
Southern Illinois University Intercollegiate Athletes and Thomas Becker, MBA, Interim Assistant Athletic Director of Ticketing, have decided to offer special ticket deals to anyone else wishing to attend the game on Wednesday January 28th at 6:00 p.m.
Becker said, “We are very happy to have both the CHS Dance Team and the CHS Basketball Team join us for the SIU vs UNI game Wednesday January 28. We love having fans in the seats and numerous Chester fans have already made arrangements to attend.”
“Since there has been so much great interest in both Saluki Basketball as well as the CHS Dance Team performance, I have received permission to offer all Chester fans the opportunity to take advantage of special ticket pricing for the game!”
“I have also received approval to offer ANY “K-12 school groups”, such as ball teams, organizations, and clubs, a really great $5.00 ticket price. Coaches and sponsors can receive the $10.00 ticket price which is approximately a 45% discount.”
Seats are located in Section 113 which is in the bleachers behind the basket on the end of the Banterra Center by the Saluki team bench. Any fans that prefer chairback seats can get discounted chairback seats in the corner near that area for just $20.00. That is still a nice discounted price for chairback seats. Anyone wanting seats in any other area of the Banterra Center is welcome to purchase tickets at the regular price via the Saluki Ticket office.
To purchase the discounted tickets, go to: siutickets.evenue.net/promotions/CHESTER. Once there, you can select your tickets with the following ticket options. The “3 POINT PACKAGE” includes discounted bleacher seats in Section 113 for $10.00 each. The “MAROON PACKAGE” offers discounted “lower bowl corner chair backseats” for just $20.00 each.
To take advantage of the “K-12 School Group” $5.00 ticket deals, group leaders must reach out to THOMAS BECKER! By phone please call: (618) 453-5758. Via e-mail use: Thomas.becker@siu.edu. Please note, the $5.00 ticket deal is open to just the K-12 STUDENTS in a club, organization, or team. Coaches and/or Sponsors will pay the $10.00 discounted ticket price.
In Chester, the “school group” deals apply to Chester School District #139 schools, including Chester High School, Chester Grade School or the Chester Early Childhood Center. Also invited are St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School and St. John Lutheran Grade School.
Wednesday night will be “Autism Awareness Night” at SIU and there will be numerous special activities offered at the game. Students can register to take part in various time-out games and contests.
There is a wide variety of food and beverages available. The SIU Pep Band will perform throughout the game and the Saluki Shaker Dance Team and Saluki Cheerleaders will perform throughout the game.
Of course, the special entertainment feature will be at the halftime of the game when the Chester High School Dance Team will perform!
For more information, please contact Thomas Becker at SIU (618) 453-5758 or Dr. Jim Beers in Chester (618) 615-2721.