Many people may remember dodgeball as the perfect way to release aggression or the perfect excuse to pick on the overweight boy in gym class and that funky-smelling girl with the unsightly leg hair.

Maybe that’s why some people love the game, and others hate it. However, the Office of Campus Recreation managed to organize a 12-team, two-game elimination tournament that started Tuesday and will culminate today in a match that will determine NIU’s dodgeball champion.

-The rules for the dodgeball tournament are simple enough. Each team consists of six players with at least four players needed to play to avoid a forfeit.

A game consists of three matches, the best two out of three with each game lasting a maximum of 10 minutes. If a player is hit in the head, he or she will not be called out unless he or she is hit in the head while ducking or while on the ground.

Testosterone was in high supply on the three active dodgeball courts as the tournament had all the feeling of a good grade-school brawl.

One first-round contest saw Drew Koslow, a senior accounting major from the Phi Sig Dodgers team, stand up valiantly while taking on six competitors by himself. Koslov managed to take out five opponents before he was eliminated.

“Too bad I only killed five instead of all six people,” Koslow said. “Our team only had four people versus all six of theirs.”

In the battle of team names, Dank Nugz, Donkey Punch and MitchBostonSucks.com ranked in as being the most creative. Mitch Boston, oddly enough, is a dodgeball player for team Donkey Punch. He could not be reached for comment about MitchBostonSucks.com.

In the midst of all the testosterone in the Rec, there was one female participating on team SAM and two slightly intoxicated female fans watching.

“I was all excited about the tournament, and then I saw I was the only girl, and I was like, oh, this sucks,” sophomore business major Cheryl King said.

Donkey Punch, the team opposing SAM in the opening round, destroyed the team in two straight matches and left King to fend for herself.

“I think they started aiming for me and then decided to take out the stronger players first and leave me for last,” King said.

Donkey Punch showed no mercy for King as members ran up to the three-point line of the court to pommel the cowering King with dodgeballs.

Tension was high at some points during the tournament with choice words being said.

“You’re out, get out!”

“F— you, I’m not out!”

“F— you, yes, you are!”

The winner of the quarterfinal match between Rebels and SAM will face Dank Nugz in the semifinals. The winner of that match will play Donkey Punch for the tournament championship today.

Overall, players seemed to enjoy their experiences. All of them will be able to enjoy the motion picture “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, in theaters June 18.