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"We just decided this would be a good annual event," Noe said. "So my husband Mike named this one the Inaugural Washer Tournament."
The cash prizes of $250 for the winning team, $100 for the second-place team and $50 each for the third- and fourth-place teams, make it a tournament. The cost to register was $35 a team.
The competition was held to benefit the Diabetes Research Center in Iowa. Players had to be at least 16 years of age to register.
Washers is a game similar to horseshoes in which individual or teams compete against each other by tossing washers into boxes with cups inside.
One point is earned by landing a washer inside the box, and three points are earned by landing in the cup. The first player or team to reach 21 wins the game.
"But you have to win by two points," said Mike Spangler. "If you reach 21 points and you're not two points ahead, you have to keep playing until someone is two points ahead."
Spangler knows a thing or two about washer tournaments. He plays most weekends with his son Chris and the pair hold the current World Washer Champion title, an honor they earned twice, in 2004 and 2009, at the St. Louis Metro World Washer Tournament in Queeny Park.
The team won a cruise for their 2004 championship and a trip to Mexico for their 2009 win.
At the Eagles tournament, Spangler was partnered with Kelly Young. They played against Jason "Faz" Faszold and Butch Anthony.
"My son played in another tournament at Pevely yesterday," Spangler said. "But we do play together most of the time."
In addition to the Eagles Diabetes Research Center Fund, the Eagles and Auxiliary support a number of causes, including:
Alzheimer's Association, Mo-Kansas Bar H Boys Ranch, Art Ehrlmann Cancer Fund, Robert W. Hanson Diabetes Fund, Max Baer Heart Fund, Jimmy Durante Children's Fund, D.D. Dunlap Kidney Fund, Lupus Fund;
Prevention of Child Abuse, Lew Reed Spinal Cord Injury Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Breast Cancer Fund, Colon Cancer Fund, Red Cross, Missouri Boys State Program, Pacific High School Project Graduation, Sgt. Dan Donnelly Backpack Fund;
T-ball team, Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Kiwanis, city of Pacific fireworks display, Meramec Valley R-III Teachers Association, Pacific Soccer Association, Pacific High School USMC ROTC, YMCA Summer Camp supporters;
Pacific Youth Association, local Boy Scouts, Pacific Sports Club and many other benefits, dinners and auctions.
"This was only our inaugural washer tournament," Noe said. "We expect to have many more."
