SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Several special events and promotions are planned for this weekend's Augustana Basketball and Wrestling contests in Sioux Falls.

Saturday, Augustana Athletics has partnered with South Dakota Make-A-Wish for the annual Make-A-Wish game.  Augustana Basketball will be welcoming several Make-A-Wish kids and their families in the south suite and fans will be able to support the efforts of Make-A-Wish by purchasing raffle tickets from Viking student-athletes for a chance to win unique Augustana-themed baskets. Events also include great fun for kids with costumed characters in attendance, a coloring station, face painting and more.  Saturday's games tip-off at 3:30pm (women) and 5:30pm (men) with the doors opening at 2:30pm.

Sunday, Sanford Health and Augustana University have teamed up to 'Celebrate the Science of Sports', highlighting the role science plays in sports.  The exciting new event will feature a number of interactive scientific booths related to sports in which prizes will be awarded for participation. The Sanford Sports Science Institute, Sanford POWER, Sanford fit, Sanford Promise and Augustana University student-athletes majoring in STEM fields will be at the event.  Sunday's women's basketball game tips off at 1:30pm, with the event getting underway at halftime and running through halftime of the men's game, which tips off at approximately 3:30pm.

Student-run support group SKOL will also be offering a free bus ride for Augustana students to and from the Sioux Falls Arena on Saturday, and on Sunday, world-renowned entertainer Red Panda will be performing at halftime of the men's basketball game.

In addition, federal employees who have been impacted by the current partial government shutdown are being offered free tickets to attend and enjoy this weekend's home events.  Federal employees who have been impacted may show a current federal employee ID to receive one (1) free ticket to any of the three home events this weekend. Tickets are available only the day of the event and can be picked up at the ticket windows prior to Saturday and Sunday's basketball doubleheaders at Sioux Falls Arena, as well as Sunday's wrestling dual versus Upper Iowa, which will get underway at 2pm.

General admission tickets for the basketball doubleheaders start at only $12/adult and $5/youth, while wrestling tickets are $7/adult and $4/youth.  Join us for a great weekend of fun, basketball and wrestling at Sioux Falls Arena and the Elmen Center.
 
About Make-A-Wish South Dakota
Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Make-A-Wish South Dakota granted 80 wishes statewide last fiscal year and has granted more than 1,400 wishes since its founding in 1984.  To qualify for a wish a child must be between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 and facing a critical illness.  There are more than 75 kids in the process of receiving a wish.  For more information about Make-A-Wish South Dakota, visit southdakota.wish.org.
 
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 44 hospitals, 1,400 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and nine countries. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford have transformed how Sanford Health improves the human condition. For information, visit sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.