Quincy Washington (Q), left, lifts his sword up to meet David LaBoube (Fumbles), right, to indicate that he is ready for the match to start March 3, 2026 at the SIU Rec Center in Carbondale, Illinois. The Medieval Combat club meets Tuesdays and Fridays and practice different weapons and combat techniques for fun. "What we typically do every semester is we just meet up twice a week," President of the club Andy Marshall said. "We run a bunch of different game modes depending on the day, we'll run different things, and we just hit each other with sticks, essentially." The club has a few events they prepare for every year including one coming up on March 28, 2026 where many schools in southern and central Illinois come down to SIU to fight each other. "We are expecting upwards of 50 people," Marshall said. Community members are also involved with the sport. David LaBoub, who graduated from SIU in 2022 and was a part of the club when he was a student continues to come to practice regularly and is now an instructor. “I’ve been in this community for about 10 years,” LaBoub said. “I come out and teach everybody as best as I can, as much as I can.”
Ethan Loznicka stabs Ethan Whittaker in the stomach with a foam sword at practice Feb. 24, 2026 at the SIU Rec Center in Carbondale, Illinois.
SIU Medieval Combat Club founding member David Croteau (Crowe) brings his personal gear in for the Punic Wars March 28, 2026 at the SIU Rec Center in Carbondale, Illinois. “I’m glad that the group is still going and I’m glad that there’s still people interested coming out. I’m glad that I was convinced to try it out over 20 years ago when I first had someone stop to tell me to try it out,” Croutou said.
Wren Schelling sews together fabric to create a cover for a quarter staff at the Punic Wars March 28, 2026 at the SIU Rec Center in Carbondale, Illinois.
Fighters team together to take on Ashton Reedy (Scarab) at the Punic Wars March 28, 2026 at the SIU Rec center in Carbondale, Illinois.
Ashton Reedy (Scarab) grabs his weapons out of his trunk to bring to practice April 7, 2026 at the Morris Library parking lot in Carbondale, Illinois.
The medieval combat club fights April 7, 2026 in front of Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois.
Upcoming Vice President Quincy Washington (Q) holds up his foam sword and shield ready to fight April 7, 2026 in front of Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois. “I enjoy coming out, getting to beat up people, but also getting to make connections with other people and getting to introduce myself even after I fight them,” Washington said.
Quincy Washington (left) and Isaac Ramirez (Omen) jump towards each other to attack April 7, 2026 in front of Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois.
Jasmine Fleming (Skia) holds David LaBoube (Fumbles) so that Isaac Ramirez (Omen) can attack and eliminate him from the round at practice April 14, 2026 in front of Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois.
Jasmine Fleming (Skia) prepares to dodge Isaac Ramirez (Omen) at practice April 14, 2026 in front of Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois.
Ethan Whittaker looks towards another club member at practice April 14, 2026 in front of Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois.
David LaBoube (Fumbles) places a foam spear in the trunk of his car April 14, 2025 in the Morris Library parking lot in Carbondale, Illinois. “I’ve been in this community for about 10 years. I started doing it here at SIU, and I’ve been with it ever since,” Instructor LaBoube said.