WINONA, Minn. – Winona State (6-3, 3-2 NSIC South) will host Southwest Minnesota State tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the second annual Battle for the Sledge game. It is the first of two straight home games for Winona State to end the season.
 
HISTORY OF THE SLEDGE:
 
During the 2008 season, Winona State would name a defensive player of the game from the previous week's contest and award that player with a sledgehammer for the next week.
 
During warm-ups of the Winona State-Southwest Minnesota State game on Oct. 4, 2008, a WSU player brought the sledgehammer to mid-field prior to the game while SMSU players looked on.
 
SMSU went on to earn a 35-28 victory over WSU, snapping the Warriors' seven-game winning streak in the series. Following the game, SMSU players ran over to the WSU sideline and grabbed the sledgehammer, celebrating the victory at midfield.
 
With emotions running high for both teams following a hard – fought game, a WSU player went over to the SMSU sideline to get their sledgehammer back. SMSU gave the sledgehammer back, and a rivalry was born. WSU leads the series 4-3 since the 2008 game.
 
Last season the two universities, along with Buisness Impact Group (BIG Athletics) and Adidas, got a sledgehammer and started the tradition of a traveling trophy.
 
The trophy is a 7-foot tall Sledge Hammer Trophy with the team logos of both Winona State and SMSU on each side of the trophy. The winning team will have the opportunity to take this trophy back to their school until next year's game. In addition to the sledge trophy, BIG Athletics will also be providing two MVP trophies to be awarded to the most valuable player on each team. The winners of the MVP trophies will have the opportunity to take the trophy home with them and keep for a lifetime.

Check out the game notes for a full preview for both teams.