Approaching Feb. 22, anticipation begins. On Feb. 22, Lukefest will take place. Lukefest is a karate tournament that happens yearly, hosted by Lucas Morrissey and his karate school for his birthday.  

“We have about 10 tournaments this year,” Morrissey said. “They happen from March to November, so Lukefest is the very beginning of all that. It’s more of a practice tournament to help our students and a few students from other schools get warmed up for the season and get some nerves out of them.”

Lukefest usually has over 100 competitors compete, but this year the tournament will be capped at 100.  

“I kind of feel neutral about it,” Morrissey said. “I’m happier that my kids can go out and get the nerves out before they have to travel two hours away to compete somewhere they don’t know.” 

The tournament always takes place in late February; this year it takes place on Feb. 22. 

“I guess my biggest hope whenever someone hears Lukefest is just anything positive,” Morrissey said. “Any positive influence I can have on the kids who come or any neighboring schools who show up. Any improved relationships are really what we’re looking for here.”

“Lukefest is a big part of my birthday, and Lukefest is a way that I can help the kids if they struggle with nerves or struggle with being anxious about competition,”  Morrissey said. “It’s at home, it’s nice, it’s comfortable, they’re around people they know. It’s a nice introduction to it. And it’s just as long as it helps the kids,  if I can help them a little bit, I think that’d be great.” 

Lukefest began in 2020 right before COVID-19 hit. 

“We always called my birthday party Lukefest whenever I was little, but we started turning into a karate tournament in 2020,” Morrissey said. “It was like right before Covid happened because we squeezed it in. That was the first official tournament. I get a few happy birthdays, but I’m just there to run it and make sure they’re all having a good time.” 

Lukefest is a tournament that is made for kids to get ready for the season. The tournament is for anyone ages 4+.  The money it earns all goes back to the karate school Morrissey runs and helps the kids while he is there. 

“Lucas really deserves his own tournament because he’s really hard working and puts forth so much effort to get to where he is now,” freshman Landon Huss said. “He does a great job directing it as he has recently.”