Photos by Ralph Freso / Slideshow
Did you see the 2004 movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story?”
This was that, but less off-color and more on-spirit.
“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball,” said Grand Canyon University Intramural Sports Manager Mike Fox, quoting the movie before taking the Lopes Performance Center court on Wednesday.
The event was part of the Student Affairs Summer Olympics, not to be confused with the Paris Olympics starting in two weeks, but no less famed on campus. In its fourth year, it pits nine departments and 100 employees of Student Affairs against one another every Wednesday at noon for 12 weeks in everything from music bingo to more vigorous pursuits such as volleyball and, on this day, dodgeball.
Two of the first three years, those hyperactive folks in Campus Recreation have won the season title, carrying home the coveted Dr. Tim Griffin trophy, topped with the vice president of Student Affairs’ likeness.
It’s competitive, but Fox said the value is that all these departments need to collaborate throughout the academic year and can put faces to names. “We have a common ground,” he said. “We have played dodgeball.”
The combined team of Student Care/Club Sports took the court doing a psych-out Purple Cobras entrance dance from “Dodgeball,” and everyone knew it was on – “dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge.”
A few spectators even got beaned on the sidelines, peppering that loud Student Engagement cheering section, whose leader, Student Engagement Director Jeremy Mack, said that though his charges might not be in first, they are here for the party, wearing “Team Mack” T-shirts.
“A lot of people get hired in the summer, so some people we don’t know yet, and this gives us a chance to meet them,” he said.
Five teams competed in pool play, the action summarized as follows: Balls were whipped at one another, trying hit them or catch them, with increasing force as the teams worked toward the final, when some combatants started to grab their hamstrings or rub out creaky rotators.
It was all coming down to that underdog story, like the movie. The Campus Recreation athletes in the overall standings lead were in the dodgeball finals against upstart Spiritual Life, a gentle and forgiving outfit that nonetheless hails from Ouchtown when trying to nail opponents with a high-velo ball.
One by one, Spiritual Life picked off those recreators, even cannon-armed Fox, and won it all.
Of course, Director of Spiritual Life Erik Nelsen was humble in a postgame interview, saying his department had not won much this summer but those youth ministry events that often feature dodgeball prepared them well. Also, when God is on their side, who can be against them?
“It’s great team bonding,” he said.
Even with the win, his team is distant sixth on the season leaderboard to Campus Recreation’s commanding first.
But watch out. Next Wednesday is the Dip Off competition before the summer game’s final event, an obstacle course relay on July 31. The Dip Off is “like a cooking show,” Fox said, judging which department can make the best dip.
The early line has to favor that cheerful Student Engagement team, second in the overall standings, though Welcome Programs is known to lug around plenty of chip bags and may surprise.
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]
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