On Saturday, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex, students gathered for the revival of Battle of the Belles.
Throughout the event, classes competed and earned points through games such as hot potato, musical chairs, tug-of-war, dodgeball, basketball knockout and Hungry Hungry Hippos. This school-spirit style event began in the early 2000s for community building and was known as Midnight Madness.
Head STUNT coach Jillian Humphrey spoke to the history of the event and why it was held for students.
“Battle of the Belles was an event that was done years ago at the College, and we brought it back,“ Humphrey said. “So this year, the College just wanted to bring it back as another school spirit initiative.”
Students who wanted to attend the event could either RSVP in BelleTower to be awarded three tickets or check in in-person to receive two tickets. Any ticket given could be used to participate in games or to enter in drawings for the biggest prizes offered to each class year.
As mentioned in an email from director of athletics Julie Schroeder-Biek, the event’s activities required little to no athletic skill, and competitors would be organized with class team leaders at the basketball court.
Adriana Petty was a senior class team leader for Battle of the Belles.
“There were four of us staff that were partnered with four professors, and our roles were to organize the players for each of the game,” Petty said.
The event started at 8:15 p.m. with a speech from Saint Mary’s President Katie Conboy on the Donor Challenge that occurred on Wednesday and raised over $1.5 million. Conboy noted that the senior class produced the largest donations out of the student body.
The “spirit stick“ was also mentioned, which was to be given to the class who earned the most points.
Humphrey spoke to the incentive to participate in Battle of the Belles.
“Everybody is encouraged between first-years, second-years, third-years, fourth-years and grad students as well. We want everybody, as many people on the floor as possible, and I believe there’s about 340 opportunities to play and over 100 gifts to give away.”
10 students from each class year were picked to compete in a series of several rounds of musical chairs. The sophomore class won the game.
On the basketball court, students participate in musical chairs as the first game of Battle of the Belles. Finalists were able to win various prizes.
The next game was basketball knockout, where freshmen competed against sophomores, and juniors competed with seniors. Sophomores also won the round following an all-around class competition. Students were able to win blenders as prizes.
Students played Hungry Hungry Hippos with three-player teams for each class. Finalists went against each class year in the last round.
Following this, Hungry Hungry Hippos occurred, where freshmen competed against juniors and sophomores against seniors. Nine people from each class participated. Following internal class competition, the freshmen class won, and 75 flex points were awarded to the winners.
Hot potato was played next, with all individuals who wanted to participate joining in a circle. Prizes were given to many participants. Prizes included massage guns, room diffusers, Keurigs, heated blankets, lanyards, wallets and gift baskets.
Dodgeball occurred next, with 10 people competing per class. The competition included a set-up of freshmen versus juniors and sophomores versus seniors. Freshmen and seniors were the two finalists. The freshman class won, and each individual player received a digital camera.
Lastly, freshmen played against seniors and sophomores against juniors in a tug-of-war competition. The third round resulted in a junior class win against the freshman class. The winners received massage guns.
The event concluded with the announcement of grand prizes, ranging in total cost from $200 to $1,500. One student drawn from each class had the opportunity to receive a Saint Mary’s jewelry assortment, an Apple watch, Apple headphones and a two night-stay in Chicago at a Four Seasons Hotel with a variety of museum and architectural tours and spending money provided.
Students also had the opportunity to cheer on competing classmates from the bleachers. Free food included Chick-fil-A, along with snacks, pizza and drinks.
Some students were encouraged to participate in the competition by their teams and coaches, who were in attendance.
“My whole softball team participated. Our coach really encouraged it, and we were really excited to come out today,” sophomore Madi Ingolia said.
Some attendees were initially drawn to the event by its incentives.
“I went to my friend’s room, and they were getting ready to go, and I think it was just kind of a spur-of-the-moment. We knew that there was a lot of incentive towards it, so that’s why we came. But when we got here, it was really entertaining,” junior Maureen Burnham said.
Humphrey hopes the event will continue to grow and have more participants in the future.
“I’m hoping that this will just be a year one, that the campus can experience it, and that the event keeps growing … Just bringing the girls together, having fun laughs and getting the students involved,” Humphrey said.
