At 9:30 a.m. on October 2, freshmen joined their humanities classes to display their team spirit. Arriving at Armellino Quad, classes showed off their posters, each representing an ancient city. Many teams even choreographed outfits, from matching colors to captivating yellow headbands (Go Olympus!). The week prior, students signed up for competitive events ranging from Frisbee Discus and Trivia. As zealous students gathered in front of the chapel steps, the Freshman Games gloriously began.

Teams sized each other up by glancing at their posters. Every class was assigned the theme of an ancient city and tasked with constructing a poster reflective of their city’s spirit. In each event, the top three teams would be recognized and counted to announce a final winning team. First up was a team-building competition: students held hands in a circle and passed a hula-hoop around without using their hands. It seemed Olympus, Dr. Shah’s class, had the initial lead, but there remained opportunities for an unknown underdog to emerge victorious. Additionally, classes competed in a three-legged race and a sprint relay. Both events required students to synchronize movements and communicate effectively. Especially in the three-legged race, coordination is crucial. Next up were individual competitions. 

Many activities were “sports day” based, like Frisbee Discus and Scavenger Hunt, but other competitions, like Declamation or Drawing, were more unconventional. Each student would concurrently compete in their respective event, earning points for their class. Upon returning, students were greeted with a ranking of their posters. As Athens and Uruk received first and second respectively, it appeared that Olympus’s lead would close. The final opportunity for the win was a tug-of-war tournament with the top four teams: Athens, Uruk, Babylon and Olympus. Babylon, who defeated Uruk, faced off against Olympus, who defeated Athens in the final round. Although Babylon won the tug-of-war with a last-minute trivia ranking, Uruk placed second, with Olympus coming in first. 

With matching white robes and yellow headbands, the “Olympians” celebrated, and were rewarded with the largest share of candy. However, the freshmen were able to gather in one place and compete and celebrate, a significant opportunity for everyone. It was an amazing way to return strong after much-needed relief offered by long weekend. Freshman Games continue to be an important tradition for fostering morale and community amongst new students.