Author: Claudia Chow
Six players to a team. Six dodge balls. One court. And only one winner. This was the scenario at Rush Gymnasium on Saturday during Occidental’s Eta Mu chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta’s seventh annual charity dodgeball tournament. Twenty teams competed in the event that was held to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
Teams could sign up in either the beginning or advanced divisions, the latter in which squads were eliminated if they lost. There were eight teams in the beginners’ division and 12 in the advanced division.
Many on-campus organizations and clubs entered teams for the tournament, such as Occidental’s Quidditch team and drumline. Other greek organizations like sororities Alpha Lambda Phi Alpha and Delta Omicron Tau as well as fraternities Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon formed teams for the event.
The Occidental softball team faced off with The Jew Crew: Hillel Hebros in the beginners’ division finals after defeating Delta Omicron Tau and earning a forfeit victory in the semifinals. The Jew Crew: Hillel Hebros won the division for the second consecutive year.
“We have now won twice in a row,” Hillel Hebros member Leah Wolf (sophomore) said. “It feels amazing.”
Teammate Rachel Baer (senior) was also proud that the team was able to earn a hard-fought victory over a difficult opponent.
“We had no idea we would win when we entered the tournament last year,” she said. “We wanted to defend our title this year, and I am proud that we succeeded in doing so.”
Other members of the Hillel Hebros included Oren Rosen (first-year), Nathan Landay (sophomore), juniors Jessie Salter, Hannah Mandel and Jonathan Gitlin and seniors Aaron Wessels and Evan Choate.
In the advanced division, one semi-final match-up was between PF Changs Presents: Young Boys Abusement Park and The Golden Bears, and the other involved The Newcomb Kids and The Defending Champions. As their name suggests, The Defending Champions won last year’s tournament. However, PF Changs dethroned them to become the new advanced division champions after defeating The Newcomb Kids in the final
“It was a tough battle against worthy opponents, and we were fortunate to come out on top,” PF Changs player Bryar Brandvold (first-year) said. “I also want to thank the ladies of Theta for putting on a great event for a great cause.”
The Newcomb Kids’ Pavel Gladkevich (first-year), although saddened by the loss, enjoyed participating in the tournament.
“I was kind of disappointed by our loss, and I think we would have had a better game if the court format had not been changed,” Gladkevich said. “Overall though I was happy, and I think my teammates would agree.”
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