Nov 09 UMPI Spirit!

By: Stephanie Jellett

The crowd goes wild as the lights turn off in the Wieden gymnasium. Loud shouts, hoots and hollering could probably be heard for miles. The UMPI Owls fan club is ready for basketball season to start.

The lights come back on and the UMPI dance team are ready to give their performance. They danced to a mix that gets everyone pumped for the evening. After the cheerleaders finished, Brandon Boulware announced what was next.

Dean Chris Corsello picked five tickets (that matched the ones that were given at the door) and people won various prizes. Boulware then announced that faculty would be playing a game against the mens basketball players. Even president Zillman played!  It was a close game, but faculty ended up winning 14-12.

The dance team wasn’t the only entertainment for the night, Justin Fereshetian gave his amazing juggling act. He started with juggling three balls, then four. For a little more challenge, he then did four rings. To top it all off, he juggled bowling pins. The crowed cheered as he performed.

It was then time to call upon the audience again. Boulware and Corsello picked six numbers from a box and split them into groups. They had to challenge eachother one on one and see who would get the most baskets in from different lines on the court. Second floor Emerson ended up winning a pizza party!

The lights went out again, and the crowd got crazy. Corsello announced the UMPI dance team, who they were, what there major is and where they are from. A few of them had done a dance to a mashup of a few songs.

It was time. With the lights still out, Corsello announced our lady owls. Again, she started with their name, what their major is and where they were from. They came out with lots of enthusiasm! They then split the team up and played a ten minute game.

The lights came back on, and it is the final game that the audience will play. Boulware needed four teams of four, so he asked the audience for some volunteers. Once they got everyone, they had to race across the court dribbling a ball-but there’s a catch-they had to dress up like a basketball player and wear big wool socks! Once everyone was done, the winning team got prizes!

The gym goes black. Corsello then announces our UMPI men’s basketball team, also starting with their name, what there major is and where they are from. Once she is done, the men split up and play a ten minute game.

First time UMPI owl, Pete Mirnyi, exclaimed that he is very excited for the season to start! I bet the whole team can’t wait to start either! What a better way then to get the teams all wrilled up than with team spirit? So get pumped up and come out and support out owls!