The excitement of the Olympics reaches Anderson University

A tradition that spans sixteen centuries and dozens of countries took place at Anderson University grounds on Saturday, Sept. 7. Under an 80 degree sweltering sun, almost 100 students from every traditional and non-traditional hall gathered to represent their dormitories. Dunn, Fyers (a combination of Fair Commons and Myers), Martin, Morrison and Smith Hall members gathered to partake in the second annual Hall Olympics since its post-COVID revival. In this competition of grit, endurance and sheer luck, hall residents participated in a variety of events such as the ‘happy meal chug,’ nuke ’em, song riff off, tug ‘o war, water volleyball and hide n’ seek. Each event allowed the halls to excel in different abilities and expertise.

One of the staples of the Hall Olympics is the fast food chug. An entire meal from a chosen fast food restaurant is blended into a smoothie. Each hall presents a competitor to represent them. Smith Hall won gold in the event by being the fastest hall to finish the smoothie.

Nuke ’em was the second event. For those unfamiliar with the game, it is a modified version of volleyball. Both teams have all their members participate on the court. Individuals can catch the ball but not pass it around. When a ball is thrown, if it is not caught and it lands on the floor, then the nearest contestant to the ball is disqualified and must exit the field. Whichever team is last standing wins. Dunn Hall took the gold by systematically dismantling the teams from Fyers, Martin and Smith Hall. Smith was a close second contender.

During the song riff off, each team had to sing as many songs as they could that related to a phrase provided by the judge. Fyers showcased their musical aptitudes by beating Martin and Smith Hall, thereby securing their gold medal.

In tug ‘o war, Dunn Hall dominated the game with their superior numbers. Martin Hall also presented a fierce competitor by securing second place in the event.

Water volleyball was a competition that completely sank two of the halls. Each hall had two groups of four on the court with bed sheets, which they used to sling water balloons over the net. If the balloon popped or hit the floor, a point was awarded to the launchers. Smith Hall got the gold, with Morrison Hall and Dunn Hall close behind.

The last event was hide n’ seek. Every hall had to find the five Hall Coordinators hidden within the valley. If they found one and took a selfie with them, an extra 25 points were awarded to the team. At the end of the event, all the halls found all five Hall Coordinators. To prevent the points from being nullified, the scoring system was changed by the judges. Andersonian staff reached out to the judging panel after the event to inquire about the new scoring system, but no comments were provided.

The final scores were promptly presented after hide n’ seek, with Fyers being declared the winner of the 2024 Hall Olympics. Below, the interested reader can find the medal score sheet for the full event.