In cooperation with University Housing, SIUC’s office of Intramural-Recreational Sports hosted the 1995 Sportfest on the Grand Avenue playing fields Sunday. Students were offered the opportunity to participate in events such as sand volleyball, flag football, a home-run derby and a tug-of-war contest.

The purpose of Sportfest is to get students acquainted with one another through sporting events, according to Herman Williams, assistant director of SIUC’s intramural sports.

Every year the office of intramural sports, along with University Housing, sponsors Sportfest, Williams said. Sportfest is mainly geared toward freshman so they can get to know each other by participating in sports.

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Williams said many incoming students do not know a lot of people and the atmosphere Sportfest provides helps them get aquainted with one another.

Williams said students from all University Housing facilities are offered the opportunity to participate in the events. He said awareness for the event is generated in the residence halls where students sign up for the events they wish to participate in. The resident assistant from each residence hall helps coordinate in the events.

We have a lot of people working on the Sportfest and we really get a lot of support for the event, Williams said. We really push the event in the residence halls in order to generate participation.

Sunday’s events started at 10 a.m. and lasted until approximately 7 p.m.

Williams, who has been involved in Sportfest for the past eight years, said officials from University Housing and the Recreation Center work hand in hand to put the event together. He said the events are getting more and more popular every year.

Sportfest is growing in participation each year, he said. We have added several new sports, such as flag football which has helped a lot.

A football passing tent, an obstacle course and a putting contest were also added to this year’s events.

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Williams said female participation has also increased a great deal over the last several years.

Beth Dewey, a junior in health care management from Mendota, participated in volleyball and said Sportfest helps students from different dorms meet one another.

Sportfest is a great way to meet other students, she said. It’s a great opportunity for students from different dorms to get to know one another and have some fun.

Dewey feels Sportfest should be held more often and in the winter as well as the fall.

Despite having a good time on Sunday Dewey did fall victim to one rather embarrassing moment she made a premature victory prediction.

Dewey predicted veteran volleyball team would go straight to the top and win the entire tournament. However, Dewey’s prediction fell rather short when her team was forced out after a crushing 11-4 defeat at the hands of a rival dorm.

According to Dewey, her teams loss was due to the weather and not an overpowering opponent.

It was the winds fault I’m blaming our loss on the wind, she said.

Dave Price a senior in photography production technology from Memphis, participated in flag football and said Sportfest is becoming a popular event among SIUC students.

This is a great way to meet people, he said. There are a lot more students who are trying to get involved in it it’s going to become a great event.