The Pac-12, Big10, Centennial and the ACC… these are the NCAA athletic conferences well-represented today in the 75th edition of one of our most treasured traditions, Intercollegiate Day 2023! Just a few days ago the entire camp was divided into 5 institutions of higher learning – Arizona, Michigan, and Southern California, as well as Johns Hopkins and Wake Forest Universities.
A full day of events packed the day with fun and plenty of activities from the Snow Field to the Gaga pits, and everywhere in between.
After the morning inspection, everyone was called to the Bunkline field. Nick Shep welcomed all, then introduced one of IC Day’s most anticipated events, officially opening the day-long competition – the Dash. Each squad sent a sprinter to the line to run for glory – hoping to get his team off to a great start. One by one, 8 exciting races were run, with a couple of photo finishes to boot. Arizona’s Henry M , Alan G and Semaj, Michigan’s Hunter S, Wake’s Alex Sw, Trojan Max P and Blue Jay Elias G all broke the tape to first to win their races. Wildcat Grant proved once again that he’s the “fastest man in camp” by winning the Stars Division for the 2nd year in a row!
Nick Shep’s redesigned program then had all 8 Divisions rotate through 7 different activities throughout the day, competing in mini round-robin style knockout tournaments ‘til a winner for each event determined, then moving on …including our newest addition to the IC Day repertoire, Pickleball. The oldest guys even got to go at it in a couple of sports traditionally meant for the younger guys like Gaga and Steal the Bacon. There were 3 v 3 and 4 v 4 half-court hoops games for the younger divisions, and full court runs for the older guys (Blacktop Hoops). World Cup Soccer, Buoy Ball (with a few new twists including a Home Run Derby) and Newcomb/Volleyball rounded out the daytime activities. Points were awarded for 1st place thru 5th, and scores cumulated all day long.
After a brief hiatus of a few years (and a break for lunch and another Songs and Cheers rehearsal), the ever-popular Golf Long-Drive Competition returned to the IC Day schedule. All 5 teams gathered around the Rec Hall Porch and Pumphouse (aka the Water Park) to watch the Seniors and Stars jumpstart the afternoon contests. Sam D won the Stars for the Arizona Wildcats, but didn’t quite catch up to Senior Champ Zane B who blasted the longest of the day for the Wolverines of Michigan before all headed back out on the fields and courts.
After the afternoon’s events were completed, Nick Shep tallied the scores, and announced at dinner that the Wake Forest Demon Deacons had become the team to beat, building a bit of separation between themselves and the rest. The evening of Songs and Cheers was on tap to determine the final outcome, and the weather cooperated -- a beautiful night of Skylemar spirit filled the air.
Each team’s leaders had put in plenty of overtime in advance, preparing a setlist of 5 Songs and Cheers (3 of which must be original) for tonight’s performance - Team Cheer, Camp Cheer, Team Fight Song, Old Camp Song and an Original Camp Song. Michigan went first, followed by Wake, then the Trojans from USC took the stage. The Blue Jays from Hopkins were next, and the Wildcats closed the performances. The boys sung their hearts out… original songs were written to tunes from Billy Joel, Ed Sheeran, Run- D.M.C., Fall Out Boy, Zach Bryan, Ice Cube, the Beatles and more...There were solos and duets, a brother trio and a quartet. When all 5 colleges had performed, everyone “patiently” awaited (well, we squeezed in a boisterous rendition of “Paddy Murphy”) the final word from Judges Barney, Suzie and DT, tasked with the very tough job of deciding the winner. It was one of the closest calls in years, and finally passed on their decision to Shep who delivered the news:
“The Winner of Intercollegiate Day 2023 ---- ARIZONA!"
