NW Valley Times

Spiritual Life’s Cavan Jones battled Campus Recreation’s Malik Touzani for a ball during the Student Affairs Summer Olympics dodgeball competition at the Lopes Performance Center. Photos by Ralph Freso / Slideshow

Did you see the 2004 movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story?”

This was that, but less off-color and more on-spirit.

“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball,” said Grand Canyon University Intramural Sports Manager Mike Fox, quoting the movie before taking the Lopes Performance Center court on Wednesday.

The event was part of the Student Affairs Summer Olympics, not to be confused with the Paris Olympics starting in two weeks, but no less famed on campus. In its fourth year, it pits nine departments and 100 employees of Student Affairs against one another every Wednesday at noon for 12 weeks in everything from music bingo to more vigorous pursuits such as volleyball and, on this day, dodgeball.

Welcome Programs' Steve Owens provided cover for a teammate during the Student Affairs Summer Olympics dodgeball competition at the Lopes Performance Center. Two of the first three years, those hyperactive folks in Campus Recreation have won the season title, carrying home the coveted Dr. Tim Griffin trophy, topped with the vice president of Student Affairs’ likeness.

It’s competitive, but Fox said the value is that all these departments need to collaborate throughout the academic year and can put faces to names. “We have a common ground,” he said. “We have played dodgeball.”

The combined team of Student Care/Club Sports took the court doing a psych-out Purple Cobras entrance dance from “Dodgeball,” and everyone knew it was on – “dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge.”

A few spectators even got beaned on the sidelines, peppering that loud Student Engagement cheering section whose leader, Student Engagement Director Jeremy Mack said that though his charges might not be in first place they are here for the party wearing “Team Mack” T-shirts.

“A lot of people get hired in the summer so some people we don’t know yet and this gives us a chance to meet them,” he said.

Campus Recreation’s Chad Schlundt played with a broken hand reacted after catching a ball and knocking an opposing player out of the game. Five teams competed in pool play; balls were whipped at one another trying hit them or catch them with increasing force as teams worked toward finals when some combatants started to grab their hamstrings or rub out creaky rotators.

It was all coming down to that underdog story like in "Dodgeball." The Campus Recreation athletes leading overall standings were in finals against upstart Spiritual Life—a gentle outfit known for high-velocity throws when nailing opponents.

One by one Spiritual Life picked off those recreators including cannon-armed Fox winning it all.

Director of Spiritual Life Erik Nelsen was humble postgame saying his department had not won much this summer but youth ministry events featuring dodgeball prepared them well. Also when God is on their side who can be against them?

“It’s great team bonding,” he said.

Even with win his team is distant sixth on season leaderboard behind Campus Recreation's commanding first place.

But watch out next Wednesday is Dip Off competition before summer game's final event an obstacle course relay July 31. The Dip Off is “like cooking show” Fox said judging which department makes best dip.

Early line favors cheerful Student Engagement team second overall though Welcome Programs known lug plenty chip bags may surprise.

Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]