UHCL welcomes new kickball tradition

With a victory Tuesday in the inaugural faculty/staff vs. students kickball game, the faculty/staff claimed bragging rights for the next year. The students put up a fight but lost narrowly 6-4.

The game was organized by UHCL’s Professional and Administration Staff Association (PASA), as part of the university’s “I Heart UHCL Week.” PASA sponsored the event to help celebrate school spirit and to encourage camaraderie between faculty, staff and students.

“We see this as a great way to promote interaction within the UHCL community and engage the student body,” said David Benz, PASA president.

The event was voluntary, but a large number of participants showed up for what UHCL hopes will become a tradition, and with the addition of freshmen and sophomores, UHCL thought it made sense to start the tradition this year.

“In 2014, UHCL is hosting the first ever ‘Spirit Week,” said Kent Case, kickball committee chairperson for PASA.  “PASA wanted to sponsor an activity that would solicit student, faculty and staff participation.  What better way to show spirit than a fun rivalry in which everyone can cheer for their team? It provides the opportunity for the students to see the faculty in a different light.”

On the faculty/staff team representing the faculty were Angela Molen, Daniel Imrecke, Kim Case, Nicholas Kelling, Patricia Trubl and Kent Divoll. Representing the staff were Bubba Jones, Carol Springer, David Rachita, Frank Gonzalez, James Cantu, Mary Washington, Nhee Vang, Renne Fici, Robert Melvin, Rosemary Bubb and Sara Khalifa.

And representing the student team were Estefani Solis, Misael Espinoza, Suhas Malavalli, Trung Le, Taylor Rowlett, Jordan Dabney, Trieu Nguyen, Jonathan Dietz, Kevin Jaime and Mari Martinez.

“We thought an interactive activity in which students and faculty/staff could engage on the same playing level would be fun and exciting,” Case said.  “It’s a great way for students to enjoy the fun side of faculty and staff.”

As far as the game action itself, the faculty/staff got off to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but by the end of the fourth inning, the lead had mounted to a commanding 6-2 score. The students attempted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning, but fell to the faculty/staff with a score of 6-4.

All the participants, both students and faculty/staff, were highly competitive in the game. However, the faculty/staff were a little louder with their enthusiasm. At one point, they even started a chant, “Way to go old farts, way to go.”

Both sides were involved in friendly trash talk both before and after the game. The students did most of their talking before the game however.

“The faculty is about to get schooled,” taunted John Dietz, chemistry major. “Tonight they will be the students, and we will be the teachers. This is our classroom, and they’re about to get a lesson in defeat.”

Other students, like Mari Martinez, bilingual education major, had different motives for the game.

“I’m just here for the free t-shirt,” Martinez said.

Faculty/staff certainly did not shy away from the trash talking either. Robert Melvin, enrollment management counselor, was one of the more outspoken members of the faculty/staff.

“We may get a citation from the beat down we put on these kids,” Melvin teased.

After the game, the faculty/staff were still boasting.

“We whipped up on the students here at UHCL,” said Mary Washington, FMC scheduling coordinator. “I was expecting us to win for sure.”

But by game’s end, everyone showed good sportsmanship by lining up on the first base line, shook hands and expressed their belief in a “good game.” After all, they remained what Melvin referred to as “one Hawk family.”

It remains to be seen if the kickball game will become a yearly tradition, but that is certainly the hope. What makes the game exciting for the future?

“Participating in a new tradition at UHCL, where faculty/staff and students get to show their school spirit through a friendly game of kickball!” Case said.

For further information on the rules and regulations of kickball, visit here.