NMU’s Homecoming, themed Ancient Myths and Timeless Tales, brought out the school spirit in students as they participated in the first events.
Teams of six students competed in the Dead River games on cold and rainy Sunday, Sept. 16. Overall, 64 teams participated in the obstacle course and ice cream drop, according to Special Events Committee member Paige Ryan, a junior sports science major.
The winner of the obstacle course was Ice House from Payne, followed by The Summit from Halverson and American Graffiti number two from Van Antwerp. Downtown from Hunt took the ice cream scoop drop, with Boondocks from Meyland and Mountain House from Van Antwerp getting second and third.
The sand sculpture competition was canceled due to lack of beach.
Sophomore nursing major Sam Jones of Malibu House in Spalding participated in her second Dead River games this year.
“I really did have fun, but it was really cold,” Jones said. “I had more fun last year, I have to say. It was so miserable. Last year we played in the water and everything and that was fun, but this year no one went in the water. Usually we dunk the RAs. No RAs got dunked or anything because it was so cold.”
Despite the weather, Jones said the games offered a way for house and hall bonding.
“It brought us closer together, especially with a bunch of girls, it’s hard to get everyone to get along,” Jones said. “It introduced me to some people that I didn’t really know on my floor and got the competitive juices flowing—that always brings people together.”
On Monday, Sept. 16, teams gathered in the Great Lakes room to search for items around campus. According to Ryan, some of these items included the Grimm brothers fairytale book, NMU homecoming shirts from previous years and dragon figurines. Teams got extra points for dressing up in togas.
Meyland Hall placed first. Second and third places were claimed by Spalding and Hunt halls.
The Homecoming King and Queen competition took place on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Contestants participated in both a formal wear and costume sections. The top 10 candidates chosen had interviews.
Senior electronic journalism major Hao Khuong, representing the on-campus apartments, was crowned king, with junior hospitality management major Jerry Allen of Payne Hall and senior criminal justice major Brent Larsen from Van Antwerp Hall named first and second runner ups. Junior economics and political science double major Sydney Landers of Phi Sigma Sigma was named queen. First and second runner ups were junior multimedia journalism major Mikenzie Frost of Van Antwerp Hall and sophomore forensic biochemistry major Alexis McCutcheon of Meyland Hall.
Ryan said so far, homecoming has been successful.
“Even including the bad weather from the Dead River games, the students and faculty seem to be enjoying themselves, and there is a great atmosphere of NMU Wildcat spirit,” Ryan said.
Change That Makes Cents will end 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. A clue will be released Thursday, Sept. 19 and Friday, Sept. 20 for Where’s Norman the Gnome?
