The energy inside the ballroom was electric as student-athletes traded jerseys for costumes and competition for choreography at NMU’s fifth annual Lip Sync Battle. Hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Center for Student Enrichment, the event once again brought together teams, students and community members for a night that looked very different from any typical game day.

For the third year in a row, swim and dive stole the show.

SAAC President Kate Langworthy said the event offers something fans don’t usually get to see.

“I feel like it brings a big camaraderie between the athletes and the rest of the community,” Langworthy said. “A lot of the community sees us at our athletic events, but they don’t see this side of us.”

Co-Vice President Caitlin Aarseth echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the unique dynamic of the night.

“It’s just a completely different dynamic of sports teams coming together,” Aarseth said. “It’s like a fun little feud… it’s a lot of fun.”

While the performances may look effortless on stage, months of coordination happen behind the scenes. The event is a collaboration with the Special Events Committee, which handles everything from staging and lighting to logistics and scheduling.

Brooklynn Kluz, special events coordinator for the Center for Student Enrichment, said one of the biggest challenges is simply aligning everyone’s schedules.

“Getting everyone on the same timeline and agreeing on a date is probably the hardest part,” Kluz said. “We want a time where campus will come, but also when all the teams can participate.”

Despite the planning hurdles, the payoff is clear: a packed room and an atmosphere unlike anything else on campus.

“I hope attendees take away that all campus can come together for an event,” Kluz said. “Sometimes athletics and other student groups feel a little separated, and this really brings everyone together.”

That sense of connection is exactly what athletes feel as well, especially for a team like swim and dive, where much of the sport is individually focused.

“My favorite part has definitely been spending time with my friends while learning the choreography,” swimmer Manuela Araujo said. “All the rehearsals were so funny, and it’s been awesome to do something different outside of the pool.”

Araujo said the experience helped strengthen relationships across the team, even among teammates who don’t always interact during regular training.

“Creating choreography takes teamwork,” she said. “Everyone brings different ideas, and we all work together toward the same goal. Swimming is usually an individual sport, so getting to do something that requires teamwork made it even more special.”

That teamwork translated directly to the stage. Known for their high-energy routines, detailed costumes and crowd-pleasing stunts, swim and dive once again delivered a performance that left the audience stunned.

“I kept saying I was just speechless,” Langworthy said. “The energy was there, and how much effort they put into their costumes and everything was amazing. The flips really set it over the top.”

According to Araujo, that level of performance comes from genuine excitement and commitment.

“Before the school year even started, my teammates were already talking about the Lip Sync Battle,” she said. “That energy carried through to the stage. You can tell how much fun we’re having, and we go all out.”

While swim and dive’s three-peat may be starting to turn heads, Aarseth said the event remains rooted in friendly competition.

“There aren’t really rivalries,” she said. “But I’m sure with swim and dive winning three years in a row now… maybe a little.”

At its core, the Lip Sync Battle is about more than just winning. It’s about breaking down barriers between teams, connecting athletes with the broader campus, and creating a space where everyone can come together.

“We don’t really get to compete across sports,” Langworthy said. “So the fact that we get to go team versus team in something like this is really cool.”

And for those who haven’t experienced it yet, organizers and participants agree: it’s something you don’t want to miss.

“The energy is just very different than what you’d see at any athletic event,” Aarseth said.

Araujo put it even more simply:

“It’s truly a show. The energy is through the roof, and you can see how much effort everyone puts into it.”

Kluz offered perhaps the boldest endorsement of all:

“It’s the best event on campus.”