Homecoming festivities kicked off on Sept. 24 with the annual Women’s Flag Football tournament. Two teams, the Blitz Babes and Primetime took to Key Stadium to battle for this year’s title. At the end of the game, the Blitz Babes took home the win 42-0.
The intramural organizers, senior athletic training major Mallory Myers and graduate student Skylar Daniels, with a team of 10 referees prepared the field for the game.
Myers said that UIndy has made having a Women’s Flag Football tournament on the Sunday before Homecoming week a tradition. Students and parents attend the game to cheer on the teams.
“It’s become a tradition because it’s just a fun way to kick off Homecoming week. Ultimately the whole week is leading up to the big football game, and what other way to start the week than with some football?” she asked. “It’s just a unique way for females to get to play football in a fun atmosphere.”
Fans took their seats on the bleachers to watch the women showcase their skills as they competed. The game was set for two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute break in between.
Kickoff was set for 6 p.m., and the Blitz Babes scored a touchdown on their first play. Their scoring streak continued for the rest of the half. At halftime, the scoreboard showed the Blitz Babes up 28-0 over Primetime.
Blitz Babes team member and senior athletic training major Kendall Beckstein credits the initial advantage to the team.
“I think it was a huge team effort,” she said. “We worked together and had fun, and our incentive to win was definitely the fact [that] there were free T-shirts.”
After a quick break, the women went back to the field for the second half. The Primetime players failed to stop the Blitz Babes, who went on to score on their first two possessions of the half. With 7 minutes into the second half, Primetime managed to take the ball to the 10-yard line but was stopped short. The game ended with two touchdowns on consecutive possessions by Beckstein. The final score of the evening was 42-0, and the Blitz Babes took home the win and the free T-shirts.
Beckstein and some of her teammates have participated in the tournament since freshmen year. It’s an opportunity to get play competitive team sports without being a college athlete, according to Beckstein.
“I love participating in intramural events. It’s competitive,” she said. “Some of my friends and I have been on a flag football team for Homecoming the past three years, and we have won every year. So I got together a team to try to make it four years in a row.”
There are more intramural sports events going on on campus. The men’s flag football tournament and sand volleyball tournament are currently underway and more sports will be open for registration in the coming month.
“Be on the lookout for some fun event,” Myers said. “We are hosting a one day wiffle ball ball tournament in October, and our indoor soccer league will be starting next month.”
