EPICfest turned EPICFail

By Kelly Castro
M&M staffer

Despite the blazing sun and unbearable heat, anyone near Myers Quad on Saturday, June 20, could feel the energy that TIPsters radiated as they gathered on the front steps of Rutherford Hall. Decked out in war paint, bandanas and as much of their team color as they could wear, they seemed to paint the steps in streaks of red, green, yellow and blue.

EpicFest, a compilation of field-day-style events, started with each team showing off their spirit with a cheer. The “Yello Mello Mongeese” took first over “Blue Steel”, “Red Rum”, and “Gangrene.”

The competition continued as the teams fought for first in Dizzy Bat, Jello-Snarfle, Cheesy Poof Face, Rock-Tree-Bridge, Basketball and Ultimate Frisbee. By this time, the rankings stood at Green team in first, Red in second, Blue in third, and Yellow last.

Unfortunately, EpicFest turned for the worse, ultimately earning the name of “EpicFail”, as 3rd-year Maddy Rollings, a TIPster from Trenton, Ga., puts it.Not only was the timing bad, seeing as TIPsters had little time to scramble and prepare for their second weekly dance, but one of the students was sent to the hospital.

Excited for Tug-of-War, the Yello Mello Mongeese and Gangreene took their spots on opposite sides of a rope. But the rope, a yellow, frail-looking thing made up of two ropes tied together, was pulled apart into two pieces as soon as the event began.
The first reaction was laughter at what had occurred, but this quickly changed as TIPsters saw that when the rope snapped backwards from breaking, one TIPster had hit his arm hard enough for his wrist to break in a manner that the bone visibly popped out.

As TIPsters calmed and tried to figure out what happened, TIP staff quickly moved into action.
An ambulance was called and TIPsters were sent inside to prepare for the dance. All remaining events for EpicFest were, unfortunately, canceled.