Student athletes come together for Jock Rock 2011
Student athletes showed off a different set of skills by dancing and lip syncing for the American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.
The athletes traded conditioning for dance practice as part of the Student Athlete-Advisory Committee’s 17th Annual Jock Rock talent competition and fundraiser held Sunday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.
“We chose Japan since as athletes we are involved in the local community with the C.A.R.E. Outreach program and wanted to make our impact on a larger scale for the greater good,” New York senior Paulina Lee said.
In the past few years around $1,000 has been raised for different charities, said Tera Albrecht, assistant director of Athletic and Academic Services.
Albrecht said members from each of the twelve teams paid $3 toward the charity to compete. Spectators were asked to donate $4 at the door.
Each team competing was critiqued by three judges on originality, lip synching, creativity and originality expressed in eight minutes or less, she said.
This year was softball player Brogan Darwin’s first Jock Rock since her team is usually on the road around this time.
“We are going to try to make people laugh and we will be wearing pillow cases to disguise ourselves so we aren't too embarrassed in front of the audience,” the Chelsea junior said. “My goal was to laugh with my teammates along with making the audience laugh, since their donations go to a good cause.”
Traverse City junior Charnele Lyons traded in her women’s cross country uniform for a Barbie doll costume.
“We were trying to go for the southern image and the theme of finding yourself,” Lyons said. “We have a rivalry with the Men’s Track-Cross Country team and the baseball team so we are hoping to win for the fourth year in a row.”
Although the pride of winning is something every team may want to brag about, Lee said it is more of a tradition and reunion for student athletes.
“It is always a good time for everyone to get together and see each other outside of athletic events and showcase creativity in a different light,” Lee said.
The Women’s Track-Country team was crowned the 2011 Jock Rock Champions for the fourth year in a row. The Women’s Field Hockey team claimed second place, and Men’s Track-Cross Country took home third.
The amount of donations was not totaled Sunday evening.
“We tried to make the best out of the situation in Japan by having a good time doing this fundraiser and bringing all of the sports teams together,” Lee said.
