Students compete in Rec and Wellness Center's 'After Hours' event

The stereotype is that college students usually spend their weekends partying and clubbing, but a group of 125 UCF students chose to unwind from their school week a different way by participating in the Recreation and Wellness Center's "After Hours" competition on Friday.

 "After Hours" is a sports event organized once a year by a group of graduate students for a group project. Students are encouraged to sign-up with their friends two weeks in advance.

"It is an occasion to bond, be active, and meet new people in a friendly and competitive environment," Ashley Lax, a sport and exercise science major, said.

This year's "After Hours" included 25 teams of five participants that each competed through various contests, such as fitness dodge ball, Jeopardy, sink-or-swim and an obstacle course. Participating teams had the chance to win prizes, such as gift cards or sponsor T-shirts, if they placed third of higher at the event.

Advertising and public relations major Brianne Barta is the marketing lead of "After Hours." Barta commented on this year's event, saying that it was better than the previous years'.

Lax also shared that opinion.

"It is really great to have all these students come out and participate, especially on a Friday night when they could just go out and do other things," Lax said. "I believe that this year's ‘After Hours' was a success, and we met our goal."

Junior criminal justice major Dominique Cunningham thought the event was worthwhile.

"On a scale from one to ten, this event rated a nine, hands down," she said. "I don't regret at all spending my Friday night here."

Tessin Ziegler, a nursing major, commented on the excitement of the event after her team finished playing fitness dodge ball.

"It was really fun," Ziegler said. "I decided to come because I am an athletic and competitive person, and this was the perfect opportunity to work with a group of my friends."

The event stations closed at 12:15 a.m., after which teams met together to hear the prize announcements and team placements. The winning teams were selected by combining the points scored for each competition section.

Team "Highly Favored"-- consisting of team members Captain David Mayes, David Amrani, Alana Cilwick, JT McArthur, and Monica Pardo – was crowned with first place with a total of 164 points. Team "Gold," with team members Captain Spencer Joudrey, Christy Alfano, Michael Alfano, Austin Hittel, and Rachel Holmes, made a close second with 153 points, followed by Team "FWB" with 147 points, with team members Captain Jared Greenbaum, Chris Angel, Chad Hopkins, Chelsea Miller, and Shelby Thorne.

After the prizes were all handed out, the teams were invited upstairs for free food and their complementary Tour-da-Rec T-shirts, while also taking advantage of the time to relax and talk after the competitions. From the spirit of excitement felt in the air to the smiles on the students' faces, "After Hours" was an event for students' to break free from the routine of the typical Friday night, but in a safe and healthy environment.