Powderpuff girls rock High Rise Field

Referees, uniforms, war paint … short shorts?

Welcome to Penn Powderpuff football.

For one day during Greek Week, Penn’s eight sororities get the chance to settle their differences on the gridiron, an opportunity that is not taken lightly. Despite the ‘Powderpuff’ label, the games had their share of contact.

High Rise Field was littered with sparkly signs, including a particularly clever one written by members of Alpha Phi, which read “We Are the Best Sorority,” a claim that they would have a chance to back up on the field.

Provided with coaches and, in some cases, playbooks, these ladies took the field prepared.

“Basically I just taught them the game of football,” Kappa Alpha Theta coach Ivan Lys-Dobradin said. “I taught them running plays, I taught them how to block, I taught them the rules we have for flag football.”

Originally scheduled for Friday, the event was postponed to Thursday due to an unseasonable wintry mix.

This time, the weather was accommodating. It was certainly a great day for football, with plenty of sun and a gametime temperature in the mid-50’s.

Making sure everything ran smoothly was Wyatt Hilkene, a Beta Theta Pi brother and the executive vice president of the Interfraternity Council.

“We basically are in charge of Greek Week, planning it and executing it,” he said. Of the football games, he said, “It’s a fun atmosphere right now. Hopefully no one gets hurt and everyone has fun.”

In early action, newcomer Zeta Tau Alpha faced off against Chi Omega. Meanwhile, defending champs Delta Delta Delta took on early favorites Alpha Chi Omega.

ZTA had trouble all game penetrating a stingy Chi O defense and ultimately lost the game, despite an impressive late touchdown pass down the left side of the field.

A Chi O started quickly but was ultimately worn down by some determined TriDelt defense. The defending champs managed to squeeze out the victory behind a particularly strong effort from Emily Samuelson, who had (an estimated) two interceptions.

After defeating A Chi O, Samuelson stressed the solid team effort displayed by TriDelt.

“We won as a team,” she said. “A Chi O were great competitors.”

In the end, the day belonged to the ladies of Alpha Phi, who in triple-overtime defeated TriDelt.

Their reward? A trophy made of marble and gold-colored plastic. And a whole lot of pride.

Hilkene summed up the day eloquently, saying, “If I was in a sorority and I won that [trophy], I’d be pretty proud of myself.”

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