Let the bragging begin: Flag football champions crowned

Sunday afternoon marked the culmination of one of the largest intramural flag football programs in the country. \nIU's flag football is second only to Ohio State, with 340 teams competing this season. The championships, held in John Mellencamp Pavilion, featured the 10 remaining teams in the five divisional championships. \nAn extensive day of football opened with the CO II division championship between the SK All-Stars and a team of athletic trainers named Renegade Rehabilitation. The SK All-Stars got off to a quick start, leaving the Renegades in need of resuscitation. Sophomore Joe Wagman made two one-handed circus catches while senior Allie Shook ended the game on an interception that propelled the All-Stars to an 18-0 shutout. Wagman said his squad's success was a product of teamwork. \n"We really have the best girls and mesh really well," he said.\nThe Wheeler Dealers added a comedic aspect to the Men's II final by outfitting their coach with a headset during the game. Sigma Pi C quarterback Dave Dytko broke a couple of long runs to put his team on top. The Dealers fought hard during a frantic two-minute drill in an attempt to tie the 14-6 game. But their dreams were crushed within the hands of senior Brendon Litwin when he snatched up the floating ball that he dropped on an earlier play in the series. Litwin went on to return his interception for a touchdown that sealed their 21-6 win. \n"I'm happy I was able to capitalize on a second chance after missing the first attempt," Litwin said. \nThe CO I game was the Cameron Troxell show. He was the catalyst for a huge day by the DU/Alpha Phi team that faced off against Friends will Friend. Troxell seemed to be involved in every play, accumulating two interceptions and a 66-yard touchdown catch. \n"I jut try to go hard after every ball," said Troxell. \nDU/Alpha Phi played stifling defense Sunday in a 31-6 blowout.\nIU softball assistant coach Tarrah Beyster led members of the IU softball team playing under the name Collective Action against Alpha Omicron Pi, who had their own coaches from Lambda Chi making play calls from the sidelines. After throwing an interception at the 1-yard line that gave possession back to Collective Action, Alpha Omicron Pi had to bat down a Collective Action pass late in the game to secure their 26-20 win. Alpha Omicron Pi was unaware Collective Action was out of timeouts near the end of the game, which would have altered their game plan to more of a rushing attack to keep the clock running.\n"I thought we were down and didn't know they were out of timeouts," said Stephanie Donlan. "That's something my coaches should have informed me of." \nCarrie Reading of Recreational Sports sang the national anthem before the start of the Men's I game. Former IU softball player and Collective Action team member Anne Rohlman came to the scorers table and expressed her dissension with the decision to only have the anthem sung before the Men's I game. \n"If we're all there playing for the championships, then why should the guys get special recognition?" she said. "I felt second-class." \nThe last game of the day was a showdown of the unbeatens between ATO A and Beta Theta Pi A in the Men's I final. The game was a defensive struggle until Beta scored 12 unanswered points in the last two minutes of the first half. ATO's morale rose when starting quarterback senior Matt Criscione arrived from Chicago at halftime. But Beta kept their composure, holding ATO scoreless and winning by mercy rule in their 19-0 win. Some competitive juices in the players spilled out after the game. Beta quarterback Adam Kielman said the game was revenge for their basketball loss to ATO in last year's intramural season, whereas Mike Hubbarth of ATO -- listed as "The Mike Hubbarth" in the flag football program -- made bold statements about the next season. \n"It would have been a whole different game if Matt was here," he said. "Just wait until next year"