CLU dodgeball championship goes to Paul Vargo
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers IN THE LINE OF FIRE-Kevin Jussel, a member of Team Patches O'Houlihan, jumps out of the way of three balls during last week's CLU intramural dodgeball championship. O'Houlihan lost to Team Paul Vargo 3-1 in the final.

For Paul Vargo, it doesn't get any sweeter than this.

The hard work, the dedication, it all paid off during last week's intramural dodgeball championship at the Soiland Recreation Center on the campus of California Lutheran University.

"I'm going to Disneyland!" exclaimed Vargo, following his team's 3-1 victory over Patches O'Houlihan in the final.

"It's bigger than the Super Bowl. It's definitely bigger than the Super Bowl."

Vargo isn't just the team captain, he's the name of the franchise. After failing to show up for an early-season meeting, the team was named: Paul Vargo.

"By default I was the team captain," he said. "The name just kind of stuck."

Captain Vargo credited his teammates for pulling off a stunning playoff run that culminated in the first official dodgeball title in CLU history.

Team Vargo defeated topseeded The Squad in the semifinals before disposing of No. 2seed O'Houlihan in the final. The Squad had lost only one match all season before succumbing to Vargo.

"A total team effort," said Vargo, who spent three seasons playing catcher on CLU's baseball team. "They gave it their all and now we're dodgeball champions."

In the deciding fourth game, it was Chris Atkinson of Vargo who knocked out the final O'Houlihan player to secure victory. For Atkinson, it was sweet redemption for a season that had once gone horribly awry.

"It was intense," Atkinson said. "We had some bad games, and my teammates pretty much blamed it on me every time we lost. I took the heat for most of it and kind of shut my mouth.

"Then I got better."

While Captain Vargo, Atkinson, Kris Murkey, Dan Esters, Shauna Cogan, Melissa Lopez and Danielle Everson celebrated the win, members of O'Houlihan were left to ponder what could've been.

Kelli Lighthizer, a business student and O'Houlihan's star player, assured the crowd that her team would have better days against Vargo in the future.

"I'm confident that in the next sport we play, they're not going to be a challenge at all," Lighthizer said. "We'll dominate and come out in first place."

In the opening game, Lighthizer was faced with a oneonfive situation but was able to knock out three consecutive Vargo players, nearly staving off elimination.

"I was trying not to get hit in the face," Lighthizer said.

"I was also trying to show them that I wasn't intimidated, even though the majority of them were males."

According to CLU intramurals coordinator Clark Cripps, about 45 people played dodgeball in its initial season on campus. All of the league's seven teams were coed, and participants included students and residential advisors.

"The teams kind of represent different groups-baseball players, freshmen," said Cripps, the only faculty member to play the sport.

There are rules, of course.

Both teams have six active players, three guys and three girls. Before the game begins, the teams line up on opposite ends of a basketball court. Six balls are placed on the mid-court line, three on each side of the center stripe.

Once the referee says start, players sprint to pick up the balls. Each team is only allowed to take the three balls from its side of the floor. Players are not allowed to cross the mid-court line.

When a player possesses a ball, he or she fires it at the opposing side. If someone gets hit they are out. If a player throws the ball and it is caught, the thrower is out and the team that caught the ball can re-enter an eliminated participant. Players are allowed to use the ball to block an incoming shot.

Both sides go back and forth until one team has been completely abolished. CLU teams play best out of five games.

Cripps said the reaction to dodgeball was good this year and he expects the league, and intramural sports in general, to continue to expand in the future.

"The main part is not necessarily competition, it's about building community and having a fellowship among people," Cripps said. "Yeah, there's competitiveness, but at the end we all shake hands and usually have a good time."