With balls in hand, teams entered the beer pong gauntlet last night -- battling head-to-head for a chance to participate in the World Beer Pong Championship.
Neil Kapoor, tour director for the World Beer Pong Tour (WBPT), said 51 teams were signed up to participate in the event at Gingerbread Man, 130 Hiester St. The teams were competing for the first place prize: a free three-night hotel stay and an entry into the $50,000 championship round in Atlantic City.
But Jimmy Poper was competing for a different prize. He said first place in this competition would win a team the unofficial title of Penn State beer pong champions.
"I'd be more happy with that coveted title than going to Atlantic City," Poper (senior-forensic science) said.
Poper and his teammate were one of the all-male couplets competing in the tournament -- as were the vast majority of competitors. Amanda Ulmer (senior-public relations) was one of the exceptions. Ulmer's team was one of the two all-girl teams to participate. She said no gender has the advantage and she could hold her own against her male opponents.
"It's sad a lot of girl teams didn't come out," she said. "Beer pong is for everyone."
Kendra Florczak (senior-supply chain management) wasn't impressed by Ulmer's performance -- or any girls' for that matter. She did not participate this time and was only there to cheer on her friends' team.
"I think I could have played better than a lot of girls I saw," she said. "Those girls are giving us a bad name."
Garrett Cooper (senior-economics and finance) was disappointed when he lost in double overtime, but he had a quick fix.
"Losing left a bad taste in our mouth, but it's nothing a cold beer can't cure," he said.
Teams had to follow certain rules in order to compete in the tournament. Tables consisted of a 10-water-filled-cup set up for each team. No bouncing, blowing or fingering was allowed and there were no rules regarding elbow positioning and leaning. No alcoholic beverages were allowed to be on the pong tables as well in accordance to Pennsylvania state law.
"This is not a drinking game," Kapoor said. "It's more about the competition."
The winner of the competition was not available by press time Tuesday.
