With a blanket in hand, it was a long a walk to the sophomore parking lot, where Katie Wheeler would join her friends and head to Western High School.

On November 18, the intramural football Super Bowl was happening at Western High, underneath the lights of the football field.

The less than 10-minute drive seemed short because of how excited she was. The women’s intramural final happened at 9 p.m. before Wheeler and her friends arrived to the game. They heard that Villages and the Beta defeated Muffitt and Gamma 24-12.

Wheeler was ready for the eventful men’s intramural football final. With friends on both teams, 1 West 2 South vs. 4 South, she had to choose a team to root for. She ended up cheering for 1 West 2 South and was one of several people that cheered them to a victory.

Wheeler said, “I’m surprised by all of the people that showed up.”

She wasn’t the only one who battled through the cold to cheer on their friends.

The intramural staff had announced that there would be snacks and hot chocolate at the game. By the start of the men’s game at 10 p.m., the hot chocolate was gone, the Rice Krispie treats were like bricks and the popcorn got cold the moment the intramural staff handed it to the people in attendance.

With each touchdown that the boys of 1 West 2 South scored, Wheeler cheered louder and louder. She was surrounded by her group of friends, some of whom were cheering for 4 South, others who were cheering for 1 West 2 South and some were there just because they were dragged there and as they chatted and cheered, they found the excitement of just being together.

At the end of the game, Wheeler turned to her friend sitting next to her and said, in almost a scream, “Boyah! In your face.” This friend was obviously cheering for the losing team.

Her friend on 4 South, Randy Taylor had predicted that his team would win by a large margin. Unfortunately for him, 1 West 2 South defeated 4 South 42-32.

The walk back to Gainey, her residence, from the sophomore lot seemed longer and colder than it did earlier in the evening.

“This is one moment where I’m glad I don’t live in U-hall,” Wheeler said.

She couldn’t bear to walk farther than Gainey in the freezing cold night temperatures of November.

Wheeler fought through the cold, and found the excitement of the men’s intramural final and spending the night with friends.

“The potential cold I may get from doing this was worth it,” said Wheeler.