The energy in Crafton was electric as students from all seven houses at Principia College gathered for the highly anticipated Game of Homes competition, where students from both East and West quads mixed into teams for athletic challenges, quirky competitions, and plenty of laughter. The event proved to be the perfect showcase of Principia’s tight-knit student culture. (Scroll down to see more photos!).
The night kicked off with a splash—literally—as competitors faced off in the Belly Flop contest. Contestants dove off the board into the pool, each belly flop judged on creativity, splash size, and the sheer volume of their impact. The crowd winced, cheered, and laughed as each competitor flaunted their skills.
Next up was the popular Crab Walk Soccer, a wild mix of athleticism and comedy with students scoring goals while walking like crabs, hands and feet on the ground—a total hit! One student even joked afterward, “That’s the best workout I’ve ever had!”
But the real highlight of the evening? The lip-sync competition. After the athletic games, the energy shifted into full-on spectacle mode. The men of Anderson House took the stage with an unforgettable rendition of the Mean Girls “Jingle Bell Rock” Christmas scene, complete with Santa costumes and (almost) spot-on choreography. The crowd went wild, cheering and singing along—and, of course, capturing every moment for TikTok to share with the world.
Behind the scenes, the competition was judged by a panel of campus leaders. Charley Martin (C’96), the Resident Counselor for Sylvester House said, “Having our campus leaders involved really added to the sense of community and support that made the night so special.”
Throughout the event, the sense of unity and school spirit was palpable. Alex Kibbe (US’23, C’27) from Anderson House, summed it up perfectly: “It was so fun! Everyone was cheering on the other teams even if their own house didn’t win. It was a great night for all of us, and super exciting to see people show up to support their house.”
From the obstacle course relay race to the exciting tug-of-war, students showed up not just to compete, but to celebrate the camaraderie that defines Principia. Martin said, “The night was an absolute blast! It was amazing to see everyone come together, have fun, and really embrace the spirit of friendly competition—it was a perfect example of the fun, vibrant community we have at Principia."
As the night wound down, students headed to the Pub, which stayed open late to keep the good times rolling. Buck House took home the grand prize of $500, with Rackham taking the second prize of $300, and Brooks coming in third with $100 to add to their house totals.
Game of Homes is more than just an event—it is a celebration of student life as the Principia community came together to support one another, have fun, and create moments that will be remembered for years to come.
