After the Jell-O wrestling competition this past Saturday, Alpha Gamma Pi (AGP) brothers regarded the event as “the cat’s pajamas” for its success. It is a long standing event that for the last 10 years has been honored by the brothers of Alpha Gamma Pi as a tradition.

At 7:30 p.m. on January 28, the Back Bay doors opened and spectators began filing in. After paying the $7 admission fee or $5 in advance from a brother, everyone entered the room to be met by quite a spectacle. In front of them stood a 12 foot long, 8 foot wide and 5 foot tall pit filled with green gelatin. In total, the builders of the pit said that it contained more than 10 barrels of green Jell-O, costing several hundred dollars and took more than a day to build. Around the edge of the pit were gym pads and a tarp to provide for a safe competition.

When 8:00 p.m. hit, the competition began with a round robin tournament to determine the two teams that would move on to the final round. The competitors were as follows: Brittani Yeung and Courtney Smigiel from Alpha Phi, Julianne Deleo and Kirsten Dean, Chanel Batiste and Nicole Coolbrith from Phi Sigma Sigma, and Anika Sutty and Christine Mazza.

Each round, one competitor faced off against the opposing team for one minute and then switched with their partner. Two referees (Jarrod Allen and Nolan Taormino) were in the ring keeping the match safe and fair. A panel of three judges determined the winner of each round and the team that would move on, closer to the final round. The competition raged on between the teams of two until the team of Batiste and Coolbrith would compete against the team of Sutty and Mazza. This was Coolbrith’s second year in a row fighting in the final round.

For the final round, each wrestler competed for a minute and a half then switched with their partner as usual. However, for the last round, the teams could choose their best wrestler to send out to win the match. Eventually, the team of Batiste and Coolbrith were chosen as the victors, receiving the highly sought after Jell-O wrestling championship title and trophy.

The Back Bay was full of spectators who cheered on the competitors and it was truly a night to remember. When asked about the event, which has been running for 10 years now, AGP President Ethan Machurat said, “It’s always a fun event. A lot of work to put on, but we’re able to raise a lot of money for the YMCA.” Alpha Gamma Pi, through this event, was able to raise roughly $600 which is donated to their local philanthropy partner, the Waltham YMCA.

By Matthew Somma

Alpha Gamma Pi (AGP) brother Edmund Mendrala had this to say in regards to AGP’s upcoming Jell-O Wrestling competition: “AGP is the bee’s knees.”

Eight 50-gallon trash barrels worth of green Jell-O stood before the crowd on Saturday, February 26. The brothers of AGP had spent over a day building the structure that stood in all three Back Bay Rooms in the Student Center, and an additional three hours setting it up earlier that evening. The 15 pounds of Jell-O, costing over $700, was contained by a wooden ring that was 12 feet long, 9 feet wide and 5 feet high, with padding around the entire perimeter with mattresses and tarp.
The purpose? An annual event that the brothers of AGP have honored since the 80s, which has been performed at Bentley for the last nine years.

AGP brother Jason Lavardera said, “Once a year, we give the entire campus the opportunity to enjoy a great Greek Life event.”

And a great event is what it turned out to be, with the crowd full and the tickets selling out to a total of 250 people early in the night. The brothers had been selling tickets all week for $5 in advance, and $7 at the door that night. In addition, they also sold raffle tickets for $1, the winner of which would have the opportunity to be one of three judges to determine the winners of each round. All the money raised would go to AGP’s local philanthropy partner, the YMCA in Waltham.

6 p.m. hit and the competition was on with seven teams of two girls, each competing for the title of Jell-O Wrestling champions. Each matchup had two rounds, and a third if necessary, to determine the winner, who would have bragging rights for the entire year. The rounds were fierce and the crowd cheered on the competitors as they approached the final round.

However, competitor Emily Rome took a nasty fall in her semi-final round, injuring her leg. Alison Kearns, fellow sorority sister of Rome’s and competitor for another team, took over in the final round with Rome’s teammate Nicole Coolbirth.

The final matchup was a tough decision for the judges, as Coolbirth and Kearns went head-to-head with opponents Kirsten Dean and Bridget Long. Eventually, the victors emerged covered in green gelatin.
After her matchup, Nicole said, “It was a Phi-Sig team effort. We might have been the smallest team, but we had the largest hearts.”

The results were as follows: 1st Place – Nicole Coolbirth, Emily Rome and Alison Kearns (Replacing Rome) from Phi Sigma Sigma. 2nd Place – Kirsten Dean and Bridget Long from Gamma Phi Beta.

Written by: Matt Somma & Kim Sok

With regards to the outcome of the Jell-O wrestling competition that occurred this past Thursday, brother Jason Lavardera had this to say: “AGP is the cat’s meow.” Close to two hundred and thirty people gathered in the Back Bay on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. to watch as the bracket of 7 teams, 14 girls in all, dueled it out to be crowned the next Jell-O Wrestling Champions. Competitors to this event were mostly, but not entirely, members of sororities, and spectators from other fraternities came to offer their support as well.

“I think it helped to prove that Greek events are still very prominent on the Bentley campus,” said AGP’s president Jeff Salvesen. “We have been hosting Jell-O wrestling for several years and it’s nice to see an event so widely accepted and supported by the Bentley campus as a whole,” he concluded.

Spectators entering the Back Bay were taken by surprise as they walked up to the homemade wrestling pit. The pit, built by the brothers of Alpha Gamma Pi, was approximately 8 feet wide, 12 feet long, and took approximately 25 hours to build and re-locate to the Back Bay.

It was also padded in every corner of the pit with gym pads and draped with a tarp, creating a controlled environment for the girls to wrestle for their title of champion as they waded through over 500 gallons of green Jell-O.

The majority of the fraternity brothers of AGP commented that this event, having occurred for several years now, is much more of a tradition for them than it is a profitable event. Salvesen remarked that “people and alumni from the 80’s still remember this event.”

“I’ve heard good things around campus. People are excited and we’re hoping for a good turnout,” said another brother Steve Varga. And a good turnout it was, with fellow students crowding around the pit or watching on the projected screen to see the action that ensued in the pit, which was monitored by referees Joe Crossett and Bryant Roche-Bernard and announced by Bill Connolly.

Eventually, the last match of the competition came to an end, giving way to the new Jell-O Wrestling Champions of 2010: Claire Turini and Molly Walker of Delta Phi Epsilon. When prompted as to why they chose to participate, they said that “as members of Greek Life, it’s really important to support each other.” They also commented on the overwhelming support from their Delta Phi Epsilon sisters, proving that the Greek community is a close one.

Everyone left the Back Bay that night covered in green gelatin, whether they were referees, competitors, or just there for the show.