Senior Jared LeFebre, another member of Clan MacLauren, hopes that Highland Games become a tradition of Covenant College. “I could see the whole student body really getting into the games and looking forward to it as one of their favorite events.”

Despite the cold front on Saturday, seven clans came out to the Highland Games for a day of athletic events. Participants and fans, though shivering and huddled for warmth, countered the cold with clan enthusiasm. Although there were a few kinks throughout the day, director of academic support Janet Hulsey, who managed the games, hopes to make the event a tradition.

“Especially for an inaugural event, you don’t really know what to expect. But the idea of it just jives well with Covenant,” said Holsey.

Clan Blackwatch Leader and junior Dima Weir thought that everything on Saturday was great, but also hopes that more people will become more interested as the years go by. “We’re the Scots, it just makes sense,” he said.

121 people made up the seven clans that competed in the events.

“We were excited about it, but we didn’t know if students were excited about it, too,” said Hulsey “But we got a lot of positive feedback from students.”

Hulsey liked having the Games at the end of April, though she wishes the day hadn’t been so cold. She knew that this part of the year is the most stressful for students and said, “I think it’s also nice to have planned weekend fun. You think, ‘I’m gonna get this paper done so that I can go down to the field and be silly for a couple of hours.’”

The biggest thing that Hulsey hopes to work out is communication and advertising. The first time around means working out details along the way, according to Hulsey.

Hulsey also mentioned a desire for girls to become a part of the Games. “Part of the problem with doing this the first time was that people didn’t know what opportunities were,” she said. “If people don’t know what a braemar stone is, how are we going to get both men and women excited about that?”

While the 5K run, the first event of the morning, required women, mostly men participated with the rest of the Games, with a few women interspersed throughout.

Freshman Natasha Hyde, a member of the winning Clan MacLauren, echoed Hulsey’s desire to bring girls into the mix. She thought it was fun to yell and cheer, but she wished that she could participate as well. “Girls could win if given the chance,” she said.
While attempts were made to incorporate women into the Games on Saturday, Hulsey hopes to have separate heats for men and women or communicate more clearly about who can participate.

Hulsey also mentioned the possibility of adding a fair to the event. A show with birds of prey, Scottish food vendors, and other events would be attractive for people who don’t want to be involved with the actual athletic events.

Senior Jared LeFebre, another member of Clan MacLauren, hopes that Highland Games become a tradition of Covenant College. “I could see the whole student body really getting into the games and looking forward to it as one of their favorite events,” said LeFebre. “I think it would root everyone into the same sense of pride, even though it’s a competition. Plus, a huge sword with team names on it in the great hall is really cool.”

Weir seconded that, “Ten years down the road, this could be awesome.”