Gonzaga student brave freezing temperatures in first kennel campout for women’s basketball games

Gonzaga University students have beaten tents on Campus in cold, wet weather for almost 20 years ahead of men’s basketball team’s home openers and larger matchups with conference opponents like Saint Mary’s.

But Friday marked the first time that a package of students rejected the freed temperatures and snow -covered grass to fit her tents for the woman’s basketball team and its Saturday afternoon Matchup with West Coast Conference enemy and state rival Washington State University.

Kennel Club President Silje Squires and Kennel Club Campout Coordinator John Burns said they have been looking to host a kennel campout for a woman’s basketball match. Burns said the club would camp the night before the last season’s upset victory against the third ranked Stanford, as Squires said, broke a student’s participation record for a GU-Window, but the logistics never came together.

“This year, when we went in, it all knew (Kennel Club) the board really that this was something we had to happen,” Burns said. “So we’re fired up, rivalry in the state at home, Big WCC Matchup, it’s a good game to camp for.”

Squires said the club would build on the Stanford game and start a woman’s basketball campout this year.

“I think part of it was to build a fanbase in trying to make it a continuous expectation that we look like the way we do with men’s games,” she said.

Squires said the club also chose Matchup because of the close competition between the two Washington schools over the past two seasons.

Cougars beat Bulldogs in Overtime Last Season in Pullman. Earlier this season, Gonzaga claimed revenge and beat the WSU 69-61 at Palouse.

Squires called campouts to “campus-wide gossip party” where students can hang out with their friends.

“I think campouts are the epitome of being a zag,” she said.

Squires said that’s one of the reasons she came to Gonzaga.

“It just shows that we as a student’s section are so required to show up for our teams,” she said.

Students started setting up their tents on Friday afternoon on a grass strip just west of Mulligan Field and north of McCarthey Athletic Center.

Burns said he expected 30 tents to fight, a number he and Squires were extremely happy about.

“Our students have really embraced the campout mentality,” Burns said.

Gonzaga seniors Kate McGuigan and Christina Woll were the first to be set up on the snow -covered surface. They have camped at several kennel campouts, but understood that this was the first one for a women’s game.

“I think women’s sports need to be appreciated much more than they are, so it’s just really fun to get out and support the women,” said McGuigan.

She said the cold weather did not make them hesitate to get out when they had blankets and sleeping bags to keep warm.

They earned “Tent 19”, which means they have the 19th place in line to enter the student’s section at Saturday’s game, scheduled until 1 p.m. 14.00

At. 12.15 Wednesday, per. Tradition, the Kennel Club’s Kennel Club, which was JM and Jessie Rosauer Center for Education Building, and students ran to that place. The first students who arrived earned the first seats on line for Saturday’s games. Wednesday also fell on National Girls & Women in Sports Day, another reason why the club chose Saturday’s match for a campout, according to Squires.

“It was sweet to see people drive everywhere for the women’s content, just as they do for the gentlemen,” Burns said.

Woll said McGuigan and their other friends spread all over the campus, waiting for the location to fall. One of the friends who ran for Woll who has a wounded foot was the 19th student who arrived at the building.

Seniors Matthew Rinard and Kaden O’KEEFE set their tent near Woll and McGuigan’s. Campout was Rinard’s fifth and O’KEEE’s first.

“It’s a bit like a staple here at Gonzaga, and I just haven’t really had the time my first few years, so I would try to end strongly and do it at least once,” O’KEEFE said.

Rinard said he likes the feeling of society that the campout brings and recognized the historical significance of this one.

“I think we’re here at Gonzaga for the past four years, and we’ve seen the gentlemen’s team got some of the favoriteism,” Rinard said. “And I think it’s just really cool to see that the women’s content that is just as good to get the same type of support.”

He said it is the first campout he participated in snow on the ground. Rinard and O’KEEFE would be with four friends in their tent who were tent 4 – the best number Rinard has earned in his Kennel Campout story.

Rinard said he would sit close to the band on the game.

“The energy is much better, it’s super high, gets you into the game,” he said.

O’KEEEFE SAILED he simply “tried to survive the cold weather” and would support Women’s team.

He looked forward to hanging out with people, and his best friend planned to bring a Nintendo -Switch to play Mario party inside their tent.

Students had the opportunity to be active and stay warm, starting with a game “Knockout”, a type of basketball competition with the women’s content available in the Rudolf Fitness Center, Burns said. The team then planned to bowl Pizza Hut Pizza to the campers.

Silent Disco, a gonzaga tradition where students can go on headphones to listen to music and dance in the snow, were scheduled for later that night.

Burritos provided by Gonzaga alumner is for breakfast on Saturday morning and a beer garden will be on the tap on Saturday, Burns said.

He said that if the temperature dropped below 20 degrees, they would send students home. It was an option considering Friday night weather forecast.

Squires said the goal is to host one or two campouts for women’s games each season.

“I’m interested in finally getting one for the women, and I hope it turns into a tradition, for sure,” she said.