Dodgeball across the equator

It was historic. It was global. It was perhaps "the world's first interhemispherical dodgeball game."

But, unfortunately for five students from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, it's not a Guinness World Record.

On a winter-break trip to Latin America, the college students competed in what is believed to be the world's first dodgeball game across the equator. The global game lasted a mere 10 seconds, but it did indeed cross the line. A red line at the exact equator in Ecuador marked the center line. Watch for yourself:

My favorite part is referee Brendan Sysun, a Bryant sophomore, with the ruling: "Equatorial line infraction! You're out!"

The Boston Globe story last month provides great details and quotes about the impromptu game on January 12. (You may have to register to read the article, but it's free.) The players and a professor even debated the fairness of the equatorial pull. For the record, the Northern Hemisphere defeated the Southern Hemisphere, 2-0.

The students submitted their claim to Guinness in February, but just found out that their effort was denied world-record status.

Nevertheless, their dodgeball dedication is one for the books. According to the Globe, the students carried three 5-inch-diameter balls and used them to create a promotional video that will earn each of them credit:

The nine-minute video splices dozens of images of the spongy spheres rolling down Ecuadoran streets, whizzing past tortoises or bouncing across the Panama Canal.

"This is the one we primarily used," [Bryant senior Bryan] Wojtowicz noted, gripping a dirtied dodgeball between his fingers. Altogether, it traveled 10,000 miles, took nine flights, and endured a seaweed wrap in the Panama Canal experiment.

"We're pretty sure it was the first dodgeball bounced across the canal," Wojtowicz noted with a smirk.

Here's to the equatorial dodgeballers for making the world their playground.

Comments

[Matt]

That's too beautiful for words...

[Eric from EF]

Matt, I agree. That's awesome! Thanks for the comment.

[justin]

you've got to watch out for the "equatorial line infractions" - they'll get you every time! cheers to this group for such creativitiy and a job well done!

[Eric from EF]

These guys rock! They wouldn't ever let an equatorial line infraction spoil their fun.