Pictured above: Cole Eicher won first place in the Navigators’ Pitbull-themed boat.
Courtesy of Clifford McBride
By Sofía García Vargas
The Cardboard Boat Race, a longstanding Homecoming Week tradition at USF St. Petersburg, gathered students to cheer on participants as they fervently paddled along Bayboro Harbor.
Eight St. Petersburg student organizations competed to see which boat would stay afloat on the water course: Navigator Tour Guides, Student Government (SG), Career Center, Pride Alliance, Center for Student Involvement, Compass, Harborside Activities Board (HAB) and the Student Veteran Organization.
After its cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, the event returned to its full capacity and students were excited to be a part of the campus’ classic tradition.
USF St. Petersburg Campus Governor Veronica Jimenez represented SG and shared with The Crow’s Nest her expectations before the race.
“I’m excited, [but] I’m a little nervous, it’s my first time participating in the Cardboard Boat Race, so I don’t want to sink. All I care about is making it across the course,” Jimenez said.
Organized by HAB, the event pitted teams against each other to win one or more of eight categories: first, second and third place, best decorated boat, best team effort, best original design, best sink and people’s choice.
Two members of the HAB staff and one Homecoming Committee member served as judges for the event. None of the judges saw the boats beforehand and there was a tally system involved that assured fair voting.
The teams had over a week of preparation and were instructed to use basic materials like cardboard, duct tape and plastic bags.
Jimenez said SG’s biggest challenge was running out of tape on the morning of the race.
“We couldn’t finish taping the whole boat, but we tried to use our resources as wisely as we could,” Jimenez said.
Teams had the freedom to decorate their boats as they pleased. Boat themes ranged from Miami rapper Pitbull, designed by Compass, to Bullet Bill from Nintendo’s “Mario Bros.,” designed by the Navigators.
After a few minutes-long battle in the water, Compass’s team reached the finish line and took first place.
Sophomore business marketing major Cole Eicher was the paddler that led the “Mr. Worldwide” team to victory.
“This is my first time, so winning feels so good,” Eicher said.
St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock said the event, distinctive to the St. Petersburg campus, rejuvenated campus life.
“Great turnout, beautiful day,” Tadlock said. “This whole week of [Homecoming] activities really showed that we have a lot of energy which makes [USF St. Petersburg] what it should be.”
According to BullsConnect, 130 people officially signed into the event, excluding staff, students, and community members that served as bystanders for the free, water-logged entertainment
“This was an amazing turnout for one of St. Pete campus’ biggest traditions. We even had the privilege of local news stations, WFLA News Channel 8 and Fox 13 Tampa Bay, covering the story,” said HAB Director of Traditions Allison Richards. “This is the first time that a lot of students have gotten to see the Cardboard boat race in action, so it was an amazing turnout.”
