1983: Rites of Spring Celebrated Mud Wrestling, Miss America, and More

The 1983 multi-day Rites of Spring activities included the bath tub race, water slide, a chicken BBQ, outdoor movies, musical groups, powder puff football games, a volleyball tournament, and mud wrestling matches.

Capitol College first introduced mud wrestling matches into its Rites of Spring line-up in 1981 when it was sponsored by the Photo Club. The event got such a rave response that it was back-by-demand for several years afterwards.

An Entertainment Extravaganza kicked-off the 1983 Rites of Spring for the first time. This event simulated a Miss American Pageant and adhered to the same participation requirements: “All entrants must be female, between the ages of 17 and 26, single and never have been married or had a marriage annulled, of good moral character, and a US citizen.”

The event’s goal was to recognize the talented young women at Capitol Campus, but only four women participated, and only one of them was a Capitol Campus student. The event was reportedly not-well attended, though those in attendance said it was a high-quality production.

Students organized Rites of Spring festivities from 1969 to 1999, and after a six-year hiatus, they brought it back again in 2006.