Club leaders and members gathered together to compete with one another for cash prizes and victory as Cerritos College held The Falcon Games for the fifth year, March 5-7.

The three-day competition was themed after the Star Wars franchise — specifically the fifth “episode” of the series, “The Empire Strikes Back.”

For the students involved the games have a higher significance this year as many of them are expected to participate in commencement, making the spring semester their final semester at Cerritos College.

Kadie Gurley, director for the Interclub council, was one of the few students that attended the Falcon Games in 2015 and is also one of the students that will be leaving Cerritos.

Gurley said that the games were originally a one day event and expanded into a multi-day competition as it brought promise to campus life and club pride.

“It was great seeing new clubs and already existing clubs participate and network with each other,” she said.

“That’s the whole point. I wanted clubs to come out here and show to the other students what they’re about.”

Gurley added that there was a good turnout this year, as all the events had around 15 clubs competing.

“It took a lot of hard work for this [the games] to be planned out,” she said. “It was a large process, but it had a great outcome. I’m really happy my last Falcon Games at Cerritos College were just like this.”

President of the K-Pop Club Daniella Corona and her vice president and treasurer Dulce Zelaya are also getting ready to transition out of Cerritos this semester.

“Life is about connections, socializing and networking,” Corona said.

“It’s fun to have school spirit,” Zalaya added. She also stated that student involvement is one of the important aspects for a club to be successful on campus.

Both Corona and Zelaya stated that they will be planning to return for next year’s Falcon Games to support their club.

In the Falcon Games, clubs were given the opportunity to participate in teams of three or four students as the games focused on one event for each day, dubbed episodes: academic decathlon, physical games and video games.

During each event, club members must work together through wit, strength and strategy in order to win money for their clubs:

• First place receives $200,
• Second place receives receives $150,
• Third place receives $100
• and fourth (or ‘Wild Card’) receives $50.

Read more: ‘The Falcon Games Saga Continues’

“Episode I” focused on the academic aspect of the competition. Held on March 5, club members must rely on each other’s knowledge on the subjects taught in school as well as pop culture.

Out of the 15 clubs that competed, STEM club, Phi Theta Kappa, Triathalon Club, CIS and Chicano-Latinos for Community Medicine were brought unto the final round, focusing on the Star Wars franchise.

“It could have been better,” said Wendy Melendrez, a member of the K-Pop Club, “We almost placed 4th [in academic decathlon].”

“Episode I” ended with STEM Club placing first, Phi Theta Kappa in second, CIS in third and Chicano-Latinos for Community Medicine in fourth.

The Falcon games held its second day, “Episode II: Physical Games” on March 6, where club members participated in a three-round elimination tournament.

“Yoda Run” was the first event. Going four at a time, each club sent three members to participate in the obstacle course; teams that have placed within first or second in their round or had a fast time over others were eligible to move on.

After the initial 15 clubs completed the run, Triathlon, K-Pop, Robotics Club, Phi Theta Kappa, CIS, and STEM were given the opportunity to move on with Triathlon having the fastest time in the event.

“It was a good run,” said Michael Joel Gonzalez, member of the Triathon Club.

Gonzalez added that members of the club are always training together for athletic events and swimming.

The six teams were to then compete in the second event of the day, “Storm Trooper Smash,” which required club members to pop as many balloons as possible within a minute.

With the most balloons popped, STEM was the first club to move onto the final round with K-Pop, CIS, and Triathlon.

The final event consisted of the four clubs to partake in a gladiator-style competition, each sending only one representative to try to be victorious. STEM and Triathlon became the winners in their matches against K-Pop and CIS, respectively, and went against one another in a three-out-of-five match.

“Episode II: Physical Games” ended with STEM placing first, Triathlon in second place, K-Pop in third place and CIS in fourth.

“We’re [Triathlon] are psyched for tomorrow,” Gonzalez said.

The final day of the Falcon Games, “Episode III: Video Games,” saw higher attendance of audience members, held on March 7.

One member of each club was sent to compete in popular multiplayer games such as “Mario Kart 8”, “Just Dance 2017” and “Injustice” in three elimination rounds.

with many of the matches ending in ties or in a close win, some matches were needed to be redone so a definite winner could move onto the next round.

K-Pop, Triathlon and WPMD were the final three clubs that were eligible for the final round which was figured through the popular Nintendo game, “Super Smash Bros. Brawl.”

“Epiosde III: Video Games” ended with Triathlon in first place, WPMD in second place, K-Pop in third place and Criminal Justice on fourth.

Triathlon members Christopher Oviedo and Fernando Embarcadero expressed that they enjoyed their firs experience of the Falcon Games.

“It [competition] was a bigger risk because there was money on the line,” Oviedo said.

“Falcon Games is different compared to other times I’ve competed,” Embarcadero said.

Oviedo and Embarcadero encourage students to participate in next year’s games.

“You’re in college,” Oviedo said, “try something new.”

The Falcon Games ended with STEM winning the most money for their clubs at $400; Triathlon earned $350; K-Pop recieved $200; Phi Theta Kappa, CIS, and WPMD won $150 and Chicano-Latinos for Community Medicine and Criminal Justice earned $50.