By: Gracie Swind, Contributing Writer
Sword met shield this Thursday night in Orlando, Florida as the students of Saint Leo University went on a quest to Medieval Times.
The students who attended were dubbed noblemen and women and bestowed with a meal of roast chicken, tomato bisque, spiced potatoes, and an array of other medieval delicacies while knights on horseback galloped through the arena for their entertainment. This electric show included a grand display of horsemanship, falconry, jousting, and sword-on-sword combat.
Saint Leo students were treated to a dinner fit for royalty while knights in shining armor performed tricks for their entertainment.
Knights from the East and West came together in a clash of iron to fight for the honor of being the Queen’s Champion. Saint Leo was seated in favor of the black and white knight, Santiago de Compostela, and though he fought valiantly both with the sword and the lance, it was the red knight who found victory at last night’s tournament.
Ashley Vega, a social work major, senior, and the organizer of the event said, “It’s been several years since [the last Medieval Times trip]happened, so I wanted to bring it back to see if it would be a successful trip. … [The] fact that it was sold out and actually [that]people enjoyed [themselves made it]very successful.”
“I think it’s just different from any other trip,” Vega said. “I wanted to do something that…especially for students that are outside of state…[is]very rare. Definitely something different than what we usually do for outside trips”.
Thanks to the Campus Activities Board, Saint Leo students were saved from the hefty price of admission, only paying $8 for their medieval experience.
Vega also stated that she hopes that the success of the trip encourages next year’s Campus Activities Board to plan another visit, and the students agree.
Jaqueline Moncada, a social work major and senior, called the trip a “fun, sociable experience” and would absolutely recommend it to other students. In attendance with her friends, Moncada also stated that she would definitely go again if given the opportunity.
Chrisalyn Junkert, a mathematics major and sophomore, agreed.
“When all the knights were parading around before the joust…they [got]everyone hyped up,” Junkert said. “If you can immerse yourself into…the fact that they’re parading around the knights and stuff, then [it’s] a great experience”.
Between the food, festivities, and friends in attendance, the trip to Medieval Times will surely be a night for the lords and ladies of Saint Leo University to remember, as well as an opportunity not to be passed up in the years to come.
An awe-inspiring castle set apart Medieval Times from the rest of the Orlando scenery; the students crossed the draw-bridge and entered the castle for their night of swords and horses inside the Queen’s tournament arena.
