The annual THON Pep Rally featuring coordinated dances from various sports teams got the BJC going Saturday night. While the event started at 9:35 p.m., the athlete dances didn’t begin until about 9:45 p.m.

Women’s rugby kicked us off with a dance number set to the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back.” The national champions women’s volleyball team followed and was a crowd pleaser with 70s-themed outfits complete with afro wigs. Their sensual rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” quickly transitioned into a number of other 70s hits including “Shake Your Booty,” “Play That Funky Music,” and “Shake Your Groove Thing.”

Women’s gymnastics wasn’t able to be there but submitted a video for the BJC to watch. The football team took the stage next, welcomed with loud applause, and danced to “Saturday Night Fever.” An EDM remix showcased the players dancing (some of them were actually really good). “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough” finished off the football performance, as Ben Kline and Anthony Zettel lifted a child up on their shoulders.

Women’s swimming couldn’t be in attendance tonight, but sent an inspirational message to THON from the Big Ten Championship. Women’s field hockey came in hot with full body neon suits accessorized with their game skirts and jerseys. The wrestling team followed with another video encouraging THON to keep it up.

The fencing team was up next, always a crowd favorite. They wore blazers and sunglasses, paying tribute to “Never Gonna Give You Up” (we all remember getting Rick Rolled in high school, right?). Their performance included some Michael Jackson music and dance moves, impressing the crowd.

Fresh off an OT win over Minnesota, the men’s hockey team came out kicking and took a page out of the Lionettes book with a kick line and the famed hair flip. “It’s Raining Men” followed “Come on Eileen” in their performance, as two frontmen donned afro wigs and fur vests while the team behind them performed a coordinated umbrella dance. So far, this performance was by far the crowd favorite. The team also threw toys into the crowd and helped to lift and flip each other. The applause after they finished was deafening.

Softball also sent a video to support the dancers since they weren’t in attendance, and women’s lacrosse came up next. Among the interesting costumes they wore was Katy Perry’s Left Shark, who let us all know through his/her sign that Left Shark is FTK. The 90s theme here was strong, as they transitioned into “This Is How We Do It” and “Can’t Touch This.”

Men’s soccer came out next, in the ever-popular jorts and work boot look — and their jerseys of course. Their performance included plenty of booty shaking to satisfy us ladies, and a favorite dance move was their version of the bird sign language move from Napoleon Dynamite. Men’s soccer finished off with an over-the-head lift akin to “Dirty Dancing” that was welcomed with applause.

Men’s basketball sent a video expressing their support for the families, kids, and dancers. Women’s hockey followed the video with about 30 dancers taking the stage. Women’s soccer was up next starting off with London Bridge, taking me right back to middle school dances and ringback tones. “Shawty Get Loose” and “Apple Bottom Jeans” were featured in this performance, which ended with one player running up a staircase made of other player’s backs and falling into her teammates arms. Women’s Golf was up next with a dance featuring “Pump It,” “Lipgloss,” and “Run It.”

Men’s gymnastics took the stage next in their uniforms complete with neon sweatbands. Of course, their performance couldn’t go off without a ton of gymnastic tricks. Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” allowed us see some of the men salsa dancing together, and they finished off with headstands and lifts. After men’s gymnastics, a video of men’s baseball was shown. The Lionettes wrapped it up, showing what all the other teams could live up to.

Sandy Barbour came back out with the emcees to announce the four finalist teams: football, men’s hockey, men’s soccer, and men’s gymnastics. Men’s hockey was the clear winner after being greeted with deafening applause(none of us could resist the afro and the fur sweater), and took home the first-ever THON Pep Rally trophy. Check out the winning performance here.