Spring is here, folks!

The winter winds have started to diminish and the flowers are beginning to bloom in Happy Valley. As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, our staffers decided to draft the best things about spring in Happy Valley, just like we did for fall and winter.

Take a look at the full draft board below.

Now, let’s hear from the captain of each roster to see why they made the picks they did.

Team Matt

I was awarded the first overall pick for the third straight time in a season’s draft. With the first selection, it was a no-brainer for the hot dog lover that I am. I love baseball, and Dollar Dog Nights at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are one of the best parts of the spring and one of the big reasons I love to go to Penn State baseball games. A clear first-overall pick.

For rounds two and three, I had back-to-back selections. For my second pick, I went with one of the best treats Penn State has to offer — the Creamery. When the weather gets nice, going to the Creamery to grab ice cream turns a good day into a great one. I followed that pick with spring concerts. From Drake to Zach Bryan to a sold-out Beaver Stadium performance by Luke Combs, Penn State has several amazing concerts going on this spring.

For round four, I went with one of the most underrated outdoor spots to drink — Bill Pickle’s Tap Room patio. I then went with one of the best parts of the spring, the weather getting warmer and allowing people to wear shorts. Yes, I’m a guy who wears shorts even when it’s freezing out. However, when shorts weather rolls along, I look just like everyone else, and I love that.

To wrap up the draft I went with porch beer. I’m a sucker for a nice day out on the deck or porch drinking a cold one and listening to music. The springtime is the perfect opportunity for that.

Team Mikey

I really wanted to take Dollar Dog Nights with my first pick, but after Matt stole that, Blue-White Weekend was the obvious pick. Aside from the game, there’s the tailgating, the alumni returning to campus, and the festival atmosphere.

For my second and third picks, I picked “hanging out on the HUB Lawn” and the patio at Doggie’s Pub. These activities are, in theory, possible year-round, but they hit differently on a warm spring day after a cold winter.

Next, I picked late sunsets, one of my favorite parts of spring. It’s so nice to emerge from a class that ends at 6 p.m. and it’s still be light out for your walk home. I also picked “watching March Madness at the bars,” an activity unique to spring that everyone loves.

Finally, I picked softball games. While softball doesn’t host Dollar Dog Nights quite as frequently as baseball does, the games are still a ton of fun to go and enjoy.

Team Aidan

My first round was an obvious choice for me — Cafe 210 West’s patio. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be on a warm day with my friends.

For the next pick, I kept the selection in the same realm with the spring bar crawl. There’s something about bar crawls that’s just different. Unfortunately, I won’t be at this semester’s. In round three, I chose blooming flowers because who doesn’t love flowers?

In round four, I decided to select grad photos, which may seem odd, but I believe there’s a beauty in the sadness. My last two picks coincide with one another. Playing beer die at a “Friday After Class” (FAC) is simply the best.

Team Michael

With the last pick of the first round, I went with Movin’ On, Penn State’s music festival, which I felt could’ve gone at pick one or two, so I was ecstatic to pick it up here. I then made a quick turnaround to take warm weather, since there’s simply nothing better than throwing on a pair of shorts, getting outside, and enjoying the warmth.

After a long break, it came back to me and I one-upped Aidan, getting more specific and going with the Arboretum after the flowers bloom and the trees blossom. The scenes of the Arboretum signify spring better than anything else in Happy Valley and getting it in the third round was a steal. My next pick was the last day of classes: a day that has an overall great vibe on campus.

In the fifth round, I took golfing at the Penn State courses. Once the weather gets warm, golfing in the spring is unmatched, and it gets even better by playing at the Blue and White Courses. To round out my roster in the final round, I grabbed Penn State lacrosse. I was pleased with this selection as watching the Nittany Lions at a warm Panzer Stadium is pretty awesome.