Athletes find time to exercise voices

Since Princeton generally admits multitalented students, it comes as no surprise that many varsity athletes are also talented vocalists. The time required to be a member of a sports team, however, often keeps athletes from joining one of Princeton’s a cappella groups. Jock Jams, created specially for the crowded schedules of Princeton’s varsity athletes, was founded last spring by senior golfer Marlowe Boukis.

The idea for Jock Jams came to Boukis by chance. Last year, Boukis was chatting with senior center Liz Dilday of the women’s water polo team, and the topic of singing came up by chance.

“[Liz] goes, ‘I sang in high school, and I love to sing,’ ” Boukis said. “I figured in our large Princeton varsity athlete population there had to be some who wanted to sing.”

That was when Boukis got the idea for an a cappella group catered to varsity athletes and their packed schedules. The group also allows non-athletes to join the singing squad, however, as University regulations prohibit discrimination in any group that accepts University funding.

“I got an e-mail from the athletic department,” senior women’s cross country captain and Jock Jams member Megan Brandeland said. “Two of my teammates and I decided to go at it together.

“I always had a lot to do with music in high school. It’s nice to do something different [than sports].”

One of the early challenges the group faced was coming up with a name for itself. Several options were thrown around — Varsity A Cappella, Varsitunes and others — but they settled on Jock Jams, a name chosen independently of the eponymous compilation CD.

The goal was to promote inter-team bonding and provide an atmosphere for varsity athletes to demonstrate their other talents. Most regular a cappella groups, especially those in the archsing rotation, require attendance at daily rehearsals at times varsity athletes can’t accommodate. Jock Jams has a flexible schedule and rehearses at night, after sports practices are over. The group’s 16 members come from various teams, some of which are champions in their respective sports.

“It’s sort of cool to have members who say ‘we’ve just won an Ivy League championship,’ ” Boukis said. “I’ve gotten to know people from other teams that I would have never gotten to know at all. I’m really glad that I get to hang out and meet new people through [the group].”

To form the group, Boukis sent e-mails to the athletic director and posted flyers in the locker rooms of Princeton’s 38 varsity teams. Members of seven different sports teams answered the call, and the group immediately began to rehearse and plan for its inaugural archsing in May. Jock Jams is not able to arrange its own music because of its members’ athletic commitments, which makes it more difficult for them to prepare for an archsing.

“It’s hard for us to really amass the same … repertoire as the other a cappella groups,” Boukis said.

Nevertheless, Jock Jams found its groove with a few classics.

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“We sing a lot of Motown, Disney Songs and classic standards that you would find in American music,” Boukis said. “[In May] we sang ‘A Whole New World’ and ‘Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,’ ”

Jock Jams is currently preparing for its second archsing, which will take place Thursday, Dec. 11, right before winter break.

“I’m excited — I think it’s going to go really well,” Brandeland said. “I think people will be surprised that athletes can actually sing well.”

Boukis said she hopes that Jock Jams will continue after she leaves Old Nassau this spring and that other members carry on the group’s mission.

“As the founder and now the music director, I hope that one of the members will take the role and continue the group,” Boukis said. “It would be great to come back to [Princeton Varsity Club] functions and hear athletes singing.”

But right now, the athletes are bringing the mentality of “one game at a time” from the locker room to the music room.

“Dec. 11 is the concern right now,” Boukis said.