Eight students from Newman University’s Sloppy Joe Improv Troupe traded their spring break for the spotlight, strengthening their skills in the art of improv.
From March 19-22, the Sloppy Joes traveled to Omaha to compete in the “Cards of Destiny” improv competition hosted by Backline Comedy Theatre. The team faced off against seasoned performers and returned with multiple wins as souvenirs.
Newman sophomore Luke Jones, an art major with a theater minor, took first place on the competition’s opening night. Co-captain and senior Gabriel Trevino claimed the top spot on day two, while senior Melissa Arguijo earned third place.
“All of the people who competed were either part of an improv group, or have done comedy in the past, so we were going against experienced people,” Trevino said. “Seeing Melissa and Luke move on to the final round was amazing. Both of them already have great chemistry on stage when performing improv with each other, and of course, they did absolutely amazing.”
A competition built on quick thinking
Unlike traditional team-based competitions, “Cards of Destiny” was a solo improviser event. Each performer took the stage individually and drew random “challenge” cards that dictated how their scene unfolded.
“The challenges varied from having to sing the whole time, not being allowed to touch the ground, having to die as many times as possible and other ridiculous challenges,” said junior Deqlan Mitchell, who tried out for the Sloppy Joes his sophomore year.
Each round progressed in difficulty, Mitchell explained. Performers carried previous challenges into subsequent rounds, which culminated in a final three-person scene judged entirely by audience reaction.
“The grading was purely audience-based,” Trevino said. “However loud the crowd cheered was the scoring that you had gotten.”
For Jones, two core principles of improv — adaptability and collaboration — made him successful onstage, he said.
“It’s definitely taught me to roll with the punches a lot better and think of things quickly,” Jones said. “You’re always getting things from other people and you have to just go with it and make it work somehow.”
While memories served as the team’s main takeaway, the group also divided tips evenly between the improvisers for a little extra cash on the side.
“So we each got $2,” Jones joked.
Hard work behind the laughter
The trip itself was no small feat. Students organized fundraising efforts for months, from T-shirt sales and show donations to campus competitions.
“Funding was definitely a big thing,” Trevino said. “With the support of our audience and from the amount of work from the team, we made this dream become a reality.”
Mitchell added that winning campus events like Student Life’s annual lip sync battle and “the loudest club” contest helped make the journey possible.
For Arguijo, who joined the troupe in the fall, the interstate experience was transformative.
“Improv has taught me to not care about what others think and truly be myself,” she said. “I knew I could be funny, but didn’t think others would find me as funny as I thought.”
She described her third-place finish as unexpected.
“I was shook,” Arguijo said. “I had the hardest challenges… but it worked out well.”
Jones, who initially thought Arguijo had won his round, described his own victory as both surprising and rewarding.
“I do think I got incredibly lucky with the cards I was given,” he said. “But it was a lot of fun.”
Trevino called the crowd’s reaction during his winning performance “riveting,” especially as he leaned into a musical challenge.
“I had to break out in song,” he said. “I had so much fun performing with different people and their comedic takes.”
More than just comedy
While the trip offered plenty of laughs, students emphasized that improv builds skills that translate off the stage.
Mitchell described improv as “a more freeing way” to perform, allowing creativity without the pressure of memorization. Trevino shared Mitchell’s sentiments and added that the Omaha trip enhanced the troupe as a whole.
“It’s great validation that our little crew has the talent and experience to compare to much more seasoned improvisers,” Trevino said. “It was filled with tons of new ideas, new people and new challenges. This year will be my biggest takeaway.”
The lessons extend into future careers as well. Jones hopes to pursue art or theater after graduation, possibly teaching creative classes and encouraging others to embrace creativity in daily life.
“The Sloppy Joe’s is such a fun group of people,” Jones said. “All those different perspectives coming together to make something fun and enjoyable for everybody — that’s what I’ll take away the most.”
The troupe will continue that momentum with its 20th anniversary alumni show at 7 p.m. April 10 in the Performance Hall, celebrating two decades of the on-the-spot art form at Newman.
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