Jumping Into the Jug

By Patrick Bohn ’05, August 21, 2019
Incoming first-year students eagerly snap up Cortaca Jug tickets.
Two young men and a woman standing

Tyson Williams ’23 (left), Karen Bikah, and Nick Bikah ’23, didn’t waste any time securing their Cortaca Tickets.

(Photo by Bob Wagner)

Tyson Williams ’23 (left), Karen Bikah, and Nick Bikah ’23, didn’t waste any time securing their Cortaca Tickets.

(Photo by Bob Wagner)

Typically, students entering college don’t get introduced to one of their school’s most iconic traditions before they even get unpacked. 

That wasn’t the case Tuesday for members of the Ithaca College Class of 2023. During the official check-in process on move-in day, they had the opportunity to purchase tickets for themselves and their family for the 2019 Cortaca Jug game, taking place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on November 16.

For Connor Free ’23 and his mother, Emilia, this was a day they had been waiting for. “The reason we came to Ithaca was because of the Cortaca Jug,” she said with a grin.

Emilia and Connor Free

For Connor Free ’23, the chance to experience the Cortaca Jug was a huge selling point when deciding where to attend college.

(Photo by Bob Wagner)

For Connor Free ’23, the chance to experience the Cortaca Jug was a huge selling point when deciding where to attend college.

(Photo by Bob Wagner)

Free was one of 64 students who purchased a total of 140 tickets during move-in. But not everyone who got tickets is going to be sitting in the Ithaca side of the stadium. Kaitie Kratzke ’23 followed in the footsteps of her father, Robert ’89, to South Hill. But her mother, Lisa, graduated from Cortland.

“I’ll be rooting for Cortland with all my friends, but I’ll walk over and see my daughter in the IC section,” Lisa said.

Robert, Kaitie, Lisa, and Kyle Kratzke

Katie Kratzke ’23 (second from left) will be rooting for the Bombers with her father Robert ’87 (left) and brother Kyle. Her mother Lisa, however, will be cheering on the Red Dragons.

(Photo by Bob Wagner)

Katie Kratzke ’23 (second from left) will be rooting for the Bombers with her father Robert ’87 (left) and brother Kyle. Her mother Lisa, however, will be cheering on the Red Dragons.

(Photo by Bob Wagner)

Nick Bikah ’23 and his roommate Tyson Williams ’23, both from Philadelphia, also bought tickets for the game, and Nick’s mother, Karen, will be in attendance as well, relishing the chance to visit with her son and his best friend. “I’ll be going to the game to check in on the boys and see how they’re enjoying college life,” she said.

Cortaca Jug On-Campus Ticket Sales

On-campus ticket sales for the 2019 Cortaca Jug will take place at the following dates and times:

  • Wednesday, September 18 from 6-9 p.m at the Ithaca-Cortland field hockey game at Higgins Stadium
  • Thursday, September 19 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. at the Athletic and Events Center
  • Friday, September 20 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Athletic and Events Center

Cortaca Jug 2019-branded T-shirts and other merchandise are available at the campus store.