UAB Event Director and communications senior Jenna Virant said last year’s event was very successful, bringing in a crowd of about 400 people.

“We wanted to do another pool event and we found out about inner tube water polo through IM Sports,” Virant said.

Inner tube water polo is just like water polo, except each team member floats on an inner tube and only the team with the most points will move on to the next round.

Human resource management sophomore Heather Rosenbaum is a member of the UAB and was volunteering at the snack table during the open-swim.

Rosenbaum said she planned on participating in the water polo tournament in a team formed by UAB members.

There were nine teams for the water polo tournament made up of seven to 10 people.

Not everyone who attended Friday’s event planned on participating in the tournament, though.

Zoology senior Josh Tolinski said he came out to the event because there was free food and a heated pool.

“I try to take advantage of the free things to do on campus,” Tolinski said.

Political science freshman Drew Morton said he came out for the competitive factor and because he used to swim in high school.

Morton formed his own group, coming in with about 10 friends, half of which used to swim as well.

“I just hope everyone has a good time, that’s really what we hope for every event,” UAB Marketing Director and human resource management junior Marc Reed said.

“This is a good opportunity for people to get a taste of summer and warm up and have fun,” Reed said. He said it’s a good way for students to get involved in the MSU community and meet other students.