"People see us walking into the court and think it's gonna be the easiest win ever — and rightfully so," said digital storytelling senior Patrick Kraft, who started the team along with human resources and labor relations senior Caitlyn Donnelly in their sophomore year.

They had each played on intramural teams before and thought it would be fun to start their own. They came up with the idea to make team shirts, each emblazoned with the team name, a doodle of a capybara and a personalized capybara name. For example, Donnelly is "Caitybara" and Kraft is "Pattybara."

But little did they know, these shirts would come with a losing jinx.

"Me and Caitlin have been on different teams for like IM stuff and we had no problem winning with other teams," Kraft said. "We were like, 'is it just like these shirts that are a curse?' So it matters so much for us to win in the shirt."

Applied engineering junior Kelsey McLennan said she started to notice the curse after a few games in their first season.

"Nothing was really going our way, but I really appreciate how many of us never give up," McLennan said. "I'm hoping we can break the curse."

One would imagine that with a 0-22 record, the Capyballers would lose hope. But this resilient team keeps pushing for its first win. It’s not that they’re not trying to win — they are. It just never seems to work out for the Capyballers.

The Capyballers even hold weekly practices where they work on skills and strategy. Donnelly said they have been focusing more on a game plan this basketball season, leading to more close games than their usual blowouts.

"I'm feeling good about this season," Donnelly said. "But I say that every time."

Things were looking up in their last game. The other team showed up late with only four players. It was time for the Capyballers to shine. They started with high spirits and managed to rack up quite a few points, but the game ended 54-51 in favor of their short-handed opponents. It was the closest they had ever come to a win.

The issue? Just about everything aside from team spirit. Most of the players have "never touched a basketball in their lives before joining," according to McLennan.

"When the teams all show up in basketball shoes, that's when I start getting nervous," Donnelly said. "Some of us are out here running like chickens with our heads cut off."

Despite their record and lack of experience, the Capyballers keep gaining new members and retaining old ones. 

"People keep coming back," Donnelly said. "They want to be a Capyballer." 

Many students have worn the Capyballers shirt over the past few years. Donnelly said she counted more than 50 different students who have played for the team. Even when the team was getting mercy-ruled before halftime in every flag football game, members had a blast and kept showing up.

The Capyballers have become so "iconic," Kraft said, that other teams show up ready for an easy victory. As the clock ticks down and the points rack up, opponents often start to mess around, attempting half-court shots and "crazy moves." Even referees look forward to seeing the Capyballers’ name on their schedule.

"It kinda becomes a joke for both teams," McLennan said. 

Ultimately, the Capyballers are more than just a meme team. They fight for the capybara on their shirts, and they fight for each other. Their goal is to earn just one win before the seniors graduate.

While the Capyballers will keep chasing that victory until their final game, Kraft isn’t overly optimistic.

"Look out world, because we're going to keep losing."