Do you know how far a sperm can swim in an hour in water?

If you said seven inches, you might be a good contender for this year’s Sex Bowl, an annual competition put on by the Inter-Residence Hall Association.

This event tests teams’ sexual knowledge through different trivia questions and challenging stunts – some of which can get very entertaining said Emily Houge, Sex Bowl coordinator and junior in animal science.

One of the challenges will have participants dig cherries out of a pie tin filled with whipped cream without using their hands.

Houge said last year flavored condoms were put into the pies.

Jason Buehler, last year’s Sex Bowl coordinator and senior in biology, said a particular challenge entitled “Suck and Blow” was a big hit last year.

This event had contestants passing an index card to their teammates simply by, as the name implies, sucking and blowing.

“It was interesting when you have whole teams of guys,” he said.

But challenges are only half of the game in the Sex Bowl. The other part consists of teams answering packets of sexual trivia questions.

Houge compiled more than 50 questions by utilizing resources such as medical Web sites and a friend’s human sexuality textbook for Human Development and Family Services 276.

“There is a lot of information in that book,” Houge said.

She and Buehler agreed that a major benefit of the Sex Bowl is the knowledge participants will take with them.

“The main purpose is to educate people, but in a way that is harmless and fun,” Houge said.

Buehler said the event will help students be more relaxed with topics dealing with sex.

“It gets people more comfortable with an area they’re not as comfortable dealing with,” he said.

Mark Kresser, sophomore in civil engineering, plans to compete in the Sex Bowl a second time this year.

He said his team received second place last year and he really enjoyed the competition. This year, he will compete under the team name of “Ultimate Meal Deal.”

“The challenges were very fun-natured and got me and my friends very involved,” he said.

Houge is expecting 15 to 25 different teams to compete this year, with four to six students on each team.

She said a large turnout is expected because the event will be open to all residence halls – last year only Union Drive Association residents were allowed to participate.

“Now, any person who lives in a residence hall can compete,” Houge said.

Students living off-campus can also compete, as long as at least half of their team members are from the dorms, Houge said.

However, all students can be spectators, Buehler said.

“They’ll laugh -they just don’t have to do the crazy tasks,” he said.