Left to right: Alex Buehrer, Andrew Hawkens, Jonathan Williams, Ryan Conley, and Charlie Taylor watched the groundhog predict six more weeks of winter. Courtesy | Jonathan Williams

Five Hillsdale students watched as Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter Feb. 2. Junior Jonathan Williams, sophomores Alex Buehrer and Andrew Hawken, and freshmen Rylan Conley and Charlie Taylor were in the front rows at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania when the pronouncement was made.

“It was the most incredible and dumbest thing you’ll ever witness. But it’s a must-see,” Conley said. “It’s one of those things where you didn’t know it was a bucket list item until you went there to see it.” 

To secure their spot among 40,000 attendees, the five Simpson residents piled into their cars for a six-hour drive to western Pennsylvania on Saturday night.

Williams and Buehrer, who are roommates, had previously made the trip to Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day last year and were determined to get closer to the action.

“Jonathan and I knew the deal this time,” Buehrer said. “We were able to get a much better spot to view the festivities.”

“We got to Gobbler’s Knob at 2:30 a.m., and the gates opened at 3 a.m. We were the first ones in — right up front, just behind the VIPs,” Hawken said.

Their placement made the four hours between the beginning of festivities and the wakening of the groundhog an exciting wait, as they conversed with the “Inner Circle,” the mysterious delegation of Punxsutawney locals who put on the event.

“It was a great spot. We got to meet the Vice President of the Inner Circle, ‘Moonshine,’ as well as members ‘Big Chill’ and ‘Thunder Conductor,’” Williams said.

In addition, the Hillsdale group was featured numerous times on the event’s big screen during the pre-sunrise live entertainment, even making it onto a Fox News montage of the Groundhog Day celebration, Buehrer said.

“They remixed a bunch of popular songs, made them about Punxsutawney, and performed them live. It was hilarious,” Conley said.

Unlike last year’s Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from Gobbler’s Knob and saw his shadow, which, according to legend, signifies six more weeks of winter.

“The Inner Circle president spoke to Phil in Groundhogese, who indicated the proper scroll, foretelling either winter or spring, which was then read aloud,” Conley said.

The group’s videos show the uproarious reaction to the pronouncement, punctuated by fireworks and applause.

“It was a spectacular atmosphere,” Taylor said.

But Hawken said the announcement that spring would not be arriving early wasn’t as well received among the Hillsdale students.

“We were pretty bummed, but it wasn’t much of a surprise,” Hawken said. “We’d been waiting out there for four hours in about 18-degree weather, so we were all thinking there’d be more winter, and I heard it snowed back here on Sunday morning, so that goes to show you that Punxsutawney Phil is never wrong.”

Despite the forecast of a prolonged winter, Buehrer and Williams said they were delighted with the trip as a whole.

“It lacked a little bit of that freshness and new magic that the first year offered,” Williams said. “But being able to see it through the eyes of other newcomers was a joy. It almost felt like watching little kids on Christmas morning.”

Buehrer and Williams said they hope Groundhog Day will remain a tradition among Simpson residents.

“Last year, we crossed it off the bucket list. This year, we created a legacy,” Buehrer said. “It was really great to be able to introduce more people to Punxy.” 

Williams said he sees the humorous holiday as something more.

“Getting so excited and passionate about a weather-predicting groundhog is obviously pretty absurd, but it’s helped me form great friendships with my fellow fans of Phil,” he said. “It truly encapsulates the silly energy of Simpson in a positive and holistic way.”

The entire company returned to Simpson on Sunday night with free souvenirs to remember Punxsutawney by, among which was a groundhog puppet in a Sam Adams shirt.

“That’s what I mean when I say it’s the most amazing and dumbest thing ever,” Conley said. “I can now say for the next 60 years of my life —  God willing —  that I went there and have something to show for it.”