SportsChallenge is a place where fun and seriousness coexist side by side, in perfect harmony. There is constant positive energy and good humor, and the next great joke is always only a few seconds away. But when it comes to sports, we couldn't be more business-like: each practice is highly intense, and the coaches and student-athletes work hard to make sure that skill development is always happening. One could say, then, that we are dead serious about sports.
Except, that is, when it comes to SportsChallenge Games.
Today, the program was separated into four distinct teams (Red, Yellow, Blue, and White), and while we're still as competitive as ever, the Games lean heavily-- HEAVILY-- towards fun. Tonight, we donned our team colors proudly and marched into the gym for some dodgeball. And oh, what a night of dodgeball it was!
Balls were whipped around the gym with such force that the spectators and judges were almost as active as the players. Loud and creative cheers from each team made the gym shake (judges have been known to award extra points for great cheering).
The best Dodgeball match of the night was the last, between Blue and Yellow. Yellow opened the game ferociously and took a commanding lead of 9 players to four, but Blue refused to give in. Behind the cool and collected play J.P. Crowley, Blue stormed back and eventually took a 3-2 lead. Just then Crowley was knocked out, leaving 2 players on each team for the final minute. The players jockeyed for position, dodging several balls. Director (and SportsChallenge Games Master of Ceremonies) Jeremy Edwards started the count-down with 10 seconds left. Yellow's Shane Jennings, an Irishman in his second SportsChallenge day, threw his ball at the Blue team, but missed. Then, with two seconds left, Blue attacked. A throw came straight at Jennings, with considerable pace. There was no time to dodge; Jennings needed to catch the ball, or his team would lose. The ball hit Jennings squarely in the chest, but he wrapped his arms around it and held on tight--clinching the match for Yellow as time expired!
His teammates rushed the court and raised Jennings aloft, chanting loudly and wildly. It was an unforgettable moment.
There are many more SportsChallenge Games to come. If the competition is at this level of gloriousness now, I can only imagine what Capture the Egg (an SC original) will look like.
-Coach Matthew Roach
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