Dodging the stress of school in dodgeball duels
By Niru Shivakumar Dec. 14, 2023 A lively battle takes place outside of classrooms, taking students’ minds off their academic stress: the school's annual dodgeball competition. The school is filled with anticipation as students from all grades come together in the gymnasium, usually used for school sports and physical education, which has been transformed into a competitive arena where strategy, agility and teamwork come together in a vibrant display of energy and excitement.
The dodgeball tournament, a well-established tradition, has been a recurrent and beloved school event. Held in the gymnasium, students eagerly packed the bleachers to witness the exhilarating games unfold. The matches not only held the entire school's attention but also generated a palpable sense of suspense as students speculated on which teams would emerge victorious and advance to the next round. Conveniently scheduled during lunchtime, the matches provided an inclusive opportunity for every student to partake in the excitement.
“A lot of students came to watch their friends and had a lot of fun. Many people participated and wore cool costumes to represent their team. A lot more kids participated this year than last year, after looking back at the videos,” Sophomore Ashley Vu, a coordinator of the tournament, said.
Students had to sign up by submitting a form to ASB, which was first come, first serve, and the teams were made up of five players and one alternate. Each game had three rounds and the team that won the majority of those rounds would advance to the next round. Sophomore Bella Luu, an emcee of the tournament, explained that music and emcees were included to ensure the students still had fun, even if they felt that the rules were placing restrictions on them during the game. The emcees also gave commentary throughout the matches to help the crowd understand what was going on.
“I was asked by Mr. Lee and Mr. Hunter to join the Teachers Team. I love sports and thought that it would be fun to play against my current and former students. My favorite part was seeing the students participating in extracurricular activities. I am used to seeing everyone in the classroom, so it was fun to see everyone running around having a good time outside of the classroom. My arm was super sore after, but it was a blast,” Jeff Canter, Social Studies Department, said.
The Ball Busters won the tournament and earned one Polar Pizza for them to share as their prize. Freshman Kellan Davis was a part of the victorious team and thought the competition was a memorable experience.
“It felt good to win, and we had a lot of fun beating the older kids and proving them wrong. After the tournament was over, we had a great time celebrating together,” Davis said.
Students found the game a fun and good way to connect with their friends and classmates outside of schoolwork. Although there are moments of disappointment when the game does not go exactly the way one hoped it would, the dodgeball event at school is always a student favorite, and based on its outcome recently, it will be continued for many years into the school’s future.
About the Contributors
Niru Shivakumar
staff writer
Niru Shivakumar is a junior at Leland High School and is a staff writer for The Charger Account. During her free time, she enjoys playing sports, hanging out with her friends, and listening to music.
Jude Tantawy
artist
Jude Tantawy is a senior at Leland High School and is an artist for The Charger Account. During her free time, she enjoys drawing & painting, cooking, baking, playing video games, and is always listening to music.
Peter Yoon artist Peter Yoon is a sophomore at Leland High School and is an artist for The Charger Account. During his free time, he likes to listen to music, draw, and sleep.
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