Things are about to get serious. We’re heading into the second week of dodgeball, and with mediocre teams by the wayside, the bleachers are bound to fill up with crazed fans and hyped-up players.
The first week saw the emergence of many impressive teams. Powerhouse senior teams like PBMJ, Hawhy and Public Activists all advanced comfortably to week two, and all have a shot at going all of the way. In addition, one all-freshman team came stood out above the rest in the first round, and has a shot of doing serious damage in the tournament. The Freshman Phenoms, which includes freshmen Cole Botsford, Katie Munro, Matthew Heintzen, Trevor Rodgers and Bailey Thayer, crushed the Buddhas 4-0 last week.
There’s been a lot of excitement on the dodgeball courts over the past few days. That being said, some students on campus still haven’t ventured over to the gym to watch dodgeball this year. For those students that are on the fence about heading to the gym to watch the tournament–don’t be. Even if you haven’t been involved in week one of the tournament, the second week of dodgeball is something you won’t want to miss.
“Dodgeball is the best activity of the year,” junior Alex Liua said. “ Everyone is either playing or watching, it really involves the whole student body.”
For those who are new to dodgeball and are a little intimidated by the scope of the tournament, here’s a brief introduction. The bracket works much like that of March Madness. The tournament starts with 64 teams, and like the NCAA tournament, is a single-elimination tournament. Two games are played at once on each side of the court. Students in the stands are constantly switching their vision as they hear the sounds and excitement from the other game.
“It is really exciting having two games at once,” junior Andrew Bray said, “There is always something happening in the games, so you have to make sure you watch both games.”
Even if they aren’t playing, most students find a way to get involved in the games.
“It is really neat,” junior Yashar Parsie said. “Even if you’re just watching, you start rooting for a particular team, and you feel like you have an impact on their game. If you don’t play then you go to cheer on your friends.”
Dodgeball also has a great atmosphere, and prizes will be awarded not just to the overall winners but to students who wear the best costumes. The possibility of prizes for costumes encourages a lot of team spirit.
“Along with being an exciting event, there are also many incentives to do well,” Andrew said. “You want to win for not only the prize, but also the pride and the bragging rights.”
Whether it is your first year or last year playing, or if you are just going to watch, the second week of dodgeball is bound to be exciting. Don’t miss out on it.
[Photos by Juliet Moore]
