Dynamic dodgeball tournament a delightful diversion

Members+of+the+sophomore+dodgeball+team+square+off+against+the+junior+team+in+the+gym+during+the+school-wide+dodgeball+tournaments+opening+round+on+March+27.

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Members of the sophomore dodgeball team square off against the junior team in the gym during the school-wide dodgeball tournament’s opening round on March 27.

Lilli Braun

Staff and students of CHS filed into the gym bleachers to prepare for the initial round of a school-wide dodgeball tournament during homeroom on March 27. Student Council Adviser Mrs. Mia Schreurs gathered the first two opposing teams, freshmen and juniors, into separate circles to remind them of the expectations of the game.

The round began quickly with members of each team running up to the center of the gym and flicking balls to their team. Arms swung like pressurized trebuchets, launching meteors at the innocent high schoolers who stood before them.

Soon enough, however, the game came to a halt. Tension rose like smog within the gymnasium. Any throws seemed to end in ultimate failure. Exhibit A comes in the form of a junior throwing a ball at freshman Adam Bunnell, who caught it despite two balls already occupying his hands. The next ego-crusher knocked out a junior with a pelt to the leg, but the ball bounced into another’s arms, taking out the freshman who threw it.

The freshmen trickled out until Horatio Baker stood against a group of juniors. Finally, not nearly as quickly as it had begun, the game ended in a junior victory.

The next game, sophomores versus seniors, began quickly afterward. As soon as “Go!” was shouted, senior Jakob Lemke was struck with a surprise blow to the back as he bent to grab a ball.

As the game began to slow, the audience became antsy. A group of students began discouraging the players. Whether it was to speed up the game or weaken the competition, who is to say?

The game continued, and many seniors found themselves targeting sophomore Madisyn Tasch, who would become one the last people to stand on her team. The senior team was granted victory in the end.

(The game) was fun. I think the whole school enjoyed it. I think the school should do more activities like it in the future,” Tasch said.

Game number three, taking place the next day, pitted winner against winner. The crowd was hyped up by the thrill of a new day. Cheers and screams filled the gym but might have been too encouraging. The senior team dwindled quickly but continued to push forward.

One of the incredible plays of the game included ball-to-ball contact in which an airborne dodgeball hit another in a senior’s hand. The ball launched into the air and was caught by the same student. The crowd oohed in awe.

Soon, though, the audience turned sour as students booed at the prolonged game. The players became increasingly intense with every passing second. Balls bounced millimeters from their targets, sometimes flying just hairs away from faces. In the end, the juniors were victorious.

March 31, held the final match of glorified human bowling for CHS — staff versus juniors. Tension was strong between the teams, each wanting revenge for what they put each other through this past year. Students and staff alike pulled off incredible dodges on the fly. The teams were surprisingly well-matched despite the fact that both staff and students could have as many players as they wished.

At one point, Dean of Students Mr. David Schmitt ended up on the gym floor. He used a unique spinning technique to avoid balls raining down on him. This strategy worked much longer than it should have given the number of juniors targeting him. Still, Mr. Schmitt, who also teaches English, was sent to the bench.

As the school day came to a close, more and more players found themselves on the bleachers. Finally, the last junior was knocked out of the game, leaving the CHS staff victorious.

“We originally planned to have (the tournament) during the Holiday Tea event Student Council puts on each year. But we had a snow day, so it had to be rescheduled. We decided on the last week in March as it didn’t have other activities or any major school events happening,” Mrs. Schreurs said.