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Dodge Ball Tournament
-- Makalah Beazell (Staff Writer)
Middle school and high school students recently competed in the first dodge ball tournament at West Greene Middle-Senior High School held on November 25, 2008. The event was held by the junior class. Many students were excited to participate in the tournament. There were four teams made up of high school students and five made up of middle schoolers. Both winning high school and middle school teams were going to go up against a teacher team during an assembly in front of the entire school.
The students were familiar with all of the rules because they were the ones used in regular gym class; the only thing different was they were not allowed to free the hostages. If the games lasted longer than 10 minutes they would have to stop due to time constrictions. A maximum of eight players could be on a team. The teams were paired up randomly. There would be three games played. Which ever team won more games won the round.
The tournament started off with the middle school. Everyone was very eager to get started. The teams were ready, and so were the referees. As soon as the whistle blew balls were flying everywhere. Everyone gave it their best, but of course someone had to lose. The losing team would have to sit out for the rest of the tournament, while the winners waited to see who they would go up against next. This pattern continued until it was down to two winning middle school teams, sixth graders vs. the eight graders, the best of the best. Who would be the winners? The intensity in the gym was so high you couldn’t help but shout in support of the team you wanted to win the most. All of the teams played hard, but not everyone could win. The winning team consisted of the sixth grade boys. The team proudly displayed their prizes which was a large cookie cake along with chocolate bars for each player as they posed for a picture. The tournament was only half over.
Next it was the high schoolers’ turn. This half of the tournament was definitely more intense than the first considering that the high school students have a few more years of experience in dodge ball and they take it pretty seriously. They were all very excited, some more than others. Some teams even chose to dress in matching colors so they could easily recognize their teammates. Once again the two starting teams were chosen randomly. The first two teams battled it out, and gave it their all. When the first set of games were over it was the sophomore boys who won. They waited biting, their nails hoping it wouldn’t be other high school boys team that they would have to battle and it was.
As the two teams prepared for their final battle, everyone in the gymnasium was on the edge of their seats. The teams were tied, each with one win. As the final game approached both teams were sweating bullets, they both wanted to win so badly. In the end the sophomore team won, but they didn’t hold the title for long. The other team challenged them to yet another game. The sophomores took the challenge. They lost the final game and had to surrender their winning title and their prizes to the other high school boys’ team, and they took it with pride. The tournament was not over yet for both middle and high school champion teams; they still had to battle the teachers to see who was better.
The teachers prepared to battle the students in front of the entire school, and none of them showed any fear. The teacher team played hard as well as both student teams. It was a very close game but the teachers defeated the middle schoolers. The teachers also won the battle against the winning high school team. The students were disappointed at their losses against the teachers. Students and teachers will not forget the first ever dodge ball tournament, in the end won by the teachers, who will proudly broadcast their win for years to come.
