Spirit Week is back. 800 Sporting is here to get you ready for assembly games. Monday’s slate includes dodgeball, tag royale, chariot relay, and of course, tug of war and the half court shot. For the Seniors, utter domination isn’t the goal; it’s the expectation.

Dodgeball: A new game that will take place on Monday is just a straight up game of dodgeball. After winning last year’s game of blindfold dodgeball, they decided to spice it up a bit this year and give some of the other grades a chance to compete. The senior’s squad this year is everything you would want in a dodgeball team, for they know how to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge. The team consists of eight players, including three 2018 district champion softball players in Lauren Gates, Katie Hobaugh, and Reese Earleywine. The final girl on the squad is Grace Dempsey, who will also be competing on the stacked ultimate chicken this year. The four boys on the team are Mr. 1000 Brennan Orf, Cody Smith, Jack Martin, and Zach Benes. Zach Benes and Jack Martin spent countless nights in middle school at skyzone, preparing for this opportunity to compete on the big stage. Cody Smith went through shoulder surgery last year, but he appears to be healthy and ready to go on Monday for the biggest dodgeball game of his life. For Cody, I’m not too worried about him throwing the ball hard at people, but instead, I’m focusing on him catching the ball and constantly dodging the ball due to his diminutive stature. The last member is basketball and baseball player Brennan Orf. Orf is a big guy and will be a big target on the dodgeball court Monday, but when he throws that ball, the poor kid on the other side of that thing is going to wish he never signed up for dodgeball. Orf is going to need to stay light on his feet in the game and be as quick as possible on the defensive end because his arm is such a vital component to the team coming out with the win. With this stacked lineup, there are no excuses. 

Half Court: The halfcourt shot this year will be taken by Matt “Swamp” George, Pierce Dunne, Carsyn Beachy, and Macey Lottmann. The halfcourt shot is definitely one of the most difficult events in all of spirit week, and I believe that the only person to make the shot was class of 2018’s Logan Montgomery. Hopefully this year, the Class of 2020 can add another. Matt George is a 35% three-point shooter for the Wildcats this year. Everyone who has watched Matt play knows that when Matt starts off the game hot, he is automatic. The next boy is Pierce Dunne, who is the soccer goalie and the football kicker, so I truly have no idea why he is taking this shot. However, I recently saw Pierce Dunne make about three half court shots during a boys poms practice, so maybe he has mastered the craft. Carsyn Beachy is one of the top players on the girls basketball team this year, shooting 32% from beyond the arc. Beachy is easily one of the top candidates I would choose for shooting this shot, for she just has that competitive edge that favors her over almost anyone she plays against. Macey Lottmann, like Beachy, is a talented basketball player for the 12-4 Wildcats, shooting 42% from three-point range. Macey is also shooting 1-1 from Half Court after her big shot on Tiny Heroes night, securing her the Raising Canes discount. With these four candidates, one of them is bound to sink the shot.

Tag Royale: After Tag Royale’s first appearance last year, this class of 2020 won with ease, and is looking to add to that undefeated record.  When looking at Cody Smith and Alex Daiber, the two will surely be a quick and speedy duo. Personally, I do not see anyone beating these guys. They were the sleeper in last year’s game, and they still managed to grab Thanny Sems’ flag with ease. I just do not know who the competition will be this year, for no grade at Westminster has the speed that the senior class possesses this year. 

Chariot Relay: I really am not sure what is so entertaining about Chariot Relay, but for some reason it is one of my favorite games. The lineup is a similar look to last season with the pullers consisting of Alex Daiber, Brennan Orf, Aiden Davitt, and Toby Davidson, and riders Natalie Ford, Josie Christen,  and Tori Jessie. It’ll be hard for the seniors to lose this year due to the fact that the riders amount to less than 200 pounds. These girls have all mastered the tactic of how to ride the chariots, and because of this veteran talent, we will be settled. For the pullers, I think the key is strength. You can be fast in this game and do just fine, but what happens when some tiny fast guy tries to pull one of those girls: no chance. Lucky for us this season, we have done the analytics this year to develop a nice speed to strength ratio for the boys side. Like most of the game last year, this talented class is looking to win for the second straight year in Chariot Relay.

Tug of War: This years Tug of War team consists of Ben Chereji, Ben Parres, Aiden Davitt, Brennan Orf, Bennie Anderson, Toby Davidson, Max Radloff and Henry Jung. This platoon of oxes figures to be quite a problem for all the other classes. With 3 Varsity football offensive linemen, it will take many men to slow these dudes down while they are yanking on the rope. Coupled with these linemen are Toby Davidson and Henry Jung, each spending countless hours in the weight room. Aiden Davitt has also shown his strength by recording 10 sacks during this fall’s football season. Last, but certainly not least, is Ben Parres. And as a friend of Parres, I would put nothing past this guy. He’s got the heart and the fuel to take any class 1 v. 8. As proven, this squad figures to be a tough out for their final spirit week.

On the other hand, the girls team is made up of Grace Skiljan, Heidi Hightower, Evie Cunningham, Izzy Cunningham, Sophia Sacco, Sabrina Granata, Hanna Ottsen and Katie Hobaugh. Unfortunately, this squad took a loss against the mighty freshman a year ago. One key loss is Katrine Freitag, who is now residing in Norway. But nonetheless, this year’s team will have a chip on their shoulder. Anything less than a first place finish would leave these girls in despair. 

Ultimate Chicken: In the last few years, a new phenomenon has taken over the first few days of Spirit Week. The eyes of everyone in the Arena focused in on a stuffed animal being ripped to shreds. Just two years ago, the class of 2020 took the top prize in one of the year’s top moments. Upsetting the then juniors and seniors one would have thought that no one could get in their way for the years to come. Then the controversy began to hit. The team comprised Davis, Straub, Orf, Andrasko, Ottsen, Dempsey, and Hightower was a well-boiled machine full of height, speed, and athleticism. The only thing that could stop them was one man by the name of Matt DeJong. Enough questionable calls all in favor of the class of 2019 in the championship game to reeked of foul play. But as Freddie Mercury once famously said, “I’ve paid my dues, time after time, I’ve done my sentence, but committed no crime. And bad mistakes, I’ve made a few, I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I’ve come through”. This team is ready has felt the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Should the officiating be fair, I see no team that can defeat this behemoth. And by the end of it all, they will be singing, “We are the Champions”.

Mathletes vs Athletes: A new game stumbles upon 800 Maryville Centre Drive this Tuesday afternoon. This game is titled Mathletes vs. Athletes, where each grade has four boys and four girls, four being mathletes and four being athletes. The games that the athletes are playing is basketball, soccer, hockey, and track, while the mathletes will be completing tough math problems. Though I am very uncertain of how this game will turn out, I do like how this senior roster is looking. The mathletes on the team this year are Molly Li and Teagan LeVar on the girls side and Daniel Hererra and Matt George on the boys side. At yesterday’s lunch, we were throwing out math problems to George, who responded with ease after minimal seconds of thinking. George, Herrera, LeVar, and Li are the right people we want out there with this new game. The athletes are Hanna Ottsen and Daphne Washington for the girls and Ben Parres and Zach Benes for the boys. Ottsen and Washington both displayed there talents on the powderpuff field this fall, absolutely tearing up the Junior defense in perhaps the easiest win in Westminster powderpuff history. For Ben Parres, he is not only a star hockey player and wide receiver for the football team, but he also tore up the 8th Grade Boys Basketball B-team, scoring about seven points per game with four fouls to go along with that. Zach Benes is also a top athletic prospect in the class of 2020, playing for the basketball team and absolutely exposing any defender that comes his way. If this new game is what I think it is, then it should pan out to another senior victory. 

Ultimate Chicken: The Seniors make their first appearance in the ultimate chicken tournament after yesterday’s bye. They’ll take on the Sophomores, who are confident after a first round win against the eighth graders.

Monday: In the last few years, a new phenomenon has taken over the first few days of Spirit Week. The eyes of everyone in the Arena focused in on a stuffed animal being ripped to shreds. Just two years ago, the class of 2020 took the top prize in one of the year’s top moments. Upsetting the then juniors and seniors one would have thought that no one could get in their way for the years to come. Then the controversy began to hit. The team comprised Davis, Straub, Orf, Andrasko, Ottsen, Dempsey, and Hightower was a well-boiled machine full of height, speed, and athleticism. The only thing that could stop them was one man by the name of Matt DeJong. Enough questionable calls all in favor of the class of 2019 in the championship game to reeked of foul play. But as Freddie Mercury once famously said, “I’ve paid my dues, time after time, I’ve done my sentence, but committed no crime. And bad mistakes, I’ve made a few, I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I’ve come through”. This team is ready has felt the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Should the officiating be fair, I see no team that can defeat this behemoth. And by the end of it all, they will be singing, “We are the Champions”.

Tug of War: The Seniors will take on the Sophomores in Tug of War as well after their first round bye.

Monday: This years Tug of War team consists of Ben Chereji, Ben Parres, Aiden Davitt, Brennan Orf, Bennie Anderson, Toby Davidson, Max Radloff and Henry Jung. This platoon of oxes figures to be quite a problem for all the other classes. With 3 Varsity football offensive linemen, it will take many men to slow these dudes down while they are yanking on the rope. Coupled with these linemen are Toby Davidson and Henry Jung, each spending countless hours in the weight room. Aiden Davitt has also shown his strength by recording 10 sacks during this fall’s football season. Last, but certainly not least, is Ben Parres. And as a friend of Parres, I would put nothing past this guy. He’s got the heart and the fuel to take any class 1 v. 8. As proven, this squad figures to be a tough out for their final spirit week.

Junk Relay: This years senior junk relay team is comprised of Tommy Briner, Henry Hartshorn, Koby Schmer, Ben Straub, Lauryn Rhodes, Daphne Washington, Hanna Ottsen, and Emily Bratch. This crew certainly has the speed and competitive will to take down any opposing class. In this match, the key will be balance and quickness in adding another layer of clothing as the competitors run. As the defending champs, the seniors should be the front runners to take the coveted title yet again.

Mattress Surfing: In last year’s mattress surfing affair, the 2020 class suffered a brutal loss to the then senior class. The lineup this year has a similar look to last year, with riders Josie Christen and Matthew Culligan. Culligan is taking the place of Kylan Davis this year, who barely missed the cut.