Despite the influx of new games this Spirit Week, some have remained the same including the iconic Ultimate Chicken. The game consists of similar rules to Ultimate Frisbee where the players must advance across the court by throwing the chicken to each other. For years, this game has been a fan favorite, and has had some memorable moments. Dan Petke, US Physical Education, has been a referee for around 7 years, and has been a major part in the development and history of the game. Petke said:

“I really enjoy being a part of it. I think it’s a great game for the classes to get behind each other and support their team that’s out there. It’s an entertaining game. Obviously it’s not something you do all the time […] but I think the atmosphere, the game itself, and the level they’ve been able to play at has been very fun.”

The simplicity of the game along with the quirky premise made it an instant classic that still holds up today. When an iconic game like Ultimate Chicken is born it is destined to have memorable moments. During his entire reffing experience Petke has witnessed a lot, but his favorite memory was an unfortunate occurrence during one of the games. He said:

“This was probably 5 years ago. There were two people who went and grabbed the chicken at the same time, and were so intently wrestling for it that the chicken just ripped in half […] The passion in which people play ultimate chicken, and that was a great demonstration of it.”

People’s love of this game goes a long way, and the Westminster community’s passion for it is as evident today as it was when the chicken was ripped apart. Whilst teachers and refs like Petke have unique experiences,, most of the students can recall some of their favorite moments as well. Will Powers, Sophomore, searched through his memories to find his favorite ultimate chicken memory, and it did not take him long to remember. Powers said:

“When we were in eighth grade and we beat the seniors […] We also beat the sophomores that year too […] That has to be one of the best ultimate chicken moments ever.”

The cinderella run of the class of 2027 eighth graders is one of the most memorable moments from Ultimate Chicken’s near decade-long lifespan. Although that upset was unexpected, some grades clearly have advantages over others. Petke said:

“We play similar games in our classes, and the more you do it the more you get the hang of it […] The seniors have been doing it for a while, and they’ve seen what works, and what doesn’t, and they know each other better than some of the other grade levels do.”

The history of the grades will affect the history of the games, for if seniors truly played games like this before, then they do have an advantage, and will win the majority of championships. However, the younger grades can still win, and have done so in the past, so do not lose hope. Ultimate Chicken will continue to be an iconic staple for years to come because of its intense, unexpected history, and the endless possibilities for the outcome of the match. Even though it seems ridiculous to throw a stuffed chicken across the arena, it is still important to support our grades and keep this tradition alive.