Rei Saeki
The sun was shining on the Peverly field as it beckoned the high school students. On the way to Peverly, excited chatter could be heard amongst everyone. Every grade was excited and motivated to win first place.
Their chances for this began in the morning when we had soccer, jump rope, tug of war, volleyball, and capture the flag.
The Juniors took the lead in soccer, jump rope, and even tug-of-war. The soccer players were clearly very prepared when they started lacing their cleats and sliding on their shin guards. All of the players were prepared to give it their all t. The tension could be felt between each grade. The Seniors and Juniors were constantly battling for the lead as the younger grades. Sophomores did an amazing job at defending. The defenders were always on their toes, prepared to go for the ball and ensure it was away from the goal. The freshman kept on attacking and when they scored, one of the players even got excited enough that he did a front flip! Finally, the last round was here, the Seniors versus the Juniors. Both grades were committed to getting first place and this led to the struggle to score. The ball was never stagnant as it was flying around the field. “It was fun to watch,” a Freshman commented as the clock started to run out, the Juniors were able to score a point.
Juniors crushed every other grade in jump rope, scoring a 79, while in second place, the Seniors scored a 53. The Juniors were jumping in rhythm with impeccable teamwork. That isn’t to say that the freshmen and Sophomores didn’t do astoundingly well. When the ropes got caught, they were able to get back in the rhythm quickly and continue their line. One of the participants from the sophomore team said “I wasn’t sure we were gonna make it.” However as time progressed, all the jumpers were able to continue with a nice flow. The sophomore continued to say, “We got the hang of it after a while.” Sadly for the Sophomores, they were just a point behind the Freshmen. Every grade was counting together, making sure they got the rhythm correct and not miscounting.
In the next sport, the Juniors defeated the Freshmen, Sophomores, and even the Seniors in the tug of war. They were so powerful that none of the other grades could beat them. “We had no chance against the Juniors,” a Freshman said. Even with the incredible wins from the Juniors, the team spirit was through the roof with every grade, There was never a silent moment that wasn’t penetrated with a cheer.
After tug of war, it was time for Capture the Flag. The Seniors finally won first place, beating the juniors who kept winning. Every participant ran as if their life depended on it, trying to get the flag from their opponents and escaping before their flags could be ripped from their belts. Everybody was trying to be sneaky but the defenders’ eyes were sharp, making sure nobody got past them.
Still high on adrenaline, the stage shifted to the Futaba Gym where the fierce competition continued as various sports commenced; Volleyball, Badminton, and so much more. There was a surprise performance of a Samba by musicians combined from all grades, an energetic performance adding to the excitement and anticipation. All grades displayed their impressive teamwork and communication skills, especially during Volleyball, where both players and teammates from the bleachers cheered each other on and maintained a positive energy throughout the game. The Sophomores unleashed their talent in Badminton, their agility and speed defeating the majority of their competition. Although the Juniors had surged forward in the morning sports, the other grades left no room for error and all grades were neck and neck by the time lunch had rolled around.
Tensions were high as the last quarter of the day commenced, each grade on their last push in an attempt to edge each other out. Dodgeball was intense, with all the players throwing the balls all over the court, and moving at the speed of light to avoid any incoming balls. The impressive perseverance of all grades resulted in a tie for that sport, the anticipation and tension could be sensed from a mile away. Everyone showed off their skills during Basketball, a couple of Freshmen made a three-pointer shot which roared the crowds. The Freshmen unleashed their potential in cross-country and won by a landslide. A runner was so determined to win, they even went as so far as to run barefoot!
After the many sports, all grades felt their exhaustion, but the air was still wavering with anticipation for the results; a particularly close debate between the Junior and Seniors. Many of the Juniors and Seniors were busy calculating the theoretical points on their phone. At last, the results were in! The gym shook with the drum rolls to reveal the winners, the Juniors! The whole grade excitedly jumped up and the reaction was heartwarming, sportsmanship was great, and each team cheering for one another- despite the results. One Junior was particularly excited about this victory, “My high-school long dream of winning sports day came true!” and attributed this win to strategy and planning “This year we really went in on the planning, and when going into the games, we were very confident”. This year, with the courtesy of the Student Council, a new award was introduced to award whichever grade with the most spirit. This award went to the Seniors; their unwavering team spirit was impressive, with each member always cheering and chanting. A special acknowledgment for Ms. Aguilera for her headband and posters, they definitely led to this victory.
Overall the day went smoothly, and there was no doubt that everyone enjoyed the day fully. A Freshman commented “Although it’s unfortunate we didn’t come out on top, that last sprint showed off our skills and we’re going for the win next year!”, it can be foreseen that next year they are a serious contender! Sportsday has always been a wonderful opportunity for classmates to come together and form a team, and this year was no different. The sportsmanship and enthusiasm each grade presented were ones that will continue to set a good mood for the rest of the year. Much acknowledgment and appreciation should be given to the Student council for not only planning the whole day to be fair but also monitoring all the sports on foot all day!
Rei Saeki & Rei Manabe