Dodging Dodgeballs For SNAP

Yellow dodgeballs were everywhere in the gym on Friday night as 17 teams fought for the 6^th annual SNAP (Students Need an Alternate Party) dodgeball tournament title.

Tournament champs Go For Go stormed up through the losers’ bracket after falling short in the first match of the tournament, defeating the Myrmidons in 2 games at the end of the night. The Myrmidons were undefeated until the second-to-last match.

Student teams included Go For Go, Myrmidons, the Bowtie Buhls, the Lucky Charms, Balls to the Wall, 2 Legit 2 Quit, Pretty in Pink, Self-Made Ballaz, Polo Squad, EBSCO Host, Dirty Mike & Tha Boyz, One Hit Wonders, Slug Jiiins, Pulled Pork, WholsomZingers, Irby United and the N-Credibles.

There were t-shirts for the second-place Myrmidons and t-shirts and Applebee’s gift cards for the winners.

The night started with an exhibition match between several faculty and administration members and students chosen from the participating teams.

“I’m way out of my comfort zone,” joked Superintendent Dr. David Goodin. Pointing to the back line of the court, he said “I have a strategy - I’m going to stand back here.”

Goodin wasn’t the first one eliminated, but Class of 2013 House Principal Jeff Kollar was the last man standing.

The other members of the administration team were Senior High Principal Pat Nugent, Class of 2012 House Principal Doug Reigner, 7^th Grade Principal Dr. Teresa Weidenbaugh, 5^th/6^th Grade Assistant Principal Kathy Kotch, and Maintenance Director Bruce Cooper and his wife, Sharon.

Each team of eight paid a $5 registration fee, and spectators paid $5 to watch the action. The SNAP committee also ran a snack bar during the event.

Maria Goman, the event’s organizer, said that 17 teams – while less than last year – was a good turnout.

The event raised approximately $1600 that will go directly to the post-prom party's fund.

Goman took over organizing the dodgeball tournament this year from Debbie Landis, who was instrumental in creating SNAP in 2006.

“My daughter was graduating, and I didn’t want her to go to the beach [after prom]. I saw a post-prom party at another school, went to the principal, and said ‘We need one of these’,” said Landis.

“We had the first dodgeball tournament in 2007,” Landis said.

Since then, the school has been transformed for five hours after prom, to give the prom attendees somewhere to go. Themes have included “Viva Las Vegas!” and “Passport Around the World.”

This year’s theme is “New York, New York – A Night in the Big Apple”.

Plans are to transform the school into a replica of New York City. The event will include food, live music, casino games, and hourly door prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize given to a senior and a $500 grand prize given to a junior.

Admission is free for all prom attendees and for juniors and seniors who choose not to attend the prom.

“This is an awesome party for the students,” Goman said. “When I was in high school, kids died on prom night, and it’s really important we give them a safe place to go.”