North Students, Staff Compete in Second Annual Kickball Tournament

According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, one in three children are not physically active every day, and only one in three adults gets the recommended amount of exercise each week. At North, 12 teams of students and staff will participate in a kickball tournament to promote health and wellness on April 1.

“The whole goal is to get people active and do something fun,” said FACS teacher and event organizer Becky Bright.

The student vs. staff kickball tournament was started by Bright and the Student Wellness Group in the fall of 2015 with the same goal of promoting physical activity. The upcoming tournament is only the second at North. Bright hopes the competition will be an annual thing.

“People should come watch their least favorite teacher get beat in kickball,” said freshman Eric Smith.

Seeing embarrassing moments of teachers proves to be an enticing factor to the event. Two teams of staff members are participating.

“Last year, a teacher fell and it was very entertaining,” said junior Addison Lampert.

After assigning loads of homework and projects over the semester, staff members will be subject to revenge in the form of a friendly competition for bragging rights. At the same time teachers will have the opportunity to avenge students.

“I think it’s a good way for teachers to get revenge for the whining, tardies, misbehavior, and complaining of students,” said history teacher Andy Rudolph.

While the competition may provide a way for revenge, it also has a bonding factor.

“The event definitely builds the school community,” said Bright.

Kickball is often used as a bonding activity for corporate businesspeople. The same goes for students and staff at North. Some teams are developing strategies to help their game and to be a cohesive unit.

“My team will arrange our batting order so that our best kicker can possibly kick a grand slam,” said freshman Amy Jordan.

Players are also coming up with trendy team names. Jordan’s team will be called the Kickaholics.

“I am very excited to hang out with my friends and to get exercise at the same time,” said Jordan.

The tournament will occur on the football field Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. Admission is free and the competition will continue until one team is victorious.

by Madeleine Fischer, staff writer