HAND BALL – TUG OF WAR
By Liam Morley ’23
RAMSEY, NJ – Friday. In any other week, in Bosco students’ minds, it is the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend. Yes, this Friday was that, but it was something more – the exciting conclusion to the raucous and super-charged activities of Spirit Week 2023.
Prowling the gym for the final day of festivities was the Ironman mascot, working his way around the gym floor and generating a spirit build-up for the afternoon. Br. Travis opened the activities once again with a prayer, acknowledging our connection to our spiritual founder, St. John Bosco.
One new preliminary activity was the Tape Contest. Both Mr. Wojcik and Mr. Moore were taped to the gym wall with what appeared to be several rolls of duct tape. Both stood on milk crates, and once the crates were removed, the contest was to see which could last the longest suspended on the wall without touching the floor. Mr. Wojcik emerged triumphant.
In the Handball competition, the Freshmen pulled off the upset of the day. This was surely a competition for the younger underclassmen. The Freshmen knocked the Juniors out, while the Sophomores did the same to Seniors. In the consolation round, the Seniors garnered a few points by upending the Juniors. But, the real excitement came in the Freshman-Sophomore final match. In a fierce, back-and-forth contest, the clock ran out with the score tied 3-3. In sudden death, a technical foul was committed by one of the Sophomore players – in a 1-on-1 with the Sophomore goalie, the Freshman player buried his shot in the goal, giving the overtime victory to the Freshmen.
There was another surprise in the Tug of War. Against all expectations, the Freshmen bested the Seniors. Meanwhile, the Juniors expectedly beat the Sophomores. The Juniors then prevailed over the Freshmen to claim the contest.
As excited as the afternoon’s activities were, the greatest excitement erupted when it was announced immediately before dismissal that the holiday that the Bishop had granted on Tuesday would be taken on the Monday after the Super Bowl. Needless to say, the Ironmen exited the gym in high spirits!
