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Glenwood dodgeball tournament helps beat cancer
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Competition was killer at the Glenwood Middle School Dodgeball tournament and students and teacher alike took no mercy on their victims. Student Nick Stamp is pictured picking out his next target.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott .Jenn Dravecky was one of the organizers and participants of the Relay for Life Dodgeball Tournament on May 17. She is shown after just dodging a fast ball from the student opposition.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.The faculty team, known as The Fat Ladies discuss tactics before their first match at Glenwood Middle School on May 17.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Teachers and students both refused to hold back and attacked with great intensity. Shown is teacher participant Andy Wade about to take out an opponent.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.The winning team, The Fat Ladies, pose in a team shot after their victory over the seventh-grade team, The Flight. Pictured, from left to right, are Lauren Susany (front), Jeana Stevens, Holly Gozur, Lisa Straight, Jenn Dravecky, Danielle Siembida; Tom Basista (back), Scott Lenhart, Vince Carnevale, Ryan Barrett, Dave Nypaver, Eric Diefenderfer, and Andy Wade. Not pictured: Mike Shevock.
By NATALIE SCOTT
With dodge balls flying and wallets opening, Glenwood Middle School raised more than $3,600 for the American Cancer Society through its sixth annual Relay for Life Dodgeball Tournament on May 17.
Andy Wade, an eighth-grade math teacher at Glenwood, said the chance to compete against teachers, combined with the desire to help a great cause, was all the motivation these students needed to become involved.
“It’s not all about dodgeball, but cancer. Cancer touches everyone.” Wade said. “Whether it’s a family member or just a friend, everyone knows someone who has battled cancer.”
The idea for a charity dodgeball game began when the student council at Glenwood was unable to walk for Relay for life in 2005.
“The movie ‘Dodgeball’ had just come out and everyone was very excited by the idea of a charity tournament.” said Jenn Dravecky, social studies teacher and organizer of this event.
Students raise money for this event through many ways. Events like Change Wars, where students compete to see how much change they can donate at lunch, and the Cap on Cancer day, where for a donation of a dollar students can wear a hat to school, help students have plenty of chances to raise money for this cause.
In order to qualify to compete in the dodgeball event, teams must raise at least $48.
The final round came down to the faculty team, The Fat Ladies, against the seventh-grade team, The Flight.
“I didn’t realize [the teachers] were so hard,” said Nick Stamp, a member of the student team.
The Fat Ladies reign on as school champions of the dodgeball tournament, but the importance of having an event like this rings true with the students.
“It’s important to help out.” said Stamp. “You have to give back to fight cancer.”