Advisory rivalry inspires kickball games

School-wide advisory kickball games that began this semester originated from an advisory rivalry between history teacher Richard Shrock and English department head Eric Thomas. According to Shrock, the games were organized by PE teacher Stacie O’Rear, and began when his advisory played a game of kickball at an advisory party.

“Last year, at an advisory party, we played kickball as an advisory out on the softball field,” Shrock said. “It was really fun and we had a great time so we agreed that we would try to do that a lot more. I told Mr. Thomas about it one day and said that we wanted to challenge them, and he said we should do it.”

O’Rear emphasizes that the games are not part of a tournament.

“This isn’t a tournament,” O’Rear said. “It’s just a way for girls to have fun with their advisories as opposed to sitting around and braiding hair.”

Shrock believes that the games have promoted bonding within his advisory, and among other advisories.

“Yes it definitely does [promote bonding] with our advisory,” Shrock said. “It really did. It was also really good for bonding with player on other teams.”

O’Rear also believes that the games are a great way to promote bonding between advisories.

“The girls have so much fun and laugh so hard when they play [kickball],” O’Rear said. “They have really had a good time.”

Shrock thinks the kickball games will become a long lasting tradition at STA.

“I think [the kickball games] will become a tradition at STA. I think it would be fun if we did plenty of kickball, but also other inter-advisory sports if we got bored with kickball,” Shrock said.

Shrock advisory member and senior Marianna Messerli also thinks that the kickball games are a good way to promote sisterhood and bonding at STA.

“It’s absolutely a good way to promote bonding,” Messerli said. “I admit that I take it a little too seriously, but I think all the girls in my advisory really have fun and work like a team.”

According to O’Rear, the games are meant to help students get exercise during the school day.

“I just want to encourage the girls to be active and boost their energy,” O’Rear said. “I just think its a fun way to bond without it having to be about a competition.”

Messerli believes that the games will become popular among the STA community.

“I think it’s really fun and once more advisories start playing it could get really big,” Messerli said. “Maybe they’ll even start a building war kickball game to go along with the volleyball game.”