Along with creating a consistent buzz and plenty of good-natured trash talking for several weeks, the 2014 Londonderry High School Charity Dodgeball Tournament had a little bit of everything for the competitors and spectators.
The 24-team event – which began on Wednesday, Nov. 12 with first-round play, continued on with later round action on Wednesday, Nov. 19, and then culminated with dramatic and high-energy play on championship night Thursday, Nov. 20 – was won by The Ballarinas’ team in a heated title match with the Snipe squad. That final-round battle required sudden death play to crown a champion.
The dodgeball event, which will forward the funds raised this year to the Little Acts of Kindness cause, was run as always by the LHS National Honor Society.
The title-winning Ballarinas, coached by LHS senior, Marissa Beaton, were captained by Ryan Cabezas and included Jayden West, Nate Gaw, Brian Frechette, Nick Daliense, and Jake Coleman.
The champs drove their way past opponents The Commission, The Animal Kingdom, and The Girl Scout Dropouts before meeting up with Snipe in the title round, where they found themselves with their hands full before they won the big match in sudden-death play.
“My players were down two games, but stayed focused and stuck to their plays to come back for the win in the sudden-death, final match. I’m so proud of the way they played against a very strong Snipe team,” said coach Beaton.
That baseball-player heavy Snipe squad, captained by Jimmy Zimolka and including Geoff Kayo, Colby Joncas, Nick Musto, and Jonny Meskell, knocked off opponents Thug Life, Coach Case and Boys, and Stitch’s Orphans before finding The Ballarinas its only road block to the tournament championship.
And despite a spirited, effort in championship-round play, Snipe wound up having to be happy with runner-up honors.
As always seems to be the case, the LHS students showed off their imagination and creativity by coming up with colorful names for their dodgeball teams, which included Please Don’t Beat Us, The Dodgeball Disciples, The Canadien Dive Team, Snoop Dodgy Dodge, Team Undecided, and The Dodgefathers.