The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

Blue team monopolizes Gym Night

By Tim Cho
Student Life and Web Editor

Another year, another chapter to be added in the history books of Neshaminy. The 61st annual Gym Night was just as intensely exciting as any other. This year’s theme of “Across the Board” took Neshaminy through the various board games that both participants and observers cherished throughout their lives. Despite the raging rivalry between the Blue Team, students with last names ranging A to K, and the Red Team, students with last names L to Z, Neshaminy pride mingled with student unity.

The eight teams, two per grade, performed their dance exhibition for the audience and judges hoping that they would triumph over the other team. The Blue freshmen, responsible for the board game of “Guess Who?” were led by Megan Campbell and Zach Boop against the victorious Rachel Sufrin, Chad Wiatrowski and the Red freshmen, in charge of “Mouse Trap.” Power couple Abby Bedesem and Daulton Fox brought the Blue sophomores to victory against the Red sophomores, steered by Olivia Zaino and Eric Schaefer.

“Monopoly” was led by Madison Dierolf, Cale Kitchenman and the Blue juniors. They defeated the Red juniors, by a majority of two nights, with the theme of “Chess,” led by Ben Matzke and Madison Murray. Lastly, the Red seniors took on “Clue” with Addie Sufrin and Nick Zaino, vanquishing the Blue seniors’ “Candy Land,” led by Ton Do-Ngyuen and Kylie Dumke as captains. The color captains, responsible for the overview of their respective team, were led by Danielle Donlon and Jeremy Diamond for the Blue Team; Calli Vasilarakis and Ryan Sheplock representing the Red Team.

Story continues below advertisement

Despite Blue’s victory breaking the Red’s two year streak, captains on both teams had no hard feelings; they held only the highest respect for the students they led and the ones they competed against.

Red junior captain Matzke held no grudges even though he tasted defeat. “I don’t mind that we lost, I had fun and I’m pretty sure everyone on my team did. We are a family,” he said.

Nonetheless, Gym Night brings together Neshaminy students through competition, but by the end of Saturday night’s performance, the only emotions felt were the ones felt by Blue sophomore captain Bedesem—“I was happy, sad, relived and especially tired!” Happy, because Gym Night is an unforgettable event that highlights the high school journey at Neshaminy. Sad, because participants and observers must wait another year until Gym Night returns.

The participants, especially the captains, felt relieved that the hard work needed to make Gym Night what is it is over for now. The captains are sure to agree with Do-Nguyen when he said, “It’s so stressful but so rewarding at the same time, and in the end, I can say that it was such a huge part of what makes my high school experience so special.”

While “Across the Board” rolled the dice in favor of Blue Team, every participant pulled through the late nights rehearsing their dances, through the exhausting after-school practices and through the final moment as they waited for the call to enter onto the gym floor regarding who the winning team was.

Neshaminy is one of the few schools in the region that has a school-wide event like Gym Night and Red Team color captain Calli Vasilarakis described it as, “one of if not the greatest experience I had in high school and I would not trade it for all the money in the world. It was so amazing and a lot of fun and I’m so grateful to have had the experience!”

Gym Night brings together students from any and every aspect of Neshaminy. For better and for the worse, Gym Night is guaranteed to exhibit the true meaning of Neshaminy pride among students, teachers, staff members, parents and community members.

The freshmen have just tasted what Gym Night offers, while seniors now only have an aftertaste of their “unforgettable” memories they shared with each other, as Matzke wistfully said.

Do-Nguyen, known for his sensational version of Beyoncé’s “Countdown,” had a pearl of wisdom for the future Gym Night participants—“Just go out there and own the moment. Work it. What would Beyoncé do?”

To his fellow Red senior captains and color captains, he had a few parting words. “Dani, I love you so much and I’m so happy with what we were able to accomplish out there. Jeremy, you’ve been the perfect addition to our team and a perfect color captain. Calli and Ryan, it’s been a fun ride with you guys!”

Gym Night may be over, but the memories it has and will forge has just begun for seniors and freshmen alike. Gym Night director Amy Geruc led yet another successful Gym Night and loved it. “I love the memories that are created,” she said.

Geruc’s last words to her seniors as Gym Night director are, “Never forget the memories. Gym Night is a unique event that many schools admire and want to duplicate.”

All of the captains faced various obstacles, but produced another awe-inspiring year. To Vasilarakis, this year may have been the last one for her, but has no regrets of embarking upon a journey alongside her fellow seniors. “I’ll always remember all the great times we had together.”

More to Discover
Activate Search
The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School
Blue team monopolizes Gym Night