On a hot, sunny Memorial Day, students from all forms marched down to the fields around the athletic center to participate in a host of Field Day activities. Each form took turns participating in dodge-ball, capture the flag, an ultimate obstacle course, and a medley of games that included a water balloon toss, tug of war, and a Frisbee throw-off. Mathew Harreld ’10 said of the event, “Field Day was great, definitely better than school. It was competitive, but still fun.” Even the day students, forced to wake up early on a national holiday, seemed to enjoy Field Day for the most part. Says Molly Renehan ’11, “I thought Field Day was really fun. It was a good time to just let loose and have fun in the midst of preparing for finals. It was funny to see everybody getting so involved like we were little kids.”
Some students got particularly into the team color aspect of the day, painting their faces with blue or gold streaks, while others dressed in remarkably color neutral outfits, perhaps in some form of protest. Says Britta Roosendahl ’09 of the participation, “Most of my form participated in Field Day. A lot of people went all out and wore special team Field Day shirts and paint and such things, and I would say almost everyone participated in at least one event.”
Despite the increasing heat as the day progressed, most participants continued to enjoy themselves in the events. However not everyone enjoyed the day’s proceedings. When asked what she recommended for improving Field Day Kat Selberg ’10 said, “I would suggest that they make it optional. As a day student, I find it irritating that I have to get up to come all the way to school to be forced to participate in a lame attempt made by our bureaucratic administration to gain support from and satisfy the sports-driven masses.”
Several hours after the activities and a mad rush to the Dining Hall, hundreds of students and faculty showed up at the Science Center pond to see the greatly anticipated Physics Phloatilla. Many boats were very intricately decorated, namely “Pieces ’08”, the pirate boat created by Marian Homans-Turnnball ’08. Another crowd pleaser was the “Illegal Boat,” which was made of all varieties of cardboard, and held up by trashcans in all corners of the boat and noodles underneath.
Other participants tried glorified cardboard suits, for example Christian Keggi ’10 was “iron man” while Peter Conforti ’10 dressed as Jesus. Keggi was able to swim the length of the pond but Conforti fell over within a few steps after his attempt to “walk on water.” There were several boats that made highly successful trips; they tended to be the ones constructed with higher sides and that went at a rather steady pace.
The ultimate winner of the Phloatilla was Peter Krawczyk ’08. After the day ended, everyone headed over the barbeque behind the PMAC. Despite some pretty nasty sunburn, a majority of the people found Field Day to be a pretty enjoyable way to spend Memorial Day.
Andrew Kim ’09 shows his pride in a 5th form dodgeball game. PHOTO/James Stanley
