Can you dodge a ball?
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Nick Granato hits the floor to avoid being eliminated during a dodgeball scrimmage at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU on Friday night.
Nick Granato hits the floor to avoid being eliminated during a dodgeball scrimmage at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU on Friday night.
It's not as easy as you might think, especially in the YMCA Dodgeball League, which kicked off a new season Friday night.
“I keep coming back because of the people in this league,” Wrench Dodgers team member Dion Brown said. “They present a lot of fun for us. It's such an exciting league to be a part of.”
This is the fifth year the league has been organized by the YMCA and currently there are a total of eight teams. The season is eight weeks long, while each team plays one game per week.
Dan Mahoney is a member of the Decepticons and has been involved with the league each year. He also helps officiate and organizes the schedules.
“After the first year they were looking for someone,” he said. “I decided to take the position.”
The league was inspired by the movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller. For those that are well past their school days, it can also serve a flashback to their days in recess.
“I am a lot better now then I was in my younger days,” Mahoney said. “My competitive juices are back.”
Their is also plenty of stiff competition. Each game can make or break a team's playoff chances.
Last year, the Wrench Dodgers played the role of the New England Patriots as they went undefeated in the regular season, but lost in the championship to Curley's.
“We need to play better this year,” Wrench Dodgers' James Smith said. “We are looking forward to that rematch with Curley's. They are our rivals.”
Due to a small turnout because of the holiday, the Unabombers started the season off with a scrimmage Friday night.
Team member Dustin Dacey is a new addition to the Unabombers team.
“I will be increasing the percentage of opposing players sitting down,” Dacey said. “I will do what I need to do to help my team out. I can dodge well. I just keep it simple.”
Dacey is one of many high schoolers that are starting to get involved with the league. Zach Clark, also a teammate of Dacey, is in his second year in the league and is still in high school.
“I come for the fun this league offers,” Clark said. “You get together and just hang out. I have three things I want to do and one is have a good time. My second goal is to stay competitive and the third is win a championship.”
Mahoney does whatever is needed to make the league better and more enjoyable for the players. This year they are trying out a new set of dodgeballs.
“You don't want to throw a ball that feels like a marshmallow,” Mahoney said. “This year the balls we have are working and holding up the best. We keep trying to make it better and the people keep returning.”
The league is still accepting new teams and people can sign up at the YMCA. The cost is $75 and an additional $15 locker fee for non-members. The winning team at the end of the year receives a T-shirt.
“This year we have an excellent amount of participants,” Mahoney said. “We can always afford more. The more the better for this league.”
While the league serves as a throwback to elementary school for some, other are happy they're not in school any more.
“I'm just glad after a night of games I don't have to go to science class,” Mahoney said. “Instead I get to go to Curley's.”
“I keep coming back because of the people in this league,” Wrench Dodgers team member Dion Brown said. “They present a lot of fun for us. It's such an exciting league to be a part of.”
This is the fifth year the league has been organized by the YMCA and currently there are a total of eight teams. The season is eight weeks long, while each team plays one game per week.
Dan Mahoney is a member of the Decepticons and has been involved with the league each year. He also helps officiate and organizes the schedules.
“After the first year they were looking for someone,” he said. “I decided to take the position.”
The league was inspired by the movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller. For those that are well past their school days, it can also serve a flashback to their days in recess.
“I am a lot better now then I was in my younger days,” Mahoney said. “My competitive juices are back.”
Their is also plenty of stiff competition. Each game can make or break a team's playoff chances.
Last year, the Wrench Dodgers played the role of the New England Patriots as they went undefeated in the regular season, but lost in the championship to Curley's.
“We need to play better this year,” Wrench Dodgers' James Smith said. “We are looking forward to that rematch with Curley's. They are our rivals.”
Due to a small turnout because of the holiday, the Unabombers started the season off with a scrimmage Friday night.
Team member Dustin Dacey is a new addition to the Unabombers team.
“I will be increasing the percentage of opposing players sitting down,” Dacey said. “I will do what I need to do to help my team out. I can dodge well. I just keep it simple.”
Dacey is one of many high schoolers that are starting to get involved with the league. Zach Clark, also a teammate of Dacey, is in his second year in the league and is still in high school.
“I come for the fun this league offers,” Clark said. “You get together and just hang out. I have three things I want to do and one is have a good time. My second goal is to stay competitive and the third is win a championship.”
Mahoney does whatever is needed to make the league better and more enjoyable for the players. This year they are trying out a new set of dodgeballs.
“You don't want to throw a ball that feels like a marshmallow,” Mahoney said. “This year the balls we have are working and holding up the best. We keep trying to make it better and the people keep returning.”
The league is still accepting new teams and people can sign up at the YMCA. The cost is $75 and an additional $15 locker fee for non-members. The winning team at the end of the year receives a T-shirt.
“This year we have an excellent amount of participants,” Mahoney said. “We can always afford more. The more the better for this league.”
While the league serves as a throwback to elementary school for some, other are happy they're not in school any more.
“I'm just glad after a night of games I don't have to go to science class,” Mahoney said. “Instead I get to go to Curley's.”
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