Trash talk, bad-mouthing and some witty comebacks have been at an all time high in the hallways of Peet Junior High. These last few weeks students and teachers have been participating in the heat of the competition, taking it far beyond just the court. As the P.E. volleyball unit wraps up, students and teachers reflect on digs, attacks and crazy plays.
Freshman Lexie Godfrey was one of the many students who took this unit very seriously. “Volleyball is one of my favorite units in P.E. because a lot of people take it seriously but have fun while doing it,” Godfrey said. “I think students take the volleyball unit more seriously because simple volleyball isn’t that hard to play, so everyone can do it. Plus, even if you’re not good, it’s fun to just mess around and play with your friends.”
All students and teachers can agree that the girls vs. guys games are way more fun than the typical volleyball game. “I feel like it’s more competitive playing girls vs. guys because the girls actually know what they’re doing and the guys think they can win at everything. This year, there was a lot of trash talking between guys and girls, and, of course, the girls ended up winning,” Godfrey said.
Peet Junior High physical education teacher Ethan Jennings agreed with Godfrey that the competition gets a lot stiffer when it’s against the opposite sex. “The boys are competitive and want to challenge the girls who are more skilled than them in volleyball. You both feed off of each other, and it gets to be more serious,” Jennings said. “It is an ‘us’ against ‘them’ mentality. As a group, you want to get the best of the others.”
Peet Junior High English teacher Nate Norby is one teacher who has joined in on the games and the trash talk. He had some comedic responses to his story. “I joined in during the volleyball unit because I heard that it was going to be guys vs. girls. I have seen junior high boys try to play volleyball. I was hoping to prevent a massacre. I failed. But, much like the phoenix, I will rise from the ashes. I think that might just have to be the boys’ team name. The phoenixes has a good ring to it,” Norby said.
Norby also explained what he witnessed during the hard fought rallies. “There was a wide spectrum of attitudes on the court. When I first arrived, the girls were demolishing the boys, so the atmosphere was a little depressing. However, many of the guys were still trying. When I got there, the spirits boosted; however, we just didn’t have the depth to take on the girls,” Norby said. “I used to coach several sports, and I enjoy seeing students outside of the classroom. Different settings allow students to thrive,” Norby said.
Norby noticed how some students attitudes collided on the court. There were those who really wanted to win and those who really didn’t care. “Some of the guys really wanted to win, but I could tell from the moment I walked in that it was not going to happen. However, I think if we run some drills, boost our team spirit and steal someone from the girls’ team, we might have what it takes come Tuesday,” Norby said.
Both Norby and Jennings can agree that volleyball and many other sports taught in physical education are a part of the memories young people will take with them to college and adult lives. “Volleyball is a recreational sport that people play for many years after they graduate. The teachers that have gotten involved enjoy the sport, are getting to know you (the students) and are having fun,” Jennings said. “I would encourage students to get involved with club or intramural sports when they go to college. It is a great way to meet people and try something new. It can also lead to future opportunities. Since I played it throughout college, I coached when I started teaching,” Norby said.
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