“Initially we couldn’t do [mud volleyball] because the place where we did the mud volleyball wasn’t available and then [this] year it was still a case of construction,” activities director David Bones said. “It comes down to amount of time to plan and find a new place and arrange all the supervision. Last year they tried like crazy to find a place and just couldn’t find a place. So this year they tried again and I think they identified a place it could happen, but by the time we got all the pieces together it was just too late.”
The Young Life-sponsored event served as a means of making money for the religious group. Each team of seven was required to pay $20 to participate in the event. The double elimination tournament was open to anyone from RBHS and HHS, regardless of membership in Young Life or not.
“I’m not a member of Young Life, but I’ve gone a few times,” senior Audrey Wagner said. “I just know a lot of people who are in it and I think that’s what makes the event so fun. It was perfect weather and the perfect location. I don’t think it really matters that it can’t be held on school grounds because we were still able to play.”
While the tournament has always been a Young Life event, the Columbia Public Schools involvement is now nonexistent. Despite the problems of finding a location last year, Fischer believes the event is worth the mess.
“I volunteered because it was here last year too and I know there aren’t any other places to have it,” Fischer said. “It also brings in a lot of money for Young Life. Last year there was quite a mess, and we thought people would be a bit more respectful to us after having it at our house.”
Even though to Fischer the mess is the downside, senior Harry Schauwecker believes the mud is the best part. As his second year participating in mud volleyball, Schauwecker was eager for a repeat of last year’s excitement.
“It’s a lot of fun to get muddy and sliding around with all of your friends,” Schauwecker said. “It’s a super fun event and it was really fun last year too.”
Shauwecker’s team, The Wolf Pack 2.0, did not make it far in the tournament, though; they peaked at the semifinals in the loser bracket. Despite the loss, Shauwecker believes the event is more about playing the sport in a messy environment.
“Most of my team from last year is in college now so we weren’t that strong,” Shauwecker said. “It was still a lot of fun and the location was really good. I don’t really care where it is because it just doesn’t matter.”
By Maddie Davis
