Spikeball Surfacing

Students form spikeball club

Story by Lilly Wall

After playing his first game of spikeball this summer, sophomore co-founder Marvin Kapfer was hooked. Spikeball is a game played in teams of two in which the pair has three contacts to hit the 12 inch ball onto a circular net in hopes to prevent the other team from returning the ball.

Transitioning into the school year, Kapfer and co-founder sophomore Connor MacFarland settled on forming a spikeball club. Both founders were looking to create a place to get peers involved and to be a part of something.

“I’ve met really cool people through spikeball club that I probably wouldn’t have found through just not involving myself,” sophomore Nick Sprecker said.

Additionally for MacFarland, it was a matter of building pre-established friendships.

“A lot of my friends are in Spikeball club but our relationships have been strengthened because of it,” MacFarland said. “People that I never would have said ‘hi’ to in the halls are becoming people who I can count on.”

The first meeting was hosted Nov. 2 after school on the soccer field. It consisted of six people, but since then, the club has grown significantly in numbers- reaching a number of 22 members at Spikeball’s debut tournament hosted on Nov. 9.

The tournament consisted of teams of two playing through a winners and consolation bracket organized by Kapfer.

“It makes me happy because [the rise in numbers] shows that people are interested, getting out of their comfort zone, doing something after school and meeting new people, MacFarland said.

Moving forward, Kapfer hopes to consistently host tournaments, grow a positive environment and to expand the club as a whole.

“Come see if you like it and stay for a game,” Sprecker said. “You don’t have to be good at Spikeball. You don’t even have to know how to play, we’ll teach you. It’s really open and you’re gonna have a fun time.”

If you are interested in joining Spikeball club, reach out to matthew.hill@usd497.org or Marvin Kapfer and Connor MacFarland for more information.

With his hand in the air, Freshman Brian Lin anticipates the return of the ball. Photo by Mallory Thompson