8th Grade vs. Faculty: A Rivalry for the Ages

8TH GRADE

VS. FACULTY A RIVALRY FOR THE AGES

Grady Smith Middle School Social Studies Teacher Wildcat Since 2006

Trinity’s first faculty basketball team in 2004.

E

very spring, the world holds its breath as one of the great sports rivalries of all times unfolds in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In the tradition of North Carolina vs. Duke or the Lakers vs. the Celtics, the annual 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game at Trinity Episcopal School has provided untold thrills and inflamed untapped passions for the past 13 years.

1ST QUARTER: FASHION Starting with the very first game in 2004, students and teachers quickly realized it was not how well you played, but how great you looked.

The chaotic pre-game warm-ups (stretching exercises for the faculty) allows ample time for students, faculty and staff to show off their athletic fashion sense as the lower school chants “Go 8th Grade...Go 8th Grade!”

The first game featured the faculty in tube

Josh Thornton Middle School Math Teacher Wildcat Since 2003

socks, tiger tattoos and homemade Wildcat t-shirts. Later years saw warm-up pants, tennis skirts, spirit shirts, mismatched sneakers, head-bands and jogging shorts.

Students responded with crazy socks, assorted jerseys, pajamas, hats, wigs, super-hero costumes, eye black and homemade t-shirts sporting random numbers and amazing nicknames.

Fashion MVPs include Tom Drake and his multi-colored wig, Connell Maloney’s ‘11 camouflage sniper suit and Casey Choinere’s ‘16 Batman/Superman unitard.

There is no way to possibly recognize all the amazing shots, incredible hustle, gritty defense and incredible team play that has occurred since 2004, nor describe all the missed lay-ups, frightening face-plants, errant passes and strange officiating.

Instead, here are “four quarters” worth of highlights and hijinxs. To all the alumni and faculty who played over the last 13 years in this incredible community-building event: thanks for the memories!

2ND QUARTER: THE BETS With March Madness in full swing around the date of the game, everyone starts believing in the underdog.

Even knowing the spotless faculty record in this game, (13-0 for those scoring at home) it never fails -- there is almost always a confident student who thinks “this is their year” to beat us.

For those who were even more confident, a friendly wager was made. The Class of 2006 started the tradition of the shaved head with a bet from Dylan Weimer and Nick Wall who

both earned a nice colored mohawk while sitting center court with the whole middle school watching.

Since then some bad bald gamblers include Chris Bradham ‘09 after Baccalaureate, Bobby Miller ‘11, Dylan Lee (Dil Pickle) ‘14 and most recently William Morris ‘16 in the courtyard.

Other memorable bets include Henry McDonald’s ‘12 red hair, Teddy Gardner’s ‘11 spray tan and the day Sam Hobbs ‘15, Monk Stoneman ‘15 and Malik McCrae ‘15 had to wear a cute plaid jumper for the school day.

Josh Thornton is the only faculty member to play in all 13 games, followed by 12 from Jen Rankey, Tracy Onze and Chris Weiss. The most minutes played is a tie between Grady Smith, David Martin and Kevin Martin (“The Ringer”). Most fouls committed during a career would be Anna Okrah, who is the only faculty player to hit a buzzer-beater and also be in foul trouble in the same game.

Random honors: • Tallest player: Kevin Wetter (6’8”) • Oldest player: Bill Stepien (90) • Youngest player: Nancy Tribble (12) • Most shots taken: Kevin Martin (100) • Most free throws while being pregnant: Emily Rietz • Most technical fouls: Grady Smith (2) (hanging on the rim, what? and beating his son William, no really?)

• Longest Scoring Drought: Jen Rankey, 10 years, but broke her streak by scoring the first points of the 2015 game.

• Most games played by husband and wife: Jay & Jess Masanotti (6)

David Martin holds the record of longest field goal with his half court underhand toss at the buzzer. However, Jason Martin holds the record for most free throws missed in the 4th quarter (7). Mike Primiani holds the record for most points scored over 3 years with 40.

Most bogus calls from a referee goes to Father Smokey Oats, but his record is being chased down from the tandem of Tom Franz and Jabari Spruill. Janet Lazarus leads for most times to

Chris Weiss has all of the rest of the numbers broken down into pie charts and Venn diagrams (the one that shows the correlation between trash talking and pulled muscles is my favorite), but that’s better for night time reading.

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trip over the half court line and traveling violations.

She would also hold the record for shortest, but that record still belongs to Jason Martin’s shorts.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

3RD QUARTER: FACULTY LEGENDS & RECORDS

4TH QUARTER: CLOSE CALLS & CLUTCH KIDS

Random student records: • Most games played by one family: The Hoovers (4) (Lelia ‘05, Alex ‘08, Julia ‘08 & Grace ‘16)

It is a fact that the faculty is STILL undefeated, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been close calls.

• Most points scored by one family: Tie - The Lloyds (Emma Grace ‘12 & Jeb ‘16) and the Dalrymples (Elizabeth ‘07, Carolyn ‘08 & Eddie ‘10)

The class of 2006 had a 10-point lead at one time and had a buzzer-beater 3 by Molly Miller (off a set play drawn up by Jason “Benedict Arnold” Martin) go in and out of the basket. The class of 2013 had a chance to take the lead twice, but James Ferguson and Tyler Grier couldn’t get shots to fall. The class of 2016 was a “no-call” away from hitting a game-tying three from Jeb Lloyd. The Class of 2013 ended the game with 20 players on the court.

Ever since the rules changed with the all-girls and all-guys quarter, the students try to make a run when the all-girl line comes in. The Class of 2015 girls were so tough on the faculty ladies, the adults only got it past half court one time in two-minutes of play. Both Class of 2014 and 2015 girls’ teams cut down the double-digit leads into one-possession games within last two minutes.

• Most 3-pointers in a game: Boys - Brian O’Bannon ‘05 (3), Girls - Sophie Collins ‘16 (1) • Most field goals from a faculty assist: Anna Kilguss ‘13 (1) • Girls who should have played on the all-boys line: Andy Smithey ‘12, Pemberton Heath ‘04, Mimi Schrimsher ‘14, Erin Owens ‘14, Rachel Schleicher ‘15, Alaija Hoskins ‘16, Isabel Kelligrew ‘13, Landon Shelley ‘13, Kate Cox ‘15 and Courtney Stabingas‘06 • The faculty nightmare team: Zion Hendrix ‘14, Nate Jones ‘06, Brandon Johnson ‘06, Donovan Patterson ‘12 and Marcus Plair ‘12 • The gym mice squad: Stephen Good ‘09, Davis Ryan ‘15, Nora Duncan ’13, Laura Wade ‘09 and Katelyn Powell ‘16 • The “I just played because they made me” team: Steve Barilovits ‘04, Morgan Weintraub ‘16, Abby Davenport ‘11, Ellie Johnson ‘16 & Will Wroble ‘16

After the buzzer sounds and the good sportsman handshakes and pictures take place around mid-court, the students and faculty limp to the Dickson Dining Hall or Jamie’s Courtyard for refreshments. The trash-talking starts anew and the stage is set for the next great 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game.

There is no doubt that we have forgotten more about this game than we have remembered, and we hope we have not left out some amazing play or player. If you feel cheated somehow, shoot an email with your favorite 8th Grade-Faculty game memories to Josh Thornton at jthornton@tescharlotte. org or Grady Smith at gsmith@tescharlotte.org and we promise to work on a follow-up article, if not a coffee table book. Until next March, keep practicing and thanks again for the best memories ever.