From senior assassins to senior sunrise, senior traditions are staples of the Lawrence High experience. This year, a popular social sport was added to the lineup: sand volleyball.
Every Sunday, seniors gather to play sand volleyball on local courts. The sport gained traction over the summer, inspiring the now-regular games. Seniors Anna Gordon-Ross and Armando Romero-Perez began the tradition.
“It started because I had the idea to have a weekly thing, which we did already in summer, but it was very sporadic, and wasn’t consistent.” Gordon-Ross said.
“There were already people playing sand volleyball on the weekends, and they wanted to make an official thing planned and timely, not random.” senior Tyler Dye said.
The tradition is more than a game; it’s a way to connect with friends in everyone’s final year of high school.
“Senior year is when everybody comes together and becomes friends before everyone leaves for college,” Gordon-Ross said.
Senior Nyah Everhart emphasized that everyone is welcome at sand volleyball.
“No one really cares if you mess up. We laugh a lot and we make lots of mistakes. I got hit in the face with a ball,” Everhart said.
Gordon-Ross explained that sand courts, as opposed to indoor courts, level the playing field.
“If you’re on an [indoor] court, it makes it a lot more known if you’re good or not.”
Because of this, many seniors like the easygoing element of the games.
“Because no one really cares if you mess up. We laugh a lot and we make lots of mistakes. I got hit in the face with a ball,” Everhart said.
Dye agreed that it’s lighthearted fun for everyone.
“There’s no stress or pressure to be good at it, because nobody really is,” Dye said.
Gordon-Ross agreed.
“If you just show up even if you don’t want to play, you can watch and talk to people, and you can still have a good time,” she said.
Gordon-Ross is hopeful that the tradition will continue beyond this year.
“I hope that getting this started becomes a tradition and becomes a thing that will keep going on after we graduate, and the juniors take it over.”
