By Dallas Fox and Xypher Pino

A tradition started by former class president Alex Trepper of the class of ‘24, the GC Olympics once again returned to bring much‑needed excitement and energy to campus. As the end of the school year approaches, everyone needs a simple but fun way to relax and compete against one another to provide an energy boost to power through the last couple of weeks of school. On April 9, over 50 students gathered for the festivities and sports of the GC Olympics, one of the final events hosted by our Student Government Association (SGA) for the semester.

“This was a great event to participate in and gave us a much‑needed excuse to get out of the dorms and enjoy some fun competition,” said sophomore Jacob Cook.

This year’s GC Olympics comprised numerous events: rock‑paper‑scissors, the classic ping pong tournament, a team volleyball competition and a cornhole tournament.

Each activity had teams represented by students from all areas of campus – football and golf players, student leaders, women’s basketball and lacrosse, resident advisors. People showed up hoping to come home with the gold medal and prizes. It was great seeing the interactions between the participants; the GC Olympics created a day of friendly competition where teamwork was evident and school spirit was strong.

“It feels amazing to be a winner, but I give credit to my teammates,” said sophomore Jadon Barnes, the student who won the most gold medals during the GC Olympics. “Without them, none of this would be possible. Thank you GC for this experience, this really makes me feel like we are truly One Pride!”

The single‑elimination format for most of the sports kept the excitement high, with matches drawing crowds of classmates and supporters. The courts echoed with laughter, encouragement and celebration. It was nice seeing everyone escape the everyday hassles of school and just have some fun.

While the competition was intense, the tournament’s true spirit was about building community and making memories. Between matches, participants and spectators enjoyed music, snacks and various other games set up by the Student Government Association. Students came out repping their respective countries and groups as well, with most notably senior Cedrick Crenshaw Jr. dressing up just for this event. Rightfully so, he was deemed to have the highest spirit and the best vibes out of any student that participated during the Olympics, earning him a medal; well‑deserved.

Of course, not everyone who participated in the GC Olympics won their respective sport – but giving effort and having fun is what matters. Freshman Kaylyn Pageot was voted by the participants as worst ping pong player of the tournament.

“Honestly, that is about right,” she said. “Though, I do blame Xypher [Pino] for putting me up against the former president of the ping pong club during the first round. I did not even have a shot from the start! Regardless, at least I still had lots of fun during this event.”

The GC Olympics showcased athletic talent, but more importantly it created a space for everyone to relax, have fun and celebrate what makes our school community special. With classes coming to an end and everyone on high alert for exams, it is nice to come together and remember to enjoy the opportunities that come with the work that we do.

With such great turnout and enthusiastic feedback from the students, SGA is sure to bring back the GC Olympics. Without a doubt, this event will remain a big highlight on the campus calendar. The winners of this year will have bragging rights until the next GC Olympics, but they for sure will have targets on their backs. Students are already talking about next season’s strategies and are beginning to form new teams as they are eager to take part in this growing tradition.

“This year’s Olympics was a huge success,” said SGA president Sloanne Petersen. “I am glad that so many people came out and had fun. This was a nice end‑of‑the‑semester event to host. I am looking forward to seeing how this event will look like in the future.”

Events like this bring the campus together and they go a long way in building school pride and lasting memories. Thank you to SGA for hosting such a wonderful event.