By: Sasha Narang ’18
Whether you’ve seen it broadcasted on the Superfans Facebook group or heatedly debated among students in the hallways, the rec basketball league has become a trend among Staples boys. Consisting of a freshman and sophomore league and a junior and senior league, many are competing to ultimately win the March madness tournament.
“The rec basketball league is pretty much the most competitive league in the world. The NBA is a close second,” Leo Aronson ’20 said, smirking. The sophomore teams schedule consists of no weekly practices, but games every Tuesday.
The teams communicate among one another through Facebook groups, including the coaches who are parents on the teams. The rec teams play against one another, consisting only of Staples students, however, it is not affiliated with the school itself.
Students are choosing to play rec basketball as opposed to other competitive teams such as the Staples team. Although many students are qualified for more time consuming commitments, rec has gained popularity due to its convenience. “With my schedule, I can only play Rec and not Staples basketball, because I wrestle,” George Harrington ’19 said.
Although the schedule is more lenient, the competitive nature among the teams is still lively. “It’s because all the games are intense and they all matter,” Michael Metro ’20 said, “But we’re all still friends which makes it more fun to beat them.”
All rec teams have the ultimate goal of winning every game in the tournament, until the two top teams battle it out for the championship.
Henry Beck ’21 explains how although his team’s record isn’t great, they still hope to win their march madness bracket. “We are just gonna play hard every game…we want to be the best we can be,” he said.
With the season coming to an end, the teams are working hard. Students can be seen throughout the stands, cheering on and motivating the players.
“I’ve only been to one game, but it was pretty intense,” Abby Greenblatt ’18 said. “Everyone was pretty hyped up. I don’t watch a lot of basketball but I actually got into it.”
Every year, the teams work harder to improve their performance, hoping to take home the gold. Adam Petro ’20 explained, though, how medals aren’t the only prize that comes with winning the championship.
“The winner always gets the bragging rights.”
