With just a little more than a week left of our Agawak camp season, our campers are still exploding with energy. The cheers and songs I heard this morning at the opening of Final Four rivaled the excitement and spirit of Blue and White games. Under a flawless blue sky, in blazing sunshine, the University of Texas, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Maryland and University of Arizona were cheering their hearts out, kicking off a Final Four week which our girls consider among their favorite event at camp. Each university presented inspiring banners during the opening ceremonies on the upper athletic field. Campers and staff then took off running up and down the field in our annual Final Four relays.

An intense Final Four staff dodge-ball game took place this afternoon. Arizona and Maryland fought it out for third and fourth place. Amanda Amiel on team Arizona stood alone two times on the court but Maryland came out victorious. Texas and Boulder played for second and first. In the end, Erana Parker stood alone for Boulder against Murphy Hughes and Olivia Glantz. It was Boulder who came up on top. Quickly after, we made our way up to the upper athletic field for rounds of capture the flag. A gallant effort was put forth by all. Siegel, Mauer and Jacobs each snatched a flag for their team. 

Final Four is one of my favorite times, as girls are paired with all age groups and apart from their Blue and White teams. They come together in friendly competition, for three-days of non-stop activities. Each team not only plays together, decked in T-shirts emblazoned with their University logo, but they also separate from their cabins during meal times and are seated with their team-mates in the Lodge. The chanting back and forth claiming “We’re Number One” was delightfully deafening throughout breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We will all go to bed tired and exhausted from a very full day of Final Four competition and awake Wednesday faced with a jammed Big Games schedule.

Smile on,

Mary