California
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July 17, 2022
Saturday afternoon’s post-hike/Mass siesta didn’t last long! Almost immediately afterward, prefects and students got to work setting up the weekend’s next big event: the California High School Summer Program volleyball tournament. Several teams, each headed by a prefect (or a prefect duo), would go head-to-head in the TAC valley underneath a hot July sun.
The tournament sprawled across campus, with some teams playing over nets set up on the lower campus fairway, others on the sand pits and grass beside the St. John Paul II Athletic Center, and other still inside the gymnasium. Teams worked hard together, setting with precision and volleying their shots with astounding force. Onlookers cheered on. As one team fell, another moved forward, with goodwill and sportsmanship all around.
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At last it came down to two teams: The squad led by Pat Mazza (’23) vs. that of James Blewett (’24) and Meg Murphy (’22). Uneasy, though excited, anticipation filled the air as the first serve went off, and the game ensued. Back and forth flew the ball, speeding from one player to the next, in a fiercely competitive finale. For all their efforts, Blewett and Murphy’s team came up short, and Mazza’s emerged triumphant, erupting into cheers upon scoring the final point. But the players weren’t done yet. As a “reward” for their long day of hard play under the hot sun, the championship team got to play one more match — against a squad of their well-rested tutors, joined by Summer Program Chaplain Fr. Sebastian!
At first, the faculty team had the upper hand, serving expertly into undefended parts of the students’ side of the court, but the students rallied. They recovered their strength and gave the tutors volley after volley of brilliant serves and returns. It seemed as though they could win — and then all bets were off. The tutors easily regained the ground they lost, and the game went back and forth, point by point, up for grabs. And then, with a final serve, its arc carrying beautifully over the net, the faculty triumphed. Everyone cheered, and the teams shook hands.
Then it was on to a picnic dinner of California tri-tip steak and barbeque chicken. Students loaded their plates with salad, fruit, and brownies. The afternoon thus far had been brimming with intense play, and it was a good moment to rest and enjoy the breeze. Fr. Sebastian led programmers and prefects in a peacefully prayerful Rosary procession around campus.
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Things had quieted, for the moment, but this is the TAC High School Summer Program — so, of course, another activity was just around the corner! Students soon found their way over to St. Cecilia Hall for a highly enjoyable Open-Mic Night. They showcased a wide range of talents, with solo acts, duos, and ensembles taking the stage. One moment, the audience enjoyed jazzy lounge music; the next, a soulful folk tune on the acoustic guitar. Some performances were gut-bustingly hilarious; others seemed poignant, and some were both. Musical theatre, classic music, and magic took the stage. Original pieces, clever covers, and medleys graced students’ ears. The audience applauded wildly and cheered loudly for their peers.
After the applause subsided and the curtains closed, students grabbed popcorn and candy to for a screening of Cinderella Man, the true story of Depression-era boxer, James J. Braddock. Meanwhile, others busied themselves with pool, foosball, and board games in the rec-room. Prefects also presented a cake to programmer Peter K., who was celebrating his birthday!
It was a night of community, talent, performance, and great joy, with enough events to fill a whole weekend! And yet, the weekend is far from over. Today the crew will travel down to Los Angeles to take in art at the Getty Center and Wagner at the Hollywood Bowl. The Summer Blog will have the whole story — with plenty of pictures, of course! — Monday morning.
