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Dodgeball draws young adults to high school gym

Balls are flying fast and furious each Thursday night in the gym at William E. Hay Composite High School.
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Players are seen in the midst of action during a dodgeball game at William E. Hay Composite High School on Thursday

Balls are flying fast and furious each Thursday night in the gym at William E. Hay Composite High School.

A group of young adults gather at the school each week for a dodgeball game, and those looking for an excuse to get out, exercise and have fun are invited to join in the action.

Hanna Jilek, who is employed at Foremost, said she started organizing the weekly game back at the beginning of December.

“There’s absolutely nothing to do for young adults in this town, unless you want to go to the gym,” she said, “and I’m not a gym person.”

She and her friends advertised the games through social media and word of mouth, and before long they were seeing a small crowd gathering at the school each week. Jilek said they have seen up to 25 people in attendance.

While the initial plan was to form regular teams, Jilek said lately they have just divided the attendees in half and pitted the two groups against each other.

The games are played for fun, but some players clearly take the game seriously — such as the group of four that designed their own team shirts and dubbed themselves “Don’t Stop Ballieving.”

Erica Seed, who works for Boston Pizza, said her co-workers talked her into coming. She didn’t expect to enjoy it, she added, but has now shown up five times.

“When I got here, the people on the other side of the gym, they meant business,” she recalled. “I was sore the next morning.”

The games will continue each week until Feb. 26, but Jilek said she hopes this will lead to other regular events for young adults in Stettler, saying, “We need something to do in this town.”

There is a one-time registration fee of $10 for anyone wishing to join. The games start around 9 p.m.; those who arrive late can ring the doorbell at the school entrance to be let in.

For more information, contact Jilek at 403-742-6686.